Christmas

Christmas this year seemed so different. There was no snow on the ground for starters and my little brother Caleb and his wife Danie couldn't be here. It was just unusually quiet. I think part of it is when we are little there is so much magic and mystery around Christmas and now that I am older I haven't been able to re-create that. I think my kids feel it is that way but it has lost the dazzle for me.

We were blessed to have my sister Leah home this year. I think it is only her 2nd time joining us since I've had kids. My grandparents came up too. My grandpa and grandma Seger both in their 80's and my grandma Pearson all were able to come. It was great to spend that time with them.

My mom does such a beautiful job decorating that I always feel spoiled at her home. The kids really had fun with their cousin Tucker. All in all much fun was had by all.

Here are some pictures to remember it by;



Leah with the kids on Christmas Eve.

Here are all 4 of the Pearson kids. I think this was the day before Christmas eve maybe...

Abby and I on Christmas--

I have to tell you the story of her dress. I've been looking and looking for Christmas dresses for the girls. Everything I was finding was just too much so I decided I would have Abby wear hers from last year and Emily was just going to wear a skirt and red top. I was very bummed about this though as I remember clearly as a child being so excited for my Christmas dress each year and wanted my girls to have that same delight. I had resigned happily to the fact that it wouldn't happen this year and lo and behold a friend gave me a beautiful Christmas dress for Emmy because her parents had bought her daughter a new one.

I figured that was perfect.. Abby could wear her old one and Emily could have a dress instead of a skirt and shirt. Well.. I happened to be out at the thrift store in town one morning and the back door where they have their new inventory was open and there was a BEAUTIFUL little girls Christmas dress hanging up back there. I was talking to my sister and telling her I wish it was out because maybe I could get it for Abby and a little while later a lady walked up to me with the dress and said there were some stains on it so I could have it for 2.00. 2.00!!!!!!!! I came home and spotted those stains right out and she had a beautiful size 6 dress to wear.

I felt so spoiled rotten!

This is Kenan's "face"!

The kids had a fun wrestling match with Grandpa. My dad was gone for most of Christmas as he had ranch stuff to do but the few hours he was there the kids had a blast with him.

Kenan gets nervous when people are wrestling. I think he is afraid they are hurting eachother.

Kenan got his first tractor ride the other night with Grandpa. Every time you even mention the tractor his eyes get big and he gets a huge smile and says, "tra-tor.. bumpa...moo" They went to feed the cows. I think it was the hilite of his little life thus far.

Kenan

I am so in love with this little almost 2 year old!

Merry Christmas from our family

Merry Christmas 2011

2011 has been a year of crazy new beginnings for us. After moving in August of 2010 and living in a living room for nearly 10 months we finally had a room finished in the basement this spring. It felt like honeymooning all over again to have our own room. Since then we have the basement nearly finished now which has added some much needed living space for us. We are very grateful to everyone who has helped to make it happen.

Joel is working full-time at Ford while also pursuing a degree. He started college this past fall and right now is looking at an engineering degree but currently our future feels very unsure so this could change. He keeps really busy; he has been doing vehicles on the side for family and friends. It seems all spring/summer/fall there wasn’t a weekend that we weren’t chopping or hauling wood to heat our home this winter. He is also always doing some kind of work here on the house. I’m just dreading next semester when he’ll be gone at class every Mon., Tues., and Wed. night.

I have also had some new starts; I recently got my life insurance license so I can sell pre-need insurance at my dad’s funeral home. As a mom we wear so many hats that sometimes it all can feel a bit overwhelming. Not only are we worried about the welfare of our family but also training and equipping these children God has entrusted to us. I have learned more about the art of juggling this year. I’ve been watching a sweet baby girl named Ella, my kids love her and call her “our baby.” I also have still been doing some wildtree parties, and I do lots of hair-cuts and color, it has actually become a ministry for me and I’m very grateful for this skill. I’m also in my 2nd year of homeschooling. Life is very full at the moment.

