Through the Wilderness

I have not posted in about a month, but truthfully it is because I have had my head in my Bible almost constantly, getting encouragement, comfort and love from our awesome God.

Brian is doing great and I am more in love than ever. Caleb is the apple of my eye and my little sweet man in every way. Tessa has developed quite a little attitude, shaking her head no every time I ask for a kiss, but as sweet as pie none the less. Jacob is at my feet all the time (a true mommy's boy), gives lots of hugs, yet has a lovely problem biting his friends at daycare. I keep telling Brian he has a split personality! :)

As for me, if you are reading this, please throw up a prayer for me. I am learning that life is not always smiles and rainbows - even for me, the joyful, spunky Alyssa that you have always known. Daily I am relying on God's strength, power and goodness to get me through. As I look at the direction of our truly corrupt world, I rest in the promise of Jesus' imminent return - he WILL be here soon! Jesus said to his disciples: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." AMEN!

Training Wheel Defeat!

Last night after dinner, we went on our traditional family walk. Caleb decided to hop on his two-wheeler (with training wheels) as he has so many times in the past several months, but this time he actually took off down the street...riding as if he had been doing it for years! It was awesome! When he first got the bike, his little legs were too short to reach, but he has been capable of riding now for the past 6 months, I would say. He just hasnt pedaled forward - he wasnt "getting it!"

I have to say that Brian and I were a little sentimental watching him cruise up and down the sidewalks in our neighborhood. It is quite amazing watching your kids accomplish even the smallest of things. Not that this feat was small - it clearly was challenging for him, considering it took him 6 months to put the pedal to the medal!! I cant wait to watch him for it tonight!

Holy Crap!

Tessa ate her own poop! (no this is NOT the picture of it, just a cute pic of her, thanks, Ginger!). So gross, I know - ahhhh, gag! Picture the most adorable, sweet, giving, loving 15 month old - and picture her diving into her own feces and eating it!!

Thursday night we got all three out of the bath and I let Tessa run off into Caleb's room as we got the other two dressed for bed. She was being quiet and happy, and actually looking back to play peek-a-boo with us, so I thought all was well - and she was just occupying her sweet self. Well the quietness revealed itself a few minutes later as she trampled poop across the living room floor. At first I just thought, oh no, she pooped, let me clean her up. Well, as she approached me, I saw the poop all over her pacifier. The horror that I felt is indescribable!!

I did laugh through cleaning it up though - I remember my nana telling me that my dad ate poop as a kid and one of my friend's daughters did the same at about a year old. I knew she would survive, by all means and I knew she most likely wouldnt even get sick. But, that is just plain gross and a story that we will be re-told for years to come!

I Wanna Go To Heaven, Mommy

As I was strapping Caleb into his car seat yesterday morning, he blulrted out with a genuinely sad tone, "Mommy I wanna to go to heaven. I have been waiting a long, long time to go to heaven."

Not as long as me, honey!! :) Nontheless, tremendously adorable - and even at 3, he recognizes that this is not our home. Praise God!!

All That I Can Say...

Lord I'm tired So tired from walking And Lord I'm so alone
And Lord the dark Is creeping in Creeping up To swallow me
I think I'll stop Rest here a while

Chorus: And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give
And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give, that's my everything

Lord didn't You see me cry'n? And didn't You hear me call Your name?
Wasn't it You I gave my heart to? I wish You'd remember Where you sat it down

Chorus: And this is all that I can say right now, i know it's not much.
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything.
This is all that I can say right now [right now], i know it's not much.
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything.

Bridge: I didn't notice You were standing here
I didn't know that That was You holding me
I didn't notice You were cry'n too
I didn't know that That was You washing my feet

And this is all This is all that I can say right now, oh i know its not much.
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything.
This is all that I can say right now [right now], i know it's not much.
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything.
This is all that I can say right now, oh i know it's not much.
But this is all that I can give, yeah that's my everything..
yeah that's my everything.. yeah that's my everything.. everything...

Thanks, David Crowder. Thanks, Adam!