More Counting

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
  Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.  
Psalm 119:14

God's word is alive and active and I find my soul longing for the quiet moments alone with them and with Him.  This has not been true for a long time. 


The moments that fill my days are being savored...enjoyed...lived fully...these moments are not always easy or fun...but I'm learning to thank and to experience this life to the fullest.  My eyes are drawn to the beauty and wonder that is all around me.  My heart is more alive than it's been in awhile. 

Continuing to count the blessings...big and small...

41. bedtime songs and snuggles
42. my Fathers Love
43. a child's laughter
44. warmer weather and afternoons spent outside
45. sharpie pens:)
46. satisfaction of completed projects
47. a new laundry approach
48. pounds lost
49. hands reached up to me in longing
50. my name on their lips
51. another perfect spelling test!
52. red tulips
53. a husband serving
54. no more throw up
55. a warming trend with a glimpse of the coming spring
56. a cool morning run
57. a sweet friend's encouragement speaking my love language through written words
58.  princess party success!
59.  moments enjoyed, time slowing
60. God words breathed by the Spirit, delivered by my husband to our church
61. girls night out!!!!
62.  worshiping in community
63. acting on the spirit's leading
64. blooming trees everywhere

Special Day

On Ellie Kate's birthday, I kept her home from school and we had a special morning together just the 2 of us (Abigail was at school).

First, she came with me to the gym and played in the kid room.

Then we went next door to the kids shoe store where she had been eyeing an umbrella.  Ellie Kate has developed a little obsession with umbrellas so she really really wanted to use some of her birthday money to buy one.  We were in the store for quite awhile because she was checking out each and every umbrella they had.  I almost had her talked into a lady bug one that was half off, but to no avail! She decided on a ballerina one of course.

She didn't want me to take a picture at first...

 but thankfully, she came around!

Next on the agenda was to go to the new cupcake store in town.  We were both very excited about that! There have been long lines every time I've driven by Gigi's but Wednesday morning at 10:45 must be a good time to go because we walked right in!  Let me just say, it was so YUMMY and I had so much fun watching Ellie Kate enjoy hers along with a sprite in the bottle:).

this one was mine 

(and I only allowed myself to eat half which was still more than I should have eaten but since it was a special day I indulged:)).

this is what was left of Ellie Kate's (she ate a lot of it)! 

That night, we went to dinner as a family to her choice which was of course Chick-fil-a!!!  It was a fun day with our girl and she is so excited to be 4!!

One funny quote she said the other day that I don't want to forget...

I told her to wait on something she needed help with and she didn't like that so then I said, 

"I will help you with it later, Ellie Kate.  Please be patient."

to which she strongly replied...

"I DON'T LIKE LATER! LATER IS STINKY!"

Show Us Your Life - What do You Make?

Welcome to all the visitors from Kelly's Korner blog and her weekly series Show Us Your Life! This week is to share what you make.  

About 2 years ago, I went out on a limb at the suggestion of a friend and started a little blog design business (after doing a few for friends and always playing with my own).  That same year, around the holidays, I decided to design some Christmas Cards and thus Uniquely Yours by Rachel was born.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 2 years of making custom blog designs, invitations, cards, cupcake toppers, and more.  It is truly so much fun for me to do it!  I really try to keep my costs low and do not make that much money, but it's okay because it's really just a joy to do it and keeps me sane some days just being able to accomplish something besides laundry, cleaning, and feeding children:)! 

Here are a few recent birthday invites I've done...

 

And here is a recent blog I did...

I am having a sale right now on blog makeovers...so head on over and check it out!

Uniquely Yours By Rachel 

If you are local to Tuscaloosa, AL...I also do some photography.   You can email me from the Uniquely Yours site if you're interested in that! 

Happy 4th Birthday to Ellie Kate!

She is my second child, first born, but smack dab in the middle of a brother and sister.  I'd like for the birth order guy to get a hold of her! 

 

She is a spirited little princess with a will stronger than a piece of iron.

