New Year Wish

Hard to believe that 2010 is already gone. It seems as though it was just here. Now I'm sitting in 2011, rather befuddled as to where the time has gone and how quickly my life seems to be speeding bye. Last year saw the end of my twenties, and now it seems as though my entire head is ready to turn gray. I suppose I should start looking for wrinkles in earnest now.

Last year also saw the advent of a new home for the Lunsford clan. It saw us moving back to our old stomping ground. It brought me my first dog, Charlie (a Corgi/Border Collie mutt).

2011 promises to bring us yet another little baby (Lord willing, our last :). It also promises to make me an aunt, and to bring my monkey's their first cousin. It will also prove to be my last year in finally completing my BA in Social Science.

I don't make New Year's resolutions. It seems they only get broken. However, I do have several goals that I would like to try and accomplish. I would like to blog more. I'm not sure how this will work out in the reality of two little ones in school (Noelle starts going to our local school district tomorrow, and Ezra will be restarting Kindergarten under my tutorial), myself in school, Audrey being the precocious age of one, and getting our new house in working order. However, if I really did make a concerted effort to get up earlier, I know I could accomplish much more than I do now. So, I suppose if I were allowed one New Year Wish, it would be to love sleep a little less.

What is your New Year's Wish?

Five Years

When Justin and I got married, five years ago, very few of our friends were getting married. However, since then, it seems as though we are overflowing in weddings.

I love weddings. They celebrate one of the most amazing and beautiful gifts this life has to give: a life partner. I find unique pleasure in those weddings that join together like-minded believers.

Weddings are beautiful, but marriage is hard. A wedding is only the start of a marriage. Marriage is where the refining is done, the 'true self' is revealed and exposed. Marriage can humiliate you, it can destroy you, it can break your spirit. Marriage can also bring your laughter and joy, it can build you up, it can reveal your weaknesses, shed you of your pride and selfishness.

I love that Jesus describes His relationship with us in the analogy of a marriage. His love and care for us should be mirrored in our love and care for our spouse. As marriages in this country are faltering and failing, my prayer is that those who enter their wedding day with such joy and bliss will work daily and faithfully to keep their spouse the bride/groom of their dreams.

Fall is here

Ah yes, the scent of fall. It's my favorite time of year. It's so magical, with the hint of coming winter, the changing leaves in the trees, the time to pull out George Winston, warm blankets, Hot Apple Cider, Caramel Cake, and begin the baking Odyssey.

It's also the signal to start school again. After five years going to California State University Chico, I'm beginning to show my gray hair and my age. I just don't care very much for school anymore. I want to spend my days carving pumpkins and raking leaves. Yet, as I press toward the goal of completing this old dream, I have to dig in and dig deep to finish strong.

I also started Ezra in Kindergarten at home. We are using SonLight, and loving every minute of it. Ez thinks school is the best thing to happen to him since Audrey came around. He is so bright and inquisitive, and I can't wait to start planning our family 'field-trips'.

The latest news involves a house. 20070 Redwood Ct, Foresthill California, to be exact. It is now our house (almost, we are slated to move in next month). We're just a little bit excited. Now, I need to start packing!

Bedtime

Lately, everyone has been going to bed around 10pm, and I am left up all to myself. I usually stay up for the next two hours, either listening to a sermon, reading a book, surfing the web, or watching a Period film (because no one would stay up to watch them with me). I find myself craving this window of alone time. I look forward to it.

As a mother of three little ones, I find that it's rather necessary for me to take a "time-out". Otherwise, I get cranky and impatient, neither of which I want to confess too. I'd rather admit to being Mary Poppins - practically perfect in every way. But I'd be telling a lie. I think I'm probably more like George Banks.

post script: You can tell someone has young children when their references are all old Disney films

Pound Puppy

So, we have decided we need another dog. A small dog. Moses is over 85 pounds, and while he is a very good dog, he's a little large for my three babies. They prefer a dog around the 10-20 pound mark. As with all good things, the first place I like to look for a dog is in the "used" section - this includes SPCA, Craig's list, and the internet. Second hand animals are not only the cheapest, but well, the best (that's where we got Mo).


I like the idea of not raising a puppy. Puppies are adorable. They are also messy and time-consuming. So, as cute as they can be, I don't think it outweighs the other factors, like chewing on furniture, or clothes, or peeing in the house. So, I continue to search for our pound-puppy. However, to find the perfect one takes a lot of searching, patience, and time. I would really like a Corgi. However, I'm open to other options. I'm also pretty picky. This time around, the dog is going to be my choice. Mo is Justin's dog, this one will be the kids and mine. He has to love getting his ears pulled, his hair pulled, and being run over by a 85 pound, black streak of thunder (Mo). He also has to like living outside. Any suggestions?

10 Months Later

When I was younger, a journal was part of my basic equipment. I never went anywhere without one. I have an old cardboard box in my closet just full of the frustrations, ramblings, and heartfelt prayers of a young girl. Those little books helped keep me grounded.

Somewhere along the road of my 20's I have lost that precious keepsake, that haven of security for my mental and spiritual soul. I was hoping that this virtual journal could somehow take it's place, in a small way. Maybe even just a reminder of my babies amazing jump toward adulthood.

Anyways, here I am, 10 months later, willing to give it another shot! If anything I would just like to member, someday, when Audrey learned to crawl (on Monday), when she learned to pull herself up, (on Teusday), that Noelle had heart surgery on Monday, and that Ezra learned his ABC's song this week too.

These little things are just to precious not to record.

Coming to the end...

So, my good intentions have fallen rather flat. I realize it has been months and months since I last updated anything. I don't really have a good excuse, although I could go on and on about my life for the last few months and all the details of daily living. I still think it would be an excuse.


Today I find myself at home missing church, as my little girl has gotten sick. We were really praying she wouldn't get sick, because when she does, her little body just collapses. Last time she got sick, it took two months for her to get well. Lord willing, this will only be a few days.


I am officially 3 days over-due for Lunsford #3. I think I am really ready to be done being pregnant, but obviously, God is not. So, we wait... although I must admit it is with only a little patience!

In the meantime, I have thrown myself into the "Fall Spirit" with gusto. I must say that I love fall season the best. Already, we have been able to visit Apple Hill, the pumpkin patch, and not forgetting our weekly visits to the farmers market, where we have been rejoicing in the weekly fall produce!

Ezra has started Awana's and is officially a "Cubby". Unfortunately, he doesn't like it very much. We keep persevering though... the social interaction is a bonus, we feel. He also got to start an art class once a week with my mum and his two "uncles". He really loves this, although his attention span isn't the longest. I'm amazed by how good he is, and I'm really looking forward to starting school in two years.

Noelle is crawling like a house of fire. It's so fun to finally have a mobile baby. We just transitioned her into her brothers room, which Ez is really excited about. It's not going so well, as Noelle keeps waking up at night, but we will persevere here to.


Justin is almost out of hours at work, which is a mixed blessing. I think, on the whole, it will be really nice to have him home for 6 weeks with the new baby. It will really enable Noelle to keep going strong on her therapy, which would be rather difficult for me to take her too, right after #3 comes...

Blessings for now..