What a great time in NC we had!  

I’m working on a post for the trip but wanted to share this sweet little pic that Aunt Nancy took of us.  

I can’t wait to see more!!!

I also have decided to keep on blogging.  Not every day in a row, but I am going to keep it up.  I seriously did not realize how many people read our blog, but after going home & having so many of you tell me how much you love it – I’m going to keep it up!  

Also, just thought i would share my happiness… all 4 babies are sleeping right now and its raining outside.  I’m snuggled in a blanket on my bed.  I just ordered 2 books that I can’t wait to get.  I’ve heard rave reviews from a couple of friends, and thought I would pass the titles along:

* Homeschooling With A Meek and Quiet Spirit

* Managers of Their Homes

both are by Steve and Teri Maxwell

We are thinking/praying about homeschooling our children, but we still have a few years to go before official schooling starts.  However, as you all know, teaching and instruction start the second that your children are born!  I remember the first night Harper was born, Chris and I were doing this:

Trying to *teach* her to sleep!

And, I don’t know about you, but teaching isn’t always sweet.  I want to be sweet and have a gentle and meek spirit, but sometimes I get so frustrated or frazzled that I am anything but meek & gentle!  That is when I find myself putting Harper in timeout or giving her a spanking – because i want a quick result.  I haven’t spent the quality or quantity time instructing her.   So, this book is supposed to be a wonderful guide in teaching moms to have a gentle & meek spirit as they instruct their children.  

I can’t wait to get both books in the mail… I’ll let you know how I like them!  

Hope you all are having a great end to summer and beginning of the school year.  Just the thought makes me want to go buy new pencils and sharpen them!

Love~

Mary Lindsey

Okay, so as many of you have come to realize, I have fall off the 100 days of posting train.  I tried with all of my might to stay on, but I must let go.  I was talking to Nancy last night, and she said, so, just change your goal.  well, duh?!?  So, guess what… my new goal is 68!  And guess what else… I just reached it – YAY!  Let’s dance, let’s party, let’s celebrate!!!!!

This past week has been another busy one.  We celebrated the boys party on Friday.  Saturday we had a good time with my Mom & JoJo & Grandy just hanging out.  Sunday morning Harper woke up with a high fever of 103, which climbed to 104.  She was supposed to leave with Mom on Monday morning, but instead we were visiting the Dr.  She had her first case of strep.    Warner woke up on Monday night barking like a seal.  Maverick woke up on Tuesday night with a stuffy nose that could not be helped.  I had caught it by Thursday.  So, as you can see, we’ve been dropping like flies over here.  Mrs. Debbie came by on Thursday and straighted my house like a little cleaning fairie while I slept a little bit.  We are trying to recover before our trip to NC.  

I’m going to take a bit of time away from the blog (uh, like I haven’t been already). My mind will be whirling with the packing, traveling, and unpacking .  Please keep our family in your prayers as we venture out into the world.  We will be flying with our little guys, and then staying in 2 different homes (Dads then Moms).  Please pray against sickness & restlessness & for health, safe travel, and good sleep!  

I’ll be back sometime in the near future   

Love to all~

ML

9:55 AM

Birth – 5 lbs 12 oz.

Now – 24 lbs.

Macky.  You were supposed to be born 2nd.  They tried to get you out, but you were too big & wedged under my ribs.  Lovely, huh?  So, they took Crews first.  You are the perfect baby of our family…our big, tough guy.  What a curious little guy you have become!  You remind me of your Daddy as you are constant and steady (and a little stubborn).  You were strong from birth and have remained that way.  You have the best laugh and love to laugh.  You, too, are a cuddle bug and like to come up to mom for quick little fixes.  You give me giant slobber kisses all time and will persist until you have made contact with my cheek.  You are a leader to your brothers and will sometimes get all 3 of you in trouble (the candle wax incident, the escaping out of the living, the pulling a socket protector out of the outlet, etc)…you are just so curious.  One of your favorite thing to do is put your face up to the air vent and let it blow cold air in your face – once again making you and us laugh.  My prayer for you, sweet one, is that you would live up to your name, too.  Maverick means a person who refuses to conform to a particular party or group.  I pray that you wouldn’t be just a “branded Christian,”  but that you would live the way Christ lived – very different than the culture in which he lived. I pray that you will truly live a life that exemplifies Him and His love – not just what the church expects you to do.  I’m praying that you will be a Maverick for Jesus. Stay curious about life, little man – it is so much more exciting that way!  

