Reflections~

Tonight I am filled with joy as I close out my 32nd birthday. I spent the day with my precious family.
Thirty-one was a blessed year. It began with announcing to our little ones that we were expecting a new member of the family. December, January, February,  and March were spent muddling through feeling terrible with a new little one growing inside me.  I spent many days over the summer with my mom sewing, eating, sipping coffee, and preparing for baby to come, while my husband diligently worked very hard getting a new business off the ground. I got to bring forth a new life...little Ivy Joy. An added treasure and blessing to our quiver. I have cherished many days at home nourishing my little ones in their character, checking attitudes, training in daily chores, watching them play and learn and grow. Baking, cleaning, laundering, nursing, laughing. We made another life long memory with our big east coast trip. Three weeks of sightseeing, driving, and lots of  TIME soaking up being together. Seven people in a Yukon XL, packed to the brim, just making our way up the east coast was an adventure. A beautiful adventure.  I am so thankful for all that my Lord has given me.  He is so good. So, tonight, on this cold December night, with baby in arm, sleeping children all around, and fresh peppermint hot chocolate in hand, I sign off...closing out day one of being thirty-two. :) my heart is full, and I am happy...

Daily Dose ~ part 1

Pleasant words are like honey.
    They are sweet to the spirit and bring HEALING to the body.
 Proverbs 16:24


I have been walking out a spiritual journey. Learning to trust whole heartedly the Words of God. Learning to depend on His words more than anything. Trusting that His words bring life, and change, to unchangeable situations. His words are medicine to our whole being. I am dedicating the next several entries to the Healing Scriptures. Read them. Speak them. Pray them. Write them. They will change you. In ways you won't expect, and can't imagine...
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1.)Worship the Lord you God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

Exodus 23:25

 

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2.)You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor will any of your livestock be without young. The Lord will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but will inflict them on all who hate you.

Deuteronomy 7:14-15

 

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3.)This day I call the heaven and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

 

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4.)Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave through His servant Moses.

1 Kings 8:56

 

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5.)So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10


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6.)I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
Psalm 91:2-3




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7.)He will certainly save you from hidden traps
    and from deadly sickness.
 He will cover you with his wings.
    Under the feathers of his wings you will find safety.
    He is faithful. He will keep you safe like a shield or a tower.
 You won’t have to be afraid of the terrors that come during the night.
    You won’t have to fear the arrows that come at you during the day.
 You won’t have to be afraid of the sickness that attacks in the darkness.
    You won’t have to fear the plague that destroys at noon.
Psalm 91:3-6


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8.)I will praise the Lord.
    Deep down inside me, I will praise him.
    I will praise him, because his name is holy.
 I will praise the Lord.
    I won’t forget anything he does for me.
He forgives all my sins.
    He heals all my sicknesses.
Psalm 103:1-3


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9.)My son, pay attention to what I say.
    Listen closely to my words.
 Don’t let them out of your sight.
    Keep them in your heart.
 They are life to those who find them.
    They are health to your whole body
Proverbs 4:20-22


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10.)Beat your plowshares into swords
    and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weakling say,
    “I am strong!”
Joel 3:10

Leaving no time...

When was the last time you heard from God about something small in your life that he wanted you to let go of? Did you listen to Him? Did you put it off, thinking your own mind was talking to you and not Holy Spirit? I believe so many of those little nudges from Him, get ignored. Things that if we just followed and obeyed, would lead us closer to Jesus; closer to ridding our lives of idols. 

 

 They can be silly things really, but things that take up so much of our time, so much of our "attention"...that they push Jesus and our relationship with him to the side...to a place where it never should be. He decreases, and that thing, that entertainment, whatever it may, be rises to the forefront of our life.

 

 

 

It can become an idol. It can happen slowly, over time, but before you know it you may be addicted so to speak. You may let it consume your every spare moment. Leaving no time to talk to God. Leaving no time to commune with Holy Spirit. Leaving no time to worship at His feet.

 

 

Could it even go as far as to take your attention away from your children? From your spouse? Do you let it rob you of sweet moments you could be looking at your child, taking in the beauty of what they might want to be sharing with you, but you miss it because you are distracted with this idol? Do you miss moments you could be connecting with your husband? Do you miss the moments you have together because you are distracted?

 

 

 

Is this idol worth it? Is God trying to speak to you? He was speaking to me. I want to be ready to lay anything down at His feet...big or small. I want to hear and obey. I want to get anything out of my life that keeps me from being a better wife, a better mom, a better daughter, and sister. I want to get anything out of my life that keeps me from being a better child of God. I want to be filled with Holy Spirit. I want him to feel welcome at any moment in my life...not like He has to try and squeeze in and be noticed, or felt, or heard from.

 

 

Life filled with work, school, laundry, meals, errands, etc. is busy enough, don't let "things", or any form of entertainment become first in your life. Slow down the pace. Become "old school" if you will. Cherish Jesus more that anything. Cherish your family. Listen for that still, small voice and follow Him.

