Happy 7th Birthday Jaron!

Well I cannot believe that our son Jaron is seven years old today. On this day seven years ago God changed our lives for the better. He showed us how to truly love unconditionally, not just our child but anyone. We are all made different and seeing past the flesh to the person inside is something we all need to learn to do more.

 Jaron has taught me to have more patience and how to trust God more too. He is growing up and we are so proud of him. He still struggles with eating and gaining weight but I hope and pray that will all change. He's small for his age but smarter than most his age. He's stronger than you can imagine and fearless!

Where would we be today without Jaron, I cannot imagine if I had aborted him like the doctor suggested that day. What a horrible thing to do just because he had a cleft lip. He was growing inside me and I loved him no matter what he looked like. His heart was beating and I was feeling him kicking. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself.

Look at him now....so happy and handsome!

Help from the Father...

  

This life is not easy and we cannot do it on our own. But it can be made much easier if we let our Father guide us along the way....

 There will be a lot of uphill battles and He'll be there to help us make it through...

 You might feel like you're about to fall but He's right there every step of the way...

 And other times He lets us try on our own standing close by in case we fall....

 Once we figure things out He lets us go alone but He's always watching....

 It might get hard again and you might struggle....

 

So just call on Him and He'll be there to help you through it....

(This was Jacob's first time learning to cut the grass)

I've been busy...

...but of course you can tell that by looking at the pictures at the top of my blog.

Babysitting children in our home has always been something I did to make a little extra money...until recently when I quit.

I babysat a little girl for 2 years and her parents were so inconsistant and never communicated so I never knew what to expect. I had to let it go. The stress was not worth the little bit of money I made.

Soooo I have recently started selling things online to help make ends meet. It's been taking up a lot of my spare time (like I really have any). What I really mean is I stay up too late....I am selling things that we would normally put in a yard sale but don't feel like sitting out in this heat all day. It's easier to sell in the comforts of my air conditioning.

Sorry I haven't been blogging as much but now you know why. I have taken a few pictures and will try to post them soon.

My contacts are dried to my eyes and I need to brush my teeth and go to bed....so GOOD~NIGHT!!!

Near Death Experience!

Well after venturing out to Wal-mart with all the boys we made it back to the van and everyone got in the van safely without being run over. As I loaded the groceries my buggy was shoved into my hip. I turned to see the car beside mine with it's reverse lights on....OMGOSH she was backing up! Thank God all my boys were in the van. She felt the jolt of hitting my buggy and rolled down her back window to apologize. I made sure to let her know how upset I was by saying "I'm glad it was the buggy and not me!" She said "I saw you there but...." I said "Thank God my four boys are in the van already!" Again she apologized and as I got into my car reality sunk in. I could have been killed right there in that moment in front of my children. That would have been so awful and so traumatic. Jaron said "Mommy if she ran over you how would we get home?" I said "She would have to call 911 and the police would come"

What a horrible thing to think about...Seeing your mother being ran over. I recently read an article in the news about a 12 yr old girl accidently running over her mother and killing her. Her mom asked her to move their car forward as she stood behind it. She instructed her 12 year old to get in the driver seat and push the gas pedal. The girl accidently put it in reverse and ran over her own mom. What a horrible thing to have to live with. And she had younger siblings too. 

This world is just getting worse everyday. The Bible tells us that these are all signs that Jesus' return is getting closer. I hope you are ready to meet Him.

Terri Cote

Memories...

When we put the boys to bed I always go in and have a little talk with each of them for a min or two. Jaron told me tonight he remembers being in my belly. He said "I have a super memory!" I said "Was it dark in my belly?" and he said "Yeah it was kinda scary..."

Jacob said "I remember when I was 2 yrs old and you chase me with some yucky medicine I had to take". His memory amazes me at 9 years old he can remember so much and he'll tell you the year or sometimes the month it happened. One day he said "Remember when I was potty training and accidently pooped in my underwear and it got on the carpet!" NASTY I know but if you have kids I'm sure this happened at your house too. Be honest. How does he remember that I potty trained him when he was TWO.

