a day in the life...

...of my two favorite little girls.

thankfulness

These three people are such gifts from God. I pray that God helps me to never take for granted any one of them. ever.







Over the past few months John and I have been under some stress. Nothing really bad, just lots of change and uncertainty all at once. John is commuting over an hour both ways 4 days a week, we have an insane amount of debt, a house we hope to brake even on one day, and a few minor (very minor) health issues with the girls. But, really nothing that can't be ingested fairly well after a good nights sleep, some good stewardship... and [not nearly often enough, but] some time focusing on what the Bible says.

So, in my efforts to keep balance and perspective in my outlook. I have been following several blogs. Blogs by mothers who have lost a child or have a very ill child.

And.

wow.

What was I upset about, again?

Really.

Get. Over. It. Jen.

Is the message God is sending to me, in the so very loving way that he does.

The last few years seem a bit random to John and I, like what is our purpose, exactly? When will be settled? But, as I go along I am reminded again that the beauty is in the walk. The day-to-day up's and down's.

It's not simply obtaining the goal or arriving at the destination. Life is full of surprises (good and bad), what-ifs', and maybes'. I am learning that contentment [freedom found in God's grace] is something found after exhausting all my efforts to be content in my own self [my own motives/desires/ambitions].

Yep.

I'm just starting to see a glimpse.

Of how much more I have to learn.

And it's a beautiful sight.

stellan

Baby Stellan is due to get out of his heart surgery any time now. We don't know this family, but by reading their blog and praying, I feel connected. Amazing. This is what the body of Christ is for. I've been praying for this baby and his family all day. I dressed the girls in orange to honor Stellan. If you click on the picture bellow, you will come to Stellan's mom's blog. If you scroll down (for a while) you will come across a picture of Lauren. And soon a picture of both girls next to Stellan's name in sidewalk chalk on our patio!

I may be "just" a regular, christian, hands on, stay-at-home-mom, but today I am privileged and blessed to part of a powerful prayer team for Stellan!

work it girl

The girls and I made a trip to Once Upon A Child today. I completed the girls spring & summer wardrobes. $122 and a FULL bag later (about 40 pieces of clothes)... we found and put together these fun warm weather fashions for Miss Sadie and Baby Lauren. YAY for thrift stores; unique and cheap!!!

Enjoy the show!

7 x 7

This is copied from the Blog titled 'Send the Rain' by Angie Smith. She and her husband lost their fourth daughter just a few hours after she was born. Yet, they are a true testimony to the sustaining grace, peace and joy we can find daily in Jesus.

She came up with this 'pray 7 x 7' plan to make sure she pray's for her girls seven times a day, during reoccurring simple tasks that happen every day, seven days a week.

I'm inspired! (Ironically, the topic is prayer over our children at my mom's group tomorrow.)

1. When they wake up: "Let the morning bring (child's name) word of your unfailing love, for she has put her trust in You. Show (her/him) the way (she/he) should go, for to you (he/she) lifts up her soul." (Adapted from Psalm 143:8)

2. When they are getting dressed: "Therefore, as God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Lord, help (him/her) bear with others and forgive whatever grievances (he/she) has against others. Help (him/her) forgive as the Lord forgave (him/her). And over all these virtues, help (him/her) put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Adapted from Colossians 3:12-14)

3. While they are eating: "Teach (child's name) the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Teach (him/her) that (he/she) can do everything through him who gives (him/her) strength." (Adapted from Philippians 4:12-13)

4. When they go out of the house: "(Name of child), do not conform any longer 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." (Adapted from Romans 12:2)

5. While they are taking a bath: Lord, give (name of child) clean hands and a pure heart, and let (him/her) not lift (his/her) soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Let (him/her) receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God (his/her) Savior. Let (him/her) be part of the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Adapted from Psalm 24:4-6)

6. When they are going to bed: "The Lord Your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, be will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

7. While they are sleeping: "I pray that (name of child) will do everything without complaining or arguing, so that he/she may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which he/she shines like a star in the universe as he/she holds out the word of life-in order that he/she may boast on the day of Christ that he/she did not run or labor for nothing." (Adapted from Philippians 2:14-16)

seize the day

I love how these two girls have the ability to freeze a moment in time, and squeeze every drop out of it.

"Lord, these days are so long but they are so rich and they will soon be gone. Please help me to spend them well. Amen."

8 months old

Happy 8 month birthday to Lauren Faith on April 16th!

