Turning 8...

Kessa turned 8 a few weeks ago.  She's grown and changed so much in the past year.  While she can still give me a run for my money some days I can see her trying.  I can see her striving, and often winning, the battle to control her emotions.

She's my girly girl for sure.  She picked out the shirt and style for her dress (she was very specific about the double sleeves with "bumpy" edges and THREE twirl skirts...ALL with ruffles.  Yes ma'am!)  One of her birthday presents this year was a sheet of Jamberry junior nails.   She LOVES them.  In fact, she's had them on for probably 2 weeks at this point and a few days ago one came off.  I was putting another one on for her and said, "Next time you loose one we should probably just go ahead and take them all off."  Her immediate response?  "And put new ones on, right?!?!?"  lol.  

She loves to read (she's been devouring every "Fairy" book she can get her hands on...and there are a TON of them.) She also likes to color and draw, "design" clothes (she goes through my scrap boxes and makes up outfits and accessories for her dolls, her siblings and herself.  Just tonight she styled up Grace with scraps, asked for my phone to take pictures, and then was telling me how some of them turned out really well but how the lighting in some of them was just awful and how Grace hadn't wanted to smile for some of them but that she HAD managed to get a few great shots.  hehehe!!!  Love it!)  She plays with her Loopsies a lot and the My Little Ponies and she's always making up games for all the kids to play together.  Her imagination is fantastic!

I can wait to see what the upcoming year brings for her and how God will work in her life and use her.  As always we continue to pray that He will soften her heart and save her and that we will always be able to know her heart.  That we would be more concerned with her motives than her behavior.

Growing Up

That's what Grace is doing on me.  It seems like it's all happened overnight.  I walked into her room Sunday afternoon and instead of finding my sweet baby laying down sleeping with her kitty...

I found this....

one big girl standing up in her crib...

and looking VERY proud of herself!

and that has just opened up a whole can of worms at naptime too I might add!  lol

I'm off to finish getting everything together...because my sweet Sister-in-Law asked me if I wanted the day off tomorrow (ie...she's watching ALL three of my children!)  Thank you Michelle!!!

Lessons from Cinderella

AKA - over-thinking fairy tails

Sometimes I wonder if I put too much thought into what I do and don't let the kids watch.  Most of the time I know I don't.  I want to be very intentional about how I raise them.  I want to raise the girls to be godly women, to be wives someday.  I want them to know that they're princesses and should be treated the way Christ treats the church, 

but at the same time I don't want them to go into marriage thinking it's a fairy-tail.  I don't want them to spend all their singleness day-dreaming about who their perfect guy is.  

So, after all those thoughts...I decided that Cinderella was ok for them to watch .... (over...and over...and over again!)

I mean, Cinderella ISN'T just waiting around for Prince Charming.  She's working hard.  She's kind and compassionate.  She's hopeful and serves others...and she does all of this...with a happy heart!  

(I'm pretty sure she's saved because there's no way she could do all that without Christ!  lol)

I did this LO for a NSD challenge at SAS (and can I just say, purple?  Ugh.  I like this page...but purple is just WEIRD to scrap with.  Gonna have to be more careful about what the girls wear! heheh!)

P.S. What do you think of the new look?  Too much?  Or just right?  I'm psyched about spring and summer!

Bedtime Thoughts

Today I...

did laundry
ironed shirts
made sure everyone was fed
failed miserably as a parent.

Tomorrow I will...

do laundry
make sure everyone is fed
be a better mom by the grace of God.
and maybe if we're lucky I'll get a duvet cover or two made too!

night night

The Here and Now in Regards to Parenting and Worship

That's where we live right?  In the Here and Now.  Last night in Bible study we talked a bit about how the Here and Now will never have true happiness or fulfillment...and the fact that God designed it that way!  We're too constantly be looking to the future, to our eternal future with HIM.  That's what's going to bring us true happiness and ultimate fulfillment. 

