A Few New Pictures

Hi! Well, I got 2 new lenses and tried them out on the kids. It's always a challenge to get my kids to sit for me. They see my camera and start running. Here are a few that I got today. I know there really isn't one of just Faith, but she was crazy this morning. She was very busy looking at the wildlife and nearly falling into the tank. Enjoy!

My ABSOLUTE favorite. This is Luke.
Love this one too.

Luke on top of the world.

So sweet.

Happy little man.

What Mom?

Silly kids!

Big ol' blue eyes!

So sweet.

Hannah will be 7 months old tomorrow.

Mama's Losin' It

This blog is one of my favorites. Check it out, and while you're at it register to win a new Hoover vacuum!

My New Journal

I have been thinking...I know, strange but no less true. Here's my question: In 25 years, will you remember your feelings, your struggles, your victories, who you are today? What are the things that you want your kids to remember about you, if God forbid you die today, tomorrow, or next year? My husband's mom died when he was 12 (maybe 13...I know - I should know this age). He has very few real memories about who she was as a person. He remembers doing things with her, her favorite George Strait song, and that he sometimes got to eat Fruity Pebbles for supper; he doesn't remember her though. He doesn't remember her personality. He doesn't remember what she was really like, and it breaks my heart. What if I die before my kids are grown? I want my kids to remember ME. I want them to know who their mom is and was. I want to remember me and praise God for just how far He has brought me. If I were to write down all the kinks that God has worked out of me in the last 10 years, this blog entry would probably take at least an hour to read. (I won't disclose that info for the sake of some that might read my blog...I don't want any toes curling.) I want to remember the things that I struggle through and overcome. I want to see my prayers answered, so in 5 years I can look back and see how faithful God has been to me.

All that to say I have a new journal. It's not an every day journal. It's a "when I feel like journaling" journal. I want to write in it the things that I want my kids to know about me. Imperfections and all. The real me...not my "representative" me. I want them to know how screwed up I have been and that God can take you out of any pit. I want to journal my life now so that I can remember what it feels like to be short on cash, exhausted but delighted from taking care of my babies, how totally in love I am with my husband, and that I am so very thankful that I have God on my side. I want to remember these things when my kids are going through them with their families. I want to be able to truly empathize. I want my kids to know how their dad and I feel about each other. I want them to have what Tyron and I have in each other. Really, I could go on FOREVER.

So, I am just going to throw these questions out there to the blogging world:
Will you remember who you are in 25 years? Will you remember what you feel in 25 years? Do you want your kids to remember you for who you really are, or do you want your kids to remember what they have been told about you? Just something to chew on in all your spare time. I know...we all have oodles of spare time. Maybe you can think about it in between bon bons and during the commercials of your favorite soap...;-)

I Can Finally Say It...

We sold our house! I am so excited, relieved, exhausted, elated, and put in my place because my faith was more than just a little lacking. I can't believe that it's over. After 80 some odd days on the market, our house is sold. We have made it through the inspection and the option period ends tomorrow! PRAISE GOD!! SERIOUSLY!! I am just so excited that I can say it. I have been feeling like something is going to happen, and they are going to opt out. BUT THEY HAVEN'T. Yea! So, now I feel like I can tell my friends. There it is: WE SOLD OUR HOUSE!!

We will be moving to Farmersville very soon. Like in a week. Can't wait...Farmersville isn't going to know what hit them.

YYYYYIIIIIIPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

And the Winner Is.....

Congratulations Rachel!

I will contact you soon to get your mailing address so HAH can send you your book!

Yea!

Happy Friday All!!

Hearts At Conferences

Hearts At Home puts on yearly conferences for moms. I would love to go to one, but they are always in basketball season. Sad. One day I will go! Check out their website to learn more

If you are like me and you want the benefit of going to the conference without actually going, you can order the DVD set of the conference.

Check it out!

www.hearts-at-home.org

Hearts at Home Blog

It seems like pretty much every one has a blog these days. Hearts At Home has one too! To check it out, just click HERE.

Question of the Day: What is your favorite parenting book?

Don't forget to answer the question so that you can be entered into the giveaway!

My Heart Is At Home!

I became a mom on October 14, 2004. My son Luke was born that day, and man did I have a shock coming to me! Up until my son was born, I was a successful college grad who had a great job and a fulfilling life. (So I thought...) My husband and I had decided that I would stay home once we had kids. Seriously how hard could it be? I thought that I was ready for all the stuff a 5 pound baby could throw my way. Here's a little picture of my little man:

Luke: 3 1/2 weeks old.

I quickly found out how hard it is to truly die to myself each and every day. Luke was colicky and didn't sleep (except in this picture), and I found myself sliding into a terrible bout of postpartum depression. Everything about me was being completely redefined, and I felt totally out of control of my life. I had now idea how to deal with all the changes that were taking places in life and in my soul. Fortunately, God put some pretty amazing women in my life.

I am fortunate enough to have friends that are also SAHM's. They really rallied around me to help me find the new me. They served me by relating to me and praying for me. They supported me right through the transition into motherhood. I truly feel that they saved my life. God used them to soften my heart towards my baby and my sweet husband. The Lord changed a part of me that was selfish and wicked...a process that has continues this very day.

I quickly realized how important it is to have a coop of other moms to really live life with. Moms need other moms! When Luke was about a year old I found "Hearts At Home." Hearts At Home is a ministry that helps you connect with other moms and offers moms encouragement and education. I was really looking for an umbrella organization that shared my heart. Having gone through such a hard transition into motherhood, I really felt the need to walk with other women in faith and motherhood. Hearts At Home is where I started and where I still am. If you are interested in learning more about "Hearts At Home" just click HERE or on the Hearts At Home logo on the top of the post!

