At The Pumpkin Patch

Sunday after church we made our way to the pumpkin patch. It was quite windy but we still had a great time! I remember last year when we went, it was about 80 degrees and I was 36 weeks pregnant with Mia. Oddly enough, I ended up carrying her just like I did then, just on the outside. Even though she's about 14 pounds heavier, it was a little easier. We also checked out the new wind mills that have been built all over Benton County. They are monstrous! The wing span from one arm to another is larger than a 747! This will be a busy week of parties and dress ups. I will update with a picture of the Maxwells, also known as Goldilocks and the Three Bears To be continued....

For The Moms

I came across the words that Steven Curtis Chapman wrote for his wife Mary Beth after they adopted their first little girl from China, Shaohannah. I thought it was wonderful so I wanted to share it with all my "moms".

"One Heartbeat at a Time"

You're up all night with a screaming baby
You run all day at the speed of life
and every day you feel a little bit less
like the beautiful woman you are

So you fall into bed when you run out of hours
and you wonder if anything worth doing got done
well maybe you just don't know
or maybe you've forgotten

That you, you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh you, you may not see it now
but I believe that time will tell
how you, you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time

With every, "I know you can do it"
and every tear you kiss away
So many little things that seem to go unnoticed
they're just like the drops of rain
over time, they become like a river

And you, you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh you, you may not see it now
but I believe that time will tell
how you, you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time

You're beatiful, so beautiful
how you're changing the world, yeah you're
changing the world

You, you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh you, you may not see it now
but I believe time will tell
how you, you are changing the world
I believe that you , you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time.

A Rough Day at Dr. Thomas's Office

This afternoon, we had to go back to Dr. Thomas our pediatrician for the girls. Ella has been showing signs of asthma for awhile now. This past weekend she had a coughing fit so bad it made her sick. So I knew I needed to bring her in. Well, this morning when Mia woke up her left eye was gunky again, the same sign as the two times before that she has an ear infection. Since we finished her second antibiotic on Sunday, I had to make the call. Sure enough, Mia's right ear, the same one that has been bad for a month now, is still bad. This meant we have to get three injections of antibiotic. First was today and then one scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Back to Ella, her eczema has gotten worse, and yes, she has asthma. Hopefully, we think we can treat it with a once a day pill, Singulair. I have had a hard time with both diagnosis' today, I am fearful of what Ella's asthma can bring. Both Jacob and I are huge sports people, I played sports all my life. Is this going to affect her playing sports? I also had terrible ear infections growing up so I know how Mia feels. I want so badly to take the pain away. But I trust that God has His sovereign plan. These diagnosis are trivial. The diagnosis wasn't autism, wasn't cancer, wasn't a multitude of more serious things. I can be thankful for that. I know that God created these girls perfectly according to His plan. I can be thankful that I have God to lean on in times like this where I am uncertain of what the future brings for my babies. I am thankful, there is so much peace in knowing that God is in control. I pray that Dr. Thomas was right when he said that taking care of things today will take care of things in the future. I pray that all parents can learn to lean on God in these types of situations, knowing that the love and comfort of my Father is there can get me through even the worst of days.

First Day of School

Ella started preschool yesterday. The teacher said she did wonderful and her "stick" stayed green! I was a little sad as I didn't even get a goodbye. She walked right in over to the kids that were already playing. At least I got this conversation later at Chick Fil-A.

Ella: There was a little girl named Mackenzie that cried.

Me: Did she cry the whole time?

Ella: Yeah, she cried for her momma. She missed her momma.

Me: Did you miss your momma?

Ella: Yeah, but I didn't cry.

Sisters

I am constantly telling people that I don't think Ella and Mia look very much alike. I still don't think that, but I do think that they both have the most beautiful smiles that light up the room. Much like this yellow dress!

The Maxwells Go International

The school that is affiliated with our church hosts an International Student Program every year. Families find out about Faith Christian School through the internet and send their teenagers a gazillion miles away to study and learn about the American culture. Jacob and I had spoken before about hosting one, but never really seemed serious about it. It seemed like it would be to far of a stretch out of our comfort zone. Well, a friend of ours is the leader of this program at the school, we found out through another friend that she had had 2 host families drop out at the last minute. Because we only know how to make decisions at the last minute, I called Jacob and told him about this need. He immediately felt like we were called to do this. So, the next day, we signed up to host a 17 year old girl from Korea. We are very excited about this addition to our family. It will be different, but different is good. I think sometimes we get comfortable with our families and don't realize that we need to grow. God needed us to host this girl for reasons we do not know yet. Maybe to share the gospel with her in such a crucial point in her life, or for her to strengthen our Christian walk. Her father has gone to an American seminary and is a professor at a Christian college. Or maybe its because of the plans that we may have to do with the money we receive as compensation. Jacob and I are really looking forward to this year as a year of truly growing both as a married couple and learning what God has in store for us!

