Taking a break...

As you can tell I've fallen off the blogging bandwagon...I hope to get back on eventually but right now I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with sickness, duties of mommy-hood, and trying to make ends meet. I'm taking a bit of a sabbatical and hope to return soon...

Strolling down memory lane...

Well everyone at our house, except Josie thank God, has been sick this weekend. Phil started last week with a bad cold-congestion, coughing, and body aches. Riley and I started with it Friday and it hit us hardest last night. Today my thoughtful mother-in-law has us at her house to give me some time to relax and help out with Riley. So I'm going to take advantage of the time and post some pictures real quick...


With Mamaw's passing has come the task of cleaning out her house. She lived in a big house on a 100+ acre farm where my mom and her siblings grew up. Sadly because of nursing home and caretaker expenses, my family had to sell her farm back in the fall but she got to stay in the house. It was so hard going back in the house with her not there and things so familiar to me being emptied out. Yet it was great to reminisce on such wonderful memories at Mamaw's house.



I LOVE antiques and appreciate the details of Mamaw's house like these mantles. I wish we could take them with us!

This is where so many of us grandkids have made memories...on her stairs. No telling how many bottoms have slid down those steps or banister!

Another love of mine is old barns. I think the inside of Mamaw's is so neat and loved how the sun streamed through.

Another one of my favorite places at Mamaw's, the creek. We spent SO much time down here playing in the sand and running back and forth across the rocks that use to lead from one side to the other. Daddy and Riley waded through thanks to some "not-so-waterproof boots" as Daddy found out later!

So many memories that will never be forgotten in this old house and on this farm.

Where's the 72 degree temps?!

Meteorologists forecast it to be 72 today so all day I have been looking forward to getting outside. After supper we headed out...it was not 72 degrees!!!! I don't know what the temperature was but it was a bit chilly and very windy. Josie and I didn't stay out long with the wind so I was bummed. The kiddos did at least get to swing together with Daddy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! The girls and I had a good day at home making fun Valentine stuff, decorating, and cooking for our Valentine dinner. I really wanted to start some traditions for this holiday, especially teaching our girls to focus on the love God shows for us and how we are to show that love for each other...

We made "Jesus Loves Me" crowns...

Cards for Daddy and grandparents...

Then we decorated and set a "fancy" table for dinner.

We made heart-shaped biscuits...and Riley made a mess!

Isn't this sweetheart precious?

Riley loved drinking out of the "fancy" glasses.

After dinner, we read what love truly is...from I Corinthians 13.

We did the get the girls a few gifts, nothing major.

I am so thankful for the love that I have from God, my wonderful husband, and beautiful girls. I feel so blessed...

Purity...

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Matthew 5:8

In a world so tainted by sin and selfish nature, purity seems to be a rarity. Yet this weekend we were blessed to celebrate one of the purest souls that I have ever known...my mamaw.

Mamaw was such a kind, gentle woman. She loved everyone with an unconditional love, never judged others, nor did she have anyone she could call an enemy. I can't ever recall seeing her lose her patience or her temper with anyone, even in trying moments. In my eyes, and many others, she was perfect.

On top of my memories of her pure heart, I feel like I actually, truly knew my mamaw. I think some grandkids "know" their grandparents from visiting on holidays and such but I had a wonderfully close relationship with her. I spent many a day at Mamaw's house when I was younger. There were years in my childhood that my mom worked but instead of having to go to a babysitter, I got to go to Mamaw's. I enjoyed everyday with her! Our days started with gravy and biscuits almost every morning and we would spend the day swinging on her front porch swing, walking to the creek, or even venturing out to town.

Mamaw's house was the place for my cousins and I to hang out and spend the night. I don't really remember there being any toys at her house yet we always enjoyed ourselves and never wanted to leave. From writing on the old walls in her upstairs (and yes, she knew we were doing it!), to sliding down her steps or banister, to pulling a mattress in the living room floor and staying up late talking, we loved our times at Mamaw's house.

It was so hard to lose such a wonderful, pure person but she lived a full, happy life and is now rejoicing in Heaven. Monday, two days after we buried Mamaw we had the most beautiful snow. The flakes were the biggest I'd ever seen. They looked like angel's wings and the softness and pure white of the flakes made me think of Mamaw. She was an angel here on Earth and is now an angel in Heaven. I pray that as she looks down on me and my children that I can begin to mirror her character more and more everyday.

"Create in me a pure heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

Psalm 51:10

An angel is home...