This is our little man today:

Question of the Day: If you could give a first time mom any piece of advice, what you say?

Don't forget to leave a comment!!

New Pictures

Like at the FAC. 9/12/08

Hannah 9/14/08

Faith and Luke at the FAC. 9/12/08

Hannah again. This may be my new favorite picture of her! 9/14/08

Faith 9/12/08

Luke sliding at the park. 9/14/08

**Some of these pictures are fully edited and some of them aren't.

Hearts At Home Blog Tour

Hi! I just wanted to let you all know that my blog is being featured in the Hearts At Home Blog Tour. Each day I will be writing a little mothering tidbit that is related to a ministry that is close to my heart. Hearts At Home is a ministry dedicated to making moms better. If you would like to go to their website just click HERE.

If you leave a comment you will automatically entered into a contest that I am running! If you win you will receive a copy of this book:Make sure you leave a comment! I will announce the winner on Friday! Love you guys!!

I am so not "with it!"

Okay today my house was showing so I took the kids to the mall. After lunch and walking around, we headed back to the car. It just so happened that we parked in the Nordstrom parking lot, so we had to walk through that store to get to the car. As we were passing by one of the many make-up counters, this is a conversation that I overhear:

Make-up sales person who looks to be in her mid 20's (talking to 2 65ish women): "You both qualify for a free eye liner and mascara as well. And let me tell you they are stupid easy to put on!"

Both of the older ladies look at each other with funny looks on their faces.

One older lady replies: "Ummm, can you just put it in the bag with what we already purchased?"

So to all you hip moms out there...when did the word "stupid" become a way to describe something that is done with ease? Really? I am totally not with it! Why not just say really instead of stupid? Personally, I would have felt a little weird and disrespectful if I would have even said the word stupid to these women. They both looked so sophisticated and nice. They looked like hip grandmas. Saying the word stupid to them would have made me feel stupid.

I am sooooooooooooo not "with it"!

Our Little Artists

Here are a few pictures that I took of Luke and Faith while they were drawing. Thank goodness the markers are washable!!

Hannah's 6 1/2 Month Stats

Hannah is already 6 months old! We went in yesterday for her 6 month "well baby visit." Unfortunately she wasn't exactly "well." Hannah has been battling a cold for a week or so, and she ended up with an ear infection from it. Poor little thing! Nothing a little amoxicillin can't fix! I am sure that you can tell in the pictures that she isn't feeling well even though she is smiling. Cute!

Here are her stats at 6 1/2 months old:

• Height: 27.5 inches --> 92%


• Weight: 16.04 lbs. --> 30%


• Head Circumference: 16.5 inches --> 25%

As you can see, she is growing like a weed! She is sitting up independently, eating oatmeal and baby food, saying ma ma ma and ba ba ba, gets up on hands and knees from stomach and rocks (I am sure that she will be crawling pretty soon!), and is a very sweet and happy baby. I am really enjoying her.

Purity Rings...Beware of the Rambling!

Okay, this is a bit of a rant, but I have to get my say in. On the 2008 VMA's purity rings were totally made fun of. Making fun of kids and teenagers who are pledging to stay sexually pure makes me so sad! It just goes to show where role modelship (I am not sure that is a even a word...I digress.) is completely misplaced. Beyond the physical consequences of having sex outside of marriage, there are so many soul wrenching consequences that are brought into marriage...among them are guilt and shame and many more of the like.

(Side note: I am not ridiculous. I know that some Believers have sex outside of marriage..."There is no one righteous, not even one..." Romans 3:10)

As parents, it is our job to teach our children the ways of the Lord, and we should pray daily for the our children to have a passionate love for our Lord, love of purity (of all kinds - not only sexual), friends that encourage our children to run towards Jesus, spouses who are lovingly prepared by God for our children, and a love of prayer and meditation. A huge task! Leaving a legacy of Christ in our kids is a tough job because we all fall short at the end of the day. I pray that my kids would find Christ in spite of my short comings, and that part of their relationship with Christ would push them into remaining sexually pure until marriage. Purity ring or no purity ring. The Lord says that is the state of your heart and not outward appearance or adornment that is important. At the end of the day, it is their decision to make, and I pray that they will know God's love either way.

Some scriptures that I am speaking/writing from:

1 Thessalonians 4:3 says this: "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality..."

Hebrews 13:4 also says this: "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure..."

Humbly I pray that anyone who doesn't know the Lord would find truth in His Word, and they would find healing and forgiveness in His loving kindness.

In 2 More Birthdays...

Luke believes the following things will happen no matter what.

In 2 more birthdays Luke will...

1. go to Kindergarten where he will be allowed to shoot "big boy hoops" 24 hours a day.

2. drive the car.

3. eat only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

4. go to college.

5. be allowed to play our Nintendo Wii any time he wants.

6. stay up later.

7. coach basketball.

Getting a little big for his britches, huh? Too funny! Love that little man!!!

The New Look...

In honor of a 75 degree day, I decided that our blog was in need of a Fall make-over. We have a new layout, colors, and background. I have to say that I am loving it! I will put some new pictures up as soon as I get a chance to take some. I am hoping that I might get the kids out on Friday to do a little mini-photo shoot. Depends on the weather and their moods. I hate to say it, but taking pictures of your own kids is much harder than shooting other people's kids! My kids start to run as soon as they see the camera these days! Enjoy the new blog layout and music!