Learning All the Way

Three

2012-05-29T23:12:00.001-05:00

Three months and three years.

How I adore these kissable faces. Two precious little lives made in God's own image. I'm overwhelmingly grateful to spend my days with these sweet punkins!

I've been asked numerous times now, "How is it... going from one to two?" As a friend once described to me {in summary of a multitude of words}, we're chaotically blessed. And I absolutely wouldn't trade one breath of it! Of course, there are moments of frenzy, but more of fantasticness. {Yes, Spellcheck, I'm aware that's not a word but wish to use it anyway}.

You know, {small bunny trail here...} I was the best mom before having kids. I never lost my patience. I was always showered and organized. Public meltdowns were the sole product of irresponsible parenting and my child would never do such a thing.

Then I became a mommy.

Life isn't always calculated or perfect. Some days are just plain difficult and some moments forever tucked away into a blanket of sacrifice. My children are not robots, thank goodness... how boring that would be!

So, while there are late afternoons where Hallie is playing sweetly with her toys and Jack is cooing joyfully in his swing, there are other times when I'm frantically trying to heat up leftovers while holding a fussy baby, the little princess is throwing a record-breaking fit in timeout over a hangnail and the dryer is on it's fourth "fluff cycle" with the same load of clothes because I keep not getting to it but certainly don't want to iron every article of clothing if it sits there overnight... Amen?!

That's life. Beautiful, imperfect and raw. I'm thankful for specks of consistency {for my own sanity} and bucketfuls of spontaneity, grace, surprise and JOY. My cup runneth over.

Anywho... back to THREE.

Jack is growing, changing and expanding his smiley personality by the day. At three months, our tiny giant is approximately 17 pounds {yowza} of pure butterball. He has SUCH a sweet spirit, likes to cuddle close and just lights up when you talk to him. He'll let you know when he's hungry and might fuss a bit as he's getting tired, but overall is very alert and mellow.

He eats every three hours during the day and wakes up once in the early morning. He is wearing size 2 diapers, although we'll probably move up to 3's soon, and is currently wearing 3-6M and 6M clothes, depending on the brand. At this rate, we won't be in those much longer either! He has started to grab things and notice his hands. He's sucking his thumb... taking after his momma as a baby. He actually loves to stand and "dance," as sissy tells us. He wobbles and bobbles, but is very focused as those chunky thighs stand their ground. The sound of Hallie's voice makes him laugh and he loves to watch her run around. He's not a big fan of her smothering him, which she does on a daily basis ;).

That Hallie girl. Where do I even begin with such a thoughtful, intelligent, ornery, sweet thang? She just turned 3 last month but loves to daydream about when she'll be 4, 5, 6, 12... Slow down little lady! You're giving your mommy a panic attack.

Miss Hallie bear doodles on my grocery lists... Circles, H's, sunshines, you name it. She likes to put on her own shoes, drink out of a fancy glass and hold her "sugar booger" as many times as possible throughout the day. She brings Daddy and I animals to sleep with in case we get lonely. We jump on the trampoline, color pictures, "decorate the house" {with my old jewelry} and play dollhouse. Piggyback rides, dance parties and inquisitive contemplations accompany our days. She knows so much and asks such great questions.

She's working on sharing with her friends, being gentle to her little brother and loving to everyone around her. We talk about various Bible verses, the fruits of the Spirit and have constant conversation about God's love for us.

Most days I learn just as much about myself through her discipline. When frustrated or impatient, I'm thankful that my shortcomings as a parent remind me of my PERFECT Heavenly Father - who offers infinite amounts of love, patience and grace!

Kids say the darnedest {Hallie style}...

Thanks to the $150 speeding ticket I received a few days before having Jack {and the uncontrollable/hormonal crying that followed}, Hallie now repetitively asks while in the car, "Mommy, are you going the speed limit?" And if we see a cop... "Mommy, are you going to get in trouble and cry?"

She asked Derek, "Daddy, did you ride on an airplane?" "I sure did," he replied. Hallie thinks for a moment and asks, "Did you hold on?"

A few days after coming home from the hospital with Jack, Hallie found a pantyliner and asked me, "What do you do with this iPad?"

We were pretending to be superheroes and I asked if she had any super powers, like flying. She told me that her superhero power was "growing carrots" and mine was "making milk." True that, sista.

