HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY BRODIE

I look back on this photo...my favorite with my firstborn son of the past year...and it reminds me of how very quickly he's becoming a man. He's taller than me, almost as tall as his dad, and yet he's still my little boy (who takes care of me now).

It's a special age.

"May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown."
Psalm 144:12

Brodie, 15, and in so many ways already a man of God. I look around our world today and I see the lack of expectations for young men and honestly, it breaks my heart...because it grieves the Father's heart when He employs men to care for the family and to lead the church and culture and we see that the bar is not being met. Oh, that we would raise up strong, wise men who fear God and lead for the Lord in the next generation! May it be so and may Brodie be one such man.

"The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man."
Ecclesiastes 12:11-13

To my Brodie, your Mama loves you so much! I pray for you like lives depend upon it (because they do) and I just know, by faith, that the Lord will employ you as He desires to serve Him in all that He leads you to do in His name. May your music and service and work ethic and mostly your heart glorify Him above all this year and every year from here.

I'm so proud of you, son.

- Happy 15th Birthday -

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."
1 Corinthians 16:13

DATE WITH DAD

Though they're becoming young women these days,
he's still their Daddy...and they're still his little girls.

(sushi)

His care for them ensures they know just how special they are...
and how they ought to be cherished.

(Christmas tree and chai)

My little women - with their Daddy for the day - warms my heart.

"As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him."

Psalm 103:13

THANKFUL

In spite of a difficult week, discovering via ultrasound that I am going through another miscarriage,

we find our hope and joy in the Lord above all and for our many blessings we are...thankful.

(my 11 blessings with their "thankful" craft)

It's been a blessed Thanksgiving...

...slow and sweet, full of cherished memories and traditions that knit our hearts to home.

Indeed, we have so much to be thankful for.

God is good...at all times, so we rejoice in Him!

- Happy Thanksgiving 2017 -

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY TO MY BECK

Before we met Beck, he was described to us as a "sweet pumpkin" and it's always been easy to see why.

He is our joyful, affectionate, gentle, innocent, adorable, kind, humble, lovable, teddy bear type of guy.

He has grown by leaps and bounds over these 3 years in our family (It's hard to remember life before Beck.) and he's had a great deal to accomplish and catch up on considering his beginnings. Beck quickly and immediately integrated into that "son" spot in my heart those 3 sweet years ago. He melded with his Mama and his Daddy right off the bat, always loving freely. His vulnerability has been endearing, and his triumphs along the way worth celebrating...and especially so today.

Happy Birthday to our beloved little Beck!

You are cherished, loved, snuggled, and precious in our sight and God's.

May He continue to grow you up strong into a mighty man for His glory!

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

GATHERING LOFT

When we first took out the 4th bedroom in our home to create
an open loft space, we had a couch in the room facing our TV.

Eventually, we started to rethink the focus of our loft space, wondering how to emphasize
our family time and devotions with the furniture arrangement instead.

We came up with this built in seating idea utilizing an XL twin mattress and the cushions from the other couch. The guys built the sides to function as both end tables and bench seating too...then they made a matching coffee table large enough for blocks, trains, doll house, schoolwork, artwork, family games, etc.

A little stain...

An extra bench.

And our new devotion/play/build/hang out spot was born...in our special gathering loft.

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!"
Psalm 95:6