Poor Wes...

all he wants is a little privacy!

Will's New Talent....

crawling across the room while holding an object in his mouth...

yes, he made it...

although it is rather difficult to hold the object AND control the slobber factor

Morning Fun...

Multitude Monday #201-210...

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Wow, what a long week! Muddling through a week like the last one makes me thankful that I've committed to making it to 1000 gifts...
because it's easy to keep my eyes focused on my circumstances and forget to look for the gratitude in the midst of the chaos...
so I continue my journey to 1000 gifts as a part of the Gratitude Community...

201...looking back I realize that the rest and renewal I experienced over the holidays was necessary to push through last week (Thanks Wes!)


202...that someone is finally putting the pieces together so that we can help him in the best way possible


203...a friends offer to take him to play for the morning


204...Psalm 105:4 reading this and knowing He was speaking to me in the quiet


205...neighbors offering to provide dinner


206...days when laundry wasn't the priority
























207...his help when it became the priority
























...he really is the "best helper" hands down!























208...watching him learn and explore (picture taken by Daddy)

















209...just us enjoying an indoor soccer game

















210...a new week

Will is on the Move...

video: taken this morning via Wes' iphone

if you received this post via email please visit www.wjmace.blogspot.com to view the video

Ammo Warehouse...

Ok, so I went to put my boots on this morning...and I guess in my absence they had become a storage for nerf darts. Just a day in the life...

Multitude Monday #187-200...

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—
the fruit of lips that openly profess his name."
Hebrews 13:15

continuing my way to 1000 gifts as part of the gratitude community...

187...this smile

188...he started crawling...just like Micaiah did with one leg up

189...catching him trying to hand feed the birds

190...taking the older two boys to see the Globetrotters..."Big G" made us all belly laugh!

191...Micaiah realizing Michael Oher was in the audience

192...cousins being silly

193...my brother and sister-in law's help in preparing for our New Year's Eve get together when the little one needed soothing (a lot of it) to fall asleep


194...cousins toasting at breakfast on New Year's Day

195...New Year's Day Geocaching with family

196...our boys (minus the one we were carrying in the Ergo) enjoying a hike through the woods

197...Showing off the rock that held the "cache"

198...midway stopping point

199...that I actually made it to the top

200...brothers

Multitude Monday...

"Come and listen, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me."

Psalm 66:16 (New International Version)

178...He called me as a little child

179...He provided me with people acting as his "hands and feet" to encourage me along the journey

180...He passionately pursued me through my desire to find my own way

181...He helped me "remember" when our family went through a trial and I questioned his goodness

182...His compassions never fail (Lam 3:22)

183...He offers me hope (Rom 15:13)

184...He offers me peace as I trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3)

185...He is my Rock (Psalm 62:2)

186...He offers me new life in Him (John 3:16)

video: if you received this via email...please visit www.wjmace.blogspot.com to view the video

Merry Christmas...

from the Mace boys...

Posing for the Camera...

Will...soon to be 9 months

Will Laughing again...

if you recieved this video via email please visit www.wjmace.blogspot.com to view the video

Multitude Monday...

continuing my way to 1000 gifts as part of The Gratitude Community

142...building legos with him

143...his wheezing is all gone!

144...no need to go outside on a very cold and windy day

145...gifts from Mom Mom for the prize box

146...her encouragement to work on positive reinforcement

147...remembering faces, relationships as we address Christmas cards

148...him helping me put the stamps on the cards

149...opening Christmas cards and remembering faces, relationships

150...taking him to music class

151...seeing him do exactly what Micaiah did 6 1/2 years ago...setting up a drumset on the floor while the other kids marched around

152...hearing the little one "singing" in music class

153...husband and kid decorated tree

154...his forgiveness when my words hurt

155...dinner in Little Italy with our small group friends

156...hearing from a friend the difficult words that we need to work on some things with him

157...praying/talking with him about humility, compassion and kindness and remembering that my actions speak louder than my words

158..roadside tree stands because this year I'm trying to let go of expectations that are too much with our busy family right now

159...birds at the bird feeder

160...the boys excitement as they call out the names of the different birds they see

161...gently falling snow on outstretched tongues

162...santa hats

163...walkie talkies

164..."Nonny will you hold me?" from the second one

165...snuggling with him and telling him that God made him our "snugglebug"

166...him wanting to hear the story over and over again

167...Christmas chapel at school

168...realizing my nightmare (yes I have nightmares about things like the kids being dressed wrong for chapel) came true

169...realizing that there wasn't much I could do or maybe there was...

170...that Eli had a nice sweater on so we sent it via messenger to his teacher sitting next to him in the front row...yes it was at least 2 years too small...trust me it was better than the alternative...

171...that it was Joshua and not Micaiah because his personality accepts imperfections (I have so much to learn from him!)

172...hearing them sing "Go Tell It On the Mountain"

173...watching his arm motions and seeing his belly :) because he was in his brothers sweater

174...for the donkey in the Christmas play "I said the donkey shaggy and brown..."

175...making pretzel treats with them

Traditions...

"Pretzel Treats" as the boys like to call them...

the only thing better than eating them is watching the boys make them...

last year we added Christmas carols in the background and everytime Jesus, God or Christ was mentioned the boys ate something from the pile of treats (because I am slowly learning that life is short and sometimes you just need to let loose and have fun...don't worry I still have a long way to go!)

Will decided he would just eat the whole time...because as people like to say "He is definitely hurting for some food!"

until next year...

Just a Dusting...

but more than enough for an hour of fun...
Eli enjoyed eating the snow...

Joshua wanted to go outside and communicate with me via "walkie talkie"...in his Santa hat I might add...

but Will wanted in on the fun too, so when I stepped out to get a picture I came back to this...

Jib Jab Holiday...

Feliz Navidad...



Click on the link above to see the video...this is for our boy "Pedro"

Good Morning...

I Heart Faces Pet Challenge...

The theme this week at I Heart Faces is "Pet Faces" so I couldn't resist entering this one...

Tanner watching over Eli...

for more great photos of pet faces visit I Heart Faces...

Multitude Monday...

continuing my way to 1000 gifts as a part of the Gratitude Community

120...Joshua recalling his dream about an adventure with "The Cat in the Hat"


121..."She's pretty." "Yeah just like you Nonny." Joshua


122...his bright blue eyes looking up at me


123...a long nap that restores


124...a safe flight for him


125...hearing him sing "Mighty to Save" while he puts a puzzle together


126...fellowship with other women around God's word


127...warm tea on a cold windy day


128...afternoon silence


129...morning chaos


130..."I want to talk to Jesus. Can you call him on the phone?" Eli


131...fun pictures of the boys all piled on the bed early in the morning


132...coloring with him


133...steroid for his wheezing


134...lollipops at the pharmacy


135...warm socks


136...laughing with other moms of boys about some of their antics


137...our first snow at home


138...good morning kisses from Joshua

139...Daddy's on his way home


140...we made it!


141...hearing his keys turn the lock in the door!

Will Clapping Take 2...

Micaiah's Shot...

Morning Fun...

Gingerbread Boys...