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Our Valentine's Videos

To:  Gran Gran

Love:  Russ, Kristy, Josie and Izzie

To: Mimi & Gramps

Love: Russ, Kristy, Josie and Izzie

To: Aunt Linda, Uncle Jack, Jack Jr, Ryder, Kate and Chase

Love: Russ, Kristy, Josie and Izzie

phone dump & favorite things

Josie is sitting next to me coloring.  She reminded me that "if we make a mistake it is ok because God loves us anyway."  Apparently, she started to color the apple blue.  "Silly me, apples are red." She said.

I love camera phone dumps on other blogs, so I figured I would do one of my own.  

I had a sweet friend ask me what my favorite things are right now.  A small list of those are at the bottom.

Josie got the "headbanz" game for Christmas.  It is super cute and we all get involved.

These girls are awe-some.

 I was wanting a new shelf to go in my "conversational area." Scott's Antique show was in town last weekend and Russ I could not pass this one up.  Trinkets to be moved around.

I mean seriously...is she the cutest thing or what?  

She has changed so much but her personality is quite complex.

Josie LOVES to dress up.  Her "ren-nastics" (aka gymnastics) outfit is too cute.

Long legs and arms like her daddy. (Thank you Lord.)

We were able to see my sweet Kiki over the holidays.  I miss her so!

Ok Favorite things right now...

1. Zumba

2. The crockpot

3.  All is Grace by Brennan Manning

4.  The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller

5. V-neck T-shirts

house: long time coming...

Here she is...our new house.  Well the main floor anyway.
We love it here.  It suits our family well.
I often feel as if I get my two favorite things in one; a house in the mountains/ridge in the middle of the city.

Our den/ main living area.

 Multi-purpose room.  Standing at the back door.

 Multi-purpose room. Standing at the front window.

Looking from the den into the kitchen.

 Galley kitchen.

Bookshelf wall in Josie's room.

Josie's bathroom.

So I seem to have forgotten Josie's room.  I will add that to the upstairs pictures and the newly renovated master closet.  We are missing some pictures on the wall, we keep debating on what goes where. 

And this is Thomas' playroom.  Because heaven forbid he actually sleep out there. 

This flat backyard will be receiving a swing set from Christmas!

Our kind family members pitched in for this fun present.

More to come....let's be honest...who knows when.

unconditional love

These two words have clutched my heart and mind for the past 10 months.  Sometimes just saying them to myself with no reflection, and often times sitting to contemplate what they mean in my own life.  And, this past week I was given the privilege to view unconditional love manifested before me.

I've been reading and embracing that Christ's love for me has nothing to do with me.  For so long I thought this love had to do with my behavior -- acting correctly, saying or doing the right things, not saying or doing the wrong things.  But I'm vividly seeing this is not the case, and I was mistaken for many years.  Christ came to love those that are full of sin (Romans 5:8, or all of Romans, or the entire Bible) and whose behavior is as I've come to label it, a "hot mess."  And, yes, that's me.  I'm the hot mess.  It's been freeing to receive love that is one-way -- from God to me.  Love despite myself -- completely separate from my behavior.  I'm speaking of grace.


Katie and Chris have always been dear to me.  I have watched their relationship develop, grow, and mature from our high school years until today.  But as I watched them LOVE Hallie these past 10 months I have, in a more deeper and more profound manner, understood God's love to us.  Despite Hallie's condition, appearance, behavior and lack of reciprocation she has been DEEPLY loved by her family.  She didn't have to DO anything.  She didn't have to BE somebody.  She was who she was and that was enough.  

Katie and Chris, our friendship is a treasure.

Hallie Lynn Green

Some of you may know the Green family.  If not here is the link to their amazing story.

Katie has been my
childhood friend,
cheerleading buddy,
college roommate,
maid of honor,
neighbor,
mommyhood refuge
and the dearest best friend the Lord could have selected for me.

Here is the link to her meal calendar if you are interested in helping out in that arena.
Kelly Ford has set up another loving way to help.

tips for your child's one year birthday party

1. do not light the candle and expect them to blow it out...
Izzie stuck her finger directly into the flame= 10 minutes of crying.

2. pick a theme that is broad and you can use all kinds of items at your house!
aka..polka dots...yes sir ree. i bought very little and it worked great.

3. host multiple parties (for different generes of peeps, of course)
we reused some yummy leftovers and saved money and looked very much put together. like we had the thing catered

my precious Izzie at ONE:
your favorite food is: goldfish
the coolest person on Earth:  your big sister Josie (she can make you laugh like no other)
the thing you do the best: make a serious face (girl can win a staring contest)
three words that describe you: contemplative, dancer, patient

love you sweet izzabee.

mayberry halloween

So our new neighborhood = mayberry.  Kids everywhere.  Playing in the woods, in the streets, in their yards without parents.  What a change from GP.  I mourn the loss of GP and being close to Katie.  But this has been such a welcomed change.  The neighborhood had a Halloween Party with a petting zoo and horseback riding.  Yeah, it was awesome and we met a ton of neighbors with children the same ages as ours.  Josie could not have loved it more.  

 Rapunzel and a fairy.  Aka...whatever was in our dress up basket you could be.

 In Mayberry the parents walk mostly in the middle of the street while the children run to each house and collect the "goods".  I feel SO blessed to live in the city and have this homely luxury.

Izzie's birthday is Tuesday...what?? Her party was tonight.  More to come.