It's all been worth it.

This Sunday my husband is going to celebrate his ordination. I am so proud of him, I think back 6 years ago when we started this journey and this day seemed almost impossible. We had just had our third child the week prior to him starting school, and I have to admit that the first semester, ok the first year was really, really hard. There were days and months I was not sure if our marriage was going to make it. God on the other hand had a plan and walked us hand in hand through those 4 years of school. We had some great moments during those 4 years and we also had some very trying ones. It was all worth it. I watch him today and see joy, and contentment. He LOVES being a pastor! He is also very good at it. God knew that he would be, that is why he called him to do it. Funny how God works huh:)
I am excited to celebrate my husband this Sunday and to honor God by praising him for the work he has done in Brett's life and in our family. Our GOD is good!

My baby turned 1 on January 28th. I can't believe she is already one. She is our last baby, so there is alot things I will never get to do again. Some of the things I will miss about the baby days:

• the wonderful smell of a new baby
• the sweet coos and noises
• the first time they smile at you
• how they hold on to your finger so tightly
• how when they look at you, nothing else matters
• all the wonderful firsts (sitting up, first food, first step, first word,etc.)

Things I will not miss about the baby days:

• waking up every two hours
• being spit up on (sometimes in your mouth)
• bottles, bottles, bottles
• endless screaming that pierces your brain

The things I am looking forward to about her being 1:

• sippy cups:)
• bigger car seat (easier to get her in and out of)
• self feeding
• new words and new discoveries
• more independence (the classic " I do")
• running, playing at the park
• things I am sure I am not even aware of :)

I love every stage of childhood, yes even the teenagers, every stage has good and not so good things, but I get to experience it with them and I cherish every minute.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year all. I pray that 2009 will be a year of discovering something new about God and remembering his faithfulness in your life. God Bless you as you begin this new year.

Merry Christmas

Have you noticed that most people do not say Merry Christmas? They say Happy Holidays, or Season's Greetings, or nothing at all. A few years ago when this started to get so bad my husband and I decided that we would not say anything but Merry Christmas. Why?
Well, we live in a world that is desperately trying to push Jesus out, and we want to desperately keep him in. We try to make it a point to say Merry Christmas to all clerks, cashiers and most anybody we come in contact with.
Sometimes the simple things can make a big difference. If we don't try we will never know. Jesus is the reason for the season, and I proudly proclaim it. So to everyone reading
MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Here are some pictures from the summer.

I finally figured out how to do it, who knew it was so easy?

Madison loves koalas
Kaleb " The Bird Whisperer"

Waiting their turn for mini golf

How cute!!!

Our Daredevil

Megan!

Lexi's first encounter with the lake

Whohoo...

From lake to lion, such an adventurous girl!

The whole crew after a long day at the zoo.

Lexi slept most of it, that's why she looks so happy!!

I don't know???

Ok, so I have been harassed about not blogging in awhile. I am not a writer and when things are on my mind writing is not what happens.
We have had alot going on, I guess nothing that I felt like blogging about, so I guess I will just ramble.
I voted today and I have to say I am soooo ready for the election to be over. The phone calls, the junk mail, the commercials, ahhhhhhhh.
My two oldest girls have been asking questions about the candidates, only because they hear the names on TV. We told them who we were voting for and now they are cheering him on. It's funny how your opinions influence them. Well, only for awhile then they go the complete opposite, just to spite you.
My baby is 9 months old and just started walking. She has taken 4 steps om her own and is gaining confidence every day. She is soooo sweet and I cherish every moment with her. She is our last and I am having a hard time with her growing so fast.
One of these days when I figure out how to post pictures, and take them off our camera( very important) I will put some up here.
My favorite time of year is upon us and I am just basking in the beauty of the colors, and watching the kids play in the leaves. Fall just isn't long enough.
OK, enough rambling.

How Beautiful

I have been doing an amazing study called Breaking Free by Beth Moore. I can't even begin to go into how much God has revealed to me. something that he has laid on my heart is the issue of insecurity. I was shown that insecurity is sin, I know seems strange, but it is. when you think negatively about yourself what does that say about the one who created you???

Yes, I know we make choices that make us who we are, but the very core of who you are was put there by God. The creator of the universe, the beginning and the end, do you think he make mistakes? I don't. The world, our circumstances and choices have shaped what we think of ourselves. But God says differently.

" I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels" (Isa. 61:10)

This is how Christ sees us, we are beautiful to him, we are his brides. No matter what you have done, no matter what has happened to you, You are beautiful to Christ!
I have been deeply affected by this because I have struggled all my life with insecurity, very debilitating insecurity. Now I look to my father who created me and I know that I am beautiful, no matter what anyone thinks, says, or does, my Father thinks that I am beautiful, and that is all I need.