Silent Moments

     Currently laying on the couch listening to peace and quiet. After the day I had, it reminds how thankful I am for the little moments of rest that rarely happen these days! Not that I'm complaining, because I love the hustle and bustle of having little ones around. My Mom confessed to me that she always has to have on the TV or radio for background noise because she was never able to get used to complete silence after having kids. Right now I bask in the silence, but I know that one day I will miss those high pitched squeals, tattling on siblings, fussy babies, and the pitter patter of little feet. 
     Well, right now, it's off of here to play Skyrim with the hubby (only my new favorite game, lol) and gear up for what I'm sure will be another hectic day of fun with my Bug and Bop. Hope each of you is having a blessed week!!!

Sick Baby Girl

     Our baby girl is sick. :-(  She has been running a fever since Saturday morning. Over the weekend it was around 99 to 100, so I didn't think anything of it. All the doctors will tell you that kids don't run a fever when teething, but we know better. Both of our kids always run low grades while teething. But, yesterday evening it went up to 101 and by 10 last night it was up to 103.3...with Tylenol. So, first thing this morning we called to set up an appointment, which is at 2:20 today. I have a feeling it's either strep or an ear infection...simply because when she eats, she acts like she is in pain. So, if you don't mind, please say a prayer for our baby girl...that the Lord will heal her quickly. 

Tree Decorating in Photos

    I had a great day with the family. We headed out to Once Upon a Child this morning and traded in some of the clothes Haleigh outgrew and left with a space saver booster seat and $2 store credit. I was pretty stoked about that. When we got home, we laid the kids down for their naps and I (not so patiently) waited for them to wake up. They FINALLY work up and we got to work decorating our Christmas tree. And I had my camera in hand ready to capture some memories. Here are some highlights...

Giving Thanks

     As we are quickly approaching Thanksgiving I am becoming more aware of the blessings God has provided throughout this past year. There have been ups (bringing my daughter into the world, celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary, strengthening my walk with Christ, being a mom to two under two) and downs (saying goodbye to my father in law too soon, struggling financially, dealing with being a mom to two under two). But through it all, God has found a way to bless me and my family. 
     In return for uncountable blessings and the greatest GIFT of all (my salvation through Jesus Christ) I owe everything to HIM...my God, my Creator, and the One who holds my life in His hands. As we give thanks this Thursday, remember to lift up your hands to Heaven and thank the Lord for all of your blessings. For without Him, nothing matters.


Colossians 3:17 – "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Psalm 30:12 – "That my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever."

    God bless you all! Praying each of you has a wonderful (and uplifting) Thanksgiving. 

JONAH!!!

     We've started doing a bible story a day with Noah Bug. Today we learned about Jonah and the Whale. :-)  I think he got it because when he was finished Caleb asked him what he learned. Noah's response..."Man bad. Jeez-ez mad. Button (Noah's word for belly button). Fish. YES!!! (with fist pump)" Not quite sure why he thought that Jonah was in the whale's belly button, but close enough for a 22 month old, haha. It was absolutely ADORABLE! Plus, it just melts my heart to see that light bulb going off in his head when he learns new stories from Bible. And when he tries to pray...it's what every parent needs to lift their spirits! *grin*  Thanking God for child-like faith and all that comes with it. 

Gearing up for CHRISTmas

    As you can tell by my new blog layout...I'm totally ready for Christmas! :-)  Can't wait to have Thanksgiving out of the way so I can put up our tree and start decorating!!!
     Had a fun walk with the kids today! It actually warmed up to around 60 degrees so it wasn't too chilly outside. And I really think Bug had a blast being able to get out of the house for a while.

New Camera Fun

     Thanks to my WONDERFUL husband who bought me the camera I've been wanting since I was like 10! Well...maybe not the exact camera I wanted when I was 10, but one way better than what I imagined. God is so good to have blessed me with Caleb!!!

