In this season of life, we are so very blessed to have Daddy at home with us.

Many people have wondered and even ventured to ask if it has been hard for us to adjust.

Quite honestly, no.

We love having him home...even if he is in his office most of the day with the door shut.. 

(and the sound machine on, the fan on, and classical music playing...yes, we are very noisy!)

We have been blessed with a man that fulfills his biblical calling of a father

and jumps in to help in every situation.

Blessed to have a true helpmate in every sense of the word.

We are also grateful that at this point in time...he has limited trips that take him away from us.

But several weeks ago found me alone...taking care of all the kids...trying to do school...

chores...shopping...etc...on my own.

Many of my friends are in this predicament several times a month.

And I must confess...I admire their fortitude and ability to "roll with the punches".

I have to admit that I do not deal with it quite as well.

In fact, the exact opposite.

This particular week found me in a foul mood.

And after a very frustrating exchange between two siblings exhibiting their sinful nature...

I allowed myself to wallow in shameful self-pity.

I even went so far as muttering these completely self-centered phrases:

"He's off by himself...ALONE...doing everything ALONE...I can't even go to the bathroom alone!"

"He has no idea how hard this is."

and then the final...

"He could never do all this...he could never do what I do."

And then the conviction came.

Swift.

Firm.

Gentle.

Truth.

He is not called to do what I do.

He is not the one that God has chosen to be "mother".

He is called to be father, husband, provider, protector, prophet.

And he is definitely fulfilling that calling!

Obeying his God at much cost to himself.

On top of that...how is it that I am able to do "all that I do"?

Is it because of some great ability on my part?

Some incredible gifts?

Amazing talents?

Is it because I am a "super mom"?

Actually, no it is not.

It has nothing to do with me at all.

It is because God has called me to be "mother" and then sufficiently provided His grace for that calling.

He has enabled me to be exactly whom these children need me to be.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Not a new concept.

But one that has reverberated in my heart and life in the days following.

My path of sanctification reveals much need for God's precious grace.

Given to me...AND my wonderful husband.

Grace that convicts when selfishness threatens to choke out the blessings.

Grace that endures when frustrations abound.

Grace that continues until the completion of each of our callings!

Waves crashing on the shore.

Dolphins jumping in the horizon.

Castles piled high on the sand.

Laughter floating on the breeze.

This was the idyllic setting of our week at the beach.

Complete perfection in a vacation.

We had a very gracious couple offer their beach house to us several years back.

Unfortunately, we had not been able to make it work out to accept.

This year, they would not take "no" for an answer!

So last week found us at Topsail Beach...having a wonderful time!

The beach was literally out the back door.

Having four children and all of the buckets, shovels, towels, water bottles, snacks, etc that come with them...

it was so nice to simply walk several steps back and forth to the house.

Jackson was off to the beach in a flash...

but was soon distracted with chasing after the little birds running away from the waves.

He kept his distance from the crashing waves...a little intimidated by how noisy they were.

He preferred instead to run along the shore...and occasionally getting his feet wet every now and again.

Hailey was absolutely fearless (unfortunately)...and would run straight into the water.

She wasn't sure about the mud sticking to her feet...or the tide pulling her back in...

or the saltwater taste coating her face...

But none of that kept her from playing...

She found a little ball that she would throw out into the water...

then she would pick it up...and start all over again.

Tyler and Amy played and played...

and played some more in the waves.

Their faces were raw from the water and a bit burnt from the sun...but they kept on playing!

There were lots of castles built...

and even a smiley face...

some covered with its fair share of sand...

a perfect little swimming pool made splashing around an afternoon pastime super easy...

ice cream to indulge in...

and games to be played.

While we were there, God provided some hands-on opportunities to flesh out

what the kids had already learned.

We saw a ghost crab scurrying across the night time beach...a starfish with a missing arm...loads of empty shells and even a discarded exoskeleton...identical to what we had just learned about!

We will be forever grateful to God's precious family for sharing their blessings with us!

As a family, we sat around praising God, not only for His creation, 

but the willingness of His body to bless us.

Tyler had been quiet for awhile...and then said,

 "We need to think of something nice to do to tell them how grateful we are 

because 'thank you' just doesn't seem enough.

This (looking around at the beach and the house) is way more than just two words!"

Yes, words cannot describe how blessed we were to be on the receiving end of this kindness.

Spending a week with our precious family surrounded by the awe and majesty of His creation

has left us humbled and extremely grateful!!!

A treasured memory that will be imprinted on our hearts forever!

Our verse for this year:

Hello. My name is Tyler Jimenez.

I am eight years old and I am in 3rd grade.

I am 4'5" tall.

My favorite food is pasta.

My favorite books are the Hardy boys series.

When I grow up I want to be a pastor.

This year I will be in TNT in Awana.

I look like my Dad.

My favorite thing to do is play football.

My favorite verse is Psalm 147:5.

Hello. My name is Amy Jimenez.

I am seven years old and I am in 2nd grade.

I am 4'1" tall.

My favorite food is chicken with pasta.

My favorite books are the Mandie series.

When I grow up I want to be a missionary.

This year I will be in Sparks in Awana.

I look like my Mom.

My favorite things to do are art projects.

My favorite verse is Romans 1:16.

Hello. My name is Jackson Jimenez.

I am three years old and I am in preschool.

I am 3'3" tall.

My favorite food is chicken nuggets.

My favorite book is Lightning McQueen.

When I grow up I want to be like Tyler.

This year I will be in Gopher Buddies in Awana.

I look like my Mom.

My favorite thing to do is PLAY.

My favorite verse is Jesus.

Hello.

I'm going to sit down to do this.

I'm just going to set this down right here.

Oh, it has words on it.

What does it say?

Mom wants me to hold it up...here goes...

Hello. My name is Hailey Jimenez.

I am one year old and I am in playtime all day (except for naps).

I am 2'4" tall.

My favorite food is nothing, really.

My favorite books are anything I can chew on.

When I grow up I want to be able to go down the stairs by myself.

This year I will be in the nursery during Awana.

I look like my big sister.

My favorite thing to do is laugh, hug, and distract my siblings during school time.

Here we go again...let the craziness begin!!!