My sweetie's...

PB&J chef

Smiley boy

3rd Birthday

Handsome

Bunny boy

Cheesy cheeks

Cuddle muffin

Lovies

Here's lookin' at you, kid

New bloom

Sweet girl

Love these babies in their three's!

It's His Party

2012-05-08T08:21:00.002-05:00

A few months ago, Steven Furtick left me chewin' on some depth after speaking to our church about the favor of God. I've recalled his words several times since... Expecting, recognizing and responding to His favor.

Talk about favor... Mary {Jesus' mother} was about as FAVORED as they come.

The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28)

Mary was adored and handpicked by our eternal Creator, the One who has always been, to give birth to and raise up the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. Can you imagine? What a humbling honor and responsibility.

Highly favored YET wrongfully assumed, mocked and misunderstood, giving birth in inhumane conditions {forget the epidural and ice chips}, only to watch in anguish as her precious son was brutally beaten and crucified on a cross.

If you were blessed in this way, would you consider yourself "highly favored?"

Don't worry, it's not a trick question. It doesn't take a genius to realize that we don't exactly long to sacrifice our own agendas and desires.

My barely 3-yr-old had a meltdown a few weeks ago because we were going to her cousin's birthday party... and not her own. She wanted it to be HER party. And she's not the only one! Sometimes I, too, shift into default mode and want it to be MY party. We expect "cake and presents" to come with God's favor, but not the mess.

He desires to pour out His favor on us, but it's not always packaged the way we think it should be... and we miss it. So what can we do?

"He must become greater, I must become less." (John 3:30)

If we're only looking out for ourselves, there's no way to keep in step with His favor. If we're looking to Him, we'll desire what He desires {no matter the cost} and will recognize His favor when it crosses our path. The Bible doesn't go into the detail of Mary's thoughts, concerns, fears, etc. But we do know that she was about the things of God and His glory outweighed her temporary sacrifice.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is true worship." (Romans 12:1)

While God created us to be a part of His story, it's not our party. It's HIS party. Difficult to wrap our selfish human minds around {talking to myself here}, but He values our sacrifice.

"Everything beautiful always begins with a willingness to suffer." Ann Voskamp

If you're living the sacrifice right now... feeling overwhelmed and ready to throw in the towel, be encouraged:

"...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Highly favored himself was left hanging on a tree... our names pierced into the palms of His hands. JESUS, who sits on the throne with THE almighty God, favored above ALL, still cried out to God, "Not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42)

I pray that's the cry of my heart... and yours as well!

Oh This Day.

2012-04-22T23:58:00.000-05:00

Oh this day.

Diapers, wardrobe changes and breakfast on the go.
120+ tear-jerking baptisms at LifeChurch BA.
Parents, children, ENTIRE FAMILIES declaring their Lord.
1:00pm service - Satellite message down.
Backup recording of Craig... in Espanol? Yes.
Cute 3-yr-old breaks free and darts to Daddy on stage.
Mommy sprinting/sweating right behind her.
Hubby rocks a dynamite message on the fly.
17 people commit their lives to Christ in the 1pm alone.
Afternoon of squeals, tag and milkshakes for the kiddos.
Brand new 6:00pm service launched by evening.
54 lives changed for all of eternity because of JESUS.
Two exhausted sweetie's rocked fast asleep in my lap.

Oh this day. What a glorious, bizarre, fantastic day.

photo credit - ashley vandertol

Jack Aaron Jewell

2012-03-16T01:53:00.000-05:00

Introducing our sweet boy...

JACK AARON JEWELL
February 16, 2012 at 12:34 PM
8 pounds 2 ounces 21 inches

Jack means "God is gracious" and Aaron is his Daddy's middle name, as well as his Poppy's and his late Great Grandad's.

And so three become four... and we couldn't feel more blessed.

He has the cutest little dimple on his right cheek, a decent amount of brown hair and dark blue eyes {for now anyway}. Precious sleepy smiles began the first day...

He's a pretty chill dude. Calm and mellow unless he has a reason not to be {hungry, dirty... the basics}. He eats on average every three hours and likes to be cuddled close. He seems to be a fan of his warm bath...

