Million Dollar Smile

This is the smile I get all day from my precious girl but I hardly ever get it on camera. I was so excited to finally capture it. This is classic Abigail. Oh how I adore her.

4 Months Old

My chunky monkey is 4 months old today! I absolutely LOVE this age. I remember when EK was 4 months old and saying to myself..."this is why people have more than one kid!" I am not a huge fan of the newborn stage, but this I love. Abigail is an absolute joy. She has such a laid back temperament and is so sweet most of the time! I am also happy to report that she now sleeps 12-13 hours straight at night and still takes pretty good naps. She is growing like a weed too. I don't know how big she is but Abs is wearing a lot of 6 month clothes already.

Well, the little beauty has just woken up and is calling for me (read: crying) so I better sign off!

Trusting God

I feel like over the years, God has taught me more about how to trust him even when things don't make sense. My only hope lies in knowing that He has ordained all the paths before me and even when I don't like them, they are for my good. HOWEVER, trusting the Lord is still hard. I still struggle with anxiety, frustration, anger, and more when things don't go my way. I am learning more and more to be sensitive to His spirit and give over my overactive mind to him minute by minute. It's crazy how easy and quick I can let my mind be overtaken with anxious thoughts or fearful thoughts about the future. I just feel like more and more I see hurt and the effects of a fallen world all around me. I read about babies with diseases and unborn babies dying. I hear about husbands dying and marriages failing. I think about what if any of that happened to us....how would I handle it. My heart literally hurts when I let myself go there.

This book (that I have talked about on here before) has been such a wonderful devotional and it has truly led me in to God's presence in a new and fresh way that I have so needed.

Here are some excerpts that I have read over the past few days that really spoke to me.

"Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem free life. Part of you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties. That is a false hope! Link your hope not to problem solving in this life but to the promise of an eternity of problem-free life in heaven. Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world, pour your energy into seeking ME: the Perfect One."

"I am leading you step by step, through your life. Hold MY HAND in trusting dependence, letting ME guide you through this day. Secret things belong to the Lord. When you try to figure out the future, you are grasping at things that are MINE. This, like all forms of worry, is an act of rebellion: doubting My promises to care for you. Relax and enjoy the journey in MY PRESENCE, trusting ME to open up the way before you as you go."

Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the Lord our God but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

and what are the things that He has revealed to us in His word...

Deuteronomy 31:8
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

We found out this week that Jeff's grandmother, Nonnie, has a form of Leukemia. It is in the very early stages and may not even require any treatment yet. However, it is still a reminder that there is so much uncertainty in our world. Also, Jeff has been having a lot of pain in his stomach area and has had x-rays and a CAT scan that revealed something is going on. He is seeing a GI doctor in a few weeks. Hopefully it's nothing life threatening but it could be something like serious food allergies or celiacs disease. We are just trusting God is in control of both circumstances and that He is directing our paths in steadfast love and faithfulness!

New Look!

I'm like a child at Christmas now that I have figured out how to change the layout, background, and header for my blog!!!

How do you like it? Don't be surprised if I change it up some though!

I still have some more work to do, but nap time is over and we are going on a walk to enjoy this beautiful day!!!

How I Get Dinner Cooked

Get Samuel to play a computer game on PBSkids.org
Give Ellie Kate a snack and put Super Why on
Stick Abigail in the bumbo and hope she is entertained by sister, brother, or the TV!

Big Bows

One of my favorite things about having a girl is I get to dress them up! I am very biased, but being a southern girl is even better because they get to wear smocked dresses to play in and of course there are the bows! I love my blonde girls in big bows! You can't be a true southern little girl without a big bow in your hair! So, even though I am blessed with girls who were born with a lot of hair, I wanted to try out one of those headband thingies for Abigail. Her hair is pretty fine and the bows don't stay in too good yet. I found the headband and can now have both girls in big bows! Isn't she cute?

Snow Day in Alabama!

It's the first day of March and we got about 2-3 inches of snow here today! The kids were so excited and loved playing outside in it!

Ellie Kate looking outside at the snow for the first time

Samuel making a snow angel

Our home

A great snowman across the street