As of late...

It's been quite a while, more than 3 months actually, since I've posted on here.  But I guess that in and of itself is an update of life with twin two year old boys! Busy and not much time for sitting down!

December was filled with traveling as a family.  Down to Georgia to spend Christmas with family. Then off to Milwaukee for a conference with our organization.

Decorating cookies with Papa and Grandma!

                   
January was more traveling.  This time mainly for Andrew and I.  After getting back from Milwaukee, Andrew and I left for 10 days for England.  We were there for part-work, part-personal, since our work and personal lives overlap quite a bit. It was cold and rainy, but it was warmer than Minneapolis and there was no snow!

Upgraded to first class on our way to England!

February was the month of sickness! First it was the stomach bug, then it was cold, then it was strep and an ear infection.  Not so fun.

March has been the recovery month! First was a trip to Louisiana.  As the boys recovered from being sick, we were all recovering from being stuck inside all day.  A few warm days and all sunny ones were in and of themselves worth it.  But on top of that time with family was awesome.  The boys met some uncles, aunts and cousins for the first time.  We also got to celebrate Court's pregnancy and baby girl coming in May.  Since that trip, we've had spring break.  Lots of family time, some fun family outings, date nights, and just more relaxing days have been so welcome.

On the plane with Gram! 

Jackson celebrating Mardi Gras! 

Riding on Uncle Jim's lawnmower!

Grayson riding the horse with Aunt Brenda!

Playing on the backhoe! 

           Loving the swing Uncle Jim built them!

Visiting the fire station near Great Grandmaw's!

Soon it will be April and that means...anniversary and boy's birthday.  Then lots of hosting, which we're looking forward too and packing, which I'm not looking forward to.  A few days into May we fly out to Sheffield, England for 3 months!

Grayson and Jackson are fun, energetic boys who love to laugh! They are emotional and expressive too.  Here are some things they've enjoyed lately:

Going to the library and reading books

they are both still completely obsessed with trains, cars, trucks, airplanes and other modes of transportation!

visiting the gardens at a nearby conservatory

going to the Children's Museum 

that was just the 5k

Well, that last post was timely.  That verse would carry me through the next week! Actually the next day while I was about to take Jackson to the doctor for his stomach bug and Grayson to check in with the pediatrician about his lack of weight gain, hubby was snow-blowing the driveway and had a little accident.  I'll spare you the semi-gory details.  He came in and said, "Sara, don't freak out.  I'm hurt, but I'm OK.  Can you get a towel to soak up the blood?" Wow. Ew.  Anyway, later that week he had surgery to repair his finger, which is all in tact now and healing.  So really God was preparing my heart for the marathon that was ahead.  Then the boys have started getting a couple of hives after they eat and we're wondering if it's a food allergy or what.  Just running the race.

Aside from all our medical issues, here's what we've been up to in the last month:

Enjoyed our last times playing outside before the bitter cold

         

Traveling to Georgia for Thanksgiving

Taking the boys to their first Georgia game. Dawgs won!

What we've been thinking on:

• Winning the War Against Envy sermon (envy, part 1)
• Learning to Love the Dance of Grace sermon (envy, part 2)

What we've been eating:

• Roasted mushroom and white bean soup (one for the gluten-frees)
• Mexican chicken lime soup
• Spinach salad with bacon dressing
• Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, several times this month!

running the race

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

• Race: “agon”- battle, trial, struggle or context; a place (and contest) where Greeks would gather to celebrate games of athletes and charioteers    
• Endurance: “hypomone”- steadfastness, constancy, endurance, patiently, not swerved from his deliberate purpose and loyalty to faith even by the greatest trials and sufferings
• Set before “prokami”- to set before, be placed before, stand forth, appointed, destined, be there, be present, be at hand, lie in sight; Same in vs. 1 and 2 (before us and Jesus)
•  Joy “chara”- joy, gladness, happiness; Matt 13:44, treasure hidden in field

As I sit here in my house with 2 napping boys, and barely up Christmas decorations, and pretty falling snow outside, I was reminded of these words.  Jackson has been sick since about 4 am this morning.  Not keeping anything down or in.  Poor little guy.  And we just wen to the doctor for Grayson yesterday.  He still is not gaining weight after all the sausage, cheese, full-fat yogurt, protein bars, and milk replaced by half and half, we've tried for the last month.  We'll see if there a more serious issue soon.  It could be a malabsorption issue, allergy, intolerance, or range to something far more severe.  Or it could be that he's a tiny and picky toddler.  The Lord knows.  

