It's Time!

Today, we say goodbye to diapers...

And hello to these!!!! 

Wish me luck!!!! Abigail has been ready...I have just been too lazy to do it.  I guess that's what happens to the 3rd child! Ha!  If you want to know the truth, I still don't really want to do it, but it's time.  So, hopefully it's going to go well! I'm sure I'll keep you updated.

Ultimate Gratitude

All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen. 
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The foremost quality of a trusting disciple is gratefulness.  
Brennan Manning

Trust is the bridge from yesterday to tomorrow...built with planks of thanks... I can walk the planks - from known to unknown - and know He holds.  
Ann Voskamp

This week...we remember.  We celebrate something many days I can't even wrap my mind around...but I trust it with all my heart and I feel ultimate gratitude for...DEATH.  SUFFERING. CROSS.  NAILS.  BLOOD SHED.  JUSTICE.  GRACE.  VICTORY.  RESURRECTION.   It's what gives meaning to everything else in my life.  It's what gives me hope when I don't feel like going on.  It's what gives me hope when I'm discouraged with this life of mine.

It's ultimately what helps me to continue counting along with Ann...

65.  playground fun
66.  children obeying
67.  yellow daffodils open and bursting color
68. God's provision
69.  free babysitting
70. belly laughter bubbling up in my children
71. wearing jeans I haven't been able to fit into in over 7 years (yes I kept them just for this reason) - the infertility weight is almost gone!
72. compliments and encouragement
73. a successful garage sale
74. a friends compassion
75.  rocking my baby
76. hearing gospel truth sung by tiny voices
77. answering questions from Samuel about Jesus
78. knowing God has my tomorrows and I don't have to worry about them!
79. the gift of marriage
80. time alone with my middle child
81. beauty and awe of God's majesty in His creation
82. time to curl up with a good book
83. spontaneous hug from oldest with words thankful

Glorious Day...

"One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed...

 

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected

Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day"

-Casting Crowns "Glorious Day"

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Matthew 21:9

Peanuts, Flower, Cute shirts, and Tornadoes

Let's talk about Boiled peanuts...

I posted a picture of the boiled peanut stand in my last post (from Samuel's baseball game).  Oh, the yumminess!  Those boiled peanuts were SO GOOD.  It didn't occur to me that some of you might not know what a boiled peanut is.  OH MY...you are missing out!  Boiled Peanuts are sold on the side of the road, at gas stations, baseball games, state fairs, etc.  Whenever my family would drive to the beach for vacation or go to the north Georgia mountains we always had to stop and get some boiled peanuts!

So here's what you need to know (from Wikipedia of course)....
Boiled Peanuts are popular in some places where peanuts are common. Fully mature peanuts do not make good quality boiled peanuts; rather raw or "green" ones are used. "Raw" denotes peanuts in a semi-mature state, having achieved full size, but not being fully dried, as would be needed for roasting or peanut butter use. After boiling they take on a strong salty taste and become softer with the length of cooking, somewhat resembling a pea or bean, to which they are related.  Boiling peanuts has been a folk cultural practice in the south of the US since the 19th century, where they were originally called goober peas. In late August, when the peanut crops would come in, unsold and surplus peanuts would be prepared in a boiling, and extended families and neighbors would gather to share conversation and food. Like a fish fry, peanut boils have been organizing principles for social gatherings. Like okra, black-eyed peas, collard greens and pork barbecue, boiled peanuts are symbols of southern culture and cuisine.

SO, there you go...a little culture and histroy lesson right here on Moments With My Miracles:)! 

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We have this one lonely peony that has bloomed at our mailbox.  It is truly beautiful!

This next picture is mainly to show you the ADORABLE shirts made by my friend Jennie.  I did a blog for her business in exchange for the shirts:)!  I love when I can do stuff like that.  Check out her blog to see the cute monogramming she does at www.stitchybritchesshop.blogspot.com.

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In the last few weeks, we have had 3 tornado warnings which means we have spent a lot of time like this...

The warnings yesterday actually resulted in some tornado touchdowns in Tuscaloosa.  They weren't near us thank goodness and we had no damage.  We have 20-30 big pine trees in our yard.  It's times like these that I really wish it wasn't so expensive to cut down those trees!  And clearly, I need to clean out our hall closet.  The problem is that I really do clean it out every few months, but it's just too easy to throw things in there and it gets messy so quick.

Take Me Out to The Ballgame...

Samuel had his first baseball game this past weekend.  This is his first year playing so we are excited to see what the season holds!  Samuel doesn't really LOVE sports but he has been willing to try them which is good I guess.  He looked so darn cute in his little uniform...

game face:)

waving to his fans:)

yummy!!!!!

