Football, the Flu and 2015!

 We've started the new year over here with the flu. So far, only my little Red has a confirmed case but her sister doted on her while I was away so she has been feeling rather poorly too. I am treating them both and further pre-medicating the boys in an attempt to STOP them from also acquiring the yuck.

Basically, what I am saying is the year 2015 has started with a bang at my house. I am guilt-ridden over the fact that I never took the kids in for their annual flu vaccine to start with. I am always hyper-diligent about those stupid shots in an effort to keep Benjamin -- who just can't fight respiratory stuff very well -- healthy. But somehow we went straight from August to December this year. I have no idea where the months in the middle disappeared and so I failed to get my crew their vaccinations.

Then, oh then, I flew to Miami with my guy to watch our beloved Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl. We opted for an adults-only trip because the airline tickets were cost-prohibitive and we literally flew down, watched us lose (big big sigh) and turned around and flew home. But of course, my little Red would come down with a fever while I was in an airplane somewhere over Oklahoma-ish. We landed in Denver and as I called to check on my crew, snow was falling, she was sick and I was panicked that we would not get home.  We finally got to our house in the wee hours of the morning on Jan. 2 and rushed baby girl to the doctor by lunchtime when she felt like she couldn't breath. Dear doctor confirmed our fears -- sweet little Red has the flu.

And Mama has a lot of guilt.

And so as I am sitting here tonight sorting the photos of the holiday season, I found these from Thanksgiving. The reality of trying to secure a "picture perfect" photo is hilarious to me tonight.

Motherhood is a lot like this photo session with my little family. I can lose my focus. I can get tickled, bemused, and distracted.

My constant prayer is a plea for God to stand in the gaps of my imperfection.

And this year, this brand new, just out-of-the-box year, I am seeking God's face to become more focused on what matters, more alert to the needs of my people, and more aware of being fully engaged and present with these whom I have been entrusted.

I won't get it perfect. I will forget things, no doubt. But I am here asking God to stand in the middle of 2015 and fill it to overflowing with His grace, goodness and His perfection. I am asking Him to remain not just in the gaps but in all the spaces, every single space.

And dear ones, I am asking Him to do the same for you!

Happy New Year!!

The meaning of LOVE...

This is what love is....love serves, love cares, love gives without expectation...

And my favorite thing of all....love hugs!

I pray you know the blessing of this kind of sweet sweet love.

From a window seat on the beach....

The last day of 2012. I can not begin to imagine how this year disappeared so quickly! 

I'll be honest, I am not terribly sad to say good-bye to 2012. It was a hard year for my little family. Too much medical stuff. Too many new diagnoses. Too many discovered medical issues that will have to be addressed in the new year and beyond.

Yuck. Blech. 

But today, today, I am preparing for 2013. The truth is, knowing that this year holds a big, huge, spine surgery for Benjamin makes me want to put on the brakes and hide right here on this little window seat on the beach (Wade and I are on a get-away trip to watch our Bulldogs play in the Gator Bowl). I want to ignore the coming of a new year. I want to ignore the curve in my boy's back requiring surgery. I want to ignore any pain and hardship 2013 might bring.

But as I sit here watching the tide come in and out on this cold beach morning, I am struck by the fact that the same year that brought in all the crazy medical issues of 2012, also brought in some amazing, very wonderful things:

My teenagers and I traveled to Argentina to serve God on a mission team from our church. We were blessed before we even left the U.S. by friends supporting the trip financially and prayerfully all over the country. Friends who were willing to stand with us and scream that they believed we could go and serve in spite of the obstacles. Such a gift! In Argentina, we met amazing people and were changed forever because of our time there. Such a blessing!

My little red learned to ride her bike all over the neighborhood without training wheels in 2012. We made such sweet memories cruising together and I know we will do more of the same in 2013.

We traveled as a family to Walt Disney World, Mississippi State and to Minnesota to meet our brand new niece/cousin -- what a blessing each of those was (especially meeting precious Moriah!!)!

And perhaps my favorite 2012 memory: watching all four of our children performing the beautiful musical  "Honk, Jr". Hearing Mason share from his heart about how the story was his  story and how he wouldn't change the fact that he has Cerebral Palsy for anything.

So though the tide of 2012 brought some things I would rather have left at sea....it brought so much more! I am ever-grateful.

And I will be encouraged that 2013 will do the same. Oh yes, there will be hard things this year. We know some of those already. But I trust in the ONE who knows the plan for the entire year -- and beyond.

