I love you and am on my knees for you...

Dear You, You and You,

You know who you are. You are tender to me. I am heavy with burden over each of you.
I love you with every fiber in me and I want to get on a plane and come running to you.

We can have dinner, watch movies, cry and maybe even have a drink or two...
but for now... this letter will have to do...

I know you are hurting.

I know you want to run behind a closed door

and tune the entire world out...

I know what it is like to be down,

even hurt and want to cry out...

I even know what it feels like to "express my feelings"

in a less than "polite" manner

and in the most public of places...

I know you want to just cry out

and have SOMEONE hear you...

I hear you, remember where you came from.

Remember you are loved.

Even if you at times,

cannot run to your mama

and have her make it all better...

You can run to Him.

You can cry out to Him.

Reach toward heaven

and I promise you will not be forsaken.

Find a place, go to Him.

Meet Him there,

bring it all with you.

Tell Him everything and wait...

Wait for Him to wash over you with the warmest water.

Wait for Him to wash over you with peace.

Wait for Him to wash over you with love....

It is there and ONLY there that you will find

the ONE that can make all of this better.

I love you!

Each of you - ALL 3 of YOU and the wee one...

I LOVE YOU!

I will be in touch but for now,

find comfort and peace, find HIM!

Mama's Day...

I am a full time working mama who is head over heels in love with her little boy. Monday, the 19th was his birthday so I had planned on taking the day off from work so I could take him on a special outing... his Auntie Esther came with us and the day was perfect.

Can you guess where we went?


PS: Praise the Lord it is Friday!

We had a BiRtHdAy PArTy!

My baby had a birthday...

His mama decorated his cake...

Grandpa, Grandma, Aunties, Uncle, Cousin and even the Great Grandparents were all there...

Mama used BLACK sprinkles instead of black frosting...

It was just as messy... The result was the same...

black lips, black fingers and black spinkles on the floor...

The wrapping paper was a big hit...

He got books and balls and ski clothes...

He shared well with his cousin...

He played, and played and played some more

with Cede and Grandpa...

It was a good day.

A big Thank You to Auntie Mandy and Grandma Cheryl for helping make this day perfect.

Tender Moments are Coming...

This was last year, at his 1st birthday party at Papa & Nana's - this year we are going to have fun with family once again. We will see Grandpa, Grandma, Cousins and the Auntie's & Uncle on Saturday and then we will see Papa, Nana and Auntie on Sunday - it is going to be perfect.

Hey buddy - As I get to thinking about everything you have learned over the last two years my head hurts. You have grown up. You are no longer a baby, you have become a full fledged toddler and one day you will go from being a boy to a man and I hope ya know that regardless of what the days look like that are ahead of us, I am your mama and I love you more than words can say.

I pray that you will fall madly in love with Jesus. May He consume you and may you be blessed with friends who also are madly in love with Jesus. May you have a heart for sharing the gospel, may you be quick to forgive and may you be burdened with the truth.

I am humbled to know that the Lord gave me such a sweet and tender hearted boy. I love you. I cannot say that enough. I love you as much as one woman can possibly love her child, but sweet one, Jesus loves you much more and for that, I am speechless. All my love my little one -

Happy Birthday and may our memories of this weekend be tender!

Thursday's Thoughts...

Isaac and Nhyja (Nia) have been good friends from the start. She loves him and he is crazy about her. Every night before Isaac goes to bed, he says "Ni Ni" to the puppy and gives her a hug and a kiss, it is the most precious thing.

I am sure if we could ask her why she loves him, her answer would be "Because he feeds me off his plate"... yep... Isaac loves to share his food with the dog. He loves to give her treats, doggy treats and human food treats...

This is one of my favorite pictures. Mostly because I am in love with the location of this picture... I love Isaac's "playroom" - we transformed a large storage closet into a play "room" for him and he LOVES it -

It has been really fun to watch Isaac take more of an interest in books. He loved to look at them for a few seconds when he was younger, this picture is of him at 6 months. But lately, he will actually curl up next to you and intently listen as you read him a story - it is just precious.

A few of my favorites

Isaac at 2 months old with my Papa George and MorMor -
I LOVE THESE PEOPLE!


