A little of lately

Thankful Tuesday

Tonight was the first night we let Annabelle hold Abraham. She has been sick with bronchitis and we didn't think it was a great idea for either of the girls to be holding him until all the sickness had passed. They were very excited to be able to hold, kiss, and hug baby Abrer (Adely'n's nickname).

It's Thankful Tuesday and I just have to say that although I am very tired ;) my heart is full. A year ago today, I was unknowingly carrying another baby that would end up in heaven and I would have never thought that all that has happened this year would have happened and that I would have a sweet little baby boy this November. I am so blessed. Even when I have doubted Him this year, God has been faithful and I am thankful.

Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God.
Hebrews 12:28

But I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy and loving-kindness in the morning; for You have been to me a defense (a fortress and a high tower) and a refuge in the day of my distress. Unto You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my Defense, my Fortress, and High Tower, the God Who shows me mercy and steadfast love.

Psalm 59:16-17 AMP

Thankful Tuesday- Adelyn's Harvest Party

I had the chance to go to Adelyn's 'Harvest Party' on Tuesday! I was so thankful to be able to go and be there with her! She did a craft, played games, and ate a snack! She had a blast and had me walk around the room with get holding her hand; it was precious!! 

And I couldn't help but include the picture I took of her on Wednesday at Chickfila with her ice cream; we love our Wednesdays! Only a few left before Abraham comes! 

Love this sweet little fun girl! What a blessing she is to me; I'm so thankful God blessed me with her life!!

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift comes from above....

Thankful Thursday

I missed Thankful Tuesday on here again so I am just making it Thankful Thursday. I have spent this week recovering from all of last week's fun! :) Also, Annabelle has been under the weather so we have been trying to let her rest some at home. We still don't have internet and we don't think we will be getting internet or cable anytime soon so blogging might be more sparatic and that's ok with me because everything comes in seasons right?!

I am thankful for so many things this week. First of all, I went to the doctor this morning and baby Abraham looks great. His heart rate was faster than usual 160 something and they said it was probably because he was kicking away. It never gets old hearing a baby heartbeat in your belly. I am thankful for God giving us this little boy.

Second, I have been going through (or wrestling through) the book of James for the past little bit. Talk about a book that is convicting... I feel like this is a season in my life in which the Lord is asking me just to focus on being or becoming more of the wife He wants me to be for Adam and the mommy for the three babies I have.

I have been blessed beyond belief to get to do some things that I really enjoy lately like help lead worship, craft, throw parties, and fix up a home again, but I feel like my heart's focus right now has been mostly in the wife area. Oh and the Lord has so much work to do in this area of my heart. I am prone to resentment, bitterness, and discontentment but He continually shows me how destructive this is to my marriage, to Adam as a person and to my girls. I am called to "do him good all the days of my life"* and I have realized more and more lately that this has way more to do with my attitude than it does taking care of our kids, the food, or his laundry.

I read in "Wife School" this past week that one of the most attractive qualities a man sees in his wife is contentment. Period. Contentment makes him feel as if he is enough for her, that all his hard work as a man is enough. Wow. I would have never put all of this together on my own. I think it's awesome that this lines up exactly with what the Lord tells us to do in His word. He says, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with what you have, for He has said, I will never leave you or forsake you." * It also says in Philippians that Paul had learned to be content. I know it's hard work and a process; it's not a natural feeling for me including me.

I am thankful that God has brought to light my many inadequacies and has started to "in my weakness, show me that His grace is strong and sufficient."*

I also am thankful today that for the school that God has provided for the girls to attend. This preschool has been so humbling for me in many ways and most of all has shown me where I needed to step it up and work with my girls, especially Annabelle in some areas where I have been lacking. I think through all of the changes etc in the past year, we have not ceased to discipline her but we have many times ceased to discipline her heart and for a strong willed child like her, this is huge. All of this came out in the first couple of weeks of school when she kept testing her teachers and was having such a difficult time submitting to their authority. I am thankful that this is a great time and opportunity to get all of this back on track for our family.

So, today I am thankful for many things, most of which my family and for the grace, mercy, and patience of my God in my journey.

{Annabelle Star of the Day for her 5th b-day}

 {Adelyn's STAR of the WEEK poster}

 {Dress like a Community Helper for AB and 

Yellow Day and Show and Tell day for letter "B", Ballerina Barbie}

 {"Sick Day"}

{Snacks on the counter and Dress Yourself Day}

*Proverbs 31
*Hebrews 13:5,6
*2 Corinthians 12:9

FULL

Life has been busy and FULL of good things. We have moved and been getting things settled. It feels good and I'm enjoying my nesting; I really only have just a little bit left I can't believe it! Oh, I'm overwhelmed at all the things I want to post about so I am just going to make a list and just have at it! When I get Internet again I will put the pictures with the captions until then, this will have to do..

1) One of our best little friends Peyton had a bday party. It was Sophia the first and it was adorable! We had a blast!!

2) My mama always sends us AR cheer uniforms. The girls love it.. Obviously. :) I'm so glad we will see my mama soon!!

