3 in school!

{Let me start by saying, please forgive this post being late…I’ve finally mustered up enough of a mindset to post this post.}

My baby girl started K-5! T.E.A.R.S. Not actually, but I just can’t believe it at all. I don’t where all this time is going, while my babies grow up right under my nose, literally. This year Ethan is in 4th grade, Will in 1st and Nat in kindergarten. To be honest (SO FAR) it hasn’t been near as “hard” as I thought homeschooling 3 would be. I sure hope and pray I still feel that way, halfway through the year We have a certain schedule as to who does what subject/class when, so I can be one on one with each child when needed. For instance, Ethan and Will both work on penmanship/writing spelling words when I’m teaching Nat phonics. Ryan is such a mess, he gets right in there with us while we do school. He paints with water colors, like it’s nobody’s business. He loves to sit and paint while we work. Don’t let me paint a picture that it’s not challenging at times to juggle it all, because it sure can be!

For weeks before the books even came in, Natalee wouldn’t quit asking about her books coming in. She couldn’t wait. This picture will confirm that. ( Try to overlook her blue mouth from her Sonic slush, if you can…lol )

She BEGGED to start doing some in her workbooks, so I let her. Yep, she’s my only lefty.

Here are some pictures from our 1st official day of 2011-2012 school year.

He’s 3!

My little man Ryan  is 3. I can’t believe it. He has brought so much spunk to our family. He packs an attitude that we have to keep in line constantly, but I need this little guy. He means so much to me. He is definitely the “life” of our party…haha! I took these pictures the other day of him. It was a chore for me, but well worth the laughs! Happy Birthday to my little blonde headed man.

 

 

...love daddys hand in the bottom!

 

She’s 5!!!

Today my baby girl turned 5. I can’t believe how time has flown by. She is still as much a joy now, as the day she was born. We’ve had a FUN FULL day. This pregnant momma is too tired from it all to go into great detail We’ve gone from having pink cupcakes, cookies with pink sugar, pink lemonade and turkey bacon (Nat’s Fav!) for breakfast to adding a new guinea pig to the family. (Nat has been asking for one for her b-day for a while.)  In addition to other fun things and squeezing in a Dr. appointment for the twins and I. Here is a pic of my princess on her birthday. I love you so much Natalee Jayne!

As promised.

Better late than never Here are a few pictures from the bowling trip we took on Ethan’s 9th birthday.

Where to START????

My, my, my. I don’t even have the mindset or strength to even begin to blog about all the recent happenings in our life. It’s been a roller coaster to say the least, but I must ADMIT…HE has ridden with us the entire way. I will try to bridge the gap from June to now, in as few words as possible. In June, Will and Ethan went to spend some time with Ben as he worked in Magee, and also spend some time with grandparents. Long story short. Will contracted E-coli (shiga toxin form of e-coli). The sickness the poor baby endured was mind blowing. It was awful. He was hospitalized in Hattiesburg at Forrest General Hospital for about 5 days, until his numbers (platelets and kidney numbers) started to look bad. He was then transported to Blair Batson Children”s Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. Here’s the reason. After the e-coli started to improve, he developed the rare and horrible HUS (hemolytic-uremic syndrome). HUS attacks the blood and kidneys. I could go into more detail, about all the pain and problems we encountered, but I will just praise the Lord instead for what he did. The Lord WITHOUT A DOUBT performed a miracle. Will was hospitalized for 10 days, and recovered amazingly. There were many days and hours I was scared SLAM to death…Ps. 56:3 was my verse. I kept pondering on it. We still have to have follow ups periodically to keep a check on his kidneys. Thankfully the HUS didn’t attack his kidneys as hard as it could have, so the damage was minimal if any. Again, Thank you JESUS for watching over our baby!

Well, before during and after the hospital ordeal…. I’ve been dealing with morning/all day sickness. Yep (Thankfully it’s pretty much gone now!) Here’s the shocker we got! We knew we were expecting, but didn’t know it was TWINS until July. We were stunnedddddddd to say the least. About a week ago, we found out it’s a boy and a girl! Nat and I are beside ourselves. We get another GIRL I can’t wait to hold my new little fella too. Please keep the babies and I in your prayers. There are so many more risks involved in twin pregnancies. Thankfully, they are in their own sack, each with their own placenta. That’s a blessing in itself. The babies are due in January. But I’m praying I at least make it to Christmas, complication free. Please pray for this with me. Yet again, I’m having to ponder Ps. 56:3

Happy Birthday Ethan.

