If you watch the news, then you may have heard we had a major storm (f4 or f5 tornado) come through Tuscaloosa today. It was scary and the devestation is unbelievable. I was moved to tears when the first pictures started popping up on facebook. Thankfully, our house and area of town are perfectly fine...but less than 2 miles down the street it's literally like a bomb was dropped. It's an area of town I frequent almost daily. The CVS, Krispy Kreme, Big Lots, Milos, Hobby Lobby, Taco Casa, gas stations, and more are rubble. Homes are destroyed and lives have been lost. Cell service is really bad right now, but I wanted to let everyone know who checks in here that we are okay. Many of our friends, however, are not. They have lost homes and cars. Our friends and co-workers have lost nearly everything and will be staying with us tonight (and for however long they need to).
Please pray for our city. Tuscaloosa will not be the same for a long time. Thankfully, we take comfort that God is still on His throne and He is Sovereign.
Here is a video of where 15th Street meets McFarland...the heart of Tuscaloosa really.
4.27.2011
The Girls Room
Ellie Kate and Abigail's room is a work in progress. It will work for now and I'm happy that they are doing so well with sharing. It's so sweet to hear them talk at night and it's so much easier now that they are together!
I envision this room to evolve a bit as I save some money and buy them new beds and hopefully paint the dreadful walls (color is bad and there are lots of holes). I really want white iron beds or my sweet aunt has offered to let me borrow some cute little platform type beds that she is not using (we just have to figure out a way to get them here cheaply). Anyway, for now it's fine and the girls love it which is all that really matters. That said, I HATE BUNK BEDS but we are just working with what we had already. They are a big pain to change the sheets when needed (which is sometimes several nights in a row if one of the girls has an accident) and the color is not what I would choose for a girls room. Their bedding is so cute (it's Pottery Barn stuff that I bought on sale and used some of their Christmas money for) and you just can't see it real well in this current set up. However, the bunk beds are fun for them now and it enables them to go to sleep easier at night since they can't see each other.
I envision this room to evolve a bit as I save some money and buy them new beds and hopefully paint the dreadful walls (color is bad and there are lots of holes). I really want white iron beds or my sweet aunt has offered to let me borrow some cute little platform type beds that she is not using (we just have to figure out a way to get them here cheaply). Anyway, for now it's fine and the girls love it which is all that really matters. That said, I HATE BUNK BEDS but we are just working with what we had already. They are a big pain to change the sheets when needed (which is sometimes several nights in a row if one of the girls has an accident) and the color is not what I would choose for a girls room. Their bedding is so cute (it's Pottery Barn stuff that I bought on sale and used some of their Christmas money for) and you just can't see it real well in this current set up. However, the bunk beds are fun for them now and it enables them to go to sleep easier at night since they can't see each other.
4.24.2011
Easter Weekend!
Last Easter was not good (you can read about it HERE), but it taught me a lot about expectations and wrongly placed hope. This year, I am so thankful that we got to celebrate this holy weekend without a hitch! Well, besides the fact that Abigail's potty training has gone south and I haven't had the best attitude about it. Thankfully, it has led me to One I desperately need each and every day for hope, forgiveness, right perspective, etc.
We enjoyed a full weekend of activities. I had a last minute little easter party on Friday at my house for some friends and their kids. It went pretty well considering there were 5 boys and 4 girls running around INSIDE (it was still too wet and muddy) our house.
Saturday, we got to work in our backyard. Our yard is pretty pitiful because we have an insane amount of pine trees (probably more than 30) which leads to lots of nice shade...but tons of roots and dead spots where grass won't grow. We are slowly going to cut down some trees and try to get it looking a bit better. The first step was to fill in an area in the backyard that was all dirt and roots. It looks amazing and we are proud of our hard work! This is a phone pic, but you can sort of get the idea:).
Sunday, we worshiped at church and had some friends over for Easter lunch. I just did easy stuff...chicken salad, fruit salad, chips, and drinks. My friend Alana brought a yummy dessert! Also, my parents came for an impromptu visit which was really nice. We hadn't planned on them coming, but were so glad they did! One of the hardest things about moving to Alabama has been that we are further away from them. Anyhow...it was a full weekend and I am just overflowing with gratitude for my Savior.
Easter is one of my favorite holidays because we do just focus on the good news of the Gospel...it's something I try to focus on all the time, but there is something about Easter that just renews my heart and soul for the One who has pulled my life from the pit. It's also a favorite holiday for us because we usually stay HOME and I actually get to host for once:)!!!
Thanks to DeDe (Jeff's mom) for the beautiful Easter outfits on my kids:)!!!
We enjoyed a full weekend of activities. I had a last minute little easter party on Friday at my house for some friends and their kids. It went pretty well considering there were 5 boys and 4 girls running around INSIDE (it was still too wet and muddy) our house.
Saturday, we got to work in our backyard. Our yard is pretty pitiful because we have an insane amount of pine trees (probably more than 30) which leads to lots of nice shade...but tons of roots and dead spots where grass won't grow. We are slowly going to cut down some trees and try to get it looking a bit better. The first step was to fill in an area in the backyard that was all dirt and roots. It looks amazing and we are proud of our hard work! This is a phone pic, but you can sort of get the idea:).
