Mom's Birthday!

June 21st was Mom's birthday. We celebrated it a little later by going to a Greek restaurant down near College Park and then by going back to their house for ice cream and cookies and some LONG games of pool and had some fun with Catch Phrase!

Mom, we are so grateful to God for YOU and for how you live your life and love celebrating your birthday with you each year when it rolls around! We love you!

(Thanks Mama for watching the girls and Grandma!)

Swimming and Sickness!

Reagan has been a busy little girl these days! Tuesday she began swim lessons with the beloved Mrs. CoCo! Tuesday was really rough. She screamed and clawed and cried the entire time. So, to prepare for Wednesday we role-played (pretended to swim in bed, pretended I was Mrs. CoCo, etc.), trimmed finger nails and prayed - a lot! Wednesday was amazing! She started crying a little in the beginning, but by the end of class SHE was ASKING to jump in over and over again! How grateful I am that she had such a quick turnaround! Last year she screamed for an entire week! CoCo is such a patient teacher and so sweet with all the kids!

This morning we had a break from swimming lessons, so we were going to go to Dena's for a morning of swimming and fun! Reagan was already in her suit and ready to go when the throwing up began. Poor little girl, she's been sick all morning. We've had a day of movies so far which I think she is enjoying, but every time she has stood up she has gotten sick! I've done much better this time than I did last time she was sick - last time I just threw everything away that she got sick on! Today God has given me so much grace to care for her and clean things up! (I would love to thank whoever invented Colorox Wipes!) Hopefully she will get over this quickly and the rest of us will be spared from it!

Sydney - June!

Here's a little update on our cutie-pie!

• She is standing up on her own more now but still not quite brave enough to take a step on her own!
• She is beginning to enjoy books! She is enjoying them and sitting still as I read them to her now, and yesterday she even tried to eat one! (I don't think she'll try that again!)
• Yesterday she played dress up with her sister for the first time and seemed to really enjoy being a fairy!
• She stayed in Children's Ministry the entire time last Sunday without screaming! That was exciting to me! I was able to hear my first full Sunday message since she was born!
• And, as you can see in the picture, she likes spaghetti!

Joy Inexpressible!

As I mentioned in my last blog, we had a Statewide Ladies Retreat at our church last weekend. The messages are well worth listening too. You can download the messages and notes here. They will have them posted by June 30th! Enjoy!!!

Sweet Surprises!

This last week has been really wonderful! Last Thursday our Statewide Ladies Retreat - Joy Inexpressible - began. I've been praying for more joy and how amazing it was to hear teaching and Scripture about joy over and over again! Also, I was able to see and visit with some of my wonderful friends throughout the weekend. Friday morning there were two sessions and I thought I would miss them both, but *first surprise* Steve took off work early and I was able to make it to the second morning session! Then I was able to spend the rest of the day having lunch with some of our Home Group Ladies and then I went to Panera to spend some time with the Lord and look over my notes from earlier that morning. I almost didn't know what to do with myself having that much "free time"!! Then I went to dinner with one of my sweet, encouraging, wise friends ;). Then we had an amazing evening of worship and ministry! I love going to church and worshiping with my girls hanging all over me, but it was wonderful to be able to worship without any distractions for a while! On Saturday we had one more message to hear and a very cute skit (thanks Debi) to conclude the retreat. After that I was planning on going home, but my husband (who is amazing!) said I could enjoy a little more time out with my friends and go to lunch (another *surprise*)! We had a great time just visiting for a little while - laughter is such good medicine for the soul! (And if you know Jenn, you know if you're with her a good laugh is not far away!!) THEN on Sunday evening we went to Mom and Dad's for Father's Day and Steve had arranged for the girls to spend the night and he took Monday off. He *SuRpRiSeD* me with a day at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios and then took me out to dinner. We had so much fun!! We talked and laughed and played ALL day. It was quite a date! Then on Tuesday he *surprised* me again with a pretty bouquet of daisies which I have really been enjoying looking at as I cleaned house yesterday and today as I am taking care of a sick little girl!

Song of the Day!

