Do you feel loved?

Clint and I celebrated our 9 year anniversary while we were on our mission trip. When we came home we received a gift from our kids - with a little help from Grandma and Aunt Leslie, of course! :)

After being gone an entire week, our homecoming was absolutely delightful! Paige saw us first and immediately starting yelling Mommy...Daddy!! Then Raegan and Hudson joined in and all three ran into our arms laughing and giggling! Yeah, I would like to keep that moment locked away in memory to pull out on times that aren't quite so delightful!

After many hugs and kisses, they presented us with our anniversary gift.

Isn't that awesome?! :)

Oh kids - we are so thankful for you!

Even though sometimes you do things that you shouldn't do like wetting toilet paper in an un-flushed toilet....


Though sometimes you thoroughly exhaust us...


We LOVE being your mommy and daddy!

Many times you make us laugh.... (excuse all the hair, this was at the end of his haircut - but check out those lips!!)And sometimes we feel nothing like laughing....but we are so thankful for you 3.

God has impressed on my heart the desire to really know my kids and understand who He made each one of them to be. I want to make sure they not only know that they are loved but to also FEEL loved by me.

I am reading the book "The 5 Love Languages of Children" by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell and I am excited about it -- SO EXCITED that I'm giving one copy away!!

The authors say, "In raising children, everything depends on the love relationship between the parent and child. Nothing works well if a child's love needs are not met. Only the child who feels genuinely loved and cared for can do her best. You may truly loved your child, but unless she feels it - unless you speak the love language that communicates to her your love - she will not feel loved.

Today I was not feeling so uhhh, loving. Everyone was especially grumpy and I felt frustration seethe out of me, to be quite honest. When I called Clint to ask for prayers he asked "So all 3 are grumpy?" To which I responded, "No ALL 4 - me included."

So right now, I'm choosing to be thankful for the many blessings God has entrusted me with. It helps that they're all so stinkin' cute and quiet at the moment! :) Enjoy the rest of your day, my dear friends!

A winner will be chosen (at random) from the comments left on this post until Monday night at 11:59pm! :) I'll announce on Tuesday!