Happy New Year!

The year has started and whether yours started out with a bang and a kiss at midnight or like me a kiss at 10:30 and "See you in the new year because this momma is going to bed!" Sleep is valuable in my world... Either way 2017 is in full effect!

For some reason, I have had a lot on my mind recently and so I thought I would share some of my thoughts...

Seasons come and seasons go. There is a time for growth and a time that the leaves change colors and fall off the tree. We all go through seasons. For me, I am in a season of little sleep and lots of diapers. I pray that this is just a season and one day I will get a full night sleep and my children will learn to go to the bathroom without my assistance! But recently, I have found myself thinking of the next season and all that would possibly need to be done in that season and then feeling overwhelmed and stressed about my to-do lists. I know it sounds so funny and so dumb but yet for me the struggle is real. And so in my thinking of the next season, I find myself missing out on the blessings of this season and only seeming to notice the hardships.

You see I believe that we dream up what will come in the next season that we miss the blessings in this season.

So there I was sitting next to Ethan on the couch telling him how stressed I am about the to-do list in the next season, so overwhelmed about future seasons in our life. He gently replied in a loving way "Elaine, we aren't there yet. When we get to that season God will provide and guide us just like he has to this season." Once again such a simple truth. As I thought about that, I found my rushing to the next season was not me trying to be proactive, no that was my cover up, the true reason I was trying to rush ahead is because I was lacking trust and allowing fear to guide me.

I remembered the passage of scripture in Matthew 6 that tells us not to worry about our life and what the future holds. It reminds us that God takes care of the birds in the sky and the flowers in the fields so he will care for us.

Then it closes with this in verse:

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matt 6:34)

Did you know that worry is a thief? Worry comes in and of course it where's makeup and says "oh I'm just a planner" or "it's just a little concern" (the one you can't stop thinking about). But worry comes in to steal from you. It steals the joy of the current. If steals the peace. It steals the love. Worry will rob you of this current season and leave you dry and empty and stalled out. You see you become so worried about the future that you quit moving towards it so you end up allowing worry to steal your future as well.

So I decided in 2017 that I was not going to allow worry to steal my future. I am going to choose to present not just in the daily moments but in this season as a whole. So in order to do that- I am in the process of answering some questions to help do a spring cleaning in my calendar, in my home, in my heart, in my relationships, and in my to do list. I'm asking is this a priority in this season? Can this wait? Do I need this at all? And then I'm practicing saying no and not feeling guilty. God gave me 24 hours in a day and I need to manage the gift of time he has given me. So I am asking God these questions-

1. What would you like my focus to be in this season?

2. What should my priorities be in this season?

3. What do I need to let go of in this season?

4. Is there anything I should add in this season?

5. What is my role in this season?

I am praying and asking God to help me clean out and to clean up so I can be present in this season.

Maybe you would like to join me in spring cleaning (which technically is New Year cleaning) your heart and life so you can enjoy being present in this season that God has placed you in. Don't allow worry to steal from you anymore- tomorrow (or the next season) will come with its own troubles.

Praying 2017 is a year of being present!

When Adde was born, I wanted to start some traditions for our little family. One tradition that we decided to start was going to the pumpkin patch! Every year we join up with another family, who happens to be some of our closest friends and go to the pumpkin patch in Flower Mound, TX.

The first year, it was so easy! They had 2 kids, an almost 2-year-old and a young baby about the same age as Adde (about 2 months old). And we only had Adde who was about 6-8 weeks old.! Family photos were easy, we weren't worried about losing sight of a child, or sweating due to chasing after kids! This year was slightly different!

Now with 5 kids in the picture ranging from 4 (almost 5) to 2.5 months old, we were constantly on the run and family photos were a little more difficult to get! So what used to be an afternoon adventure turned into an hour of fun and then let's go eat some dinner! haha!

Kate (19 months), Adde (3 years old), Preston (2.5 months old), Emma (4 years old), Grayson (3 years old)

Even in all the chaos, it was a lot of fun! I am so grateful for friends that help us with our #minicircus! They are so willing to help us keep an eye on all our kids, even helping to carry them, or push the stroller... Really we could not have done it without their help! I honestly believe that to be true in our lives as a whole! Often times, people are like I don't know how you do it, and I simply tell them "We have a lot of help!" and it is so true!

So here are some of my favorite photos from our day (and by day, I mean hour) at the Pumpkin patch!

Adde found it fun to kick the pumkins and watch them go rolling down the hill! It was fun to watch her laugh at the pumpkin rolling but I was nervous the whole time it was going to hit someone! haha!

For those of you who are curious- Here are the outfit details for the girls!

Dress- Old Navy, Shoes- Carter's

Kate's favorite cut outs were Doc McStuffins and Olaf!

Adde loved the wagon! That's actually why she is pouting in the earlier family photo because we took it away for one second to get a family photo! (I know we are mean parents!) She loved having her daddy pull her all around the pumpkin patch and when he wasn't pulling her, she would jump out and just pull it herself!

Preston was so chill and just enjoyed looking around and watching all the madness happen! He seriously is an easy baby for the most part!

I love my guys! To be honest- when we found out we were having a boy, I wasn't sure if I would make a good boy mom (even though I had prayed for a little boy since I was young- I was still super nervous about having a boy!) but God has showed me already how much fun it is to have a little boy! He is smiling and starting to laugh! He knows his momma's voice and follows me... seriously, this little boy has my heart! And Ethan- well he is the rock in this relationship! God was showing off when He gave me Ethan! I am one lucky gal to have him!

Preston's Outfit Details: Bandana Bib- Amazon (Seriously, one of my favorite baby products!), Polo- Carter's, Shorts- Baby Gap, Shoes- Carters

Here are the outfit details for my outfit! But first, the back story is when I was in Arizona for a women's conference, I got connected to the girl who owns a boutique called MERAV (www.shopmerav.com)! I fell in love with her and all of her stuff! It is stylish, fits great and is super comfortable! Oh, and it's all affordable! Plus proceeds go to a good cause! Seriously, go now and check it out! You will love her shop!

Shirt- MERAV, Jeans- Nordstom Rack, Boots- Nordstrom

Well that is a glimpse into our time at the pumpkin patch! Did you and your family make it to a pumpkin patch this year? What are some of you fall traditions that you do with your family? Also- since we are heading into the holidays- I would love to hear any holiday traditions you have!