Carrots!

Spent nap time making Selah's fort batch of baby food! Carrots! Can't believe she is old enough for solids!

Funnies!

My children make me laugh - here are some of my favorites from the past few weeks:

• Walking into church on a cold day Havana said to me, "Mommy, my tens are freezing" - she was referring to her fingers. 
• We were reading an adoption friendly book called "A Mother for Choco" where the bird, Choco, tries to find his mom based on physical appearances rather than actions (by the end he learns that Ms. Bear is his mom). Anyway, about 10 minutes after we read it Havana looked up and said "mommy, do I look just like you?" 
• When Havana was saying a prayer at the dinner table, she was going on and on and I looked at Jason and she called me out and said, "Close your eyes!" - to which she had to start all over once my eyes were closed. 
• As I was brushing Havana's teeth the other day (one of my least favorite times of the day) Havana stroked my hair and said, "Mommy, your hair is so pretty." My heart melted. 
• I woke Havana up from her nap and she sat straight up in bed and said, "may I please be excused? I'm all done. May I please be excused?" -- haha, don't know what she were dreaming about but I'm guessing we were at the dinner table. 
• H's response to my encouragement always is "too" - for example, Me: I love you. H: I love you too. Me: I love you so much. H:I love you so much too. Me: I'm so proud of you. H: I'm so proud of you too. Me: You're such a sweet girl. H: You're such a sweet girl too. -- precious! 
• She does often greet me from the nursery with the response, "Mommy, I'm so proud of you!" Because that is what I usually say to her when I pick her up. 
• I love how she is grasping truths from the nursery. One week I asked her what she learned about and she said God. Then she kept talking about a boat and fish. I later found out she was taught the lesson about Jesus telling the disciples to put down their nets and they caught a lot of fish. The next week she told me she learned about God and how he shared a snack. Her lesson that week was on feeding the 5,000! What a great feeling to know she is paying attention. She can also sing the songs like "Jump, Jump Jesus" and "Open and Shut" - songs we didn't teach her, but the nursery did! I love our church!
• We went to pick her up early one day from the nursery and we looked at her through the window and she was dressed up as a Shepherd putting on a play about the birth of Jesus. 

• She refers to everyone as "my friend" -- she'll say, "my friend said that" or "where's my friend" - these can be true friends, Jonah, or simply a stranger at the mall. 
• The other day she asked me what I was doing. I responded with "feeding Selah" and her next question sent me into hysterics and she said, "Are you feeding her with your nipples or with a bottle?" HAHA.
• Havana has hit the knock-knock joke phase - everything is a knock knock joke and is SO FUNNY (to her). :)  
• Havana's speech is pretty good... she still struggle with the "th" sound -- she says "b" instead. Instead of "this way" it is "Bis way" "Bat way" -- and she points with four fingers instead of one,... we're going "Bis way... not bat way?" It is cute (in my opinion). 
• H & J have learned the phrase (from me) "no way" - so when I ask them a question their answer is "no way" -- it makes me smile because they use it appropriately and i usually say that. 
• H & J also love hide-n-Seek. They are always asking to play and it is one of the few games that is a "mommy" game and not a daddy game. It is funny, they will go count in the dining room and I'll go hide. They will both come looking for me and then when it is their turn to hide they will hide for a nano-second and then run out towards me, yelling my name, laughing hysterically. I could forever live in one of our games of hide-n-seek.
• It is fun to see the two of them actually playing together. A new phase! Although sometimes they will be making a lot of noise and i will remind Havana to use a self controlled voice and she'll respond, "but I'm playing with Jonah." -- I tell her that is good, but she still needs to have a self controlled voice. 