I was able to go to our church Moms gathering this morning and hear specifically applied truth and talk with friends, and hear from another mom (of twins) who is here on furlough from an Islamic African region. Sweet perspective.  Thankful that Andrew could watch our sicky boy and let me go for the morning.  Thankful to come home full and refreshed to needy boys.  After lunch Jackson sat in my lap and just curled up. Until he got sick again all over himself and me and our kitchen floor.  Poor guy.  

Which is why the current silence of the resting twins, hoping they are regaining strength and building up appetites to grow is so sweet now. 

And today feels like a "running the race" day.  But I too am thankful for my God who has run the race already before me.  Blazed the trail.  And he blazed it for me.  He came for the sick and not the well.  He came to comfort and suffer, not to be pampered.  He held me when I was sick, and suffered and sacrificed for me.  He endured for me.  And He endured with me, even when I don't want to endure for my kids.  With joy he ran His race for me.  Oh, Lord, mothering is not for the faint of heart.  Mothering is a call to be like Jesus and to connect with Him in new ways.  I am not a true mom, one who really loves, if I only am here for the well, comfortable, pampered moments.  No, I am a loving mom because my King has given me grace to be all here (hopefully with joy) in the sick, suffering, sacrificing moments.  Praying this for today

one step at a time

Wondering, thinking, praying about what's next.  We have been in a season of discerning and asking and waiting for what the future holds for us.  We're thankful for lots of wise people in our lives, for a strong church we're a part of and supportive family and friends. We're thankful that our God is good to us and that the Lord keeps His promises too.  His Word and His promises have been sweet in a season fluctuating with surety and uncertainty. So, we're taking one step at a time, trusting our God who is all-knowing, who Created everything we can see or imagine, and has a perfect plan for us.  Thank goodness!

Anyway, that has been always on our minds this past fall.  I talk about the fall in the past tense now because it is now full on winter in my mind here since it snowed earlier this week.  Not thankful for that right now.

We are grateful for a healthy house right now though.  G ended up getting sick the evening my Mom left town- great timing. Fever, throwing up, crabbiness, etc.  A few days later, in typical form, J too got it.  I and the doctors thought it was just some virus. After a few days, some google searches, and another Dr. visit, we landed on hand, foot, and mouth disease.  Seriously not as bad as it sounds.  All was getting better but hubby who had been traveling like crazy got home.  With jet lag, and a low immune system, he got it! A now had hand, foot, and mouth disease (a virus where you sometimes break out into blisters). Poor guy, he had it way worse than the boys.  It took a week or two for him to recover, but right now I'm basking in the non-sickness at our place.  Though I know it's looming and coming, I'm thankful for a reprieve since it is already winter here.  

Here are some of the latest happenings:

Jackson loving the "puh-puhs"

The day Daddy got home from South Africa...and pre-hand, foot and mouth disease for him!

Wahoo! When Daddy was laid out I took the boys to the brand new Chick-fil-A and it made our day!

Taking a walk pre-snow

My punkins on Halloween.  This was as festive as we got.

Family day last week!

Our ministry's women's retreat from last weekend.

barefoot in the kitchen

One of the things that makes me feel at home is getting to cook.  We've been in our house for a couple of months now, and I've loved cooking in our new kitchen.

Here are some of our favorite recipes from the end of summer and beginning of fall:

• Twice Baked Butternut Squash- we have it at least once a year during the fall!
• White Chocolate and Cranberry Biscotti- yum! maybe would halve the almond extract next time
• Orzo with Roasted Vegetables- our old stand by.  We love making this with farmer's market veggies
• Fried Quiche- another good farmer's market meal and a quick and easy one at that! ...And we subbed spinach for the dandelion greens (obviously)
• Dittalini Pasta Salad- a light and summer salad
• Baked Tacos- another standby when needing a make-ahead meal,  Andrew adores it
• Thai Chicken Salad- so good! We love edamame and A loves crunchy textures. 
• Restaurant Style Salsa- we needed a change up from the usually black bean and corn salsa!

And because I can't help it, here are a few pictures of the boys lately!  Mom came to visit all last week since A is in South Africa (only 2 more days until he's home!).

Jackson enjoying the wind!