And somehow doesn't mind being smothered by a BAZILLION of his sister's kisses and hugs :)

I'm so thankful that she's crazy about him, even though she wakes him up at times when showing him some "love." Sometimes we like to just sit around and stare at him, watch the faces he makes and listen to his sweet coos. If you're avoiding baby fever, stay far away from our house!

We're adjusting to our new "normal" and couldn't be more in love with God's gift to our family.

1 week old and Daddy's birthday

I can't believe a month has already gone by! I'm guessing he's around 10+ pounds, considering he was already 9.4 at his 2 week checkup. I know I'm being the typical obsessed mom... but he's just been SUCH a joy.

Here is a look at how he's grown so far...

Love our little man!! Other than sleep deprivation, we're trying to soak up all of his newborn goodness... but it's just going way too fast!

Click HERE to see more pictures from the hospital.

Go Big or Go Home

2012-02-03T22:54:00.000-06:00

February is HERE! Chalked FULL of big happenings and new beginnings...

If all goes according to plan, this precious little guy cuddling with my ribs {Jack Aaron Jewell} is scheduled to take his first breath on February 16th! To say we're excited is an understatement. My ~~belly button~~ done button is starting to poke out, knuckles are swelling and the waddle is becoming more of an art... Which means we must be getting close. If you ever need to find me, just look for the lady with the watermelon under her shirt.

Also making Jewell headlines (and for those of you who might not know), my hubby is on staff at our incredible church, LifeChurch.tv, and is the Campus Pastor for the new Broken Arrow Campus launching NEXT WEEKEND, February 12th!!! We're 90% sure of that launch date... Just waiting on final building inspections to be complete first of next week. So, YEA! Anyone else pumped up about that?!? It's going to be an epic weekend and all of you BA Lifers absolutely won't want to miss it. It's not about the building itself, which is just a large stack of materials that will one day waste away... but it sure is nice to have a place to come together.

So riddle me this... what do jeans, Starbucks coffee and a killer band all have in common? Well, you'll find them all at Lifechurch BA! If you are looking for a church or have friends/family that live in Broken Arrow, please COME or INVITE them to check it out. If you're already plugged in somewhere else... wonderful! We're by no means trying to recruit other church-goers. However, if you're looking for a genuine place to grow, be real with others and hear the truth of God's word every single weekend, come on! It doesn't matter if you're broken, overwhelmed, put-together, previously burned by "religion," black, white or purple... We're all just people who need a Savior. No experience is wasted, whether good or bad. What an honor it is to be a part of His remarkable grace and what a privilege that He chooses to use ordinary people like us.

We're overflowing with expectation for ALL that God is going to do this month. And, actually, all within the same week! Go big or go home, right? :)

It's go time, baby! Literally.

Peace and {Not-So} Quiet

2012-01-19T08:22:00.000-06:00

Christmas was last month... remember that? A mere three weeks have gone by and it's already settled in the filing cabinet of memory with Valentine's Day now showcased in every storefront.

{And swimsuits... what's up with that? Actually, I know what's up with it. I'm in my ninth month of pregnancy, we still have months of cold weather left and I STILL want to look at bikinis for no reason at all. Thank you, Target marketing. Rant, sorry.}

Back to Christmas. The word PEACE, in its enticing serenity, kept drawing my attention this past holiday season. The word itself sounds lovely and is spoken of quite often. We all see it written on Christmas cards and hear it sung in carols, but not many times is it actually a focus for any of us. Busyness, schedules and to-do lists take over.

So what exactly is peace? The opposite of war? The stillness found where silence and passivity meet?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

It's funny how there have been times in my life when chaos is surrounding me but I simply feel, know and recognize the peace of God. On the flip side, there have been other times in my life when everything seems picture perfect and in place, yet for some reason I can't feel that peace. Usually God is stirring my heart out of my comfort zone for a specific purpose.

Peace is not always quiet. In fact, it's rarely quiet. The verse above says that the peace of God surpasses ALL understanding. I believe the type of peace mentioned here is His practical way of gently nudging us into His perfect will by peace of mind. However, the only way to feel those nudges and hear those whispers is to spend time with Him.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

What is He calling you to do that doesn't make perfect sense? Where is he leading you to stand firm when reason tells you to bail? Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.

In every decision and circumstance, seek Him for wisdom and a peace that goes beyond understanding!

