We are supposed to be here starting tomorrow until next Friday:
Emerald Isle, NC with the Morgan family. Yay for family vacation!!
:( Don't think we're going to make it!
I read this article last week after seeing so many references to it on my favorite websites. I have thought about it at least once a day since then, so it seems like something I need to share. I hope you are just as encouraged by it! Here's an excerpt to entice you to click on over and read the whole thing:
A few years ago, when I just had four children and when the oldest was still three, I loaded them all up to go on a walk. After the final sippy cup had found a place and we were ready to go, my two-year-old turned to me and said, “Wow! You have your hands full!”
She could have just as well said, “Don’t you know what causes that?” or “Are they all yours?!”
Everywhere you go, people want to talk about your children. Why you shouldn’t have had them, how you could have prevented them, and why they would never do what you have done. They want to make sure you know that you won’t be smiling anymore when they are teenagers. All this at the grocery store, in line, while your children listen.
A Rock-Bottom Job?
The truth is that years ago, before this generation of mothers was even born, our society decided where children rank in the list of important things. When abortion was legalized, we wrote it into law.
Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get. In fact, children rate below your desire to sit around and pick your toes, if that is what you want to do. Below everything. Children are the last thing you should ever spend your time doing.
If you grew up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood, to think like a free Christian woman about your life, your children. How much have we listened to partial truths and half lies? Do we believe that we want children because there is some biological urge, or the phantom “baby itch”? Are we really in this because of cute little clothes and photo opportunities? Is motherhood a rock-bottom job for those who can’t do more, or those who are satisfied with drudgery? If so, what were we thinking?
It's Not a Hobby
Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.
Read more here.
I've read several other things by this mom since then. You can see more from her and the women in her family here.
Of course this log makes the perfect choo choo train!
We played with friends yesterday at Mill Mountain Park!
Last weekend we joined the Bolling family at one of our favorite restaurants: The Homeplace. It was an enjoyable afternoon, but also a bit crazy with all the kids. Even though we had to wait a while, they were pretty entertained by the cows :) And the dinner was delicious!
These pictures are a bit out of order, but you get the idea!
The guys were so hungry, that when they called our name they went running.
Somehow Kate found herself on the same side of the fence as the cows ?
Thanks to Kristin for getting this cute photo of our kid! (all these pictures are hers, by the way...thanks for letting me use them!)
The Bolling kids are very photogenic!
The Fernandez girls couldn't resist being as risky as possible climbing the fence.
I had to sit down while we hung out because I had run too much that morning and my legs were not holding me up anymore.
Great weekend dinner with friends!
We've been working on this with Vivian ever since Pastor Nick's sermon from the passage on Resurrection Sunday.
Of course she doesn't understand most of what it means, but we pray that she will hide these words in her heart and gain understanding at an early age.
Colossians 1:
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
We have certainly enjoyed the beach this summer! Last week was our third visit. It's fun for me to take the girls at this age because they have a blast and it's a nice change of scenery for them. I didn't really get the camera out until Thursday afternoon because I thought maybe you'd seen enough of the same beach pictures recently! But I couldn't resist getting a few of the girls playing, so enjoy!
We had a great time celebrating my mom's birthday while at the beach! We took her out to breakfast that morning, and then went to pick up my dad at the small airport in Beaufort and she had no idea! She was so surprised! We gave her some small gifts and then Grandma cooked an awesome dinner for her. Of course we all enjoyed it, though! We had a DQ cake for singing happy birthday and made a great party out of it :)
Eating dinner at Grandma's trailer...we did this every night we were at the beach. She is such a servant!
Mom's on the phone with a birthday call and I wonder what Vivian is so intrigued about with her sister? :)
Look at our girl being a goofball again!
The cake was awesome!
Happy Birthday, Mom. So thankful we were at the beach to celebrate with you.
Kate can be a funny little girl and makes us laugh all the time with her faces and games!
After our visit to the aquarium we joined Mama Dot for lunch. We had to find ways to keep the girls occupied while we waited for the food because they were a little hungry.
Kate really enjoys doing puzzles on my phone. She says, "Can I do my colors please?" It keeps her busy for a while.
Check out this hysterical face she's making. She was being goofy. I think she was saying, "I did it, Mama Dot!"
Vivian and Gramme colored together :)
Sometimes we have a good out-to-eat experience, and then other times they are a little too chaotic for us. We can never tell how it's going to go so we just go for it!
On Wednesday of our beach trip last week, we drove a few miles up the island to the aquarium. I've never seen Kate so excited about something...she was squealing and talking nonstop the whole time. Her sister was also pretty into all of the exhibits. It definitely takes two people to bring them to a place like this...I was thankful to have Gramme there to push the stroller and lift one of them up to see. It was a nice morning out of the sun.
I will try to post the rest of the beach pictures tomorrow!
On Saturday we met Janelle, Avery, and Rachel at Viva La Cupcake for a special Melody Makers music class, complete with Gigi the giraffe cupcakes! This is the music class that the girls participate in once a week and LOVE. It was a little crowded but they enjoyed seeing the teacher and the puppets in a new environment. And of course they were excited to see their friends.
We do have some sad news, though. Avery and Rachel will be moving next week to Fairfax, Va. Their dad, Brandon, got a new job (great for him!), but we will definitely miss them. I think it's going to be hard for Vivian to understand why Avery isn't in her preschool class in two weeks. We are happy for this sweet family and are thankful for their friendship over the last two years!
We went to the lake two weekends ago and spent Saturday out on the water.
"Where's Daddy?"
Aaron went swimming and I thought it was hilarious that she shaded her eyes like this to look for him. She watches everything we do!
The blog is a little quiet because we've come to the beach again for a small trip! We have been here since Monday, and will leave tomorrow. We all miss Daddy a lot, so we are looking forward to being home again, but we have certainly enjoyed our vacation with Gramme and Mama Dot. I will upload more pictures when I get home, but here is a preview of our trip to the aquarium yesterday:
From Friday: a milestone event in pictures:
Fernandez Family
About
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This blog is a way for us to journal about the fun events and milestones of our days as husband and wife and new parents. Enjoy catching up with what's going on in the Fernandez family!
Aaron and Lisa
Married December 18, 2004
Vivian Gray: born June 18, 2008
Kate Leigh: born August 5, 2009
Hank Michael: born August 8, 2012
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