So...even though I KNOW that I should always be looking toward heaven, it's not always easy.  However I have found something that helps me "look to heaven" and still gives me some sense of accomplishment in the Here and Now too when it comes to training and discipline. 

I know I've talked before about how when I'm disciplining my daughter for something...for the seemingly 1000th time...that day...it's not worth it.  Her good behavior isn't worth that much work.  It's just not.  However, if I think about the fact that by requiring her to obey (right away, all the way, with a happy heart) I'm readying her to quickly and cheerfully obey Christ which will give HER ultimate joy, that's worth it.  But then...honestly...there are days I can't even get that far in the future in my mind.  It's more like...I'm doing this...AGAIN...because it might make life easier for her someday if she is saved, and my flesh wants to win out and give up.  I can't see any progress...nothing is changing and that makes me want to quit. 

BUT, if I take my eyes off my sinful self, and even off my sinful daughter, and focus them on Christ (who is seated at the right hand of God in heaven) then I can see my training and discipline for what it really is.  It's worship.  It's just one more way I can show God, and all the people around me, that I love Him.  That I love him more than self, more than ease, more than my daughter's momentary happiness.  I'm worshiping Him by training and disciplining my children in the way He has called me too.  And that my friends, IS worth it.  It's worth it in the Here and Now AND it's worth it as I set my spiritual eyes on heaven. 

On Family Life

(random photos from our "treasure hunt" for conversations heart are interspersed throughout this post to add to the cuteness level.)

Lately God has been teaching me (yet again) about priorities, about time management, about things with eternal value.  As I weighed my time and the ways I was spending it it became obvious to me that I was spending too much time on the internet (message boards, blogging, reading blogs, a wee bit o' facebook, apply of things, submitting DT work, and on...and on...and on...)  So I decided to resign from Scrap-Tastic.  I thought I'd just have one DT, one message board, it would all be great...but apparently God thought I need even less "outside" commitment.  My children need me.  They need all of me.  So after some struggling, some soul searching, and some meditation and prayer over these questions, (look for a post on them soon!) I've decided that now is a time to say no to some good things.  No to design teams for now.  No to much submitting.

But I'm not thinking of it as saying no.  I'm thinking of it as saying yes.  Yes to BEING with my children (mentally too!)  Yes to serving God in the roles he has so blessed me with (wife and mommy.)  Yes to more time read and study and meditate so that I can be real with my children.  Be honest with them.  Let them see me and all my struggles and all my dependence on God. 

However, as I refocus my mind, my life, and maybe even my blog, to reflect where I am right now (parenting three tiny children), my friend Jessica had some very timely words of wisdom on not making an idol of parenting.  

On a side note, I have been crafty lately...however it was with fabric not paper!  Hoping to share that later this week. 

oh, and just so you don't think I forgot about her...

Your Word is Truth

It was 3:48...AM.  I started awake, not sure what I had heard...as I listened I heard little feet...and soon right next to my head a little voice said, "My pooin' mom."  So we head to the bathroom where I discover a pull up that already weights about as much as a full grown man and jammies that are soaked through.  The little dude goes potty, I get his clothes changed and we head back to bed...but wait!  The sheets are soaked through too!  (and I just bought TWO packs of these silly apparently cheapo pull ups!  Grrr...)  So I get the sheets taken care of, put him back to bed and groggily crawl back into my now cold bed.  Forty-five minutes later as I'm slowly drifting off to dreamland the soft patter of little feet reaches into my sleepy haze and yanks me out.  "I needa go potty mom."  So we do it again...this time as I'm putting him back to bed I hear moanings from the crib next to him.  Praying it's just baby dreams I quietly slip out and head to bed again.  As the moanings turn to yells, grunts, and the occasional cry (far earlier than she is normally fed) my tiredness turns to resentment.  Finally in frustration I give up.  Sleep is over for me for the day.  With a bit of anger and indignation I get Grace up to feed her (I can't believe I'm confessing so much of my sinful attitude to all blogland!)  

