A fresh new look!

I am so excited!  I found a GREAT tutorial on creating headers/banners for blogs using Picasa.  The instructions are step-by-step and so easy to follow!  I love this new look, and I'm so excited to create more!  I can just imagine ones for the seasons, holidays, birthdays, you-name-it!  Yay!  Thank you Sarah for the amazing tutorial!

Hi.  This morning I was again resisting the holy spirit beckoning me to come read the Bible.  I pinned some things, changed some diapers, picked up dishes, everything else but read the bible!  Finally, I picked up the Bible...the scripture that God lead me to this morning was so comforting to me...I just had to share it.  I have been so burdened by guilt, which I know is not of God. These are the verses I stumbled upon this morning, just by randomly opening my Bible:

1 John 3:19-20...This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us.  For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

In my study Bible it says this:  An oversensitive conscience can be quieted by the knowledge that God himself has declared active love to be an evidence of salvation.  He knows the hearts of all-whether, in spite of our shortcomings, they have been born of him.

I just have to trust in Him, trust that he loves me, even when I fall short, even when I make mistakes, knowing that my salvation is by faith and grace. 

Snuggling into His Feathers...

Photo from thepointandshootist.com

Psalm 91:1, 2, &4

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." He will cover you  with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge...

This morning I woke up so weary from this week.  It has been a really difficult one for too many reasons to go into here. My heart was heavy, my mind was tired, and sleep had evaded me all week.  I was picking up toys and laundry and shoes like I do almost every morning, and I felt the presence of the Lord, urging me to come and sit with Him.  I made the excuse of "right after I pick up the bathroom" and again felt almost a persistent invitation to leave the bathroom as it was and pick up the Bible instead.  I was lead to read Psalm 91, and it brought so much comfort to me.  We have a heavenly father that loves us more than we could ever imagine.  Even when we fall short, even when we completely fail, he loves us.  I am so very thankful for this...just so thankful.  Thank you Lord, for loving me with your everlasting love.

Baby Claire is ONE!

Claire, you are ONE-derful! Happy Birthday! We love you so very much! I can't believe a whole year has gone by since we first held you in our arms! You are uniquely you, but you remind us a lot of your big sister and brother! You seem to have a calmer personality than they did, probably because you're constantly watching everyone's every move (probably learning what "not" to do--ha!) You are an amazing baby, just a joy to have in our lives...we are so thankful for you, baby Nugget!

Owl-a-palooza!

I have been crafting like a crazy person to get ready for Claire's first birthday!  Just wanted to share some of her decorations, will post more of her big day!  All of these ideas were inspired by ideas on Pinterest which I am so, so, so hooked on!

Owl's with M&M's in their belly!

I made a little trio of paper lantern owls, this is the baby!

Owl beanbags for a beanbag toss game!

Owl Treat Bags!

A few of the goodies all together, can't wait to see it all together for her special day!

 

Valentine's Day!

We had a "sweet" Valentine's Day, complete with sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies and chocolate!  Kris made reservations for us at a local steak house, it was so good, and the little break was so needed!  It was so nice to sneak away for a little date night!  I feel so blessed to have all four of my beautiful Valentine's...Kris, Katie, Asher, and Sweet Claire, I love you all so very much!

Scents that remind me of things...

Weird title, I guess...but I wanted to write these down so I don't forget...I just used the last teeny tiny little bit of my Bath and Body Works Black Amythyst, which is the scent that my sister got me for my time in the hospital of having Claire, almost a year ago.  Forever and ever, that scent will remind me of her birth, that amazing day, how beautiful and perfect she was, how blessed we felt to have THREE children! 

With Asher, his Bath and Body Works scent was Peach, that Jill and Megan brought to me in the hospital when he was born.  He was such a sweet baby boy, so much smaller than our girls, all bundled in his fresh baby blue.  That scent will remind me of his sweet little tiny self...so fresh from God.

And Katie...well...hers is a story...her scent is Mandarin, also from Bath and Body Works.  With Katie being our first child, and our plan to be induced (because she was 9 days late and already weighed 9lb 2oz!), I had planned in my head that we would have a nice relaxing period of time in the hospital before she was born...ha!  I had bought everything in that line of fragrance, from lotions to foot products, thinking Kris could rub my feet, give me massages, etc while we waited on our precious bundle.  From the moment we walked in to the hospital, it was just a flurry of activity, and then constant labor after the cervadil was given, so the idea of using all of that relaxing stuff was out the window!  I still have beautiful memories of that day, though, and the scent of mandarin takes me right back to the moment of holding our first beautiful child for the first time.