For 92 years, an angel walked among us, cared for us, cooked for us, and loved us. She never had a bad thing to say about another person nor did she ever lose her temper. After years of suffering and longing to be with her Lord, this angel finally went home on February 1st. We miss her so but are blessed that she is finally healthy and whole, walking the streets of gold.

Love you Mamaw.

One of those weeks with some lessons learned...

I really have been meaning to post but it has just been one of those weeks. It started out pretty well but later in the week Josie got sick with a fever and a cold. I took her in to the doctor but her ears were clear and the flu test was negative. I was glad to hear that but hoped for some medicine for a fix...didn't happen. I know, not everything needs medicine but I HATE seeing my baby sick. We were so blessed with Riley, she was hardly ever sick so this is new for me! The first time she got sick she was about 15 months old and it was very minor. Since then maybe once or twice so when Josie came down with an ear infection a month or so ago, I must admit I cried when the doctor told me! I know, some of you must think I'm crazy...sickness is going to happen but I'm just having a hard time with it.

Anyway, Josie is still under the weather, no temp but her nose is streaming and she has a horrible cough, especially when she lays down. If it's not better in a day or so, this worrying mommy is taking her back to the doc. (And of course, I've caught whatever she has and feel terrible but mommies don't get time to be sick, right?)

On top of having a sick baby, I feel like I overloaded myself a bit last week with little jobs and things I'd committed to do for people. Nothing too major but each one together wore on me.

Then came payday for Phil...ugh. We had to add me to his health insurance this year so that came out of his January check...again I say ugh. As much as I know that God is our provider and He will take care of us it's hard not to get a little discouraged and let worry creep in. But, what does worry do about it...nothing so all we can do is keep trusting in God to provide...at least we even have a paycheck, right?

Needless to say my attitude probably hasn't been the best this past week, plus I've been devoting a lot more attention to Josie with her being sick and Riley could tell. It's funny how intuitive kids are...if I'm in a grumpy mood or she senses that I'm distracted, she will do everything in her power to get my attention, good or bad. Now I am definitely not saying she's been bad but she has been a bit trying. It's hard not to get mad and just react in anger but I am trying hard to let God teach me patience and deal with her calmly. I have to remind myself constantly that she is human and, on top of that, she's just 3 years old!

Now, Saturday came and I had a laundry list of things to get accomplished...didn't happen. Instead I had a sick baby, crying because she'd pulled a piece of dollhouse furniture off and it smacked her in the nose and left a little cut. I was wiping snot and blood in one swoop when Riley started hopping around with a small inflated ring around both of her legs, binding them together. I kept telling her she needed to stop or she might fall...can you predict what happened? Long story short, she fell into a table, sliced her chin open, and we landed in my father-in-law's office for stitches! STITCHES! I didn't get my first set of stitches until I was an adult and I was a pretty active kid. Needless to say, she was not happy about getting stitches and it took three of us to hold her down. After the fact, she is fine and actually shows off her boo-boo like it's a badge of courage! I dread having to get them taken out though...

Well in the midst of all the craziness, I found myself emotionally and physically drained on Saturday afternoon. I had not brushed my teeth nor had a shower at that point so I asked Phil just for a few minutes to myself. After my shower, I spied a dress I'd bought for Josie for Christmas and had been meaning to return. Couldn't do that though because I couldn't find the receipt! So on top of the overwhelming feelings I already had, I started beating myself up for the fact that my house was such a mess that I couldn't even find a silly little receipt! Then something (not just something, God) told me to look in the last purse I'd used...sure enough there was the receipt. That little instance blessed me as much as getting a $100 check in the mail. To think, I'd had a stinking attitude and probably grumbled more than I should have this week but God was still thinking of me and blessing me, even in the smallest details.

Now for the lesson I've learned from all this...I found myself frustrated at times with Riley this week when she showed selfishness or I felt like her maid. Yet, here I was being just as selfish, busy with all MY to do's, asking God to meet MY needs, griping about MY life, and He still loved me unconditionally, dealt with me patiently, and blessed me over and over. What an awesome and loving father I serve. I can only try to deal with my children with the same love and patience and pray everyday that He'll enable me to do so.

To end all of my rattling on, I wanted to share a picture of what I long to have. One night, Riley turned on a praise and worship song and just danced and sang with no inhabitions. She raised her hands, bowed down, and twirled in God's presence. I long to have that innocence and fearlessness to just worship God with all of me, despite having one of those weeks...