A good message...

What did I get out of church today?

I need to GROW UP...spiritually speaking! Children do childish things and like children should, but as adults, we need to act like we are such. Not just adults, but Christian adults, set apart by God, to show the world there is a difference in us!

I was given a measure of grace by God...not for myself, but to pour out on others. When that grace "runs out", God is right there with more, and more, and more. I was reminded of how much grace has been given to me, who am I not to share mine with other people?

I was called to L O V E my brothers and sisters in Christ. Not judge them. Not listen to gossip about them, or spread it about them. Not "keep my distance" in an order to be safe. Not contribute to making our church looking like the world, but to help make church a safe place, a place for healing and helping. I am convinced that what the "world" wants to see is ONE thing. They want to see someone who walks their talk. We have heard it a million times, but it is so true. They don't want someone who can tell them how spiritual they are, how many times they read the Bible through or went to church. What does this matter if we don't have love? If we are so head smart, but heart stupid, is God impressed? The answer I was reminded of today...no! It's now about the songs we sing, the time our services start, the programs we have, the things we agree or don't agree on...its about 2 things...loving God and loving people.

I told Chris today. I am over it. I am ready to grow up. I am ready to draw a line in the sand at work and at school. When things don't go my way. Grace. When I don't agree. Grace. When people make me mad. Grace. When I hear the latest rumor. Grace. I want Chris to have a wife and Gage to have a mom that is too busy giving grace to stop and make it her job to judge or condem. I want people to tell them- wow God is all over her. I can tell she loves her God, loves her family, and loves other people. I don't want to be distracted by things that don't matter, but rather I want to love and extend the grace that is so freely given to me time after time after time. Chris said, let's pray for that conviction that you will be ever aware of that attitude that you have, and the one that you desire.

I am praying.

I am ready to do some growing.

Thanks Andy! Awesome message today!

What have we been up to at our house?

Dear Baby Nursery-

I can still remember the smell of the fresh blue paint that Mr. Bob and Mrs. Kay painted on your on your walls. I remember going to pick out furniture with my mom back home. I can also remember getting our bedding...from the most unlikely place (my pal Megan's dad randomly picked it up at an auction and I LOVED it). I also remember when Hollie stumbled across the website to find all the "stuff" to match the bedding. I remember Tammy painting the details on Gage's name and book basket. I remember FINALLY deciding on a chair...oh the chair...many days and nights of rocking, many books read, and many times just sitting and watching Gage from that chair! I remember coming home from Philadelphia with my sweet new bundle of joy and him sleeping in his bed the very first night he was home. Its funny now, but it wasn't then, the first time I messed up his medicine and he puked all over Hollie- on that nice clean carpet- little did I know that would be my first of MANY mistakes. I am told I will make a lifetime of them as a mother. Gage had many firsts in you, sweet baby nursery. You have been good to him. It is time though to say goodbye to you. My sweet 7 week old that we brought home is now 29 months old. He is a "big boy" and in need of a "big boy room". He needs room to stretch his long legs and a place he can have new "firsts" in. The walls are still that same "baby blue" but everything else has changed. Our soft colors have been traded in for primary colors and our sweet frogs replaced with monster trucks. Our diaper genie has been replaced with a trash can (potty training is going GREAT...for this weekend anyway). I say goodbye to you nursery but welcome the next phase we are entering for it means many things. It means that God has had His hand on Gage for these 29 months and is holding all of Gage's organs in place-right where they belong. It means he is healthy and growing. It means that there is a storage building full of baby furniture that may be used again sometime- Lord willing. It means that Chris and I are blessed far beyond what we deserve. It means every time we walk in this special room of our home, we will always remember what is started as, and one I am learning right now...Gage will always be our baby!!

Baby its cold outside!

The "snow" was really too crunchy to play in...

We didn't have any friends outside to go sledding with...

but isn't that the cutest little snowman you have ever seen???

Christmas 2010...it was a good one!

This had to be the most relaxing and enjoyable two weeks of my life! Chris and I either had off or took of this time to with our families, and man what a blessing it was! We spent the first half with the LaFavor's, the second half with the Brown's and the last "leg" at home reorganizing for all of the goods we brought home. Below are just a FEW of the MANY times we shared this season with our family!

Have you seen our cowboy??

Gage's grandma (aka Namaw) spotted these boots and knew immediately

Gage had to have them...and what cowboy has boots and no vest?

Gage is sporting his daddy's hat...isnt' he precious??

I love this sweet little cowboy!!!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...

Can I hold him any tighter?

I have learned that in motherhood you go through phases...just as the sweet little ones you are mothering go through them. What I have also found is that their phases are listed in paragraph form in any and every magazine you can pick up (as it relates to children). Even before they are born you know "What to Expect When Expecting" and then you know what happens from 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, etc. What you don't see in all of these magazines is what mommyhood is all about. There are the basics...but not the REAL "stuff" you need to know. I have discovered the reason for this is because you can't truly know until you are right-smack-dab in the middle of it all...be it the good, the bad, or the ugly...there is just no way to prepare...there is also no way or reason to compare from child to child which is another reason "What to Expect as a Mother" is not a best seller at Babies-R-Us.

That being said...the phase I am in right now you ask? The good? The bad? The Ugly?

No...its the wonderful, precious, I just can't get enough of Gage phase. Mind you, he is 2 and definitely has his moments, but right now, for today, I just want to hold him tighter, kiss him more often, and tell him a million times over how very much his daddy and I think he is the best thing that ever happened to us.

I can think of nothing better to have at Christmas than a close family who would rather do nothing more in life than live, laugh, and love together!