moments of sweetness

Today, I sat in my living floor surrounded by papers that needed to be graded.  

To my left, my husband and baby girl giggled and rolled in the floor.  

In front of me, my son played angry birds and explained each move he made to me. 

And it was all I could to fight back the tears.  

And if I could freeze time and hold them right there, maybe I would, just for a little while.  

Life happens so fast, and we rarely take time to pause and enjoy. 

The worries of tomorrow can wait.  The laundry, the vacuuming, the dishes, will forever be there.  My house doesn't have to be perfectly clean.

These moments will come and go so quickly. For in a moment, my son will be arguing or not listening, and my baby girl will be crying for food or sleepiness.  And my husband will think of something he needs to do.

But in this moment of sweetness, there is nothing else but each other.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. ~Matthew 6:34

 

lovely linky's 

Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday 

on your heart tuesdays 

 jumping tandem
Spiritual Sunday
soli deo gloria

children

i needed rest today

i needed forgiveness

i find the sadness creeps in 

the guilt

the dread

the uglyiness

but then i see their faces

their redeeming graces

they hold no grudges

no prejudices

they love

they laugh

they truly are God's gift

no wonder Jesus said

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

lovely linky's 

Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday 

on your heart tuesdays 

 jumping tandem
Spiritual Sunday

soli deo gloria

Mary's Gift

Scared, Worried, Alone

Mary sat

Mary pondered

Young, Poor, Pregnant

But Gabriel brought words of comfort, healing, understanding:

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”  

Mary carried an unexpected gift in an unexpected way

And Gabriel held words to bring her through:

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 

She was brave and she was strong

She held the greatest gift ever born.

Celebrate. Rejoice.  Mary brought forth her first born son and laid him in a manger.

love this song!

See what I said last year here and now I have this gift

Grateful

had to share these:

11.24.11                                                                   11.19.11

Five Minute Friday:

Grateful He was born in a stable with an earthly mom and dad.

Grateful He lived with stories to tell that I may have a model as to live my life as well.

Grateful He took the hurt and pain of those who did not know His greatness.

Grateful He carried my cross, my sin, my guilt, my insecurities up the hill to Mt. Calvary.

Grateful He conquered death, doubt, and disbelief.

Grateful He lives.

Grateful He loves.

Grateful He is my Savior.

i was going to write a great post.....

she had other plans....

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

thoughts on these verses in this time of thanksgiving?  is there someone who inspires your faithfulness? 

addie and owen

Joining the fun and keeping you up with the kiddos....

Addie in her new hat, Mawmaw bought her from Seattle.

Owen holding his baby sister and watching cartoons!

Owen and his ride.

Addie in her basket for her 2 month shot on September 24.

My little ball player this summer.



These pictures are from the months of July, August, and September.  It was good times :)

addie and owen

confession.....i am really bad at baby books, scrap booking, photo albums, etc.

so.....in an attempt to remember these extra sweet times in my life...i thought i would use this space...

Addie had her two month doctors appointment this week (even though she's not quite 2 months).  She weighed 12 pounds 1 ounce and was 24 inches long.  She has to be moving all the time! She loves her mommy.  She is eating about every three hours, which makes for long nights and early mornings. 

Owen loves her so much.  If she cries, he says "help her mommy."  He is playing soccer now on Saturday mornings.  This week he scored three goals. 

Took this picture last weekend at my niece's birthday party.  He loves animals.

labor day

Yesterday in children's church I asked the children what labor day means:

Grace - you can't wear white till spring

Mady - shopping

Savannah - the day off

just some fyi:

The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City
on September 5, 1882.

In the year 1894, Congress voted Labor Day a federal holiday.

What does labor day mean to you? What do you labor for?

Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23

In Honor of Labor Day 

(stolen from Kristen @ we are that family)

which i agree is the hardest work ever

Kid #1 - Owen, December 14, 2005, 9 lbs 2 oz, 21 1/2 inches long

Kid #2 - Addie, July 24, 2011, 9 lbs 8 oz, 21 1/2 inches long

How long were your labors?

Kid #1, 15 hours

Kid #2, 12 hours

How did you know you were in labor?

Kid #1, 2 weeks late, induced 

Kid #2, random contractions, induced

Where did you deliver?

the hospital with wonderful nurses

Drugs?

           Kid #1 - epidural 1 - didn't take, epidural 2 - only worked on half my body and I precedied to pull out while squirming on the the bed, epidural 2 - didn't take

          Kid #2  pain meds in the iv, no epidural

C-section?  

       nope

Who delivered?

