The thing about moving is....

You realize that as a family unit you have WAY TOO MANY socks. Seriously, how can 5 people have so many pairs of socks??? And how have I not known this until now? Gracious.

One a more serious note.....

I find myself composing this on the eve of our move away from quiet and sweet Demopolis to the embrace of home. Our original home. The place where Jared and I both grew up and the place in which we are excited to be able to raise our own children. But for the last 3 years, we have called this place home. 500 North Main Ave. It has been a wonderfully challenging last three years. We are stronger, wiser, simpler, and bit more calm in general after our time here in lower Alabama. It has been days full of long walks along the river, boat rides on the Tombigbee, adventures in house renovating, and focusing on just family, our little family. We have learned about the quiet things in life that make a day richer and that throwing a rock into water or stopping by the produce stand can be enough to fill a day. It doesn't have to be more. We have had the luxury of just having a singular purpose of raising a family unhurried by distractions that a bigger town has to offer and, at times, it has made me want to pull my hair out. However, I believe that these past 3 years have been a special gift. I would say that it has been marked by some real joys (do you see the 3 precious boys I have?) and then also filled with some real loneliness and struggle. Probably more of the later and so I feel as though tomorrow I will rise and gather my things and head to the Promised Land of home. Will we still struggle and suffer and have challenges to meet and overcome there in Chattanooga, of course. Always as long as we are on this side of Heaven, but I am proud to say that tomorrow I will certainly feel just a bit of pride as I look at how much we have "grown" as a family during this time. 

Thank you Demopolis for the opportunity to do so. 

A dear local artist drew our house for us and dropped it by this afternoon as a going away gift. My eyes filled with tears.

Rock throwing with a tugboat in the distance.

Peaceful.

My Hunter

Well, its happened. My Alderman has become a little hunter. He and Daddy went on their first dove hunt last week and Alder's first ever hunting experience. He has been so thrilled to go hunting he literally has been counting the days. I was trying to take his picture on the way to the car, but he kept saying, "Mama, stop. I have no time for you to do this. I have got to go and hunt with Daddy. I need to get in the car. Good-bye." That about broke my heart. When did he get this big???

He took along his cap pistol (which is in the picture below) that is at his side AT ALL TIMES around the house and I think after last week, he will always be a lover of hunting. 

Oh, my! 

Character Work

 Gary Ezzo wrote in his series, "Growing Kids God's Way," that "a legalistic approach to parenting is very dangerous, leaving in its wake a frustrated child-one that fears failure rather than loves virtue."

I have been diligently working in the recent weeks with my oldest boys regarding character and how important it is to not just have obedience, but how good character is essential. My sweet friend let me know about this lady who has created a list of Godly character qualities, charts, and other books to help with teaching and encouraging Godly character traits in your children. It has been great and even little Kingston is getting a lot out of it. We work up to about 10 checks a piece (and I work really hard at watching them and pointing out to them when I see them display one of these qualities that is on the list) and then when they have gotten 10 they can get something out of the Treasure Chest which is filled with little cheap nick-knack toys like stickers, books, marbles, play dough, paintable figurines, and so on. It so excites them when they get to pick out a treat, but really they love just as much standing and listening to me explain with a Bible verse whatever quality it is that they displayed. This has been a wonderful learning tool!
The info. for these charts is 
The Courtship Connection (734-847-5210) if you want to order them for yourself.
I also purchased some ribbons to reward them with too that has the verse, "Let us not be weary in well doing" Galatians 6:9 that Alder really enjoys and the books, "Character Prayers," and "Proverbs for Parenting" both of which are great for quick references for Bible verses and to use as family devotionals. Also, I bought the book, "Child Training Tips" by Reb Bradley. This book is gold and should be read by every parent trying to achieve effective discipline and mature children. I just called the number above and spoke to the lady and she took my credit card over the phone and sent all of it right to me. Easy as pie. 
I hope this helps someone else as much as it has helped (and is helping) our little ones grow. 

My 3 Little Wild Indian Boys

This perfectly captures my 3 right now. Alder, with a camo shirt on (counting the days until he can wear it to go shooting dove) and pistol in hand. He is using words like "suddenly", "difficult", "courageous", "dashing", "actually", and "freaking" on a regular basis. Hudson is smmooooshed between his two brothers that clobber him with their hugs and kisses. He could not be sweeter, but is proving to be a loud child already with loud screams of excitement and shrills of joy. Clearly his older brothers are rubbing off on him and the Wingfield genes are very strongly present. And blessed Kingston. He holding "Mmmmass" which is aka to the rest of talking world as, "Thomas." Kingston has no pants nor underwear on in this picture because he rarely keeps bottoms but is perfectly potty trained yet he cannot talk....at all. You can also see his busted chin that we super glued shut. I think application of super glue to some part of Kingston's body in now in the double digits.

But here they are, my wild, little, indian boys. 

Is any of my grammar correct in the above paragraph?