If you've made it this far...PROPS!!!  Now for the meat of the story...the important part...the part I need to learn so frequently.

As I was feeding Baby Grace I pulled out the Bible study I'm currently doing and started reading.  I came to Romans 13.  Then I came to Romans 13:14

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify it's desires."

Ouch.  That's exactly what I was doing.  I was making EVERY provision for the flesh.  Feeling like I had some RIGHT to be grouchy or complain because my flesh didn't get it's desire (sleep) gratified last night.  

John 17:17 sure is true isn't it?  "Sanctify us by your word.  Your word is truth."  I praise God that He is continually changing us to be more like Him...even when it's through lack of sleep.  

On Time Management

I feel like God has been teaching me and changing me in so many areas of my life lately.  It feels like everything is being molded more and more by Him...but when I really stopped and thought about it...all these different things I felt like God was showing me...they all came back to "time management."  Or "priorities."  Or "how I spend my time."  Mainly in regards to my family.  My children and my wonderful husband. 

Sometimes I get so caught up in "serving" them that I forget how much FUN they are.  I forget to stop and play.  To let them be kids.  To just have fun with Tim (and I DO have fun with you baby!  You are just about the funnest guy I know!  *smooches*)

And *most* of the ways I was spending my time WERE ways I was "serving" them.  But maybe not the best way.  Maybe not the way they needed me to right then.  Maybe not the way that would most cause them to love God more.  Maybe not the way I would want someone I loved to serve me. 

So, here are some things I'm thinking...

I'm thinking it's ok if my house looks lived in.  I mean...it IS lived in.  I want my family (both my kids and husband, AND my extended family that stops by) to think of this as a fun place to be.  As a place where they can kick off their shoes and be themselves.  Where they can find comfort and peace and know that they will always be encouraged to pursue God so that they can truly be filled with joy.

I'm thinking I'm not going to worry about how often my blog gets updated (can you tell I already put this one into practice?!  lol) because I don't want my kids to grow up and say, "my mom was a great blogger!"

I'm thinking I want to have the kids involved in all the stuff we do...even when it's more work than doing it myself would have been.

I'm thinking I want to have a "schedule" so we know what's coming.

I'm thinking some days we'll throw our "schedule" to the wind and just play.

I'm thinking I want to really listen to them when they talk.  ALL of them.  Tim, Kessa, Ezekiel, even Grace (I'll get joy from listening to her if nothing else!  lol)

I'm thinking I want to do more things to make every day special. 

I'm thinking I'll do better at remembering that my kids really are only 3 and JUST turned 2....and I won't ask them to act like adults yet.

I'm thinking I'll take opportunities to teach them responsibility, but I'll also let them enjoy being kids. 

I'm thinking above all, and through all, and in all is Christ. 

Christ is the reason I persist in training them.

Christ is the reason I am truly joyful.

Christ is the reason I want them to grow up with servant's hearts.

Christ is the reason behind everything we do. 

Every dish we wash.

Every game we play.

Every book we read.

Every meal we eat.

Whatever we do, whether we eat or drink, I want us to be doing it all to the glory of God. 

The Ghost of...(and a bit of randomness)

The Ghost (or should I say Ghosts?) of Childhood Present visited me last time.  They visited me many times.  Many more times than the Ghosts of Christmas visited Scrooge.  One of those times, as I was crawling back into my warm bed next to my snoring hubby I snorted and thought, "Must be nice to be able to sleep through all this!" But even as I was thinking it...I knew it wasn't true.  I knew that I love being the one they come to in the middle of the night...even though they have to walk all the way around the bed in the dark...and daddy would be easier for them to get to.  I love when they cuddle up on my shoulder and lay their heads down as I take them back to bed.  I love that God has given me a family to serve...even when I'm tired the next day and whine and complain about how many times I had to get up.  I'm grateful for the reminder that I will miss it when they're too big to come share their fears with me (though I pray that never happens!) I'm grateful for the reminder that this is where God has called me...to serve. 

