I asked Him to do it.

We've had an uncertainty placed before us. With out much of a warning. And my first instinct was to panic, to busy myself with fixing it. Grasping at any idea that might be a solution.

But God.

But God stepped in before I could work myself from panic to anxiety, and He used my wonderful God-fearing family in Christ to grab a hold of me. He wanted to remind me that I asked Him to do something great in my life, to show Himself to me in a glorious and personal way. I want Him to work in my life, even if it means that we must face adversity in order to do so.

Now He has allowed for that to happen. He is faithful!

Even though I know God has this all under control, I waver from faith and begin to stress. But this morning He met me were I was at and He gave me a song to sing, until I see His glory in all of this! Something I can cling to and claim while I wait upon the Lord.

Psalm 9
I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.


My enemies turn away in retreat; they are overthrown and destroyed before you. For you have judged in my favor; from your throne, you have judged with fairness. You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have wiped out their names forever. My enemies have met their doom; their cities are perpetual ruins. Even the memory of their uprooted cities is lost.


But the LORD reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne. He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness.


The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you.


Sing praises to the LORD who reigns in Jerusalem. Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds. For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore those who cry to him for help.


LORD, have mercy on me. See how I suffer at the hands of those who hate me. Snatch me back from the jaws of death. Save me, so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem's gates, so I can rejoice that you have rescued me. The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others. They have been caught in their own trap.


The LORD is known for his justice. The wicked have trapped themselves in their own snares. The wicked will go down to the grave. This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God. For the needy will not be forgotten forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.


Arise, O LORD! Do not let mere mortals defy you! Let the nations be judged in your presence!
Make them tremble in fear, O LORD. Let them know they are merely human.

It's hard enough.

I've had a bit of freedom lately. And I've been enjoying it off and on these last couple weeks!

The freedom I've found has come through realizing life is hard enough with out adding the stress of trying to appear that I have all together.

Because {and here's the kicker} I don't.


There mom, I said it! I can admit it. But only recently has this been something I'm comfortable saying out loud. 


I have always been a bit of a perfectionist and control freak in some areas. I struggle with worrying about what other people think of me. As a woman, a friend, a wife, and a mom. I want people to like me and I want others to approve or agree with how I do things and decisions I make. But living like that is really been stressful and less than enjoyable. And there are a few things that helped me realize that it's ridiculous to live like this.


1. You can't please everyone. There will always be someone who disagrees with you. 
2. Everyone is different! And praise the Lord because how boring would it be if we all did everything exactly the same. So- there can be more than one right answer to the little things in life.
3. Most people don't really care if your carpets are always vacuumed, your dishes are always done, or whether or not your kids faces have food from lunch still on them! {Because they probably have the same things going on}


I came across this blog this morning and I really appreciate what it says. And it's so true.


We aren't helping anyone, or encouraging our fellow moms by pretending that we have it all together or that we have this job figured out and mastered it! Because the truth is, none of us do! 


I know that I am more encouraged to know that I'm not the only mama who has a hard time balancing kids, dinner, marriage, ministry, friendships, etc. And I want to do a better job and just being real, on this blog and in my home. 

A new chair!

Today Little lady received a gift in the mail!

Opa and Oma got her this chair. She was so excited!

Up to this point she would always try to make a chair out of what ever she could find. For example, her play table, a box, her brother, etc. Whatever she found fitting for her hinny!

But now she has her own personalized rocker {yes, it even rocks!} and ottoman. And she looks so darn grown up! I can hardly stand it :)

Hubby's Birthday

On Sunday evening we met up with some dear friends of ours and surprised hubby with dinner at a local hibachi grill/sushi place we LOVE to go to!

He was surprised about everyone who came to celebrate with us. {I love a good surprise!}

If you aren't familiar with a hibachi grill, they cook the food right in front of you and it usually involves entertainment and large flames! I really wasn't sure how Little lady would react to it, but I hoped for the best.

 

And she did great!! {You can see the reflection of the flame on the left. And all smiles on the right!!}

We really enjoyed seeing and visiting with everyone that came!

{The bride and groom to be joined us!}

They brought a yummy dessert and we all sang to hubby.

And they played a little trick on him and told him to use a straw to suck out the 'strawberry mousse' that was in the middle....

But there wasn't anything in there! Just ice cream. Which this little lady was more than happy to help devour!

And today, for his actual birthday, I took the kids to get cupcakes from a local favorite place and we had them after dinner. Yum!

Happy birthday, my sweetheart! We love you. :)

Diapers, diapers, diapers!

Just got these in the mail...

Six cloth diapers and 12 reusable inserts.

I've never used this kind before, but I'm really excited for Little Dude to wake up from his nap so I can put his baby soft bum in one of these silky soft diapers! I mean, seriously! The inside of these diapers are SO soft wish I had a pair! 

I'm also excited about the option of us using disposable inserts in them as another option! Or if Little dude ends up being a super soaker, I can even double up the inserts for extra absorbency.

Look for a review of these in the next week or two. :) 

Excited!

I have been absent from writing here. I have to confess, that I've been writing some where else.

Hubby and I have been writing on a blog, private at the moment, to document something that God has put on our hearts.

I'm so excited to share it... soon!

In other news, this Saturday is my 'little' sister's wedding day! I get to be in the honored place standing next to her as her Matron of Honor and I couldn't be more honored to stand there! :D

She is marrying a wonderful godly guy. I couldn't be more proud of them and their dedication to remain pure before their wedding. What a special testimony in a world that choses to make marriage and sex 'no big deal.' There commitment alone speaks of their love and devotion to the Lord and His commands to us.

Marriage is such a blessing and gift from the Lord. I think I'm most excited that they too will soon be able to experience the joy, love and growth that marriage brings to a person. I have been praying for the two of them since I first thought they may be the ones for each other and I am so honored to be a part of the prayer team that will continue to pray for them in the journey of marriage that is ahead of them. Any one who is married knows that prayer and support is a must!

The bride and 2 out of 3 bridesmaids at the bridal shower.

Sisters :)

Just a few Little things we've been up to lately!

There is a certain big sister reading one of her favorite books to a little brother. She's a good big sister!

                    

There is a new sheriff in these parts. And he is a mighty cute little feller if I do say so myself!

And a big boy too, as I can report that his first night in his crib in his room was a success! It actually happened by chance because I was planning on making the change after we finished the details of his room in the next couple weeks. But Little dude has been taking his naps during the day in his crib and he fell asleep last night around 7pm {about the time Little lady is going to bed} so I fed him, swaddled him and laid him down thinking he would wake up no later than 2 hours and I'd move him to our room for the night. 

9 pm came and went... then at 10pm, when he was still asleep I figured I better get some sleep myself so hubby and I headed to bed. When little dude woke up at 1:45 am I was really surprised but just went with it and fed him in his room and laid him back in his crib. He only woke up one other time before getting up at 6 am! I just hope tonight can go just as smoothly!!

Little lady showed off her big girl skills by going down the 'big' slide at the park. She climbed up on the equipment by herself as well! Oh, she's getting so big!!

And yesterday while my car was in the shop for regular servicing....

...the littles got to cruise in their first convertible!

It was a really windy day so we only wen to the end of the street with the top down. It was a fun family adventure!

That's some of the little things we have been up to. 

What about you, what have you been up to lately?