blessed beyond measure

Thankful Week is definitely a keeper! Here are the highlights: On Sunday we thanked God for the world, took a walk outside and made a "creation collection" of Trey's favorite things that God created. The bag contains dirt, tree bark, rocks, dead grass, leaves, acorns, dandelions, and sticks. On Wednesday we thanked God for food, and made a cornucopia with pictures of food. Trey loves his glue stick. On Thursday we made cards for our family who we would see later in the day. The cards had two hand-turkeys (one Trey-size and one Aden-size) and Trey was able to sign a T for his name all by himself!! And then all through the week we worked on this fellow. And had a great time focusing on what we were thankful for. Trey is quite disappointed that he has all his feathers for now. Maybe next year Aden can participate. So with that, Christmas here we come. Shopping is...get ready for it... done . In November. Thank you Amazon, for free 2-day shipping and all the fabulou...

The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,         he is the one you are to fear,         he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary.          Isaiah 8:13-14

Thankful Week is going really well. The turkey on the wall is a hit! I'll post a picture when he has all his feathers. Trey made up a game the other night. Brandon was away (basketball season has started), so the boys and I were sitting in the kitchen floor. Trey had a notebook and a crayon. For about a half hour, Trey went back and forth asking Aden and I what we were thankful for, and then "writing" the answers in his notebook. I would provide answers for Aden, and Trey found this very funny, as Aden was thankful for things like burp cloths, diapers, and his duck tub. Little did Trey know he was playing right into Mama's curriculum. Gotta love it when that happens. We went for family pictures on Saturday. Lord, have mercy. There's Brandon. Basketball season has started, and so he now works 12-15 hour days. Exhausted. Eyes showing it. There's me, still carrying around baby weight. Bleh. There's Trey, who, under bribes of Dr. Pepper and fruit sn...

Back in March, we did several things during Holy Week to emphasize Easter for Trey. Thought I might give it a try with Thanksgiving as well. Introducing Thankful Week. Friday: The Thankful Turkey (Mama's art project) will be hung up, and his first feathers applied. One for each of us, each night for a week, representing something we are thankful for. And we begin working on Trey's memory verse for the week: Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. Psalm 107:1, among others Saturday: We thank God for our church, by making pumpkin bread to give to Trey's Sunday school teachers. Sunday: We thank God for the world He made, by going on a walk and pointing out our favorite creations. Monday: We thank God for Jesus, by focusing on the story of His death and resurrection, and singing praise songs to Him. Tuesday: We thank God for our home, and we are reminded that what He gives us, He expects us to take care of. So we straighten up. Wednesday: We thank God for our food, ...

"If you do not stand firm in your faith,         you will not stand at all."          Isaiah 7:9

Thought I'd share a rarity - a family photo. First one with all four of us, taken to send to Isaac. In hindsight, we should have turned off the TV. Aden's watching the news. Or, based on the intensity of his stare, more likely a commercial for food. Just for kicks, I'll throw in an off-the-wall fact about us. Today is Brandon's first day of the Christmas season. Not sure how he landed on the date, but from November 15 to December 31 we listen to Christmas music. There you go.

I have my own personal prophet. His name is Matthew West. Whenever the Lord really, really wants to tell me something, He gives Matthew West a new song and K-LOVE plays it. A lot. Perhaps this is a self-centered viewpoint. Nonetheless... Back when "The Motions" came out, I was in dire need of a swift spiritual kick to the shins. And God most definitely got my attention with that song. He's done it again. In my own little world it hardly ever rains I've never gone hungry, always felt safe I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet In my own little world, population: me I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see Yeah, it's easy to do when it's population: me From "My Own Little World" There were tears in the car, and a lot of them. There was an inventory of my wallet on the chance that I randomly came across someone...

Make the heart of this people calloused;         make their ears dull         and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes,         hear with their ears,         understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.          Isaiah 6:10

Aden Levi. Big beautiful blond blue-eyed bouncing baby boy. Now five months old. Oh, I just want to snuggle him all day long. And plaster endless kisses all over his chubby little cheeks. So in love with this little man. No doctor's appointment this month, so measurements are anyone's best guess. We'll estimate over 17 pounds. This kid. Loves. To. Eat. Our menu has increased substantially, now that we've shunned rice cereal and moved onto baby food. He likes everything we put in front of him, almost laughing as he eagerly accepts each bite. Cries when mealtime is over. At least four 6-oz bottles a day. Three meals a day - 2.5 oz per meal. I can't remember from when Trey was this size, but based on the looks I get when I tell people this, that's probably a lot. Aden so badly wants to get up and move. He hates being in one position too long. Likes to kick and roll freely on the floor, likes to be in his Hop & Pop, still likes his changing table and ...

There are five stages of grief/dying. I know this from being hooked on House at certain points in my life, Lord forgive me. If you will humor me here, I would like to propose that the five stages of grief can be modified slightly to become... Trey's five stages of brotherhood 1. Denial "Let's just put Aden in his crib and forget about it." 2. Anger "Mama does NOT love me!" "Go away!!" 3. Detachment (in place of Bargaining) "[Insert grandparent/aunt name here] I want to go to YOUR house." "[Insert grandparent/aunt name here] please, please don't leave me!" 4. Regression (in place of Depression) "Can I have a bottle?" "I need that paci." 5. Acceptance Praise, praise, praise the Lord, I think we're finally here. At the fifth stage. "When Aden gets a little bit bigger, he can play with me!" "Aden, you're so funny!" "God, thank you for Daddy, Mama, Trey and Aden!" ...

But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice,         and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness.          Isaiah 5:16

I used to have my act together. I remembered to send people cards on their birthdays. I ironed. I exercised. I cleaned the house once each week and straightened up every day. Today there are some moments when I look around the house and make a mental catalog of what needs to change, what the old me would have alreay taken care of. Closets stuffed to the gills in desperate need of organizing. Cabinets with food and dishes stuck in however they will fit. Piles of mostly junk everywhere. Dust. Sticky spots on the floor. Marks and dings on the walls. Stains on the furniture. And all this stuff just makes me thankful. Thankful that we have a home that can be a mess. Thankful that we have stuff to make a mess with. Thankful that there are people in our home to make a mess. Thankful that I can be too busy loving on those people to fix the messes. I have spent most of my life living for the next big thing. Graduating college. Getting married. Having a baby. Having another bab...