Abigail is now 6 years old and in 1st grade. As I write this she is now reading fluently and loving it. She is an avid learner and has been relatively easy to teach. I think my teaching job may become much more difficult next year when I add Emily into the mix.

Emily is now 4 and loves to do preschool. She is my imaginative kid and can keep herself occupied for hours in her pretend world. The girls are great at playing together and I am so thankful for that. They are also great helps to me with both Kenan and Ella. We are so blessed to have such sweet little girls to raise.

Kenan is the exact opposite of our girls. He is Trouble! He is incredibly curious about every little thing and won’t stop until he knows how things work and what happens when he does certain things. We can count on most days walking into the bathroom to find the duckie floating in the toilet. All curiosity aside this little man is amazing. We are totally in love with his friendly personality and the humor he adds to our family.

Through all the busyness we really have to be intentional to direct everything to Jesus and to model to our children that He is the one we live for. He is the reason for this season and we are eternally grateful for his handiwork and provision in our lives.

Thank-you Jesus for loving us so much that you came to Earth all those years ago to be born and live in amongst humanity to suffer and be tempted, to be like us, and then to give up your life for us that we who believe in you can live with you forever. We are humbled and so grateful!

May God keep you in perfect peace in 2012

Emily's part

Both our girls where in the church Christmas program this year. Emily was an adorable little star and said her part so perfectly. Abby was a traveler and just sang. I loved this part of growing up. I was even Mary in one of our plays. It was fun to watch my kids and I'm excited to next year have Kenan be a little sheep in it! :-)

Jesse Advent Tree

This year I really put a lot of thought into how I want to spend the time leading up into Christmas. The kids are at a new age of understanding and I want to be very intentional about why and who we celebrate Christmas for. After much searching.. and having a very limited budget, I was thrilled to come across this from www.aholyexperience.com.

Every day we have a bible reading and then we read a devotional on the reading and put up an ornament that symbolizes what we have read. It is maybe a little deep for the kids to understand so I try to simplify it for them. This is a tradition I would like to keep for every year so I hope to over time replace the paper ornaments with real ones that I find.

Heart Aches

The worst thing about being a mom is the inability to fix our kids hurts. It is really hard to watch them go through things and not be able to scoop them up and carry them over it. This past week our beloved cat Natalie died. The kids had just bought her special food for Thanksgiving and she died before they were able to give it to her. It's been a hard week around here and yet I can't help but relate this to how God must feel about us.


He as the loving father has to watch us go through hurts, and although he comforts us and is with us the pain is still there. As I have been wishing we could take the pain away from the girls I too wonder if God wishes He could take our pain away. It has given me a little idea of the depth of how much God loves us. What a loving father He is. How much he must ache for these little ones he has created. For all His creation.


In better news. I've been feeling blessed beyond measure. I was invited this past weekend by some ladies at church to go to a Lisa Welchel seminar. Not only did they give me a free ticket but I also won the door prize while I was there and an additional free book by Lisa on advent for kids. I was able to go deeper in a few relationships with some ladies and deeper with God. Ever since moving I have really been missing my deep friendships from the cities and praying for that kind of relationship up here. I think God is starting to honor that request. I have felt very watched out for and protected lately. I love that security. God is so good.

I've really been wondering when.. if ever.. life will slow down for us. Joel will be taking 4 classes 4 nights a week next semester so we literally won't see him for 4 whole days. He has also been informed after the 1st of the year he has to work every other Sat. 8-4. Right now he's been doing every 4th 8-12. I guess that leaves me holding down the fort. Learning to be content with what He has for me right here right now. I'm slowly training in at the funeral home to sell ins. with my dad. I just had another meeting lastnight and am excited for what this could mean for us. Still struggling with how to do it all though. Hopefully it will all just fall into place. Thank goodness I have Grandma nearby and some good babysitters the kids love that I used to babysit myself when I was a teen. I still have Ella. She is an adorable, chubby 8 mo. old now. My kids are so used to her. They dread the day she doesn't come. Her dad was supposed to be laid off in Nov. but his job continued so we are just going week by week at the moment. It sounds like I could keep her thru. Jan. My house is a crazy house most days. Toys are strewn everywhere.. dishes are on the table..shoes are scattered. To be totally honest, I wouldn't have it any other way.

