Go Vote!

I am not big into politics.  They annoy me... frustrate me... and if my phone rings one more time from "Chloe" or "Don" I may just throw it out of the window!

But, I am big into voting.  I haven't missed an election since I turned 18.  And the older I get, the more I realize what an amazing privilege and freedom it is to be able to do this.

The more I read with Liam about our early American history and the passion and love for this land those early leaders had, and the freedoms they died for... the more I realize the responsibility I have to understand what each candidate stands for and cast my vote too.


My crew showing off their "I Voted" stickers!

The older my children get, the more I realize how I need to model to them what it means to be a citizen of this country... to pray for our leaders... help them decide what makes a good leader... and to show respect no matter who is in office because ultimately My King put them there.

So today PRAY... and then GO VOTE! 

 

If my people, who are called by my name,

will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,

then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

There is unwavering peace today…
when an uncertain tomorrow…
is trusted to an unchanging God.
~Ann Voskamp

 

Halloween 2012

Introducing...

Luke Skywalker

Dorothy

and

James the Train

My crew...

Oh boy! Here we come!

What a fun night we had!  We met up with some neighborhood friends...

and we hit the streets! 

I think our neighborhood is one of the most popular places to Trick-or-Treat in Gretna. 

On this night it's packed with kids and so much fun! 

 

This little guy had a blast!  We went at our own pace away from the large group because we had to stop to admire every pick-up and garage door in the neighborhood. 

After he left each house he would exclaim...

"Mama!  I say Trick-or-Treat!!!"

Then at one point we were walking down the sidewalk and he said,

"I have so much fun!!!"

I have so much fun too buddy!

Happy Fall!

 

 

Only God

A haze on the far horizon,

The infinite, tender sky,

The rich, ripe tint of cornfields,

And the wild geese sailing high-

And all over upland and lowland

The charm of the goldenrod-

Some of us call it autumn,

And others call it GOD.

~William Herbert Carruth

 

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Romans 1:20

Picture This: Cousin Time

Beautiful

There’s a song that’s been playing through my head this week. It’s one of those songs that at this time and during this season of life just hit me in the right spot the other day. The words fell like refreshing water on my heart and they quickly became my prayer.

 

Lord, make something beautiful out of my life.

Because there are days that to me seem so messy… bad attitudes, harsh words, feeling overwhelmed…   Beautiful is the last word I’d use to describe those days.

There are moments where it’s hard to trust what God is doing, and what God has planned for my life.

There are yearnings, hurts, questions, and aches among the moments, blessings and joys God has given to me.

Lord, make something beautiful out of my life. 

As I look at my life and the days that make them… it has truly become my prayer that my life would be something beautiful for Him. To bring Him honor and glory through the hard moments and messes… the smiles and joys. 

All I know to do is lift my hands to You...

Take all of my life, all of my life,
And make something beautiful.
I open my hand, trusting Your plan.
Make something beautiful so all will see
Your work in me, as You make something beautiful
Make something beautiful.

I have a friend who, throughout the years of our friendship, she has shown me what a beautiful life truly looks like.  Her life continually seeks to bring glory and honor to her Lord and King.  Her heart is compassionate, and she reaches out to meet the needs of others.  Her words are full of wisdom and grace when she speaks, and I see God working in her and through her in all she does.  As I look at her, she has opened her hands to Him, and He is making something beautiful out of all of her life.  Today is her birthday, and this song makes me think of her. 

Happy birthday my friend!  You truly are beautiful!

My prayer is that we would all lift our hands to God and let Him make something beautiful out of us.        

Lord, make something beautiful out of our lives.

If you would like to hear the song, here's a link to it on You Tube..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U28b350agHM&feature=related

the flower girl

A little over a year ago, my cousin, Amy, asked Ainsley if she would be the flower girl in her wedding.

It has been a long year of waiting and anticipation... of joyful giggles and wide eyes filled with expectations and excitement.

A year of talking about being a flower girl, going to pick out a flower girl dress, pretend practices in our living room, reading books about flower girls, being a "little lady" at a bridal shower, and thanking Jesus many times about being a flower girl.

And this weekend this dream of my little girl's came true.... she was a flower girl.

It was an amazing weekend.  Amazing.  Especially for this mama to be able to stand back and watch her little girl soak in the special moments of the day.

Things I don't want to forget...
Her smile.

Her eyes.

The way God answered our prayer and took her fever away just a few hours before we had to leave on Saturday morning.  He is so good!

How I knew she felt like a princess.

The way she would always hold up her dress when going up or down stairs.

Her face when she saw the flower basket she would get to carry down the isle.

Her beautiful hair.

