It was her birthday

4 months ago!
I meant to get around and post something from that day

she got a new bike!
and here she is doing tricks as usual

it is in her, born to be a daring
and thrill seeking

I love it but of course

it scares me to death
when I think of the future

she stuck skiis on last year for the first time
and just went, off like a shot!

I showed her how to stop
she got the feel for it
and that was it
she was skiing hard and fast
even on the rope tow

seriously though
she was on the chair by lunch

a girl after my own heart:)

Baby #3 on the way

I would love to post more once I get permission
this shot is one of my favs

just a wee moment
while waiting to get some more shots

and the eldest leans in for a kiss

what mother doesn't sigh with this sweet
unscripted show of affection

as moms in these early days
with ones so young
we are tested so greatly
in all areas of our hearts and souls

parenting takes a lot of work
blood, sweat and tears

don't walk away from it and be defeated
get some new plans of attack in place
talk to wise women and men for counsel and guidance

parenting is hard at all stages
just a different type of hard

my bubble burst when I found out that it is not true
that it gets easier when they get older

the problems can just get bigger (if you don't deal with them when they are little)
but don't give up because you don't know what to do

for me
God lays it all out there
all the answers to every question
every parenting question

its there
go see Proverbs ( I love reading Proverbs
it is so encouraging and helpful and gives so much direction
in child rearing!)

the Bible is really the first
"Parenting Magazine"

breastfeeding is even mentioned in it..ha ha


"We also have joy with our troubles
because we know that these troubles produce patience.
And patience produces character, and character produces hope.
And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love
to fill our hearts."

Romans 5:3-5

MJ

Children are a blessing from the Lord
not a burden

sometimes my attitude toward them is a burden
weighing me down

my selfishness is burden
getting in the way of living freely

but they, the peeps in my life are not a burden

that is my perspective
not my own thoughts

but a truth I learned in scripture
(about 5 years ago)

because once I did think they were a burden
I kept trying to pull away from them
do my own thing
just squeeze them in when I wanted

I am not saying this doesn't mean we don't take time
for ourselves
to take a breath and take a break

but my attitude was so self-centered
and I was convicted one day in prayer

I felt like God showed me my attitude I was having
towards them
and taught me His attitude He wanted me to strive for
to seek after

a daily choice to see my life
with them in all moments
a blessing
that God is using to grow and shape me
in His image

I fail daily, constantly, sometimes moment by moment

but rather than pushing them away
I am drawing them closer

to learn and to grow

(even if it is after I've locked them in the bathroom
to duke it out amoungst themselves:)

In color?

not sure why the pic up top is low resolution
tried color

I think I like it

here is to a weekend of fun

a wee birthday party for the Blu
and night away in wintery white cottage country for the Bubs
rollar skating with friends with the girls
(breaking out the leg warmers)

out door hockey game for the Buddy
the Blu is already in tears that she can't go this instant

and lots of laundry

if I get off track even for one day it quickly
backs up and take on a life if its own


Laundry Schedule

Mon: Bubs
Tues: the Buddy
Wed...extras
Thurs. all the girls
Fri: Me
Sat: Hot Husband

The Buddy has almost graduated to doing
his all on his own

I do have to supervise a little
as once he put his dirty clothes into the dryer
and was about to add soap!

we are still working...lol

On the beach

our last morning in Florida
out with my camera

which I only brought out about
4 times the whole trip

which was odd
as
I am usually shooting lots

I look at a few and then never go back to them

I need another me to sit down and sort for days
maybe weeks
pick out the ones I love
and get them printed into a book!

the kids love looking at themselves

this is one of those lessons

where I should've stayed on top
of the organizing of my pics
(organizing and me don't do well)

so now all these years later of shooting digital
I am left with a mountain:(

I am in awe of gals with way more kids than I have and who seem to have the gift
of organizing their pictures

printing them
framing them
hanging them

I am in awe

so...my pictures might live forever on my computer
never to be seen or heard from again

what is the point of even taking them if
we can't even enjoy them?

help?

my other concern is
how does one even decide which ones to print?

