Days...

This is what 3 1/2 months look like. She is so happy and joyful all the time. My heart melts at her coos and smiling. This is my theme song for her, "Chunky monkey, chunky monkey, chunk, chunk, chunk." She truly has got so many rolls, I love them.

This is what boys do with too much time on their hands! Those are rings that I use to hold note cards together. Thank goodness after seeing his picture, he didn't think he looked so cute.

Days have been going by so fast. It is amazing how fast time goes when we are always working on something.

Have a blessed day.

Being a Princess

To me, there is nothing cuter than girls dressing up. They love feeling like a princess. I think God gave us that wonderful gift because we are His delight, His princess. He makes us beautiful from the inside out, He delights in us. I can't think of anything better.

Somedays, I don't quite feel like a princess. Somedays, I am lucky to have my hair done. But amidst all that chaos of life, I am sure glad that there are times to remember that I am princess, adored by One. One who knows me like no other. He knows my heart, my dreams, my thoughts, my frustrations, my everything. And everyday, His mercies are new, everyday He waits patiently for me, everyday He loves me, whether I feel like a princess or not or whether my hair is done or not.

Sisters are gifts from God, best friends for life.

Princess for the Lord in training.

Gotta love the "cheese" and those glasses.

3 Princess, one day each one will bring glory and honor to Him.

This is how Mady sleeps sometimes. Just loves to be wrapped up in the arms of her daddy. She is a princess in training, being wrapped in the security of her daddy, who is really an extension of her Heavenly Daddy.

Okay, not normally into the sad faces, however, this one is the cutest face I have ever seen. If I could just suck on that bottom lip with kisses. I would! Oh, wait, I have. :)

Have a most blessed day relishing in what the Lord has made and just how much He adores you.

Sisters, best friends for life. Princess in training. Bringing glory to God. How I love them all! I pray that they know how much they are loved and adored and I pray that each day I get to show them how.

For me, that is a hard one, life sure gets busy and there isn't much time for hugs and kisses because of laundry, cleaning, school, discipline and etc. But I have to make more time for that, a more conscious effort to praise them and enjoy them. Because my oldest will be 10 in one month. And that time has travelled by fast. I need to hold on to the precious moments I have and create memories with joy and laughter. You know as a home schooling mom, I am realzing that maybe education isn't the most important. If I teach them the love of learning that is what is important. If I focus on their character, that will prevail in a world where character is obsolete. But if my hearts focus is on teaching them every minute of the day about our Precious Lord and Savior, won't they then learn all they need? Aren't they going to be taken care of by God in all aspects of their lives? I truly believe so, nothing is more important than their hearts. To have them, to share with them, and don't think I have this perfected, I am just reminding myself.

God Bless.

Beauty

The Lord has created many beautiful things. You can see the beauty in life in so many areas, sometimes I am overwhelmed with such a sense of awe! God is so good to me and so many others. I am thankful for the way He is loving and faithful. The way He teaches, trains, and prunes, and at times disciplines. He is such a wonderful example of what a parent should strive to be. I truly love my Lord and want so much to please Him and live for him.

Here are some fun pictures of what we have been up to. Life has been full of teaching, full of smiles, full of days when I just want to hide under the covers, but mostly it has been full of God's grace to raise His children for Him, love my husband for Him, and live my life with Him.

Every morning about 8am Mady falls asleep in her swing. It is here she sleeps the whole morning, usually 4-5 hours. Which is an absolute blessing to be able to do school, chores, and other details in the morning. She is such an absolute blessing and sweetheart I could never imagine my heart without her.

This is a beautiful little pond by our cabin in Pinetop-Lakeside. It was such a beautiful hike and the kids loved being out in the open.

A small creek that was of fascination to a little boy, because boys and mud go hand in hand. :)

My four blessings, number 5 was asleep in the front pack. Gotta love those! I can hike, cook, clean, kiss, hug, and make owies better, all with her close by my heart.

Here the 3 oldest. They are so funny together. That is another lake on the same hike. There was so much water everywhere, just small little lakes and such. It was awesome. Lots of squirrels, deer, and just the beautiful peace of the forest.

Okay, this was the most beautiful of spots on our little time up at the cabin. I truly felt the presence of the Lord. It was cold, raining, and the kids had enough of being in the car. So we let them out. Sweaters on, and the adventure began. I stayed in the car nursing, but left the van door open to smell the rain, hear the rain, and most of all just enjoy the moment. No one can begin to understand how this moment touched my soul forever.

The Little Colorado flowed during the rain, and that sound was so incredible. The trickling of the rain, the water moving over the rocks and trees, the breeze through the trees. Amazing.

Even though my husband is a city worker, he is a country boy at heart. If he could have a windmill in our yard he would be all over it. So instead we have a picture. He is such an amazing man, God knew what He was doing when we met. My life would not be the same without him. My heart would not be the same without him. I truly cherish and love him.

3 months comes and goes so quickly!! I can't believe it. My heart is overwhelmed with joy when I think of my Mady J (Madeline Joy). She is a true delight in our home. And now with her coos, and smiling, I can't get enough. I am one of those wacko moms who just sits and talks baby talk in the most highest pitch voice I can without shattering the windows just so I can see her smile. It might take me an hour, but it was so worth it.

I just have to say, "Girls rule and boys drool."


Have a blessed week. Life is too good and God is even better. We serve an Awesome God and I am so thankful to have an amazing High King!

We have been so busy! School is a long day, so long to the days of napping when the baby goes down. That time is now filled with working on school things, taking care of added chores, cleaning up, working on the business, or anything else that needs my attention.

Home is now bustling with structured chaos, whereas before it was just chaos. The kids are adjusting really well to everything and really loving their new school books.

I am really enjoying our new busyness and even now enjoying more than ever being a mom. I am so on fire for God and all that He has done for us and wanting to shout it out from the rooftops.

We do have our challenges though, like the never ending arguing... That seems to be a tough one to get over, and then we have a willful 2 year old who demands so much attention I am surprised that I can get anything else done. But in the end I know who she will be like and the much needed training and discipline will work out in the end.

Life is what it is, it is easy to fall into a poor me state, but when I focus on the Lord and what He has called me to do, I all of a sudden feel a little lighter in my step, a little more joyful, and life is easier to take. But somedays it is literally one hour at a time. :)

Life isn't much right now, but I feel God working and that is always a joy, to know that I am being pruned and trimmed for His glory. Because isn't that what I was created for?