Which reminds me that I settled on a "word" for the year.  Serve. There is much to go along with it and I'm hoping to get a LO done with all my feelings about it very soon.

Ok, I'm off to take a shower...I'm sweaty and nasty after playing Active Life Extreme Challenge on our new Wii...I'm officially addicted.

Raising Small Children

I know a lot of you who read my blog are in a similar time of life and have small children.  That means that many of us probably have the same struggles and thoughts.  One of the things I struggled with (more mentally than ever not requiring good behavior) was Why Require Unregenerate Children to Act Like They're Good?   The biggest thing that had struck me and stuck with me was that when I required behavior of them that they aren't able to fulfill it's an opportunity for me to point them to their need for Christ.  However as I was reading my mail today I saw that John Piper had written a new article on is very topic (see the link above) and he did mention that but also had other points that are very valid and important.  I strongly encourage you to read the article and think about these things yourself. 

Finally he encouraged us to not simply require good behavior but to also:
be forgiving and longsuffering.
praise and encourage each hopeful sign of life in our children.
apologize when we fail (I'm big on letting my kids know I fail and letting them see and hear me ask Christ for help.)
saturate them with the word.
pray for them without ceasing.
and many other things. 

Read the full article here.



And because she actually smiled for me...

Autumn Splendor

This super cute kit is now shipping from Color Me Daisy! All the little extras this month really send this kit over the top. I LOVE the tiny Maya Road chipboard houses and the transparencies are amazing! Here is one of the LOs that I've done so far.


Kessa's growing up so quickly...sometimes it catches me off guard. I'll be watching her and all of a sudden I'll see a glimpse of the woman that she is turning into. This picture made me catch my breathe. It was visible proof that she wasn't my baby anymore.

No more chubby cheeks, no more baby curls...just that slender neck and tiny wisps of hair that whispered to me that my baby was growing up.

But I'm choosing to not cry that my baby is growing up. I'm choosing to be excited about the times to come...about watching who God is growing her into...about the new things she's learning. I'm going to be thankful for the time we had and savor the time to come!

"It" Can Wait

Sometimes I need to be reminded that...
It can wait.

When my children are playing and enjoying life
to whatever is calling me away...
It can wait.

When my daughter wants me to linger at bed time
and I have a different plan...
It can wait.

When he asks for one more book
and I can only think of "my" time...
It can wait.

"It" will always be around
"It" won't be bothered if you leave it alone
"It" has no eternal value and...
It can wait.

Just some random thoughts running through my head tonight when my dd wanted me to "stay in here for a few minutes" after bedtime because she didn't like the rain...and I had new stamping goodies for me. I thank God for reminding me that they truly can wait...and so can I. I want to enjoy this time now because in a few years she might not be willing to tell me she wants me to stay or that she doesn't like the rain...especially if I don't stay and reassure her now.

Hopefully ya'all don't think I'm a bad mom now that I've made my confession, but I really did enjoy my time with her even though my new punches were waiting! lol ;)

The MOST Random Post EVER!

*Because I'm coming to believe that posts without pictures are just no good at all be prepared for a lot of super cute photos that have absolutely nothing to do with the post...yup, we're continuing the random theme!*

It finally happened. Kessa is 3.1 years old and it finally happened. When we were having baby showers before she was born I was fairly certain it was NEVER going to happen. But...it. has.

