Today was...

The boys on their way to school last year

(The pictures in this blog are just ones that make me smile. I didn't have anything new to add)

Most of today was just ....ugh! No fun! So glad to have these days so I can appreciate the good ones when they happen. And nothing major happened, but sometimes it's those little things that make the day feel long and frustrating.

First off, I got up and got ready to drop Pierce off at school and head to Meijer. Grocery shopping is sometimes fun for me, but most of the time I just want to get it over with. Today we were out of everything! I was a little prepared with a small list. By the time we were done, I had groceries falling out of the cart, it was so full! Brody was contained in the front of the cart, but there was no room for Sawyer so he "helped". He put unwanted food items in the basket just about every time I went to grab something we needed. When he wasn't doing that he would go to the shelves that were his level and push everything back as far as it would go. I'm sure the people who stock the shelves loved pulling everything back up front. Got through the checkout and, of course, I forgot three important things. I parked the cart of groceries I had purchased next to the greeter up front, ran and got my items, paid for them, got the boys jackets on....it was then I remembered Sawyer was in underwear now. I took our coats off, re-parked my cart next to the greeter and took him to the bathroom. Finally, I made it out to the car, unloaded all my groceries, strapped the kids in the car seats and....crap, I remembered I  had a ten dollar coupon in my wallet that I didn't use- good only through this week and only if you spend 100 dollars. Unstrapped the kids from the car seat, walked back in (can I just tell you that it was FREEZING outside) and stood in another line to get my ten bucks! If it were a dollar or two, forget it, but this was ten dollars and I wasn't missing out on it. This was the last thing I did at Meijer today besides leave. When I have three little ones I will be going to the store with my husband or by myself. That was enough to be my workout for the day!

Crazy hair day last year

I heard from an old high school friend when I got home and she said she was visiting Michigan and wanted to stop over! Such fun, good news! Plus, I now would have some motivation to clean my house. I was so excited that, as I was backing my van out, I failed to see that I was too close to the side and I broke my side mirror off. I parked my van, ran in and started bawling as I explained to Kyle what I had done. I haven't cried that hard in a while. Usually that kind of thing wouldn't bother me so much. My husband does such a wonderful job to provide for our family and I just did something so stupid- so preventable. Thankfully he forgave me right away and said it would be okay. Maybe it was the mascara running down my face that made him so gracious- or maybe it's because he's just that great all the time :).

Someday this picture will become very useful! :)

Got back from picking Grant up from school and found my little Sawyer covered in puke and with a bloody nose. I had 5 minutes to handle this situation before I had to pick Pierce up. One wonderful advantage of my husband working from home and a 12 year old who is pretty good with kids is during emergency situations like this, they can be a big help. Kyle called the doctor, Grant watched Sawyer in the tub and I quickly cleaned up puke off the carpet and washed blankets. I was able to leave and pick Pierce up on time. Whew!

My friend, Heidi, arrived with her two kids at the same time Kyle took Sawyer to the doctor. It was so good catching up with her and playing with her two little boys. Kyle got back and let us know that Sawyer had strep. I was wondering if Heidi, then, regretted coming, but she said she was glad she came. Sure hope her kids stay healthy!

Brody missed this pic, but I still love this. I love my boys!

The night ended with a family movie- Despicable Me. Very cute. Grant and Pierce almost finished it without fighting over something, which resulted in them heading to bed before the movie was over. Luckily for them, they had seen it before. I am sure it surprises people to think two brothers know exactly how to aggravate each other at exactly the perfect moment. :) It is usually over the dumbest things. I love doing things as a family! Even if they end up not going as I plan.

Pierce thought it would be cool if he could lean on the Washington monument. :)

We are supposed to get a big snowstorm on Wednesday! I'm excited for it for a few reasons. A) My husband works from home so he doesn't have to drive in it. B) We drive the kids every morning to school starting at 7:00 so we could sleep in just a little longer and stay in our p.j.s. Actually we are usually in our pajamas. C) I love spending unexpected days like snow days with the boys. I'm thinking we'll back Christmas cookies :) D) Snow days are still as exciting for me as when I woke up when I was little and found out I didn't have to go to school! Those are my reasons, but I understand that I'm not the only one in Michigan and some of those people who live here with me are very sick of snow and winter!