Big Girl Room

2012-01-17T23:04:00.000-06:00

Maybe I'm nosey, but I love seeing others' home projects, so I thought I'd post our latest transition; Hallie's BIG GIRL room! It was time. She needed to leave her nursery nest and get cozy in her big girl accommodations so we could start making room for baby brother. {We're officially under the 1 month mark!} Behold, the finished product...

Ah, how I adore having a girl! Frills, ruffles and adorableness. It makes the little gal inside of me twirl for joy :) I had a vision, but my loving hubby wouldn't let me paint {being preggo and all} and I wouldn't let him paint {already having enough on his plate and all} so I summoned the talented Karissa with Bad Habit to help carry out my dream. She basically takes old/dying furniture and magically transforms them into shabby chic beauties. LOVE LOVE.

I was still able to get crafty with a few things. I painted and antiqued this old gold mirror...

Spruced up Hallie's plain white letters with some fun scrapbook paper...

And added a few extra homemade accessories to the room...

Not lacking true vintage style, this picture and frame hung in MY dad's nursery! :)

I can't forget the cupcakes. Our sweet girl adores her cupcakes...

She has seriously LOVED her new room and was definitely ready to be in there. Besides waking once every few nights to use the potty, she stays put {praise the Lord!} and even waits for us to come get her out of bed every morning after saying, "Mommy, Daddy, the sun woke up and I woke up!" She's excited that "bubba" gets to use her baby crib and tells me that he can sleep with her when he's a little older.

Anyways, just a peek into our world these days. Such memorable moments!

Christmas Fluff

2011-12-16T09:03:00.002-06:00

It's beginning to look a LOT like Christmas around here!

Our little helper is into all of the festivities this year. It's so fun! Last Christmas, we {as in SHE} still wanted to pull the shiny ornaments OFF of the tree. Not this year... NO WAY. She's a tiny perfectionist, with a plan for every trinket on a string. They each have their own special spot and are flawlessly in place.

That which followed tree decorating is a personal favorite of mine and I thought it was time to give Hallie a proper introduction: Hot cocoa. It, of course, did not disappoint. However, the true attention-getters were the 'mallows. Shocking, I know.

Let's see, what else? Oh, the gingerbread house. That was cute. Daddy was the builder and Hallie's area of expertise was undoubtedly the rooftop. She owned it! Little hands in charge of little candy pieces can only mean one thing... You're not gonna see most of it. Not that I can claim innocence in this particular matter...

Then there was Rhema. Lights, lights and {you got it} more lights. Miss Thing particularly enjoyed the fancy tunnel and sharing her "owl hat" with Daddy, who forgot his :) I was entertained by this as well. The cocoa was good, but no marshmallows.

Finally, it's not truly Christmas time until I've made my mom's famous sugar cookies. I can't remember a time when we {or she} didn't make them. They're yummy, crafty and I thoroughly enjoy myself a little art project every now and again. I think Hallie was a fan of this tradition as well!

You might be thinking, "Goodness, is this fluff what they do all day?" And the answer is YES. When I can catch a break from all that bon-bon eating and soap-opera watching, of course.

Ok, ok. I guess I could blog about cooking, cleaning, pottying, grocery shopping, endless tea partying, baby-doll playing, disciplining, laundry, bath time... but it's clearly just not as entertaining.

Besides, I like the Christmas fluff.

Apricot Pork Tenderloin

2011-12-06T22:11:00.001-06:00

Sweet goodness poured over meat. No wonder this is my husband's favorite!

Not only is this a staple meal that we frequent every few weeks, but it sounds/looks/tastes fancy... and just so happens to be the epitome of SIMPLE. Even those of you who "can't cook" can easily dominate this recipe.

2 pork tenderloins

1 regular jar of apricot preserves

1/3 C lemon juice

1/3 C ketchup

1 T soy sauce

{I use Hormel pork tenderloin - either peppercorn or teriyaki}

Place tenderloins in baking dish. Combine preserves, lemon juice, ketchup and soy sauce. Pour 1/2 of the sauce over pork and save 1/2 for dipping. Cover with foil and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

And YUM.

A Letter From the Past

2011-12-06T09:07:00.005-06:00

I love that the God of all creation is still the same God today and forever. The letter of Ephesians, written by Paul to the church at Ephesus, was meant to encourage those who believed in God in that present day and those who would believe in generations to come... that's us!