Sweet Gray

into a new season

With the rest of July, all of August, and most of September gone by, a lot has been going on.  We obviously made it back to the States from Lebanon, for one.  We also went to a big conference, did more traveling and landed back in Minnesota in time to pack up and move into a house and renovate it.  We're prone to the slow and simple life, aren't we?!  Now school has already started back for a few weeks now and we're getting settled into an everyday crazy routine of life.

SO many things to be thankful for:

• Parents who've faithfully come up to help us paint, rip up unending layers of subfloor, tear out nasty bathrooms, caulk, putty, sand, trim, nail, drill, and obviously babysit!
• This awesome new place...back and front yards, room for out little guys to explore and run around in, 2 car garage, guest room, etc.  Incredible blessing for us as a family and to bless others with. We're so grateful to be able to have people over and host things and our family can operate easily upstairs.
• Such a hard working, Craigslist-scouring, determined to get projects done husband, who wrestles and plays with G + J and loves me well
•  Grayson, who loves to explore, and push the boundaries. Whose obsessed with black beans. Whose become more aggressive, but also more cuddly.  A ball of energy who can be alone and independent or fighting for my lap space.  Who loves to look at books and points to all modes of transportation ("ca"= car, "ba pa"= airplane, "duh"= truck)
• Jackson, who is always looking for an excuse to smile or laugh. Whose becoming tougher by the day even when falling again on that scabbed knee and gets up without a cry. Who loves to laugh and get attention.  Who loves pasta and wants fun to be in everything. Who leaped verbally and is starting to repeat everything ("ba-ba"= puppy, "buh-buh" = brother, "baby", "wa-wa"= lawn mower/water).
• Our awesome staff team family. We've loved getting reconnected after a summer away from most of them.  We also love the several who've joined our team or are planning to soon!
• The weather up here! A break from the South's rain and a delayed fall have made me so happy

Our August official staff picture (A's with Grayson and I've got Jackson)

watching Daddy mow our new backyard

pushing laundry on our now hardwood floors entertains for a while!

a Twins game while it was hot

playing in Daddy's office space

romping around the backyard

"playing" with chalk on the driveway

the best I could do getting all 3 of us waiting for Daddy to come home!

enjoying a bin of beans on the deck!

in the middle east

For the past two weeks, we've been in Beirut, Lebanon.  We're here with 5 students as one of our cross cultural summer projects.  It's been an adventure for sure.  And lots of adjusting.

Our little guys are doing great, but it was rough on our flights over here and helping their bodies get over to the major jet lag.  I share this because it's in the past and now comical. We obviously hoped and prepared in every way for Grayson and Jackson to sleep on our 9hr, then 4hr flights here.  We left at 8pm and gave them their usual teething tablets (all natural!) to just take their crankiness down a notch on the plane.  We are not above drugging our sweet angels, on horribly long flights but unfortunately we tested it out a few days before and they were even more untamed. Anyway, sweet 'ol Grayson eventually was rocked to sleep and we put in him a little bassinet attached to the bulkhead wall in front of us.  We zipped him in and made sure the lights weren't glaring in his eyes.  He slept solidly for 5 hours! Which, honestly was all we could ask for...with the dinner service and the announcements and lights after takeoff and before landing that was really the only quiet and dark time.

Poor Jackson though.  He finally fell asleep in my arms with his head on my shoulder for probably 45 minutes before he jolted awake.  And that was it! He took this little power nap and was WIDE awake the rest of the flight.  He was content, thankfully, but I don't think his eyelids drooped once after that nap.  So that meant Andrew and I switched off with J and we probably each got a total of an hour of sleep.  Ha. It really was ridiculous looking back!

During our layover Jackson totally crashed in the stroller (which he hasn't done since he was maybe 3 months!) and then again on our next flight.

Aside from the travel getting here and eventually coaxing mainly Jackson to relearn sleeping through the night, it's been great! We thankfully found strawberries and kiwis which G and J still love!  They've tried falafel, hummus, menoush, plums, cherries, and lots of other yummy things since being here, but I think they still prefer fruit over anything else.

They also love watching the many cranes and construction sites scattered around the city.  People love them and I think they're almost an attraction here...old men, young people, kids, everyone stops, stares and then reaches in pinches their cheeks and often kisses them on the head or hands.  Definitely a different concept of personal space around kids! I mean a blondish, blue eyed baby is rare here and even rarer when there are two!

We've been taking Arabic classes, visited an orphanage, met with lots of foreign workers, visited a few churches, looked at several college campuses, and overall talked with lots of people.

Our trip is down to halfway which is baffling! We're looking forward to what the next two weeks hold.