God is My Strength

    Wow! What a busy week I've had. Although it hasn't been the easiest, I've felt God holding me up through every second of it. Without Him, I often find myself wondering who and where I would be. His Love overwhelms and shows me that even through all of this "Earthly stuff" there is a Light at the end of the tunnel. 
     Just wanted to update a little bit since it's been almost a week since I posted last. The kids have just kept me super busy...especially since Haleigh tried taking her first steps this week. Yes, that's right. Baby girl is only 7 1/2 months old and has taken her first steps. She is still very wobbly and would much prefer holding onto a piece of furniture, or her brother, or Mommy and Daddy's legs to maneuver around, but she is able to toddle on her own. I honestly can't believe it. Our pediatrician told us that Noah walked early (around 9 1/2 months) so never would I have imagined Haleigh would beat that milestone. But, baby girl showed me, lol. 
     Noah has been showing true toddler colors this week with tantrums, fighting hard against going to bed, picking on his sister, and testing Mama and Dada's patience. It's my fault, really...I found myself praying for patience last week, so God is simply answering my prayers. I'm not going to lie...this test of patience has been rough; really rough. There have been days I've broke down and cried...sobbed until I was clinging to the Lord with every fiber of my being. I won't go into specifics of everything, just that through it all, I praised God for the good days and the bad. There is a reason for everything. I truly believe that. 
     Anyways, I think I will get off of here for now. Going to clean up the house a little bit before hubby gets home since it looks like a tornado touched down in my living room. :-)  Have a blessed day, everyone. 

Sticking to Commitments

     First off, I want to say a big THANK YOU to all of our men and women currently serving or who have served to protect our country. Happy Veteran's Day!  
     I woke up this morning determined to stick with my workout plans. I do cardio every other day and something light like yoga or Pilates on the other days. It seems to be working well as I've been losing about 2 pounds a week over the last couple of weeks. It's definitely not always easy to fit in a workout with having two little ones, but a lot of prayer and determination has kept me on track with my plans. Hubby had the day off so as soon as I woke up, I got on my exercise clothes (yes, the ones I wore in COLLEGE) and headed out for a jog. Let me just say that venturing out this morning, willing to work out while it was in the 30s, demonstrates my devotion to this goal I've set for myself...it was FREEZING. 
     The Lord has shown me that my body is a temple...HIS temple. Therefore, while working on strengthening my walk with God, I am simultaneously focusing on keeping my earthly body in good shape as well. And with God, all things are possible!!! 
      Well, Noah's Baby Einstein video is almost over so I'm going to get off of here and feed little man before I put him down for a nap. Please say a prayer for little Haleigh as she is getting another tooth! :-(  Blessings to all!!!

Don't Get Stuck in Grace

    Today, I was doing my Bible Study for the Stay at Home Mom, and the Lord laid this message upon my heart today; which is one I really needed to hear. 

"Grace is a tool used to help us move on. Grace is forgiveness and is given to the person who doesn’t deserve forgiveness. Grace is the gift that is given even when we don’t deserve it. Grace is NOT an excuse for us to deny the truth in the Bible, nor is it to be used as an excuse not to follow God in full obedience to His word.Grace is designed to give us the power and the confidence to move forward with a life of obedience. But sometimes we can stay stuck in grace, feeling like it is enough, when in fact grace and obedience really go hand in hand.Grace is something we can live in daily. Grace isn’t stationary, it goes with us as we walk in truth, living a life of obedience to God and His word."

I am always finding myself making mistakes and then saying, "oh well...I know God will forgive me!"  This is the WRONG attitude for me to have. Instead, I should feel convicted and heartbroken that I've broken the promise I made to God in that I would take up the cross and follow Him. Sometimes, when life gets too easy, I am reminded that I am not fully giving myself over to the Lord. This life should NOT always be easy and I should never be comfortable enough that I'm not fully relying on God each and every single day. 

I've found that when I witness, strengthen my walk with the Lord, and truly live in HIS word, that's when I am bombarded with life's difficulties. I am not angry with God for these things, but am continually thankful for them, as they make my walk with the Lord stronger. I want to live my life praising my Savior for the gift of salvation...a gift I don't deserve. And I can't wait until the day I see Heaven and all my friends and family who have joined the Lord before me...everyday singing praises to my Yahweh (the one and only God) on the streets of gold and mansions by the sea. Praise be to God!!!

