A busy month behind us

What's that they say about March: In like a LION, out like a LAMB. Well, March came and went with what seemed like the blink of an eye. We have been busy with birthdays, wedding, consignment sales, baby showers, and the day-to-day chores and homeschooling. I look back and think about how blessed we are that we are still a healthy family and still enjoying the life God gives us every day. We have spent so much time outside lately and I must say it's been years since I've enjoyed God's creation this much and having had time to actually sit outside and play, read, look at the birds, flowers, etc. What a blessing it is to be at home with my children! These are the moments I was missing as a mom who worked outside the home; these are the days I was jealous of other SAHM. It is truly a joy to wake up with them every morning and sit at our table and eat 3 meals a day with them. Hearing Emma Grace and Madeline sing "Holy, Holy, Holy" on the swing set today was such a blessing to my heart! I cheer inside when I hear the lady at the drugstore ask Emma Grace if the Easter Bunny is coming to see her tomorrow. No way!!!! The Lord is coming out of the tomb! That's why we're celebrating tomorrow!! Joy, Joy! Oh the bliss of the this glorious day!!

Well, we have been eating outside on the patio the last 2 nights; Jase is now IN HIS ELEMENT. This boy LOVES the outdoors. He adores it. Cannot wait to get outside. Everything about it is him all over. I just love that there are differences between girls and boys. Did I mention I'm selling all of my baby stuff in the next year or so? We're (scratch that--I'M) so happy to have a family that sleeps through the night and we will soon be starting the potty training for our soon to be 2 year old! I cannot imagine starting baby days all over again. I have not, however, given up the thought that we might provide a loving family for some child in our world or country.

This past month has held some surprising things. And some things that I could have penned about years ago they are so routine. Some have been painful. Some have been hilarious. Some are just plain stupid. But all are held in His hand. All were written before time. I rest in that thought...complete peace. No need to worry how the bills will get paid, how a friend will get through this tough time in her marriage, how a friend will overcome the cancer in her body, how I will have more intimate time with my husband. I can lay it all at His feet, the One who rose victorious from the grave!! Friends, tomorrow is Easter, and tomorrow is just any other day if you're a Christian. Because God gives us that same victory each and every day to overcome the sin that so easily entangles us. Thank You, Father.

Spring is on it's way...

Snow one week....70 degrees the next week. Today was a picture perfect day! We just had to head outside!

This is our adventure outside (really just outback behind the house)...

Redecorating the House & My Computer

This would be the way our son redecorates his bedroom door and his sister's bedroom door!

Guess he's learning a lot during home schooling since he decided to use a red colored pencil to mark all OVER the doors while I was doing read alouds with Emma Grace. UUGHHH!

Guess I should be happy he didn't decide to do the walls, right?! The doors have shiny paint (whatever you call it, semigloss?) and should be able to be sprayed and wiped down. I'll keep you posted.

He's certainly branching out and feeling his oates!!!

This was on Friday.

But this is the kicker!!!!

On Tuesday he had pushed the on/off button on my computer ONE too many times. And therefore, the power button went dead, nothing, STUCK.

Thankfully Jason took it to work on Wednesday and his super duper I.T. guru worked his magic and it was fixed just like that.....wa-la! He even added a few more things that I needed on it and I am F.O.R.E.V.E.R. thankful!!!

"Sunday Snapshot" of a Sweetie

I have been wanting to have a reason to take some pics, and I'm sure there have been LOTS of photo opportunities these last few weeks. But the camera hasn't been "right there" where I could grab it and I haven't made the effort to go get it out of the camera bag! So, I will leave you with one photo from January of my sweet 5 year old girl in what will be her "flower girl" dress in Uncle Bubba's wedding in San Antonio in March! We're still deciding about the shoes, style of hair, etc. and the infamous "pearls" she's been dying to wear aren't in this try-on picture, but AIN'T she PURTY??!

Here's a preview of what's to come and my "Sunday Snapshot":

He is With You---By Mandisa

Had to add Karen's song of the month that has really touched me in the month of January! Mandisa rocks! If this song doesn't just make you cry, shout out to the Lord, and bend the knee, then something must be wrong with you. Seriously. I know people who say they don't listen to our local Christian music station because it's too "rap" and they can't hear the lyrics. No excuse this time! It's very EASY to hear what scripture she is singing, so turn up the volume and worship the King for His awesomeness (song is FIRST on my playlist)! She talks about the changes in our lives, but He is WITH US ALWAYS! What a wonderful song.