3) Church was so great today. We were able to attend a church that Adam helped lead worship for and the church we have been attending somewhat regularly when we aren't somewhere else. It was really interesting for many reasons. First, the song "Amazing Grace" absolutely hit me like a ton of bricks this morning and not the part that normally does but this verse. It's just my heart's cry today. And it's always wonderful to hear Adam sing it. The second part of "church" that got my attention was the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 when it said that the Good Samaritan "looked on the injured man with compassion." I remembered noticing that when studying one of the gospels about Jesus, that before he healed people He looked on them with compassion. Oh how important compassion is as a follower of Christ, without compassion, what are we??

3) I've been working on birthday parties for Adam and Annabelle!! So very exciting! I looove birthdays!

4) This is a weird picture but I am growing daily!! Less than 8 weeks!! Oh and I passed my second glucose test! Yah!

5) Adelyn had her first "show and tell" and Annabelle her second. Adelyn took Snow White and an apple because they had been studying red that week and Annabelle took Tinkerbell but at the last minute changed her mind to Ariel because Ariel had the colors of the day on, a purple bra and a green tail. :) I wish I could be a fly on the wall during show and tell. :)

6) Life although very good still feels very unsure, with Adam starting a new job and things feeling more stable yet still not sure. I have been clinging to the promises I know to be true. He has promised is good. He will always be with us and has a plan. He is able to make our paths straight and hold us up. And so... "We walk by faith and not by sight..." 2 Cor 5:7 And we stay thankful for all the good things He has done for us and in us.

7) I can't leave this post without mentioning that we passed the year date or anniversary from "the trial." I know this subject deserves a whole post in and of itself but I'll save that for my personal journal. All I want to say here is that I am thankful that all of that is in the past. I am thankful for God's healing. I am thankful that when people don't or haven't understood, my God has been a constant source of comfort and compassion. I am thankful for my husband who has been such a godly example to me through all of this and I'm thankful that he has been so patient with me through all the ways it has affected us. God has been good and faithful and I don't know what else I could ask for...

Annabelle & Adelyn's First Day of Preschool 2013

 Today was the girl's first day of preschool, the first day Adelyn had ever been to school! She was very excited! I didn't do so good dropping her off.

 She gave me the puppy dog eyes and I just couldn't handle it. I cried and cried. I am a little hormonal too obviously. :) I just cannot believe she has gotten so big. When, I think about how hard of a baby was and what a joy she is now; it is just so sweet. It was so so hard but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!

When I went to pick her up her teachers said she did so great; that she listened and even took a nap! I was so very proud of her!

 Annabelle was super excited about school. Since she has been to almost two years of preschool she was pumped to be able to go again and since I had dropped her off before, it wasn't quite as hard for me with her.

 She is by nature as the first born just so much more independent and so the whole school thing is fun for her!

 Annabelle's teachers said she did great today as well! They even said she rested well! I am so glad she gets to go back tomorrow, that we put her in three days a week.

After school we had to get some celebratory ice cream, birthday cake kind by Annabelle's request of course! I cannot believe we have a new baby coming so soon but I am so very excited to start all of these fun and precious milestones all over again. Children really are a blessing! Today, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for these baby's.... or now big girls. :)

Adelyn Meets Her Teacher!

Adelyn got to meet her teachers for preschool this morning! It was an exciting day! She stayed for an hour and had the chance to hang out with some of her friends from her class. Adelyn really enjoyed it! I cannot wait for her to start preschool next Tuesday!

5 on Friday

I am linking up with 5 on Friday this week. I think this is a super cute way to document some things I want to remember from the week! So my 5 this week are.....

1) This week the girls decided to try on Gigi's wedding dress! They were too adorable and looked way too old. They felt so special I could tell and I enjoyed watching them "play brides."

2) I have been reading so of the.best.books. The first three are from a book called "Plan B" by Pete Wilson. It goes through how to handle your life if it has ended up in a plan that you never dreamed, a "plan b'' and then goes through several stories in the bible of people whose lives ended up in plan b and how God was working all through it. It is such an encouraging book. Like I would recommend it to anyone who has been through or is going through a "plan b" in life.

The last two pages are from a book called "Unglued" by Lysa Terkeurst. It is a phenomenal, insightful book that has challenged me to look deep inside myself and my reactions.

3) This week I took the girls to the zoo. It was perfect; the weather was wonderful and there was no one there because everyone is starting school. Annabelle rode a camel and I was so proud of how brave she was and the girls kept asking me to take their pictures in front of things; it was hilarious. I guess they are used me taking millions of pictures.

4) I am so thankful for this hope. This has been a crazy week in a lot of ways and I am thankful that God's promises are just as much true today as they always have been! So glad He is so constant even when I am all over the place!

5) The girls have been sharing a room and it's going surprisingly well. Annabelle asks often is she can talk until she gets tired. We think this is hilarious because we know she could talk forever. :) And we had a few nights where Adelyn wanted to have her own room but overall they are LOVING sharing a room and I am overjoyed!!