Isaac at 3 weeks old - Picture taken by CLB Photography


Isaac at 4 months old - How cute he is...


One of my all time favorite pictures -

Happy Birthday week my little man - I LOVE YOU so much!!!!

Intoxicating

I happen to think the smell of a freshly bathed child is intoxicating. Some of my favorite memories with Isaac center around bath time.

Sometimes bath time occured in the bathroom sink.

Sometimes bath time occured at Grandpa and Grandma's House...

And sometimes bath time even occured in the kitchen sink...

Bath time is a fun time at our house and I melt over the smell of my little man all clean, wrapped up warm in a blanket and cuddled in my arms. I love these times in life.

BiRtHdaY WeEk!

Well, in just 7 days Isaac will turn 2.
Which means today kicks off his BIRTHDAY WEEK!
So this week is going to be dedicated to him.
Brace yourself for some sappy mama moments and some fabulous pictures!

This was our very first family picture - I remember that moment like it was yesterday. I remember wanting to hear him cry so badly. I just wanted to hold my baby and when that moment came and I heard his voice for the very first time, I melted. Everything within me melted. I would not change anything about that day, it was perfect.


This is one of my most beloved pictures. It is my best friend, my lover, my safe place, my provider and my partner with our son. I am humbled when I look at this picture mostly because if you would have asked me 10 years ago what my life would be like, I would not have pictured this. If you would have asked me what the Lord had in store for Andrew and I just 4 years ago, I would have told you I wanted a baby, but I was not sure it would ever come.

I look at this picture and I so proud of the man I married. I am proud of the father he has become. I proud of relationship he has with the Lord and I am proud to have his last name.

Isaac, my prayer for you is that you grow up to know the Lord and to be just like your daddy. May you look at him and know that he is a good man. May you learn from him what it is like to be a Godly man and may you be blessed with a friendship with your father that will last a lifetime. May you always love to laugh and play. May you look at the world with a little bit of innocense and may you see Jesus in just about everything that comes your way. I love you sweet boy - Happy Birthday week!

She pretty much rocks...

Well today, a very important person has a birthday. You see, she is a woman I have fallen madly in love with, not the romantic kind of love, more like the "I wanna be just like you when I grow up" kind of love. She challenges me, she loves me, she prays over me, she encourages me, she is my fashionable example and she is my friend.

We meet together often, just the two of us. We have yet to meet somewhere really extravagent, one of our favorites is the deli at Target, but when we meet, I walk away a changed woman. I walk away a changed wife, a changed mama and a changed lover of Jesus. Her knowledge for the Word leaves me speechless. Her passion to serve Him and Him alone is something we should all strive for. Her love for her family is a huge example for me as a young mama and wife. There is not a man on this earth she loves more than her man and I love that about her. I love that she has "naughty shoes" and she is not afraid of it. I love that she loves him and he loves her and I love that together they have raised amazing children, 5 children.

Her blog is to die for, her home is fabulously decorated, she makes the most jaw dropping cakes you have ever seen and her sense of style will make anyone who loves mom jeans want a fashion make over. She has encouraged me to wear dresses, she thinks I am pretty and she believes in me. My life has been changed because of her.

Check out her blog, you might just fall in love with Jesus because of what she has to say about Him... I know I did... http://www.jeanierhoades.com/

Happy Birthday to a very special woman.

Jeanie, you have changed my life. You have helped me be a better wife and mama and you have encouraged me to fall more and more in love with my savior every day - I pray blessings over your next 50 years. Much love my friend!

********************************************

PS: I "borrowed" the picture off her daughter's facebook page, isn't she hot...

It's October....

And it is one of my favorite months of the year...

We got engaged in October -

Isaac will turn 2 in just 13 days...

The summer time activites are gone and fall has come, which means Isaac will have to actually wear clothes outside...

The holiday's are just around the corner...
The down comforter has been put on the bed...
The heater is on and the air conditioning is off...

Soon there will be snow on the ground and ski season will be here... Isaac and Grandpa will visit this very spot again, but this time they will be wearing ski boots and snow pants...

