Yearly Update

Man! Two years have flown by. Zane is now 4, Henley 5 and Haven is 7...going on 18. Things have been much calmer in the past few months than in years past and I am so thankful for that. Currently, Adam is on a plane headed back from China. That trip is never easy for any of us. This time he was gone for 9 days. Its never short enough and every time I can not wait to have him back in our home and sleeping right next to me. The kids count down the days and Zane actually broke out in prayer for him last night all by himself. I was floored! It was honestly the most precious moment I wish I could have frozen in time.

I'll do a quick child update:

Haven: 7-1/2 years old.

Our responsible one. Haven is in the 1st grade and loving school. Her favorite subject is Math (totally Adam's child) and she loves singing (my child!) She is so kind, a little bossy, and sweet as can be. She is one awesome kid. Haven is the one that does her homework without asking. Always has amazing citizenship at school. If there is an award, this girl wins it. She is a rockstar. She is so much fun and my "big girl". I love getting to just hang out with her and do big girl type things. She can be so girly and she can also shoot a gun and play in the dirt. Haven is so beautiful on the inside as well as the out.

The other night Haven said "Do you know what my gift is mom?" I said, what do you think it is? and she responded with "Responsibility". I agreed. She is seriously the most responsible child at this age. I trust her to do most things. Its Spring Break and we are taking it pretty easy around here. This morning Haven let me sleep until 10:30 AM!!! She got breakfast bars for the everyone and drinks and turned on a movie when they got up. I mean, what mother of three children gets to sleep until 10:30 and wakes up to a peaceful, quiet house with all of her children happy, not hungry, not fighting and nothing is destroyed in the house??? I DO! Thank you Lord for these amazing children.

Haven loves her legos, she loves crafts and art, coloring and creating things for people. She is our gift giver and is always thinking of things to give people. She is super thoughtful.
 

Henley: 5 years old

Sweet Henley. Henley is a hugger. She will run and attack any person with the sweetest hug ever. She loves to wrap herself around you and look into your eyes and tell you just how much she loves you. She is loved by every single person that has ever been in the same room with her. She just has this magnetic personality and a smile that lights up the entire building. Henley's gift is encouragement. She is so quick to hug someone who is hurting or cheer someone on from the sidelines. She is very in tune to others feelings. 

Henley can be a bit mischievous when it comes to her little brother and so this is about the only time she gets in trouble. She has been known to be a bit bossy with Zane when Haven is not around. I suppose its just her trying to control something when Haven is not around to call the shots. Henley still loves giraffes but she has also added her little cat "Pounce" to the mix and "Bambi" these are little beanie babies that she got from a couple of different hospital stays. They sleep with her and all of the giraffes in her bed at night. She sleeps with one large giraffe over her head at night because she says she is scared of the dark. Apparently that fear is alleviated by a large giraffe trying to suffocate you. 

Henley is doing fantastic from a medical standpoint. We are so thankful that some really rough years are behind us. We still have not been released from the yearly MRI's, but we are hoping that will be in the future for her. 

Zane: 4 years old

Be still my heart. This boy just might have me wrapped around his little finger. I feel like God knew that one of my love languages was words of affirmation and therefore sent me this little boy to fill my bucket. I am not kidding when I say that Zane tells me several times a day that "Mommy, you are the best mommy ever" and "Mommy, I love you!" He still loves to cuddle and snuggle and I will do that just as long as he will let me. 

I am a little afraid about what Zane is going to do this next fall when Haven and Henley are in school. He does not do well when his sisters are not around. Its like a piece of himself is missing without them. I am excited to have him all by myself at home for one year and get that one year I got with both of the girls.

Zane loves cars and legos and trains, super heros and playing outside. He has just recently started showing off some karate skills that I am certain is going to get him in trouble down the road. Zane at age 3 was already hitting a softball off the tee and across the yard so I am interested to see how that is going to go as he grows. He also LOVES to swim. He is a total fish. This past summer when he was just 3 years old he took off swimming one day all by himself. He swam about 8-10 feet underwater without coming up for air. I was terrified, but he did it like a champ and has never looked back. I think this summer might be our first summer of having three swimmers.

These three get along so well, they rarely fight and usually resolve things on their own and very quickly without having to get mommy involved. They are attached at the hip. The little ones can not wait for Haven to get home from school and they all give each other the biggest hugs when they are all back in the same house. I feel very lucky that they are all so close. 

As for Adam and myself. We are doing great. We have almost been married 11 years, and I can honestly say that I love him more than ever. I am so honored to be his wife and love the man that he is and that he is becoming year after year. Even through all of the crazy, we have always resolved to be Team Thomas. Sounds silly, but I have come to realize over the years that the vows we made on our wedding day to be a team and to fight for each other and not against each other may have been one of the wisest things we ever committed to. We have each others back and we are trusting the Lord to lead us through this crazy life.