I got an idea for this little envelope "mini album" of sorts one night... each insert/page inside is a place for journaling about my Top 5 Life Defining moments (Becoming a believer in Jesus Christ, meeting Shaun, the birth of our children, and two private ones). I just wanted to keep it simple, and provide a private place for journaling about these things, to remind me where I stand in life when I get a little shaky.

Note: I cut out the envelope with an AccuCut die cutting machine, but you could easily reproduce it by taking apart a large envelope and using it as a template.




(note the little scribbles- Em's "thoughts" on the playdate. Heh.)




Check it out here!

Labels: Craft ideas, Crop Addict, faith, layouts, links, mini albums

I can't tell you how many time I've been out with the kiddos and had people tell me that I've got my hands full.

They are absolutely right.

I've got my hands full of joy and happiness and blessings. Sometimes poop and boogers too, but all in all- I live a pretty awesome life, because of these sweet little faces.

Labels: faith, family, kids, pictures

was one of the best things ever conceived of for moms. :)

The kidlets are officially signed up and went for their first day of "school" yesterday. Oh man, it was so nice to not be called "Mommy!" for 6 hours! And bonus- I got to spend a good portion of time yesterday playing with scrappy stuff. Good times, good times.

In other news...

we recently changed churches.

Dude, this was a hard, hard, hard, difficult decision. It had nothing to do with the church we were going to... we absolutely love that church (and still plan to go visit as frequently as possible). It was more to do with the fact that we really felt like God was leading us somewhere different.

Now, people use that Christian jargon all the time... to the point that it feels like it's almost an excuse to cover up what you're really thinking sometimes. In this case, though, it is 100% truth. We had to make a choice between two really good things for our family, and to see where God would take us in the next few years as far as ministry and being a part of our community was concerned.

So anyways, it's been on my mind (obviously) a lot lately.... just a big change in our life. A good change.

Here are some pics from going to Community Group last Sunday night...










Seriously, what in the heck?!



Atticus decided to literally pour Root Beer all over himself. I turned around to see him holding over his shirt and then looking at me and saying "Uh Oh."

We had to use an extra shirt that Em had in her bag.

Yeah, my kids are pretty much going to hate me for some of these pics when they're older.

Hehehe

Labels: faith, family, kids, pictures

Parenthood (and other relationships) never fails to amaze me about what it can teach me about God's relationship with me.

Sometimes, I probably take it a little too far... I mean, you can't read into EVERYTHING and make it about your relationship with God. However, I think in certain moments, His Spirit has softened my heart to notice something that I do every day and remind me about how God treats me, His daughter.

Case in point...

Em is calling me into the bathroom today, to wipe her after pooping. (Oh yes, good times.)

I started cleaning her up, and she started trying to help.

I told her, "No Em, don't touch. I don't want you to get messy. Let me clean up your poop for you."

Now, I'm not going to oversimplify the gospel- but seriously- in a lot of ways, that IS God's grace. He sent His Son in my place so that He could "clean up my poop" so I didn't "get messy," so to speak.

(Granted, that's not to say that sin doesn't have consequences that we sometimes have to clean up, but Jesus did provide grace and mercy for us for the ultimate price that we would have to pay.)

All that said... Thank you, Jesus, for being willing to clean up my poop.

Labels: faith, family

For those of you just here for the scrappy stuff, here's a little project I did the other night. (sorry for the not-so-great pic, I took it in a hurry!).
I used a page out of a Maya Road chipboard album as the base and painted it. Added American Crafts papers and Chipboard Thickers, Jenni Bowlin Paper, Creative Imaginations Paper Lace, and Heidi Swapp crystals and bling
.
The verse in the middle is a great verse, one I discovered recently. It says, "When she speaks, she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly." (Proverbs 31:25, MSG) WOW! That is so convicting to me... I really struggle with my
tongue and the things that come out of my mouth.

Labels: Craft ideas, faith, scrapbooking misc.

Why does stuff make me "happy"?

Why can't I seem to use my time more wisely?

Why did I wait so long to pay my $22 library fine?

Why is my scrapbooking desk an enormous mess?

Why can't there be an invisible shield around my front porch to keep all of the pollen off?

