Where did Baby Tate go?

This weekend we celebrated the birth of our first born, Tate Aaron. He is a great kid. He has caused me a mountain of worries, but has also seen me through some tough times. He doesn't always listen, but seems to hear everything. He makes me cry my eyes out and laugh my head off. He can't remember where he left his shoes, yet, he knows the lines for every infomercial on TV. He's weird enough to be interesting and a nonconformist. He cries often because he's sensitive--like his dad.

Tate has grown into a wonderful boy. His innocent belief in the Lord makes me crave a theology where God is my Superman. I worry often that I will "mess him up" and I pray like crazy that he will be fine. He loves his family and finds his "best friends" within it.

Happy 8th Birthday, Tate!

I love you,

Mommy

Now, Tate will also share his birthday week with a dear friend's second born, Aaden Isaiah. Aaden was born on good ole Black Friday (the 28th) at 5:07 am. I got to be there!!!! After having 3 c-sections, a good old fashioned delivery was a new experience for me and I was thrilled to get to be a part of it. Welcome, Aaden! And Happy Birthday to you, too!

Thanksgiving
by Tate Anderson


I am thankful for many things. The first thing I am thankful for is God. I am thankful for him because he loves the world and he gave his only son. The next thing I am thankful for is toys. You can play with them and have fun with them. The third thing I am thankful for is home. It keeps me safe. The last thing I am thankful for is pets. They keep me company. I am glad that I have God, toys, home, and pets to be thankful for.


(And I am thankful that Tate has had some fabulous teachers!)

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

Rainbows

I remember the day well. I was sitting at home in my flannel pink striped pajama pants that I had worn for over 3 weeks. I was nursing a wound- and not just in a physical sense. It was one of the darkest times in my life and, thankfully, God has helped me to forget the intensity of that pain. But the impression still remains. And that I am thankful for.

A day full of rain. Great. Just what I always needed on a day like this. I tried to shake the grief and overwhelming despair. Why did this happen? The rain darkened my mood and reminded me of my sorrow.

The rain finally stopped late in the afternoon. The sun was just starting to set in the sky. As I sat on the couch, I wondered whether there could be a rainbow. I thought about when rainbows appear. I thought about how the sky is usually so definitely divided -the dark sky moving away, heavily contrasted by the bright blue-grey sky in it's clearing. Surely God wouldn't fail me. I went to every window in the house. I knew where the rainbow had to be, considering the time of day that it was, but I couldn't see it from any of the first 6 windows I looked out.

I ran to each room, frantic at the thought of the "promise" not being visible to me. And then I stood at the threshold of the nursery -the nursery prepared for a promise never fulfilled. I ran to the window, skeptical and hopeful at the same time.

And there it was. My promise. The promise that was first given to Noah and now, I believed, to me. His promise. The promise of new beginnings. The promise of safety. The promise of peace. From that moment, I knew that His promise was unfailing. I realized that I was never promised a baby here on earth. His promise isn't about this earth at all. His promise is much more than that.

I recently drove home from work to a beautiful rainbow arching over my home. I remembered His promise given with the rainbow and I remembered that day four years ago in late November when I searched frantically for it's presence. I am constantly reminded of His promise and, every passing year, I remember and long for the day when it is fulfilled.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Ten for Tuesday

Friday Favorite has been MIA lately so here are ten things I'm happy about today:

1. My husband is off work for the next 3 days! Yea! Of course he still has school, but beggers can't be choosy. I miss him like crazy. I get a little crazy here without adult conversation.

2. My birthday is this weekend. I don't forsee any huge parties, but maybe I can eek in some hubby time and shopping..... maybe?

3. My daughter is potty trained! Yippee!

4. Post-it paper on a roll. What can I say? My life is simple. This stuff is super for the kids to create --it sticks to the table and then they can hang it right on the wall.

5. Fisher Price Digital Arts and Crafts Studio....... I love you. You have occupied my kids for hours this weekend. Yes, you have been neglected for almost a whole year since we got you for Christmas, but thank you for your patience.

6. The Duggars. Watching freaks like you makes my life seem much more normal. No offense.

7. It's almost "tights" season. So much easier to keep up with than little socks.........

8. The leaves, the smell ..............this time of year often brings back some creepy memories --but I can't help but love it. I thank God for that.

9. Daylight Savings Time. I know, I know, it screws with your mind for a little while, but I so enjoy waking up when it's light outside and having an earlier "come inside" time in the afternoons. It makes my life much easier.

10. Sweet tea. I know, it's random

Boo!

We had a good Halloween despite Rob having to work. The kids are getting old enough that it's much easier for me to handle hectic holidays such as this one without pulling all of my hair out. My only complaint is all of the driving and stopping at relatives' houses. Mainly because driving on Halloween is never fun and the kids start to get a little frustrated with all of the getting in and out. My kids also love to give out candy so all of the driving around limits their time for doing this. I love going trick or treating with the kids, but I'm also looking forward to the day when we can decorate and dress up and just stay and home and greet trick or treaters. If only my kids had two parents ;)

Avery, Tate, and cousin Maddox

Avery was a Bobcat cheerleader. I was a little worried about a costume she might actually "wear". She's been a little particular lately about what she has on. So when we went to the ballgame a few weeks ago, I thought this might be an good idea.

My sister in law, Jennifer, rolled Mallie's hair on sponge rollers for her princess costume. It was so funny. She looked like a little old lady who just came from the beauty shop for her weekly "set".


This is why all of the driving around is worth it. My grandparents are housebound and don't get to see my kids very often.


This was Avery's pumpkin request. Her daddy carved this the night before Halloween.

Rob carved pumpkins for hours. It's his "thing". We had a lot of trouble this year because our pumpkins were so thick and tough. He broke every tool he used and finally ended up cutting the tops off with a Saws-all electric saw thingy. When he had just finished the last one (nearly 3 hours later), he missed his stool and sat on one of them and broke it. He just shoved it into a flower pot for a "stand" and you would have never known....... bless his pea pickin' heart.

Tate was Indiana Jones. He loved his costume so much that he wore it for 2 days before Halloween just because. He looked in the mirror and said, "I look like a hunk."

Maddox's costume had a little "problem". This is the back :)

Hope you all had a great Halloween! Time to get out the Christmas tree!