Treasure the Doing...

My sister-in-law sent this to a group of women this morning.  This is a great reminder for both moms and dads. :)  Feel free to share it!

An encouraging word for moms...

Some days it's hard to be a mommy.  It's way different than working out of the home...at least for me it is.  In fact, most days I don't really feel affirmed and appreciated.  Sound selfish and prideful?  Maybe.  But as I talked to more and more SAHM I realized that I'm not alone.  So when my friend, Laura, sent this to a group of us moms, I knew I had to pass it along!

"When service is unto people , the bones can grow weary, the frustration deep. Because agrees Dorothy Sayers, "whenever man is made the center of things, he becomes the storm-center of trouble. The moment you think of serving people you begin to have a notion that other people owe you something for your pains...you will begin to bargain for reward, to angle for applause...
When the laundry is for the dozen arms of children or the dozen legs,, it's true. I think I'm due some appreciation. SO comes the storm of trouble and lightening strikes joy. But when Christ is center, when dishes, laundry, work, is my song of thanks to him, joy rains"

Sound like a familiar verse? Col. 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

Need a little MORE encouragement?  Watch this short video:

Thanks for the encouraging words, Laura!  Now off to continue building my sweet Little Monument. :)

She IS pretty cute, huh?

Two of my new favorite things...

Baby stuff if expensive!  There's a TON of cool stuff out there, but so much of it is just that...cool.  Not a necessity.  So when I got pregnant with Mia, I tried to be smart when registering so that I could get help buying what I really NEEDED.

When I first heard of baby video monitors I thought, "That's not a must have, I sure don't want other people (neighbors) looking into my baby's crib, PLUS they are expensive."  Well...all last year I wished and wished that I had one.  Seriously!  There were so many times that I would creep into Mia's room to check on her, and somehow she would "know" I was in there and wake up.  UGH!!!!!

Fast forward a year...

I'm pregnant with baby girl #2.  There are three things that I REALLY want:

1. A GOOD baby swing!  (I bought Mia's at a yard sale and she hated it.  I mean, I should have known by looking at it how uncomfortable it was.)

2. Video Monitor

3. Double Stroller

My mom and sister went in together and bought me this swing:

Now THAT looks comfortable, huh?  You can check it out here.  I can't wait to put Ellie Grace in it!!!!

My mother-in-law gave money toward the monitor, I sold a swing set on Craigslist, AND got a 20% off coupon to get the money for this AWESOME video monitor...

And my sweet friends that came to my baby shower gave money so that I could buy the fabulous double stroller that I wanted (plus I got a 25% off coupon for trading in an old stroller)...

So let me tell you why two of these have already become my favorites:

1.  The video monitor is AWESOME!!!!  I used to go into Mia's room and just stare and stare at her.  All of you mamas know that there is nothing sweeter than your sleeping baby.  Now I just turn the monitor on and stare. :)  This monitor is extra cool because you can scan the room AND it zooms in and out.  Plus, I don't have to worry about it picking up other babies down the street.  This monitor is synced at the warehouse for safety.  I haven't had any problems so far.   It's also been fun to watch Caleb interact with Mia when he doesn't know I'm watching. :)

2.  This double stroller rocks my face off!  First of all, I wanted something good, but I didn't want to pay BOB prices.  I'm not planning on taking these kiddos down trails, so I don't need the BEST, just something great. :)  I initially wanted a different chicco stroller, but the one that I had my eye on has been discontinued, and I couldn't find one ANYwhere.  So...I started researching again and totally fell in love with the one I showed you above.  If you're interested in learning more about it, watch this video.  Mia LOVES it already and it's soooo easy to use.  We use it a lot already.  In fact, I took her for a walk this morning in hopes to speed this process along. :)

So there you have it...two of my new faves!

I'm sure when Ellie Grace gets here and I have a chance to use my swing, I'll be posting about how much I love that too!

Only a week and a half until her due date!!!

Our identity...

One of my friends sent me this from her devotional today.  Please take the time to read it.  It's so important that we understand our identity. :)  Love y'all!

September 6, 2011
The Power of the Holy Spirit in You!

Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth
Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8 NIV).

Friend to Friend
“I’m not good enough.” Have you ever said or thought those words? 

