Weeds be gone!

I read the following in my quiet time the other day and it has been really resonating with me a lot lately. It's a quote by Charles Swindoll in his book Stress Fracture:

'The closer you get to authentic, the less you care about the artificial.'

It's funny how God speaks to me. I read this amazing piece of wisdom and then a couple of days later got an email from a friend asking for prayers on behalf of some friends she went to college with. As our friend kept us updated, via email, on the situation with her friends, I was also keeping tabs on the plight of this amazing couple through their blog. Well, I already sent you to their story, but if you want to go back for an update I promise you will leave inspired.

In the end I have no idea if Sara Sullivan ate organic, what her thoughts were on homeschooling, christian school, public school or cloth diapers, I don't know if she drove a hybrid or an SUV, I do know (through reading her blog) she did exercise, liked yoga and went to a ladies bible study, but I don't know if she was a democrat or republican, watched tv or not, had a clean house or a messy one, recycled or not...and the list of what I don't know goes on. And at the end of the day, I'm not sure that any of that really matters.

What matters is that all through her blog you know who she loves most in this world.

What matters is that she had relationships in her life. Lots of them

What matters is when things didn't make sense she rested safely in the arms of her Savior.

What matters is when times got tough, she kept her eyes fixed on Jesus.

What matters is that she is leaving a legacy of lives touched through the way she lived her life - in complete surrender to her Savior. If only, I am so blessed.

I struggle over here. I struggle with lots on my plate, a house that doesn't look like a model show home, my weight, what to do about the kids education, my obsessoin with the gym, why my carpet always needs vacuumed, making chore chars for the kids, finding time to clean, Halloween costumes, soccer balls, bills, what I feed my kids - even whether or not I should make my own laundry soap! And while I'm not saying that those things don't have a place, I am saying that they take up too much time in my day. Time that I need to spend getting closer to my Savior.

Because I have a feeling that the closer I get to the authentic, the artificial in my life will become more clear. And then I can weed out that artificial. Because in the end I want to leave a legacy of rich relationships and complete surrender to my Savior.

I have a feeling I'm going to have to do a lot of weeding.

Beach Trip

We went to the beach over the weekend and had an amazing time! We weren't sure what the kids were going to do (it was the girls first time at the beach!), what the weather would be like, how the girls would do without their naps...SO many variables when dealing with kids.

We were amazed at how smoothly the trip went. The kids had so much fun and so did we. We went with some good friends of ours that have 6 kids and that added to the fun! Here are some pictures from the trip - in no particular order!

Oh, yeah baby. This is what I did most of the time - kick my feet up, watch the kids all have a blast and chill. It was awesome. Why haven't we gone to the beach before?
I had been watching the weather because it was supposed to rain. 40% chance from 9am-5pm. Lucky for us, weather.com was wrong. Very wrong. It was beautiful! Look at that blue sky!
My four Mad kids. Gosh, I love those little people!
Toddler feet, don't you love 'em?!
Lily Kate, true to form, really liked the waves and water but was super hesitant. She takes her time to get used to things and absolutely does NOT like to be rushed.
Ella Grace on the other hand is fearless! Unlike her sister she doesn't mind getting dirty and loves adventure.
Little Kate. Isn't she yummy?
Caleb and his best friend AJ. Aren't they cute? They are in the same class at school and rumor has it that the girls chase them in the playground and try to kiss them. Thankfully they haven't caught my boy yet! I have made it clear to him that the only girl that kisses him is his mama!
Luke and his best friend Josh. It really is great being good family friends with the boys best friends.
The girls had watched the other kids pulling each other on the boogie boards, but I don't think they got the memo that you have to be in the water for it to work well!
Little Kate...
...that girl loved running in the sand and chasing the seagulls! She didn't catch one, and I shudder to think about what would have happened if she actually got close to one!
Caleb running in the water. Doesn't that bring back great memories of being a kid at the beach?