These might be silly stories, but they are so important, I just don't want to forget them.

a thankful heart

Just a little thankful list for this morning...

thankful for the little bitty white sock with turquoise trim that I found under the couch...and the little foot that goes in it :)
thankful for Chris Tomlin...to quietly worship with
thankful for my sister, Crystal, to talk with, cry with, and giggle with
thankful for the big size 10.5 boots I just put away, and Katie's giant feet that go in them:)
thankful for ingredients for chocolate chip cookies
thankful for the sunshine
thankful that my sweet boy was dry all through church today
thankful for coffee
thankful for clean laundry (tons of it, that desperately needs folding)
thankful for the cross, that paid my way to heaven someday...

Where does the time go?

It has been forever since I have posted and I can't seem to get words together this evening...so maybe just some pictures at least...

Simple blessings...

I just have so many things I'm thankful for this afternoon...can I share some of them? 

• It's cool here today, 59 right now, with a low of 49 tonight...brrr...and I couldn't be happier!
• Our house smells like barbeque that's been simmering in the crock pot all day...yum!
• My Asher was just eating his cup of yogurt and randomly decided to tell me he loves me...melts me!
• In just a few minutes Kris and Katie will be home, and all five of us will be together under one roof...I just feel better when we're all home together.
• Our beautiful little Claire is taking a really nice nap, giving me a few minutes to brew some decaf and blog a little.
• I have a candle burning...Autumn Leaves by Yankee...I just love fall scents and the flickery light of a candle burning!
• I spent the morning with good friends, drinking coffee and sharing our lives together...it always invigorates me to spend time with all of them...I am so blessed to have them.
• I paid bills this afternoon, and I'm so thankful Kris has a job...it's not glamorous, and we don't have a lot of money leftover, but we are so blessed that he has it.
• I am so thankful for my savior, Jesus, who paid the price for my sins.  I feel overwhelmed sometimes when I think about him. I am reminded that even if I was the only person on earth, he still would have suffered and died for me alone.

Piggies and our Saturday...

We put little pig tails in Claire's hair today, and OH-MY-GOODNESS...she just looked so stinking cute!  I can't belive how big she looks in this picture!  She is sitting up pretty well now, and I think she just grew up over night!

Today Kris worked, so the kids and I just hung out here at home. Asher wasn't feeling great for the first part of the day, and he still doesn't seem himself this evening, but he doesn't have a fever, so that's a blessing.  Katie and Asher did pretty well today with not fussing with each other, so we drove down to the Redbox and rented Tangled for them this afternoon.  We also stopped in at McD's to get shakes, yum!   It was a really good day, and will be even better when Daddy drives in the driveway!

The beginning of the "ber" months (as my sister says!)

Yay!  It's September 1st!  It's 100+ degrees today, but there is the hope of cooler days ahead!  I haven't been blogging so well.  We've been doing major house projects, and it's hard to find time to sit down and think about blogging.  We have the flooring in the living and dining rooms done, and our furniture came, so things are really looking nice!  We still have the floors and cabinets in the kitchen, and the hallway floors to go, but we're getting there!  I am really looking forward to lighting the first fire in the fireplace and hopefully just sitting and enjoying it! 

The kids are doing really well.  Katie just started the 6th grade!  It seems impossible that this is her last year of grade school, her last year to wear a uniform.  She looked so cute on her first day with her new shoes and bag...they are so "her"...colorful and happy and a little on the wild side.  She's really been trying to "spread her wings" and it's difficult for me sometimes, but I know she needs to be able to use her own ideas and think for herself.  She loves the Lord, of that I'm sure.

Asher is just growing so much, he talks and talks and talks!  One of his favorite things is helping me...he loves to just do whatever I'm doing.  He is such a good big brother, he truly loves Claire.  I can just see it in his eyes when he is talking to her or sees her after they have been apart.  I pray they are always this close. 