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I want to thank all of you for your comments and emails about my last post.  I truly do appreciate each and every one of them and they have really helped us a lot as we continue to dialogue over school for Samuel next year!!!  We take each year before the Lord and know that whatever decision is made now is not necessarily permanent.  Whether or not we homeschool this year, I am pretty sure I will do it at some point! I will definitely keep you updated on what we decide! And if you still have advice or comments, don't be shy!

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Have you heard of Faith Blogs?  I had not either until recently.  I am very honored to have had my little ole blog added to their little community!  I love to read other blogs and learn from other women who are walking this journey of life following our Lord.  Check out the site if you get a chance!

Wrestling

Do you ever wrestle with decision making? 

I definitely do!   I think I become even more indecisive the older I get.  I think it's because so many of my decisions (and ours as a family) affect so many more people than just myself anymore. 

One BIG decision we face every year is the whole school decision.  I have never struggled with it like I have before this year though. 

Basically, I am wrestling with the idea of homeschooling Samuel for many different reasons...attitude issues, behavior issues, attention issues, & homework issues being the main ones.  It's been something on my mind for awhile now and I feel like maybe I am supposed to do it (either now and probably at some point in the future), however it just hasn't been clear.  Sometimes, I just really wish God would write out his will for me (and my children) on a billboard so it would be easy!  But since that is not the case (as of yet:)), Jeff and I are truly praying and discussing a lot what we should do about school for Samuel next year. 

I have this IDEA in my head that looks really good and perfect (which is unrealistic of course) in my mind of just keeping all 3 kids at home with me and homeschooling Samuel and even working with the girls some.  Part of me really wants to do that and thinks it would be great for all of us.  The other part of me says, "who are you kidding?!?!"  I'm not sure I am made out to be a homeschooling mom.  And doesn't my make-up and giftings and well being matter in the decision?  I'm not sure about that.  I have realized I am not as organized as I thought and I'm also not very intentional in planning and thinking ahead (so lesson planning overwhelms me) and well to be honest...I changed my major in college from elementary education for a reason! Ha!  Then there is the idea, that I could send the girls to preschool and just keep Samuel home with me to do 2nd grade.  But that sort of makes me sad because then I feel like I would be missing so much of the girls and their time before they go to kindergarten.  

Jeff thinks he should go to 2nd grade so we can see how he does academically (as well as behaviorally) and if he falls behind, we might finally be able to get some testing and services done for him.  I just don't know what the best thing is. 

I struggle with guilt all the time in regards to Samuel.  I want to do what's best for him so thankfully I know that the Lord is in control and His will for Samuel's life will ultimately reign no matter what decision is made. 

Thoughts?  Advice?  Encouragement?  Prayers?  I'll take any of it!!!

Thanks for reading and listening to my ramblings:). 

Dentist, Sand, Field Trip & New Look

All THREE children went to the dentist yesterday.  It was an adventure!  Thankfully, my parents had just rolled into town so my mom went along with me and I was able to use her iphone for pics...which has me really wanting one so that when I don't have my big camera I can use the phone camera in places like this!  Ellie Kate and Samuel did so good during their cleanings but Abigail was very skeptical since this was her first time.  EK got the lecture about having to stop sucking her thumb (yeah, right!) and she just stared at the dentist (who happens to be our friend from church and one of her little friends daddy) like he was crazy.  Samuel had a loose tooth with a permanent one coming in behind it so the dentist pulled it without him even realizing it!! He was a little shocked about that!

Since my parents are in town, that always means we have a project to do!  This time, my dad went and got a truck load of sand for our sandboxes (we were totally down to a few grains) and the kids had a blast playing in the sand in the truck for awhile before they "helped" unload it.   Again, this picture was taken with my mom's iphone.

Today, I was able to go with Samuel's class on a field trip to the McWane science center in Birmingham.  I won't lie, it was a little crazy.  I have a new found respect for his teacher and all that she has to handle day to day with lots of wild and busy kids (the boys especially).  I am already brainstorming a really nice teacher gift to give her at the end of the year.  She has just been so amazing  and Samuel has truly flourished under her!

Lastly, as I'm sure you can see, I have a new blog design!!!  This time, I decided to go with very simple, clean, and easy to navigate (hopefully).   I added a few new tabs over to the side with some of my most memorable/popular/viewed posts and categories.  After sweet Jeff saw the new design, he casually asked "Where am I?"  since the header included pics of me and the kids.  I really wanted a family picture in the place where the picture of me is, but we just don't have a good recent vertical picture of us.  However, since this is mostly my blog (I mean, he has never written anything on here), I told him it was okay that he wasn't in the header...but he is over in the sidebar and he's also written about in the "my family" page as well as countless other posts throughout this blog!  You know I love you, honey!

Tomorrow is the beginning of baseball season for our little leaguer, Samuel, so I'm sure I'll have pictures of that to post some point soon!