The Country

Daddy T went out of town on his annual golf trip, so I did my annual trip....pack up the kiddos and take them to the country for the 5 days.  I always miss Daddy T, but I won't lie.  I LOVE being back home and getting to be with my friends and family and have that uninterrupted time with them.  Since we did so much, I'll have to cover it over several different posts. 

Dad had his motorized tractor pull his other tractor.  He thought that was fun.

B loved spending his days on his tractor, roaming the field.  Poor Dad was tired and worn out from having to walk his 30 acres by foot.  B was drive up to the electric fence, wave for Pop to come on and ask him to move the electric fence for him to drive through.  This was almost a daily occurrence.

When they weren't pulling tractors, loading the wagon, or checking on the cows, they could be found either on the retaining wall or on the woodpile eating pears.  They cracked me up because B would sit right beside him while Pop peeled a pear from the pear tree.  I've heard that he has been known to eat 3 whole pears while there.  No wonder he has some tummy troubles when he comes home!

And since I haven't shared any pictures lately of Baby M, here's a few of her.

Training

A while back ago, I shared that I was going to run a 5k.  It worked out to be a perfect goal because we are doing a Bible Study at church called Run For God.  This Bible Study helps your understand how running a race is a lot like the Christian walk.  It's hard, it's painful, but yet it's very rewarding in the end.  I'm currently on week 4 until Sunday and I must say that I am quite proud of myself.  I have been training on the huge hills in our neighborhood so I feel like I'm not doing as well as I should.  However, when I train on flatter ground, like in the country, I have been able to run without feeling tired at all.  So maybe it's helping me somehow.  Now I just have to tackle this nutrition thing.

Gotta be....VEGGIETALES!

My sister-in-law, Aunt Mo as B calls her, works at VeggieTales.  For that, my son and I (and probably my husband) are thankful.  You see, VeggieTales Live came to our city yesterday.  We had tossed around the idea of going, but decided that we should wait another year because we didn't think he would understand or sit still for that long.  On Wednesday night as I was leaving church, Aunt Mo called me to see if we were free on Thursday night.  I informed her I was and she said that she could possibly get us tickets if we wanted to go since she was going to be there.  It was also a good excuse for her to get to see her nephew, so it was a win-win situation.  She called about 4:00 on Thursday and told us that she had them.  How exciting!  We dropped off Baby M so we could have a date with our son and when we got there, Aunt Mo had managed to get us the backstage pass to meet Bob and Larry.  Awesome!  B was so excited to get to meet them. 

Aunt Mo hung around for almost half of the second show before she had to drive back to the major city.  I think B squashed any idea they had of having kids soon!  He was 2 stepts from being on stage...dancing with Bob and Larry.  I turned to Daddy T and told him that if B goes on stage, I just can't watch.  I'll just pretend he's not my kid.  Daddy T thought it would be funny for security to escort him out.  Poor Aunt Mo.  Every time she tried to come and sit back down, B would grab her hand and drag her to the little kiddie mosh pit. 

Aunt Mo, thanks so much!  B has talked about it all day and we have had to watch a few VeggieTales movies today.

Pop's Sidekick

This little boy loves his grandparents.  I think I might have mentioned that in several posts, but his grandparents are some of his best friends.  Probably because he can get away with much at their houses!  On one of B's slumber parties with Pop, they decided to tackle some outside jobs that needed to be done.  This is partly due to the fact that once Pop's feet hit the floor in the morning, he is ushered outside, complete with an assistant that goes and gets his shoes and hat and would gladly put them on his Pop if he could.  He opens all doors that go outside and follows Pop wherever he goes.  Poor Pop is completely worn out by the time he comes in for the night.  So worn out that he goes to bed when B does.

Traveling

Daddy T had to work out of town a few weeks ago, so we tagged along for one night.  We always come home sick so I don't know why we go.  The last time we went, B got a horrible stomach bug.  Then the next time, Daddy T and I got a horrible stomach bug.  Following that trip, I went into labor so Daddy T had to come home.  This time, I ended up getting mastitis.  Again.  Despite that, though, we enjoyed our time together and eating at one of our favorite wings places.

Of all the things that B could have watched on the television, this is what kept his attention.  If you can't tell what it is, it's monster trucks.

Belated Birthday Post

B's 2nd birthday was a complete blur of a weekend, between having a baby, coming back from vacation, having his party, and then having a smaller family party.  His actual birthday was spent at a birthday party for one of his cousins.  He got to swim in the lake for the first time and he loved it.

These pictures are from his birthday in the country.  We had a smaller party with my family because my great-grandma wasn't able to travel to the city.  I felt that it was extremely important for her to be there, and now since she has passed away, I am incredibly thankful that we got to get these last pictures of her with my kids and she got to hold Baby M for the first time.

Aunt and Uncle meeting Baby M for the first time

My great-grandmother.  So thankful that I had her in my life for so long.  I do miss her dearly.

She had lost the strength to hold anything.  She did like her, though.

His tractor cake

Our last 5 generation picture

Mama and her two daughters

My circus of a family

B needed a hat.  All that my brother could find that would fit was this sombrero.  We had a good laugh with him wearing this on the tractor.

Riding the tractor that his Nanny R gave him.

A Wise Woman

This is another blog that I have enjoyed reading.  I really liked her post for today and thought I would share it.  Almost everyone knows the Proverbs 31 woman and many people strive to be like her and often use her as an example.  I know there are seasons in my life for all of these, but I still find it challenging and a great reminder of what matters in my life as a mother, wife, and a woman in a world where so many things are going against these qualities and virtues.  Below is the post from her blog.

