2010 Christmas card

20 minutes....thats all I need to give to this blog for it to be updated on a regular basis. Why does it not happen? Well, I could go on and on with excuses but who needs those? :)

We are alive, kickin and still loving life in the Rhoden household. Ryan has been gone for a few days up in Portland with the Anthem students, spending time with our great friends the Berryessa's! Drew has been teaching/ministering to the students and we always know and expect great things from this week. As much as I miss going on some of these trips, I do get the chance to watch some girl movies (Julie and Julia :) ) and of course the "little" men in my life make up for it! Today, as I was sitting on the floor hanging out, Kellen sat in my lap and within 30 seconds, Austin was pushing him over, looking for his spot too. Before a fight broke out, I scooted and moved them around til they were both happy, on mama's lap! Melted my heart!!!

Time's up! Until my next free 20 minutes.....

Synchronized napping!

Something is happening at this very moment that rarely ever happens....my boys are sleeping at the SAME time. I am a little giddy and enjoying the moment completely. Yes, I am blogging when there are probably a 100 things I could do to take advantage of this time, but as I blog I am curled up on the couch next to Ryan watching football and pretending like we are in our previous life, without kids. Not that I would trade this season for anything, but every once in a while our old ways of life resurface and we get to enjoy those moments again. :) If someone would have told me that I could feel this "christmas morning happy" feeling to have an hour to myself I would have thought they were crazy and a little depressed. An hour to myself is all a mom gets at times? Yikes! But I enjoy these moments and I really think God does an accelerated work to refresh me during these times. :)

We've been VERY busy with our fall schedule but I think this week we are finally able to get into a "normal" routine. But then as soon as a "normal" takes place, the holidays come flying into view. We are looking forward to this season with two very active boys to entertain and keep us laughing!

I better go. Austin woke up and even though this ends "my time", seeing his face emerge from his room makes my heart skip a beat in joy!

Months have flown by and here we are smack dab in the middle of September, which means our little bundle of joy is now a walking, climbing, babbling little one year old! How in the heck did this happen? No idea, so I will continue to hold on for the ride and enjoy every minute!

We have had a fairly mellow summer. Besides our normal camp routine and a quick trip to Cali for my cousins wedding, we have stayed pretty close to home. Ryan is SO close (Thank you Jesus) to finishing up his schooling, so we have held off on any major vacations until he can enjoy them without papers or book reports vying for his attention.

We are anticipating a great Anthem year and have 13 students arriving in the next few weeks! Yay! What does this year have in store for us as leaders and most importantly for these student leaders? God never ceases to amaze me!

Before it gets any closer to being way past my bedtime, I am going to go take a minute and flip through my Real Simple magazine! It is funny how reading and looking through a magazine is pure joy for this "mama". The simple things in life....

Out for a walk

Cutest ring bear in town!

Helping daddy work

Happy baby

Kellen!

I just finished my most favorite time with you! Bed time. Not because I am ready for a quiet evening, but because we get some one on one time as we rock in the rocking chair, discussing our day, praying for a sweet sleep, and singing songs together. After days where I feel like all I have been saying to you is, "leave your brother alone....walk away from your brother....stop sitting on the cat...."and even with daddy tucking you in and praying for you, you still want me to come in and rock you. A couple months ago, when this "rocking ritual" started, I was a little frustrated that daddy's prayers weren't cutting it, so I went in and told you I would rock you for a few minutes. Well as we began rocking, the "few" minutes turned into "many" and as you were all curled up in my lap, I realized that I needed these times as much as you did! After all the prayers are said and the songs sung, we sit there quietly rocking and I literally breath in your sweet smell and thank our amazing Father for these moments! I know one day you will be too big to curl in my lap (I will try to make you tho :) ) so for now, I look forward to your nightly question, "Mama, will you rock me?" Yes...most definitely yes!

I love you my sweet Kellen!

8 Months!

Austin,

You are now officially mobile. And our lives are once again in a transition. :) Besides making sure we have all the small toys and masses of Legos picked up, I am realizing that vacuuming is a must. Every little leaf is in your mouth! :) Kellen is so excited that you are crawling but when you make your way to him and start playing with his cars, he realizes how this effects him and he becomes a little unhappy. He is learning how to share in so many new ways.

You have your first top tooth and are getting two more in. Now that you have top and bottom teeth you started grinding your teeth together. Such a funny little sound and probably pretty interesting feeling for you.

You LOVE food. Not baby food, you will not eat it, you want the real deal. So what we eat, you eat! So nice not to have to tote around jars of baby food. And you can tell you love food, you weigh around 18 lbs!

Singing songs brings big smiles and laughs. Any song works and when Kellen sings them with me, you love it even more.

Your smiles are still instant and melt everyones hearts!

Oh and last but definitely not least, your first word was "Mama"! So now you crawl around the house saying "mama, mama". Nothing better then that!

Costco Run!

I am taking a few minutes to say hi and that I am still alive and kickin! I do not know how people can blog everyday! I do not have enough discipline. Maybe if someone paid me it would be more of an incentive! :)

We are finishing off the last few days of daddy/hubby being gone on outreach to Haiti! The team has been incredible (never had any doubts) and we back on the "home team" have done exceptionally well!!! Our God is so faithful to fill this time with family, amazing friends and Himself! God's presence and peace has been so thick while we have been apart from Ryan and the rest of our team. But trust me, there has been moments that the enemies lies, doubt, discouragement, loneliness....the list could go on...has tried to envelop me but God's unfailing love, satisfaction, and truth has won over and been almost tangible! If that makes sense.

On one of the early days apart, I was driving around town and having a mini pity party and God spoke so clearly to me. He said, "I didn't carpool with them down to Haiti and leave you alone. I am still here and have things to be done in your life during this time." BAM!! I immediately repented of my "poopy pants" attitude and began to thank Him for this opportunity! My perspective was so off! AND He is SO good!

The boys have been incredible and make everyday worth the sacrifice of staying home! Austin is a growing, babbling, almost crawling, happy baby with a few teeth coming in! He is the smiliest little guy around and it lights up my life! Kellen is still my little entertainer, BUT, he is learning he can push the limits and likes to put all my parenting skills or lack there of, to the test! :) This evening as I was leaving his room from putting him to bed, I was about to close his door and he said, "mom...mom", I thought he was going to ask for water but as I turned and responded, he ever so sweetly, in his cute Kellen voice, said, "I love you! MELT MY HEART!!!! Thank you Jesus for the gift of my boys!!!

Well, I should be off to bed! I am praying for incentive (and money :) ) to write in the next few days! There is so much more to tell! Skyping with Andi and Michael, Kellen's birthday, the transition of my dear, dear, dear friend Stephani (and her incredible family) moving, Letters to Austin, Letters to Kellen....oh dear! Jesus, help! :)

G'night!

My INCREDIBLE husband, fearless leader, AMAZING daddy, and love of my life! So proud to be partnered with this man!!!

I'm here....

You know I haven't blogged enough when I forget my own password and sign in name. Sheesh! :)

I only have a minute, but I wanted to check in and let you all know I am alive and have not been swallowed up by the laundry basket or overtaken by my boys. At least not yet! I have a blog in the works that will fill in the past few weeks of our lives. Don't expect too much, but some fun updates are coming!

Blessings on you, my few but faithful followers!

Here's something to make you smile....