life lately...

Things have been a bit crazy around here the last few weeks...lots of partying (more on that later this week) and hanging out with friends...


Sadie and Hunter have been loving every minute of it...

 I just unloaded 2 weeks worth of pictures off of my memory card...so in the next day or two I will post them...woot woot ;)

Camping out...

The other day I set up a tent in the living room for a little camp out...

The kids thought I was certifiable:

Hunter- "Sadie, did you know mom was nuts? What is she thinking??"

Sadie- "I know buddy, she's been this way as long as I can remember...we just have to smile and play along..."

Hey mom...this is pretty fun...

 ok, actually, this is really fun...I love tents in the living room!!

 Sadie...I changed my mind...mom is so right, this tent is awesome!

Hope your having a great weekend!!

Because He Lives...

          
Hunter went down for his afternoon nap a little early today, affording me the luxury of a little alone time. I grabbed a granny smith, my Bible, workbook, and a pen and headed to a sunny spot by the window. Sadie curled up next to me as I cracked open my dog-eared workbook to the final few pages and began to read. They were the final pages of a seven-week study that some girlfriends and I embarked on two short months ago. The study focused on the life and writings of James, the half-brother of Jesus. It was a study that shook me to my core, and profoundly impacted my relationship with the Lord.

            As I filled in the blanks, read through the notes, and flipped through the tissue paper pages of my Bible…my heart raced at the thought of completing the study. That old familiar feeling crept up like on the last day of school before summer break…exams complete, papers handed in, books returned to the library…bittersweet melancholy. Excited at the accomplishment, saddened at the finality of it all.

            I have been a follower of Christ since I was four years old, and yet I have learned more about the founding fathers of my faith in the last few weeks than in the last 18 years. As I filled in a timeline of the events that took place in the decades following the death and resurrection of Christ, I got goosebumps. These were real men who wrote those New Testament books…they knew Jesus as a friend and brother…they stumbled and fell like the rest of us…they sinned…they were forgiven…and they were murdered for their faith. Murdered.

            It makes me wonder which side of the street I would have stood if I lived 2000 years ago. Would I have been a follower of the Lord and lived in the danger which following Christ entailed? Or would I have claimed this world as my home and played it “safe”? The thought makes me shudder a little. I have faced general ridicule for my beliefs, but never imminent danger (much less death) for them.

            Anyway, I digress…what I really wanted to record on this page is how I have been changed by the teaching of James. He has an annoying and effective way of stirring up hearts to feel conviction. I have never before felt so acutely aware of my sin, or the frequency in which I sin, as I do now. I am amazed that God continues to love me and consider me His kid, when I am so so so unworthy.

            As I closed up my books today, stashed them on the coffee table and walked upstairs to dry my hair, my mind raced with thoughts of my own inadequacy. As I turned on the hairdryer, an old familiar hymn came humming out of my closed mouth, without me even realizing it…

The words to which are as follows…

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus,


He came to love, heal, and forgive.


He lived and died to buy my pardon,


An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.




Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.


Because He lives, All fear is gone.


Because I know He holds the future,


And life is worth the living just because He lives.




How sweet to hold a newborn baby,


And feel the pride and joy he gives.


But greater still the calm assurance,


This child can face uncertain days because He lives.




Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.


Because He lives, All fear is gone.


Because I know He holds the future,


And life is worth the living just because He lives.




And then one day I’ll cross the river,


I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.


And then as death gives way to victory,


I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.




Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.


Because He lives, All fear is gone!


Because I know He holds the future


And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Isn’t that beautiful? It spoke to me like a blazing reminder that even though I my sin piles up around me and life can challenge me to my limits, I can face tomorrow, Because HE lives.

(Words to “Because He Lives” by Bill & Gloria Gaither)
(Pictures from Easter morning:)

Easter Crafting...

Hey Everyone, Happy Easter!

I just wanted to share a quick craft that I threw together yesterday for Hunter and his cousins in celebration of Easter... 

Little felt wordless books to remember what Resurrection Sunday is all about!

I was making giant carrot goody bags (pictured below) with trinkets and candy for each kiddo, and I wanted to add a little something about Jesus, since we are celebrating His resurrection:) 

Making them was simple...

Here's what I did:

1. Cut out 3"x3" squares in black, red, white, yellow, and green for the story, and an additional blue or pink square for the cover, depending on if you are making it for a boy or girl...

2. Punch small holes in one corner of each square (if you don't have a punch, a little slit with an exacto knife would work:)

3. Link all the squares together using a key ring...keeping them in the order of black, red, white, yellow, and green...

4. Cut little crosses with felt scraps and adhere to the front with glue.

5. {Optional} Cut out a piece of paper to the same size and write out a little key to remember what each color stands for:)

Here is what my key said...

The Easter story:

Black- We all sin (do bad things)

Red- Jesus died on the cross for our sins

White- We are cleansed white as snow

Yellow- Jesus rose from the dead!

Now we can know God.

Green- Our friendship (relationship) 

with God can grow like a leaf in springtime!

