Random Memories

I thought it might be fun to post some fun random photos from the last few months!  I love looking back at photos as they bring the flood of memories to my mind.  Isabelle's winter baking, our annual "Winter Blues Overnighter" with the E's, fun indoor and outdoor play, JD's mischevious eyes (they speak volumes to me), dress up (I guess the girls want more sisters) and simple sweet memories.

Tough Guy

Our sweet oldest son had a birthday this past Sunday and I had to keep asking myself….what is happening here??...where has the time gone??…fourteen…..who turns fourteen??…little boys who are growing up…that’s who!! Why is it my fourteen year old is 5’9”, 175 lbs, and size 13 shoe…isn’t that practically a man?!?  Please forgive my plethora of photos with this post…I got started and could not stop! As I looked through the photos I was brought back to my sweet little "tough guy" who used to fit snuggly in my lap. This same “tough guy” now stands taller than me and on some days seems to be growing by the minute! While his outside girth may be changing, there is still my little boy inside and oh how I cherish him… both little and big! As always, he still is my “right hand man”.  Many years ago Chad started teaching the children to ask ….“Is there anyway I can help you Momma?” or “what next Momma?” These are phrases I have been blessed to hear for many years, coming from the soft voices of my little ones. There is something that catches my heart now as I hear them come from a man’s voice, not my husband… but my son.
I love how he still loves to talk….he is my son…so why am I surprised! He often hangs out in the kitchen while I am doing dishes and as we work, we talk. Many times I find myself talking to the Lord, asking Him to please keep fresh in my mind that these special times are just a short window I have with Mitchell. I am terribly task oriented and I am often focused on the next item to complete. I can sometimes lose sight of the beauty of these moments He is giving us, not just with Mitchell, but each of the children. This season of life is not about my "must do" list, dishes or yard work. While all of those household chores have a place, they pale in comparison to knowing…truly knowing my children.
I thank Him for the tender acts of love Mitchell shares…an arm around me, a quick back scratch, playing with the younger ones, doing an extra something sweet to brighten my day and for the overt acts of love and the immense help he is to me each and every day. Not only in around the house chores, but in particular with Papa and Gigi. There are no words to truly express my gratitude for his eagerness to serve them, his tenderness to love them, and for this treasure he has, among many, of getting Papa ready for bed almost every night. For the precious opportunity to tuck away in my heart the “I love you’s” between them each night. These years have moved so fast, there is still so much to teach and impart so many memories yet to make and so much love to lavish on each one of the children. I desire to come more often before the throne with my prayers for strength to fully “be there” each and every day, not just in the physical sense but mentally and emotionally as well. To not miss, day in and day out, the ministry moments the Lord lays before me with my children. I don’t want these years to pass with snippets of regret, but with the beauty of moments seized, conversations remembered and joy abounding.

Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns, Hot Cross Buns

one ha penny, two ha penny,

hot cross buns

If you have no daughters,

 give them to your sons,

one ha penny, two ha penny,

Hot Cross Buns

Handy AND Handsome

Saturday marked 37 years for my dear hubby….what a treasure he is to me, our family and those around him. We had a delicious birthday dinner of his choice….homemade chili, corn fritters and not one... but TWO pans of monkey bread. Those who know him well will quickly notice the lack of anything green on the table! Chad likes to joke of himself…”if a man is not handsome, then he better be handy”!  Well….he is both and so, so much more!! How can I take only a few words to describe my sweet husband, best friend, and beloved father to our children...Godly, faithful, leader, generous, humble, longsuffering, kind, hardworking, self sacrificing, tender, wise counselor, encourager, loyal, funny…and so much more. What he has taught me, and continues to teach, through his example; over our 16 years of marriage is unmatched. In the day to day mundane, the sweet and special moments, the difficult seasons…Eph. 4:32 rings true of him….”Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you.”
I want to share with you one moment, in one day of many, which will hopefully give you a tiny glimpse into the heart of my husband. The night before his birthday I was able to spend a few hours away with some dear friends.  Chad as always, was gracious to let me go and so faithful in caring for Papa and Gigi. After the two of them were in bed he slipped back into their room to check that all was well and somehow Gigi had placed herself kneeling on the floor over her side of the bed. She was crying, possibly trying to pray, we are not sure. After picking her up and sitting her on the bed, he knelt down beside her to make sure everything was ok….but she was not. She was weeping and not understanding what was happening, why was she like this, she so desperately wanted her Mother and wondering why the Lord just won’t take her home. As tenderly as possible Chad comforted her, assuring her that she will see her Mother again and that the Lord greatly loves and cares for her and knows her days. He was able to calm her with his words and again tuck her into bed with assurances of his love and ours. In moments like these, I can hardly believe the tender and faithful love with which he cares for my grandparents and how he has led me in learning to serve and love them faithfully. The added beauty is that in so many ways he mirrors my Papa. Every word I used to describe Chad are the same ones I would use to describe Papa. I have long told Papa that I wanted to marry a man like him. I praise the Lord that in Chad, He has given me my hearts desire.