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

Be encouraged my friends, the tide that brings in 2013 will bring all manner of goodness, blessings and yes, possible hardships, but we have a rock, a help, an ever-present refuge in times of trouble.

Isn't that such a blessing?

We're Ok.

We are so grateful out here for the outpouring of love, support and prayers we have received in the two days since learning about Benjamin's spine. So grateful.

In Luke 5, friends are trying to carry a paralyzed man to Jesus. When they can not get in the door, they climb up on the roof and lower the friend on his mat to Jesus. So desperate are they to get their friend to the One that can heal him, they cut a hole in the roof!

I am always amazed by these mat-bearers, these friends showing such support and faith. Thank you for being our mat-bearers as we journey toward this, another surgery. We know this season has offered many prayer needs for our young men and we are ever-grateful for your willingness to never grow weary in lifting us up to the One that can heal, comfort and provide the peace that passes understanding.

Today is a special day. Sixteen years ago today -- the day before Thanksgiving -- Wade and I sat in a doctor's office and received the news that we were expecting THREE babies. It was shocking, exciting, scary and well...did I say shocking already?

As the news began to circulate, our phone began ringing on Thanksgiving day. It was then that we required the first mat-bearers -- as God raised up prayer warriors amongst our friends and family! He has been faithful to bring others into our lives in the 16 years since that amazing news and we pray we never take the dear friendships for granted. Your support, strength and encouragement have carried us through so many seasons. And today, as my boys are here reading the comments, posts and prayers, your support has comforted and encouraged them directly as well as served as a wonderful lesson in the power of praying friends! They understand that those who come alongside us, who walk with us through these challenging seasons are those given to us by God to carry our mats. We are humbled and grateful and pray that God blesses you richly for your support.

Happy Thanksgiving, dear ones. You have once again blessed us in a mighty way. We are ever-grateful.

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Happy Valentine's Day.

As a little girl, I remember Valentine's Day so vividly -- decorating a shoebox to hold our cards at school, picking just the right Valentine for each friend in our class and uh, having Bronchitis several years in a row and missing the whole thing.

I remember one year where my sweet Mama had gotten me the cutest little heart-decorated blouse and matching skirt to wear and I could not wait! I was beside myself with plans of distributing my hand-selected Valentine cards to each member of my fourth-grade class in this cutest of ensembles! (Smile.) Only I ended up wearing it to the pediatrician's office instead.

I was clearly traumatized, right?

So honestly, it would make perfect sense if this was not a holiday I celebrated, right? With those traumatic memories. And yes, I understand that to many it is an overly-commercialized day intent on increasing floral and card sales. I once had a boss who refused to celebrate what he referred to as the forced-romanticism. Blah blah blah. I get it.

But here's my thing. It's a sweet day. There. I said it. 

In a world where we spend a lot of time -- a LOT of time on fighting over everything from when life begins to when it should end and everything in between. In a world where we focus millions of dollars on establishing political DIFFERENCES and attacking each other. In a world where we draw lines in the sand based on our football team preferences....

Isn't it OK, to take a day and focus on LOVE?

Really, how long has it been since you decorated a shoebox so people could drop you a note to say they think you are sweeter than candy?

My little red has her box all ready. She actually even pulled out last year's box to use for the Valentine's she has made for her family (and we have been forbidden to look under her bed!).

Last night, we were flipping channels and Up was on. Oh my goodness, I have to tell you that I am not sure a more romantic movie has ever been made. When Carl flips through the book his dear Ellie has made celebrating their life together, I glanced at my Valentine as tears coursed down his cheeks. With our girls curled up beside him on the couch, I couldn't help but think that THIS is what we are celebrating this week -- this love.

So pull out your shoe boxes, my friends! Make heart-shaped pancakes for your kids. Buy a treat for a co-worker. Celebrate the love of life, the love of friends, the love of the adventure we are all on together!

My Valentine -- for more than 20 years!

Have a blessed Valentine's Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope your day has been full of family, fun and laughter -- and that you have spent a bit of time counting your blessings!

Feeling the Love....

I am the mom of three 13-year-olds...I know how to speak their love language....

Heart-shaped biscuits!

But the littlest Shrader may have done the best job of all speaking her heart...

She wrote her little Valentine card for everyone. When she woke up she was SOOO excited. I thought it was about gifts...but it was about giving out HER first ever Valentines!

She used her little mailbox to hold the Valentines she gave away!

Sweet little hand-writing...

Being Mommy to these four -- one of my greatest blessings for sure! Hope your Valentine's Day was delightful!

Finding some sweet....

We spray painted. We hot-glued. We pretended we had some crafting skills.