Lily Kate
The sisters.


Sitting with their papa, enjoying the little waves.


And this is where the big kids were most of the time. It doesn't look like it, but they are actually pretty far out there. More great memories...
Daddy and his Diva's

Caleb flying his kite
Christian, isn't he cute?! We want to do an arranged marriage for him and one of the twins, but he can't decide which one he wants. And we aren't into polygamy.

Christian being a boy...
...and Lily Kate being a girl. You go, sister, and tell him that's not appropriate!

Ella and Daddy
Poor Ella. The girls didn't get their nap and I wasn't sure how they would do, but they did great. I was shocked when I asked Ella if she wanted to take a nap and she laid down and went right to sleep!! What a great way to fall asleep - ocean breeze and the sound of waves in the background. Unfortunately her wake up wasn't that great. Her sister came over and started messing with her. Silly Sister...
The Collins Fam. I am so thankful for them and their friendship.


The sunset on our way home! It really was an awesome time!!

Prayer request

I'm off to the beach today, but before I go I wanted to ask you guys to please pray for the Sullivans. I'm not sure if any of you heard about their story, but it really touched me, made me think and hold the kids a little tighter. I don't personally know them, they are friends of friends, but as I was reading through some old posts on her blog I was surprised how many connections I had to Sara. Joseph was working in the ER that she was brought to and while she wasn't his patient, he remembers her case. Also, her MFM OB was mine too and she is from the Houston area, really close to my parents. Their story is heartbreaking and their faith is amazing and inspiring.

I stumbled across this quote and found it helpful while processing all this:
In this crazy world, there's an enormous distinction between good times and bad, between sorrow and joy. But in the eyes of God, they're never separated. Where there is pain, there is healing. Where there is mourning, there is dancing. Where there is poverty, there is the kingdom. - Henri J. M. Nouwen

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

The funeral is today. Please keep them in your prayers.

Flashback Friday!

This week I am flashing back to one year ago! I'm always amazed, when looking through old photo's, at how much difference one year makes in kids, especially in toddlers. This one was fun because the sisters look so...babyish.

(click on the photo if you want to see the pictures better)

Mad moments...

...in bullet points - my favorite!

• I'm contemplating a hair cut. My hair has gotten ridiculously long. Like I-have-to-yank-it-out-from-under-my-husband-when-he-rolls-over-on-it-in-the-middle-of-the-night long. But here is my dilemma: I have had my hair all lengths and although I like it really short, my man says when it's short I look like I have a helmet on. How's that for brutal honesty? Hmmm. He loves my hair long. I like to grow it out and then cut it short, but my fear is that while my hair grows like a weed, what if now that I am getting older it won't grow back? Isn't there like some rule that your hair stops growing as you get older or am I crazy? And then my other fear is that what if when it's short it irritates me while I run? I can't have any irritations when I run!
• I did find out that I could sell my hair on the Internet, for big bucks (like anywhere from $500-$1000) because it is virgin hair (no dye, no perm), ridiculously thick and long. When I told my man that he said, "Where's the scissors?" Apparently, money talks around here.
• So, if I'm not getting a hair cut, my other thought is - DYE! I would love to dye my hair. I've never done it before, but I think that it would look really cool with a pink stripe in it. Yes, I am serious. Once again though, my man thinks that is absurd. So, I gave him 2 choices: pink hair or nose ring. He's still thinking, I'm still serious...
• Well, that is 3 minutes of your life you will never get back reading about my hair drama. On to other things...
• School is going great for the boys. They both love it! Check out Caleb's cursive:

There is some story that my MIL loves to tell that when Joseph was in kindergarten his teacher declared that his handwriting was so bad the only thing he would amount to in life was being a doctor. His handwriting is terrible and she was right. I wonder what you become if you're cursive is this fabulous?!?