Claire is such a joy...she is just beautiful and is also growing so fast.  We took her for her 6 month check up and she weighs 22 lbs and is 27" tall!  She is our little chunky monkey!  She is almost able to sit alone, and has been trying cereal, peas, sweet potatoes, and apples.  She loved the apples the most.  She is so smiley and giggly, and we just love her. 

We feel so blessed to have our kids!  I know I've said it before, but it's amazing what God can do!

Some things I'm diggin'...

I have a new obsession, it's Pinterest!  I love it!  It's like having your favorites organized by pictures!  I have found so many happy and inspiring things there! 

I am also anxiously awaiting the arrival of this...

We have had used, worn-out furniture for years, and I am so, so, so excited to have this blessing!  We're getting the sofa and loveseat around the end of the month!  Yay!!!

I discovered a wonderful new coffee, Manatee Coffee!  I love it...so delicious!  I found it on Alice.com for a great price!  I just have it on special days, the other days are "Great Value" days!  Ha!

I also wanted to share a wall quote I found for our wall as soon as we're finished painting.  I found it here on Etsy, and I just love it!



Crazy Love.

Our little Claire is almost 6 months old!  Where has the time gone?  She is just growing so fast!  She got her first little tooth on Sunday.  She isn't quite rolling over yet, but has been kicking her little legs to try!  She tried cereal and bananas this week, and really liked it!  We brought out the high chair for her, and she seemed to really like being up high to see everything.  She is such an amazing blessing.  We are still in awe of all that God can do!  We are just so thankful for all three of our children.  Yes, they drive us crazy sometimes, but that's what parenting is all about...that crazy love thing!  I've been trying to remember to love my children the way God loves us...unconditionally! 

Claire in her high chair for the first time!

A happy-wrinkled-nose-laugh!

Faithful and True...

On February 5th, 2007, I wrote and prayed a desperate prayer to the Lord.  I begged him to have mercy on me, to give us another child (we had been waiting 6+ years), and to help me be able to stay at home with Katie and another baby if we had one.  I pleaded for him to give us this, I was devastated that particular day, just in complete mourning over the loss of our miscarried baby, and loss of Zac.  Can I just tell you that the Lord is so incredibly faithful?!?!  He keeps his promises, and he comes to us and answers our prayers!  For some reason this morning, I am just in complete awe of the three lives that are still snuggled in their blankets, sleeping so comfortably, because they didn't have to go to daycare today!  The Lord is so kind and generous!  I begged for one more child, just one more, and he gave me two!  I begged to be a stay at home mom, and here I am...exactly where I want to be!  I am so thankful and feel so incredibly blessed!  Lord, I praise you, I thank you, I love you!

It's been a little warm around here...but we're still so blessed!

Whew...it has been just TOO hot in Southeast Kansas!  We've been in the 100's for more days than I can count, and there aren't any days on the 10 day forecast below 98 degrees or even a chance of rain!  It's a good time to be a lizard or desert animal or something!  We've been mostly just staying inside, keeping cool! 

Asher and I went out a few times this past week to water the plants, but I knew it was too hot when even *he* was willing to come inside to the air conditioning! He loves being outside.  His favorite thing to do is drive his trucks in the dirt...he comes in filthy, but he's a boy!  He looks just as sweet with dirt from head to toe as he does when he steps out of the bathtub! He did enjoy being in the water a little bit a couple of weeks ago.  I couldn't find our little pool, so I filled up a storage tote for him to splash in!  Thank you Rubbermaid for a tote tough enough to handle our boy!

Katie spent this last week at Youth Camp in Oklahoma.  Most of the kids from school go to this camp, so she knows a lot of people there.  She had a good time, but was so tired that she slept most of the day today to catch up.  I think the heat and uncomfortable bunks has made her appreciate her own bed!  She's heading out this next week for Missouri for Nazarene Children's camp!  She's excited about swimming, canoing and archery, and of course being with her friends from our church!

Claire has been a trooper through the heat.  We've been in and out of the car quite a bit with a few car trips, and she has not fussed or complained at all!  She's growing and changing so much.  She is just full of smiles and "talks" so much!  She loves Katie and Asher, and just smiles when she sees them.  Honestly, I am still in complete awe of her.  I know it's been 5 months since she was born, and I knew 7 months before that she was coming, but sometimes I still cannot believe we have her.  She is just so beautiful and amazing. We feel so incredibly blessed to have her.  Kris and I just look at her in her crib by our bed and smile at each other, we both know that she is a special gift.