• Jonah man is a beast - he says everything and can do anything Havana can do. 
• I told Jonah the other day, "You're getting so big" - he looked at me and said, "I know." 
• He, on his own, started saying "go downstairs" - so when I get him up his first words are "go downstairs" - so sweet and that boy can say anything! 
• He wanted to move out of his high chair and so we moved into a small green booster seat. He now calls it his "green chair" and when he's hungry or he wants to color he'll say, "I sit in green chair." 
• He's obsessed with buckles and is constantly bucking his booster chair or Selah's car seat
• He can say Selah, havana, I love you, Daddy (he used to call Jason "mommy"), and he finally says "yes" instead of "no" when he wants something.
• The other day at the lunch table, out of the blue he said, "I love you, mommy." "I love you, Daddy" "I love you Tucker." -- so sweet. 
• As soon as he wakes up in the morning he calls out for Havana, "Havana, where are you?"
• Whenever he is playing with toys - he will run one over to Selah and say, "there you go, Selah" and then he'll say "you're welcome" (I assume he and Selah have their own language where she has told him thank you. :)
• He loves to give kisses, but you don't always know they are coming - he'll just run full speed until he smacks you in the face with his lips. Of course, he takes this approach with Selah which is a little dangerous. :)
• He is praying up a storm. He always has been a prayer, but he very clearly will say, "Dear God, thank you for today... " then he'll mumble and different words we've picked out are "buddy" "boots" "Bible" "mommy" "daddy" "selah" "havana" "tucker" "church" "toys" -- I love his heart for the Lord! Jonah even has a favorite "prayer spot" that is in the corner of our living room. He sits there every morning after quiet time and prays. Of course, Havana, now "has" to sit there when she prays, but it was originally Jonah's spot that he chose for himself. He will often go there during the day and just sit and pray. Amazing that little boy.
• For each meal we have both havana and jonah say a prayer out loud. Some are long/some are short. But Jonah sometimes gets impatient with havana's long prayers and so while she is in the middle of a prayers he will all of a sudden yell "Amen" as if declaring "this prayer has been long enough!" It makes me smile. 

•  The boy has a shoe obsession! He is always taking his on and off and he is constantly putting my shoes on his hands and walking around in Jason's shoes. Or trying to put our shoes on ourselves.
• Selah girl is turning a corner! I introduced formual and solids and it is amazing how much she is wanting to eat and how happier she is and how well she is sleeping! I fear the last two months of misery in this house was due to her starving. Poor girl. :( But it is so fun to see her smiley. 
• She's rolling and exploring and putting everything into her mouth. Tonight she grabbed a cookie out of my hand and put it in her mouth. 
• She's an incredible actress. Everyone in the nursery talks about what a happy baby she is and no one believes me when i say she cries a lot. She loves when strangers look at her. :) 
• She's babbling a lot. It sounds like she says "daddy" and "all done" - I don't think she is really saying them, but it's fun to pretend. 
• She giggles at her siblings and she is very ticklish. ;) 
• She's my "sugars" -- don't really know how that nickname came about, but it is her nick name. She's my sugars and I love her.

• I love all three of my babies!!!!

Six months!

Dear Selah,

Last week you turned 6 months old! Wow! The past few months you have been challenging with not sleeping well and being fussy throughout the day. I introduced formula and rice cereal into your diet and instantly you became a different girl! You slept 12-13 hours and you were content during the day! What a change! I think you have been hungry! So happy and refreshing to see this side of you! :)

At your 6 month appointment you weighed 15 pounds and were 27 inches long (by far my smallest child ). The doctor also said you had an ear infection! Our first child to ever have one! Your just setting all sorts of records! Ha.

This next week I plan on introducing foods! I love being your mommy!

Love,
Mommy

Deacon Dugger!

Last Tuesday night, I had the privilege of watching my husband be ordained as a deacon at our church in a ceremony that was both personal and holy. Let me back up a little bit and share the entire story...

Back in September Jason received an e-mail from a staff person at our church wondering if Jason had interest in being nominated to serve as a deacon. My first response was, "you should do it!" but Jason's response was much more hesitant saying that he needed to pray about it. I kept saying, "I think you would really enjoy it" and his response was, "I know I would enjoy it, but I want to make sure that it is what God wants me to do and not just what I want to do." And with that statement I think he summed up the type of man who is called to be a deacon. A true servant leader who walks closely with Christ. Here is the spiritual criteria that is expected of a deacon:

"Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Jason spent a while praying about it and ultimately felt a peace about it. That was only the beginning of quite a lengthy process. The staff person who nominated him then had to fill out a form on why he would be a good candidate... following that he had to get at least one elder of the church to agree to nominate Jason as well. Once the form was filled out and signed by two people - it went to its first round with the elders. At this meeting all the names of the candidates are read aloud to the elders of the church... at this point, the elders can vote yes or no on the person based on the form filled out on them and their reputation at the church. Each name had to receive an unanimous vote of yes to pass through.  His name was voted  through that meeting and at that point he was "officially" a candidate.

The  following 4 weeks after finding out he was a candidate was filled with meetings and interviews. Jason had a few different meetings where he was able to learn more about the role of a deacon and what would be expected of him. He had to fill out a lengthy application process which asked pretty personal questions regarding his theology, his stance on things such as alcohol and speaking in tongues, his family life, and his sin struggles. After turning in his application he then met with two of the elders who interviewed him based on his application and areas of struggles. I was even brought in once for a meeting where I was told what the responsibilities were of deacons - and their wives. They were very clear in that meeting that if there was sin or any "red flags" in my life that my husband would not be chosen to be a deacon. They even gave examples of times when the husband would be a perfect person for the position, but their wife kept them from being chosen. Yikes! I have to say, it made me take a long hard look at myself wondering if I was truly "trustworthy in everything" which is how the Word describes a deacon's wife.