Why can't it be much, much easier to leave the house with three kids?

Why is our library so freaking cool about having three little kids running around in it (well, minus Sabriel, she can't really run around. Yet.) ?

Why do kind people get taken advantage of?

Why haven't I finished making my rolodex cards for the swap at the Event?

Why do the Hills have to move to Mississippi?

Why can marriage be so hard sometimes?

Why do the little rolly pirate skulls from the Happy Meals make me laugh?

Why does my husband put up with my shenanigans?

And why does he continue to laugh at my "Wachovia" joke? Oh wait. He doesn't. That's me that still laughs at it. hehe

Why did I have to tell Atticus FIVE TIMES THIS MORNING, "Stop asking me to put on your tiara!!"?

And why does this make me wonder exactly how secure he is in his masculinity? ;)

Labels: faith, family, funny, home, kids, links, marriage, Scrap Etc., video

My help and glory are in God
—granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—
So trust him absolutely, people;
lay your lives on the line for him.
God is a safe place to be.

Labels: faith

Man, I can't tell you how much I hate Mondays...

back to housework, cleaning up after the weekend, trying to get back to our normal routine, etc. etc. etc.

Here are a few things that are making me happy today, since I need some of those reminders at the moment:

-Kari Ann came over to visit today
-Got a lot of creative ideas spinning around in my head
-I just won this
-My May Crop Addict kit is on its way to me
-Heard a really great sermon yesterday and it's still rolling around in my head (a huge feat for someone who has a chronic case of mommy brain)
-My brother graduates from police academy next week (dude, does anyone else automatically think of the Police Academy movies and the guy that can make all those cool sound affects when they read that?)
-Em turns three on Wednesday
-Only 16 days until the Event!
-I got some really cute & flattering jeans this weekend at Kohls.


Alright, gotta run... I need to take a shower... clean up the house some... you know, since it's 3pm and all. ;)

I'll leave y'all with another layout I made for Scrap Etc... this one is using new Heidi Swapp, some Jenni Bowlin, and Making Memories.

Later dudes!

Labels: faith, family, layouts, links, pictures, Scrap Etc.

Whew, what a weekend! It was beautiful and relaxing and full.

Friday the Hubs was off, so he got to spend some time with the fam and with Quinn playing disc golf. It was a nice surprise, as I didn't expect him home that day! :)

Saturday was full of playing outside in the pretty weather and preparing for the next day. We cooked out that evening and had Ginge & Donnie over for a much belated birthday dinner. I recently "spiffed" up our screened in front porch so we can eat out there, so we all sat out there and really had a relaxing evening.

Sunday was Easter, and we are working on trying to make it special and meaningful for our family. Shaun and I have done a variety of fasting for Lent in previous years (that's a whole 'nother post for another time) and would like to eventually incorporate it to be a family thing... so we want to start making a tradition of Easter being that special day when we celebrate Christ's resurrection and the breaking of our fast. Anyways, all that said, we did decide to do Easter baskets as part of that tradition, to signify the celebration and the gift of grace.

The actual gifts were not so "spiritual." ;) We gave Atticus a lion bubble maker and Em a Strawberry Shortcake computer game, along with loads of chocolate candy for the both of them. I love this pic because if you look closely, you'll notice the respective gifts did not go to who we planned them for. Hee!

I didn't get a good pic of the three kiddos in their Sunday best, so I'm planning on hitting the Botanical Gardens next weekend and doing pretty spring pics.

Here's some remaining pics from our weekend! The kids LOVED the bubble maker- thanks to the Dollar General for that one!

Labels: faith, family, kids, pictures

Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance.

She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, "They took the Master from the tomb. We don't know where they've put him."

Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb.

They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter.

Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.

But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping.

As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus' body had been laid. They said to her, "Woman, why do you weep?" ...she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn't recognize him. Jesus spoke to her, "Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?" She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, "Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him."

Jesus said, "Mary." Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" meaning "Teacher!" ...

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you."

Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe."

Thomas said, "My Master! My God!"

Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing." ....

These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.

(Excerpts from John 20, the Message translation)

A few shots from our Easter weekend... check back tomorrow for some more! :)

Labels: faith, kids, pictures