lately...

Alyssa has really been talking a lot about giving to others. I know at even a young age God is working in her heart. I know he has great plans for her and I can't wait to see them unfold!

Here are some of our recent conversations!

Alyssa: "Mommy, do you know what I am thankful for?"

Me: "No sweetie what are you thankful for?"

Alyssa: "I am thankful for you and daddy, my baby sister, my bed and my house, my playroom, my food, my school, my teachers, my friends, all of God's creation, and most of all I am thankful for Jesus!"

Me: "Alyssa that makes mommy want to cry."

Alyssa: "Well mommy you shouldn't want to cry!"

Me: "Well when mommy is really proud of you it makes me want to cry!"

Alyssa: "Well then if you really are proud then you can cry!!"

Oh she is too sweet! I am so glad that she is "Most of all" thankful for Jesus!

Tonight she came in and said. "Mommy I have all my money packed up so I can give it to the kids that don't have any money or parents! They can use it to buy parents, and then you won't have to give your money. I'll just give mine!"

She has a tender spot for others. She is mercy made over! I am thankful she is learning to put others before herself!

Proverbs 11:24-25
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

On our way...

We are on our way to having a sweet little girl potty trained! Bella Grace is almost 23 months and she has started the process of becoming potty trained. I knew it would be soon, but I did not want to rush her through the process at all. For one, she is going to do it when she is good and ready. Two, she is still young so she has plenty of time. Three, she is our baby and potty training automatically makes her seem so much bigger!!

Bella Grace you are the sweetest little girl. It's so cute watching you pee on the potty and wear your big girl Dora panties! Who would have thought they even made panties to fit such a tiny hiney?!? You are so proud of yourself and you clap and smile so big every time you go! Mommy and Daddy are so so proud of you too!!

Can' t wait to watch you grow into a little girl. It's coming on wayyyy too fast so we better just enjoy the ride!!:)

All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
and great shall be the peace of your children.

Isaiah 54:13

Branson getaway...

This past weekend we spent some time in Branson with the girls. We LOVE Branson and always have a great time shopping and eating! We started a tradition last year by taking the girls to Branson in the fall. WE try to plan it at the peak of the trees changing colors and the leaves falling. Fall is beautiful and such a reminder of the changing of seasons in our lives. We know the girls won't be little for long so we are trying to soak up as much of them as we can while they are still small. It's not always easy. Actually its not easy most of the time. Bella is busy. She wants to be going all the time. She likes to make messes and get into things, but she has been the biggest blessing to us in the fast and furious 22 months that the Lord has blessed her with us.

With that said, we STILL try to do things as a family that the girls will remember, and that Matt and I will remember forever. We love these girls and want nothing more than to share fun times and memories with them as long as the Lord allows us to have them! I would hate to look back and see that we did not take this trip when Bella was 2 because it was "just too hard."

Life is busy. It's crazy. Its fast and its moving right along. We are hanging on for dear life. We are holding on to the only one who can hold us together! Jesus. He is our rock and whom we lean on in this super wild and fun life!!

Here are a few pictures of the girls this past weekend! Couldn't figure out how we didn't get as many pics as last year but as I looked at our pictures from last year I realized Bella was in a front pack and non-mobile...:) She doesn't stop long enough for a picture now. We just get her in action:)

BTW, we are so glad we went. The girls had a blast and we made some great memories together.