MOMMY?? I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

It has been a while, time just seems to slip by.  I have been immersed in summer, then school starting and learning about special needs adoption, marriage, kids and life.  Please, to all my 2 blogger followers, check out http://reecesrainbow.org/.  Think about adoption, pray about adoption, support families adopting.  It is so important.  I have been praying for the sweetest and cutest little red headed fellow and he now has a family.  How cool is that!!  http://catholic-kara.blogspot.com/  I could totally get used to praying for some kiddos and watching God move.  More on all this later.

We had a busy summer.  Nephews and nieces spending time with us.  Gotta make those memories :).  A nice vacation to Florida to see my Uncle and Aunt.  A drive to Tulsa to visit other family members.  It never seems like summer is long enough (sigh) or cool enough.  Now that school is in full swing, I miss the lazier days.  We are outsourcing all of Hannah's schooling this year.  I have learned that I am not the best teacher for her, surprise surprise.  She does better being accountable to someone else.  With outsourcing the schooling it means more driving time for Elijah and I, but more quality time spent together as we wait on her classes to finish.  I sure do love my little mini dates with my little man.  He is just about the sweetest thing.  I love how boys are rough and tough and then so tender.  At night he is the sweetest giver of hugs and I love you mommy.  The other day, he yelled across the house, "MOMMY???  I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!"  That boy is so yummy sweet.

The other morning I was reading from the bible and this was what touched my heart.  Isaiah 43:22-24
²² “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
you have not wearied yourselves for^[c] me, Israel.
²³ You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,
nor honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with grain offerings
nor wearied you with demands for incense.
²⁴ You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me,
or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
and wearied me with your offenses.

Here is how I read this.  I do not call on the Lord like I should.  I most definitely do not weary myself for Him.  I do not bring enough worship or praise to Him.  Yet, He does not burden me with that or weary me with His demands.  Yet, I burden Him with my sins and weary Him with my offenses.  I am not seeking Him as I should.  It is high time for some repentance and turning from my old self.  Praising Him that Romans 12:2 is in the active voice.
"² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.".

God is good, all the time. 

I have also just finished catching up to date on another adopting blog, I really am the adoption blog addict.  http://theblessingofverity.com/  In a questions and answer post written on June 25, 2012, where the questions were for her 2 older sons about adoption, special needs and a large family, her boys said this, "If we’re living in Christ the goal is not to learn lessons and become better people. We aren’t the point, God is. It’s about worshiping God by enjoying Him. He will change us in His own time and His own way to bring Himself glory."  I found this to be so true and such a HUGE reminder.  It has been a rough year and I recall many times thinking, "well at least this is sanctifying!"  What a huge error on my part.  Instead of those thoughts, I should have been praising Him more as I have been walking through this rough patch.  I am not the point, God IS.  Less self more Him.

Now for some fun pictures.

This was taken in June of last year.  I thought it was a cool shot.

 

July of this year.  Who can pass up bubbles!

 

 We were able to have a quick rain shower in the middle of July.  Super rare in Texas, so this is how we choose to enjoy that!  Besides, who doesn't love to play in the rain.

In August, while on vacation in Florida

A little eye candy, my man!

At the beach or should I say in the water at the beach.

Two of my absolutely favorite people on the earth.

They really do love each other!

 

Caa Caa

These two make me so happy. "Anna" has been gone the last few days at her Aunt's house. She returned today and "E" is all about getting her attention. Did I mention he calls her "Caa Caa"? I have no idea how he gets Caa Caa from her name, but I love it. I told her today how much I loved that he calls her that and she asked me, "What, you mean poop?" No, silly lady, that he messes up your name and it is so cute and I hope he always calls her "Caa Caa". All day long, "Caa Caa, Caa Caa". I sure do love these two.

On a side note, we are going to start homeschooling for next year. 7th grade for "Anna" and tot school for "E". I am getting excited and have been researching curriculum, which I will post when we get it all together. Finally, I am to the more excited and less nerves phase of this new journey.

Also, I am going to start doing my weekly meal plan again. My friend and I will be posting them to our blogs so we can be held accountable. I am struggling staying within my grocery budget, so it is time to get on the ball.  With homeschooling, "Anna" will be planning a meal one day a week and cooking it (with needed supervision of course), so this is another reason I have to get with it on the meal plan. Looking forward to it.
It has been a fun filled 4th of July, with the band playing at church and the fireworks, I am exhausted. Until the next post!!

Here come the words

 

Tuesday the words just started flowing. I have been waiting for 20 month old E. to start saying words and it is finally happening. We were at Lowes on Tuesday and he found the confidence to say all kinds of animal sounds. A duck says "Ack Ack". A dog says, "Ooof Ooof". This includes a lot of bouncing up and down. A cow says, "Mooooooooo" and I love how his mouth forms this one. A Bear says, "Wrarrrrrrr". So does a lion and dinosoar, in case you were wondering.

We are working on B this week in tot school. He says air (bear), ubbles (bubbles) and all (ball). Mama and addy (daddy) are being said all the time now, along with Anna (sister).

I was so young with "Anna" and had so much going on that I just didnt stop to really remember this time with her. I know I enjoyed the things that she said, but remembering them is another thing. Thank goodness that we have blogs now, so I can capture these moments along with photos.

I adore these two kiddos. This picture was taken on the day that he clearly said Anna for the first time. He also likes to copy everything she does. She dances, he dances. She lies on the floor and he lies on the floor. How fun. I just wanted to capture these few moments before they went away. I love my monkeys!!!!

Faith

This weeks photo challenge at jillsamterphotography is on  Faith!  What does it mean to have faith?  I think to be like a child.  My sweet son trusts me completely.  He trusts that I will be there to kiss his boo boos, to make sure his needs are cared for, to provide comfort and love.  There is no question about his faith, no doubt.  To have a child like faith in God, that is true faith to me. To never question who He is, why He does what He does.  To always listen and follow, no need to know why or where we are going.
He will always know that I love him. 


I taught him how to point to the sky when I ask him who loves him the most.  Then I say Jesus in a fun way.  He will just trust that Jesus loves him the most, because that is childlike faith. 

I heart faces "People's Choice"

This week at i heart faces the people get to choose the winner.  This by far is one of my absolute favorite photos.  I adore the imagination of children!!!  Little girls playing dress up and boys that can make anything a train track, even daddy's arm. 
He drove the train all over his daddy that night.  I looked on with a smile.  The imagination of a child, it is priceless. 

A little slice of life

The photo challenge this week at I heart faces is "A slice of life". 

This is what I face anytime I head out to water the garden.  A sweet boy who cant stay away from the water and a dog that loves the water as well.  He loves helping playing so much that he cries if I go out without him.  I love this kiddo to pieces.  Everyone enjoy your week. 

More editing fun

It has been a wonderful day today.  I got to enjoy a walk with a friend that I love talking the bible with and serve in the nursery at church.  I also was able to find time to play around in adobe photoshop.  I absolutely love Pioneer Woman's blog, I am so happy that I have finally been able to find a site that does a step by step on adobe photoshop.  Thank you Pioneer Woman!!!!  She also has some great recipes too!!.  So, here is what I have been playing with, the hard light layer.  Lucky for us, here in Texas we had a great snow fall this year and I was able to take great pictures (to edit :)).  Here they are.




What do you think?? My handsome husband says that the "hard light" layer makes them look too bright and my daughter says that it takes from the snow, i.e. the footsteps and markings in the snow. I am digging it.