The new year (so far).

As ususal, we’re living life in the fast lane. If we did nothing BUT take care of our two kids, our life would be a wild, crazy, busy adventure. {Take our lunch today at Firehouse, for instance. The poor people eating around us had no idea they would have the joy of witnessing the circus we are: John Wicks throwing-up his entire lunch and Luke circling the table and screaming, “MAMA’s GONE TEE-TEE! MAMA’S GONE TEE-TEE!” at the top of his lungs as I’m walking to the bathroom.}

Add in all the other things of life and ministry, and we are really busy. I’m excited about all we have going on right now, though. Adam is teaching through Colossians on Sunday nights this month and essentials of a healthy church on Wednesday nights. We have lots of small groups in our church forming to go through Multiply by Francis Chan. I’m excited to get to walk through this with a few young women as we seek out what it really means to be a disciple of Christ who makes other disciples of Christ.

Adam has gotten a chance to go hunting some this month {probably the first time since before we were married?!?} Life in Louisville with school and jobs just didn’t afford many opportunities for hunting, or any hobbies for that matter. I’m glad he has been able to enjoy it again recently. He’s also been working on building a swing set for the boys for about 2 weeks. Little did we know when we ordered it what a project it would be! Adam’s doing a great job, but it’s just been hard to finish when the only opportunity he has to work on it is at night in the freezing cold. He’s been burning up the roads on his off days, traveling to Louisville with me for class and drill for the army. He’ll get it done eventually!

I’m starting my biblical counseling internship this semester {Only 1 class left after this!!!!!}, and I’ll have the opportunity to observe and counsel at a residential center for women coming out of prison in our area. I’ve been getting to know my supervisor, and I’m thrilled, thrilled, thrilled that the Lord has provided someone who is theologically sound and serious about following Jesus, loving people, and counseling the Word of God into some of the hardest cases and life situations of women. I know this internship will stretch me and take me out of my comfort zone in so many ways. I pray the Lord will shape me, change me, and make me a more faithful and experienced biblical counselor because of it. In addition to counseling and observing, I’ll have a substantial amount of paperwork and class work to keep up with, so I covet prayers as I seek to manage my time well. Balancing my time and responsibilities has been my biggest struggle since having children. Even when I’m not taking classes,  I always have more on my mental “need-to-do” and “want-to-do” lists than I have hours in the day. Praying that I’ll have wisdom to let go of the things that don’t matter so that I may accomplish the things that do matter for the people that matter.

Speaking of the people that matter, I want to give a quick update on Luke. JW has his monthly update posts, but I haven’t taken time to record anything about L lately. Oh my goodness, y’all, he is the talkingest child you have ever met. I do not exaggerate when I tell you that if he is awake, that mouth is running. At times it’s cute and sweet. Other times, hilarious. Other times, disrespectful or wear-you-out exhausting. I need to record a few of the things he’s saying these days, so I can remember.

We’ve been working on using the potty a little here and there . . .

Me: Luke, what do big boys do?

Luke: Tee-tee in the potty, poo-poo in the potty, and crank Daddy’s truck!

Somehow he associates being a big boy with using the potty and getting to help Adam crank the 4runner.

Luke loves to use the phrase “this day” instead of “today.” I don’t know where he picked that up, but it makes me laugh. He always says it emphatically.

I saw a cement truck this day!

Daddy’s gonna build my swing set this day!

He will try to argue or manipulate with the best of ’em. When asked to come to the table to eat or go get in bed, he’ll usually say….

I play with my trucks just a few more minutes….or

I watch the baby channel just a few more minutes. 

Umm, sorry buddy. That wasn’t an option.

He uses expressions like an adult, and it kills me.

What was that about, Mama?

How cool is that?!?!?

What a mess!!!

Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness!

Probably not!

For some reason he loves to lie about a dirty diaper, even when it’s obvious…

Me: Luke, do you have poo-poo?

Luke: No.

Me: Luke, if you tell me you don’t have poo-poo when you do, that’s a lie. Lying is wrong and means I will have to discipline you. So, let me ask you again. Do you have poo-poo?

Luke: Hmmmm, I think I DO, Mama!!!