With Thanksgiving tomorrow I am feeling so thankful that I will get to spend it with family. My grandparents who are still living are coming and I am just going to cherish every moment, and hopefully teach my children to do the same.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm praying for contentment, in whatever situation we find ourselves in, to reign over our lives.

Refreshed

Ahhh... What a perfect weekend at Women of Faith. I was moved. I was encouraged. I was refreshed. It was so perfect right now that I won these tickets for it is at this time in my life that I find myself grappling with so many questions and possibilities in the christian walk that I never really felt possible. I feel like a dry desert that just keeps sucking in the water and through that I have a dawning of new understanding coming over me.

It seems so crazy. I grew up in a Christian home I've sang the song Jesus Loves Me thousands of times and yet I've never really truly let the truth of that sink into my soul. How have I gone all these years and not grabbed a hold of that. It has gotten me thinking, if I have felt this way surely there are many more of us. Women who just don't feel we measure up and God doesn't want what leftovers we can give. We keep telling this to ourselves over and over and eventually we just quit trying or we try but feel like it is doing nothing. That we can't change.

The point I took home this last weekend is that God sees me. HE SEES ME! The injustices I suffer, some for His name's sake, He sees. When I feel like I have taken the world on my shoulders and am drowning under the weight of it, He sees. When I fail time and time again but desperately want to do what is right, He sees. When I feel totally invisible to every single person on this planet and like I don't matter... He sees. Wow! Talk about a reason to hope. God is on our side. Like that song goes..."If God is for us, who can be against us, who can stand against our God."

I feel like the scales have fallen from my eyes. God has been working on my heart for awhile now and little by little I allow His truths in and uncover some wrong thought patterns I've been harboring and kick them out. This has been going on for years and will probably continue until the day I die. We are never complete this side of time. I'm so thankful to God for how faithful He is. I can't even begin to tell you some of the things I've harbored in my heart. Some of the ways I feel I am and there is no way I can change them on my own. Only God, through his mercy, can change a heart. I am so thankful!

Through all this I do feel a deep stirring in me. God wants more and is calling me to more. I don't know what the more is but I'm going to be obedient. I'm going to keep searching and I'm going to live my life in such a manner that his love can be seen through my life. Will you join me?

What is our response

We've all seen the pictures and push them to the back of our minds. We don't know what to do about it so we do nothing. After all, we are just one person and there are other people out there who are taking care of it. Or maybe we are trying to do more and we financially support or sponsor some children but how can we possibly take care of them all?

This picture really got to me when I saw it. I don't know if it is how skinny these kids look or the fact that they look so much like Kenan to me. Different skin color but same eager faces... the look of innocence. I just want to help them in anyway I can. My mind goes back to the thought that I'm just one person... what am I supposed to do to change anything? We have a lovely little girl named Nathali who lives in the Dominican Republic who we sponsor. I love corresponding with her and knowing that our meager amount we send gives her clothes and medicine and education. But let's face it I can't help every child. Sometimes it feels like there is such a great need and so few workers willing.

I've heard it said that God gave us enough to sustain the whole earth. There is research that says every person alive today could live in the states of Kansas and Nebraska. We have plenty of room and plenty of resources to feed everyone. Our problem lies with distribution. Why are we not sharing?

Just some thoughts today as I contemplate what my role is to be in all of this. Sometimes I get so comfortable here. I have a roof over my head, plenty of food to eat, two cars, and yet I still long for more. Always reaching for that next thing to make me even more comfortable. What if that isn't the way we are supposed to live at all? What if those job advancement... that extra 1,000... the new car... what if all that doesn't matter at all and what truly matters is how we take care of those in need? Would I pass? Would you?

