Life is funny sometimes:)

Big Daddy got laid off last week (yes again, he was laid off last September from the last company he worked for) and we are trying to figure out what to do! I mean its not the we are worried about money, it has nothing to do with the money part. Its more about what direction we should take our lives.
God has been increasingly adamant that we should start a family run business. But the problem is that we are not quite sure what "type" of business to start. Or if we should do a ministry instead. Decision decisions!
We did order this and got it in the mail yesterday. Have watched 3 dvds and already it has been such a blessing!!
Can't wait for Russ to get home so we can watch another!
Thankfully he never seems to be bored when he is without a full time job, he is out installing garage doors today with a buddy from church. God is so faithful, it is so humbling!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And to round this post out, I leave you with a pic of the boy:)

Resurrection Day

Aw, we had a lovely Resurrection day!!! We ate and laughed and spent time together as a family. And we did it all to the Glory of God!! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Happy Thanksgiving From our Family to yours!

We have so much to be Thankful for this year as with previous years, God is too good to us!

Sweet Blessings from God....

 Family....

 Good Men....

 Food to fill our tummy...

And Lots of Love....

Newest Addition has Arrived-

John Roy was born Oct 26th at 9:55pm. He weighed in at a healthy 8lbs 15 oz and 20 1/4 inches long.
We were blessed to have a all natural birth, no meds whatsoever! However we didn't do the home birth like planned. Although I'm not disappointed because God is good and his will is perfect, we labored and delivered our son at the birth center. And it was a water birth at that!!

I had a short birth, at only 3 1/2 of active labor and pushed for maybe 20 minutes. I'm writing up his birth story, but just like babies do, he takes up most of my time these days.

I'm so looking forward to this Thanksgiving and Christmas. We are having a simple yet meaningful Christmas this year and I have some crafts and recipes that I can't wait to share on the blog. Hopefully baby boy will stop eating long enough to let me post a few;)

More pictures to follow soon!

My Big Girl Turns 6!

I'm a little late getting this up...but on May 31 my oldest child turned 6 years old! I'm sure for seasoned moms 6 seems so young, but for me it seems that she is growing in leaps and bounds! I wish she'd stop that!!
We didn't throw a big party or anything, she wanted to go to the zoo and then to lunch at her favorite restaurant, so that is what she got:)
Here are a few pics from her fun day-

They really do grow so fast! I'm starting to realize more then ever before the limited time I get to have with my little ones!! Such a short period of time to form their character and win their hearts for the Lord!

I'm so happy I get to spend so much time with her, if I sent her off on that big yellow bus everyday, Id miss so much! Recently there have been major important questions and challenges that have come her way, and I'm so thankful to be there for those times.

Psalms 127:3 says “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.”
Its taken a few years from the time she was born to realize what a great blessing she really is to me! But Thank you God for this gift:)

Remember our Fallen as you Enjoy your weekend!

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, we think of how they have followed in the footsteps of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please hold our service men and women in your strong arms. Cover them with your sheltering grace and presence as they stand in the gap for our protection.

We also remember the families of our troops, and ask for your unique blessings to fill their homes and your peace, provision and strength to fill their lives.

May the members of our armed forces be filled with courage to face each day and may they trust in the Lord's mighty power to accomplish each task. Let our military brothers and sisters feel our love and support.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thankful Thursday!

There are so many things to be Thankful for today! Here's a picture of one of them.

Its our dog Molly who was the most recent additional to our family. She was abandoned over Christmas at the lake. She would have starved to death if we had not took her in. She has turned out to be a wonderful and sweet dog. She's great with the kids, protective even. She doesn't chase the chickens. And she barks at unexpected visitors. And as you can see, she is quite photogetic! I'm thankful the Lord sent her to us!

NEWS

We are happy to announce that we are expecting baby #3 this November!!!!

One child

Yesterday and today it's just been me and my toddler, Madi.
My 5 year old is with her great grandmother and my husband has been in Dallas for work.
Why is it I never realized how easy it was to have one child when I only had on child?
Madi has been perfectly content playing with playdough, watching PBS and napping for the last 48 hours!
Tonight is what Im really looking forward to though. Date night!
It was one of our new years goals to have at least one date night out a month. It almost didn't happen. But Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we will be enjoying a nice evening out!
Speaking of the creep rising. Man have we had some rain!
My front yard looks like the lake. I think we had about 5 inches of rain here, but a few counties over got 10 inches!
Then it froze last night and its in the 30's today. So I have to figure out something cute to wear tonight and still be warm!
Well I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, enjoy your time with your family!

Merry Day after Christmas y'all!

Wow! Well Christmas came and went,huh? It seems so crazy every year when we spend weeks planning for this wonderful day the family. Food, gifts, games, fun!Then in a blink its over. I hope all of you took the time yesterday to pray and give sometime to Jesus.
I would have liked to of given a little more of my time to Jesus yesterday, well everyday. Its so easy to get caught up in the things of this world!

