Merry Christmas!

One of the things we like to do as a family during Christmastime is to let the tree be the only source of light and gather in the family room, turn on some Christmas tunes and just dance and sing and be. On this night, we played Third Day's "Drummer Boy" and the kids HAD to go get their Fisher-Price drum so they could keep the beat as they tried to belt out the song. It was so sweet!

News Flash: Surfer Hair Retired...

It was time for a trim, so we opted for a complete makeover.

This is Bryson's first look at himself, after his cut & bathtub scrub.

He likes it!

Bryson said as I was scissoring away, "I'm gonna be a NEW BRYSON!" Since he was ready, we were ready. We think he looks 4 inches taller!

Elves!

So, what have my little adventurers been up to? They've been like little elves. They helped Mama prepare the annual Turkey Enchiladas over Thanksgiving Weekend.

The kids loved cutting up the turkey.

Even Kevan helped in his own chipmunk way...

YUM!

M.I.A. & M.O.P.E. & S.O.S. & J.O.Y.

So, apparently I've been MIA for the past month. My last post was 11/17 and here it is 3 days before Christmas! Maybe none of y'all check in with my blog very often and haven't even noticed...but since writing is fun for me, I'VE definitely noticed.

To be truthful, MIA doesn't quite describe my absense. I've been missing, but more out of Pure Exhaustion, rather than "IN ACTION." Missing Out of Pure Exhaustion. That's it! M.O.P.E. Ew! I don't like that word. I like that Missing Out of Pure Exhaustion has an acronym that spells something, but MOPE? That's like... convicting! What else could the letters M-O-P-E spell out that might describe my month?

Mother of Preschoolers Extinct.
Mom Outside Perfect Expectations.

Sigh.

I'll tell you what -- I am so blasted tired. And can I just confess that I have been struggling? I am, above all, so blessed by my babes and husband and can hardly wait to kiss these newest little tootsies (can't I just skip to 30 weeks??), but I've just felt sad, frustrated, failing. I rejoice that my nausea is because of the new life growing within me, rather than say chemotherapy causing death to cancer cells and making me sick. I have to keep things in perspective.

But I've been sad. I love this time of year, normally I'm not sad at all in December. This is the time of year when we're all focused on Christ's birthday (whether the consumers or retailers acknowledge it or not).

I love my Savior. I love that He was born weak, helpless & dependent (exactly how I've been feeling lately). He was born to a clueless young mama no less (I can relate to her, too). So, where's my JOY?

This is, after all, the Season for The Reason.

You know, every season of my heart & life should be so centrifugally aligned so that The Reason can minister no matter the state of my emotions or physical strength. My itty-bitty turning point was 10 days ago when I revealed to my husband and a few friends that I was feeling like I was really falling apart. That I don't "Have it Together."

Do you EVER feel that way? Like you are so protective of "self" that you can't let others know that you're not rocketing off the "Christmas Spirit" charts? That your halls are not beautifully decked? That you can barely crawl out of bed, let alone climb into the recipe box to make my annual Peanut Butter balls? (Christmas Spirit is definitely low, extremely low, if one cannot muster up the energy to indulge in PB & chocolate!)

So, I reached up out of my pit and threw out an S.O.S. for my M.O.P.E. "Please pray for me... this is my heart right now..." And overnight, starting late that night, even as my crocodile tears soaked thru my slate blue pillowcase (which DESPERATELY needs laundered along with its coordinating friends), the healing began.

"Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:16

Thank you for not judging me, Friend.
Thank you for your comfort, Sister.
Thank You that Your arms are never too short to pull me out of my pit, Lord.

You are the Reason. You'll be the song that I sing this season & forever.
And ever.

The Donut Caper & the Sweet Heart

Looks innocent enough? Just happy kids with a sweet treat, prob'ly in the same jammies as the day before (and maybe the day before that).

But alas!

The truth is found UNDERNEATH the kitchen table! And then the temptress lures the little man into the action. Poor Kevan! Bryson & Kennady were NEVER allowed to eat donuts until like 18-months ago!