Our friends Brian and Erin and their new baby, Eli Timothy on July13th! He is precious!  We went to visit them at the hospital, and it was a special moment to see both dad's who are such close friends there with their little boys!  Unfortunately Asher was being a little handful during our visit, and we didn't get a picture of the four of them together.

Even though the temperatures are hot now, I can rest in the fact that my favoirte season is coming up, and before I know it I will have a 3 1/2 year old, an 11 1/2 year old and an 8th month old baby!  Lord, please help me not to wish away these hot days of summer, help me enjoy each little moment with my family (even though it's stinkin' hot!)  I love you, Lord, and I praise you for all of your blessings!

Hi! I'm just trying out the "blog this" feature from Picasa!

Welcoming Baby Shelton and Introducing a new Mr. and Mrs!

My good friend Charisse and her sweet fiance, Mike, are getting married this weekend!  I am so excited for them!  They started coming to our church a while back, and we have just become really close friends, I love her so much!  Their marriage is such a testimony and example.  They have been together for a while, and have children together, but since growing in their walk with Christ, they have decided to get married for spiritual reasons.  I just admire that so much!  Their big day is Saturday, and I just can't wait!

We're having my friend, Erin's baby shower this Sunday afternoon.  Erin and her husband Brian have a sweet daugther, Abby, who will be in kindergarten this year.  They had been praying for a baby, and in less than a month their prayers will be answered with a sweet baby boy!  I wanted to share a diaper bassinet I made.  I got the tutorial here and it was just so cute and easy to make!  I think I want to make one for every single baby that comes along!

10 Little Things...

10 Little Things I love about my children:
1. When Asher says, "Mama, I need you"...so sweet...melts me.
2. The way Katie's fingernails are painted pink, blue and green with silver on top, she did it herself, and it's just creative and colorful.
3. The way that Claire slips that precious thumb of hers in her mouth when she's really sleepy.
4.  Asher saying, "I wuv you Mama"...again...melts me.
5.  Katie's beautiful hair...just gorgeous colors in the sunlight.
6.  Claire's sweet smiles, she just has no idea that every person in our family craves them.
7.  How Asher's face lit up when giving Kris his father's day present this evening...so happy and completely glowing!
8.  Katie's desire to help people, especially strangers, she has such a gift to know what people need.
9.  How it feels to just hold Claire close and breathe in the miracle of her.
10.  Seeing how much these three love each other, they really truly do.

Summertime...

...and the living is easy busy!  We've been so busy this summer so far.  Katie is playing softball, and had three games last week!  She's doing a great job, and still learning about the game!  We have really enjoyed going out to the ballpark in the evening for her games...just wouldn't seem like summer without it!

I've been able to spend some time with friends and I have enjoyed this so much.  We have a little group of younger-ish moms at church who spend time with each other.  We all have kiddos and share so many things in common.  I think my favorite thing about spending time with these girls is that we just feel comfortable sharing everything... our pasts, our present, and we look into the future together as well!  It's really nice! We had Charisse's Bachelorette Breakfast this past Friday, and her Bridal Shower on Sunday afternoon.  They were both nice, and it was such an honor to have these for her!  I am just so very thankful for her!  God blessed me so much when he brought her to our church family!

Emmalee, Me, Kim, Charisse (feeding Miss Claire), and Sabrina

Claire is growing so fast.  She is just a joy, full of beautiful smiles and sweetness!  All of us just adore her!  We couldn't imagine life without her if we tried, it just feels like she's been with us forever.  We took a few pictures of her in her little hat, and I just loved this one with her beautiful blue eyes!

We were getting ready to head to the lake for a little beach trip, the kids were all in their swimsuits (even Claire!) They were excited to go, but I think we all decided to save our swimming for the pool next time...the beach was not pretty (or sanitary! Ha!) 

Sometimes I still get goosebumps and truly, truly can't believe how blessed we are to have three children!  Some days are harder than others, and when they are all three crying at once, I just feel like joining in, but they are still such an incredible blessing.  It is such a privilege to be their mama.  I feel blessed.