Today is Ethan’s 9th birthday. My, how time flies. We are spending a few days out of town to spend time with Ben-o, while celebrating E’s birthday. We’ve done so much going and doing today, that I can barely muster up the strength to write this post. We sure are proud of the little guy you are becoming. I will add pics soon Happy Birthday Ethan!!!! Momma, Daddy, Will, Natalee & Ryan sure do LOVE you!!!!!

ADOPTED!

A huge prayer was answered at the Harper house today. I’ve been burdened for my children’s salvation, especially Will. Not because, I felt like he was rejecting or not listening to the Lord in any way, I just knew he was getting closer and closer to an age of accountability. I continually pray for our “circle to be unbroken!” Earlier today he and Ethan were watching their Bible class on dvd (Abeka).  I know Ethan is several grades above Will, but I always want Will (and the younger babies if possible), to watch the Bible Class. What could it hurt??? NOTHING! The class was singing a song about adoption (into God’s family). Will asked Ethan if he would ever be adopted. Ethan then began to tell Will what the song was talking about. It was like a light bulb went off. Will immediately came to me, all red-faced, and said “I want to be saved!” My world started spinning for a second there. In a good way! This moment I’ve prayed and prayed for was here, and there for a split second I thought…oh me, what do I do…LOL! Of course, I started crying as well as Will. I talked to him about salvation and told him he would have to be the one to pray and ask him into his heart. HE DID! It was so precious…We held tight, as he laid his head on my shoulder and prayed to Jesus. It was so adorable as he prayed, and asked the Lord to come into his heart for forever. Yes, he said forever…I still am so emotional typing this. It really is a blessing to me. After he got saved and we called Daddy and MeMe & Papa, the boys were dying for me to come hear the song, that got Will to thinking. I did. After the song, I was loving on Will and said, “now you are ADOPTED!” Nothing more can I say except, Praise the Lord & Thank you JESUS!

 

Easter 2011

He arose, He arose, Hallelujah Chirst AROSE! Is he alive in your heart today too?

Happy Easter from The Harper’s.

He’s Home!

Since September of last year…I have felt like Henny Penny saying, ” They sky is falling.”  Some of you may or may not know that Ben has been working in Mississippi since then. He has only been home about 2 weeks collectively since Sept. Talk about hard! We’ve made MANY trips to see him, which broke up the time being apart, but gorsh *goofy’s word* it’s hard too traveling with 4 by yourself on a 4-10 hour trip. (The length is determined by how many pottie, snack and drink stops…LOL.) As you’ve noticed, I’ve haven’t blogged on a daily/weekly basis about “happenings” in our daily lives. I’m not good at blogging and acting all happy and everythings perfect, when it’s not. So on days when something probably blog worthy happened, by the time school, practicing piano, playing referee, being maid and wash woman, short order cook, chicken chaser and everything else imaginable was done…I would think, “who cares about my blogging, and btw, I’m too mentally exhausted and frazzled to even attempt such  thing”…heehee! The only way I have made it through the last 7 months, is with the Lord. He has been my strength. Sometimes I tried to tackle it all on my own, but I became quickly reminded…to call upon him. I’m so thankful he carried me through it. This may sound childish to you, but I have always been TERRIFIED of staying with out Ben. Talk about an adjustment. Just not having your husband around is one thing, but actually being scared to death for protection sake is another. EVERY night Ben was gone, there was a Bible at every door of our house. I said, “If someone is going to get to me and the babies, they are going to cross over the Sword!”  Thank you Jesus! You protected us…we asked for your angels around us every night, and you protected us. Ben and I have also decided that whenever he has to go long periods again off to work, we are going to go with him as much as possible. It really takes a toll on a family to be separated. But now, on a MUCH brighter note…He’s home! And boy am I so VERY VERY thankful! With all that said….He and my little blonde headed monster are sleeping warmly in my bed…I think I’ll go cuddle up to the both of them…

Nite!

Happy Birthday Tay Tay!!!

Taylor is 3!!! Aunt Brit loves you baby girl…I loved making your cake for you…and especially this pic of you blowing out the candles.