They really are busy and inventive kids. They are problem solvers, I'll tell ya. Need something up high? Grab the stool, put it on a chair. Need something under the oven? Grab the fly-swatter and use the handle to fish it out. Need something to eat? Help yourself! Some days I have a hard time keeping up and a harder time keeping them down. Phew!

They're pretty good nap-takers, though. They all go down at the same time, which is good for this mama, because this mama enjoys sleep. Today, Bryson and I got home from town late this afternoon. The other kids had already taken a nap, so I told Bryson he'd be laying down with me in Mommy & Daddy's room.

He: Resistance.

Mom: A gentle reminder that he needs to "honor & obey Mama." "Gotta stay inside the 'Circle of Blessing, Bud.'"

He: Sad, resisting. "I don't wanna sleep in your room," etc etc etc. Whining.

Mama: Gentle, asking, "Buddy, what's in your heart right now? I see that you have a heart that is disobeying... [HUGE PAUSE.] When Bryson obeys, Bryson is happy."

He: Reluctantly, climbed up, although resisted the covers.

Mama: Grateful, thankful (sleep coming soon!).

QUIET.
POUTING.
QUIET.
COVERS UP.


He: "I was feeling sad, Mom. I didn't have Jesus in my heart. But know what, Mom, then HE said, 'Calm Down.' And now I have Jesus in my heart again."

Mama: "Jesus said that, 'Calm down?'"

He: "Yup."

Mama: "Wow, let's get cozy."

SMILES.
SNUGGLES.
BETTER THAN COZY.

Praising Jesus for these little tiny glimpses of fruit in my child! Fruit so much tastier than any triple-decker-glazed-extra-sprinkles-Krispy-Kreme.

Oh, God, thank You that You speak to all who have ears to hear!
Oh, Jesus, thank You that You are faithful to sweeten the heart, if we'll just be still enough to feel Your peace.

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 46:10

Broken Back & Punctured Lung

Hey, everyone. This is a CALL FOR PRAYER!

Bryan's niece 16-year-old niece Kelly was in a car accident today. She broke her back and punctured a lung. I don't know the details of the accident yet...

Bryan came in and told me just those 2 details while I was in the middle of my nap today. I couldn't fall back asleep. But when I went out to ask him more about it, he'd fallen asleep on the couch. I'll update.


Thank you for praying!

Kelly lives in Colby, Kansas with her sister Kylie and brother Bryant, mom Tammy and of course, Gramma & Papa Trenkle.

This photo was taken June '06 when they were staying with us when Kevan was born.

UPDATE: Kelly was driving her '98 Chevy Malibu to work on the dirt backroads, while talking on her cell phone. She hit a humongous pothole at too high of a speed and lost control of the car. It flipped into a ditch and rolled and rolled and rolled into the adjacent pasture. She was thrown from the car.

When the officer showed up on the scene she was found in the passenger side. (Apparently in shock, she walked back to the car and got back in.) She's hospitalized at Citizens Medical Center in Colby with a concussion, a punctured lung and a fracture in her lower back and is not paralyzed! Doctors think that the injuries will heal over time. The sheriff said there was no way she should have walked away from the accident.

(Just as a side note, Kennady can cooberate with the sheriff's assessment. She informed me that "cousin Kelly was in a car crash and it was real bad, because a dragon ripped her back open and now she's in the hops-ital." Wow, Kelly really is blessed to be alive!)

We're praying this brings the family together in an amazing way -- that we would all see how quickly life can turn upside down, in an instant -- and to keep our eyes and hearts on the things that really matter: our family & the Giver of Life, the Saviour & Guardian through every pothole... Jesus Christ.

Grown-up Jobs

A few nights ago Bryson wanted to be a coach when he grows up. The night before that he wanted to be a basketball player. But last week, during the nightly bedtime talk, Bryson told Daddy he wanted to teach people about Jesus.

"Oh, like a Sunday School teacher?"

"No, Dad. A pastor."

"Oh, so you want to teach grown-ups about Jesus when you get big?"

"No, I wanna be a kids' pastor."

"Cool, like Pastor Justin?"

"Yeah. Like Pastor Justin. A children's pastor."

"Wow, Buddy. That would be cool if you were a children's pastor when you grow up."