• While the boys are in school, the girls and I are trying to find out where we belong. It has been an adjustment for me. For the past couple of years everything has revolved my big boys - their schedule and activities. And now they are gone and the shishers and I are finding our groove. I'm feeling lonely and need to find some friends for the sisters and I. So...
• We go to the gym every morning, we've joined a great MOPS group at church, we go to the park & play and are looking for a playgroup. It's a start. Joseph rolls his eyes when I say I have no friends. He claims to not know anyone who has more friends. He's right, I have friends, I'm just looking for that one that has a husband in residency, loves going to the gym, runs and has twin girls. Really, is that too much to ask?!
• Until then, it has been fun being with the Divas - they are crazy and make me laugh all the time! We have lots of girl time and every time I go shopping with them, I am reminded at how terrible they are and how it's all my fault! I seriously let them get away with murder. It's bad. But they are just so darn cute!
• I had my Mother's of Multiples sale last weekend and got rid of tons of girl clothes! The amount of clothes these girls have is bordering ridiculous. And now that those clothes are gone, they have made room for their fall wardrobe. I am having serious fun shopping for that!
• You can rest easy tonight knowing that I have figured out the Halloween costumes for this year. Whew, there was some stress, fast talking and bribing involved - but it is done! And there will be no changing of minds or reveals quite yet. I will just say that I am now on a 5 year streak for group themed Halloween costumes. The things that make me happy...
• My sister has been living with us now for the past month and it is going really well! She's going to college here and just got a job this week. It has been so nice having company when my man is gone and she has been super helpful with the kids when we need her. It's nice to have a babysitter around for impromptu date nights. I try really hard not to abuse her, wouldn't want to run her off quite yet...
• We are going to the beach this weekend and I am super excited. We are going with some of our good friends who have 7 kids. It should be a blast!!
• Soccer season starts next week and the boys are thrilled!
• Joseph has been on nights all month and pulled his last one last night. Whew, I'm glad that is over. It wasn't that bad. The most painful part is that he sleeps in our room, so I hate going in there to shower, change or anything else for fear of waking him. It will be nice to have my room back! He's off for the next 11 days - whoooo-hooo - and then will be out of town for a while - booooo.
• And on his week off, he is geared up to (drum roll please) potty train the twins. I-am-so-not-ready-for-this! I was geared up for it, but then changed my mind a couple of days ago. When I say this out loud, I laugh at myself because I don't really have to do much. Or at least that is how it's been in the past. Joseph potty trained the boys and did a perfect job. Well, perfect with one and the other one...let's just say we got a call this afternoon to bring a change of clothes because he had an accident. But it's not Joseph's fault that child is way too busy playing to worry about little things like going to the bathroom!
• I digress, back to the twins - while Love is off and will solely dedicate the time to training the twins, he will leave. And then I will have to commit to what he started and I am bad at commitment. Hence the reason that he potty trains.
• So, I'm still thinking about whether or not to potty train. I did, however, have fun buying girl panties!!!!! I've never bought girl panties and they are sooo cute.

Alrighty, that is all (and wayyy too much) for now. I really doubt that any of you read through that and I don't blame you. I wouldn't either. I just missed y'all!

Happy Fall Y'all

A new bloggy look for the fall!

Luke's Birthday pictures a little late...

My camera battery died, so I don't have many pictures. Hate it when that happens!

You can click on the picture to make it bigger.

Oh, Miriam, this did not go well!

My sweet friend Miriam is trying to help me figure out how to make a collage...here is my first try. I'm not doing so well. Miriam = good teacher. Sab Mad = bad student!

Is this another sign it's time?

"okay, are you sure you know what you're doing?"
"yes, don't worry. mama gets the wipes out and ready first. trust me, i know what i'm doing..."
"like mama says, play with the wipes and don't fuss. don't wiggle."
"okay, mama, stop taking pictures and come help shisher. she's not cleaning me with the wipes, she's trying to cover me with them."

And that is what I caught those two doing the other day. I love how they used a magna doodle pad as their changing pad!