Yesterday

Yesterday was heart breaking.  There is simply no other way to describe the events of the day. I daresay it was the hardest day we have had yet in this journey with Gigi. In the midst of the difficulties, there were blessings….tender and severe mercies. We learned much in this day alone and know a little better what to do different next time. I will not be sharing many details this time. In my thoughts, almost all of the painful moments that transpired are not appropriate for blogging and some of it is simply too hard to describe; but I do want to share the beauty of the day. We had a very profitable and encouraging visit with Gigi’s doctor. He made some drastic adjustments to her medicine and gave me some insight and direction that will hopefully bring some practical help in the everyday care of Gigi. We are beginning to see that we will have “hills to die on” in the daily tasks of helping Gigi. As she continues to become more combative we are seeing that unless it is an area of risk to her, we will let go of some of the things she fights us on. I am more efficiently learning to recognize the many instances where she is not aware of who I am, instead of attributing the situation to her being angry at me personally. Yesterday the anger was coupled with some statements that brought to light that she truly, in those moments, did not know who I was or what she was saying to me. How thankful I am to know that the words we have heard over and over are so true….”God’s sovereign hand is in the glove of all of our circumstances”. We rejoice and rest in this truth.

May I be so bold to ask a prayer request? We deeply desire wisdom.  Not only that we would have wisdom, but that we would be faithful to petition our awesome God, without doubting, for the wisdom He desires to pour out on us. This past Sunday I was reminded again of a truth I have long known, but for some reason it struck me anew this week. James 1:5-6 tells us …”If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
We must ask, and in confident faith… trust… that He will give of the abundant wisdom He has promised and desires to lavish on us. What a mighty God we serve!


The JOY of the Lord is my strength.

Rocky....Rocko....Rocky Baby....

You will hear all of these names sung from the lips of our children as these are the beloved names of the newest member of the Honey family! I absolutely love seeing JD run after his new best friend yelling…”Rooccckkyyy Baaabbbyyyy” at the top of his lungs. We adopted our little guy about a month ago now and we are in love! Rocky is terribly sweet, has a gentle disposition, and is a practically perfect little puppy! We are not experienced dog owners and this could not have been an easier transition for our family as we learn to care for our new little one! We were marveling over the fact that even though we have been married over 16 years, we have never owned a dog! How fun that we get to experience this for the first time with our children! We originally started looking for a Blue Heeler pup, when we heard about this sweet litter from a friend…thank you Jennie! Even though most of the comments we get ask if he is part German Shephard…he is not. Rocky has a Momma who is a beautiful full bred Golden Retriever and Dad is a mix of Blue Heeler and Border Collie….we should have one loyal dog! The training began right away and he is quickly learning to sit and wait to eat (after the food is poured), where to go to relieve himself, sitting and not jumping up, and so much more. I love the family effort of training, what a great experience for all of us. One of the sweetest blessings is how much Gigi loves him. We try to bring him into her often to say goodnight and she really enjoys sitting outside and watching him play with the children. Hopefully it will not be to long and we will have him trained to sit still on her lap so she can pet him, it really lifts her spirits. JD and Rocky are quickly forming a sweet bond….there is nothing quite like a boy and his dog.