Doesn't this just make you smile? :)

The full package

I snapped this picture on a whim, right before I dressed Lauren in her jammies for bed tonight. This large mirror is in our hallway. I passed it quickly the first time, and then I turned right around and grabbed the camera and snapped this.

Sometimes, I am still in awe that we have Lauren Faith with us. Why? As many of you already know, before John and I became pregnant with Lauren we miscarried two babies (two separate pregnancies). When I was 6 weeks pregnant with Lauren I had a lot of cramping and bleeding - for two days - it did not look good.

I believe that God spared Lauren's life. I remember laying on the couch with my feet up on the arm rest, praying as hard as I could. All while feeling like I was in an actual physical battle. And then. The bleeding stopped. I knew that God came on the scene.

"...You restored me to health and let me live." ~ Isaiah 38:16

Now, with all that to say, I want to fill you in on our latest prayer request involving Miss Lauren Faith.

As I passed this mirror tonight, holding Lauren, I remembered, "Shoot, I have to find a new clinic so that I can find Lauren an ear doctor!" The last few weeks this MAJOR detail has been pushed to the "back shelf".

I will spare you all the INFORMATION that John and I have been inundated with about the fact that Lauren's left ear has a moderate hearing loss. This loss is equivalent to how we would hear sounds in a bathroom with our ears submerged under water in a bath tub. Also, we were told that Lauren will [always] need a hearing aide in her left ear.

Poopy. Is what I have to say about that...

Being the Healing/Restoration bunch that we are. I, along with many others pray for our sweet 'Loreny Mouse' and the healing of her left ear.

Step #1: We'll be getting her a hearing aide within the next month. This requires MANY office visits now and throughout her life.

Step #2: She will learn as she gets older to keep track of a very important peice of equipment.

Step#3: God is God, His will includes healing.

However, I will not be upset if Lauren's ear is not physically healed. Oh, now I know that God can move mountains... and I have witnessed and experienced for myself several miracles. I believe in the power of prayer! So, for now I thank God that I live in a country where I can get my hands on a hearing aide (for free, the first year) so that my baby girl can hear clearly and learn to speak clearly as a result. This is God's goodness. We'll take one step at a time doing what we know to do, and then stand.

Please keep Lauren's ear in your prayers. Thank you.

P.S. Bellow is a picture of a sweet little baby boy who is also a miracle, and, also in need of prayer. He survived a severe heart problem while he was in the womb [doctor's said he wouldn't live]. Now he is in the hospital for a sickness related to that. You can read about him more, by clicking on the picture.

If you give a Mouse a Cookie

I believe we're all familiar with the well known children's book titled: "If you give a Mouse a Cookie".

Well, I am going to illustrate for you my rendition, that I will call: "If you give a Mom her Neighborhood back".

Enjoy!

If you give a Mom her Neighborhood back, she might just...


take her two favorite girls for a stroller ride. And, bring her camera.


and once this mom has her two favorite girls in the stroller she will 'zoom in' and snap one more close up picture, to show in detail how cute they look bundled up and cuddled together.


and once she has snapped several pictures in various angles while capturing a vast assortment of expressions. This mom will continue strolling down the road and take her two favorite girls to the fun 'blue' park a few blocks away. And, then, this mom will happily help her favorite older girl into the blue tunnel, and run around to the side to peek at her! [and snap her picture.]


and once this mom's favorite older girl gets to the end of the blue tunnel, she will snap a picture that puts a big smile on her face.


and after this mom has situated her favorite baby girl in her reclined stroller (asleep) she will dig in the sand with her favorite older girl.


once this mom and her favorite older girl dig in the sand for the full duration of her favorite older girls attention span, they both pause for a picture together showing their freshly painted toes.


once this mom and her favorite girls get their fill at the park, they head back towards home. Along the way, they find this gigantic tree. And this mom has to pick up her favorite older girl and set her in the tree. Once this mom set her favorite older girl in the tree they admired the width, the height and count the three large off shoots that lead to hundreds of branches that appear to "touch the sky". After this mom helps her favorite older girl down they pick out their favorite stick to carry home.


As this mom wheeled back into the driveway with her two favorite girls, she paused and snapped a picture of her favorite baby girl being as sweet as can be while she enjoyed the stroller, all to herself.

So, If you give a Mom her Neighborhood back, she might just take her two favorite girls for a stroller ride. And, bring her camera.