she's here

can i share my excitement with you?

remember when i was lusting over this?

well...no need to lust anymore people;

she is here.

a true beauty.

a true investment.

she is my very own, drum roll please...

Canon Rebel T3

Merry Christmas to Me!

Hope you like taking pictures baby Gavin because I'm pretty sure this might lead to you being the most photographed baby there ever was.

{p.s. i'm in love}

thankful

in all honesty "thanksgiving lists" overwhelm me.

and apparently the season was extremely busy because i'm a few days late with this post.

i have so much to be thankful for, i know that sounds cliche but it's the honest truth. when coming up with a "list" i always think... should it be sentimental? practical? all inclusive? funny?

regardless of my approach the outcome always ends up looking something like a toddler that has their shoes on the wrong feet. just not quite right...and don't you love how they never realize this? i mean seriously that has to feel awful. like a bad wedgie awful.

anyway... in the interest of thanksgiving lists; here it goes

* i am thankful that i have no idea what it is like to be hungry, homeless, or without family

* i am thankful to be married to my best friend & junior high sweet-heart that makes me laugh almost constantly {yes, i'm serious, the romance began in 7th grade}

* i am thankful to be the proud mamma of the sweetest baby boy i've ever known

* i am thankful to be physically & emotionally healthy and feeling well

* i am thankful to have most of our relatives close by (i will admit some days i have to remind myself this is a blessing...) those of you who have lots of family close by understand

{grin}

* i am thankful for our beautiful home full of all sorts of cozy things and memories

* i am thankful for my faith and personal relationship with Jesus and that i can worship Him anytime and anywhere i wish

* i am thankful that starting in january i will be working part time rather than full time

* i am thankful for lindt lindor truffles (the red package) and chocolate in any shape or form

* i am sort of thankful for my dog (even on the days when she thinks she is a goat and eats our trash)

* i am thankful for freedom of speech and for the therapy that writing on this blog provides me

* i am thankful for photography because it is a way to capture things and "stop time" sort of.

* i am thankful for cold days when i can snuggle on the couch curled up with a good book

* i am thankful for thunder storms & blizzards

* i am thankful that over the past year God has mended relationships in my life

* i am thankful for all the opportunities i have had in my life, including becoming educated as a nurse and all this career entails.

* i am thankful for modern medicine (read as epidurals in labor - thank GOD! and i thought i wanted to go "all natural" bah!)

* i am thankful that i was raised in a Christian home and taught real values that still impact my life today

So there you have it. A grocery list of thankfullness. Now on to my favorite season of all time...

CHRISTMAS!

first words?

you will want to scroll down and "pause" the music on the left side of the screen so that you can hear

this was one of those heart stopping moments as a mamma...gavin said "daa-daa" in that sweet, innocent little boy voice that is music to my ears. i am so proud of him. he is SO smart already. we taught him to clap too you know. the mr. was almost teary eyed when i showed him the video. it's no wonder he said daa-daa first since we practice it all the time :)

stay tuned for our next video which is sure to show the little saying "maa-maa" he's a quick learner and it's mamma's stay at home day tomorrow! YAY.

crafternoon

DIY Christmas Card Holder

{i think all the supplies cost around $10 and it's pretty cute}

step 1. paint clothespins in a christmasy look

(if i had a canon rebel the pictures wouldn't be blurry like this p.o.s one)
{grin}

step 2. hot glue buttons on them

step 3. hang a ribbon somewhere in your house

step 4. attach the cute clothespins to the ribbon

step 5. attach christmas grams when they come in the mail

t - 43 days people
go get your christmas on!

whispers

You know the way your wrist feels when you were bound-and-determined to carry all the groceries into the house making only one trip from the car? The way you feel literally weighed down by the canvas bags filled with cereal, the plastic shiny ones filled with fruits, veggies and let's-be-honest-candy. I once had so many bags on my wrist I thought I might witness my own hand being amuputated by grocery bags, right there in the comfort of my own garage. I can picture the headlines already.

"Women in hurry, bound and determind to only make one trip to take groceries in pays unfortunate price with loosing her hand."

A different time I thought the indent that was left in my wrist may just be permanent. If you're lucky and no bags burst on the way, you make it to the inside door and have to try to shimmy and shake it open. Then cue half of your body entering (bags first) while using your ass to hold the door open while balancing orange juice under your chin to see the 'holy grail' (counter) to heave all your items on. Oh yes, and don't smoosh the bread.

The Mr. does not like smooshed bread.

Exhale.

But wait - don't forget about the 24 lb baby still strapped in his 5 point harness patiently waiting and grinning from ear to ear after witnessing what appeared to him as possible insanity.

Am I alone in feeling somewhat similar to what's described above in my everyday life at times? I doubt it. But if I am and you have it all figured out, you can stop reading. Hope you were humored or cracked a smile thinking about your own grocery adventures.

Here's the thing. I feel God working in my life lately and whispering things to my heart that I didn't think He ever would. Whispers that deserve to be prayed about, saught after, and hopefully one day revealed.

Here's the other thing. The culture and day we live in doesn't exactly promote quiet time spent with the Lord. Quite the opposite actually, there's work, family responsibilities, laundry, cooking, Bible study, couples club, fill in the blank with whatever you like. Sometimes I wonder if it's possible to live a life that's pleasing to God if we are so busy running constantly. Can we hear His spirit whispering? Are we listening for it? Because in all honesty I have missed the whispering on occasion and paid some heavy consequences.

I am blessed to have a friend that knows the scriptures better than I do. I text her last night and asked "what are some good verses about God leading people" I woke up to an email this morning plump full of verses. Thank God for your friends.

Psalm 37:23 "The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take."

Got me to thinking, does God delight in the steps I'm currently taking in my walk with Him? Do I trust Him enough to listen to those whispers He is placing in my heart or will I just ignore them and continue running with everyday life.

{Because running and business sometimes is easier}

Isaiah 58:11 "The Lord will continually guide you."

I love to meditate on the fact that God knew everything about me before I was born. He knew all my funny quirks (there are many) He had work set aside for me before I was even formed. He willed me to be. I am His. I am a child of God. You are His child too.

I love reflecting on how this amazing and powerful God I serve knows everything and I can climb right under his arms and find solace. Now that I am a mother I reflect on the love I have for my own son and I think, there cannot be a love that is greater but there is... God loves for us is greater. That's huge. Praise God for that.

Praise God that we can lay down all our bags, canvas or plastic, heavy or light, filled with good things or filled with junk on Him. He gladly takes away our burdens.

He loves us that much.

Psalm 32:8 " I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go. I will counsel you with my eye upon you."

What is God whispering to you today?

bliss...

times five

Last year was so exciting when we found out that all 5 of us girl cousins on my Mom's side were expecting and all due around the same time. Now here we are with 5 beautiful, healthy, and NOISY babies. God is so good!

Meet the littles

{Left to right}

Carter (Lee & Alissa) 8 months old 2/23/11

Gavin (Brady & Tina)8 months old 3/5/11

Kinley (Matt & Erin) 7 months old 3/12/11

Liv (Clint & Lara) 7 months old 3/30/11

Kennedy (Jeremy and Mandy) 5.5 months old 4/15/11