Just an update on our life right now

The Joy of the Lord is My Strength

Brody's smiling for the camera. I love how he closes his eyes :)

I was reading a book and came upon this verse. The book says when we aren't joyful we are weak because the Joy of the Lord is our strength. I had never thought about it like that I guess. And when the book says "joyful" it's not like they are saying we must be happy all the time. That would be impossible because we are only human. I think having peace in that God cares for us, that he loves us, and that he has a plan for us far better than we could plan ourselves should give us great joy. I love God! I trust God and trust his plan, but sometimes it is so hard for it to sink in to my heart. Why? I don't understand how I couldn't feel this with all of my heart after he has shown me time after time how true this is. He loved me enough to even give me the freedom to choose my own path and it was horrible. Without God in complete control over my life, it just isn't as good as it could be. In fact, it is a mess! I know from first hand experience. Yet, he loved me so much still, that after I messed up my life, he welcomed me home, back into his arms and picked up the pieces.

Smiling for me (finally) and practicing for Disney with his Pluto hat.

So this week I choose to be joyful for all he has done and blessed me with. I will enjoy where I am while I'm getting to where I am going. So, although we are still "trying" for our next little family member, I am joyful that God has given me this time with my children and my husband. I believe that God will bless us with more children, which I have said before, and I will hold on to his promise and enjoy today. Sometimes I feel like I am in high school, begging my parents to let me go somewhere they absolutely will not let me go. There is nothing I can say or do to make them change their mind. The same is true with God. I can beg him to please allow me to have my way, but thankfully he loves me too much to "give in" to my begging. Nothing I can say can change what God is doing because I've given my life to him. And I WANT God to make the decisions for my life. I want his perfect plan for my life. Because what he has for me is best for me and my family. He knows my next child by name already! He knows the perfect time to bring them into our lives. He not only cares abundantly for me- but he cares the same for my children! All of them. How could I not surrender everything to his control? How could I not be God's completely?

My husband tonight while doing the dishes for me. He has had this outfit on all day. I love him so much!

Of course there will be days I won't feel so strong, or joyful, but when I look at truth I will see God and his hand on my life. I will see that he hasn't left me. That he is right next to me through every tear and frustration- for all my joy and through my pain...big or small.

Merry Christmas! Love, The Hoffs....oh wait- we are already well into January. It's been a while since I have blogged. I think all my blogs are starting out with that same sentence. I really do have the best intentions. The holidays made things a little crazier so that could be my excuse this time. I will have to think of something better for next time. We did have a wonderful holiday season.

Christmas 2010 was spent in Memphis, TN with my mom and her family. It was wonderful. It even warmed up at the end of the week for us. We had a few days where we didn't even need jackets and that is definitely a nice change for us Northerners. My mom took the whole week off work so we could spend some quality time together. Oh my mom! There are so many wonderful things about her. In the morning I love the aroma of coffee that fills her house. That is one smell that will always remind me of my mom and my childhood. Funny that I don't like the taste of coffee, only the smell.

Other things I love about my mom are her love for thrift stores. Whenever I am with her I find good deals or get some interesting ideas. This last time I was there I bought some fun hats and recently made my girlfriends wear them out to eat :). Thrift store shopping is one of my favorite things to do in Memphis.

Another fun thing we seem to do when I am with my mom (and my little sister) is jumping pictures. My mom is getting pretty good at them too. She probably can't believe she gets sucked into doing them. It has now become a tradition and I hope it continues. They never get old for me to go back and look at. Maybe someday I will do jumping pictures with my kids when they come to visit :)

My mom can be goofy and funny and embarrassing, but my mom also has some of the best advice and words of wisdom. She is encouraging and inspiring. She loves with a very big, giving heart. She is a hard worker. Put her in a job and I guarantee she will do it 110%. Sure, my mom has her faults but her strengths far outweigh them. She is also a very loving "mimi".

Back in Mchigan. Things are the "usual" busy here. The big boys are back in school and Sawyer is now potty trained, well, for the most part. Brody makes cleaning almost impossible. He messes up faster than I can pick up. There are days when he takes my motivation away completely. When that happens, I scoop him up in my arms and snuggle with him on the couch. I do not look forward to the day where he grows too big for that. Grandma and Papa are visiting this weekend! We are so happy about that! Since I have the BEST in-laws in the world it's going to be a great weekend.

Until the next blog...