A Time For Every Season....

Well it is easy to tell which one is Gabe - he has all the fat rolls! I looked back at Drew's baby book. Both boys are on the same developmental schedule - Gabe is currently sitting up and can crawl 1-2 steps before tumbling over. Today he went from a crawl position to a sitting position! Gabe is still teething, I looked at Drew's book and he didn't get his first teeth until 9 months. Ugh, two more months of diaper rashes, diarrhea, fevers, and drooling! Poor Gabe, he does handle it much better than Drew ever did. Gabe loves life! He smiles at anything and loves to move around after Drew. When I get him in the mornings or for naps he is always up on all 4's trying to practice crawling. When he eye's me, I get the biggest smile, almost as big as the one he gives Daddy when he gets home from work. So cute! Gabe is enjoying barley and banana's for breakfast & Dinner, but will eat anything i give him - he doesn't have a favorite. He is only nursing in the mo...

I find it so interesting that as more studies and research are conducted on media, we are being taken back to the basics of life. New research is showing that to " Recapture Joy" , or get rid of depression, we need to get unplugged. Focus on the family interviewed Dr. Archibald Hart explaining how we are addicted too excitement and over-stimulation. The broadcast summary states: On yesterday's broadcast, psychologist Archibald Hart explained how many Americans are addicted to excitement and entertainment, and how over-stimulating the "pleasure center" in our brain can diminish our capacity to experience enjoyment. Today, our guest outlines steps that listeners can take to break the entertainment addiction. Hart offers advice for recovering a healthy balance and gaining lasting contentment in a discussion based on his book Thrilled to Death: How the Endless Pursuit of Pleasure is Leaving Us Numb. "[ Anhedonia ] is the gradual shutting down of the brain's...

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! Henry Ward Beecher 329. Thank you Lord for a child clothed with the virtue of compassion, even if it’s for a feather-bare baby bird… (Col 3:12) 330. A quiet evening with nothing pressing but enjoying a good book 331. The toad who interrupted my obedience lesson with Kitty. 332. A dog who genuinely loves to please, kids that do too! 333. Pool time, feeling adventurous enough to meet two new mommy faces 334. Teaching Drew to share his toys at the pool, he is starting to enjoy the act of giving 335. Gabe’s quiet, relaxed demeanor that just wants a cuddle or smile 336. Quiet Friday enjoying music, laundry, sweet boys, books, and knowing it was pizza night so I didn’t need to cook! 337. While cleaning up tonight, the laugh and smile of Drew’s headless Lego driving in convertible along couch – I love little ...

I went in yesterday for an annual checkup. The doctor noticed that I was due for a tetanus shot. When she asked if I wanted it today, I said "Sure!" I don't know what I was thinking! The last tetanus shot made me feel tired and sick with the flue, not to mention not being able to lift my left arm. So, here I am 24 hours later begging my husband to come home from work and take over. I have the chills and every muscle in my body is terrible sore, my mother is in Oregon for 2 weeks, and I can't even lift my baby. I guess I wasn't thinking! Today Gabe is officially 7 months old. So, to celebrate he was given his first french fry . He enjoyed gumming it and had the most accomplished look on his face once he was done. At last weigh-in Gabe weighed 19 pounds and has more fat rolls that I can count. He is trying hard to crawl and keep up with his brother. Gabe's been teething for 3 months now and hasn't a tooth to show for it. He had the runs , a fever , and w...

It's been 1+ week since our marriage conference. The novelty and bliss we experience after these conferences is set to expire any day now. The emotional highs are great, but its how we respond afterwords that cement's the marriage in passionate change. One statement from the conference that I've been mulling over is "What if God designed marriage to make me holy, not happy." Holiness certainly isn't what I was thinking about on my wedding day. But, in reality, that is the purpose of marriage. Marriages are tough, so is raising children. Both marriage and children were created by God to be stable, permanent , and push us towards holiness. If life is all about us, then there isn't any room for God. When we have strain in our lives it pushes us to depend on God. Thank you Lord for my family, in every aspect of my life they've changed me to become more like you.....