Let Paul's words strengthen you today. This letter was meant for you.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure and fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

Santa Claus

2011-12-02T08:37:00.000-06:00

"He's making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty and nice. Santa Claus is coming to town!"

I grew up believing in Santa. I always assumed that I'd play the game and teach my kids about Santa as well. After all, it's part of the fun, right? Tell the story, secretly wrap the gifts, eat the cookies, watch the twinkle in their eye.

Funny though... Now that the time has come to teach our little Hallie about Santa, my tongue gets tied. Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-Santa. We talk about the jolly old man and his big white beard, but not in much more detail than we do about Frosty or Rudolph.

We want Hallie to first and foremost know the true Christmas story. It's not about presents, toys or flying reindeer, but the celebration of Jesus' birth. Every time we see glowing lights, festive trees and even Santa Claus, we talk about how it's all part of a big birthday party for Jesus!

We're not, however, making a big fuss about her believing in Kris Kringle or putting extra emphasis on making sure she's passionate about what goes on at the North Pole.

I recognize this isn't the popular vote, but it's fun to see how every family puts their own tweak on holiday traditions.

What do you teach your children about Santa?

Unconventional Thanks

2011-11-23T22:51:00.000-06:00

Last Thanksgiving, I posted this. It’s pretty much the meat and potatoes of anything I could possibly be thankful for…

This year, I’m adding to that list with a heart of gratitude towards the typically unmentioned.

I’m thankful for spilled milk, fingerprints on the windows and toys scattered across the living room. My house may not stay clean for longer than 30 seconds, but I wouldn’t trade one mess for the giggles that fill our home. A day will come when everything will be quiet and spotless… Sounds terrible.

I’m thankful for the best husband in the world. He leaves sweet post-it notes on the breakfast table if he’s gone before I’m awake. He plays baby dolls with his baby and makes killer smoothies. He’s wise. He’s not too cool to watch chick flicks with his wife or to rub her pregnant feet ;) He works hard, speaks truth, gets up early to spend time with Jesus and does goofy dance moves to make his girls laugh.

I’m thankful to serve a God who could care less about ‘religion,’ but cares passionately about having an individual relationship with each one of us. I’m thankful that His grace is so much bigger than me, my days of selfishness and my moments of putting this world first. I’m thankful that He is constant, faithful and we simply have to turn to Him to be near to Him.

I’m thankful that my church, LifeChurch.tv, thinks outside of the box. They ask people in need to take back out of the offering bucket. They give away thousands of free resources each year, including the YouVersion Bible app, downloaded on over 3.2 million smart phones. They will do anything short of sin to reach people for Christ.

I’m thankful for this little guy in my belly. I’m thankful for the honor to be able to carry him. I’m even thankful when uncomfortable, sick and packin’ on the pounds. A healthy baby boy is developing inside of me, and while it’s easy to complain at times, it’s an incredible miracle for God to be at work within me.

I’m thankful to be a mom. As a mom, I’m thankful for loving grandparents, drive-thru windows, ponytail holders, flats, hand sanitizer and those travel stoppers at Starbucks that keep your coffee from spilling.

Happy Thanksgiving.
Enjoy your blessings, in every shape and size.

October in Snapshots

2011-11-21T14:47:00.001-06:00

Enough already! I'm really going to try and get back into the bloggin' swing of things... I think. To kickoff the potential domino effect, I give you October {in snapshots}. Enjoy!

Pumpkin patch girl

My family {my world!}

Love having a precious daughter. So special!

OKC Zoo with Grammy and G-Dad

First carving experience

Thumpkin the pumpkin

New friends

Halloween with cousin Taylor

Cute trick-or-treaters

The girls with Mimi and Poppy

My rehearsal dinner date

Growin' belly = growin' boy!

The mischievous smile we know all too well... :)

Two and a Half

2011-10-03T22:58:00.003-05:00

I've turned into a sappy mom. Call it pregnancy hormones or an emotional door that magically opens when you have kids - Whatever the reason, I've been a puddle of mush these past few days. If I look at Hallie's baby pictures... tears. If I'm thinking about something wonderful or nothing at all... more tears. The St. Jude Children's Hospital commercial had me BAWLING like a baby earlier this week. I'm talking a good ugly cry. So much so, I had to get my sleeping gal out of her bed to rock, cuddle and pray over her.