She's got fire and determination with lots of sass.

She is funny and full of spunk and a love for life that is contagious.

She's got dimples that will melt your heart and a chipmunk voice that rings like music when she talks.

I sometimes like to think this little nursery rhyme was written about my EK...

"When she is good, she is very, very good, and when she is bad she is horrid."

We knew about her from the moment of conception and saw as her embryonic form was inserted into my uterus through the miracle of modern medicine (in vitro fertilization).  

The journey to Elizabeth Kate was filled with a lot of pain but oh the joy that filled my heart when she was finally placed into my arms at 6:49 pm on February 23, 2007 in Athens, Georgia.   

Her daddy and I love her more than words can express and are so very thankful she was given to us.   

Many many many days over the last 4 years have been full of battles and tears.  But many many more have been full of laughter and joy. 

My precious daughter....oh how I pray that the Lord would use you for great things.  I pray you would follow hard after Him and that He would use the fire and love of life you possess for so much good.  I pray and hope that the strong will you have would be used for His purposes.

Happy 4th Birthday to Elizabeth Kate!!! 

A Party Fit for A Princess!

Around the time I began planning Samuel's bday party last fall, Ellie Kate decided she wanted a princess party for her 4th birthday!  I said "of course!" and started brainstorming in my head what I would do.  I decided to go with blues and pinks and have a mild Cinderella theme since that is Ellie Kate's favorite princess.  I think I may have been more excited than EK about this party.  I guess deep down, we all long to be princesses:).  Anyway, we had the party yesterday (EK turns 4 this Wed though) and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!  Since our weather has been A.M.A.Z.I.N.G this week in Alabama, I decided to move the party to our backyard and it was absolutely perfect (low 70s)!

The invitation I did

Jeff and I with the princess...

beautiful girl!
{thanks to Nana and Woody for her new Cinderella dress}

Fun decorations!!! 

I did some of the cupcake toppers and bought the little castle toppers from Hobby Lobby.

The cupcake wrappers came from Etsy.com

birthday banner from Old Navy (of all places)

pom poms and circle garland made by me (the pom poms are recycled from past parties)

balloons from Celebration Express

The party tables...

princess crown cookies, pink lemonade, pretzel wands, and cupcakes which were ALL GONE by the end of the party!

Paper straws from etsy.com were adorable and of course all little kids love to drink out of straws!

 

 The favor table

with a cinderella pinata, princess wands as well as jewels for the princesses to adorn themselves with

Face Painting

by Aunt Erin:)

All the beautiful princesses...

 

About 20 minutes into the party, a surprise guest came for a visit!!!

To say Ellie Kate was excited would be an understatement.  She was absolutely enchanted with the beautiful Cinderella!  Most of the other little girls were too except there were a few who were a bit scared or overwhelmed (Abigail was one of those for sure). 

she taught the princess pose...

 

and sat for lots of pictures with little girls...

 

she brought a gift from the castle for the birthday girl...

She taught all the little princesses how to wave, twirl, and do a curtsy...and reminded them above all to be kind and considerate to others

Cinderella sat with Ellie Kate while she opened her presents and also left a little gift on the birthday girl's cheek before she said goodbye:)

one last picture with the princesses who wanted to pose...

After Cinderella it was time for cupcakes and singing "Happy Birthday!"

Samuel and Uncle Buddy got a little tired of all the pink girly princessy goings on and drove over to Dollar General to bring a little testosterone to the party:) - Samuel brought home hand cuffs and guns! Ha!

We finished up the fun with the Cinderella pinata! 

We had all our family in town for the first time at a birthday party!  That was such a treat!

Ellie Kate ended the day as a ballerina 
{after she opened this outfit from DeDe and Big Papa!} 

We had so much fun celebrating our little princess/ballerina!  I think and hope this will be a party she and her friends remember for a long time!!!! I know I will remember the joy and awe that was on her face pretty much all day for a long time.   It was just such a joy for me to plan and throw this exciting party for my precious little girl!