It's the story of the gospel in a nutshell!

 Then I added them to the other goodies, which I corralled in big paper cones...

And put the cones inside of little orange nylon bags (from Ikea), rubber banded them at the top, stuck handfuls of faux green grass in the rubber bands, and added tags...

Tada! Easter Carrots:)

How do you celebrate Easter? 

Do you do anything simple and fun to remember Christ's Resurrection?  

Do you have Easter baskets, egg hunts, and chocolate bunnies??

Whatever your traditions, I hope you have a great holiday!

Awkward and Awesome Thursday...

I have recently added this sweet lady's blog to my daily reads. She is sweet, stylish, and hilarious. On Thursdays at her blog, its all about the awkwardness and awesomeness of her week...


so I thought I would follow suit this week and tell you my A&As...

Awkward:

The comcast man going door-to-door selling cable: 
Knocks on my door. 
I open it with my baby on my hip (don't worry the glass door was still locked:) 
He says"is your mom or dad home?" 
I laugh in my head.
"um. no this is my house" -me
"oh, you look young" -comcast man
"uh, thanks"
"do you have cable?" 
"no"
"what do you mean, no?"
"we don't have it."
"what if I told you you could have it for twenty bucks a month?"
"that's nice"
"so do you want it?"
"no"
"ok, have a nice day"
"you too."

Awesome:

Little man has been taking 2 looong naps every day this week, allowing me to get lots done, or just waste time pinning... :D


Tonight my girlfriends and I are finishing a wonderful Bible study on James with this lovely lady...


Tomorrow's Friday...which means date night with hubby, shopping trip to TSC, and john deere baby clothes here we come... :D


Sunday is Easter. woot woot.

The End.

Anything awkward and awesome about your week? Please do tell :D

On being 5 months old...

Dear Hunter (boo-boo, babe-sicle, sweet pea, blue-eyes, handsome...),


Yesterday you turned 5 months old. I cannot believe it! With each passing month comes new milestones, feats, and quirks, all of which fascinate your dad and me. We spend countless hours talking about you and your endless cuteness...from your wrinkly forehead to your little toes, we discuss it all. 


Beginning in early January, we saw gummy smiles form when we really did something outrageously funny, or when you were really really excited...and now I am delighted to say that your smile graces your face about 80% of the time. Dad and I are obsessed with it and do everything we can to make it appear (funny sounds, goofy faces, high-pitched voices, etc...we do it all:)


Your latest accompaniment to this little grin of yours is a giggle that overwhelms you so much that it doesn't come out...you just sit there with your mouth open wide and curled up at the sides, overcome with enthusiasm... that's my favorite, and kissing your little sweet neck is the best way to get those silent giggles...


Last week I was nursing you and eating at the same time...you kept jerking your head away from your meal to watch me eat mine so I figured that it may be time to start you on some solids. Rice cereal was your first big-guy snack, and you ate 5-6 spoonfuls like a champ. After a few days of that, I figured it was time for a little excitement, so we whipped out the pureed carrots today. And...you like them! Yay! You wore half the little bowl and ate half... and decided that although you do like them, 7-8 spoonfuls is ALL you want.


Your preferred pastimes include sitting in your bumbo and hanging from your bouncer suspended from a doorway. Your little legs are getting so strong from all your bouncing and you love standing up. You are almost able to sit upright by yourself, and you can handle about 10 seconds before you nose-dive..hehe...I give you one more month before your golden.


In other news...you have been sleeping through the night since you were about 2 months old, which has been an incredible blessing to your dad and me...and we say almost daily that you are spoiling us for down the road when your little siblings arrive, hehe. 10-12 hour nights are your norm!! This past Saturday I had to wake you up at 8:45am to keep you from reaching the 13 hour mark!! 


Your still a little dude...only 22 inches tall (5th percentile...woot woot:) and 12 and half pounds (11th percentile...hehe:) at your 4 month check-up. I am excited but nervous for the rapid weight gain that I'm sure will ensue once you take to solids. It is a strange mix of wanting to see you flourish and wanting you to stay little forever that I am experiencing as a mom.


You love to hold things in your hands now, and move them to your mouth to chomp on. You can reach out and grab what you want, and let go of what you don't. When we pick you up to hold you, you hold us back... which is wonderfully rewarding as a parent to have little fingers and hands wrap around our shoulders and cling to us for love.


Your gums have been bothering you for almost a month now as well, and we keep checking them to see if any little pearly whites are ready to pop out! You have been getting a little fussy and stuffy from teething, but despite the discomfort you continue to be mild mannered and happy most of the time.


You bring your dad and me so so so much joy and we love you more than we ever thought possible. You being in our lives has united us more than we ever expected, and has bound our hearts and lives to one another in a new way, for which we will be eternally grateful. Your smile and laughter has filled our home with happiness and lights up our faces when we see them. 


You are truly amazing. God out-did himself when He made you, and we are so thankful to Him for giving us the responsibility of raising and loving you.


Sweet dreams baby, 
I love you,
Momma