The truth is if you have made Jesus the Lord of your life, then you have the power of the Holy Spirit living in you and working through you. Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8).  You have God’s incomparably great power at your disposal. “That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…” (Ephesians 1:19-20). The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work within us?  Yep.  The same power.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth” (don’t you just love it when He says that), anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).  Did He just say that?  Yep.  What does going to the Father have to do with the power we receive?  Because once Jesus went to the Father, the Holy Spirit came to live in believers.  “If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth” (John 14:15-16).

Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom spent the last years of her life speaking to men and women all around the world about the God who sustained her during her imprisonment and who delivered her from the Nazi prison camps.  During one of her presentations, she held up a lady’s white glove.

“What can this white glove do?” she asked. Then she went on to explain…           

“The glove can do nothing. “Oh, but if my hand is in the glove, it can do many things…cook, play the piano, write.  Well, you say that is not the glove but the hand in the glove that does it.  Yes, that is so.  I tell you that we are nothing but gloves. The hand in the glove is the Holy Spirit of God. Can the glove do something if it is very near the hand?  No! The glove must be filled with the hand to do the work. That is exactly the same for us:  We must be filled with the Holy Spirit to do the work God has for us to do.”

It is time to see yourself as God sees you. No more living in a house of mirrors looking at a distorted image of who you are.  This is how God sees you.

You are a child of God. John 1:12
You are justified- completely forgiven. Romans 5:1
You are free from condemnation. Romans 8:1
You have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16
You have been made righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21
You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. Ephesians 1:3
You are righteous and holy.  Ephesians 4:24
You have been redeemed and forgiven of all your sins. Colossians 1:14
You are a dwelling place for Christ. He lives in you. Colossians 1:27
You are complete in Christ. Colossians 2:10
You are chosen of God, holy and dearly loved. Colossians 3:12
You have been given a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
You have been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God by which you are a partaker of God’s divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4

And that, my friend is only the beginning!  Say these verses out loud.  Speak to your soul.  Believe the truth about who you are.  You are more than good enough because of who lives in you and works through you.

Now It’s Your Turn
I’ve given you a lot to think about today.  Go back up to the verses listed in today’s devotion and put a check by the ones that you have a difficult time believing for yourself.  Now, choose to believe the truth, regardless of how you feel.  When you choose the truth, you will be renewing your mind!  

Check out Romans 12:2 to learn what happens when we renew our minds with the truth.

The above verses are so good!  I'll probably end up printing them out and posting them on my mirror.  So many people are confused about who they are.  I hope this devotional speaks to you today.  Thanks for sharing, Amy! 

A quick "Must Read" for the day...

My friend, Rebecca, posted this simple (but extremely powerful) thought...

God loves us.
  At all times.
    He's never not greatly loving us.
God is good.
  At all times.
    He's never not good.





Let's all take a deep breath (inhale now)... and let that soak in today. :)

Once upon a time...

...I was all about blogging.  I still LOVE to read other blogs, but as for those minutes/hours of posting my own stuff?  Yeah...this mama is out of time and energy right now.

As many of you know, the last few weeks of pregnancy are exhausting.  (Can I get an AMEN!!!???) Seriously...I always think I am tired and terribly uncomfortable during the first 36 weeks, but those last 4 weeks hit a new level of discomfort and fatigue.

Life doesn't stop though, right?  So over the last few weeks we have gone on a vacation with friends to the mountains, had Ellie's shower, I threw my back out (which caused my house to look like a tornado came through), have put together Ellie's "stuff", sold our car, been test driving others, gone on a mini anniversary trip (since Ellie is due two days before our 3rd anniversary), gone to birthday parties, hung out with awesome friends and family, had lots of fun outings, spent time with the youth, gone to support Caleb in a dodgeball tournament, done LOTS of paper work for Caleb's business, etc...etc...etc!  Let's just say Mia and Caleb are probably just as tired as I am right now. :)

It's crazy though that in just a few weeks, we will be a family of FOUR!!!!!!  woot woot!!!!!  I CAN NOT WAIT for Mia and Ellie to meet each other.  I can not WAIT to hold my sweet new baby girl!  I can not WAIT to own a minivan.  Wait.......

Did I really just say that????!!!!!!!!