And the result was a lovely Valentine display. And smiles on the face of my five-year-old.

One of favorite blessings! Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!

Sailing into Thanksgiving...

As I sit in my favorite chair, cuddling with my favorite 5-year-old this morning, I am amazed that Thanksgiving is upon us. Even after five years living in the desert, this holiday that seems to arrive just as summer is waning here takes me by surprise.  I could believe it is almost Halloween...the weather seems just about perfect for that. But I have barely broken out the blue jeans yet, how is it possible that Thanksgiving is upon us?!

I am not complaining. Really. I love my flip-flop-wearing lifestyle...I'm just saying that I am surprised.

But oh-so-thankful. I love Thanksgiving Day -- counting our blessings (abundant!!), mashed potatoes and cornbread dressing (yes, we have Turkey too....but the potatoes and dressing...oh my!), Macy's parade, some football....oh, I love Thanksgiving!

So, if you need me, I'll be making my grocery list, donning my flip-flops, making some pilgrim hats....and getting ready for one of our favorite days of the year!

Thanksgiving 2009....Can't wait to see what this year will bring!

May your week of Thanksgiving be especially blessed!

A season of reflections and new beginnings...

December was a bit crazy for my tastes. I like the holidays to be slow coming, enjoyed on many layers and lingered over as we make sweet family memories. But alas, with this one we hit Thanksgiving and like a bullet train were to New Year's Day. Oh, we squeezed in some sweet memories....but my head is spinning from the speed with which they raced by...


We made a quick dash to Disneyland with the hopes of seeing some beautiful decorations and enjoying the "snow" on Main Street. We had fun -- especially in the amazing new Grand California Vacation Club Condos -- but the parks were P.A.C.K.E.D. I have never seen so many people in one place. Ever. I guess everybody had the same idea this year!

With four children, my camera can barely work fast enough on Christmas morning....and this year was no different. I tried to capture Mason and his Ipod Touch (a super cool toy for my super cool kid), Benjamin and his collector item Buzz and Woodies (this movie buff loved loved them!), Cate and her Ruthie doll (Mom, Santa knew Kit needed a friend!), but I was delighted to also capture Claire and the gift she has wanted forever....a PIANO!! (Cate even told us in November that SHE was going to ask Santa to bring Claire a piano because Claire wanted it sooo much!)

Somebody else likes the piano....she didn't wait too long before sneaking a turn...

But one of my favorite shots of the season HAS to be this one!! My big kids have reached a very cool age....this year they were more excited about picking out gifts for everyone else than anything. They worked together, used their allowance monies and in secret picked the coolest gifts for each other (and Mom and Dad....just ask me about my wonderful coffee mug with their photo and a "Mom to the 4th power"!!) and then had the sweetest group hug after opening gifts! I love this photo.

So 2009 has come to a close. I am not sad, I must confess. While we had many many blessings this year, I am also thrilled to have Benjamin's surgery and difficult recovery behind us. Wade's job change behind us. Our first year of homeschooling (and all the unknowns of that) behind us.

So bring it on, 2010. May God carry my family through this next year and may He be glorified through all that we do, think, and yes....even blog!!

Happy 2010, my friends!!

Christmas Recap...

Some beautiful Music --

We started the musical season with Claire's Choral Concert -- she sings in both the 6th Grade Choir and the Treble Choir. This sweet girl loves to sing, she bounces on the risers between songs because she is so eager to begin, and her face lights the stage.

Next came the Band Concert...Mason plays the Euphonium and is just awesome!

Claire plays the Saxophone...

And Benjamin (the only one I could actually photograph during the concert) plays Percussion. I am amazed at the talent of this entire Band...and especially love listening to my trio play!!

Memorable Visits from Family --

Wade's Dad and Anna made their annual visit the first weekend of December. The kids were so glad to see them and we all had a wonderful time at Cabella's (well, except maybe Claire who has issues with all the...uh...non-living animals...)!

My family visited the next weekend. We had not seen my brother, Talley and his sweet wife, Sarah, in more than two years so this was a much-anticipated visit! My mom was especially delighted to have all her chickens under the same roof -- even though having all her kids together meant we teased her mercilessly! We all enjoyed having her pamper us with her good-cooking and I fear this visit ended with a few extra pounds on us all!

We have the luxury of having Grandmar (Wade's mom) live just miles from us...but we enjoyed spending Christmas with her as well!

Some Merry Family Time -- Shrader Style!

