Austin is SIX

My sweet Austin William!

I'm still in shock that my first baby just turned 6 years old!

(Which is maybe why it has taken me so long to write this)

It feels like he is still just four precious years old going to preschool. But he'll be going into first grade this fall. I'm getting ahead of myself :) We have the WHOLE summer to have fun and enjoy time off from school. It'll be super fun! :)

Austin was a big hunk as a baby! So sweet and such a cuddler. I was in the nursing program his first year of life. I remember sitting in the recliner with my nursing books next to him while I was nursing him ;). I would set up everything I would need for the night (phone, remote, nursing pads and cream, diapers, wipes, diaper cream, books, magazines, etc) next to me on a tv stand. LOL! And my hubby would ask me if I was coming to bed and I would kindly say "No, I'm going to sleep in the recliner with Austin. It's more comfortable." And Austin would sleep on my chest as a newborn. And I LOVED it! And I know he did, too. I did not do that with the other kiddos. I just wanted to spend every minute with that little cuddle bug as a new-learning Mommy. During the day if I'd nurse him, I would study with my books on the boppy pillow.

He grew into a very strong-willed toddler. Really! If he didn't want to do something... he would NOT do it. Like if we were at Target and he wanted to run to the other side of the store while I told him to come back, he would keep running. He was such a fun little toddler. Always on the go.go.go

I think he went straight from crawling to running. 

I prayed for that wild toddler often. That he would grow into a respectful child who would listen well. And he has! 

Austin is a hard worker. When he comes home from school, he is excited to show me his work and the stars he received. He'll remind me what permission slip is due on what day. He's nice to his school friends. He enjoys school a lot. His teacher's soft voice he appreciates. He anticipates first grade because that means he's getting older. And he told me the other day "Mom, soon I'll be in college!" #stopgrowingplease

He is a fantastic big brother. My heart melts into a puddle when I see him show love to his siblings! He is so good at being a big brother. He's funny. Really funny. He makes me laugh so much. Sometimes I maybe shouldn't be laughing (like when he calls his butt his "B word." Because he knows that Mom and Dad don't like him talking about butts). His imagination is endless as well.

He loves Jesus! And that is the most important thing of all time. If I can teach him anything of importance it would be about Jesus and His never ending love for him. From a young toddler he He has liked to collect various kid's Bibles and read them. David and Goliath is one of his favorite Bible stories. 

He's strong and courageous. Full of joy. Loves meeting new people. He's not shy one bit!

And he's always enjoyed baking with Mommy! Especially when he can be a taste tester :).

This photo is pure cuteness! Him cooking in his birthday suit.

Legos are his favorite! If he makes something creative, he likes me to take a picture. He'd love to have his creation be in the Lego magazine :).

He loves me so much. He told me the other day that he thinks I'd be a great teacher. My heart melted. Then, he said he wished Daddy was a teacher,too. When Daddy comes home, he yells "Daddy!" And runs to the door. He really wants to be just like his Daddy. His Daddy is like his best friend. 

His wrestling medal

He loves playing football.

Happy Sweet Sixth birthday Austin! We love you so much! 

Love, Mommy :)

Bitter or better?

Can I just say that Job's strong and fearless faith is what I want.

He was such a GOOD man. 

Follow along at Job 1-2

(By the way, this is the Bible I have and I love it!)

Job had...

7 sons

3 daughters

7,000 sheep

3,000 camels

500 yoke of oxen

500 donkeys

A large number of servants

He had a lot of children, animals and servants!

The Lord and Satan had a conversation about Job and how there was not one person on earth as blameless as him who fears God and shuns evil.

Satan believed that if everything he had was taken away he would curse the Lord.

Didn't happen. 

He lost everything!

Still Job worshiped the Lord and said...

"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."

~Job 1:21

Wow! 

Then, Satan and the Lord spoke again about how Job continues his integrity.

Satan believed that if Job's body was harmed, then he would curse the Lord.

Still, it didn't happen. 

Job had painful sores head to toe.

Even his wife was shocked that he wasn't cursing God.

"Job replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said."

~Job 2:10

So true! 

We are expected to have good and difficult times. I believe that during troubles is when our faith can be strengthened. If we only had good and no trouble, how could we strengthen our faith? 

We can choose to become bitter or better during those troubles. I want to choose to become better!

Continue to read Job, it's good!

Jamie :)

A beautiful song!

Hey friends!

1.) You need to watch the video above!

