Almost 3!!

Finally got some pictures of  my girl playing outside today ;o) She is growing up so fast and will be 3 in 2 short months! Thanks for the cute outfit Aunt Sara....love Matilda Jane Clothing ;o)

Valentine Tidbits

We had so much fun this Valentine's Day. I'm not usually a "big" Valentine's person.....I'm not sure why, but this year felt different.  I've always had a problem with this because I always think to myself, "shouldn't we take the opportunity every day to express love to those we are closest to? Why do we just take one day a year to do that?" However, if you think about it, we could say that about every holiday that we celebrate....Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving.

For the past month our church has been doing a series on marriage. It has really been eye-opening and a great lead into Valentine's Day. I would say that Joey and I have a great marriage, but of course, just like every one we struggle with some things too. I have been very convicted the last couple of weeks because there are times when I feel like I am constantly noticing the things that my sweet husband is NOT doing and I let him know it. Let's be real for a moment, there is SO much that Joey does around the house. He does the laundry, the yard work, the floors, and lately he has even helped out with the dishes as I tend to be a baby the first trimester. lol. However, for some reason, I can always pick out what he has not done. Why do I do this? ugggg....

Anyhow, I came across a blog a few weeks ago that had a wonderful post addressing this very issue....apparently, I'm not the only one who struggles in this area. ha! The blogger had a great idea of keeping an "appreciation log" .... She says that "Taking a moment to recognize the small things that may often go overlooked helps keep negativity at bay in any relationship. It challenges you to become observant and really pay attention in order to come up with something new every day."

I thought it was a wonderful idea so I pinned it and then stole it! ;o) I changed it up a bit because if it is not readily available 24/7 then I  would get side tracked and forget about it. I ended up using note cards instead of a journal. I modpodged the boxes, put our names on them, printed a verse out for the front of it, and then wrote on the back, "it's been noted." I must admit that it has been very good for me. I am not good at expressing my thanks and sometimes I will forget so having these little cards right at my fingertips helps me to commit to saying it. Works for me at least ;o)

Presley's Valentine's party at school this year was also lots of fun. I headed up the party and was in charge of the craft! Luckily, I was able to get all of the moms involved so I didn't have too much to do this time. Target dollar spot ended up being a life savor for the craft! They had little tin mailboxes for $1 and then I found a bucket of sticky hearts for $5....great for little ones ;o) NO CLEAN-UP! There were so many cute ideas for Valentine's Day on pinterest and it was so fun seeing all of the mom's valentine's ideas and craftiness in the classroom!  

Here are the links to all of the blogs that I got all of the ideas from in the pictures above......don't want to get in trouble for "stealing" anyone's thunder ;o) 

Appreciation Journal

Home Command Center

Love blocks

Jar of I love you hearts.... I made up a poem to go along with this, but I'll spare you the cheesiness :o) lol  Just a side note: one of the commenters had a great idea of hiding these in your child's backpack, desk, lunchbox on their first day of school in kindergarten to remind them that you love them as they go through the day. Great idea!!!

Sticky Valentine from Presley

Brownie Points Valentine for teacher    I loved this little valentine and printed it off for free. ;o) I attached it to a box of brownies and then attached a gift card to Celebrity Cafe and Bakery ;o) 

January Scrapbooking Retreat!

A few weeks ago I went to a scrapbooking retreat down the road in Roanoke with my little sister and her friends. It was the same place we went to this past September. I love the town of Roanoke and find it so quaint and cute. The restaurants are delicious and they have several cute boutiques to shop at. One of my favorite little boutiques is a place called, "The Plaid Peacock" where I got Presley the cutest little dress. She wasn't too thrilled with my choice when I showed it to her ;o) she says to me, "I don't wike it! No, I don't."  The child has an opinion about everything!
While I was on my scrapbooking retreat, Joey and Presley had fun hanging out all weekend. They had a dinner date, visited the Grapevine Aquarium, and went swimming at Lifetime Fitness where they have an indoor pool. After the retreat, Joey picked me up for an afternoon date day ;o) We went shopping, had lunch, and then saw a movie ;o) We saw War Horse and it was great!
Here is a cute little Pinterest Valentine craft I made at the "scrapbooking" retreat. Ha! ;o)

A Longing Fulfilled

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is the tree of life. -Proverbs 13:12

The day before we left for Colorado in early December I got a positive pregnancy test. It's funny how after you've had miscarriages you quickly turn your thoughts from "we're pregnant" to "I got a positive pregnancy test."
I knew that with this positive test there would be lots of appointments and decisions to be made. I decided that on our trip to Colorado that I would just relax,have fun, and not think about what was ahead.

On December 21st I was scheduled for my first sonogram. At only 6 weeks pregnant they would be able to tell me if it was a viable pregnancy. The morning of my sonogram I was filled with such anxiety....nervous about it being a viable pregnancy, nervous about it being in the "right" place, and nervous about starting my Lovenox injections and being on an anticoagulant.

Several months ago my step mom gave me a wonderful devotional called, "Jesus Calling." On the morning of my sonogram, I opened up this book and flipped to the page for December 21st. I read it and immediately felt as if the words jumped right of the page and were meant just for me.....ever have that happen? The words I read lifted my anxiety and gave me great peace! This is what I read.....

"My plan for your life is unfolding before you. Sometimes the road you are traveling seems blocked, or it opens up so painfully slowly that you must hold yourself back. Then, when the time is right, the way before you suddenly clears- through no effort of your own. What you have longed for and worked for I present to you freely, as pure gift. You feel awed by the ease with which I operate in the world, and you glimpse My Power and My Glory.

Do not fear your weakness, for it is the stage on which My Power and Glory perform most brilliantly. As you persevere along the path I have prepared for you, depending on My Strenght to sustain you, expect to see miracles~ and you will! " -from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

I wish I could say that after this, my faith didn't faulter....but, that wouldn't be entirely true. I had some rough days where I really struggled. I still had fears and anxiety about the unknowns, but on these days I was always lead back to the words I read on December 21st. It has been a constant struggle with me and I have to make a daily effort to start every day off right in prayer- if I don't, it's not a pretty sight! I have felt God's hand in this entire situation and pregnancy even before making the decision to conceive again. He has guided my every step and it's the most amazing journey I've ever been on....and it's all documented through the keeping of several prayer journals dating all the way back to the month before Presley was conceived. He's had to change things in me and mold me in ways I didn't know needed molding. He has spoken to my heart over and over again and it brings me such joy! Even when I have doubted, He has brought me back. Just yesterday, He used my sweet 2 1/2 year old during our sonogram to show me that I need to continue on in hope....believing wholeheartedly in God's goodness. (the sweetest story that I hope to share one day) :) I am so excited about what the future holds for this little growing family of ours. :)