Our Staycation

My best friend from college came to visit this past weekend. Along with my other college best friend, we try to do this every summer so our kids get a chance to play together. So far we have a 5 yr old, two 3 year olds, a 22 month old, an 8 month old and one on the way. We've come so far from the three friends that would go to Steak-n-Shake at 3:00am for coffee. We've been friends for over 10 years now. It doesn't quite seem possible, but when you look at these kids that we dreamed about in college with husbands that two of us didn't even know yet, you realize that 10 years might not be such a long time. I look forward to the next 10 years and to see what other dreams come true that we didn't know we had.

A Smoky Mountain Adventure

The Maxwells, the Parks and the Goldbergs. AKA my sister, my brother-in-law, nephew, niece, mom and brother all shared a cabin the Smoky Mountains for a week. We had a great time enjoying the peace although it may not have been quiet! Jacob took some hikes with the boys and saw a momma bear with her cubs! I enjoyed Ella having a playmate other than myself! Mia just enjoyed the attention. This is one of my favorite pictures of the trip. This was on the one hike that we all took together.

My Sweet Pea is Three!

Ella Josephine is now three! Jacob and I think she is three going on sixteen with her new found independance. She is definately a challenge and I know that God has entrusted me with her passion, somedays I wish He hadn't trusted us so much! She brings this world so much light that sometimes it hurts my heart.

Finally posting again!

I don't know if my life just got really busy or I decided to add to my new found "craftiness" but I am going to try to start posting more frequently. I have some many things to update on so I will do them in individual posts!

Contest time!

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

Click on this link to enter this contest. I ordered my Ergo carrier from this website and the owner is very nice!

Congratulations Brad!

This is my brother Brad. This was taken yesterday. That car in the picture. It won the Indy 500. The other guy in the picture, Scott Dixon, winner of the Indy 500. My brother is an engineer for Target Chip Ganassi racing. This is not the main car he engineers, but all the engineers (well all 3 of them) work together. This has been my brother's dream since we were little. We lived very close to the Speedway and Brad's birthday is always close to race day, because of this, he always wanted to work on race cars. I am so proud of my brother for accomplishing his dreams.

My only question is, what do you do with life when you accomplish your dreams before you even turn 30?

Amazing...

Okay, so the pictures aren't the greatest but can you tell who is who? One of them is my daughter, the other one is my niece Maggie!

A Week Without Cable

So it has been a little more than a week without cable. Now to give you a little background, I have had cable all of my life. We just didn't slowly wean ourselves from digital to classic to basic, we completely cut the cord so to speak! I now have one channel and its not even the one I like. In fact, the only time I ever watched CBS was during football season! I must report that this has gone way better then I suspected. Ella still occasionally asks for PBS Kids but I think she is trying to find other things to do. I knew that she was watching to much TV, but it was much to easy to turn it on, especially when I was having a particulary hard day with her. I think the transition has really helped us out. I would recommend anyone doing this. I mean we were TV watchers! Especially cable channels. It helps that we are heading into the summer months, but I am thankful that God gave me the strength to cut out something that I really think was an idol in our lives. Maybe now I can use that sewing machine!

10 Things you didn't know about me

This was Jaime's idea so I thought I would give it a shot. I'm a pretty candid person so I'm not sure if I can come up with 10 things.

1. I was born after a tornado ripped the roof off my parents' apartment. The doctor said the pressure changes in the atmosphere induced labor. I was born two weeks early.

2. My dad was Canadian eh?

3. Sometimes I think I have chronic fatigue but then I realize I have an almost 3 year old, an infant and a new business!

4. I can't pick a favorite anything because I am to indecisive.

5. I was the "fat" kid in school until I started 9th grade having lost 75 pounds.

6. I didn't know I had curly (okay wavy) hair until I was 23. I always thought I had to blow dry it!

7. I wish I could be more "crafty". I don't know how some moms do it! Where do they find time and money to scrapbook, knit, sew, bake cupcakes, photoshop etc.

8. I have the most amazing husband and I am pretty sure that I would be divorced if he were somebody else. I seriously ask God why He gave me Jacob because I know that I didn't deserve him. But I am grateful He did!

9. Ella watches to much TV. Good thing we cancelled cable. I will miss PBS kids.

10. I am now very paranoid Dream Dinners is going to be broken into. Good thing we have good insurance!

There I came up with 10, although alot of people would probably already know some of these! I did my best!

The ground shook!

This morning God decided that I needed to wake up at 5:39 am! Most people are already talking about it but this was my first earthquake. It was quite loud. Jacob was in the shower so he didn't even feel it. The girls didn' wake up either to which I am thankful. I am also glad that nobody has reportedly been hurt.

I have come full circle...

Now that I have a title...

Thanks Cathy! maybe I can get some people to read my blog. I wonder, exactly how do I tell people about my blog. Do I tell them "So I think that you find me and my family so interesting that you should read all about me in your spare time" . Sigh, I guess I'll just go the traditional route.
On a funnier note, today I told Ella that she couldn't have any juice because she only got one glass of juice a day. Her reply "That's crazyness" Seriously, where does a two year old get that?! Well, I actually know the answer to that question already and unfortunately the finger is pointing back at me!

I need a title! So I am completely uncreative when it comes to "blogging". I see everyone really cool pics and names and whatnot, that I am completely clueless on what to name my blog, any suggestions?