Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! Love, David, Sarah, Emma Grace, Bella and JJ
"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, "- Psalm 103: 1-4

Our night of crime... wink!

Late last night, my dear friend Pam and I snuck out on a mission. While our wonderful husbands kept our children at home, we set off to surprise our children's pastor for his birthday! ( We were armed with sidewalk chalk, ribbon, and lots of laminated signs with magnets attached to the back! ) It is such a treat to be part of our children's ministry team and the Lord has truly blessed us with the opportunity to serve alongside our precious friends.
Here are some pictures from our night of crime! If you see Pastor Ryan, don't tell him it was us! ha ha! "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones."-Proverbs 15:30

Wordless Wednesday: Homeschool assignments

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets, who were before you."- Matthew 5:11-12

Blushing at Sam's Club

Today I loaded up our three children and we headed off to run a few errands for my part-time job at our church. As we were shopping, I occasionally stopped and chatted with strangers who were smiling at JJ and the girls. We made our way through the store and as we were waiting in line to make our purchase, a shopper in front of us turned around and smiled. "Cute kids." I thanked him for his kind comment, and then it was his turn at the register. Bella looked at me and said, "Mama! That man lost some of his teeth!" I gently shook my head and tried to give Bella the look in hopes that she would quietly stop talking about the man that was standing only two feet away from our cart. "I saw inside that man's mouth Mama- that man with the red shirt that said we were cute! He lost some of his teeth, just like Wubs!" Apparently, I need to work on my skills administering the look to my children. wink! Luckily, the man never glanced back at us. My blushing face was bright red, that is for sure!

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil and cling to what is good."-Romans 12:9

JJ's big news!

JJ has big news! He got his very first tooth this weekend!
On Saturday afternoon, JJ was giving me sweet baby kisses when all of a sudden, something scratched my chin. It felt like he bit me! And sure enough... JJ had bitten me! I peeked inside his mouth and there was his first tooth. I squealed with excitement and quickly took JJ to show daddy and his sisters! Our little boy is getting so big!
"Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."- 1 Timothy 6:18-19

Mommy Handbook, Lesson #428

JJ has been sick, bless his heart. Now he is on an antibiotic for an ear infection, but prior to our doctor appointment, I wanted to give him some Tylenol. It was about 1:30 am on Monday morning, and our little boy was miserable. That's when I realized that I had a problem.

We had a brand new, unopened box of infant pain reliever. This Tylenol has been sitting in our basket of various baby necessities for several months now. I opened the box and removed the plastic seal from the medicine bottle. Then I turned the bottle over to read the dosage directions.

"Weight- under 24 pounds, Age- under 2 years, Dose- ask a doctor".

I looked at the front of the bottle. Yep, infants pain reliever. (Scratching my head) Huh? So I learned lesson #428 in the mommy handbook: Never throw away that half sheet of paper from the pediatrician with the dosage amounts listed on it. It is priceless... at 1:30am. wink.

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."-2 Corinthians 9:8

Thank you tears

I am rough around the edges (and to be quite honest, I'm not only rough around the edges but I have yuck in the middle too, wink). I try hard to trust and obey the Lord, but I fail often. There are days that I fall so short that I wonder how God could love me. I am in awe that God would have ever allowed me the priveledge of being David's wife. I stand amazed that He has trusted me to be the mother of our three precious children. I certainly don't deserve this life that the Lord has given me. And in addition to all of this, as if I am not already blessed beyond measure, I get to have eternity with Jesus! Wow. Even while I'm busy doing the simplest of tasks, such as folding laundry or wiping the table, I feel my eyes fill up with 'thank you tears'. I am just so overwhelmed by God's love.
Our camera is broken but my precious friend Pam took pictures on Halloween night. I am excited to share them with you! Here is a glimpse of our sweet night of fellowship, rain, and cAnDy!!! (Thirty two pieces of candy to be exact. The first thing Wubs did when we got home was empty out her bag, line up each piece in a perfectly straight row, and count her loot.

Baby Madelyn is JJ's best friend! Isn't she a cutie pie? JJ the dragon! He stayed bundled up in our stroller but I think he enjoyed his first Halloween!

Andy, Pam, kitty cat Katelyn, pirate Zachary, and daisy MadelynRyan, Amanda, croc hunter Will, Mario Jack, and princess-fairy GracieDaddy, Mommy, fairy Emma Grace, fairy Bella, and dragon JJ. (Poor Bella- her hands were so cold! )

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's decietfulness."- Hebrews 3:13