"Not when I grow up, Dad. Just when I get bigger. Like when I'm five, I'll teach the little kids about Jesus' blood."

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. To give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

It is so cool to trust that the Lord has known each of our callings even before we were conceived. And He's faithful to send the Spirit to guide our steps onto the unique path created only for one.

So, even when tomorrow Bryson tells me he wants to be a grown-up when he grows up, I rejoice because I know that I know that I know that God's mercies fail not. Somehow, He brings each of us to a place that fulfills our hearts -- if we will only seek Him!

Idiosyncracies

What are some of the funny things about your kids? I'll tell you about mine because I've been marveling about how unique God's made each of them. They're funny little people!

My daughter is the earliest early bird in the Pacific Northwest. She's sooooo cheerful and excited to rise just before the sun. (What a blessing for her, to naturally rise so easily -- I hope it's something she'll enjoy throughout her life.)

She's not very tidy. She tends to be a little... uh, impulsive and distracted when it comes to cleaning up her toys/clothes/room. I'm sure she has good intentions, but more often than not, I'll find her reading one of her books or sketching on her Magna-Doodle practicing her circles & pretty faces very intently. Sound like anyone else in this house... um, yeah.

Kennady still sucks her thumb exactly the same way she has since she was 11-weeks old. Left-thumb-in-mouth-while-holding-right-ear-of-Bunny-Bear. One day... No More Thumb. But for now, at bedtime when we ask her how we can pray for her, her #1 thing is "MY FUMB!"

"Dear Jesus, help me walk in the Spirit. So I can have self-control and stop sucking my fumb."

Bryson. Now unlike Kennady (and Dad) who prefers cheese over chocolate, Bryson (like Mama) prefers bigger chocolate over smaller chocolate. He is forever scoping out the larger dessert protion. Scoot back, Goose! I've learned to selflessly serve dessert to my sweet little children before serving myself (that way he won't choose my dished-up delight!).

Bryson is painstakingly particular about his clothing. He tells me what matches and what won't. (I don't think he's color-blind.) He has his faves and rarely tries any new outfits. Getting dressed to leave the house... please don't ask. It's getting better. But my definition of going-to-town clothes and his are not synonomous. Also, in case you were wondering, there is an order to how clothing is put on. (He and Bryan completely understand each other.)

His pant legs must cover the velcro on his sneaks completely and if they're shoes with laces, it's a monumental effort to get them disguised enough to his liking. He has a down comforter on his bed and at bedtime and naptime, the edges must be tucked in nice and neat and the seams? The seams must be straight. Bryson's very tidy and keeps his toys sorted completely and he's mastering folding his clothes. Bless his heart!

And Bubba? We're still learning about this little man. He will not leave his room without his blanket in hand. He also thinks he's 3 or 4 an dprefers the big kid toys, big kid chairs, big kid wrestling and big kid mischief.

He has mastered the art of saying, "No."
"Bring that here, Kev." Shake, shake shake.
"Gimme kisses." Shake, shake, shake.
"Come to Mommy." Shake, shake, shake.
Little turkey!

I know that's why the Good Lord is giving us another babe -- because He knows how my kids jump ship into Daddy territory. After they're done nursing -- SHOOP! They're like, "Mom, who?" Even Kev, about 4 or 5 months ago. So I have Mommy-only babes for about 20-months. And the child (lucky for me) has no choice for the first nine!

One of the things we're working with Kevan on are his tastebuds and the subsequent knee-jerk reaction. Well, it's more of an arm-jerk reaction. Kevvy don't likey, Kevvy throw-y overboard-y. We gotta get that in check!

Each of the kids have their own little mini-passions.

Kenna: Loves princesses and horsies.
Bryson: Loves any sport -- all the way. And puzzles.
Kevan: Oh, totally our remotes, cell phones, cordless phones, and the mouse from the PC.

You know, it's so cool to watch these kids grow and develop. The Lord has given them each a natural bent toward something. It's up to Bryan and me to seek the Lord and discern these things so they can be raised up in a way that maximizes their talents and giftings and glorifies the Giver.

What is it that you see so clearly in your kids? Do you ever take the time to write it down? That's why I'm on here... it gives me a chance to "publish" a moment in time, a conversation, a snapshot. I don't have time for scrapbooking!