We Love You Daddy! Happy Fathers Day 2008 Here are a few things that Drew loves about his daddy: Daddy plays Lego's with me He works at Home Depot and brings home hammers to fix the TV He has lots of fun tools, Drew's favorite tool is Daddy's little piece of wood Daddy works hard Daddy reads me books and tickles me I love it when Daddy throws pillows at my head, but only when I don't get hurt Daddy wears pink shirts Daddy swings me high! Daddy makes all things for God's glory (slight paraphrase, Drew actually said Daddy makes all things for his glory, he meant a capital H right?) When I asked Gabe he just drooled!

Tonight as I was doing laundry I had to laugh at the things boys put in their pockets, I found the following in just 1 load: Two nuts - missing bolts A plastic rocket (have I mentioned Drew's into rockets?) The dog who sits in the rocket Two plastic some-thing-or-others A button A piece of garbage Like father, like son! Drew is growing into the shoes of his Daddy. They: walk alike (scary!), sleep alike, have very similar mannerisms, dress alike, both feet smell alike by the end of the day, both love playing in the garage, both extroverts, both find it fun to converse with perfect strangers, and finally - everyone in our neighborhood know both their names and hasn't a clue who I am! Drew is so fortunate to have a generous and godly model to call his "Daddy."

301. Icky diapers, for it means my little one is well nourished 302. Church picnic where I met new faces and saw old friends 303. The change God can make in a marriage and in a heart – we saw friends who were in our Bible study 3 years ago, they were getting a divorce and then God changed their lives! John and I commented that they look so much different than the day we met them 3 years ago. We almost didn’t do the study because Drew was born on the day it began. I’m so glad we did! 304. Watching Kitty swim at the BBQ and all the children laughing in amazement to see a dog swimming with the ducks 305. Sharing an office with my husband, I enjoy being able to talk to him while I catch up on all my filing 306. Establishing family traditions – annual and daily 307. Awesome worship music to help energize my day 308. Gabe’s contagious giggles when Daddy tickles him 309. Drew’s gleeful smile while playing with flubber 310. Watching in wonder as our caterpillars emerged from their chrysalis 31...

John and I just had our annual "Weekend To Remember" marriage conference at the Gaylord. It was an invigorating time with a lot of lessons re-learned. God definitely prepared my heart by using a 30 day encouragement challenge before the conference. I didn't learn any new epiphanies, just gentle reminders of truths I already knew but need to apply! It was so much fun to relax, refresh, and remember God's plan for marriage and family. Here are a few lessons I learned during the 30 day challenge, and had reaffirmed at the Family Life Marriage Conference: Words are Powerful – they can speak life and death into my husband! Only use words to build up, never to tear down. When confronting problems, always speak the truth in love. The Bible even says that I will stand before God and be accountable for every word that comes out of my mouth - ouch! (James 3:5-12, Matthew 12:36) 5:1 Ratio – to maintain healthy communication, give 5 positive experiences (words, appreciation, touc...

As I was sitting and plotting out this coming weeks schedule, I took a break and checked on a blog reader from Mauritania who had posted a video link about the countries food crisis. It really took me aback. My world is so small, I grumble about gas and food prices rising, but have no right to complain about my small, insignificant sacrifices. I often throw food away and a stop at McDonald's, though a treat, never breaks the budget (dollar menu's rock!). The video pushed me to consume less, give more, pray harder, and praise God that when I tuck my little ones into bed tonight I have confidence that all their basic needs are met and full tummies will allow them to peacefully dream for 12 slumbersome hours. I'm not sure how I could function each day knowing the basic needs of my children couldn't be met; watching them suffer, how would I endure? This definitely gives more merit to our fasting months (February & August) and challenges me to instill a lifestyle of ser...

Our summer break will hopefully be filled with growth and reading! I'm trying to start engaging Drew in Pre -school like learning this summer. I'm trying to find out if "homeschooling" is something I am cut out for. The good thing about living in Texas is that Kindergarten isn't mandatory, so I can spend the next 2 years teaching him the basics and if I (or Drew) end up hating it, he can enter 1st grade and won't be behind. So far I love it! I love seeing his eager desire to engage the world and learn new thing. our Butterfly and Metamorphasis unit was so fun! John has been helping me learn how to "teach" Drew since my "sit down and listen" ideas always end in frustration. John enlightened me to a new way of learning; Drew learns best by "doing" or participating in play, Its weird for me to think that play is leaning, but the proof is in the child - as well as many studies I've been reading lately. Drew has learned so many new...