I love you,

Mommy

9:55 AM

Birth – 5 lbs. 1oz.

Now – around 23 lbs.

{let me add that Crews does not have a picture of a cupcake covered face.  He loved his cupcake so much that he gobbled it up so fast I had to take it away so he wouldn’t get sick.  Then he was mad as a hornet & I could not get a picture of him}

Sweet Crewsie Bug.  You’ve been my cuddle bug, thumb sucker, and fighter this year.  Your little heart murmur gave us a little scare at the beginning of your life, but I think it was just because you wanted some alone time with mom.  Boy have you become a Mamas’ boy!  Just tonight I had to ask Daddy to hold you because you were following me around the kitchen like a little puppy crying because you wanted me to hold you.  You like to be attached to me, and i do not take it for granted.  I even made a baby sling to carry you around in on nights like these.  All too soon, you will be running and exploring on your own.  

One of my favorite memories of this past year was when you were about 6 weeks old.  You had terrible reflux and would barf your bottle up.  I was still nursing at the time, and I just scooped you up and brought you into bed with me.  I had somebody else feed your brothers, but we had the most special afternoon snuggling and cuddling.  And guess what, you didn’t have any other problems that day?!  You just needed some cuddly time.  It is sweet because there are still days when you are fussy and all you need is to be picked up and cuddled by me – with a blankie.  I will always treasure that day, and hope that you still have some cuddling left in you!  

I pray that you will become a tender warrior.  Your name means cross.  I hope that you will come to know what Jesus did for you on the cross.  Why an *empty* cross is the symbol to eternal life in the future & ABUNDANT life now!  You have a soft spot in your heart for your family, and I pray that you will allow the Lord to work in your heart to spill out all of that tenderness on to other people.  Your heart doctor told me when you were about 3 months old that your heart just played music when it beat.  My mind can’t help but wonder what will come of that.  In the future, if you can’t carry a tune, we will look back at this one day & just laugh at how wrong we were.  If that ends up being true, I wouldn’t be surprised at all!

I love you,

Mommy

Warner William

9:54 AM 

Birth – 5lbs. 7 oz  

1 year – around 23 – 24 lbs. 

 {after eating your first cupcake}

A year ago right at this time I heard your cry and saw your sweet face.  Dr. Kang held you up and said “Hey Mama.”  Last year on this day my heart was split wide open with the love I had for you.  You cried.  You were the first one I got to meet and spend some time with.  Daddy brought you back to me when I was in the recovery area.  Your eyes were so wide and bright as you studied my face.  I will always treasure that moment in my heart, Warner…meeting you for the very first time.  We thought we were going to name you Crews, but I just didn’t think Crews fit you.  You were the one who held your other brothers in for an amazing 35 weeks!  Well, you and God.. mainly God, but you were the gatekeeper & defender of your brothers.  Did you know that your name means Defender, sweet boy?  I pray that you are a defender of your brothers, your big sister, your mom & dad, your grandparents, but mainly that you would be a defender of God & His Word.  I pray that you would write it on your heart & fall deep in love with the Author of those words.  He will always be your defender, Warner.  Over this last year your little personality has taken off!  You have a soft & gentle laugh, but are quite fiesty when you want something and it doesn’t happen right then and there.  It will be interesting to see if this plays out over time.  You also are my loud one.  All three of you can make quite a ruckus, but you will just be playing and started saying “aaaaaaahhhhhhh”  in the biggest boy voice that you have.  It is quite funny.  i love you, Warner, and can’t wait to see how God molds and shapes you.  

Love,

Mommy