Update on Our Simple Lives

It has been crazy around here so I have not blogged in a while so let me give you some updates....

Katie Faith's " Stinky Pig" Party:

Katie Faith chose to have a "Stinky Pig" party. She insisted it be "stinky" instead of just a "pig" party. We chose to keep it smaller with kids ages 5 and under.

Thanks to William and Taryn, our good friends, we had real pigs. A lady from LSU Swine Dept. brought two 5 wk. old pigs. AJ set up our pool and placed hay in it for them. The lady spoke on how they care for them, what they eat, how they live, and much more. She was very informative.

The pigs...were STINKY!!! The first thing they did when they got in the pool was...let's just say...released themselves of what the intestines did not absorb. They were covered in poop! Gross! The kids enjoyed it though.

They played "Pin The Tail on Porky The Pig" and then had fun painting their very own ceramic piggy bank pigs. I think the kids enjoyed this activity the most.

We then put candles on Katie Faith's watermelon pig carved by my most talented husband, AJ (It turned out really cute), sang to our girl and let her blow them out. The kids enjoyed their watermelon and cupcakes while I read a book about a farmer and his pet pig.

Presents came next which is always chaotic but fun. Katie Faith is enjoying all of them.

All in all it was a fun time for the kids and after this party......I will NEVER ask Katie Faith why she always says "stinky pig" again, for I now know there is much truth to those innocent words of hers! :)

Elijah's First Haircut:

Elijah's hair was getting out of control. It was beginning to get to long and people would stop me at the store asking about my "little girl". Though hard to see it go, I knew it was time.

We placed him in a basket, and AJ went for it. It was a hard task as Elijah was constantly moving his head, I was trying to keep him entertained with noises, paper, toys, anything I could to keep him looking at me and his head still....which did not happen much. AJ was having a hard time but persevered through it. After many attempts with the scissors he brought the electric razor, which made things worse as Elijah wanted to see what was going on "back there in the back" of his head. So, back to the scissors. AJ accidently snipped him behind the ear, Elijah cried for a few minutes but quickly got over it.

After AJ was done, Elijah looked about 6 months older instantly ( he will never cut my hair!). He looks like a "little boy" now and much cuter. AJ did a fine job!

Only one sad thing about the haircut though...each morning when I would go into his room to get him up I would be greeted with a "sleepy eyed, crazy hair sticking out every direction child". It would always make me laugh to see his hair all over the place like he had been wrestling with his blanket! No more.I still enjoy going in their each morning but I do miss the crazy hairdo's!

We have been busy with VBS at our church, a friend's church, going to the zoo, library trips, and more but I don't have the time to update now because...


I HAVE PACKING TO DO!!! You see, AJ is taking me on an overnight date tomorrow night for anniversary which is July 5th. It will be 11 wonderful years! We are going to New Orleans. I have no idea what we are doing as he has it planned out. All I know is dress casually tomorrow afternoon and dress up for the evening. He did say to bring my swimsuit for, Lord-willing, we will be swimming in the pool overlooking the sunset. Sound nice!

My evening attire is already picked as it is my anniversary present from AJ. A beautiful, modest, simple but elegant dress. I tried it on last night to make sure it fits but told my anxious husband he must wait until Friday night to see me in it!!!

I am off to pack now...can't wait until tomorrow!!!

Katie Faith's Birthday

Katie Faith's birthday started out with a big smile. She woke up excited she is now a "big girl". Her siblings were so excited for her jumping up and down, giggling and treating her extra special.

On each person's birthday in our family they get to choose their breakfast and dinner. Katie Faith chose muffins. So I arose early and made blueberry, banana and nut, blueberry/strawberry, and strawberry muffins. I made some big and some mini muffins ( the kids love when I make them mini...they taste better).

Katie Faith sat in her decorated chair with streamers and balloons. She got to say the morning prayer. Kaylyn brought her 3 muffins to her on a decorated plate with 4 lit candles. We sang "Happy Birthday" to Katie Faith and she got to blow them out.

For dinner, she wanted to make pizza. So we made our dough and the kids got to flatten out their dough, put their sauce and cheese on. They had a great time.

Throughout the day Katie Faith would say with excitement she is "big now and gets to go into the 'big kids' Sunday school class. At one time I caught her looking in a full length mirror at herself. She called my name with excitement and said," Mommy, look how big I am today! I am growing up!" I asked her if she got taller because she turned the Big 4 and she replied, " Yes Mam".

We ate dinner at church with our good friends, The Avants ( check out Taryn's blog). Once again, we placed candles on the pizza and we all sang "Happy Birthday".

The following day, we took Katie Faith for her birthday dinner. She chose Ryan's. They sang happy birthday to her and she got to open up her present. She received an overnight pink backpack. Inside the pocket were her very own first nail polish, purple and pink. She kept giggling with joy.

We thank God for blessing us with Katie Bug. She is a real joy in our lives. A smile that is to sweet to describe. AJ and I are thankful to God for our precious Katie Bug.

PURE FAITH

" I felt the baby kick,AJ. Do you think it is a girl or boy? Only a few more days we will know." ( June 1st, 2004)

"It's a GIRL!!!"" ( June 4, 2004)

"What is her name?" Asks the nurse.

" Katherine Faith Erwin" with love in my heart, I reply.

Our precious 3rd child, Katie Faith, as we call her, will be turning 4 in 2 days. It is hard to believe how quickly the time went by. It seems like yesterday AJ was swaddling her up tightly ( he is very good at it)to finish it off with a gentle kiss to her forehead as he whispers, " I love you Katie Bug".

