2011

{I found this unpublished post today (I have many unpublished posts actually) and wondered why I never posted it.  I'm sure I either forgot or never finished it.  Probably the latter.  I tend to be sort of a perfectionist with nearly everything.  Sometimes I end up not posting something because it's just too personal.  It ends up just needing to be seen only by the eyes of God.  But here is one, though probably unfinished and rather random.  Sometimes I like to look back and see where I was at different times in my life.  These were my feelings as we were approaching 2011.}

I feel breathless...
tired, unsure, scared, overwhelmed, in over-my-head, anxious, helpless, hopeless, helpless, so helpless...

I feel passionate...
overjoyed, blessed, thankful, breathing a sigh-of-relief,


I don't understand suffering, but of this thing I am certain and would stake my life on it, He loves us.
How He Loves Us!

So as I enter 2011, I remember the suffering and I say, "God, please help me look beyond my little world and make a difference in the lives of those who are suffering, those who feel hopeless, those who are in need.  And please, hold me to this, Lord!"  I don't want to do anything just because it's the right thing to do, but because we are called to do the work of Jesus. 

Havah

Havah: The Story of Eve—The deleted Scenes--"It was the

first time I realized fully that in the absence of choice, there is

no true obedience."

Back To School 2011

It's that time again!  I can't believe how fast summer flew by!  Is it already time for school again?  :(  I never look forward to this time of year.  It's really hard to release my kids into someone else's care.  I really do enjoy having them all home with me everyday.  There's just such a nice and natural flow when they're here and I enjoy them.  They all play well together (most of the time) and have a lot of fun with each other.  We had fun this summer although it was pretty laid back.  School started this year on August 18.  So we now have a...

7th grader

4th grader

AND...

a Kindergartener!

(She wasn't too happy about taking this picture...can you tell?)

Our big girl is in Jr. High!  I almost lost it at the orientation...just too much!  :(

Our precious "Buds!"  Boy do I love this guy!!!

Here's our big Kindergarten girl in her classroom on her first day!

I made a special outfit for the first day.  Big ruffle-y polka dot pants and a t-shirt dress with a little detachable apron...F-U-N!  She absolutely loved it and even wanted to wear it to school the next day!  It was a fun project.  I found the cutest fabric that looks like school paper!  So cute I couldn't stand it!!!  So I used it to make the little apron and let her help design it.  She drew a cute little picture and I wrote a message on both sides.  You can see it a little better in some of the pictures down below!  ;)

Although she was super excited, I think she was a little overwhelmed and unsure!  
She looks like such a big girl sitting in her seat...*tear!  :(

After school

On her way to get big brother!

What a sweet reunion!  So happy to see each other!  
(He reminds me so much of my Brother, Brandon here!)

Okay, here's the outfit I made (before I attached the buttons for the apron).  
On the front-she drew a lovely picture and always writes her name so well!

Here's the back side of the apron.  I added a special little message to remind her that even though we couldn't be with her at school, Someone is with her and loves her so much and is always with her and watches over!  (I was anticipating the possibility that she might be a little afraid because this is her very first experience with school-she's never been to daycare or preschool!)  She did great!  Tomorrow (Monday, August 22nd) is Day #4...she doesn't want to go back!  She says it's boring and she already knows everything.  So the initial excitement has ended...uh oh!  I hope she changes her mind!  :)

Rainbow Goodness

I had a wonderful request for a Princess Cape (not a Superhero Cape :) from my 5 yr old daughter!  It was a pretty tall order that involved a rainbow, a bird, people, and some sparkly jewels...oh and it had to be orange.  Move over pink!  Orange is one of her new favorite colors!  Although I had some other projects at the top of my list that I was really eager to start, my heart melted so of course this one took priority!  :)  I was able to do a sneaky trip with her to the fabric store that involved a candy reward, and the design process began!  I finished it pretty quick, but it took me forever to get out and buy velcro.  Pictures soon!

This post has no super clever title! :)

I was in Target tonight.  Buh...buh...by-eeee...
MYSELF!  Now that doesn't happen too often, but it was GREAT!
I've been sort of trapped in the house all week with 2 sick kids, so it was much needed!  And you know what was pretty stinkin' awesome...I was greeted by a Target employee when I walked in the store who noticed I was alone...without my kids.  Funny, but I did not recognize her.  (And I'm in there a LOT!)  She noticed me though, and mentioned that she NEVER sees me without my kids.  I bumped into her a little later in the little girls section and she told me that whenever the kids and I come in the store, she never cringes like she does with most other kids and that they are very well-behaved.  Oh yeah!  I'll just leave it at that!  I kept thinking of this song:

Sometimes you wanna go
where everybody knows your na-a-ame
and they're always glad you ca-a-ame...

Ha ha!  I'll have to admit...made me feel kind of special...in a weird kind of way.  You see sometimes when you're a Mom, you kind of just feel like you're just another face in the crowd...and a lot of the time you're just kid # so-and-so's Mom.  But someone actually noticed me!  Little ol' me!  I guess I can conclude 2 things:

# 1  People actually notice that I'm a person apart from my kiddos.  He he!  :)
# 2  People actually notice me (or you, or anyone for that matter!  Yikes!) and my habits, etc.  So be careful out there!  Always be aware of your surroundings!  Most of the time we don't know when someone's watching us.

