It's that time again...

WOW!  Where did this summer go?  It has been a fun one that is for sure!  I am so thankful the Lord has allowed me to be home with our girls since birth.  It's something I do not take for granted and I thank him daily for the blessing.
I can't think of anything greater than being home with my babies, loving them and teaching them. Teaching them how to walk in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.  Teaching them how to love others and see others the way God see's them.  Showing them what it looks like to spend time with the Lord each morning.  I want them to SEE first hand the fruit of the Lord in the lives of Matt and I.  I  know I fail 1,000 times a day. You are created new every morning.  Great is your faithfulness (Lametations 3:22-24)

This past week I was sitting on the back porch with my coffee and my bible, and Alyssa came out to join me.  The girls know that I get them their breakfast, get my coffee, and head out on the porch. That's just our routine!:) Well Alyssa came out one day this week and said...

A: "Mommy why do you come out here every single morning to read your Bible and drink your coffee?"
Me: "Well Alyssa, mommy needs to start her day with Jesus because If don't, I tend to be less patient with you.  I might get upset with you and Bella more than I should.   Jesus likes to hear from his children, and he likes for us to spend time with Him.  Plus, how can I know Him if I don't ever talk to Him, or spend time learning about Him?"
A: "Your right mommy.  That makes a lot of sense.  I am your daughter and if you I never talked to you I wouldn't know anything about you.  I wouldn't know what made you happy, or what made you sad.  Even though I live in your house, that is not enough."
Me: "(Astounded by her analogy) yes you are right, sweetie!"
A: "Well mom, I'll go inside and keep Bella occupied while you finish up your time with Jesus!"

What a great reminder to me, that our children are watching our every move.  I pray that I have invested the best of my time with both our girls.  I don't want to miss a chance to teach them.  I want them both to walk in confidence.  Confidence that they are made with a purpose.  A purpose to live a life pleasing to the Lord.  Not conforming to the world, but to be different.  I don't want them to be normal or average.  As I read recently in Tim Tebows book, God created us for so much more than to just be average.

So as this school year approaches I have encouraged Alyssa to make every decision as if she is making it to please God.  I told her to be a good student and friend, to be a leader, to be an encourager, and to be a helper.  I told her God loves her and He is proud of the little girl that she is becoming.  She smiled and said, "I want to make Him proud."

I am looking forward to this school year.  I know it is going to be great!  We love Alyssa and Bella's teachers this year.  I  have prayed every year that the Lord would bring the girls the best teacher for them and we trust that He has done just that!

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. (1Timothy 4:12)

Terrific Thursday

Yep today was a fabulous day! Low key. At home. With my girls. Blessed!

We got up early and I loved it! We made breakfast (toast) together and ate on the back porch.

I had my quiet time while they played and then we began a overhaul on the playroom! They were a big help!! We have been in big time organization mode. It's been so fun!!

We played all afternoon and then made this yummy salad for dinner!!

Southwestern Chicken Salad.

So easy. So fresh. So good.

The girls practiced soccer tonight while Matt and I worked in the garage!
This girl and her style. Wow!!:). Uniquely made:)

With school starting next week I am looking for good breakfast ideas for the girls and this was a big hit!!

Before bed we whipped up these baked oatmeal in muffin cups. They are a very good, quick, and healthy breakfast or snack

Hope you made the best of your day! I am soaking In every second with these sweeties!!

Psalm 68:3

Le the Godly rejoice.  Let them be glad and filled with JOY.

A look at our week so far.

We are trying to pack in as much fun as we can this last week before school starts.
Is it just me or has summer flown by this year? We have had a blast this summer. Done so much fun stuff and spent a ton of time making sweet memories. I have no regrets with the way our summer has played out. :)

Here's a look at some things we have done this wk through good-o-iPhone-pics!:)

Lunch with this sweetie while the grandparents were squeezing in some last minute fun with our girlies!

Just a run with the man.  Training for a race in March.  My fav running partner:)

Quick pic after church!

Haha!  This girl decided she was ready to play ball.  We clearly have some work to do:)

A trip to the ENT today.  

This little girl was  a trooper.  So proud of her.  She will be having surgery on her tongue.  Prayers appreciated!!  

Our weekend

I know it's Wednesday but I wanted to remember the fun we had this past weekend. I love that I can print this blog and that Matt and I and the girls can look back and see what fun we had as a family, as a couple, and all that God has done in our lives!

So this past weekend we headed to the lake. We stayed at the houseboat and just relaxed. It's such a peaceful place and the girls just absolutely love it there!!
Friday we went out in the boat, took out jet skis, and swam at the houseboat. The girls love going down the slide off the boat and it just terrifies me. It's so high and they go sooooo fast down it. But...they love it so I allow them to enjoy it!!:)

The girls went to bed early and Matt and I and my mom and step dad all stayed up talking. One of my favorite things to do! Matt and I stayed up a couple hours after my mom and Mike went to bed. We just had the tv off and just talked. We talked about everything. I love that we can just talk for hours. I am so thankful for those times. It always brings us closer and the Lord just blesses that time together.

Saturday we woke up and ate a great breakfast. We took the girls fishing off the dock. They had a blast!
I may or may not have caught a fish and didn't let the girls reel it in. Ok...I got a little caught up in the moment. Matt kept telling me to "give the pole to Bella and let her get it!"  I just couldn't contain myself!
Anyways. It was fun for all! Good times!!