After the month long "vetting" process, all the names of the candidates were read aloud at an Elders meeting. Again, at this point every name had to get a unanimous vote from the elders in order for him to be approved. We received a call the next day that Jason was voted in! It then went to the congregation for a vote - he was approved by our congregation and he was ordained on 1/10/12 as a deacon!

Jason's name on the ballot for the congregational vote!

To say I'm proud and humbled would be an understatement. I gained such a respect for our church and the process they put people through who are nominated to be a deacon. The qualifications aren't easy and the expectations are great. I also love all the "steps" that are required. It allows the Lord to step in and "stop" any one candidate if needed. Throughout this entire process I was so thankful for the leadership of our church and how careful they are in who they select and how closely they listen to the Lord.

Along with all of that, I am excited for Jason! Seriously, such an honor and I know he is so worthy of it. He would tell you he isn't, but having been married to him for over seven years I see how he lays down his own life each day. He doesn't tolerate sin in his life, but battles his flesh in order to walk in obedience to the Word. He is such a humble man of God - a true servant leader - someone with whom I have the utmost respect. It is special to me to see our church recognize and celebrate the man he is because I've been celebrating it for years now. He is a man who walks closely with the Lord. He loves me faithfully and unconditionally... I never fully grasped the Lord's unconditional love for me until I saw a glimpse of it displayed through my husband! Wow. I also see him teaching our children the ways of the Lord. He talks about the Bible with them and is teaching them how to pray. He is truly a reflection of Jesus to our family and this world.

So, with all that excitement in my heart, we went to his ordination ceremony. I wasn't really sure what to expect. At first it was very low-key and comfortable. One of the elders explained to those who where there all that the candidates had gone through to get there. Then they asked those being ordained (11 total) to step forward. Our senior minister, Dave Stone, had each guy tell a little bit about their family and then he asked them questions about themselves and their area of service. Jason was about the 4th person to go and Dave asked him to explain about his family and then he told everyone how Jason used to help out with the Spanish ministry at our church and then put Jason on the spot to speak fluent Spanish for everyone - which was funny! Dave then explained how Jason had been to Cuba several times, how he was in the Easter Pageant, and led a high school C-group. Then his question for Jason was, "Your children are really close in age. What's that like?" Jason's answer was, "It's crazy. We love it and wouldn't have it any other way, but it is crazy." :)

Deacon Dugger :)

After everyone had introduced themselves and answered the questions, it came time for each man to be ordained. Every elder had one candidate that they stood behind the entire time. When it came time for that one person to be ordained they would kneel while the Elder prayed for them. I was touched with how personal each of the Elder's prayers were for their candidate... clearly these elders had invested in these men and their families. It is humbling to think of our leaders truly praying for our members. I've always known that they do... but to see it played out was remarkable. The elder that was paired up with Jason was our teaching minister, Kyle, and he worded an amazing prayer!

Kyle praying over Jason! 

The whole evening was incredible personal, special, and holy. In that same room, seven years earlier, Jason and I were married and I felt the Lord's presence in such a unique and powerful way on that day. I felt it again during Jason's ordination. Truly, I felt as if I was standing on holy ground. The Lord was dwelling. He was speaking. He was equipping. He was moving. It was an honor to be sitting there watching the Lord at working in the leadership of our church and in the lives of these men. I felt so honored to be Jason's wife. I look forward to watching what the Lord is going to do through Jason.

Our family at Jason's ordination!

Can you see why I love this man?

Love These Faces!!!

Princess

This picture is in our hallway.

Today Havana was looking at it and then said, "mommy are you a princess?"

I told her that I was daddy's princess and then she said, "did daddy give you that as a present?"

I laughed and said that yes, daddy marrying me was the best gift he's given me.

I love my husband and the life we are building together!

She is on a roll!

Dear Selah,

You were playing on your playmat in the living room while I was making dinner and in a matter of minutes you had rolled all the way to the kitchen area! Way to go! You are by far my
youngest "mobile" child! I love watching you grow up!!!!

Spa time!

I'm spending the morning at a spa while my amazing husband handles all three kiddos! I'm very excited and thankful! :)

Advertising

Tonight Havana was looking at a box that one of her Christmas toys came in and she said, "look mom, they all look happy." As she said that she pointed to the children in the picture. And with that statement I laughed knowing she just figured out marketing scheme 101. Here is a photo of my happy little girl! :)