It is an AMAZING video on YouTube posted by this lovely young lady named Molly Kate Kestner. It is called "His Daughter." I won't give away any of the details but you need to watch it! She tells her life's story through a beautiful song. What an amazing testimony she has! It brought tears of joy to my eyes. I pray for that beautiful young lady to continue following the Lord's big plan for her life! Her voice is going to take her far! Check out the rest of her videos, too.

Oh and she'll be on Good Morning America tomorrow May 14th. :)

Jamie :)

Top 3 favorite things right now

It's beautiful in MN right now!

 I'm so grateful, too. Because I was more than ready for some spring weather. 

It's been a loooong wintery winter.

This last Friday was my 29th Birthday! Time flies by! I had a great Birthday. My hubby got me some thoughtful gifts, Subway for supper and a lemon cake. Lemon is MY favorite. It was so delicious. The kids were so cute and sweet to me, too. 

Now I'm getting ready to celebrate my big boy's 6th Birthday. This Saturday we're having an "Angry Birds" Birthday for Austin. I'm praying the weather is going to stay nice because there will be a lot of boys and they've got energy :). Lots of good energy! We're currently working on building a giant slingshot!! I'll be sure to post photos after the party.

Here we go. Some of my favorite things right now...

1.) This candle smells amazing. Think summer ;).

2.) This shirt I am in love with. I paired it with some light turquoise cropped jeans and it was super cute and comfy. It's a nice light color which I really like. With a long necklace and earrings it can be dressed up.

3.) These TOMS crochet shoes are just lovely. I just got the deeper purple color but couldn't find that color online to show you. Here's a lilac color that is also darling.

Happy day to you!
Jamie :)

Top 5 best things about our Vacay

We went to Florida earlier this month and we had such a wonderful time. 

Family time is so special to us!! 

The weather was so beautiful--around 70-80 degrees. Perfect~!

#1.) I loved spending time with my sweet hubby! Total joy it was! The kids loved spending time with their Daddy, too! I also loved spending special time with the rest of our family who went. We are so blessed to have such an amazing fam!

Driving on the beach! I was SHOCKED that you can do that! It was so much fun! #rebels ;)

#2.) The views were fantastic! Seeing God's beauty was breath--taking. Really. I could sit on the beach and just stare at the ocean and sky for hours. I can see why one would want to live on the beach!

3.) The Alligator Farm!! Oh. My. Word! This place! It was the coolest thing. The boys were in their glory! Never ever did they think they'd see so many alligators!

An Albino alligator! So cray!

Getting ready to HOLD an alligator! They were both so excited at first...but once it came time I think A  & T were a bit hesitant. Can you tell?!

Troy did NOT want to help hold it. 

He was happy to just sit and watch his big bro do all the work.

#4.) Swimming! 

This boy was all about the water. He just wanted to boogie board over and over! #fearless

I even went out for a long time with him and had a total blast! It was obvious by our faces and shoulders being sunburnt. Woopsey! 

He actually cried the last time at the beach because the waves were too fierce to boogie board. Poor boy! 

And T boy wanted to try, too. It was so much fun! He had fun playing in the sand. The rest of us were content sitting on a blanket watching and taking it all in. 

5.) Boating was so refreshing :). We also stopped somewhere for Austin to swim. He loves to swim! 

The day after we got back it snowed. And this little cutie asked me all morning to go outside. He's happy in the sun or in the snow :). 

Hope you're having a great week!!

Jamie :)

I feel like there are always dishes to wash.

And that's ok. I'll get them done. Other things are more important. 

< Thank God for a dishwasher > 

I spoke about not crying over spilt milk or dishes piling up on my last post. Check it out here.

As Austin was getting ready for school this morning he said "I feel bad for Mom." I asked him why he felt like that? He said "Because you have dishes piled up in the sink. You have so many dishes to do." :) I told him it was okay and that I'll get them done later. He was genuinely worried about me. What a sweet boy!

Yesterday I felt like I did so many dishes. And in the evening, the supper dishes piled up and the pot and blender from the sweet potato/carrot/spinach puree I made. I froze the puree in ice cube trays and then put all of them in a freezer bag and stuck it in the freezer. I got the idea from my sister. I put a cube in our creamy chicken noodle soup last night....and no one suspected a thing ;). I have to be sneaky like that. But, back to the dishes. Last night I knew I had them piled up but...the kids needed to get ready for bed. And when they were in their beds after being read to and prayed with it was time to have a date with my hubby. It had been a long time since we were able to sit down just the 2 of us to watch a movie. It was fun!!

The dishes can wait!

Jamie :)