Wouldn't it be nice if we had the power to freeze time? Bedtime snuggles certainly won't make national headlines, but it's truly the bits and pieces of life that I'd love to preserve. Please excuse my sappy journalings...

Hallie Kate,

At two and a half, sweet Hallie Bear, you're an inquisitive little bundle of energy. Although if I were to call you Hallie Bear or Sweet Pea or any other nickname right now, you would immediately correct me with, "I'm Hallie Kate Jewell."

When you wake up, you call for "Moommmmy Princesssss" {No, I didn't teach you that, by the way...}. You and Daddy love making smoothies first thing in the morning. You sit on the counter and help him put fruit in the blender, one little piece at a time {although most of it goes straight into your mouth}. Another morning ritual involves lining up your gummy vitamins and picking a favorite. We also have to go outside immediately after breakfast to watch the neighbor boys get on the school bus. Pretty exciting!

You use goofy phrases such as, "cutie patootie, silly goose, cozy rosy and nakey booty." The other night you leaned against your little red chair and said, "Daddy, watch my donkey kick." You've told us that "God is really real" and "I love you as wide as I can." When it's time for bed but you want some extra love, you bat those big blue eyes and sweetly ask, "Wanna rock with me?" Yes, we realize that we're puddy in your hands.

You like to do things yourself. Imagine that? You move your little stool all over the house in order to brush your teeth, wash your hands, help Mommy cook and reach lots of things that you probably shouldn't. You've mastered opening the fridge, turning on lights and replacing empty toilet paper rolls. Like I said, it's the little things!

You love to slide down the "twirly whirly" slide at the park. You love animals. You LOVE when Daddy gets home. You love your class and friends at church. You love to do forward rolls. You love to swing, play chase and have pretend picnics with your stuffed animals. You love your new baby brother. You kiss my belly and say, "I love you tiny baby." You've also heard my stomach growl a few times, so you think that he should, "growl again bubba, growl!"

There are so many things that I love about being your Mommy. I know I'll never comprehend God's great love for us, but I certainly think I understand a tad more. Even on days filled with negotiations, fits and lots of learning, there's nowhere else I'd rather be. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me to be your Mommy!

We love you, Hallie Bear. I mean... Hallie Kate Jewell :)

Friends With Benefits

2011-09-18T07:17:00.012-05:00

We all want them, right?

I'm talking about the people in our lives who are quick to offer a non-condemning overlook, even on our most questionable days.

A term more commonly known as the benefit of the doubt.

It's a beautiful thing, the BOTD. Who doesn't want their friend/spouse/co-worker to assume the best in them? My mom has always been particularly great at this and I've often experienced her prompt refusal to presume the negative.

Interestingly though, as much as we love {and almost expect} for someone else to understand our underlying intentions, we sometimes forget to return the gesture.

Give someone the benefit of the doubt today; you'll probably need it tomorrow!

"...Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." James 1:19-20

The Great Outdoors

2011-09-15T09:01:00.000-05:00

Whew, this summer has been a hot one {as if you didn't already know}... Praise Jesus we are finally entering into some cooler weather with Fall lingering just around the corner.

We took Hallie-bear on her first TRUE camping trip, which involved a tent, sleeping bags and a blanket of stars. There also would have been a lovely campfire with complimenting s'mores if there hadn't been a burn ban.

It took her FOREVER to fall asleep since she's not used to snoozing between ol' Mom and Dad. In fact, she was bouncing off the nylon tent walls and you could probably hear her giggles a mile away.

Once we finally got a few zzz's and ate a hearty camp breakfast the next morning, we were ready for some fishing. She thought it was pretty fun, but mostly because she loves to be like Daddy AND her Mickey pole is fabulous.

Throwing rocks happened to be even more entertaining than fish. Overall, I think her first official camping trip in the great outdoors was a success :)

Drum Roll Please...

2011-08-28T21:03:00.000-05:00

Well folks, there seems to be a stem on the apple...

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord." 1 Samuel 1:27-28

Praising God for such a sweet gift that can only come from Him!

Satisfy

2011-08-18T13:36:00.001-05:00

We all have those days. Days when we feel inadequate and overwhelmed. Days when we're scrambling, entangled with life's demands, and the end of our rope is clearly within reach.