Yes....yes I did.  I swore up and down that I would NEVER drive a minivan.  I was going to be one of those super cool hip SUV moms.  But guess what?  We need more space!  And I agree with those who call minivans the "sweat pants of the car world".  I mean...you can't get more practical (and comfortable)!  So yes, we will hopefully be the 'proud' owners of a minivan by the end of the week.

In the mean time, I'm still working on cleaning out the garage in hopes to park the van inside, going to OB appointments, playing with my little bundle of JOY, cleaning...cleaning...and cleaning, ORGANIZING, finishing up projects, hanging with friends and family, and hopefully napping every once in a while. :)  I have SO MUCH TO DO!!!! :) :) :)

I love y'all though!  Thanks for reading my blog.  Thanks for loving on my family.  Thanks for writing your own blogs so that I have something to read.  Thanks for simply being in our lives.  We honestly love you all!  (even those of you who we don't see that often)

So have a great day!  And I'll hopefully catch up on posting pics soon!  In the mean time, enjoy this sweet picture...

Cameron (Mia's cousin) has loved her from day 1.  She is so blessed to have the family that she does. :)

It's overwhelming!... (P.S...we have a first name!)

I absolutely, positively, 100% am in love with my sweet family.  As I was journaling last night, I was overwhelmed with a crazy type of love for them!  A type of love that is seriously indescribable.  Know what I mean? :)

So instead of trying to put it into words, I'll leave a picture.  My two LOVES....

Look at her little hand wrapped around his finger.  Ahhh...pure joy. :)

P.S...I think we have a first name for our baby!!!!!!

LUCY!

 I can't wait for her to meet the greatest Daddy and big sister ever! :)

Easter...

Last week Caleb and I were talking about Easter.

Caleb: "It's crazy!  What do people who don't believe in Jesus think Easter is all about?  Why do they celebrate it?  Do they think it is about bunnies and eggs?"

I have been thinking about this ALL week.

My mom got Mia a book called What is Easter?  by Michelle Medlock Adams.  Here is what it says: (make sure you read it all the way to the end!)


The little bunny hops, hops, hops.

Is this what Easter means?
Is it about the Easter eggs
All filled with jellybeans?

Is Easter about hunting eggs?
I do that every year.
Does it mean eating chocolate stuff?
I ate my bunny's ear.

Is it about the baby chicks?
They're fuzzy, and they're fun!
I saw some Easter chicks for sale.
I really wanted one.

Is it about the Easter toys?
They're really fun, I think.
One time a bunny came to me.
His little nose was pink.

Is it about my brand-new dress?
And my new Easter hat?
Does it mean wearing shiny shoes?
I really do love that!

Is it about a big parade
With lots of pretty floats?
Is it about the Easter choir?
They sing the highest notes!

NO! That's not what Easter means.

Easter means much more than that.
It's all about God's son.
See, God sent Jesus down to earth
To die for everyone.

He had to die upon a tree
To save us from our sin.
But he was only dead three days,
And then he rose again.

Now that's what Easter really means!
It's quite a special day.
Jesus our Savior rose again.
Hooray!  Hooray!  Hooray!

Today, he sits right next to God
In Heaven up above.
He wants to live inside you too
And fill you up with love!

Okay, now I get it.
The Easter Bunny is okay,
And Easter eggs are fun.
But Easters' not about that stuff...

It's all about God's son.


I just put Mia's Easter basket together today and filled the eggs with jellybeans.  I have to remember though, that even though she is just 15 months, I need to be intentional on focussing Easter on what it really IS.  :)  The bunnies, eggs, candy, and fun clothes are all great, but THEY do not define Easter.

This children's book was a good reminder for me. :)

Our Identity...

I woke up in the middle of the night and noticed that Caleb wasn't in the bed.  This morning I asked him where he was and he replied, "I just couldn't sleep.  There was a lot on my mind that Father was telling me and I felt like I was just supposed to write."  Reading what he wrote blessed me.  Seriously...Caleb and I have been talking about our identity in Christ the past couple of days, but he put it together so well.  I hope that all of you will be blessed as well.  ENJOY!  (It's kind of long, but sooooo worth it!)

