A Storybook of Grace

  Hunter took this picture of Autumn.  She loves to sit like this.  She is a funny creature.  Hailey picked to go to Mader’s German Restaurant in Milwaukee.  Sean had taken me on a date a couple of months back.  It is really a cool place.  There is a ton of weaponry and armory decorating the inside, the food is good (especially the huge pretzel!) and tons of celebrities and a few presidents have dined there.  We really enjoyed our lunch.  Little Miss snoozing in our bed.  I’m trying to take a selfie of Sean and I and the birthday child this year for each child. :)  After lunch, we drove down a Frank Lloyd Wright street to see some of the architecture and then we drove down by the lake.  It was a gorgeous day, nice and sunny and 55.  It seemed like everyone was outside dining, walking, running, going to the park, etc.!  I think our thermostats have changed a bit since moving here.  

  We are in the midst of birthday season, if I didn’t say that last time!  Well, birthdays and holidays and anniversary!  Yesterday was Hailey’s 7th!  I don’t know how that happened.  I just don’t think she should be 7 already!!!  I have to admit I have been pretty sad at how time is flying and at how many moments over the years I have wasted due to anxiety and depression.  I look at pictures and I just see how anxious and depressed I was/am.  I have not enjoyed the children or my husband the way I should and time is slipping by.  Any way, this is not supposed to be a depressing post, but a happy one so let’s get to it!   Hailey had a great day and there is more celebration to come tomorrow.   Nothing Bundt Cakes are our theme this year and they are delicious! Ladybug themed birthday!  That has been her thing since the beginning!!!  We call her Bug or Bug a Loo.  

 Around here, Sean and I kinda forget a little bit about Valentine’s because of our anniversary being two days before, but our kids love it and we have a special tradition......our I Love You Day Party.  This was not our original idea, but something that the Bates Family does, and well we just thought it was cute so we have been doing it for quite some time now.    It’s really nothing more than decorating and feasting and just having a fun party.   In other news, more snow. Ha!  That’s about it.  But I hear that’s most of the country.  Oh and precious little Natalie has pulled up to a standing twice!!!!   I’ve discovered how I have had so much unforgiveness towards God for the hard things in my life, all the trauma.  It’s led to mistrust,  an inability to worship and pray, a lack of faith.  It also causes me to have a hard time forgiving others when I can’t  even forgive God.  It’s been really hard to understand why H...

  Jessica’s life motto  Our room  Snow sculpture ice fishing!!! Ice sculptures More room pix  On February 12th, Sean and I celebrated 16 years of marriage.  He usually surprises me with anniversary plans and this year was no different.  We left the 7 kiddos at home and left with the baby.  Our anniversary was in Wisconsin of course!  We ate at Buffalo Wild Wings and then we drove about an hour away to Lake Geneva, WI.  The room was so sweet.  We enjoyed the big jetted tub and the snow falling and the fireplace.  They left us chocolates, sparkling grape juice, breakfast, coffee, and popcorn.  We just really enjoyed it.  Yesterday we braved the cold and walked around downtown Lake Geneva.  There were lots of cute shops and yummy coffee and good restaurants.  I think the high was like 8 yesterday and it snowed all day on top of all the snow we already have.  It was chilly!!!!!  I was amazed to see ice fish...

  All these new firsts seem so exciting.  I somehow feel like I started to take them for granted after having a few children, but going through this experience with Lucas has changed all that.  We missed so much with him and we are still waiting for him to do so many things developmentally that everything Natalie does seems that much sweeter.  So forgive me for acting like a first time mommy!!!!!! Ryan is off to a winter retreat in Wisconsin tomorrow.  He is going with his church youth group.  It’s still cold and getting colder.  Lots of forecasted negatives for lows coming up.  Yikes.  Our trip to Florida end of April will be much appreciated I’m sure!   Addison has begun reading lessons so we are excited for her!   Go Tampa Bay Buccaneers!!!!!! 

 You know I wish I would have recorded my life as it passed.  Not for me, but for a testimony of what God has done.  As He does for all of His children.  I wish I had that written record to pass down to my children and grandchildren.  To show how much God loves and takes care of us and to see how much He wants to be a part of our lives.  Even when we deny Him and turn from Him.  Even though we are sinners saved by grace through Jesus Christ.  He still seeks. He still pursues.   I am really wrestling with what to do on my two attempts at writing a book.  I have two unfinished books on my iPad and that just doesn’t sit well with me.  And I have no idea what God wants me to do with either of them.  I want to shout from a rooftop all the ways God has worked in my life.  I know when I hear other people’s testimonies it is an encouragement to me.  And so what a waste if I don’t share mine, which would hopefully help someone...

  Snow posts and pictures of snow fall are probably going to get boring around here real quick lol!  We are experiencing are second winter snow storm in less than a week and obviously we still had a bunch of snow from the first one that came on Monday/Tuesday.  This new one started yesterday and is still going as of this post.  Most snow I’ve ever seen!!!  I’m sure total with what we already had and what we are getting now, we’ve got over a foot on the ground.  Well, the boys asked for a lot of snow this year. I think their request has been answered!   Best part about it though, is the boys and Hailey woke up to seeing our neighbor shoveling her driveway this morning and so they suited up and went out there and helped her.  I loved seeing that!