Kid #1- the wonderful Dr. Horton who had just started here in my area

Kid #2- the wonderful Dr. Polindoro - who also saved my life when i had an ectopic pregnancy

Fingerprints

THE FINGERPRINTS OF GOD

Steven Curtis Chapman

I can see the tears filling your eyes
And I know where they're coming from
They're coming from a heart that's broken in two
By what you don't see
The person in the mirror
Doesn't look like a magazine
Oh but when I look at you
It's clear to me

Truth:  Pregnancy makes you cry a lot.  I cry going down the road, in the shower, at church, watching tv...just any good reason to cry.  Not because things are so bad so much, but because things are so good.

That I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece that all creation
Quietly applauds
And you're covered with

The fingerprints of God

I am twelve weeks now and I read today that the baby now has fingerprints.  FINGERPRINTS!! Amazing!  The uniqueness God has in plan for this little person already in place.  His hand at work.

Never has there been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand and perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He's been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living, breathing
Priceless work of art

We could all stand to hear these words at least once a day.  We should tell our children. And praise the Lord that you are the only you there will every be.  I often wonder what the baby will look like, if its a Girl or a Boy.  If she/he will look like me or Matthew?  What will she/he like and not like?

And I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece that all creation
Quietly applauds
And you're covered with
The fingerprints of God

Just look at you
You're a wonder in the making
And God's not through
In fact, He's just getting started! 

Whether 12 weeks old in the tummy, 27 years old, 51 years old, or 79 years old....God is still working us....but we can see His fingerprints every where we go, in everything we do, in every mirror that catches our eye.  We are covered in the fingerprints of God.

;

My 30 before 30 List

I don't make resolutions and I've always wanted to make a bucket list, but I feel there is so many things I don't know about that I just couldn't make a complete one, so if it can't be perfect, then why do it?  Well, with that being said, back in December, I read a post by Jonathan Acuff at Stuff Christians Like, which is one of my favorite blogs and it lead me to write a 30 before 30 list.  This year I will turn 28, this means I only have 2 and half years to complete the items on my list.....lots to do and so little time....story of my life!

Here goes:

1.  Have a beautiful, healthy baby.  (Even if I'm the only one who thinks its beautiful)

2.  Read through the entire Bible.

3.  Build a porch on the front of the house.

4. Take Owen to his first day of Kindergarten.

5.  Start something to further my career.  (Masters or National Boards)

6.  Learn to cook new things.

7.   Spend more time with God and less time with distractions (stole from John, but it was so good)

8.  Walk/Hike with Matthew to the top of Stone Mountain, NC. (he's never been to the top)

9.  Pray more.

10.  Be a better gardener with a bigger garden.


11.  Learn to can food and make jelly.


12.  Help Matthew and Owen build a tree house.


13.  Be a better advocate for my students and their learning.


14.  Go to my grandmother's house in Canada.


15.  Spend as much time as possible with my two great-grandmothers.


16.  Help co-direct a successful Vacation Bible School.


17.  Go on a mission trip or two.


18.  Go on a family vacation every year.  (make Matthew go)


19.  Teach Owen to shoot a basketball.


20.  Reach out to more people in my community.


21.  Give more - money, time, prayers.


22.  Have a monthly girls night.


23.  Get a sewing machine and learn to sew.


24.  Blog and get better at blogging


25.  Read as many books as I can


26.  Vacuum once a week.   (maybe)

27.  Pay off debts.

28.  Start a work out plan and stick to eating it.


29.  Call my friends more, just to see how they are.


30.  Hug my son, baby to come, and husband every day and tell them how much I love them.

Baby Blessings

Scared

Nausea

Memory

Discomfort

Restlessness

Excitement

Thankful

Joyous

Loved

Happiness

As this journey begins, the nervousness and excitement grows.  A baby changes everything.  A baby once changed the world you know.  I often think of Mary.  How she must have felt, yet knowing that she felt some of the same things we all feel as we carry and deliver a baby.  I think I would love to sit and talk with her.  Share a cup of coffee and stories of babies.  

I suppose its good to be sick, that means the baby is growing and doing the things it should be.  I read that nausea is common at 8 weeks because the baby never stops moving.  I will embrace this sickness and be thankful for God's blessing upon us.

Luke 1:28 - 33

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”