The girls went down for naps and Matt and I headed out to Russellville. Matt was given the privilege to speak Sunday morning at Grace Baptist in Belleville. He was sharing the plans and direction for Hope Rising Children's Home.
Matt and I met Cory and Melissa in Russellville for dinner and then we all stayed at my mom's house. We stayed up talking and laughing and just having a great time.

So thankful for fun weekends with our family, friends, and the Lord!

This little girl left off a very important undergarment!:)

Something to ponder.

I receive daily devotions through my email from proverbs 31 women. They are always so good and speak to me each day. This one particularly hit home!

Here are a few lines from this mornings word:

"I'm learning to be more thankful for what I am than guilty for what I'm not."

Maybe you are the friend with the veggie peelings in the trash can and steaming homemade goodness on the table.

Celebrate that.

Or maybe you are like me. And your gifts are less tasty.

Celebrate that.

And cut the threads of guilt with the edge of grace.

Dear Lord, You made me in Your image and that is something I seem to forget daily. Please help me remember to celebrate and live in who You made me to be and not in what I wish I was.

"Sometimes I feel more guilty for what I'm not than thankful for what I am." This is such a powerfully honest statement. "


Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Psalm 139:13-14, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

My thoughts: I feel so much of social network is used by the devil to tell us as women and as moms that we are not measuring up to the next person. I constantly see updates of women who are whipping up amazing dinners for their family or children. Friends Who took their children here or there or who are constantly doing fun things with their child. I find myself not
Measuring up to the other moms out there. Or other friends out there. I believed if wasn't cooking a homemade meal every. single. night of the week, or If i didn't make homemade soap with my girls I was lacking as a stay at home mom. If didn't entertain others in
My home, or have play dates to attend this week I must not be liked. I must not be as good as mom or wife or friend.
Those are lies. Lies that the devil wants to use to keep me ineffective for the lord. I know god called me to be a wife, a mother, and a friend and I am so thankful for those roles in my life. He Made me in his perfect image. I will celebrate that and choose not to dwell on what I am not...in my eyes or in the eyes of others!


















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Just being honest...

Man this has been a hot and dry summer.  The grass had stopped growing.  It began to turn crunchy and brown and the tree's almost looked fall-ish they were so dry and discolored.   The outdoor life had been dying and in desperate need of some water.  We got some much needed showers this week and we were praising God for his abundant blessing in bringing the rain.

If I'm honest, I feel like I have been in a drought the past couple months.  It's been tough.  At times I have felt a lot like the creation around me...Just kind of barely hanging on...
 I have been in need of  refreshment.  I've been thirsty, weary and I have been lonely.  I have been hurt and God has purged relationships (that is never fun).   He has chiseled away and is continuing to remove the things in my life that are unpleasing to Him.

But just like God brought water to the dying plants, and grass, and vegetation, He has showered me with love and grace.  He has refreshed my soul.   Mostly He has shown Himself to me in a way I have never experienced.  He has been sufficient,  I know the true feeling of having a friend in God.  Our communication has changed and deepened and He is a part of every detail of my day.  The Lord brought me to a place of deep reliance upon Him.  When it was dark and I was not sure  where He was directing me, His word WAS a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105).  


There is a song I have on my playlist while I run.   "Come to the River" By Rhett Walker Band.
The words are:
 You said, Come to the River.  
Oh Lay yourself down.  
Let your heart be found.  
You said, Come to the river.  
Drink from the cup I pour.  
And thirst no more.  

I feel like God has brought me to this place in my life to do just that...Come to the river.  Not just any river, but His river.  He wanted/needed to fill me with Him.   I  know I get so busy with life and so sidetracked with the places I have to go, and the meals I need to make, and the laundry that needs to be done and put away so I can have a perfect little home, that I don't see the Lord waving his hand in my face to come get a drink.  To stop what I am doing and drink Him in.   I tend to wait till I am already parched.

I can say I am thankful for God's teaching moments.  For the fact He loves me enough to bring me through a storm so that He can be glorified through my life.  That's all I want.  To Glorify Him in all I do.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest in my.

2 Corinthians 12:9

9 Years

Last week Matt and I celebrated 9 years of marriage.  Wow that just seems like so long!  But it's nothing in comparison to forever.  We are more in love today than we were the day we said "I do" and I was not sure that could happen.

The past 9 years have been nothing short of amazing.  Of course there have been some tough times.  But God has been so good and faithful and He has brought us  through all those "learning" times.

We have grown in our relationship with each other and with the Lord.
We have learned how to love each other and how to care for each other.
We have moved 3 times.
Through the Lords plan, we have created 2 beautiful little girls that mean the world to us.
We have learned the importance of putting our marriage and our love before these 2 little girls.
We have answered a call to ministry.
Matt left the corporate world to answer this call.
God has been sooo good.
He has provided every.step.of.the.way.
We have been debt free for 3 years!  Praise God for Dave Ramsey! :)
We have fallen in love with a country and the people God has placed there.
We have a passion for Hope Rising that I just can't begin to explain.
God has allowed us to have traveled together and as a family to some amazing places.
We have had some disagreements.  We have learned from them.
We have learned what it means to be a friend.
We have learned to listen to the Lord and trust his leading.

We look forward to forever together.  Matt can make me laugh like no other.  We have so much fun together.  There is truly no one I would rather spend my days with.  So thankful the Lord chose us to knit together.  He really does know what He's doing!!:)

What a hottie I snatched up!  Thanks babe for being such an amazing husband to me and father to our children. yOu are my best friend and I couldn't thank God enough for you!!

HAppy 9th Anniversary!