Now our Katie Bug is running around, jumping, dressing up like a ballerina, learning her ABC's and 123's. You will find a smile on her face most of the time. She is full of sweetness and admiration for her big sister, Kaylyn. Her favorite color: blue. Favorite animal: pig..."stinky pig" as she refers to them ( which she has brought up twice the past week she wants one for a pet...tonight she prayed for one..."if it is your will, God".


Yesterday at church was Katie Faith's last day in nursery. When children turn 4 at our church, Trinity Baptist Church, they move out of the nursery into the "big kids" class and sit in church during the sermons. This is a bitter sweet time for me as a mommy.

We home school, so I don't send my children off to kindergarten, watching them get on the bus for the first time, BUT I see them graduate from nursery. It is always emotional for me, tears swell up in my eyes, realizing my baby is growing up.

For Katie Faith, it is exciting. Mrs. Pat, who has been with her from the beginning in nursery, bought her a "goodbye gift".

Katie Faith has been waiting to open this gift for weeks ( even though she knew what it was) as Mrs. Pat had it sitting on the table in nursery.

As she takes the present and sits down in the big rocking chair,you can see the excitement in her eyes. She takes her time to unwrap it very carefully. At last she completes the task to see it is her very own, brand new, BIBLE, with her name written in it.
She flips through the many pages with excitement and joy.

Back to remembering "The Days":
When AJ and I were trying to decide on names we would look at the meanings. When we saw what "Katherine" meant... "Pure" it went perfect with "Faith"

"PURE FAITH".

As AJ and I raise our children, it is our desire to raise them up for the Lord. To teach them of HIS ways and truths. Train them young who the true God is...The God of the Holy Bible. Show them by our example that He is holy, worthy to be praised, always faithful to us, rich in mercy and grace.

My prayer for Katie Faith is that she will have a PURE FAITH in our Lord, Jesus Christ. That she would trust and believe in HIM as her own personal Saviour one day. I could not want anything less than this for my "girly girl"

Remember above when I mentioned how excited she was to get that new Bible? Just as she was excited to see her name written in it and flipped through the pages with excitement and joy, I pray one day, she will hold the very same BIBLE in her hands, knowing her name is written in "God's Book of Believer's", flipping through the pages with excitement knowing she will learn more and more of her Saviour, Jesus Christ, each time she reads it, and having joy in her heart that the Lord changed her heart from a sinful little girl to one who has "PURE FAITH" in God.


Mommy loves you, Katie Faith!!!!!!

Making a minute for my children

Every morning I receive a tip on how to be a generous wife to my husband @ generous-tip_the-generous-wife.com

. As I read this mornings tip I was convicted. Here is what it said:

Do you often find yourself putting off your husband's requests with "just a minute," "not right now" or "wait until I finish "? Certainly this is reasonable sometimes, but if you do it too often it will communicate to him that he has less value to you than all those things that you put ahead of him.
Take the time to think through what is so important that you need to ask others to wait and those things where an interruption is really not that big of a deal.

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work. Author Unknown.

I listen to what AJ has to say when he talks to me but the Lord convicted me I do this with my children. So often I get caught up on doing "my" things...laundry, cleaning the bathroom, talking to a friend on the phone, etc...that I often tell my children "Wait just a minute..." or " Give me just a few minutes"..."Not now"....

Are these things really important? Sure they are but not at the expense of my children. If I am always telling them "Just a minute" they are eventually going to go to their peers, after all, they will listen. Do I really want this? NO! I want the hearts of my children. I want them to be able to come talk to me about anything and everything. If I keep "pushing" them away I will turn their hearts away from me.

Saying this, I do realize there must be a balance. They do have to learn to wait, there will be times I can not stop what I am doing to. Part of life is learning to be patient and not getting what you want when you want it every time.

For me, I will start to take the time to stop more often...see that bug that is SOOOOOO amazing, look at the best train track ever built, how high they can jump, help build a fort out of sheets, and enjoy these very important things to my children. After all, doesn't God do this for me? What if when I went to Him for help, cried out in prayer and God told me "Not now... I am busy, I have others things to think about more important than your problem" or if I went to Him to share my excitement and thank Him in a child finally learning a catechism question we have been working on and God said " Just a minute...I am busy with someone or something else right now. Come back in a few minutes and maybe I will have the time to hear you". This would NEVER happen with my God as He is always faithful to us. In His Word, it is written in 1 Peter 5:7 "Casting ALL your care upon Him; for He careth for you." If God cares for me this much, how much more should I care about all of my children's "cares" whether it is to read a book they have heard hundreds of times already or to pray for the boo boo they just got from running to fast and tripped on the cement, I want my children to know they are important to me and I am always hear to share the joys and discouragements with them in their lives, to be there and rejoice over their ability to jump so high or wipe the tear away from someone being mean to them. I want to be an example to them what God is to us EVERYDAY, EVERY MINUTE. NEVER to busy for me and my small "cares".

I must go now, I have a very important snail to see on the window that has captured my children's heart for the moment...now let me capture their hearts by enjoying this snail with them.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog, family and friends. First, let me warn you: I am not a great writer and I can often be like spaghetti with my thoughts and ramblings ( just ask my husband, AJ). So, please continue at your own risk! :)
This is a place where I will share my journey as I grow in Christ, my joys and trials of motherhood and being a wife, personal struggles, goals, family stories, and whatever I feel like "discussing with you". I can't promise I will never bore, challenge, make you laugh or mad. Please feel free to encourage, correct me when wrong, and share your thoughts. This being said, please come visit me when you have time to hear about "The Adventures of my Simple Life".