Meal Times

The kids are so cute at meal times (especially when they're sitting still & systematically putting food in their mouths and not throwing it on the floor).


Mom makes it a point to ask, "How was your day, Dad?" And then the big kids ask each other and Mommy about their day. It's so fun to hear them describe their day. A recap of the day's events sounds so exciting from their perspective, when it can often times be the same as yesterday (and the day before) for the Mom.


What I'm realizing is that we are in the act of making meal time, "family time." One day there will be so much more to talk about than which puzzle they did. They'll (hopefully) be coming to Mom & Dad with things that are "puzzling" them -- friends, faith, sex...whatever!


So today, we enjoy the simplicity of their perspective. And the wisdom of these babes as it pours from their mouths like such sweet nectar.

"Kennady, where do babies come from?"

With all the matter-of-fact-ness of an expert midwife,
after pondering a moment, she answers,

"From Mary!"

"Oh," Daddy says, "Well, how will the baby in

Mommy's tummy come out?"

"Um. Like a balloon, the baby will just POP!"

I'm so glad the Lord holds the whole pregnancy/childbirth process in His very hands. He is my Creator & then He knits together the spirits, souls & bodies of my precious children. That's really awesome!

For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

Look who's in trouble!

"Kevan. What did you do, Bubba?"

(He can't remember, so he's taking a closer look here.)

"Looks like dirt, ma."

"Kevan, we don't eat dirt. We don't play in the plant. That's a NO-NO."

"I was just reading this book... I have no idea what you're talking about."

"But here, I'll help you clean up your messy kitchen, Mama."

My Princess + Disney Princesses = Dreamy!

My friend and I took our daughters to the Rose Garden in Portland to watch the "Disney Princesses on Ice" show. It was so much fun!

My daughter loves the Disney Princesses. Her favorite is Sleeping Beauty. I did not have to teach my daughter how to TWIRL. I did not choose Kennady's favorite colors for her (PINK & PURPLE). I do know, that ever since we started calling her Princess, as a term of endearment, she's lived up to the name.

We remind Kennady that really, she IS a princess. Since she is a Daughter of the King....
King Jesus!

Smiles = Good Medicine

Sick babies. We've had a cold for the past week.

Look at 'em! Don't they just look like they feel miserable?

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22

Somehow theses babes never fail to smile...even when they're sick.

This encourages me to do the same

(even though NONE of us can breathe out of our noses).

My Vivacious Gramma

"Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged..."

Proverbs 17:6

Gramma Marie has been gone for over a week now. She spent 10 days with me and she could not believe the amount of laundry I "put up with!" She said I should be grateful for the electric washer/dryer I have.

She enjoyed the kids and we enjoyed each other. But even she looked forward to a little "quiet" time. We took a friend up on some free babysitting and went to the Movies!

I miss her! I don't think of her as "aged." I think of her as vivacious!

Forty Tippy Toes?!!!

"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise YOU forever, because YOU have done it; and in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it... is... GOOD!"

Psalm 52:8-9

Can you imagine my amazement when Bryan showed me this positive pregnancy test? I thought we were done. We were finally in agreement that we felt content, felt full. Well... now I wonder how I could have felt content, when it is now that I feel fully and wholly amazingly blessed that the Lord should present us with another child! Trenkle Family... Party of SIX! I am in God's will and it is there that I am content.

We didn't "plan" for another child, but see, it is the Lord who "HAS DONE IT." He is the One who opens and closes the womb. He is the One who says that the "fruit of the womb is a reward" and that children are His heritage. How exciting! All of our babes are special, but we believe God will be giving this child a special future.

Bryan had been asking the Lord, "Draw me closer to You. Draw Kellie closer to You. Draw my wife and I closer together and draw our children to Yourself and make us an amazingly intimate family." He expected an Answer. Just didn't know it would be a "+" on a stick! Praise Him that He knows exactly what we NEED. How could we not trust Him?

My only question is, what is the difference between a green olive tree and just a plain ol' olive tree? I have a feeling, for me, it indicates there will be... Nausea ahead. Praise Him!