There is a time for everything

For those of you who don't know, my sister April is going thru a season of weeping, of pain and growing.  About 2 months ago, my brother-in-law Jim went away to Camp Penelton for his upcoming Marine's training.  Unbeknownst to April, this was the first of many lies and many heartaches.  Jim didn't contact her for over two weeks and when he did, he told her that he didn't want to be married to her anymore.  They have 2 children, Ezekiel (3) and Samantha (1yr), a home, and have gone to counseling the past 2 years, etc.  

When my sister told me, a million thoughts came rushing into my mind.  The Lord so sweetly reminded me of Ecclesiastes 3: 1-11-

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace,

What does the worker gain from this toil? 

I have seen the burden God has laid on men.

He has made everything beautiful in it's time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

I'm posting this to ask anyone who reads our blog to pray for my sister.  I know there are a million thoughts going through her head as well. I know that Satan desires to see her and her family torn apart and suffering. I know that Jim is lost in a dark place of sin and unrepentance. 

But this I also know- the God we pray to cares for us. Our God parted the Red Sea, raised a man from the dead, cured a blind man, closed the mouths of lions and had a man swallowed by a fish! He can most certainly change a man's heart. Pray with confidence, pray with a believing heart that He can do anything-  He makes everything beautiful in it's time.

Advent Conspiracy

This morning we were sitting in church and our Pastor showed a great video about this upcoming holiday season.  Let me first say- as he did- we're not against buying things for each other. We're NOT saying to not buy your children any presents, nor are we saying the idea of buying Christmas presents is evil. 

What we are saying, what we do feel, is that Christmas has gotten so blown out of proportion it's ridiculous.  This video is something that really hit home for the two of us.  Check it out and pray how the Lord would lead you and your family:

Advent Conspiracy

Again, we're still going to buy our children gifts, BUT, we are also going to cut it back and have our kids do something worthwhile for others. Like Pastor Tom said, we're going to store our treasures in heaven, not on the things of this earth.

First Foods!

A couple of days ago, Samuel moved onto bigger and better things: Rice cereal.  He wasn't too excited about that (see pics below) but he's come to enjoy carrots, green beans, peaches and pears.  Like his father he hates peas and doesn't really like bananas.   It finally dawned on me he needed food when, after inhaling a 6 ounce bottle, he was still acting like he was hungry.  Boy- this kid is gonna eat us out of house and home for sure!

Disneyland

Baby update--We're for sure expecting another baby in July. They aren't exactly sure of the due date only because the baby's still little. But everything looks good- she has a strong heartbeat (I figure if I start willing her to be a girl she will be a girl :) And I'll know a lot more in 3 weeks.

So a week ago (give or take a few days) we took off to Disneyland. Me, Mikey, Samuel and our friends Danelle, Judah, Julianne and Emma. I figured if daddy wasn't there then Mikey would have a better attitude (more on this a little later). Anyway- so we braved Disneyland with just us two and 5 children. It was AWESOME :) I'm not sure why I was doubting Mikey having fun, well I do, but I'm so stoked that he had a blast. His friends Julianne and Judah are a bit older than he is- but he loves that. They were excited to show him all around Disneyland and he was very excited to follow. We started off in Fantasyland with Dumbo. Mikey was a little nervous to ride, but when I informed him that I was taking his baby brother- he realized he needed to man up and go with him :) So he held Samuel's hand so Samuel wouldn't be "scared". That's my boy. Everything was going great- until he got off Dumbo- ran over to Judah and smacked right into Dumbo's ear. Instant shiner under his left eye. Luckily mommy was thinking ahead and brought a ton of candy- so he got over it real quick.  Then we headed off to the Tea Cups, Mickey's house, Minnie's house, the jungle cruise, the tree house, Pirates of the Caribbean, ohhh the places we went. I don't know who had more fun- me watching Mikey experience everything for the first time or Mikey realizing all of his favorite cartoon characters have an actual home.