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Today I am sharing 14 marks of a wise woman. She...

•Fears God, Proverbs 31:30.

•“Openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness ,” Proverbs 31:26.

•Is content to be a “keeper at home,” Titus 2:5. (This doesn’t mean she never leaves her house, but her focus and the bulk of her attention is on her home and family.)

•Loves her husband and children, Titus 2:4.

•Is focused more on inward character than outward adornment, I Peter 3:3-4.

•Is modestly attired, I Timothy 2:9.

•Is trustworthy, Proverbs 31:11.

•Has a meek and quiet spirit, I Peter 3:4.

•Is industrious, Proverbs 31:13-27.

•Is giving, Proverbs 31:20, Luke 8:3.

•Is discreet, Titus 2:5. (“of a sound mind, sane, in one’s senses, curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate,”)

•Is chaste, Titus 2:5.(“exciting reverence, venerable, sacred, pure; pure from carnality, chaste, modest; pure from every fault, immaculate; clean”).

•Builds up instead of tearing down, Proverbs 14:1, Ephesians 4:29.

•Is praiseworthy, Proverbs 31:28-31.




Do these marks describe you?


Now if someone asked your husband and children---would they wholeheartedly agree?

Book Review: Really Woolly Bible Stories

This is such a cute book for little kids.  My son has been carrying it around to read as his new favorite book.  The illustrations are adorable, as you can tell by the cover of this book.  It is very child-friendly and captures their attention.  

I found the stories to be accurate, but written in such a way that even a 2-year-old enjoys.  I love their interpretation of the 10 Commandments.  The book is full of rhyming words, which makes it even easier and more fun to read.  The Bible stories range from the Old Testament and all the way into the New Testament.  Along with each story, it names the book, chapter, and verses where the more in-depth story can be found so you can use this with both older and younger children during your devotion times.

My book has 2 of the same pages in the beginning, but I'm not for sure if I just got a messed up one or if it is that way in every book.  It's a wonderful children's gift to pass along.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Kiddos

3 months old

Book Review: City on Our Knees by Toby Mac

I love this song by Toby Mac so when I saw that he had a book with the same title, I wanted to read it.  This book was a compilation of stories about many people that crossed over the line to make a difference in the world.  These individuals dared to go where God called them to go so that others might know Him.  These people put aside prejudice, persectuion, doubt, fear, and discrimination to make a difference in this world.

My favorite story that has stood out to me was the story of Terry Dobson who was in Japan.  He learned just how far a little bit of compassion can go with a man that deserved it the least.  God worked in such an unexpected way through a man that dared to show compassion to a man that was drunk and violent.  Turns out that a lot had happened to this man and he was hopeless.

Throughout the book, Toby Mac gives many examples of the difference one person can make in bringing unity to our world around us.  He shows us how one person can, in fact, make a huge difference.

On a side note, I was immediately drawn to the look of the book.  It is a book that catches your eye because it is so unique.  The dustcover is made out of a paper that slides easily and I found it difficult to read the book with it on because it kept sliding off.  I finally took it off until I finished the book.  It's a cover that will definitely catch your eye, though, and draw you into purchasing the book.

I definitely recommend this book if you think that you can't make a difference, or if you like to read stories that help motivate you to do things that seem impossible by doing them all through the power of God.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

How I Feel

I am really enjoying this new blog that I have come across.  It's called There's More to This Life.  The post for today, called "The Battle" is how I feel somewhat about my life.  I get asked so much about how I balance things and then I also hear that I do way too much and my kids suffer.  I don't necessarily feel that way, though.  Anyway, perhaps you'll enjoy this blog, too. I'll post some new pictures and posts soon!

What Do You Think?

 Do my babies have any similarities?

Baby M

Beloved B

Baby M

We've noticed that they look A LOT alike, especially when they make the same face.  I just can't seem to catch all of them to match the ones I took of B.  Daddy T went through B's 3 month pictures today and couldn't remember him even looking like that.  He has grown up way too fast and so is baby M.  We couldn't get over how much they resemble each other.  However, they do have their differences.  B was a lot smaller than M and M has much chubbier cheeks than B has.  She is also more alert than B ever thought of being at that age.  B has and probably always will enjoy his sleep.  Baby M likes her sleep from about 9 pm-7am.  You can't even think about laying her down for a nap unless you have moby wrapped her, put her in a sling, or put her in her swing.  She likes to be moving and awake.  Yikes!  I can only imagine all of the bad things she is picking up from her brother!

Thankfulness

I am thankful this morning.  Nothing special or out-of-the-ordinary has brought upon this thankfulness.  In fact, if I were to be completely honest, this past week has been awful for myself and B.  Downright frustrating and quite a challenge.  Yesterday was a lot better since we visited the Mayfield Farm and I got to spend some one-on-one time with him and Daddy T actually got to hold baby M!  So like I said, nothing brought upon this thankfulness except knowing that I am truly blessed.  Even in the frustrating times and the bad times and the sad times, God still reaches out to love on me, to hold me, to encourage me, to bless me, and to answer my prayers.  For that, I am thankful.  I am also thankful for my sweet little family.  Despite the fact that it's a bit chaotic at times, it is a complete blessing and I'm thankful that the Lord has allowed me to be a mommy of two sweet kiddos so far.  I am thrilled by the doors that the Lord is opening up for me to serve in and to work in.  I have been blessed by the people I work with and they have touched my lives in ways that they will never know.  So on this Sunday morning, while we are about to have the hustle and bustle of getting to church on time, I am pausing and remembering just how thankful I am that I serve a God that is like no other god.