The White White House: February 2016

Last month, we got together in Troy to celebrate Tiffany's upcoming wedding in March. Unfortunately, I've been slack about taking pictures so I have none of the event to share. We enjoyed celebrating and spending time with family. We also got a nice winter surprise while we were there. We saw our first snowfall of the winter. It didn't stick around, literally. We had beautiful sunshine by afternoon.

We got a good icing and snowfall in Raleigh, two weeks ago. The kids and I had fun playing in it. Actually, it was all great fun until we lost our power for 24 hours. Funny thing, I had the pantry and frig stocked but what good did that do? After about 12 hours of no electricity, it started to get cold and our cell phones began to die. My sweet friend, Vickie, and her husband and son showed up unexpectedly and brought us a camping heater and a charger that didn't require electricity. What a blessing! Later that day, Aunt Holly took the boys to her warm house while Webb and I drove around looking for the source of the problem and grabbed dinner at Fiesta Mexicana. We found the down line, unattended, not a worker even close, and there wasn't a thing we we could do it. Ha! Eventually, the power was restored that evening and we were all was well at the White house.

One weekday evening, prior to all of the snow and ice, I took Bennett and Sawyer to the Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary. It was beautiful and worth the expense. It made it feel as if Christmas had stayed just a little longer. Bennett and Sawyer enjoyed walking (and at times, running) around taking in all of the views of the spectacular lights. Sawyer said his favorite was Santa's moving train which contained presents.

Jackson is still playing basketball and Webb and I couldn't be more proud of the effort he gives. His skills have really improved from last year and he is so much fun to watch. His team is young this year so their record isn't good but I think that Jackson would say he is enjoying playing. He has a few more games left and then he will focus on baseball, which is already underway.

School is going well at the White house. I'm especially enjoying our history study of The Early Church and the Middle Ages. It's exciting to see how biblical events directly correlate with the secular history books. In many ways, it's strengthened my faith. Honestly, sometimes I think that I am homeschooling the boys just for me because there's so much more that the Lord is revealing to me:-)

Our mornings are more relaxed this year, I guess because we finally have a good routine after seven years of trying to figure it all out. It has become one of my favorite times of the day. Sawyer is usually playing with Legos or some toy and I read out loud from our history and science books. I don't know how much Sawyer retains but he actually beat Jackson to an answer last week when I asked how scientists measure earthquakes. Even Jackson laughs at things Sawyer repeats. I love that Sawyer learns beside his big brother without it all being forced. I would like to think that his education will always be self-directed but I'm not sure how long I can let him go without working a little more on his writing;-) For now, we are happily living in the moments and enjoying the time that we don't have to rush. Our days are filled with play dough, experiments, outdoor play and Clash of Clans (yes, Sawyer is hooked thanks to big bro and dad).

Jackson is growing into a sweet young man, if I may say so. He started attending a Bible study that one of his football coaches leads. The one prayer that I pray often is for my boys to know Jesus and hear Him because if they know Him and hear Him, they can get through anything. It's a blessing as Jackson's mother to see my prayers being answered. I know that I have many more years to pray for my oldest but I have faith that Jackson will be taught by the Lord.

Sawyer has asked many questions about Jesus over the past week and has expressed his doubts. He says it's hard to believe because he can't see. Honestly, it kind of troubled me to hear him say some of these things. It didn't take long for God to lead us to opportunities to demonstrate our faith in action. Early this week, Sawyer asked me for prayer over his stomach pains. Long story short, as soon as I laid hands on his tummy and we asked for healing and relief, Sawyer got it. I then asked him who answered our prayer and he answered with a big smile, "Jesus."

Sawyer is in a new phase of life. He's asks to have a cousin come over and play EVERY DAY and is even asking to do sleepovers away now (I remember similar things happened with Jackson when he was 51/2). He's been fighting sleep more lately and says that he is bored when we lay in the bed and listen to music but within minutes, he's out. He's become a little more vocal too. He's still our child that will try anything we put on his plate. He makes my job as cook easy peasy! He loves to build and play games. He still likes to climb trees and run. He tells us that he isn't going to play any sport except football, and that'll be when he's bigger. He's fun to be around and I am so thankful every day that God gave us a second child to complete our family.

No day is perfect around here but there are always moments in each day when I feel grateful. I wouldn't even try to paint a perfect picture of our lives; the boys have days when they argue (yes, even with nine years between them). I struggle managing my time and my housework almost daily. Some days I don't feel like I serve with a grateful heart. Sometimes I wonder if I am even doing enough. One thing I am certain of.....I am where I need to be, at home with two of the greatest blessings of my life.

Birthday dinner celebration at Bonefish thanks to these two who treated everyone!

We love this little place

Beautiful skies after a morning of snow flurries.

Brown Dog & Sawyer

Such a fun big cousin- Chris and Sawyer playing checkers.
I wonder if this is the same checker board that my Grandpa used when he would always beat me in Checkers?