Sunday, we worshiped at church and had some friends over for Easter lunch. I just did easy stuff...chicken salad, fruit salad, chips, and drinks. My friend Alana brought a yummy dessert! Also, my parents came for an impromptu visit which was really nice. We hadn't planned on them coming, but were so glad they did! One of the hardest things about moving to Alabama has been that we are further away from them. Anyhow...it was a full weekend and I am just overflowing with gratitude for my Savior.
Easter is one of my favorite holidays because we do just focus on the good news of the Gospel...it's something I try to focus on all the time, but there is something about Easter that just renews my heart and soul for the One who has pulled my life from the pit. It's also a favorite holiday for us because we usually stay HOME and I actually get to host for once:)!!!
HE IS RISEN!!!!
4.22.2011
Good Friday
"It was my sin that held him there, until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life.
I know that it is finished."
~ Stuart Townsend How Deep The Fathers Love For Us
His dying breath has brought me life.
I know that it is finished."
~ Stuart Townsend How Deep The Fathers Love For Us
On a day where I have seen my sin clearly...where the yuck of my heart has been displayed...
I am grateful it is finished.
He died to give me life. I'm so glad Sunday is coming. I need resurrection. I need the wild love of Christ each and every day to set me free from the depths of my deep and darkened flesh that wants only to serve itself.
I am grateful that nothing but HIS blood can make me whole.
Jeff taught this song to Abigail one night and it has since become a favorite bedtime hymn that stills my soul. I cherish hearing these tiny voices singing such beautiful truth and it ministers deep down to the depths of myself where I need it preached to the most...
4.21.2011
Winner, Ballerina, and an Update
Last weekend, Samuel had his boy scout Pinewood Derby car race. We waited until the very last minute to get his little car ready so we didn't have high hopes for him to do well like he did last year (he won his age group).
Well, lo and behold, car number 40 did so good again!!! He won his age group for the 2nd year in a row!!!!!! I guess Jeff is good at making derby cars:). Samuel was so excited! He also ended up 5th overall against much older boys who have been doing this awhile.
The only thing we need to work on is the appearance of his car. It was pretty simple this year much to my dismay. This creative mama WILL spend some more time helping it look cool next year.
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Ellie Kate wants to be a ballerina so bad. Dance lessons here are crazy expensive so we haven't done any yet but she loves to dress up in this costume a little girl from our church gave her from one of her recitals. Ellie Kate has a few ballerina books that she studies intently to learn how to dance like they do. I love the unashamed way a child like Ellie Kate performs and is free to express herself. She danced for me like this for at least half an hour while Abigail napped the other day.
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POTTY TRAINING UPDATE
Abigail has done great!!! She only had 2 accidents yesterday, stayed dry during her nap and last night. She hasn't gone number 2 yet and she seems to hold going to the potty until the very last minute...but she has got the concept and I am so thankful that she is proving to be easier than her strong willed big sis. I still HATE potty training. I'm glad Abigail is more of a rule follower because I think once we get it, she will be able to stay dry at night too (unlike EK who just now stopped wearing pull ups at night). I had to go upstairs after bedtime last night about 6 times because she kept wanting to go potty. She finally did about 9:45 pm. Frustrating, but good for her to understand! I would say day 1 was a big success!!!!
Well, lo and behold, car number 40 did so good again!!! He won his age group for the 2nd year in a row!!!!!! I guess Jeff is good at making derby cars:). Samuel was so excited! He also ended up 5th overall against much older boys who have been doing this awhile.
The only thing we need to work on is the appearance of his car. It was pretty simple this year much to my dismay. This creative mama WILL spend some more time helping it look cool next year.
*********************************************
Ellie Kate wants to be a ballerina so bad. Dance lessons here are crazy expensive so we haven't done any yet but she loves to dress up in this costume a little girl from our church gave her from one of her recitals. Ellie Kate has a few ballerina books that she studies intently to learn how to dance like they do. I love the unashamed way a child like Ellie Kate performs and is free to express herself. She danced for me like this for at least half an hour while Abigail napped the other day.
**************************************
POTTY TRAINING UPDATE
Abigail has done great!!! She only had 2 accidents yesterday, stayed dry during her nap and last night. She hasn't gone number 2 yet and she seems to hold going to the potty until the very last minute...but she has got the concept and I am so thankful that she is proving to be easier than her strong willed big sis. I still HATE potty training. I'm glad Abigail is more of a rule follower because I think once we get it, she will be able to stay dry at night too (unlike EK who just now stopped wearing pull ups at night). I had to go upstairs after bedtime last night about 6 times because she kept wanting to go potty. She finally did about 9:45 pm. Frustrating, but good for her to understand! I would say day 1 was a big success!!!!
4.20.2011
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.
4.18.2011
Ultimate Gratitude
All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
The foremost quality of a trusting disciple is gratefulness.
Brennan Manning
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
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
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