About Time for a TWINSIE Update...

I'm not sure I even have the words to type that would truly convey all that is wrapped up in these two precious personalities! To begin with, I would simply have to say that not much has changed in terms of JUST how different these two are and yet JUST how much they love each other. BEST BEST friends is what they are and what they share with each other. And now as they are approaching their 4th birthday, it's a joy to watch the Lord continue to mold their hearts ever so perfectly into tender-hearted Jesus loving girls. And people loving girls. And I don't mean center of attention, love to talk to stranger kind of love, but simply ones who have compassionate hearts and show concern for the less fortunate in the world. Ones who don't want to miss a night of praying for the little boys and girls who don't know Jesus. Ones who play baby dolls and pretend to travel to tell the other babies about who Jesus is and what He has done for them. Ones who want to learn their new "country" each night to pray for the people who have never heard the name of Jesus. Ones who are already asking when we are going to adopt those little children and ones who want to know when they can GO...oh how they teach us so much about obedience to the one true God! Oh how the Lord loves to use children to teach parents the ways of His word. And oh how the Lord continues to sanctify us (I pray!) through our children day in and day out if we are willing to hear what He wants to teach us through the trials and difficulties of raising children whose hearts have not been changed and whose hearts are sinful...

Maddie Grace, you remain our reserved, calculated, "quieter" of the two,while Makenzie is still our wild, loud, energetic, rambunctious one. Maddie Grace you are our perfectionist and one who loves to take pride in the work you do. Whether it is painting or coloring a picture, folding laundry or practicing tracing your letters, it will be done well, just like your daddy. Makenzie, you are our rush through it, hasty and move on to the next thing on the list kind of girl, hardly stopping to concentrate on what you are doing ever. You take your time Maddie Grace and you hurry and lose interest Makenzie.

Maddie Grace, you are our obey the rules most of the time kind of daughter whereas your sister is the break-all-the-rules and don't care what the consequence is little one right now. Makenzie, you are our peacemaker of the family, always wanting everyone to be happy. You will sacrifice your last M & M or your favorite baby doll/toy for the sake of others' joy. We pray that serves you well for the Lord's kingdom one day! Maddie Grace, you are not as quick to share (although you have really grown in this area lately!) and you can be quite stubborn. When it comes to discipline, Maddie Grace, you are usually our compliant one. However, when you are not, it is usually an all out battle and it breaks our hearts to see you out of control, throwing the biggest fit imaginable. And getting you to apologize it generally a battle of the wills. Makenzie, you are quick to apologize and just as quick to continue disobeying. Phew, you give us a run for our money and keep us on our toes.

You both love your baby sister with a fierce love. You might smother her but by golly you will not let her get hurt or cry for an instant. You both are kind and understanding beyond what we could ask of you and we're so thankful for that!

Makenzie, you are our mischievous one and you usually drag Maddie Grace along. She is quickly beginning to learn not to participate so she can avoid the punishment. The punishment never scares you away from what you are wanting to do Makenzie. =) Makenzie, you love well. You love people. you love making people happy, you are super easy to get along with, and you put others needs above your own typically. Such wonderful qualities. Maddie Grace, you have learned through having a twin, how to better give and take with others, although it doesn't come as easily for you. Maddie Grace, you have the most honest heart. You will willingly come to mommy and daddy to confess something you have done or not done. You can't stand to disappoint us and you can't stand to hold it in. You genuinely seem to feel remorse and have a deep conscience for right and wrong. What a gift! Makenzie, you are a little bit of a wild card in this area. You have learned recently that it is much better to tell the truth than to tell a lie, but you love being a "jokester" so much that it's hard to get to the truth with you at times. You tell us daily that you just love being WILD...and oh do we believe you sweet girl! And you bring out that fun side of Maddie Grace from the way the Lord has wired you.

I'm sure there are a thousand other ways that you all are different and yet compliment one another. We'll end on the fact that Maddie Grace sleeps through your screaming almost every.single.night Makenzie and has done it since the day you two were born. Maddie Grace can sleep through anything and sleeps soundly whereas Makenzie is worse than a newborn still...typically waking up 3-4+ times a night still.And the whole bedtime routine is miserable for mommy to do. Grr...but we love you still and we pray for grace each day to love you both well amidst your individual differences and weaknesses. We love you both to pieces and can't imagine life without you two!

 Things that I hope to remember about you two as you turn 4 in a few weeks...

1. You are pregnant all day every day and the number of babies you two have delivered in the past year is more than we can count!

2. You are excellent at learning bible verses and reciting them and worship songs back plus naming all the countries you have prayed for is pretty impressive as well

3. You love to play school with mommy and work on your letters, do crafts, etc

4. You play babies all day long. We could probably get rid of all your toys minus your babies and strollers/grocery carts and you'd never miss them...possibly!

5. You are the BEST big sisters ever! You will do anything and everything for Ashton Kate at the drop of a hat. You are patient with her, even when she messes your things up!

6. You enjoy taking walks and going on "adventures" as yall say. You love to collect things-flowers, pine cones, etc and you enjoy riding your scooters.

7. You love getting out of the house or having people over to play. You wake up asking what we are going to do today.

8. You seem to really enjoy CBS-the crafts, story, Ms. Stacy-so thankful you are learning so much there!

9. When you two play, you love to set up a house, build a train or airplane to travel in, or line up all your kitchen stuff. You love to pack bags and mix and match tons of different toys and put them in your grocery carts, suitcases,etc

10. You love dressing up-anything princess related is super fun for both of yall!

11. You're both pretty good eaters (MG better still) and your favorite restaurants are Cracker Barrel (because of the babies:), Jim N Nicks, and Chick-Fil-A.

12. You are both mommy's girls and you would spend 24/7 with mommy if given half a chance...which you're not far from achieving!

13. You still love reading books. You two would both sit in my lap all day long until my voice gives out reading books. It is never enough...just one more! And your favorites by far are The Berenstein Bears. Over and over again and you both never grow tired of them. A close second would be Arthur books!

14. You enjoy helping mommy bake in the kitchen. You are always willing taste-testers for muffins and cookies and you love helping add ingredients and help mix it up!

15. You both do a great job with your "chores"-making your beds, getting dressed, and brushing your teeth.

16. You love beanie babies and stuffed animals and love getting them all lined up and then treating them like real kids as you call them.

17. You love coloring, painting, playing play dough...really anything artsy.

18. You love playing with Ashton Kate if she's awake and love any and all attention/hugs/kisses you all get from her!

19. You both play SO WELL independently now-it's hard to drag you two away as you are so imaginative and creative in what you come up with to play. I simply love it!

20. You two are double trouble together. We hope we are moving past this stage but if things are quiet for too long, there's a good chance you are getting into something you shouldn't!

And lastly, everything yall do, you do together. You rarely split up from each other. You get along so well 99.9% of the time and on the rare occasion the other is on a date with mommy and daddy, you love to get home and tell the other one all about it. You would simply be lost without each other!