Sisterly Love

I have been amazed by the bond that Juliette and Belle have been forming. Their personalities are so different, and it works. Even from when Juliette was an infant (I'm talking four months old), the two girls have played together well... and a lot. Little Fiona has quickly joined the pair and bright smiles are shared by all three- often. Lately, Juliette truly misses Belle when Belle's gone and talks about it. "Belle! Juju play Belle!" I'm having a great time watching our girls interact and enjoying how natural their love for one another seems to come.

Now, don't get me wrong. Just this morning we had to tell Belle it's not okay to trip Juliette while she's happily running around. Juliette expresses her love for Fiona by "Elmyra-style" hugging her or touching her. I don't have rose-colored glasses when it comes to love being the only emotional bond these kids will share. Coming from a family of four girls, I know there are lots of feelings communicated through the years. As the years and maybe even months pass, I know that there will be hard times where the 'sisterly love' may be hard to feel. And, I also know that love isn't built on butterflies, rainbows, and warm fuzzies. That all said, I am relishing our girls' 'love' one another and plan to do all I can to nurture and support the family bonds in our home.

Passion Week and Easter

This year Passion Week and Easter was even better than the last. I hope we can say that with each passing year. We had a lot of things going on during the week that made for a crazy, and even difficult time (I plan to blog about that later) but it was a sweet celebration and remembrance.

Belle is at a great age "four-and-a-half as of April 4th!... I'm big!". She seemed to really understand things this year and was excited about each and every activity that we did. She continually said, "Mom! Jesus is alive... He is alive and he did what no one has ever done before".

The Sunday before Easter we made Easter Rolls. We used some indulgent ingredients, but the whole point was to have the marshmallow melt and disappear just like Jesus' body was no where to be found when he left the tomb.

Another day, we did a Resurrection Easter Egg Hunt. This ended up being an activity we did multiple times a day leading up to Easter Sunday. Belle can tell the story herself now.

On Friday, we made a Tomb Garden.

On Sunday, Belle woke up to a different garden.

Here's the only picture I ended up taking Easter Sunday. The Perdue Girls ready for Bay Kids!

We celebrated Easter by attending and serving at Southbay Church. I encourage you to read my friend Stacie's Easter Rewind.

I hope you enjoyed your Passion Week and Easter too. Any ideas for next year? Send 'em my way!

It Matters to Me

This will be short and sweet. I'm really excited that Jackson is blogging again and I think you should be too. My suggestion? Start following it now, so you don't have to play catch up when you read a post and see how great it is. Here it is: A Blog Worth Checking Out if you haven't already.

Well, as you know he (Jackson) matters a lot to me. But I like to think that I would still promote this blog even if the author wasn't my best friend and life partner.

Happy One Month, Fiona!

A Sweet Miracle- Fiona Jacqueline Kealahonua

Fiona is one month today. I can't remember life without her, yet it feels like there's no way she's been out of the womb for a month already.

She is PRECIOUS. Her cry is getting stronger, but still soft for any newbie I've heard. Her sisters adore her (as do her parents, family, and all who meet her). She's already been to church a couple of times and she was able to hang out at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) yesterday. Enjoy the pictures....

Belle loves "Fi" or "Noni Bear"... her two fave nicknames for Fiona.

Fiona a few weeks old.

Fiona heading to church at South Bay on Sunday... her second time!

The gloves... I FINALLY trimmed her nails shortly after this picture was taken.

Juliette loves "bebe"...

She sure does. :-)

Can I Have and Do it All, Please?

I just finished reading this book by Christine Caine and I enjoyed it. More than that, I got some great 'nuggets' I want to share. The author, Chris, encourages women to know that having and doing it all is a perspective and heart issue. Here are three things that really stood out to me in this book:

1. "You must ensure you do not settle for anything less than God's ultimate purpose and plan for your life"... For me, this is huge. It's getting better with time (and age/responsibilities), but I have often run around wanting to do everything all at once.

2. "Having and doing it all is a constant process of change- a continual ebb and flow from one season to the next"... This is reassuring and just plain common sense all at once. With a preschooler, toddler, and 3 week old newborn it is not time for me to try to lead a ministry or even co-lead a group... however, as the seasons change, there will be time for this. Right now, my job and all is to take care of my husband and three beautiful daughters.