***** I am in no way making light of Steve Jobs. He was a great innovative man and changed America with what he created. I just know he is one man and there are many more dying daily...hourly.

This is how I've been feeling lately.....plumb tuckered out!

Excitment

Just when I think everyone has forgotten about me and I'm all alone God suprises me with two little stubs in the mail. Stubs that changed my outlook on how I've been feeling and how God feels about me.

A few months ago I entered a contest at Women of Faith and had to give them my blog address and write a short essay on why I would like to have free tickets to one of their events. I figured I didn't win because I didn't hear anything but today I opened my mailbox to find 2 tickets to their event in Oct. in St.Paul. Angie Smith will be there speaking and I love her.. I'm glad I'll finally get to see her in person.

I now have to figure out who I want to bless/have with me at the event. There are so many people that mean so much to me and I would love to hang out with so I'm just going to pray about it and see who God puts on my heart.

Homeschool is going ok. It's very hard to get everything done though. Kenan and Ella make it a little interesting. I'm also starting to train with my dad for this pre-need ins. and to top it all off I am a cubbies leader this year at our awana program. I kind of feel like everything has happened at once and I am quickly sinking under all the demands.

At least I have an encouraging weekend coming up!

Calling

As tomorrow approaches and with it the first day of school my stomach is a little tied up in knots as I wonder how this year will go. Training your child is no easy task and not something I take lightly. I feel a strong conviction that this is what I am to do and I don't want to fail. I want to make learning come alive for them and be very different than how it was for me. I want to impress a strong biblical worldview on their little lives and yet let them see the world for what it is so they know how to live in it. There are so many things to teach and so little time and so many distractions. I know with God's help I can do it. I know their lives will be stronger for it and their knowledge base will be wide. It's just tough to get started again. It's hard for me not to feel inadequate. I'm glad God is for me.

I have a great resource I am reading right now called "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Glady's Hunt. It is a book that talks about how important good books are in your child's life and then she goes on to break it up into age groups and list a whole bunch of books you should be reading or have your child reading. I love to read and hope to foster that into my children as well. Their daddy does not so hopefully we can get him into it also.

Anyway... That is how I am feeling on this day before it begins. So much to do today. I have homemade yogurt to make, laundry soap to make, bread to make, celery and tomatoes to process from the garden and Awana starts tonight. The girls are so thrilled. Speaking of the girls they just got out of bed so we are off to get lost in a chapter of Little House.

The Blessing

I've just finished reading the book The Blessing by John Trent and Gary Smalley. This book is about the unconditional love and acceptance that every child needs from their parents. When five elements are met they have received the blessing. These elements are: meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value, picturing a special future, and an active commitment. This book helps you put all the above mentioned elements into practice by offering biblical counsel and wise advice. What if an adult has gone through life never having received the blessing? They show you how to reverse that and train you how not to let your kids go without having received the blessing from you.
The Blessing has challenged me to intentionally speak words of blessing and life into my children's lives. Thinking deliberately on how to bless them and leave a legacy that lasts. There was a particular story that was shared about how one child was a procrastinator and never could do anything right and the mom saw beyond that and encouraged him to do great things with his life and he did. It was highly encouraging for what we can do with our words. This book is a must read to understand how to raise healthy children that grow into healthy adults. I'm very thankful to tommy nelson publishing for allowing me to read books and write reviews on them.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Why I've been absent

Taking care of this garden is quite time-consuming but we love it! Look at all we've canned so far. Still to come: Loads of tomato sauce, salso, we have also frozen lots of green beans and peppers cut in strips and onions. Yum!

We went to como zoo and rode the carousel

Abby now rides training wheel free and so does Emily actually!

Our little man's first hair cut at 1 1/2.
our bathroom downstairs. We are still waiting on the shower to be finished but it is looking beautiful!

