Daniel's 4 - How did that happen

Well I am not quite sure where the time has gone but Daniel is officially 4!  When this happened I am not sure.  He is getting so big so fast and way to old.   It is kind of funny how when he does something he has not done before he will say “I can do that right mom because I am 4”.  Yep, that is correct.  He is so smart, probably to smart for his own good, and you can tell he is soaking everything in around him.  He never forgets anything.  I am praying that skill stays with him for a very long time.

Some of his favorite things to do right now:

As always, play with cars and anything with wheels
He loves legos and to build things
Helping set the dinner table and clean up his toys
Play games
Play any kid of musical instrument (I love when he puts on concerts)
And anything outside, he is such a boy

Even though he has turned 4 he still loves to cuddle before bed and watch a “movie” which is anything that is animated.  Some of his favorite foods bananas, grapes, ravioli and dippy eggs. For his birthday breakfast we took him to Cracker Barrel for dippy eggs and waffles.  When he was finished the ladies brought him out an ice cream Sundae.  Who doesn’t get to eat ice cream for breakfast on their birthday!

One of my favorite things about the personality Daniel is building is his knowledge and love for God.  He doesn’t miss a beat and loves to go to Sunday school.  He has his memory verses memorized and will randomly pull them out at the appropriate times.  He can recite the stories he hears and then tell you all about them.   Here is one of my favorites of him telling the story of Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego:

For his birthday he wanted a Goofy theme.  Surprisingly it is very hard to find anything with just Goofy, but of course my child would be obsessed with Goofy!  So my dear friends came to the rescue again and helped to make the cake and cupcakes.  I think this is one of my most favorite parts of Daniels birthday, getting into the kitchen for the entire night before with these girls and just baking, laughing and catching up.  Here are some cake pictures:

Daniels day was filled with family and friends all loving on him.  His best friend from his old babysitters was even able to come and spend a few hours before the party with him.  Below is a picture of Daniel and his cousins:

This little boy is going to do some amazing things as he grows.  I can’t wait to see what God has in store as he has already touched and blessed so many just with his cute smile and personality.  Anyone that meets or talks with Daniel can attest to that!

Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. -Proverbs 3:5-6

I pray this scripture for Daniel, that as he grows he keeps his child like faith and Trusts in God as much, if not more than he does today!  He is going to do great things, that is one thing I am certain!

It is always on this day that I wonder and think about the woman who gave birth to Daniel.  The woman that I am so eternally grateful for, who gave us the best gift we could ever receive.  I can't imagine how hard it would be to look into this face and have to turn around and leave.  My heart breaks for her and I pray that someday we will meet so I can tell her how truly grateful I am, how her sacrafice blessed our family in ways we could not even have dreamed possible, how I could not imagine my life if I didn't have this face to wake up to and hear the words "Good morning mommy".  There is a special place in heaven for this woman, of that I am sure, and I can't wait to put my arms around her and say Thank you.

Happy birthday Daniel!  You are a blessing and loved more than you could ever imagine.

2012 Wrap Up

I can’t believe how long it has been since I have taken the time to update this blog!  Wow what a difference it makes having a child around.  2012 was a big year for us.  Mark and I both got new jobs, we moved, marked the one year mark of waiting for baby number 2 and my grandfather passed away.  Most of which happened in the last few months of the year! 

We had prayed from the beginning of the year for God to “shake things up” for lack of better phrasing.  And shake them up he did.  I would not recommend praying that prayer unless you are ready for him to move.  First came the change in my job in March, it was scary since I had been at my previous job for 10 years.  New people, new places and a new area that I didn’t really know how to get around.  But it has now been a year I have been here and I love it!   Next came Mark’s new job in August.  Once again scary schedules changing and the unknown, which we all love so much.  But Mark has been there for 7 months and things are going great.

In November we marked the 1 year waiting for baby number 2.  I can’t belive it has been a whole year.  It is funny how quickly this wait time is going now that I am so busy chasing Daniel around.  We pray for Daniels baby brother every night and anytime Daniel gives a tour of the house it is always “this is my brothers room”.  It was so sweet we were unpacking and a few things Daniel took out he put away for his brother.  I can’t wait until we can all meet him and Daniel can finally be the big brother!  Only 1 more year of waiting to go, and updated paperwork, fingerprints, etc.  The paperwork never ends but is so worth it when we reach that orphanage.

Now for the move!  We had been looking for a house but not really looking saying when the time is right, when finances are in order, etc.  Well the perfect house fell into our lap in October, closer to work and including everything that we were looking that was on our wish list for a house.  So in the midst of crazy travelling for work (yes the one that doesn’t like to travel for work now has to travel quite a bit) we put in an offer.  6 weeks later we had bought a house.  I can’t explain how God worked miracles to make this house come through so fast.  Our goal was to be in the house before Christmas.  So we started moving little boxes at a time getting things in order.  We set up the “big move” weekend and invited our family to help.  Let me tell you we have awesome family and friends.  Pretty much every box was unpacked, all furniture moved and in place and the house cleaned in 1 day.  We were even able to put up the Christmas tree. 

Along with the move meant Daniel had to go to a new babysitter/daycare.  Which was the biggest con to moving.  We had the best babysitter who Daniel loved and he made some really good friends in Leetonia.  This was the scariest part, how do you pick a daycare knowing nothing about the area?! Well I believe God had a hand in this area too, someone mentioned the ACC Preschool.  We toured it and it was all said and done.  Daniel loves going to school and he is thriving learning more and more each day.  He has made good friends and the best thing is the school incorporates God into every part of their day!  Such a blessing.

The week before Christmas we lost the most wonderful man.  My grandpa.  He was such a great grandfather and we have many fond memories.  We are all finding comfort now in the fact of knowing he is in a much better place, telling jokes, bowling, golfing and fixing things.  I will miss him so much and am so glad I was able to be there to tell him good bye.  I was worried what Daniel would say or how he would react.  So of course, I let Mark do the explaining.  When Mark told him Grandpa wouldn’t be there when they got the house he went to be with Jesus.  All Daniel was concerned with was “How did he get there? Did he fly or did he drive?”.   Good questions but how do you answer them?!?  I love the fact that my, then 3 year old, was comforted with the fact that Grandpa was with Jesus and someday he would be too. 

Whew!  Sorry that was so long, so that was our 2012 and 3 months of blog posts that I didn’t get around to.  Hopefully this year will be a little bit better.  I am only 3 months behind now! We can't wait to see what this year will bring!