I bought baby soap. For the FIRST. TIME. That's right folks, I have three children and yesterday on my Wal-Mart run was the first time I've ever had to buy baby soap. We got THAT MUCH when Kessa was born...and mind you I've probably given away as much of it as I've kept!!!! Soo...while I thought it was a little crazy to be getting so much three years ago...it was nice to never have to buy it! lol

Today for some reason I'm having a hard time remember to find my joy in Christ and I'm having to take deep breathes and pray for patience and self control...a lot. Especially when this little girl poops in her panties...just like she does every.day. Yes, EVERYDAY. You'd think I'd be used to it. You'd think I'd just shrug and clean it up and not even think about the servants heart that Christ is developing in my because I do it...every.day. And most days you'd be right. Most days God blesses me with being able to not worry about it, to shrug it off and remember that this is only a tiny thing that doesn't really matter and the eventually she WILL start pooping in the potty. But not today. Instead today I didn't have a quiet and gentle voice, I didn't have a servants heart, and I just wanted to scream. Yup...there was deffinetly some apologizing going on (me to my sweet girl who did not deserve the angry lecture about selfishness and laziness I gave her.) So with more prayers for patience and self control they are now down for their naps! lol

This picture...just one I took messing around with my camera, is now my facebook profile picture and I must say I have gotten more comments about it than I think I have gotten on anything ever before! lol...apparently half of my face being hidden by my stylish sunglasses is a good thing!!! hehe! ;)

and finally, I know how blessed I am. God has been opening my eyes daily, and even by the minute to the blessings upon blessings he has poured out on me. The blessings of a messy house and fussy newborn. The blessings of training my children to love him by example and speech. The blessings of a husband who thinks I'm hot (even after three children!) and loves me unconditionally. Yes, I am blessed and I praise God for allowing me to not just know that with my head but to truly enjoy each moment of these quickly passing days with my children more and more.

"I will praise you, O Lord God, with ALL my heart; I will glorify Your name forever!" Ps. 86:12

Play-Dough Learning

My sweet aunt brought Kessa and Zeke some little presents when she brought over a welcome home gift for Grace.


Kessa's was a bunch of tiny containers of play-dough along with alphabet cutters to use with them. I LOVE educational toys that are fun!


and believe it or not...my kids didn't have any play-dough! *shock* Kessa has really been enjoying it and we've been using it too.



Zeke pretty much just digs taking the containers out of their little holes and then putting them back it. lol, it's the simple things!


and Aunt Lois, if you read this, THANK YOU!!! I'm way behind on my thank-you notes but we're loving everything. :)

One Month

Goodness, I'm not sure where the last 4 weeks went. It seems like we were just bringing Grace home from the hospital yesterday...but apparently that's not the case because my baby is a month old today.

So, in honor of her 1 month birthday, what did we do? We had a photo shoot of course! lol

*warning* this may be a gooshy post, if you have any sort of baby fever I'd skip it. The pictures are just oozing cuteness!

Let's see, your brother and sister adore you...and you tolerate them smothering you with love for a minute or two and then you let everyone know you've had enough.

You're still sleeping a LOT but have, just in the last few days, started being awake more and being more interested in your surrounding.

You're really starting to dig your Classic Pooh mobile.

You wake up every three hours to eat at night...just like clockwork. During the day you're not quite so structured (although I'm trying! lol)

You can still wear all your newborn size clothes...but I'm thinking that won't last much longer.

You hold your head up like a champ.

You gained over a pound in the last week (which is a very good thing!)

We're all ga-ga over you.

You make me love this tiny baby stage more than I ever have before.

I can't hardly breathe sometimes when I look at you because I'm overwhelmed with how good God has been to us.

Your daddy is completely and totally smitten with you (although Ezekiel might be giving him a run for his money when it comes to loving you! lol)

You're so photogenic I could just scream! It's wonderful.

You have long thin fingers and feet.

Um, did I mention we're all head over heals in love with you?

Totally Random

It's Saturday morning and the K and Z kids are at their grandparents. Let me just say it is WAAAAAAAAAAAY quiet around here. So not normal! It's nice to have a break (thanks Annette and Co!) but Dh and I are totally ready to have them back too.

We went to a wedding last night and obviously the littlest came with us...and she wore a dress that Kessa wore to a wedding when she was 2 weeks old! I'm itching to scrap those two pictures together. Kessa and Grace at their first weddings...in the same dress...three year apart.