These smart boys take after their daddy. He has a fantastic memory and can tell me what a preacher preached years ago at church. He remembers faces and names better than me. He remembers our countries wars and years they happened. It's really unbelievable!

I do have some memories of my own and lately I've been thinking a lot about my youth group I was in when I was in highschool. We had so much fun hanging out together and doing things as a church youth group. God is working on the youth at our church now and I am excited to see what He's gonna do. We are so happy to have found a church we feel comfortable in and God's saving people and we're staying busy in His work.

There's so much to do and so little time~before He comes back!

Hebrews 10:25

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Terri Cote

It's a spiritual battle...

When I first became a christian I wanted to be close to God so I went to church, read my Bible and prayed every day. I wanted to know Him, to draw close to Him, to feel His presence.

But I still went to school and had to deal with some who didn't understand my new life. Some who wanted to make fun and pick on me. It wasn't easy and I would get mad or get my feelings hurt a lot. Finding a boyfriend who wasn't looking for "more" was hard and learning to trust God became a daily lesson. I was learning that the devil was using those boys to try and take my purity. The devil was using those other kids to make fun of me or tempt me with things and discourage me as a christian.

When we (as Christians) learn to see this as a spiritual battle it becomes easier to see the bigger picture. When we can realize that God needs us to spread the gospel but the devil wants to destroy our testimony, then we will learn how to forgive the person who hurts us. The devil uses people to do his work the same way God uses people to do His work.  The Bible tells us in Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you"

After being dumped by a few guys because I wanted to stay pure, I gave up on looking and chose to let God find my future husband. I started praying for God to send me who He wanted me to marry. At the age of 16 (June 1997) my friend from church brought a guy from her old High school to church and introduced us. We hung out together with the whole youth group a few times and I soon learned he would be going to Basic Training in the Army and so we exchanged addresses. We wrote letters back and forth the whole time he was gone. When he got home in Sept 97 we spent a lot of time together in church and going out to eat getting to know each other more. Then he told me he had to leave for Korea in October 97! My heart said "oh no!!! when will we get married?" but my brain was saying  "why am I so upset? I barely know this guy".

So one night in a restaurant after we had already started eating he got down on one knee in front of a table full of college students and proposed to me and I said "YES!" but he had to stay in Korea ONE YEAR so after a tearful goodbye and a trip to the airport we wrote letters and I finished out my senior year in high school. He had a mid tour leave coming but wasn't able to come home for my senior prom (but really a christian has no business at prom anyway so I didn't miss much). He came home for mid tour leave and made it to my graduation but had to go back until October 1998. Then I married my husband Chris in December 1998. Looking back I feel like God sent him into my life and seeing where we are now in His will I just want to personally say...

TAKE THAT DEVIL!!!

~Talk about living by faith!~

Last year this time we got new brakes and rotors on our van. And they have been making a noise for a while now so we thought we should get them checked before our warranty runs out at the end of this month. Well I went to the brake shop today thinking whatever it is will be covered and free. WRONG!
It was something different not covered under the warranty, the brake lines! It is a bulging brake line and is very dangerous to drive around that way. It could rupture anytime and lock down the brakes. Bottom line it's not safe and we've been driving it for a few months with that noise. We really trust God to take care of us in every sense of the word.

So after much talking and debating I drove home because we didn't have the money to fix it and they didn't have the part. Go figure! I went very slow and all 8 lights were green so I didn't really have to use the brakes much. Thank God! And Justus rode happily in the back eating cheetos without a care in the world.

Now we just have to figure out how we're gonna pay for this!?!?!?

Dear God send a miracle to our house tomorrow please.....Amen.

Terri Cote

Who knows?