I am just being funny here, but I really do meet a lot of people who talk to me and I really don't know where I know them from.  Sometimes they'll mention that they saw me somewhere or we met at a store or church...ever happen to you?  I always feel so bad, don't you?  So I guess the real scary part is people see me out places...AND...I wonder what I was doing at the time?  Was I nice to them?  Was I having a good day or a bad day...was I patient with my kids...was I representing Christ well?  It makes me feel like a celebrity sometimes!  I guess when you call yourself a Christian, you are a celebrity of some sort.  No, really!  Ever heard of God?  Yeah?  His son, Jesus?  Uh-huh.  I actually know them!  No, really!  We're related.  God is my Father!  He's really famous!  Like World-wide!  So that makes me somewhat of a celebrity, right?  You following?  :)  Makes me think of this song:

I always feel like
somebody's watchin' mee-eeeee

I'm being funny again, but seriously I really don't want to give Him a bad name since I kind of represent Him.  I'm sure I have plenty of times (we won't talk about the grocery store this week...well, okay...I confess...the apology I gave to the rude lady when my daughter ripped the fake leaf off the display and threw it in the floor...it wasn't sincere...I asked God for forgiveness though! :)  But I really really do want to attract people to Christ, not give Him a bad name.  One thing I've learned is that anytime someone professes to be a Christian, people really start watching them.  We're all going to make mistakes, but I really don't want to cause anyone to turn away from God because of my actions or the lifestyle I lead.  Their eternity is at stake.  Lord, please help me be a sweet fragrance that attracts others to you!

"But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume." - 2 Corinthians 2:14

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I'm UNSTOPPABLE!

I have been on a mission lately to be more conscious of how I'm spending our money.

I am a homemaker, and while I thoroughly enjoy staying home with my children and consider it a privilege, it's sometimes tough in a one income household.  Although it is very much a blessing that what my husband makes is the equivalent of what a lot of two income households make combined, we all need to practice the art of patience and contentment for the things we want in life!  We have been slammed with medical bills over the last few months, which is part of why I began my mission.

Before purchases I now try to assess whether it is a need vs a want.  This has been especially hard for my kids.  I think they believe that money grows on trees!

My husband makes sure they never want for anything!  I can't say I'm totally innocent either!  However, it has made our family outings, ice cream trips, movie nights, etc. much more special and appreciated by them.  It's not as expected now.  We can find a lesson in everything, so we can all benefit from this new mission I'm on!  I'm actually starting to enjoy it now!  I feel as if I'm throwing money away if I don't first look for a coupon or deal.  I love the challenge and I love the look on my husbands face when I score a deal.  He really seems to appreciate my effort!  Now this is coming from the girl who LOVES Target and is in there shopping at least twice a week.

  I should say this was the girl though, because I have developed new habits!  I have become UNSTOPPABLE in my mission to save our family money!  Speaking of unstoppable, I am very excited to mention that I've been given the opportunity to review a new product that is only available in select stores right now!
DOWNY UNSTOPPABLES!
I'm so EXCITED!!!  I just got it in the mail and it is a free FULL-SIZE sample!  I can't wait to use it and share my review with you soon!

For The Sake Of Remembrance

I officially began weaning Lily Grace on Sunday, June 6, 2011.  I can't believe my big girl is now 2 1/2 (actually 2 yrs, 7 months)!  She was my longest nurser.  Everyone else stopped by 2.  My heart is a bit sad, but it was just time.  She was way too dependent.  I love her dearly and though I was tired and complained probably more than I should have, I am so thankful that I was able to give this wonderful gift to her!  I'm also very thankful that I was able to share this precious time nursing my sweet girl.  It really was precious and one the most wonderful gifts God gives to mothers.  So Lily has begun a new chapter in her life, and though my heart aches to see that tiny baby girl fading and a new bigger girl emerging, I am finding such delight watching her grow!  She started pedaling on her "big girl" bike when she turned 2, and now she no longer enjoys being pulled in her wagon on family walks.  She prefers instead her bike!  One of her favorite things now is going outside to ride her bike!  You'd think by the 4th child, all the milestones wouldn't be quite as exciting.  On the contrary, we have delighted in each milestone for each of our 4 children, and it never gets old!!!  You know they will one day sit up, crawl, talk, walk, etc., but when that moment comes, words cannot describe the joy that fills a mother's heart!  I love you, Liliana Grace, and I'm so thankful God blessed us with you!  Your are truly a delight and my heart just melts when I think of you!  I will miss you asking for "melk" and those sweet moments I held you close as you nursed (yes even at 2 1/2), but I can still cuddle you and hold you anytime you need me!

   

El Roi

Sometimes you find that someone has penned the words that are in your heart....

You Are For Me So faithful, so constant and so true
So powerful in all You do
You fill me, You see me
You know my every move
You love for me to sing to You

I know that You are for me, I know that You are for me
I know that You will never forsake me in my weakness
And I know that You have come now even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who You are

So patient, so gracious, so merciful and true
So wonderful in all You do
You fill me, You see me
You know my every move
You love for me to sing to You

Lord, I know that You are for me, I know that You are for me
I know that You will never forsake me in my weakness
And I know that You have come now even if to write upon my heart
To remind me

Lord, I know that You are for me, I know that You are for me
I know that You will never forsake me in my weakness
And I know that You have come now even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who You are
To remind me

I know that You are for me, I know that You are for me
I know that You will never forsake me in my weakness
And I know that You have come now even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who You are  And your heart's response is that of joy, one of longing for something so wonderful no words could ever describe... 

 Dwelling Places

Lovely
Are your dwelling places
Thirsty
I come after you

Jesus, my joy
My reward
Your love's restoring my soul

Now I'm yours and you are mine
And from my heart a song will rise

I love you, I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you, I love you
And my heart will follow
Wholly after you

Jesus
There's none beside you
Righteous
Ruler of the Earth

Nations will come
And bow down

Name after all names
I sing you praises
And all I can say to you is

I love you, I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you, I love you
And my heart will follow
Wholly after you

I remember you again, El Roi, the God who sees, and I am thankful.  I have found my hope in you alone, and I realize I am never alone.

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Rom. 8:31

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