3. It's all about endurance! "... if we see... trials as opportunity for God to do great work IN us as part of the process of having and doing it all, then this will fuel us to keep going, and fill us with the strength and passion to endure and overcome". So I needed to read this quote THIS MORNING. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture, and I am not viewing this as an opportunity for God to work in me. I need and want to though, so I'll keep you posted.

Thank you for sharing this book with me, Mandy!

Reflections and Revisions Take 2

Wow! I have found myself thinking and saying, "It can't be the new year already...". Last year, I wrote a post about the year entitled Reflections and Revisions. With lack of time and energy, I've cleverly made this post the second version of last year's. I'm even going to use the exact same format... here we go!

2010 has been a year of blessings and miracles. Here are some I'd like to share:

- Juliette was but a little newbie this time last year... almost 3 months old. We've seen so many milestones and firsts this year that have been awesome to be a part of.
- Belle started preschool (she will still go until the end of May) and loves it! She also completed her first ballet class and learned how to swing ("even without a push start, Mom!") towards the end of 2010.
- We found out Jax had his teaching position for another school year (a true miracle)!

- I was able to fly out to Colorado and attend my Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary.

- I also got to visit one of my best friends Lindsey in San Diego in May.
- I got pregnant in May with Fiona (another miraculous event... ).

- I worked for a short stint teaching classes this summer at our local community college. A way God provided for us to send Belle to preschool.

- We spent our summer vacations well... a week in Anaheim, camping at Sequoia National Forest, beach/zoo/park trips...

- We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary... we had a fun getaway!

- We co-led and then led a Small Group through our church this year.

- We were able to be a part of Dave and Megan's wedding in August (Jackson's brother and my wonderful new sis-in-law).
- Jackson turned 30.
- Belle celebrated her 4th birthday, and Juliette her 1st year at the beginning of October.
- Have continued to be involved with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and am loving every minute of it.
- I got the privilege of staying home with both of my girls for most of the year (sans my part time teaching during the summer).

- We moved in and out of our home for over a month. I am also really excited that over the past 2 weeks Jackson and I have done a ton of home projects to make our home run as smoothly as possible with 3 little ones...

Here are the questions that I want to answer and pose for 2010 and 2011, respectively:

Did I fall more in love with Jesus?
Did I love Jackson well?
Am I loving my daughters into the arms of Christ?
Have I taken care of what has been entrusted to me?

To be quite honest, I could do more. It's been a year of many celebrations and miracles but as I look at the year and even in my journals I want more. SO, it is my heartfelt prayer that this time next year I will be writing that I fell more in love with Jesus, Jackson, and took great care with all that God has entrusted to me.

Here are some of my favorites pics from 2010...

Our Little Fiona... still in the womb. Due mid February of this year.

Visiting with Linds in SD this spring...

Belle and Juliette have had so much fun bonding and growing together this year!

We had lots of BBQs and celebrations this year...

Camping

Camping/Juliette about to fall asleep. LOL!

Dave and Megan's Wedding... Jax was the best Best Man!

Belle at ballet....

A Season

I haven't been online for more than about a half hour a week for the past month or so...This has been a difficult season for me and my family. There have been some wonderful memories and experiences, but at the end of the day, it's been difficult. Literally, at the end of the day it's been difficult because Jackson, myself (27 weeks pregnant as of yesterday), Belle, and Juliette have been living at my parent's place in a 10'x11' room. We have stayed with my parents for a little over 4 weeks now (in total it will be 5, we move back into our house this Saturday- woohoo!).

There's been very little "me time", but as the season of living at my parents' draws to a close I can't think of much more than God's faithfulness, blessing, and provision. We've had some quality time with my parents, my sisters (the two that live here), and my nephew. Jackson and I have remained connected and communicative through this time. Also, the girls haven't been too much out of a routine since the first week we moved here. In fact, Juliette has actually slept better at my parents' than she was before we moved from our own home.

I am very thankful for our family during this season and I am also ecstatic that we will be moving into our own place in a matter of days. Pictures of our "new place" to follow!