Xander's 20 questions: 9 years old

 

 

 

Blue= 8 years old!
Red= 9 years old!

 

1. Favorite Color:  Red   Red

2. Favorite Toy: Legos   Legos

3. Favorite Fruit: Apples   Apples

4. Favorite TV Show: Kick Buttowski   Max Steel

5. Favorite Lunch: Hot Dogs   Ham

6. Favorite Clothes: Lego Star Wars Shirt   Minecraft Shirt

7. Favorite Game:  Lego Batman   Assassin

8. Favorite Snack: Crackers   Blueberry Muffins

9. Favorite animal: Lion   Giraffe

10. Favorite Song: Call Me, Maybe   Everything is Awesome (Lego Movie)

11. Favorite Book: Star Wars Lego book   Baby Mouse

12. Best friend: Josh   Abbey & Josh

13. Favorite Cereal: Cheerios   Corn Pops 

14. Favorite thing to do outside: Swingset   Water guns

15. Favorite drink: Root Beer   Orange Juice

16. Favorite holiday: Christmas   Christmas

17. Favorite thing to have in bed: Bunny   Pillow

18. Favorite breakfast: Pancakes   Chocolate Mint-Chip Donut
(with ice cream like for my birthday)

19. Favorite Dinner: Mac-n-Cheese   Ham

20. What do you want to be when you grow up?:  Police Officer  US Army Soldier

What blessings am I missing?

Just over a month ago, I wrote a little bit about MY plan versus GOD's plan for my life. About how what we think we know isn't always the big picture that God sees for our lives...

 (Read that post HERE)

I have thought about the topic more since that day ... especially this last week. A friend of mine really had me thinking....

How many blessings do I miss out on because they don't come the way *I* think they should? 

Laura Story has a song called "Blessings," and it really says exactly this point. 

What if ....

Sometimes, I have a visual in my mind of how I would like things to go; of how I think everything will work out. But there are times that God has something else in mind. Sometimes, in a bad situation, God shows an answer, a way through it, that may not seem like what I had in mind, but in the BIG picture of it all (the picture that HE sees clearly), it is the best option. 

Recently I was talking to the Mr. about a situation that we're not liking. But I told him that PERHAPS the way things are going is God's way of bringing us through... that perhaps, maybe, if I can't change the situation that I'm smack dab in the middle of, maybe changing my perspective about the situation will help. Sometimes I can't see what is right in front of my face because I'm so stuck on how *I* think everything will work out.

Another friend of mine recently said that she'll "just know" when God gives her something that she wants because it will fit in her pre-conceived notion of how it will look. When she said that, it really made me wonder.... how many blessings do I miss out on, how many opportunities lay by the wayside, because I am so focused on how I have things planned that I don't stop to think that perhaps GOD's ideal is different? That maybe God's plan for hope and a future looks differently than my own? 

Someone once said that she used to wonder what was the point of praying so much for the things you want when it may not be what God wants... then she realized, and I believe it's SO true, that the more we pray to Him and spend time seeking Him, the more what we want WILL come into agreement with what He has in store. We spend time with Him so that our plans and His will coincide! So that we WILL see the blessings He puts in our paths no matter how they look! We will want what He wants so much more than our own pre-conceived notions!

Lord, help me to spend so much time with you that 

your blessings don't line up to my ideals, 

but that my ideals will line up to your blessings!! 

Amen!

Ten on 10- All About Xander- Birthday Love

Ten Pictures in Ten Hours on the Tenth of the Month!! All of these are of Xander in honor of his birthday this week!

I look back over the last 9 years and can't believe how much you have grown and changed.  You were first thing to steal my heart after your daddy! 

I love to watch you sleep!

When you were born, and they rushed you to NICU, I was scared to death. But imagine my relief when only a couple hours later, you came back and all was well!

I love your laugh, here's a close-up!

You taught me so much about life and love. I never could understand God's complete unconditional love, until I had my own kiddo to love completely and unconditionally! 

I even love that 9 year old attitude!

You were the best baby, from day one! 

You slept well; you ate well; you smiled often; you snuggled all the time!

My sweetness

When we added Asher to the mix, you were so excited to have a baby brother. You wanted him to walk from the beginning so he could play with you! Then when Jonathan and Bella came along, my heart melted to see the love you had for them!

Um, your eyeball is a little droopy there, son!

You make your daddy so proud for many reasons, but one BIG reason is your love of Legos! Just when I think you have enough, you find another set that you just HAVE to have! Just when I think "it's just a phase," I find you still begging for them 3 years later! You make all sorts of things, and I am continually baffled by your creativity!

Gotta love that pop!

School has been great for you-even though you had to get extra practice by repeating the 2nd grade. You earned straight A's all last year and are so excited for 3rd grade coming soon! 

Eye roll

You are my child who has never met a stranger. You have such a sweet and loving heart with everyone you meet. You are kind to the "bad kids" and the "good kids." You are always willing to help others when they need help. You are a best friend to so many people!  Your best friends are Josh, Justin, and Kutter (boys) and Nevaeh (girl). Nevaeh even says, "When I watch the Lion King, I think of you- you're Simba and I'm Nala!"  

Sweet girl!!!

Yeah, Baby!!

You are 9 years old and stand as tall as my shoulder. It won't be long before you pass me. My baby shouldn't be this tall already! You're an excellent helper around the house... You help with dishes and cooking; you help with garbage and cleaning; you even help your brothers and sister with their household tasks. I don't tell you often enough how important you are, how much I treasure you, how much I appreciate you. 

Pondering life- in a puddle! LOL

I love you completely and unconditionally, my first-born son, Xander Michael!

Just me and my Xan-Man

 

Check out the other Xander Birthday love letters HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE!! Those are his 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th birthday letters!! I love doing these letters to my kids!! 

Wordless Wednesday -at the park