The best part- Mikey seeing Lightning McQueen. I can't even put into the words the look on his face when he saw Lightning rolling down the street, revving his engine. Oh my word- priceless. He waved hi and yelled as loud as he could, "Hi Lightning- over here- hi Lightning!"

That Disney- they sure know how to make a little guy happy!

Even the ice cream at Disneyland is wonderful :)
Samuel and Mommy on Pirates!

There's just SOOOO much to see...Mikey finally has this place figured out- where to next Mikey?
Mikey: "We're spinning fast Mom!"Ahhh... loving on his little brother.Our little Mikey pants had to much fun!

The Happenings

I've come to realize that I'm not a good finisher- I love starting things but I'm not so good at finishing them. :)  So I'm going to will in my heart to keep the blog updated. I honestly didn't realize how many people really check this thing out!  So here's a quick few paragraphs of what's been going on-

Kim- apparently you can get pregnant while breastfeeding :) I go tomorrow for my first sonogram and to see if this is really happening. I'm anxious, excited, nervous etc. So keep us in your prayers and I will be posting again as soon as I know.

Phillip- is anxious, excited (hoping for a girl even though he won't admit it), busy at work, still the best daddy ever.

Michael- has made it very clear that he wants another Samuel (baby brother)  and NOT Sophia. Well- we'll see about that :)  He took his first trip to Disneyland last week, went to the pumpkin patch, he's had a busy couple-a-weeks so I've got lots to update for him!

Samuel- is just as sweet as could be, I must be having a girl because Samuel is just way to big of a baby to be the middle boy. He's trying to roll over and thinks it's hilarious when daddy starts talking to him. It's really sweet to watch the two of them together.

So that's all for now, but there will be more...

Brotherly Love

Have I told everyone yet how adorable Michael is with Samuel?  He really does love him and I think it's just the sweetest thing.  Samuel usually has this look on his face:

but we know that he loves Mikey. Anytime Mikey's around him he smiles at him. Michael then usually exclaims: "Samuel's smiling at me!"  Like he can't hardly believe he loves him so much too :)  

Speaking of love- I fall in love with that little smile more and more each day. Samuel is such a little lover- he constantly wants to see what's going on at home.  If I leave him in a room by himself he gets very sad, but when I bring him in the room with us he lights up!   Michael's new favorite thing to do is to have me put Samuel in his bedroom on the bottom bunk bed while he (Mikey) plays with his trains on his train table.  
My sweet little Samuel...

What we're up to...

These days things have been a little hectic around here.  We started women's bible study on Tuesday mornings, I'm cleaning for a friend of mine on Wednesdays and every Monday and Wednesday I pick up my friends daughter from school while she's @ work... So needless to say- we're running around like crazy!  

Michael-

-is learning his ABC's- right now we're working on the letter A.

-continues to tear up the back yard with his razor scooter :)

-still says sweet things to Samuel like, "Good morning little brother".

The other day one of his little friends was over and he told him- "Don't hurt my little brother" in the toughest voice he could muster up :) 

Samuel-

-still looks exactly like Phillip

- is trying to roll over onto his side

- definitely takes after his mother-he's gonna be a talker :)

-he loves, loves, loves people, he gets the biggest smile on his face when someone actually sits down next to him and talks. It's the cutest thing ever.

-continues to look a little scared when he hears his big brothers voice :)

Phillip-

-is currently sitting on the couch rooting on USC.

-slept in today till 9:30am!!!  I'm the nicest wife ever

-is still the best daddy I know.

-he's trying to teach Mikey to connect with a baseball- he's done it a couple of times, but usually it's a swing and a miss.

Me-

- just got my photography blog/website up:  www.kimberlyloyaphotography.com

it's a work in progress. I think Phillip is getting sick of watching me re-arrange, add, take away, etc. from it!

-am keeping busy running after children, cleaning and doing all those other fun mommy things.  

I'll post cute pictures of the kids soon- I'm still trying to figure out my 50mm lense- LOVE IT :)