1/5/11

The enemy has lied to us not only about our individual identities, but also about our identity as a race… the human race. Too many Christians are taught and believe that humanity is inherently offensive to God because He is holy and we are wretched sinners… And while it is true that sin and holiness cannot mix, we must remember that it was God who dreamed us up in the first place, and sin was not our beginning. He made us in His image, filled us with His Spirit, and gave us authority over this entire planet. He desired our company. He had beautiful plans for us. He created our minds, our imaginations, our emotions, our skeletons, our muscles- every detail… He gave us the ability to dream, to love, to sing, and to run. We were wonderfully made and we were His dearly beloved… We have always been His dearly beloved.

When Adam and Eve sinned I believe the sin that they were guilty of was unbelief. The enemy came to them and questioned what God had told them. They knew what God said, but instead they believed a lie. Man was no longer a suitable vessel for the Spirit of God to dwell in for man was no longer holy. Man became a slave to sin and a slave to the enemy.

“In the kingdom of darkness we have been under Satan’s sway. Kicked out of Heaven for rebelling against God, Satan fell to earth as a nobody, then pretended to be a somebody by tricking Adam and Eve and usurping their earthly authority. Ever since then he has taught mankind to think of themselves as nobodies, just as he is. After a lifetime (or thousands of years, really) of feeding on negativity and impossibility thinking, most of us have a certain amount of mental damage that the Holy Spirit must heal. We have been slaves for so long that we don’t know how to handle freedom. We apologize for getting ahead. We don’t believe we deserve or are entitled to the best. That may have been true while we were sinners lost and separated from God. As believers, however, we have been restored to our place as God’s children and are entitled to all the blessings and benefits of that station. The retraining of our minds is part of what it means to give ourselves as living sacrifices to God.”

When Jesus was baptized by John, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him and Father spoke audibly saying, “This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased”. Jesus hadn’t done anything yet. Father wasn’t pleased because of how many miracles Jesus had done… He told Him how pleased He was before His ministry even began. Jesus knew who He was, and He knew how His Father felt about Him, and this was the foundation for everything that He did.

Jesus said and did some amazing things while He was here. He taught about the Kingdom of Heaven with wisdom and authority. He healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, walked on water, gave orders to storms and fig trees, and loved the most unlovable, undeserving people He could get His hands on. And He told His disciples that if anyone believes in Him, that they would do the same things He did, and even greater things. He said that NOTHING is impossible for him who believes. He said that if we have even a tiny amount of faith, that we can tell a mountain to jump into the ocean and it will obey us. He told us to ask our Father, His Father, for anything in His name and it will be given to us.

Jesus came to earth, emptied Himself, and then showed us how a man with the Spirit of God dwelling in Him should live. He said that if we want to know what Father is like, we should just look at Him, for He only did what the Father told Him to do and He only said what the Father told Him to say. After all, it was “the Father who loved the world so much, that He gave His only Son…” and it was Father who was revealing Himself to us again through Jesus. Jesus loved to heal the sick because Father loves to heal the sick. Jesus cast out demons because Father wanted to reclaim His beloved creation from the kingdom of darkness. After all, Jesus said the KINGDOM of Heaven is near! Kingdoms do not co-exist in the same territory… if one rises then another must fall. Jesus made it very clear that the Kingdom of Heaven had arrived, and He demonstrated its presence and superiority with power and authority. Then He laid down His life so that humanity could go free—Free from sin, disease, sickness, death, and brokenness—free from the kingdom of darkness. And He rose from the dead to give us NEW Life. Abundant Life! Eternal Life!

“He who knew no sin, became sin, that we might become the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.” We have been made righteous by the innocent blood of Jesus. We who believe have become new creations—dead to sin, but alive in Christ! And not only that, but we are now suitable vessels for the Spirit of God to dwell in again. Almighty God is now OUR Father, which makes us His children, and He loves His children… (That is the way Jesus began His ministry—obedience, Holy Spirit, identity, Father’s love)

We can now be trained by our Counselor, the Spirit of God, how to live again as children of the King—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. The Holy Spirit now lives in us and we are equipped to continue doing the same works that Jesus did—preach the Kingdom, heal the sick, cast out demons, and love the most unlovable and undeserving people we can get our hands on. We have authority over the kingdom of darkness, and where we detect its presence we are to demonstrate the presence of the Kingdom of Heaven. We are to allow the Spirit of God to use us the way Jesus did… to walk in power and in love. We are God’s beloved! Thank You Abba for your Perfect Love! Thank You Jesus for all that you’ve done! Holy Spirit, have Your way!