Summer Time!

Aahh....  School is out and summer is upon us.  It's time for the beach, playground, library, Grandma's house and all sorts of fun things!  However, as a stay at home Momma I kept getting the question, "so, what are you doing with the boys this summer?"  Now, every time I went to answer it I sidetracked and diverted the question.  Why?  Honestly, I felt awkward saying, "Well, I am going to do nothing but seize this time in my children's life and have as much fun as we can."  I felt awkward, because shouldn't I be doing something more important or more responsible.  Come on, I am going to play with my kids...?  Yes, that's the plan.


I haven't had my boys for very long.  This is Aiden's 2nd summer with us and I want to cherish this amazing time God has blessed me with and focus on my kids.  Of course, I will be doing some work during the week, cleaning the house, and working with Aiden on some school work over the summer.   But, I want to make time for memory making fun.  I really think that God would like us to do more of this in our lives.  Sometimes I think He's trying to tell us, "Hey, why don't you go have some fun with your husband and go on a date,"  or "save the emails for later and go play a board game and eat ice cream with your family."   This applies to some personalities that don't know how to relax and always feel the need to be doing something.  And, that is totally me.  Sometimes I lay on the couch to take a break, then feel bad that the dishes need to be washed.  Crazy, right?   On the other hand, God may be telling other more relaxed personalities to kick it up a bit.  Everything in balance.  


So for all you stay at home mommas and even those that work, throw your hair in a pony tail and go swing with your kids.  Let them see the Jesus in you and love them unconditionally.  One fun thing that I am working on is creating a summer bucket list. It doesn't have to be 2o things, you can create one with 5 or 6 activities that you want to do before summer is over. 

Be creative and have fun!  




Because it’s summer and the memories are just waiting to happen.
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My Sweet Boys

Ah, the world of blogging.....  The world in which I can't seem to stay on top of.  I've always enjoyed writing, but when it comes to journals or in this millennium, blogging, I have never been able to keep things current.   I could make a number of excuses, but I'm going to keep things real, if I'm not being paid for it, it will always be sporadic.   

Moving on...   My Aiden had his Spring Break last week.  He has been home with us for 19 months and this was my first successful school break with him to date!   I should define success in the Behrens' home.  Success looks like no tantrums, minimal responses with anger, good communication, and relaxing with each other.  I have seen Aiden grow tremendously over the last few months.  Yes, we have had a few set backs, but with the right response we have actually propelled forward.   All in all, trust is continuing to develop and the "forever" concept for my little man is becoming a reality.  If you need a good parenting tool, I whole heartily recommend Danny Silk's series called, Loving Our Kids On Purpose.   Excellent resource!!  

I am absolutely confident that every mom at some point watches their child and is still in awe of that little one or big one.   The other day I stopped and watched Ethan and was so overwhelmed by God's goodness in my family.  Both of my boys are miracles.   I look at Aiden and see his strength and determination.  I also see his compassion and desire to love and be loved.  My Ethan is fun-loving and adventurous.  I never want to forget what God has done for my family.   My heart as a mommy, even in the midst of crying and craziness, I want to remember the miracle and raise my boys to love God.  

On that note, Spring is here!!  Get outside and enjoy every moment with your children, spouse, and friends!!   I love this time of year!

A New Year!

Yes, I'm a little delayed about posting about a "New Year".  This post should have been written on New Years Day and I should have declared all that 2012 will hold and yada yada yada......    Don't get me wrong, I think having plans for this new year are very important and yes, I would even say, necessary.   I'm a planner and I love it!  Without planning, days, weeks, and even months can slip by.   However, this year, 2012, I am attacking things a bit different. 

It's the first year since 2006 that I am not thinking about where my adoption paperwork has to go to next.  I have two little amazing boys in my life.... forever.  At the moment, we are focusing on them.  If God wants to bless us with a surprise, then we would be thrilled, but we are not pursing another adoption at the moment.  

Dave and I are making date night, a once a month mandatory thing this year (maybe we'll be able to sneak in two).  Even when we didn't have little ones in the house, we still found it difficult to carve out time for ourselves.  It's important not to let your marriage grow stagnant.  Family night is also on the calendar, pizza and games!  All this planning and schedule, doesn't it seem like it's too much?  I think spontaneity is important and I plan on doing some of that this year.  Like, snagging a deal from Living Social or Groupon and going away for couple of days.  However, I also think that if you don't put pen to paper and make time for yourself, your spouse, your children, then 2013 will be here and the most important people in your life will have taken a backseat to less important things.

I have goals and dreams and I want to fulfill them, but I realized at the end of 2011 some of those goals and dreams have changed.  I'm a busy gal (and I prefer to stay busy), but my most important job is staying home and take care of my family.  It has taken almost a year to see the beauty in that.  With certainty, I can say that my identity is not wrapped up any longer in what I do, but it is wrapped up in who God says I am. I still do volunteer work for our friends in China and I believe without a doubt the Lord has taken care of us through my obedience.  Plus, I love it and I would do just about anything for our friends!! Dave and I also still believe strongly that we are called to the field to be full time missionaries.  When will we go?   I'm not sure.  When God says, "go", we'll go.

Don't let this amazing year pass you by.   What's possible this year?  All things!

A magical time at Disney!

We spent last weekend at Disney!!  We hit Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party Friday night and spent the day at Downtown Disney on Saturday.  Over the years, I have imagined what it would be like to take our children to Disney World and see the joy on their little faces.  My family heads to Disney each year and last year we decided it wasn't a priority, because we were in the middle of our adoption with Ethan.   Let's be real, in any adoption, any extra money goes to that baby.   So, I had faith that this year we would be taking not one, but two boys on their first Disney trip.    It was everything I hoped it would be and more!!  Ethan loved the parade and even got a kiss from Ariel.  Aiden was practically skipping the entire weekend and loved, loved, loved the Tea Cups.

My favorite part, aside from being with my family & our wonderful friends, was the free hot cocoa and sugar cookies throughout the park!!  It's was chilly for us Florida folks, so I enjoy many cups of hot cocoa.   Aiden and I  picked out our 1st family of four ornament at the Disney Christmas store.  Everything about the weekend was sweet and perfect.   

Getting ready to have fun!!

Daddy & Aiden

Free hot cocoa and cookies throughout the park! Yum!

Aiden & Donald Duck!

Ethan rockin' his cool hat!

Bring on the Holidays!

I absolutely love the holidays and the fun has already begun!!  This season I have two little miracles in my life to celebrate with.  I continue to have moments where I am overwhelmed about how blessed I am to be Aiden and Ethan's mommy.   

As we begin this Holiday Season there will be times to be frazzled and moments of craziness, but I encourage you to seize each day with your children, spouse, and all your other crazy relatives! Choose joy and remain in it!   As for me, this holiday season, I want to see it through the eyes of my boys.  Sometimes we forget the magic of the season, because we focus on parties or that perfect gift.  Allow yourself to get lost in everything that this wonderful time of year has to offer.