I've been working hard to get a perfect little area set-up downstairs for our home-school. After doing it at the kitchen table last year and having to get things set up and torn down I really wanted our own space this year. We have a barbie house with barbies for when Emily is done with pre-school and I also have barns and a bin of hard animals for a certain little man who is sure to make this year hard for me. We will be spending lots and lots of hours here each day.

The new patio-- we didn't do this... my parents did. Isn't it awesome! our ever growing wood-pile

I think we already have 80 hours put into gathering wood with lots more to go. It is so time-consuming.

I am now a liscensed life producer and plan to sell pre-need ins. for my dad's funeral home.

The 3 main reasons why life is soooo busy!

The sweet little baby who I also watch full-time. Did I mention how hectic life has been?!

In other news:

Joel has started school. He is finishing his A.A.S degree at the moment with an emphasis in civil engineering. He is open to other options as he really doesn't know what he wants to do when he grows up but this gives him some direction.

Awana starts next week as does homeschool and the kids are pumped.

Joel took us to higher ground music fest in the cities a few weekends ago. We really enjoyed Jeremy Camp, Mathew West and Go Fish. It was lots of fun.

I'll try to update sooner next time!

Good blog post

I read this today off a friends blog and thought it was perfect for sharing. Right now as I have been thinking and reading about motherhood and the calling it brings this just affirmed to me how important it is. Society truly does try to bring it down and make you feel irresponsible for having more than the 2.3 average kids. I love that my kids are so much more to me than just a number. I love spending time with them. I even, most days, love the work that goes into training them. It is the best thing I have ever done and I am so glad God has called me to it!


Motherhood Is a Calling (And Where Your Children Rank)
July 14, 2011 by: Rachel Jankovic Category: Commentary

A few years ago, when I just had four children and when the oldest was still three, I loaded them all up to go on a walk. After the final sippy cup had found a place and we were ready to go, my two-year-old turned to me and said, “Wow! You have your hands full!”
She could have just as well said, “Don’t you know what causes that?” or “Are they all yours?!”
Everywhere you go, people want to talk about your children. Why you shouldn’t have had them, how you could have prevented them, and why they would never do what you have done. They want to make sure you know that you won’t be smiling anymore when they are teenagers. All this at the grocery store, in line, while your children listen.

A Rock-Bottom Job?
The truth is that years ago, before this generation of mothers was even born, our society decided where children rank in the list of important things. When abortion was legalized, we wrote it into law.
Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get. In fact, children rate below your desire to sit around and pick your toes, if that is what you want to do. Below everything. Children are the last thing you should ever spend your time doing.
If you grew up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood, to think like a free Christian woman about your life, your children. How much have we listened to partial truths and half lies? Do we believe that we want children because there is some biological urge, or the phantom “baby itch”? Are we really in this because of cute little clothes and photo opportunities? Is motherhood a rock-bottom job for those who can’t do more, or those who are satisfied with drudgery? If so, what were we thinking?

It's Not a Hobby
Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.
Christian mothers carry their children in hostile territory. When you are in public with them, you are standing with, and defending, the objects of cultural dislike. You are publicly testifying that you value what God values, and that you refuse to value what the world values. You stand with the defenseless and in front of the needy. You represent everything that our culture hates, because you represent laying down your life for another—and laying down your life for another represents the gospel.
Our culture is simply afraid of death. Laying down your own life, in any way, is terrifying. Strangely, it is that fear that drives the abortion industry: fear that your dreams will die, that your future will die, that your freedom will die—and trying to escape that death by running into the arms of death.

