Things That Come To Mind

I haven't blogged in a while. I'm not a writer, so I often have to really think about this and lately, after I get done doing everything I have to do in a day, and not getting everything done, the last thing I want to do is think. I just want to sit. Do nothing. Just stare blankly. Sounds fun doesn't it?
We've been busy. We joined a gym so we've been able to work out! There is a pool, rock climbing wall, hot tub. Steam rooms, sauna (both are non-coed), free weights, newer weight machines, racket ball, batting cages, basket ball, aerobics, yoga, Pilate's, bowling alley, ice skating, day care is included!! ahhhh Loving this very much. It's a great break. Sometimes I do classes, and other days, I'll do the elliptical while Steve does free weights, and we'll shoot some hoops together. I'm no good, but he's teaching me, and it's fun. One of these days, we're going to use the pool.
The children are growing so much. I've been doing a little schooling with Gabe and Gini. We got an easel from some good friends of ours, and that has brought our schooling to a better level. Gabe loves do use it for school, while he's not into the work book. Gini loves both. She begs to keep doing school most days. We don't have a schedule for school, just whatever works.
Gabe got hockey gear from a family at church, and I took him and Gini ice skating at the skating rink yesterday, and we had such a blast! They've never been, and it's been at least 13 years or more since I've been!
Gabe and Gini are great helpers, and both of them love Michael and Elyana. Gini got some tap shoes from Once Upon a Child, and tutus, and some dress up clothes, and she loves it. She and Elyana love to put the tap shoes on and walk around the house on the laminate to make noise.
Elyana is really excelling in her speech and sentences. She loves to try to "help" Michael, and most days they play really well together. She has stopped taking naps, but goes to bed better at night. We moved her toddler bed back in with Gabe and Gini, and while some nights are spent with all of them switching beds and playing, other nights they go right to sleep. Elyana has started sleeping through the night a lot more though, which is awesome! She is also the last couple of days, telling me that she has to go potty, and GOING!! Woohooo!!! Very soon we may only have one baby in diapers.
Michael has been able to take a few steps on his own since a little before Christmas, but is really showing a lot more interest in doing it more and more now . Last night he got to a standing position with no aid for the first time! This morning he took 15 steps in a row. He's getting to be such a big boy. He is only about 1/2 to 1 inch shorter than Elyana and about 1 lb lighter than her. He has a blanket he loves. He gets very mad when Elyana has his blanket. He loves his daddy. Steve just had to go clean shaven for a face mask fit at work. Michael kept looking at him weird. :)
I love seeing them all race for the door yelling "Daddy's home! Daddy's home!" Watching Elyana just freak out!!!! She just starts racing around the house after wrapping her little (strong) arm's around Steve's neck just as hard as she can.
We're also working on being content where we are. I must say since we moved to this smaller place, there is not a place for everything. The washer and dryer do not work well, which keeps me from being caught up on laundry. Before we moved, I finally had gotten a good system down, and was actually being able to keep up. Not so here. Being here I must say, has brought out a lot of tension in Steve and I for sure. Not being able to go out on dates, to actually sit down and have talks about us, our marriage, raising the children, praying together, discipline tactics, etc. God is showing me all the nasty little things about myself that I need to change. It's not fun. It's hard. Dying to self, realizing just how selfish I can be. It doesn't help that right now I am on birth control, and it really messes with my hormones. It always has. We decided to try this last one. It's keeping us from getting pregnant, but making me react to things that I wouldn't react to before. I'm praying about what we should do from here.
We're missing our family and friends. Thankful that God has us together as a family, when the devil and the world, would have us torn apart. Thankful for friends that pray for us. Thankful that we have vehicles to drive, a roof over our heads. Heat, food, a job...etc. We have healthy children, when so many don't. We have health ourselves when so many don't. I have a friend that has had an ongoing headache for the past few years. I'm not sure how she copes. Please pray for her. Our God is a God of miracles, of healing, of love and mercy and grace.
God bless you as you go about your day.