Update on Eye Appointment

     Just got finished up at the eye doctor a little while ago. The doctor informed me that all the fluid behind my retina if FINALLY gone, which I am praising God for. Because I had it for so long, it caused the vision in my right eye to worsen, which resulted in the doctor writing me a prescription for eyeglasses. Currently, I have only been using glasses for up close work including working on the computer, reading etc. But now, unfortunately, I am going to have to start wearing them 24/7. Please pray that I will adjust to them quickly and I won't get too many headaches while getting used to them. (That's what happened when I started wearing my last pair...horrible headaches and migraines for a couple of weeks). 
     Both the little ones are napping so I'm going to work on my bible study and rest for a while. Have a blessed day everyone!
     

The Perfect Will of God

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.”

     We received the letter from Richmond today informing us that Caleb was not being offered the position. I felt tears of disappointment begin to fall down my cheeks but in the same moment, was comforted in knowing that this is God's PERFECT will for my family. I think the crying was mainly due to my best friend being located in Richmond and the hopes I had of being able to see her pretty face every day...and those adorable children of hers, lol! *smile*  But knowing that God has a different plan for my life brings a smile to my face and a lightness to my heart...if I trust in Him and follow in His footsteps, I will always be heading in the right direction. After all, our time our Earth is fleeting but I can always look forward to knowing I get to spend eternity in Heaven with my Savior!!! It's such a great feeling knowing that with my faith placed in the Lord, I never have to worry; that weight on my shoulders feeling is GONE because I know God is my strength in every situation. Today and everyday He blesses me with another day of life here on Earth, I will continue to praise Him and let His light shine through me! This, I know, is a blessing in disguise. God works in mysterious ways, but that's the magic of it all...FAITH!!!

     I started with a piece of scripture so it seems fitting to end this post with another verse from the Good Book. 

Matthew 17:20

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. "

Editing Fun

    Today Hubby bought me Photoshop software which I have been wanting for FOREVER!!! :-)  Let's just say that the not so thin instructional manual was quite an interesting read for the day. Seriously, I felt like I was in 2D design  all over again. At least I have had some experience with Photoshop in the past because if I hadn't, oh my goodness...I would have been in a tizzy for sure, lol. I spent all evening experimenting with features (and I'm not even halfway to having them all figured out) and here is one of the better ones of the day. 

    This was taken during the Craig County Fall Festival...grandparents enjoying spending time with their grandbabies. Anyways, it's off of here for the night because even though it's 10:15, it's actually sort of 9:15? Right?  I know we are "falling back" an hour tonight which (hopefully) means an extra hour of sleep...as long as it doesn't throw the kids off too bad. Speaking of that, the kids slept until 8am which means hubs and I did too!!! Hooray for that! Hope ya'll have a nice evening!

Thankful for Many Blessings

    I woke up this morning very well rested. I decided to go to bed around 10ish last night and was definitely out by 10:30. The kids didn't wake up until 7:30am (and what an answer to prayers that was!!) so I got a good nine hours of sleep. HALLELUJAH! Then, I got up and went into the kitchen to check the calendar...the first thing I do every morning to see what we have on the agenda for that day. I don't know why it caught me off guard but it's the first of the November. This year has went by so fast it's hard to believe it's already so close to Christmas. But, I'm definitely not complaining as this part of the year is my favorite. Caleb has a lot of days off for all of the holidays and then we get to eat lots of yummy food for Thanksgiving. And Christmas...what a wonderful holiday, getting to celebrate the birth of our wonderful Savior!!! 
     We are still (not so patiently) waiting on a reply back about the possible job in Richmond. We are supposed to hear back by next Friday at the latest but I'm really hoping we hear back sooner, as I get more nervous by the day. Even so, we are putting our full trust and faith in the Lord because He, without a doubt, will always guide us in the right direction! *smile*  
     Well, the kids are both napping so I will probably try to clean up the house and relax for a little while. Today was payday so when hubby gets home we are going grocery shopping and paying bills. Joy, Joy, Joy!!! Have a blessed Tuesday everyone!!