Love at first laugh

Future Farmers of America!
JM & Holly pose at the dairy barn.

John Michael adores his cousin Olivia. Today Holly & I took him & Olivia to Deanna Rose Farmstead to wander around. Olivia will coo at me and give me a little smile, but for him she laughs!! Her eyes are always drawn to him. She looks for him. It is adorable and he of course LOVES the attention she'll give him. She is a precious girl and we love her to pieces!

My New Camera

We got a new camera this weekend and we love it - it takes amazing pictures. I had to put this of Izzy - she has decided to let her bangs grow and her chocolate brown eyes are yummy enough to eat.

Boys will be Boys

A boy, his bike, rocks, & a mud puddle - what more can I say!!

Most Precious

"What is most precious to me?" is a question that has been bouncing around in my head for the last 2 weeks. If I look at how I spend my time and energy, I'm not sure I could answer the question as I'd like to.

Mary, the mother of Jesus has taught me what is precious. She has caused me to pause & ask "What kind of mother/wife am I" and "what kind of mother/wife do I want to be". Mary was pure and righteous before the Lord. She chose to listen to God & trust what He was doing in her through the virgin birth - though it may not have made sense and could have gotten her killed. She had a yes in her spirit and had a sharp focus on the Lord. She was a women of great faith & obedience. She trusted God with Joseph who could have left her upon hearing about her pregnancy. She gave God all her praise & she gave God her time so she could hear from Him & move in obedience to what He asked her to do.

I want to be that kind of woman - that kind of mom/wife. I desire to be found pure & righteous before the Lord. I desire to have a yes in my spirit and a sharp focus on the Lord. I desire to trust God with my husband & my children & the circumstances they face - knowing He is sovereign & loves them more than I do. I desire to give God all my praise & give Him my time so I can be obedient to what He asks of me.

2 Questions have DRAMATICALLY changed me this week. . .

"Are you willing to do your work today, realizing that just as Jesus showed all carpenters how the Son of God pleased God as a carpenter, so you as a homemaker live today to show the people around you how the Son of God within you lives the homemaker's life to the glory of God?"

"Will you choose to depend upon the Holy Spirit, who lives within you, to help you live a new life of love toward God & service for him in love to others? Will you deliberately change attitudes that need to be adjusted in order to reflect the attitude of Christ?"

Both sets of questions have caused me to consider what is MOST PRECIOUS. I know what is most precious - but my struggle is that many times my heart attitude doesn't reflect what I know in my head. Not anymore, He has unlocked something deep and I am changed.

"I am willing to do my work as a homemaker for the glory of God and the eternal good of my family. And I will choose to depend on the Holy Spirit because I cannot do it on my own - I've been trying that!!! He is in CONTROL . . .not me!"

Thank you Lord that you don't leave us on our own, but you are with us & you will help us. As fall approaches, I am reminded of the change in seasons. Thank you that you are a God of change. You desire to change us on the inside to reflect your son - I am so grateful that you don't leave me where I am, but that you'll take me to new places as I avail myself to you. I love you Lord!

Big Boy Room

I couldn't leave Bubby out. This is his new room. We had to get all new comforter & pillows, etc b/c of his allergies/asthma. So, this is what we came up with for now. We moved his bed under the window - let's hope he doesn't pull the curtains, we've been great so far!! He is showing the small pumpkin that he says he grew - but it really came from Grandma in Parsons, he had to have it in the picture.

This is a bargain picture I found shopping with my mom! I loved how it pulled the red out of his comforter and added a new blue color. He thinks it is awesome and wants to teach everyone their letters that comes in his room.

JM wanted a picture of his closet w/ his sister, so there you have it. His room still has some work, but it's coming along!

Big Girl Room

As Isabelle turned 6, I got a little antsy to make her room more of a "big girl" room. We moved her bunkbeds to a new wall, swapped furniture with JM, made her a "quiet" corner to read in, and moved the bookcase to the loft area to give her more space. She loves her new room and says it feels less crowded and more cozy.

Her dolls are sitting where the bookcase used to sit and her desk & quiet corner are where the bed used to be.

She loves having her bunk moved to this corner. There will be less sunshine in the morning! Check under the bed - we hung a string w/ clothespins for her to hang pictures.

This is her "quiet" corner. She loves it and thanks to Grandma Clare (Her great-grandma in Indiana) for the candle for her b-day. It is one that has a battery powered flame and smells great. It also changes colors. She loves to have the lights out and look at her books by candle light. She thinks it's all pretty special!!

Isabelle is officially 6

Today Isabelle is officially 6 - her day started with mom, dad, & JM singing "Happy b-day" at 6:30am - GOOD MORNING!! She opened her eyes with a huge grin on her face. She couldn't wait to head to school all dressed up wearing a birthday girl ribbon. Her name was read on the speaker during morning announcements, her principal brought her a birthday pencil, and she got to take cupcakes for her class. For dinner, she had her friend Natalie over for Tacos & Cupcakes. Natalie gave her a "beauty" chair that her American doll can fit it. They had a blast doing their dolls hair! THANKS NATALIE!!!

The real Belle dress from Aunt Shannon & Uncle Brent. What a fun present to receive from the mailman! She feels like the "real Belle" now!

Isabelle decorated these 20 cupcakes for her classmates! YUMMY!!

Natalie & Isabelle withe the beauty salon chair that Isabelle received!