 

 

But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:22

 

Beautiful Beginnings~

It has been a while since Ivy was born, but things have been pretty busy, and I have not found time to sit and journal about her birth.

I was induced on the morning of August 5th at 8:30.

She was born that afternoon at 2:37.

Everything went amazingly smooth, no complications, and no complaints.

We welcomed her into our lives with love and great expectation of the joy she would bring to our family.

 

  Ethan and Ivy~ He was thrilled to finally get to hold her!

Elijah was very gentle and cautious around Ivy.
He would softly kiss her little head and smile...
 

  Baby sisters~ Emma and Ivy~

They are going to have so much fun together.

 Ivy ~ Gift of God

A piece of my heart now forever resides with her.

A view from where I sat...
 

 

 

 

Lovelies for the Lovely :) 

 

  

 

 Five is not too many.

I'm thankful for every day that I get to be a mommy.

 I am thankful to hold a newborn in my arms again.

 

 

 

How do you see it?



Last week I went grocery shopping alone. I was 37 weeks pregnant. It is always an adventure going to the grocery store, seeing the variety of people that will be there.  On this particular occasion, I kept passing a man and woman with what appeared to be their grandson. They were all dressed in a way that made me think they might be on their way to church, being it was an early Sunday evening.  The little boy was about 2, and he was lagging behind his grandparents to such a degree that made me uncomfortable. But, as with many things that I see when out and about, I had to keep moving forward, and try not to let it bother me. After gathering all the things on my list, I headed to the front to check out. I ended up pulling into a line right behind this couple and their grandson. I watched as they seemed very put out with the little boy, as he tootled around jibber jabbering about this and that. Then his eyes caught mine, and he tried to start a conversation with me, the best way he knew how in his little toddler jargon.  About that time, the grandfather looked at me, and noticing that I was quite pregnant said, "Are you ready for this?" (motioning his hand toward the toddler). I replied with a smile and said, "Well, actually I am. I have four other children at home." He moved closer to me, with a half smile, and an astonished look on his face and said, "What is wrong with you??" Many emotions flooded my mind, and I quickly asked the Lord for a soft answer. I replied, again with a smile, "Nothing is wrong with me". I could tell he was unsure of what to say next. His wife started fumbling over her words and saying how she just thinks they would have done better, and that it would have been easier to have a grandchild earlier in life (although they were not that old...). They were obviously not into this child, or taking care of him. It was very sad to me, but I know it is not uncommon. They painted such a picture with their faces and body language, it was undeniable of their true feelings. Very sad.





 

This week I went to the grocery again, except this time I had all four of my children with me. We made our way through the store with minimal glares, and no comments. We were finally finishing up in the produce section, and an elderly lady quickly made her way over to me. She said, "Certainly these are not all your children? And you are expecting another!" "Yes ma'am, they are." I replied with a grin. She just smiled and looked at them all and said, "You are blessed of the Lord!" It was so refreshing to hear some kind words from a stranger!





There was such a vast contrast in these two people that I encountered. The first one, looked at me with disdain...shock and awe...that I wanted children, that I enjoyed children. The second one, was in some way a kindred spirit...knowing that I am not weird, but blessed to have my little lambs.

Psalm 127:3-5  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.

 



 

Hug and kiss your babies today.

Don't see them as a burden.

Don't see them as someone who is getting in your way, and keeping you from all of your daily plans. Don't be ashamed of your children in public, no matter how many you have, when people glare or make comments.

Be encouraged when other's bless you.

Know what the Lord thinks, how HE sees you, and what HIS comments are!

 

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

 





See them as what they are...a gift from the LORD! What more could any one ask for?

Blueberries

Summer also means blueberries for our family.

 Our usual picking spot, about 35 minutes north in the country, did not have berries this year due to a late frost that killed all the berry flowers. We were very disappointed when we found out this news. We decided to try another patch, closer to town.

We were so very excited to finally be out picking!

The weather was very hot, but that's just part of it I guess.

 Emma was very eager when we first got there

 

 Olivia was a diligent picker. She wanted to fill her very own bucket.

 Ethan was a diligent picker, too! He would get some berries, and then pour them in my bucket.

 

 Elijah was a great picker for about the first two thirds of the time being there.

 

 Beautiful berries

 

 Emma became completely disenchanted with picking, the bugs, the heat, and the lack of water (my fault), about half way through our picking.

 

 

 

 Sweet Mom, huddled by a bush faithfully picking, in her wonderful sun hat.

 

Hot and buggy...

 Precious five year old

 

 Tired, but faithful little picker. She had her a half bucket at this point.

 

 "I want to go home, Mommy!"

 

 Heading to the berry barn to get some water and pay for our berries

 



 33 weeks pregnant...and very, very hot!

 

 The closer we got to leaving, the more smiles Emma delivered.

 

 Beautiful pasture nearby. Oh, how we love open farm land...

 

 Sweet littles

 

 Beautiful sunflowers near the blueberry bushes

 Me and my babies...thankful for another wonderful (hot) memory :)

 

Emma was the happiest when we were home, bathed, and sorting our berries...