Money Saving Mom®

We got to babysit Champ twice last week again while his mama was working. We discovered that the babies loved playing with the empty Easter eggs! They spent the longest time opening them and trying to put them back together!

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I eat a salad with toast and lots of butter for lunch every day. It’s a habit I started a few years ago and it just stuck! I love coming up with fun variety using what we have on hand!

Kaitlynn used some of her Curly Girl products on Kierstyn — and Kierstyn thought it was the absolute best to get sprayed with water! She kept begging for us to do it again!

Did you see that my book, Love-Centered Parenting, is now available in audiobook form? Many people are finding it for free from their library on the Hoopla or Libby app.

Silas turned 12 this past week!!

So of course he got some Kansas City Chiefs gear! (If you’re new here, we’re originally from Kansas and are big Chiefs and Royals fans.)

Champ wasn’t sure what to think of Baby D the first few times he visited, but now he is a big fan and loves to hug him and tries to help take care of him. It’s the cutest!

Champ is also a big fan of brooms. He always wants to get the big broom out of the pantry and try to sweep the kitchen floor! I need to get him a child-sized broom!

Happy 12th birthday, Silas! You are a gift to our family!

This past year, I’ve watched you go from being the baby of our family, to becoming a caring and confident big brother. You’ve learned how how to give bottles, change diapers, get babies dressed, calm fussy babies, and even how to deal with reflux (because we’ve sure had a lot of that here!). I love how the first thing you do almost every morning is come into our room to check on the babies and say good morning to them if they are awake. All three babies adore you so much.

I love all of the in-depth conversations we have as you grapple through what you believe on a whole variety of topics. You have such wise insight and great questions. You always make me think!

I love how God has wired you to be a strong leader, but I also love watching you learn to temper that with kindness and compassion. You are a loyal friend and you care deeply about others.

Your sports card/eBay business has taken off this year and your entrepreneurial bent couldn’t make me more excited! You are constantly learning and thinking and trying new things — and it’s starting to really pay off! I have learned so much about eBay and sports cards from all you have shared with me and I can’t wait to see where this leads in the future.

I’ve seen so maturity in you this past year. You’ve walked through the grief of saying goodbye to Champ and it’s given you more empathy and compassion for others. You’ve made mistakes and owned them like a man. You’ve had hard conversations. You’ve stuck up for the underdog. You’ve cheered for others when they got an opportunity you would have really loved. And you’ve faced your fears with bravery and courage.

More than anything, I’ve loved observing your heart for the Lord and your desire to seek Him and honor Him with your life — even if it’s not popular or cool to do so.

I’m so proud of you and love you more than you can even imagine.

I got to host some of the ladies from my foster care support group for a fun evening of talking, laughing, and getting to know each other better. I’m grateful for the gift these women are in my life!

We spend lots of time at the ball field right now.

Kierstyn has been practicing her walking and just paced up and down the sidewalk at Saturday’s baseball game.

She also loved getting to pet our friends’ dog (though she wasn’t quite sure what to do when she got licked by the dog!)

I tried out these press-on nails instead of my usual dip polish. So far, I’ve been pretty impressed!

Silas had a birthday party at a local trampoline park with some of his friends. The girls enjoyed getting to tag along!

And then the week ended with a quick visit from my mom and youngest brother, Zachary. He graduated from BJU on Friday and he and my mom were driving back to Kansas. They swung by for a little while and it was so good to see them!

I was excited that I got to see my mom on Mother’s Day weekend, as that usually doesn’t happen!

My mom is one of the most giving, selfless people I’ve ever known. I sometimes wonder if she gets any sleep at all… she’s always thinking about other people before herself, looking for ways to bless and encourage others, staying up late or getting up early to pray for someone or write a note of encouragement to them

One of my earliest childhood memories is of getting up to get a drink of water at 4 or 4:30 am and finding my mom out in the family room reading her Bible and praying.

Thank you for the example you have set for me, Mom! I’m so grateful for you and love you!