A Beautiful Week!

This time last week we had about 2 inches of snow on the ground and today it is 73 degrees! I LOVE living in Alabama:).  Seriously, this week we have been given a beautiful glimpse of the spring that lies ahead.  I'm sure the warm days aren't here to stay, but it has been glorious to get outside and enjoy it!  I have been doing my running outside instead of at the gym and it has been GREAT! 

These tulips are also a great reminder of my love for spring!  Having these in my kitchen along with the amazing weather has just lightened my mood this week!  Thanks to my sweet hubby for bringing me my favorite flowers home on valentines day:). 

It's been a treat to have one of my best friends Ashlei in town for the past few weeks.  She and her husband are on furlough but are heading back to the mission field in Asia soon.  We have had so much fun getting the kids together to play and also having dinners together.  Her son, Grady is just a little bit older than Abigail and the girls love him so much!  Ellie Kate really enjoys mothering him and is quite a bit sweeter to him than her own siblings (go figure).

Samuel has been back in his element digging and "working" and being a boy!  He said he was getting ready to plant his garden...

The little diva shoveling dirt in her pink cowgirl boots and dress.  She is the girliest tomboy I know:) besides myself of course. Ha!

Love.

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  

1 John 4:12

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 

1 John 3:1

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  

Romans 5:8

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  

1 John 4:16

 

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  

1 John 4:7

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you... 

John 13:34

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

So thankful for a God who loves,  a Savior who loves,  a husband who loves, children who love, and a family who loves.  

So thankful for the privilege of loving them back.

10 years ago (Feb 12, 2001), I said yes to my love and he slipped a ring on my finger and we were finally engaged!  It's been an amazing decade.  Full of wild adventures, grief, transitions, joys, trials, fun, and more.  Through it all, I just remind myself that I am living my dream.  Truly.  I am just amazed at all that God has done and continues to do in my life.  

Happy Valentines Day!

Fancy Star Crunch Bites

I served these at the little bridal shower this week and they were a HUGE hit!!! I thought I would share the easy recipe with y'all so you can wow your friends at the next event.  My friend Perry shared the recipe with me and I just made up the name.

Fancy Star Crunch Bites

1-2 boxes of Little Debbie Star Crunches

1/2 -1 cup (or so) of Confectioners Sugar

 

Cut off the rounded edges (just little slivers) and set aside to give your husband or kids. 

Cut remainder of star crunch into small strips (I got 3 out of each piece) 

Put them all into ziploc bag

Add sugar and toss well

Empty onto pretty platter and serve!  Your guests will love them! 

Reminder, a shower, and SNOW!

In case you missed my little Valentine Freebie....click on link below to print off your own cute valentines!

VALENTINES

I hosted a little bridal shower last night for a friend and fellow campus minister.  We had about 15 sweet students show up and it was so fun!  I was reminded of what an exciting time it was for me this time 10 years ago as Jeff and I got engaged Feb 12, 2001.  It was just a coffee and dessert shower and of course I had fun with a few simple decorations.

Here is the invitation I did...

 Ellie Kate had to check the party out after her bath 

(she snuck down without alerting her daddy who was watching the kids upstairs)

 the bride to be is in the orange scarf:)

While we were enjoying all the fun inside...this was going on outside (our 3rd "snow" since December)

We got about 1- 2 inches and it was really pretty to wake up too!  Thankfully, road conditions are fine and there was no school cancellations (just a slight delay)!

Changing

God is always at work but there seem to be seasons where I am intensely aware of seeing it.  Many times in the past, it has been in the suffering.  And of course, how could I miss Him in the miracles of love and my children.  Right now, I see Him at work in my heart in the midst of just everyday living.  Thanks to Ann and her blog and her book, I am learning how to be thankful and recognize all the little blessings God gives.   Through helping lead a Bible Study this semester at church on contentment, I am learning that having a thankful heart is a huge part of being able to be content whatever the circumstance or season of life I am in.  Both things are working in my heart to help me live joyfully no matter what.  It's a process, but I can just tell already so much that the state of heart is more peaceful than it's been in a while.   The Spirit of God is so active and I love to see how our hearts can change.  I still struggle throughout so much of the day to sacrifice praise and have a thankful heart.  I get tired.  I get frustrated.  I feel down.  And yet, through the Spirits work and prompting, I am learning to set my mind on things above...and count it all a blessing!

I highly recommend 1000 Gifts.  I am about halfway through the book and it's amazing!!

Counting towards my own 1000...

13.  the Spirit's calm before leading Bible Study
14. Women sharing and talking and encouraging me unto the Lord
15. a sweet friends generosity
16. date night with the one my soul loves
17. children singing and dancing wildly with no shame
18. God's promises and bounties in my life do calm my anxious heart and give me hope for the future
19. morning coffee
20. God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever
21. a warm January day brings joy in the midst of a long cold winter
22. loads and loads of laundry meaning my quiver is full...



23. a clean pantry and laundry room brings immense satisfaction
24. surviving and thriving a weekend alone without Jeff
25. chick - fil - a
26. free music on pandora
27 a perfect spelling test 2 weeks in a row!
28. leftovers so I don't have to cook
29. that God woos me to Himself - He is a God of love
30. God purposed everything about me (my acne prone skin, my thick frizzy hair, introverted and type A personality, infertility, and my broad shouldered self for my good and His glory)
31. toddler talk and singsong little voices
32. mothers day out and preschool:)
33. God is indescribable...He has "told every lightning bolt where it should go"
34. impromptu play date and lunch with friends
35. flavored creamer swirling into my dark coffee
36. for a book that is changing me...thank you Ann and thank you Jesus for your example of giving thanks in all things
37. being able to invest the gospel into my children's hearts
38. that forgiveness is mine when I don't do 37 well
39. for getting to dress up in a fabulous borrowed dress and go to a fun party with my hubby
40. the 20 some odd comments I got on facebook and here from such encouraging gals about me in said dress (y'all know how to make a girl feel good...and I really appreciate all the sweet comments)!