Above all, I can only imagine what the Lord has instore for the next few months. He promised it would be awesome and I cannot wait to see it all unfold...

go here...
http://girlsonlyministry.blogspot.com/
and get a sneak peak at what is happening...
It is going to be great, I just know it...

Family Pictures

We took family pictures recently - the pictures were raken by Ellie http://www.lilacphotography.com/
I hope you enjoy them!

Alone and yet, okay

Interestingly enough, I have come to find out what happens when one makes a bold statement about our one and only savior Jesus Christ. Recently I let a few people in on this new adventure the Lord has me on. For those who do not know yet, I have recently founded a Non-Profit Organization called Girls Only Ministry. Girls Only Ministry is a place that provides shelter, education, and love to girls within the community between the ages of 13 and 23. It is my belief that these years are the most formative in a young woman’s life, and I passionately believe these are the years where their relationship with Jesus Christ has the opportunity to drastically impact their lives. It is the desire of this ministry to use the Word of the Lord to teach and transform lives. It is the desire of this ministry to bring glory to Jesus as a result of the relationships that are built in relationship with His calling on the lives of those who love Him.

So back to the recent events… I let a few people know that I would be having an event for the community and would like invite them. Their response as a whole, was less than warm, it was cold, freezing actually. And today, a day later, the comments are still coming. I have included some of my favorites for your amusement… Don’t worry I have also included my comments, that I wish I could say, as well…

Them: “Don’t you have to be kind of smart to start a Non-Profit Organization”
Me: “Why thank you for thinking of me as a “smart” person.”

Them: “Don’t you know this is a hard time in the economy and no one will ever get on board with this “idea” of yours financially” (Yes this person actually used their fingers for quotes around the word idea)
Me: “Well, the good Lord is already on board, so who else do I really need, right?”

Them: “You do realize this won’t make you any money right?”
Me: “And do I make a lot of money now?”

Them: “Why would I care about something that does not involve me or directly affect me?”
Me: “Because you are apparently a “Christian” and I hope you would love those that Jesus loves.”

Them: “I think you are making a huge mistake”
Me: “Thank you.”

Them: “You do know that your religious beliefs are not the only truth out there right?
Me: “Correct me if I am wrong but if Jesus is truth, how can something that contradict Him or His word also be considered truth?”

And finally… my favorite…
Them: “You are young, I made plenty of mistakes when I was young and had no idea what to believe as well.”
Me: “Oh, do not make a mistake, I know what I believe, I believe in the way, the truth and the light and that there is no other way expect thru Jesus Christ.”

I am sure if I could say what I REALLY wanted to say, I would have to include a few symbols (@!*%) to make it okay for the blog…

Sometimes standing with Jesus means we stand alone, and are we really okay with that?
I have come to understand that fear is one of the enemy's favorite tools to keep us from going forward in our lives. As soon as we make a decision to step out in faith and do what God is telling us to do, immediately the enemy will bring fear. He'll put thoughts in your mind like, "What if I fail? What will others think? Maybe I don't have what it takes." He'll do his best to use fear to try to convince you to shrink back and just stay right where you are. The Bible tells me that fear is a spirit. It will affect my emotions, it leave my hands cold and shaking, it leaves me face tear stained and it leaves me lonely at times.

My biggest fear is that these people who stand against me will be right and when I look back, there won’t be anyone standing with me. I do know this to be true, I will at least have Jesus standing with me and after all, I guess that leaves me with the most powerful person on my side… Trump that…

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4

Note to self: This might be harder than I first thought…

Camping: Part 5

We all rode Papa's Quad - even Nana and Mama got into it -

Auntie Esther, Papa and Daddy had their own little "competition" going -



Esther can hang with those boy like no one else we know -


Daddy eventually won with the "best time" for the entire trip -


Even Isaac got into it -


He rode with his Papa and Daddy. It was a hit -


It was a great weekend, great time away from it all and a great time with family - we are now officially a camping family - we made a list of things we must remember for next time, such as the oil for the hash browns and a little salt and pepper - we might also want a few more cooking utensils that are not plastic! Overall, it was a success and a must do for next summer!