Thankfulness ~

11/3~ thankful for our new kitten"Leo"

         We got him October 5th from a family in the country

 He shares the same birthday as Elijah~ August 31st

He also shares his hair and eye color :)

 We have had him about one month, and he has been such a joy so far. He loves to eat, play, sleep...and meow...alot. I love his personality! He is very much a "people" cat.

 

 

11/4~ thankful for candy apples





Baker, FL

Heritage Festival

Give Thanks ~

day one:

 give thanks for four beautiful blessings:

                                                        Olivia Rose ~ 9

                                                        Ethan Alexander ~ 7

                                                       Elijah Matthew ~ 5

                                                        Emma Raine ~ 2

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
(Psalms 127:3-5 ESV)

day two:

thankful to live in a beautiful city and enjoy blustery,fall days on the sea shore~

 

 

Everyday Moments

I can't say that I have anything to profound to share today that will change any one's life...but there were some moments that changed mine.

I got to watch as my seven year old little Ethan cleaned the entire kitchen for me. Emptied a clean dishwasher, loaded it, with sink piled high of dirty dishes, cleared all counters and wiped them clean. Amazing. Melted me.

I got to share in the joy of my little Emma getting overjoyed as she went pee pee on the big girl potty. And then running with her, in sheer excitement, to the kitchen to get her "emdinem" (M&M) as a reward.

I got to laugh with my dear Elijah as we fumbled through kindergarten phonics together. Smiling and learning together...him his letters, and me patience...knowing this season will all too soon be passed, and I shall miss it so.

I got to see my Olivia. Growing up. She is nine. She is amazing and has a precious heart. I reveled in a quiet moment before bed, just me and her, reading Angelina Ballerina. She's not too old for stories. In fact she still needs them and longs for that time.

I was blessed today just being a mom. Not being in a hurry. Not overlooking moments in time that will change me, soften me, cause me to stop and smell the roses...my roses...my gifts from heaven.

Being able to soak in the beauty of my life. My simple everyday moments. Such a blessing.

Mother: The Most Important Job in the World

(This is Matt, and I have hijacked Abbie’s blog today to pay a tribute to all of the mothers out there, especially in light of their big day coming up this Sunday.)


Recently, a very ill-informed democratic strategist named Hillary Rosen made national headlines with some comments that she made about Ann Romney’s work experience. Hillary was making the point that Ann Romney doesn’t truly understand the economic concerns of most women because she “has never worked a day in her life.” That statement created a media firestorm, especially from those in more conservative circles (like myself) who feel like staying home and raising a family is a very honorable profession, and should be celebrated by our country…not demeaned or belittled.



I firmly believe that being a mother is one of the toughest and most important jobs in the world. Stay-at-home moms and homemakers are the contact point for our children, the most influential person in the lives of our next generation of politicians, CEO’s, doctors, inventors, artists, and those who will mold and shape the future as we know it. The daily decisions that mothers make, and the lessons they teach their children in those formative years, will have an eternal (and exponential) impact on both the child and those that they influence over the course of their lives.

I am so incredibly blessed to leave for work each morning knowing that my kids are in excellent hands. I am never concerned or worried about what they are being taught, the types of shows that they are watching on television, or the life lessons that are being imparted to them each day. I have full and absolute confidence that they are being given unconditional love, and that their tender souls are being nurtured with just the right amount of care, concern, and tender discipline that each needs to reach their full potential in life and in their relationship with God.

Husbands, while you may be tempted to rush out to Wal-Mart or Hallmark this weekend to grab a quick card and a trinket…I would encourage you to do so much more than that. Men are not always the greatest communicators in the world (while women are sometimes TOO GOOD at communicating, lol), but make sure you take some time to let your wife know how extremely valuable she is to both you and your family. Whether she’s a stay-at-home mom, or a working mom, your wife is truly worth far more than rubies, and her value can never be overstated…but you should sure try.

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:10-12

Strawberry Pickin' (Part 1)

It is that time of year again...

Strawberry pickin time! I recently loaded up the kids and headed for Baker, Florida (Wade & Misty's stomping grounds) & oh, what a beautiful drive! It took about an hour of mostly interstate and then a little bit of farmy, country roads that lead us to our destination: Akers of Strawberries. We went last year, too...which was our first time, and we all loved it! This year I knew we had to go back, get out in nature, and pick us some tasty berries.

It was a bit hot, especially for spring, but that didn't stop us. We grabbed our box and headed for the field.

Rows and rows and rows of strawberry plants! It's such a joy to get out of the hustle and bustle of every day life, and get out to God's country to see how "real" food is made.  And with all those strawberries, it didn't take the kids and I very long at all to fill our box.

I am glad it went quickly, because it didn't take too long before everyone (except Ethan, of course) got tired and hot and needed a rest (and a treat) to cool them off.

Ethan picked and piled strawberries in the box all the way back to the barn area. He said, "I'm just going to take my time out here". He is definitely my "nature boy" who loves to help with anything that happens outdoors! Elijah, on the other hand, had about enough after picking about two berries :).

Emma just wanted to eat as many strawberries as she could pick!  If there is one thing she enjoys, it's eating anything sweet!

And Olivia was a nice mix of all three...a little eating, a little working, and a little tired! So, we filled our box and then headed to the barn area for a Strawberry frozen yogurt!

It really hit the spot :)

After a wonderful (and seemingly quick) time at the patch, we headed home. We made such a wonderful memory.  Are you taking time out of your busy life to make special memories with your little ones?  If not, I would encourage you to do so.  If you are, I'd love for you to share some of your stories in the comments section below.

A wonderful decision...

Matt and I decided two weeks ago to start reading the book "Heaven is for real" as a nightly devotion with our children. We started reading a chapter a night, which turned into two, and now we are reading three chapters a night. The book captured my attention and my heart from the prolog. It has changed the way I view so many things. It has changed my thoughts on heaven, and what I imagined I knew of it. It has especially brought me a clearer picture of Jesus and our heavenly father. Thank you Tod Burpo, and your family for sharing your story with the world. It has forever changed me :)