You know what I love though? God doesn't want us to be some kind of overly-polished superficial facade. He wants us to be real in our weakness so that He can sustain us. He wants us to be vulnerable in our limitations so that He can fill the gaps.

He wants us to reach for Him, just as we are. He ALONE can satisfy.

"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs..."

Baby on Board!

2011-08-13T20:05:00.001-05:00

For those of you who haven't heard, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER BABY!!! We are super excited, humbled and feel beyond blessed to be adding a new bundle of love to our family.

Hallie would like to share a lil' something as well...

And now for a few frequently asked questions...

How far along are you and when are you due?: I'm 12 1/2 weeks and my due date is February 22nd {my mom's birthday!}. I will be having another c-section, so little one will most likely be arriving a few days before the actual date. I'm looking forward to NOT repeating the lovely 32 hours of labor!

When/how did you find out you were pregnant?: It was Father's Day. I took a test and put it under a wash cloth, then Derek and I went into the bathroom together. The conversation went something like this: "Alright babe, one line is negative, two means we're pregnant... You ready?" Two lines later, we were dancing around the bathroom. I thought it was a pretty good Father's Day gift.

How are you feeling?: Now that I'm finally getting past the blur of nausea I've been in for the past 6 weeks, I'm feeling pretty good. If you're wondering why I've been MIA from the blog lately {which you're probably not}, that's why. Sweet 2nd trimester, you are incredibly welcome here!

Do you want a boy or a girl?: We are truly happy with either. A boy would be neat so we'd have one of each, but girls are precious and we know sister relationships are really special. God has a perfect plan and already knows every detail about this baby. He is going to give us exactly what he wants us to have!

Do you have that instinctive motherly feeling about the sex of the baby?: Nope. This pregnancy has been similar to when I was pregnant with Hallie and the baby's heart rate was pretty high, which makes me think it could be a girl. However, I've craved a few different foods and had various symptoms I didn't have with the first, which makes me think it could be a boy. I'd say there's a 50/50 chance it's one of the two ;)

Are you showing yet?: Um, yes. I showed pretty quickly with Hallie but this bump seemed to pop out even sooner. I'm still in the "she looks like she's been eating too many donuts" phase right now, so I'm glad the word is out. Mmm, donuts...

Does Hallie understand?: I really think she does. She hugs my belly, kisses it and says "I love you tiny baby." She also feeds it crackers through my belly button and talks about how the baby is going to live at our house. We got her a book about becoming a big sister and she's loving her promotion.

I guess that's all the baby news for now... Hope you're enjoying your Saturday!

Firecracker Confusion

2011-07-04T22:58:00.000-05:00

Hallie: There's one! There's one! There's one!
Me: Those are some sparkly fireworks.
Hallie: No, they're firecrackers.
Me: Oh I see.
Hallie: We don't eat firecrackers. We only eat regular crackers.
Me: You're right.
Hallie: Because firecrackers burn our mouths and then we have to drink water.
Me: Ok, let's just not eat firecrackers then.
Hallie: They are loud! I should put my sunglasses on so they won't hurt my ears.
Me: Well, we wear our sunglasses so the sun doesn't hurt our eyes. How 'bout you just cover your ears.
Hallie: Then we should put on sunscreen so they don't burn our skin... Oh, there's one! There's one! There's one! (x87)

Happy 4th of July! Don't eat the firecrackers...

Drip. Drip. Drip.

2011-06-28T07:56:00.002-05:00

You're snuggled in bed on a rainy Saturday morning, engulfed with warm blankets and lulled by the storm.

Drip. Drip.

In the midst of sheer bliss, something wet hits your forehead.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

"A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm." Proverbs 27:15

Thankful for this practical nugget of wisdom this morning. I don't think such a verse requires much more elaboration... Plenty to stew on :)

God, help us to be women after your heart. Give us the encouraging words to empower our men to be mighty leaders for your kingdom!

Maine Squeeze

2011-06-21T22:30:00.003-05:00

You're probably asking yourself, "Why Maine?" Don't worry, you're not alone. It's apparently the question to ask an Oklahoma couple venturing out to the Maine coast. By the skeptical tone we heard plenty more than once, you'd think there was nothing more than a city dump to be found. CLEARLY a pile of trash...