Her sweet questions about the wedding and if Amy was going to be the only bride at the reception or if there was going to be lots of brides there.

How she glowed walking down the isle and how my heart skipped a beat as I know in a blink of an eye she will one day be doing it for real.

How she loved every minute of that entire day.  It truly was amazing and simply perfect.

~smile~

The rehearsal... Ainsley and Amy.  Practice make perfect!

SO excited and ready to go!

Getting her hair done.

The dress.  The front...

and the back.

Sean and Amy... thank you for letting us share in your special day!  May God bless your marriage today and always!

2 1/2

2 1/2

What a fun age.  F. U. N. 

I never realized how amazing the age two and a half is.  I never realized how much I love this age.  It simply delights me.  With Liam and Ainsley, I had a newborn in my arms when they turned this age.  I was dealing with new mommy fog, struggling to get my two feet under me, and just surviving to get to the next day.  I remember this age with them, (kind of) but I wasn't able to savor it like I have been with Kallan the last few months. 

I think every day Kallan does something that makes my heart melt, that makes me smile with joy, and that makes me fall in love with him just a little bit more.  It's these simple moments that I have been treasuring lately and capturing in my heart.

At our house we love to celebrate half birthdays.  It was a tradition we started when Liam was little and something we've tried to keep doing since. I find it an easy way to celebrate each of my children on a certain day (that isn't their birthday) and just do a few special things for them.  And besides... being able to say you are 2 and a HALF is a big deal!  So this time it was Kallan's turn to be celebrated!

I made sure our meal that night had noodles and broccoli (his two favorite foods!)

He had GREEN frosting and a GREEN candle on his little half birthday cake.

And he enjoyed opening a gift of a few new matchbox cars (his new favorite obsession)

Kallan, we love you so much!  You bring joy and delight into each one of our days.  Your smile and dimples light up any room you are in.  Your "Kallan Ways" make us giggle and shake our heads.  God has blessed us over and over by YOU... and we are beyond blessed that YOU are part of our family!

Kallan at 2 1/2...
Kallan, there are a million things that make you... YOU!  Here are just some of them at 2 1/2...

You are happy almost all of the time.  You have this smile and these dimples that light up a room.  Nothing phases you or gets you too upset.  You are my JOY BOY!

You are a very focused and routine child.  Oh yes, you are!  It makes me shake my head and wonder... haven't I lived through this before?!?!?  (aka - Liam!)

You love your milk!  Other foods you like... hot dogs, noodles, broccoli, green beans, "chickie boom boom" (chicken nuggets), raisins, cinnamon toast, fruit loops... and most "treats"!

You are 99% potty trained when it comes to the #1 area!  But our #2 is a whole different story.  Compared to your brother and sister, you are throwing me for a loop in this area little man!  I know it will come... but until then, good thing you're cute!

You give the best hugs and snuggles in the world!  You fit perfectly in my arms right now... and I love that!

You LOVE the moon!  You love the book, Good Night Moon, and you love looking for the moon all the time.

You LOVE match box cars right now.  And when I say love, I mean you have at least one in your hand all day long.  You sleep with one every night.  You line them up in rows.  You get low and look at every detail of them.  They delight you in every way to the point of squeals!  Your favorite right now is your blue pick up... but close behind is the green car, the red pick up, the silver car, and the yellow pick up. 

Speaking of cars... you are obsessed with your red car.  You ask for it all day long.  You are worried about it when we leave the house and you have to make sure it is safe in the garage.  It's the first thing you run to when we go outside, and you even have a special "garage" where you park it every day.  You love daddy's "Silver car".  When daddy is gone, you ask more about it than daddy some days.  You love to ride in it. You love to see it in the garage.  You love to ask where it is every day.  Can I say focused and routine again???

Then speaking of cars and garages.... you love garages.  As we drive through town, you point out who has a "big" garage and who has a "little" garage.  You ask if their cars are in the garage.  You talk about our garage alot and closing our garage door makes you giggle.

If I say you love cars and garages, then your other equal love is letters.  It's just your thing.  You are obsessed with letters.  Every day you have to line up all my square magnet letters.  Every day. In perfect lines and rows. Every day.  You squeal at each one and shout out it's name with joy.  You love letters on shirts and signs and the big letters on a store front.  You love your Leap Frog letter toys and will sit in your crib and play with them for a long time.  You love the show Super Why.  Seeing you and hearing you share this love just makes me smile.

You say, "Open nit, nit, nit, nit" for "Open it."  Every time!  (please don't stop doing this!!!)

You love your Dit-Dee (Blankie)

You are my blond hair, blue eyed baby, and I love you so much!