Let's try this again.....

photo courtesy of the buddy:)

I had to delete some posts I added
as I think I was drunk when I wrote them....
no
just kidding
I had to delete them as I didn't feel peace
about what I wrote

life is such a intimate
personal journey and all I feel
I can truly comment on is my own
why we are choosing what we are choosing
right now today
maybe it won't look like this tomorrow but God is in control
and I rest in that
(Thank God)

I just don't ever want to come across to others that
I know what is right for their families
just because it is right for mine
(but then what happens when tomorrow
comes and our "right" changes again)

my job is love others as myself
not to judge
because I don't know anything about the depths of who they are
or what their marriage is

I can barely handle my own
so who am I ?

just a gal who loves the Lord
and wants to live that love out
in the lives that surround me

so others can see. hear, feel the love,
grace
mercy, forgiveness that I received in my life
14 years ago

one of my favorite verses is....

7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7

this is talking about God

asking to know him, seeking to find Him

knocking on His door and YOU WILL FIND HIM!!

there is so much comfort and hope in this for me

you will find HIM when you look for Him ....

and look for Him

with all of your heart...

all of it

Littlest and Biggest

she loves him and he loves her
and that is all there is to say about that:)

My Happy New Year Card!

he made me go shopping
(I hate it) and I turn around and found him
with my unmentionables on his head
and hanging from his ears
nice

I thought we might get kicked out
I had to buy them
I hope this image represents our life this year:)
silly, fun times, everywhere!

welcome 2011!

From the Summer

home
trying to get organized in a house
that is having one problem after another

needing spiritual refreshment
not a retreat kind of thing

but a daily, disciplined refreshing
I need it, I want it
my days seem almost pointless without
taking the time and reading truth

the only truth that is found in the Bible

it is the direction, the peace
the right mind set I need
in order to grow
to teach my family
and just to live in the joy and freedom that
is only in Christ

memory verses are good
I love having scripture on my heart, mind and tongue
but I need more
which I think is just time

time alone in the morning
in the quietness of my home and my mind

just a bit
so, I think it is time I commit
to the 5am club
(mine might be the 5:30am club though:)
I have much to do before the kids get up
and I have been very undisciplined
regarding my morning return
since our move

and it shows in my spirit
my spirit is not disciplined
set on the things of Christ
yet my mind has been set on other things
things the internet offers
and I have been spending more time
there

no more
I say

5:30am here I come
(praying I stay away from my computer then!!!)

btw I think the photo is fitting
I am trying to paddle through my life
but my boat is not even in the water
if I don't get it in the water
meaning
taking more quiet time
to seek Jesus,
my boat with not go anywhere

does that work?

Sweet Girlies

3 girls and a guy....a hot guy that is:)

ok c'mon
how can I not have more???
lol

Newest Family Addition

Welcome 2011!!!

us attempting our annual Florida picture
obviously
without much success

my guys were a bit more wiggly
which is odd
considering how old they are
but
we need some more time in front of the camera
a minute just doesn't cut it
though sometimes it does
throwing a family infront
of the lens
you can get some great shots quickly

we are not one of those families I suppose

here is to another year of
challenges

like the 52 week picture challenge
never done one of those and have always wanted to

galactosemia receipes on line on a separate site
a personal blog
and a professional blog
ditching the very outdated website I have
and going with something I can
update often....can we say "HA!!!"

read just the blogs that really inspire me
hugging more
letting go of earthly things
embracing our family motto of the year

"clean up after yourself!"

encouraging more
encouraging more
those around me need it

praying for those babes to find a home in ours
dying to myself everyday

I am not out to be super mom, there is no such thing
and where I miss things and make mistakes
and lose my cool
God fills in the gaps with His grace and mercy
I cannot be all to my kids
but I can give them my all
Jesus has to be their all
He is the only way
the only one

" I am the way
the truth and the life
no one comes to the Father
except through me"
John 14:6

not me
but Him:)

Here is to a year of big things
big changes
stepping out of the boat
to walk on water
a year of big faith
of getting out of my comfort zone
and stepping out

here is to the mockers and judgers

I am not living for you guys
and I don't fear you

I am living for the one and only
living true God



"....if God is for us. Who can be against us?"
Romans 8:31