life is short. eat donuts.

TODAY.

Today. I am claiming these verses over this little one.

"The Lord grants sleep to those He loves." Psalm 127:2

I kept feeling like this is the verse I am to claim over Eden not knowing that this is what the next verse says, "Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord" ! Wow. One version says "He will give his beloved sleep". I can rest knowing that He has blessed me with this gift and He also knows both she and need sleep.


"I can lie down and sleep soundly because you Lord will keep me safe."Psalm 4:8
yes and amen.

"When you lie down you will not be afraid. When you lie down your sleep will be sweet."Proverbs 3:24

so be it Lord.


It has been a journey of sleepless nights since we moved to our new house. Praying and believing for breakthrough.

learning how to pray.

Want to learn how to pray? Have kids. Nothing will get you in practice faster.

 ~Rick Hamlin

"Kids remind you how little you know and how much you have to learn...not just about them but also about faith and trust. But for all those times I've said, "God your going to have to help me here", there are moments I've (said) "It's beautiful. I never expected it would be as beautiful as this." That's parenthood."
~rick hamlin

hopey and mollie.

Meet Mollie. Hope's new best friend. She was so excited to get an American Girl for her birthday. It was the perfect present. She didn't even care that it was her only present. She was so happy. She slept with Mollie (Hopey's name choice) for the first few nights. I would look into her bed and see two little blond heads snuggled together under the covers. So cute.

Hope loves telling everybody that she is now four. 

She is growing up fast but I am cherishing these days where she is still small enough to climb on my lap and snuggle and read a book or fall asleep on the couch with me in the afternoons. I love you Hopey girl.

"The prime purpose of being four is to enjoy being four, of secondary importance is to prepare for being five." Jim Trelease

pinewood derby.

Saturday was a first for Moses. He has been working on a pinewood derby car for the last couple of weeks and this weekend he got to race it. He was so excited. He didn't win but he was okay with that. Even more exciting than the race was a chance to hang out with his cousin Noah and spend the night. Sometimes he seems to be growing up before my eyes. We love you buddy and are proud of the young man you are becoming.

laugh at the days to come.

It has been a rough couple weeks. Sickness after sickness on top of sickness. I was staying positive till I got wiped out with a sinus infection and a hurt back. I spent many afternoons on the couch and instead of embracing it I let another unwelcome guest come stay with me. This guest's bedside manner makes you feel worse than the sickness itself and threatens to stay and never leave. Depression seemed to linger around the last couple weeks leaving me feeling hopeless and tired and worn out. 

Sunday at church something broke as I came to Lord weary and tired. He touched my heart and my back and reminded me of His love.

He reminded me that His strength is made perfect in weakness. It's okay to be weak. It's okay to need help. It's okay to rest. I can surrender my life and trust Him. 

Last night we were awoken in the middle night by the sound of vomiting...several times. This morning I was reminded that I have a choice. I can let depression come and stay or I can laugh and embrace the day.

And I know by writing these words I will be challenged to live out what I have written.

Today by God's grace I will choose laughter. 

Lord today help me to find my hope in you. May I be clothed with your strength. Help me to laugh in the face of fear and discouragement. 

four years of HOPE.

Four years ago today we welcomed the smallest little baby with eyes that seemed to look right into your soul. She was my tiniest baby weighing only 6 lbs. 9 oz. She was concieved in Emerald Isle where we lived at the beach and she came during a season of healing in our lives. Hope was both her name and what God was doing in our hearts. Her middle name Ireland was for Emerald Isle and my Irish Heritage. And we fell in love the minute we met her. Four years later she is still winning our hearts with her funny sayings, laughter and raspy little voice. 

We love you Hope Ireland! You are so special to us! Four is going to be a great year...just don't grow up too fast! 

Happy Birthday Hopey girl!

eden.

It is hard to believe Eden has already been outside of my womb for as long as she was in. It is seriously hard to imagine our lives without her. It feels like she was always a part of our family. These days she is crawling and climbing and getting into most everything. She loves to be a part of the action. She has two teeth and is working on a couple more. She loves to eat and devours puffs like they are potato chips. She is a lover of music and starts to move her body as soon as she hears a beat. She adores her big brothers and sisters. And they love her. She keeps me on my toes but her smiles and giggles make it all worthwhile.

We love you Eden Grace.

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be."

~Robert Munsch

daddy's girls.

i love this man and these girls.

I never knew how much I loved your DADDY till I saw how much he loved YOU.
~unknown