One of those days. AAAAHHHHH. The kids seem to be at each other all the time. Maybe I'm trying to do too much, you know, the dishes, the laundry, freeze the meat before it goes bad. . . I don't know. I have them quiet at the moment, no they have themselves quiet at the moment. but I couldn't resist writing in the midst of the chaos. Today I went to the Post Office and its the 2nd time I've gone and dreaded it as my kids go nuts there. I bribed them with candy the whole time and it went better, but I told the post office man(praise the Lord hes a sweet one) that I won't be coming back after #3 is born. He said, thats why I quit at 2. Ok, sweet, but not as thoughtful as he could be. Ok, kids are fighting over a block. I wish Tedd Tripp would come parent my children. He'd do a much better job. Maybe I could hire him. Maybe I could go have a spiritual retreat so I can really do what I'd like to do in parenting. Anyway, I'm off to be the peacemaker or just send them to bed.

YIKES

WOAH who is that?

For Grandma

Hey mom, I know you don't like blogs, but its the easiest way!
Here is the rocker. I'm working on a good Law video singing!!

Meg

I just don't get this blog thing. I have had a few moments thinking, "oh this would make a good picture and my life will look fun" and then I reconsider as the reality is that those cute pictures of my kids in the mud are followed by me wrestling them to be clean and getting in trouble for letting them dig up the backyard. Those cute pictures of the 2 of them on the chair are proceeded and followed by my exasperating them because they don't want to cuddle and get their picture taken. You don't see all that in the cute pics. Now, I am a melancholy. really. I can find something hard about most things and live in the deep sadness of it for a long time if I let myself. So, there are some fun things that really are fun. Like the pictures of this orchard, it was actually a pretty good day! I mean some screaming on the way home and a tired afternoon for me, but overall an A+. But, friends, I just find life right now to be difficult. I love my kids, but I find the teaching/training them each day to be way beyond me. I rarely have to think too long at night before I can find a whole host of things to repent of and ask for help in. Not that I do that every night, but I wish I did. I'm praying a lot lately for patience, wisdom, love, and for forgiveness. I'm struggling to accept the personality I've been given, but not use that as an excuse to sin. Parenting is hard.

So, my blog is not happening so much. Maybe if I change my idea of what a blog is, or if you just let me be me and be melancholy. . . we'll see where we go from here.

Meg

Hi friends,

Too much to catch up on since May. So, lets just start from last night for now. Banana pudding. MMMMMMM





And for those of you I haven't been able to keep up with the good news is that we are expecting #3 in early April!

Can someone tell me how to get one of those fun counters on my blog? :)

Meg

Transition

A well loved word by me right now. I shouldn't complain, It does challenge me in ways that I wouldn't chose to be challenged, helping me to live out what I say I believe. It forces me to be a bit humbler than I would normally, and it puts me in a needy place, whether for emotional stability or just physical needs, pushes me to confess my pride, and get help from God or others. So, I'm trying to embrace this state where God has me, if you cant tell:)

After moving home from Asia, living with my parents for a month, and now living with a family of 6 for 5 months, we are:
1. Going on vacation with some beloved friends for a week
2. Spending time with Marks family for a week
3. Moving in with a family of 5 for June
4. Flying to Kentucky to find housing (leaving the kids:)
5. Visiting some churches
6. Moving into another apartment in July( this one is people free!)
7. Moving to PA for a few weeks end of July
8. Moving to Louisville, Kentucky early Aug.
Ok, are you tired yet?

Ha. I'm actually looking forward to it. After a challenging month, I'm ready for some change! And I'm looking forward to Mark having a little more freedom and for the relational time with loved family and friends.

Yes, we are now headed to Kentucky so Mark can study at Southern. Not my first choice, but I think it is the best option for us at this time. Have any of you, my friends ever even been to Kentucky? Didn't think so. Let us, your dear Collins', give you a sincere invitation to come visit us and check out the beauty.( so I hear).

Caroline is so capable. She is almost potty trained, and she (when she wants to) can do almost anything on her own. I can't believe how much I can talk with her and how much she can help me. What a difference 3 years old is to 2 years. AND, Lawrence. Ahh, the cutest. He is changing so much too. I'm so enjoying him. More than ever. He sleeps through the night now(well, most of the time). He says words, bebe(pacifier), yucky, dada, mama, etc. He is at the stage that he will come give you a kiss.

AHHH, that brings back fond memories of Asia and Caroline when she would give everyone a kiss when she went to bed. Remember that?

Ok, I'm digressing. A few pics and a hearty hello from a needy girl in transition.

Time with Grandpa Clarke in NC(great grandpa that is:)

Lawrence on the stairs!

Great Grandma Caroline

Lawrence tries to drive the truck!

My athletic daughter catching bubbles

OOOOOHHH COLD:)

Hey friends. Long time no blog. We've been to NC to see my grandparents and just got back from PA to visit with my parents while Mark was out of town.

Kids are good. I looked at picture books of the kids from when we left Asia, and they look so little! I can't believe its been 5 months!

We have decided not to attend Westminster due to some hard things that are going on there. So after my depression over not being in PA with my good friend Allie and being close to family, I'm really just ok with whether we end up at Southern in Kentucky, or at RTS satellite in Northern VA. I think we'll be deciding soon, as our internship is over May 23rd.