Yes, the Shraders took another run at Disneyland. We had to have Benjamin in San Diego on Dec. 19 for a surgical consultation and needed to get back in the Christmas spirit fast after that. Using our Disney Annual Passes one last time seemed the perfect ticket!! And it was!! The Teacups are our favorite ride -- you know that, right?! We started the trip in California Adventure and towards the end of our first day Cate looked up at me and asked, "Mommy, why don't the teacups live here anymore?!" After explaining that they were in a different door (how would YOU explain that to a three-year-old?), we rode them TWICE before leaving for home!!


Next to the Teacups, Dumbo is the favorite of the Girls (the boys like a bit more action.)...and so we squeezed into one Dumbo and attempted this self-portrait!

I love all the Christmas decorations at Disneyland but perhaps my favorite is the changes they make to "It's a Small World"...and this visit had even more perks because they have just refurbished the entire ride, complete with this new boat for our family where Benjamin just drives right on...he was perched up there like the King of the World...well, the King of the Small World to be sure!! He loved the new boats and so did we!!

And really, nothing beats the carousel -- this is King Triton's Carousel and Cate in on her favorite Sea Lion!


And finally...some cute cute kids!

Christmas morning, Wade and I thought the kids were awake but they weren't calling for us. We went to get them up (we couldn't wait any longer to see what Santa had brought!) and started with the girls' room. It was empty. We found them all piled in Benjamin's bed giggling just a lot...and eagerly awaiting our arrival!

Ah, the blessings of Christmas. We will smile for months at the quick way Cate caught on...and wanted to know if Santa could come again the next night! And the magic of watching the kids -- all four -- play with their gifts, and GIVE the gifts they had purchased for each other -- will stay with us all year. But the best part by far, was worshipping together as a family on Christmas Eve as we celebrated the real reason for all this special stuff -- a baby born in a manger, Jesus!

Christmas trees, Norman Rockwell and...Home Improvement stores!

I love Christmas trees. They smell so amazing. They light up a home. They encourage smiles, laughter and joy! I love them.


So, you'll understand that selecting our Christmas tree is a wonderful tradition that I look forward to every year! Wade and I have always had such fun in picking our tree -- from the early days of our marriage when we would drive home with the tree strapped to my little Chevrolet Sprint...looking forever like the weight of the tree would squish the car flat! To our first Christmas of parenthood, when we bundled three tiny babies and trekked down to the tree lot in our south Chicago neighborhood.


But the tree-hunts that stand out the most to date...would have to be when I attempted Norman Rockwell-like moments during our five Christmases in Minnesota and insisted we go out to a local tree farm to cut down our very own tree. You can picture it if you like: Wade carrying a super-bundled-up Mason, Mason's crutches, and the saw to cut the tree down; Me with a super-bundled-up Benjamin, Benjamin's walker, my camera, my tripod, and holding the hand of a super-bundled-up Claire. The tree farm was great...we loaded a horse-drawn sled (yes, you can picture it, right, Wade and I loading all the equipment, kiddos, and ourselves onto the sled.), held sweet little bunnies, and instructed the driver as to which area we wanted off...then unloaded all the above equipment and kids, found a tree, cut it down, attempted to capture the moment on camera before the kids froze to death and the sled returned for us. Then, we re-loaded the sled with all the aforementioned equipment and kids PLUS one big Christmas tree.


Every year, Wade and I would pretty much be done with the whole Christmas spirit-thing by the time we loaded the kids back in our minivan and secured the tree to the roof. We were wiped out. Exhausted. And always sorely lacking in that perfect photo that would have captured the whole experience! (Probably because everyone was suffering from frost-bite and could not smile for the life of them.)


So now you know why we really live in Arizona...Wade wanted to ensure he never had to do that again! No really...as great as those memories (read with only a smidgen of sarcasm because the trio really do think those were just such great excursions)...we don't have a tree farm in close proximity. We have no snow and no need for super-bundles of coats, mittens, boots, etc (And we all said AMEN!), but we do still have need for a tree. So this weekend, we loaded the minivan with all four kiddos and one Uncle and took off to our favorite tree-selecting site....HOME DEPOT! There was no sled to get us from the parking lot to the trees in the back...but there were giggles aplenty, and so much fun! From exploring the new Christmas decorations, to trying out the Tiki benches for the garden, we had a blast. And without the frost-bite!






So here's to Norman Rockwell moments. May all of yours be as lovely as you can imagine! And here's to finding what works for MY family -- and thanking God that my kiddos had just as much fun with the tree process as ever.






And to the blessing of not being so exhausted when it was all over that I couldn't enjoy the decorating -- ah, now there is a blessing in deed!