I feel like I am allergic to outside. I mean every time I step outside I get itchy eyes and the longer I stay out the more symptoms I get. Tonight I am currently a mouth breather because my nose doesn't work. My throat is very scratchy but I don't want to cough because it will jar my head too much and it might explode! I have no desire to eat and for me that is a big deal. Because if you know me, you know that I love to eat! Every time I look down my nose drips....gross I know but just being honest. Why did God make pollen anyway? I mean do we really need pollen? I'm sure it has a real purpose and I'm sure if I ate more vegetables I might not feel so yucky! I just wanted to give you a look into my world today. Last weekend Chris was sick and now me. All the boys have stuff noses and I do wonder if it's a cold or do we all just have allergies. Who knows? But whatever it is I wish it would leave our house!

The nyquil I just took should be kicking in soon so I better post this before I start misspelling everything.

Goodnight. (I hope)

Baseball Hits!!!

Last week at the baseball park Jaron's team was short several players so they asked if Jonah wanted to "help the team" and he did pretty good for someone who has never played before. Check out this HILARIOUS video! So cute!

 Jacob hit the ball all the way into outfeild (almost over the fence)

It's been fun watching them play and tomorrow is their last game. I won't miss sitting out in the heat but I'll miss seeing the looks on their faces when they accomplish something big. I think they want to try basketball this winter. We'll see...

It's all about Balance

When we got married we realized very quickly that we had to put the others needs before our own. It wasn't just about me anymore. Being married is a constant effort by both people to make the other one happy. So that was a big challenge that took time for both of us to learn. After 3 years we decided we wanted to try for a baby and God gave us Jacob.
My world changed then and I was balancing my role as a wife and mother now. A newborn baby requires a lot of attention but so does a marraige. I always felt like I was forgetting about Chris because my world revolved around the baby and feeding times. Not to mention I was always exhausted. I wanted to be a good mother but I couldn't forget my role as a wife. After 2 years I felt like I had figured things out so we asked God for another baby and He gave us Jaron.
Jaron was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate which means he couldn't drink a bottle normally. So that meant more attention than my first baby. And once again my strings are pulled in different directions. I want to be a good wife and mother to Jacob but I needed to do so much for Jaron it wasn't easy. After 3 surgeries and lots of therapy I felt like I was ready for another baby so God gave us Jonah.
Having 3 children to me wasn't much different than having 2. I mean by now I was so used to running around doing for everyone else I just took turns with each one. It wasn't easy but I knew with God's help I could do it (cause I'm supermom). My boys took most of my time but we always had a set bedtime so Chris and I could have our time to talk and relax together as a couple. It all seemed to become normal and I was comfortable in my role as a mother and wife. I thought I didn't want anymore children. And one day God changed my heart and said "This is who you are....a mother. You are doing your best and of course you could handle one more as long as you keep Me first in your life."
So we tried for one more and we got Justus. Our precious little baby who hardly ever cried. He has been more sick than any of the other boys at this age but I guess it's to be expected with 3 big brothers who pass around all their germs. Now having 4 children is definately a challenge and it's non stop laundry but I love it!

I love my role as a mother and a wife. I am right where I always wanted to be~at home with my children. We have settled into a routine and we love it. We have our good days and our bad days but it's so worth it. I cannot imagine my life without my boys.

And my husband....well I love him more today than I did the day we married~seriously! I know him more and I am closer to him than I was then. We can read each others minds. We still make time for ourselves everyday to sit and talk and reconnect. I think that is what's kept us together.
Terri Cote

Old Fashioned Tent Revival

Our church and 3 others were in a tent revival last week and Friday night they had "old fashioned day" so I went to the thrift stores and got overalls for everyone! After I washed them they boys were so excited to try them on the day before...

Of course I had to get an old fashioned dress for me too....

 Jonah was absolutely beside himself in his overalls....he loved them!

Glow in the dark paint-Art

 Well just because we homeschool doesn't mean we don't have art. So in this first picture the boys used water colors to create something unique.

 The next time we did art we used our "Glow in the Dark" paint. It was awesome. We turned off all the lights and without my camera flash this is all you could see.

 Then with the flash you can see they are painting the pictures that came with the paint.