Run to the Cross
But a Christian should have a different paradigm. We should run to to the cross. To death. So lay down your hopes. Lay down your future. Lay down your petty annoyances. Lay down your desire to be recognized. Lay down your fussiness at your children. Lay down your perfectly clean house. Lay down your grievances about the life you are living. Lay down the imaginary life you could have had by yourself. Let it go.
Death to yourself is not the end of the story. We, of all people, ought to know what follows death. The Christian life is resurrection life, life that cannot be contained by death, the kind of life that is only possible when you have been to the cross and back.
The Bible is clear about the value of children. Jesus loved them, and we are commanded to love them, to bring them up in the nurture of the Lord. We are to imitate God and take pleasure in our children.

The Question Is How
The question here is not whether you are representing the gospel, it is how you are representing it. Have you given your life to your children resentfully? Do you tally every thing you do for them like a loan shark tallies debts? Or do you give them life the way God gave it to us—freely?
It isn’t enough to pretend. You might fool a few people. That person in line at the store might believe you when you plaster on a fake smile, but your children won’t. They know exactly where they stand with you. They know the things that you rate above them. They know everything you resent and hold against them. They know that you faked a cheerful answer to that lady, only to whisper threats or bark at them in the car.
Children know the difference between a mother who is saving face to a stranger and a mother who defends their life and their worth with her smile, her love, and her absolute loyalty.

Hands Full of Good Things
When my little girl told me, “Your hands are full!” I was so thankful that she already knew what my answer would be. It was the same one that I always gave: “Yes they are—full of good things!”
Live the gospel in the things that no one sees. Sacrifice for your children in places that only they will know about. Put their value ahead of yours. Grow them up in the clean air of gospel living. Your testimony to the gospel in the little details of your life is more valuable to them than you can imagine. If you tell them the gospel, but live to yourself, they will never believe it. Give your life for theirs every day, joyfully. Lay down pettiness. Lay down fussiness. Lay down resentment about the dishes, about the laundry, about how no one knows how hard you work.
Stop clinging to yourself and cling to the cross. There is more joy and more life and more laughter on the other side of death than you can possibly carry alone.


Rachel Jankovic is a wife, homemaker, and mother. She is the author of "Loving the Little Years" and blogs at Femina. Her husband is Luke, and they have five children: Evangeline (5), Daphne (4), Chloe (2), Titus (2), and Blaire (5 months).
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A Beautiful Illustration

Today was one of those Ah-ha moments for me. A picture was created in my mind of how Jesus cares for us. I was privy to a special father/son moment as I watched my little toddling son who has been walking less than 5 months fall over. I watched as his loving daddy helped him get back up only to have the little guy fall again. Being the patient father Joel is he helped him back up again, only this time to have Kenan stop and stretch his arms up for his daddy to pick him up.

It just came to me as this is what God does with us. He helps us up when we stumble and when we can't get ourselves up again as long as we are willing and stretching our arms to God he carries us through. It was such a beautiful moment and such a startling realization of truth for me.

Lately I think God is trying to teach me a thing or two about trust. Trust is a hard thing to learn. Sure, when you are little you trust your parents and most of the time you don't second guess any of their decisions or wonder if they are doing the right thing for you. As you age it is natural to question what is right for you and lean on yourself to figure it out. Sometimes in the looking to ourselves we forget to transfer trust over to God. When really it should just move from our earthly father to our heavenly one.

I have this verse going through my head,

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.." Proverbs 3:5-6

Notice how it says all our heart. We are supposed to hold nothing back to worry about. It all goes to God. I love how it says not to depend on what we understand. I am just reminded of what a small picture I truly am able to see. God sees it all and knows exactly how to make each circumstance fit into the masterpiece of our lives. I also love how if we seek his will in all we do he WILL direct our paths. What a great promise we have to cling to and pray over for our lives.

When I really sink this truth to heart and realize that God wants what is best for me and promises me a future with hope (Jeremiah 29:11) I can truly trust him and not hold anything back in fear. As long as I am praying and committing my way to God and truly asking him what He wants for me to do.. He has promised to direct my paths. I am going to take him at his word and trust him! How about you?