There's a time to live
And a time to die
There's a time to laugh
And a time to cry

There's a time for war
And a time for peace
There's a hand to hold
In the worst of things
In the worst of things

He is with you when your faith is dead
And you can't even get out of bed
Or your husband doesn't kiss you anymore
He is with you when your baby's gone
And your house is still
And your hearts are stone
Crying "God what'd you do that for?"
He is with you

There's a time for yes
And a time for no
There's a time to be angry
And a time to let it go
There's a time to run
And a time to face it
There's love to seek
In all of this
Through all of this

He is with you in the conference room
When the world is coming down on you
And your wife and kids don't know you anymore
And He is with you in the ICU when the doctors don't know what to do
And it scares you to the core
He is with you

We may weep for a time but joy will come in the morning
The morning light

He is with you when your kids are grown
When there's too much space and you feel alone
And your worried if you got it right or wrong
Yes He is with you when you've given up on ever finding your true love
Someone who feels like home
He is with you

When nothing else is left and you take your final breath
He is with you

He is with you

Wondering How the Clean Heart is Going?

I guess I have been really trying to give school my best attention and make sure we have some time for playing each and every day. Our son has decided it is best for him to take a 1 hour and 15 minute nap each day! Well, that's not exactly what your mother had in mind, son, but I guess I should be thankful he goes down without a fight and wakes up each morning and after naptime with such a pleasant disposition.

I wanted to fill you in about my "clean heart" resolution I made about a month ago. How have I been doing? Well, I have been getting up before the kids do to shower and have my quiet time with the Lord. It's been good, although it can always be better. :) I struggle with doing Bible reading/studying and praying for all the things and people on my prayer list all within the 15-30 min. time period I generally get after showertime and before Jase wakes up each morning. BUT, be not afraid, I have also been giving myself time to rest before the Lord during Jase's naptime. I even found myself on the couch snuggling with Emma Grace twice this week!!! Amazing things happen when I break myself away from the computer and don't allow myself to get wrapped up in bids on Ebay and "stalking" others on FB! All things have to be regulated, and this is just one area we must get under wraps before we spend hours, days, and months not knowing where the time has gone.

I will also tell you I have had one particular area of sin (gossiping about a particular person) that I have been trying to allow the Lord to shut my mouth and not criticize them publically. I see things in their life that I just cringe and want to blurt, but I am really trying hard to focus on my Savior and not allow my pride and judgement of them to come to the surface. God will have to do a work of wonder and miracle in my heart for these thoughts (some are truly founded and Biblical) to leave my head and heart. It's an ever present thought process (I won't go into the details of why) but I have to trust the Lord to do any changing in this person. My judgement isn't near as harsh as His, and I must rest in the fact that He blesses those who obey Him and disciplines those who don't. That alone must satisfy my spirit. I must become a person who wants to only obey and not compare myself to them. They are not the ruler or measuring stick for my life.

Today is just a beautiful day and we are ready as soon as Jase wakes up to head outside and ride bikes. Jase got a toddler riding seat for the back of my bike and I have been trying in stages to get it attached to my bike so we can ride him around. So nice to be able to be home with the kids and get to read stories, cut out things we make, bake cookies, ride bikes, and have dinner ready when my hard working hubby comes home! Truly a blessing to our family!

First Post for a New Year---and Cleaning OUT!

Yes, it's another year---in fact it's 10 years from when we were all freaking out about Y2K possibilities. I must admit I had not stocked up one thing or prepared in one single way. I was simply trusting God and really wondering if Jason would ever propose to me after 5 years of dating!! So 2000 was the year of adventure and here we are 10 years later happily married with 2 wonderful blessings added to our family! I've changed jobs 4 times in 10 years and now I'm home with my babies---hardest job out of the 4!! No kidding!! But by far the most rewarding!!

I have been cleaning out this week---replacing old rubbermaid containers that I am proud to say we use QUITE frequently (thanks to my hubby for loving to eat leftovers!), trashing old dishtowels and dishcloths we've had for 10 years and got as wedding presents and replacing now with newer fluffy ones that don't have stains, dusting baseboards, washing curtains, and just generally getting a new attitude on life. I just love the turn of a new year---a new calendar--a fresh start. I really think this new attitude not only comes from having a clean house, but lately I have been made aware of my need to be cleaned from the sins that so easily entangle me. I was reading a friend Shay's blog the other day and she was describing the same thing. Go to www.versesfortheking.blogspot.com and read her post. You will definitely be blessed by the way she reveals her heart and nails those things that I know I struggle with to the cross...those things we might as well all name them by name...no other word but SIN. I pray that my God will help me remember that it's not about ME this year...that it's all about His Glory and that He wants to cleanse me from the inside out (no matter what my HOUSE may look like!).