We are blessed and I am ever so thankful to the Lord our God for giving us a roof over our head and all the yummy food that we got to indulge in yesterday, and probably for the rest of this month!
My girls had a wonderful time! Its funny out of all the gifts they got their favorite items are the ones we spent the least on. Home made playdough for one and the my older one loved the Leapster2 she got. I got it on sale for like 20 bucks and she just loves it. She also received a bike and Madi got a giant puppy that she wants to sleep with no matter what I say:)
Oh and how can I forget to mention, it SNOWED here! Yes in North Texas!!!
It was wild to see and drive in on Christmas eve, but very beautiful and really put us in the Christmas mood:)
The biggest surprise was my sweet husband got me a "new" (its used but that doesn't matter) Chevrolet Suburban for Christmas. He's spent the last 3 weeks doing some maintenance on it, cleaning it, changing the oil and stuff like that without me ever knowing. Really I didn't have a clue! He did have to tell a few lies along the way, which, he said, killed him to do. But it turned out to be a wonderful surprise!
No we have room in the family car for another 4 babies!!! LOL
Well here are a few Christmas pictures-

Thankful Thursday

I don't know what I did to deserve these two, but Im sure happy I did!

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

As President, on October 3, 1789, George Washington made the following proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government of the United States of America:

“ Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Source: wikipedia

Happy Veterans Day!

Thank a Veteran today! And please keep our Soldiers in your prayers and thoughts each and everyday!
Rather they are abroad or at a base here in the states. Their everyday life is difficult and trying in many ways that the average American has no idea. And also pray for and thank those families who support our troops. Its not easy being a military spouse, I know this to be true.
So a big THANK YOU from our family to all our military and Veterans. I'd hug ya if I could!

Today's Memory Verse

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus." Phil. 4:19

I must remember that our Lord does provide all that I need. Even those things that I thought I needed and didn't get, turns out I didn't need them after all.
And then the things I didn't even know I needed until the Lord blessed me with them. Wow our God is good!

What a weekend!

This weekend was crazy and it was filled with fear and doubt. Worry, its got to be my biggest downfall.
But as always, the Lord finds a way to let us know it will all be okay. Our Sunday sermon was about Romans 8:28-

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Thankful Thursday

" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Last night I laid in bed and just had to Thank God over and over for the life HE has given me. Through my life I use to think that I was the one in control, the one who was making all these big decisions. When in fact HE was in total control at all times. When the things that were happening didn't make sense.
Im not saying the I didn't make some choices, some very poor choices, because I did. But even then God used those sins to change me, to lead me down his path further.

Who knew! God had a plan all along for a lonely little girl who was born from irresponsibility and rejected from the very beginning of life.

Through out my childhood I sought acceptance and unconditional love and never received it. From a very early age I realized that the love that was in my family was conditional. I felt it at such a young age, maybe around 4-5 years old. I thought that if I did something wrong or something that my Mother didn't approve of, I would be shunned. I wouldn't be worthy of love anymore. And even when I was walking on the thin straight line my family expected of me, I still felt unloved. I needed to do something special to be loved. So I started lying, telling stories. Anything that would shine a light on me. So I could be noticed and they would realize how special I was and that I deserved love.
Even as I grew older it didn't stop, even when I knew that there was nothing I could do to receive that unconditional love from them. I still seeked it out. But then it was from others. Men, friends, employers. I got married at a young age. I also got divorced at a young age. Life was so crazy back then. Little did I know God had a plan to get me out of that place and give me all the love that I so craved in life.

Once I met my husband I had been down in a pit so long that I didn't believe it was possible to be pulled out of it.
But I took a leap of faith and followed God's plan instead of my own. It took me to Texas. So far away from all I knew and thought I wanted. It took me to Motherhood, something I thought for sure I never wanted. God's plan gave me love like I never thought was possible.

When I had Cheyenne I finally realized that there was nothing she could do to earn my love and there was nothing she could do to make me stop loving her either.
I realized all that time I spend trying to please my Mother and family was pointless. It wasn't anything to do with me. It was all them. I was always worthy of love and acceptance. And the fact is I had always had it, I just was looking in the wrong places.
I tried my Mother's way for raising my child for a short while, but was left feeling so empty and torn from my actions. I finally asked God to use me, to use my brokenness to make me a better mother. And HE did!
I tried those same mistakes with my husband and again it didn't work out very well. And again I prayed asking the Lord to forgive me and heal me and my relationship. And HE did! My marriage has never been stronger! Of coarse these things took lots of work, but the Lord gave me the ability to change!

Through out all the hard times God always had a plan. A plan to pluck a lonely little girl out of her circumstances and put her in a place where she would have more love and acceptance then she knows what to do with!

GOD is Good!

"Circumstances aren’t the barometer of God’s love and goodness—the cross is."