I got my new Color Me Daisy kit and it's so fun! I've got tons of ideas running through my head and I'm dying to find time to play with it! Here's a sneak of it. It's perfect for "back to school" but very versatile and could be used for just about anything. (Since we're not at the "Back to School" stage yet you'll be seeing some of the versatility of this kit from me!)

And finally...we are sooo blessed to live so near to all our family. My mom has been coming over every morning while Tim is at work and helping around the house and with the littles because my Dr. was VERY strict about the whole not picking up anything heavy after my 3rd c-section.



Thank you mom. Thank you for being a godly woman. Thank you for loving my kids. Thank you for helping me become the person I am. Thank you for being here even when you don't feel like it or would rather be doing something else. Thank you for being patient with my kids. Look at my family and praise God that He has granted the first step in multigenerational faithfulness and pray he carries it on in my children.

We love you!

She is my Daughter

Kessa was walking down the hallway the other day, pushing her stroller with Gabby in her new fall outfit (complete with hoodie!) when she told me,

"Mommy, I put Gabby's hood up and she looked sooo cute. So I took her picture!"

he! Is that not too cute? She is totally her mother's daughter!

Right Now

Right now I've got some thoughts I want to get down and be sure I remember...so you get a blog post! lol. Right now I'm realizing that Grace really is joining our family tomorrow. I'm realizing that I really am a mommy of three. I'm realizing that it will never just be the four of us again. It will never be just Kessa and Zeke again. Part of me wishes I had really grasped that and realized it sooner. I've been thinking these things for a few days and I've been treasuring each moment with them. Storing up all the memories of being a family of four and a mommy of two. Watching my children in awe and wonder. Throwing responsiblity to the wind and taking the time to really play with them. Hugging them...a lot. Telling them how much I love them. Having pillow fights.

It's been great being the four of us...but ALL of us are exciting and ready to be a family of five. Even Zeke is getting excited about Grace coming to live with us (even though I'm sure he really has no idea what that's going to entail!) God has blessed us so much. He's been so gracious in showing us how very very true the words of Psalm 127 are. Children ARE a blessing from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

I'm giddy about getting to hold this little girl...and be reminded of how very tiny newborns really are.

I've got some posts all schedule for you for the next few days while I'm in the hospital...and if we have WiFi access I'll be sure and get you some pictures too!

Until I'm a mother of three (out of the womb) children...have a blessed day!

How To Eat A Burger...

(according to Zeke)

Step One: Remove top bun.


Step Two: Remove burgers (yes there are two because we hit up the $ menu.)


Step Three: Replace said burgers with french fries.


Step Four: Replace top bun.


Step Five: Disassemble entire thing and eat french fries (and maybe a few bites of bread.)

Umm....yea...

or better titled...."Confusing Conversations with a Two Year Old."

Soo...we've been having a hard time keeping the kids in their bunk beds for the last week or so. They started out great and have digressed! About a week ago after they had both been punished and put back in their own beds Kessa asked if I would stay with her for a few minutes. I agreed and we began talking about why she wasn't staying in bed and that she couldn't be good on her own but that Jesus could help her be good. I always try to level the playing field when I'm talking with my children about their sin by reminding them that mommy sins all the time too but that Jesus helps her be good also. This particular night though the comment didn't fall on deaf ears. Kessa pondered this for a moment...that mommy sins too...then she asked, "Do you get spanks too?"
ummm....how would you respond to that one? Not sure if I had the best response in the world but taking a deep breathe I told her, "Well Kessa, mommy SHOULD get spanks for her sins but Jesus took all my spanks for me so I don't get any anymore. However I do still have to suffer the consequences for my sin...and that's kind of like spanks."

Hehe! So...that's one place where I'm still baffled when I think about it. Anyway, we'll just pray God's grace will cover over any big mistakes I made in that conversation! lol