Abigail is 6

I am so late in writing this post. This last month has gone by in a blur. My sweet Abigail is 6. (She asked us to call her Abigail now). I don't know when or how this happened. All I did was wake up each day and do my best to take care of her and teach her and now by little 9 lb 6 oz baby is 6. Wow! She is such a precious child and I delight in her soo much. She has truly lived up to her names meaning... Father's joy and source of delight. I love you my sweet Abigail. I know God has amazing things stored for you. With your strong spirit and wonderful compassion God will take you farther than you ever imagined. Keep trusting him!
I love you sooo much and am so overjoyed that God entrusted you to our care.
Love -- Mommy
Abby had a wonderful surprise for her birthday. Her best friend Eva showed up and stayed the night.

The girls changed into eachother's clothes and had us call them eachtother's name. It was cute.

She also had a friend party and had 5 friends come... it was supposed to be 6 but one couldn't come. She requested that our good friend "auntie Dana" come and play guitar and sing worship songs. Dana has an amazing voice and it was so much fun to have that at the party. It was also neat to see the girls sing along.

Abby's friends. They had a scavenger hunt around the yard.

Abby and her cake.



Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

Book Review

Daddy Dates by Greg Wright was a great book to get you thinking about how you should be treating your daughters and get them thinking on how they want to be treated from a man in the future. As parents we should be training our children so why not carry that over to the dating arena and showing them what they should expect and how they should be treated. Greg does a great job of not only showing you what to expect with girls throughout the years but also getting into their minds to show the reader how girls think. He writes very cleary and adds a good amount of humor into it.
I recieved this book for my husband to read and he really enjoyed it. Our girls are still a little young but it is never too early to start. He has some great pointers on what to be watching out for and also ideas of things to do with them throughout the years. As fathers it is really important to win your little girls hearts so they will trust you and be strong, confident women when they grow up. Dad's play a key role in this. Daddy Dates is a must read for every dad who has little girls.


**I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Kenan's dedication

We dedicated Kenan on Mother's Day. It was a nice service and so nice to make that public commitment to God. My sister Leah came up with us and was his sponsor. Basically like a godparent but she is just committing to praying for him and being a spiritual mentor.

They had the deacons pray over the men. It was neat.

Here we are as the pastor asks the congregation to support us as we raise Godly children.

It was a wonderful Mother's Day service and very fitting to dedicate our little Kenan on this day. I love that little boy and pray he will be a strong, Godly man who loves others and leads his family in the way of truth.

Auntie Leah is home

Auntie Leah is home and we are loving every minute of it. She flew in on Thursday of last week and will be here until end of June/beg. of July. The time will go so fast so we are just trying to savor every minute of it.

We've moved

Downstairs that is--

Here is our awesome closet. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate this. We have been shoving our stuff into Kenan's closet and having no room. We've literally been stacking clothes on top of the hangers just to get things in the closet. This is AWESOME!

I am looking for some bargain furniture and wall decor to fill this space. I would like to find some paintings with red in it to bring out the bedding. Also, a chair of sorts and a bookcase or tall dresser. Oh.. and a rug that somehow matches it all.

We are hopefully getting a metal headboard today. That will change the look a little. We love our room. After 9 months of living in a living room it almost feels like we are honeymooning again. We have our own space! It's great. Nothing else downstairs is finished yet so we are still coming up to go to the bathroom but we don't care. It is just nice to have a space of our own... and such a beautiful space at that.

Random

Poor little boy fell and got a fat lip... all while not feeling good. Dying Easter eggs

a sneak peak at our new room. More to come soon.

“Wherever you are, be all there. It is only possible in the posture of eucharisteo (thanksgiving). Give thanks and see God. Full attention slows the current. Simplicity is a matter of focus. That keeps the focus simple.” – Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

“It is up to each of us to set the example, to show by our actions our respect for intimacy, contemplation, and wonder. This is perhaps the greatest legacy we can bestow on our children: the capacity to be enchanted by the quiet gifts of everyday life.” – Katrina Kennison, Mitten Strings for God