And we got a little carried away with the paint since we had so much left over and it glows up to 4 hours! We painted their faces can you see it? It was fun! Our garbage can was glowing for hours.

Jonah turned 4!!!

It was actually a month ago and I forgot to post pictures. I got so excited about all the Easter crafts I forgot to post about Jonah turning FOUR years old.

 Our biggest baby...So handsome and could melt anyones heart with his beautiful eyes.

 He got preschool books to start homeschooling like his brothers.

 He also got some baseball stuff to practice his swing like the big boys.

 He was being shy when we sung to him.

But you better believe he ate some of that cake. Jonah loves to eat!

(like his mommy)

He is 40 lbs and getting taller all the time. He is no longer wearing a pullup to bed at night either. Jonah loves to ride his scooter outside and he also loves to sing.

Lets just say God blessed Jonah with a strong will in all areas and sometimes that can be a good thing and other times it can be a bad thing. But we love Jonah more and more as we see his personality develope and watching him learn new things.  

Our Trip

We just go home Saturday from a trip to New Hampshire. My husbands family lives up there and it's been a while since we all went together as a family. We drove once when Jonah was a baby but its just not fun being in the car 20 hours with children. So this time we flew up there and being on a plane for 2 1/2 hrs is much easier to manage. The packing is a big job which I usually like to do myself. It is actually an all day job for me to pack for 6 people to go somewhere for 1 week. We have 2 large suitcases and they were stuffed full! The weight limit is 50lbs. per checked bag and they were 49 lbs. and 52 lbs. With a double stroller and my carry on, 3 backpacks and one laptop bag we made our way through the airport security to our gate. We had to request new seats because we weren't originally sitting together. We strategically all went to the bathroom just before getting on the plane so we wouldn't have to use the inflight toilet. And we board the plane last allowing the boys to get all their energy out before being seated that long. We were the last ones to get on and went straight to our seats without a problem. With Justus in my lap it is a little cramped but he's free so I didn't complain and then the girl next to me moved so I had a free seat for him! What a blessing. Jonah was absolutely beside himself with excitement. He couldn't believe we were in the air, in the clouds!

Jaron and Jacob have flown so many times before they new what to expect and barely even looked out the window. Justus didn't even realize we were in the air and he slept most of the way up there.

 We visited friends with BIG DOGS! This included lots of slobbering and a few tails might have wagged in Justus' face.

 We met the Green Lantern!

 And Jacob just couldn't resist posing with Captain America and Superman!

 And one more silly pose....

 Then we went to the mall and they played on the indoor playground for a little while. Justus was a true Cowboy.

 We visited cousins and Jaron was instantly Blaine's best friend. (Jonah was grouchy, can you tell)

 They rode the lawnmower with their great grandpa Adams.

 Then we took one last picture before saying our goodbyes.

 The boys really had fun in the indoor playground in Boston Airport.

 This is on the Hertz rental shuttle bus...

Oma and Justus on the swings at the park. We had so much fun. The baby was a little fussy at night and Jonah had his moments because he didn't nap the whole week but overall we had fun. Our rental van was AWESOME and we hated to give it back. But all good things must come to an end. We had to get another suitcase to pack all the new stuff we got shopping so fitting in the van to come was interesting to say the least. But we made it. The flight home was nice since 3 of the boys slept and Jonah may or may not have been sitting in the floor with his head in his seat sleeping. Jaron didn't want to leave NH. He wanted to stay with Oma. We let them spend the night with her a couple nights while we stayed at the hotel. She has a little doggie and they loved her.

It was nice to get away but there's no place like home. Everyone sleeps better in their own beds. (except for Justus because both of his ears are infected, no wonder he was fussy in NH)

Heart Strings

When I became a mother,
My heart was not my own.
It's like we were connected,
As if our hearts were sewn.
Love without conditions,
No matter what you do.
We'll always have those heart strings,
Your pain is my pain too.
Some day you will be married,
And be devoted to another.
But please son always remember,
The love of your mother.