Besides the fact that my husband and I are senior citizens trapped in younger bodies, I've always secretly dreamed of exploring old lighthouses and eating seafood in the quaint harbor towns. So, in the name of love we left our little sweetie {which wasn't easy} with wonderful/loving/trustworthy grandparents and headed northeast for some lobster rolls, a salty ocean breeze and five years of marriage to celebrate.

We seriously had the BEST TIME. Nothing beats an adventurous getaway and some quality time with my Maine squeeze. Not to mention... God's immaculate creation. Fresh lobster. Dramatic rocky coastline. Thriving heritage. Breathtaking lighthouses. Seaside cottages. Clam chowder. Old-fashioned charm. Scrumptious ice cream. Adorable architecture. Biking through fishing villages. Harbor sunsets.

I'm telling ya... you should go.

You can check out more pictures from our trip HERE :)

Summer Girl

2011-06-10T22:05:00.007-05:00

Our little ray of sunshine is officially soaking up all that summer has to offer.

Pools, sprinklers, splash parks... if water is involved, she's loving every minute! Her new found love involves jumping from the side of the pool to Mommy, laughing all the way.

Out at the farm, Poppy has new baby chickens. She tells us, "They're sooo cutie patootie!"

It was "show day" at Little Gym yesterday. I have SO enjoyed taking this adorable Mommy and Me class together. She received her first medal and has yet to take it off except when we make her at bedtime :)

After a long summer day, sometimes a girl just needs to cuddle with her Daddy...

and sometimes Daddy is more ready for bed than she is.

9 Things You Simply MUST DO {part 1}

2011-06-08T07:58:00.000-05:00

I'm in the middle of a fabulous book titled, "9 Things You Simply MUST DO to Succeed in Love and Life" by Christian psychologist, Dr. Henry Cloud. It's thought-provoking and a sharp read!

Cloud researched individuals who seemed to be living life to the fullest, having personal and professional "success." He noticed a trend, suggesting that these people share specific patterns of thinking and acting while handling circumstances and resolving situations. The author calls these people, Déjà vu people {read the book and you'll see why}.

There are "9 Things" - principles - that we can observe and adopt as our own. Here are some highlights from the first 3...

Principle #1 - Dig it Up

"Déjà vu people listen to what's going on inside, good or bad. They bring it up and deal with it." {pg.33}
"It's our internal life that creates our external one. So, to find our lives we must find what lies below the surface of our skin." {pg.26)
"Those who succeed in any aspect of life have not allowed those influences to keep their dreams and desires hidden. They have dug them up, faced their fears, taken risks, failed, gotten up again and found that they could indeed build a beautiful building." {pg.29}

Principle #2 - Pull the Tooth

"Déjà vu people get rid of the bad stuff. Period. Sometimes quickly and sometimes through a process, but they get rid of it." {pg.45}
Let go of the good things that are distracting us from the best things. "Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial." {1 Corinthians 6:12}
"Many people live lives that do not soar because they do not deal with negative drains to begin with." {pg.55}

Principle #3 - Play the Movie

"Déjà vu people rarely take action without considering its future implications." {pg.71}
"Any one thing you do is only a scene in a larger movie. To understand that action, you have to play it out all the way to the end of the movie." {pg.72}
"When you face the fact that you are powerless, then you look outside of yourself to find the power to do what you are unable to do. That is how people usually change, and it works." {pg.77}

It's really much better in full script, but hopefully you enjoyed the cliff-note version for now!

Blogiversary

2011-06-05T21:26:00.004-05:00

It just dawned on me that I started this little blogging venture last May, which means I've apparantly been at it for over a year now! Crazy how quickly time can fly by. Hallie had just started walking and was still happily sharing her toys {ahh, memories}.

It's easy for a day to turn into a week and into a full year without hardly noticing. I think blogging has helped me to intentionally stop and observe God's work and presence in my life.

One thing I've realized while blogging this past year is that I really enjoy hearing from you. Sure I hold the inital paintbrush, but getting to hear your stories and thought-provoking comments can make it more than just scribbles. I suppose I will continue to babble about what's on my heart, topics I find interesting and other random tidbits of no importance whatsoever. Any other suggestions?

Anyhow, thanks to whoever might happen to read these ramblings of mine...