How Good It Is
O God of love I come to You again
Knowing I’ll find mercy
I can’t explain all the things I see
But I’ll trust in You
In every moment You are there
Watching over, You hear my prayer
You go before me You’re behind me
Nothing’s hidden from You

How good it is to be loved by You
How good it is
How good it is to be loved by You
How good it is

O God of strength Your hand is on my life
Bringing peace to me
You know my frame, You know how I am made
You planned all my days
Hand of mercy hand of love
Giving power to overcome
If all beneath me falls away
I know that You are God

Who can stand against us?
In my weakness You are strong
Your Word is everlasting
I will praise You faithful One.

How good it is to be loved by You
How good it is
How good it is to be loved by You
How good it is

In Days of Trials

Tonight I was reading from one of my favorite authors Charles Spurgeon. He has a book by the name of Beside Still Waters that has been such a reminder of God's faithfulness and strength to me through the years. Here is one of his writings on our trials...

“Some of you are enduring deep affliction. In your extraordinary trial, remember the depth of divine faithfulness. You may be unable to comprehend why, but I urge you to believe in the firmness and stability of divine affection. You will have comfort in proportion to your trials. If you have shallow sorrows you will receive shallow graces. If you have deep afflictions you will obtain deeper proof of God's faithfulness.

I could lay down and die when I think of life’s trials, but like Sarah (Genesis 21:6) I recover and laugh when I remember that the eternal God is our refuge and that underneath are the everlasting arms (Deut. 33:27). God will not fail. God will not take away His hand until He has finished His purpose concerning us.

Great trials bring great promises. Much afflicted one, there are great and mighty words that are not meant for saints of easier experiences. You will drink from the deep golden goblets reserved for those giants who can drink a great portion of wormwood, but God will also supply deep drinks of the well-refined wines on the lees (Is. 25:6).

Trials greatly enlarge the soul. Thus I do not want, in my better mind, to escape great trials, since they involve great graces. If my strength shall be as my days (Deut. 33:25), then let my days be long and dark, for my strength will be mighty, God will be glorified, and I will be blessed. I earnestly urge every tested Christian to dwell on this truth, for it may be a great comfort.

There is love, immortal and unchanging love, in heaven toward you, which will never grow cold. You will be helped. God would sooner cease to be than cease to be faithful. Be of good courage, for today He will strengthen your heart.”

Verse for the Day

Tonight I was cleaning one of our rooms and just spending some time seeking the Lord and this verse fell out of one of my old journals. Thank God for His unending grace and mercy in our lives. Thank God that He is our Redeemer and is willing and able to cleanse us from our sins and draw us near to Him. Thank the Lord that even though we are only sinful men and women He allows us to serve Him and bring Him glory!

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death so that we may serve a living God!

Hebrews 9:14

Potty Training is Hard to Do!

Check out this video!

Certainty

What is certainty? Webster’s 1828 defines it as:

A fixed or real state; truth; fact; full assurance of mind; exemption from doubt; settled state

Several of my family members and friends are going through times of uncertainty right now…uncertainty of what medical diagnoses are, uncertainty of health, uncertainty of their homes selling, uncertainty of how to care for family members and more. I have been freshly aware the past couple of days that I have no idea what today or tomorrow is going to bring. I have no idea if I am going to live to be 80 or 30. Life is full of uncertainties.

BUT then I started thinking of the things I am certain about. I am certain that God is in control of my every breath. That He has ordained joys and trials to draw us near to Him and so He may bring glory to His name. I am certain that because God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the Cross for our sins, we can walk with hearts full of faith and assurance once he draws us to Himself and we repent of our sins. I am certain that today has enough worries for itself and I don’t need to worry about tomorrow. I am certain that when we cry out for help, He is full of gentleness and compassion and He answers us.

So, today what are you certain of? What do you believe? Do you believe that no matter what your situation is today that the God of the universe, the Redeemer of man, is in control of your day moment by moment? Has unbelief allowed fear to crowd your heart and drain you of the hope that is in Christ? Well, then here is something else I am certain of! If you repent of your fears, your unbelief, your doubt, God, who is faithful even when we are not, will give you a peace and joy that will give you strength to walk through whatever trial you are in the midst of!

Here are a few verses that comfort me when I am battling fear or worry or anxiety:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:25-34

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

Oh Can It Be?? Is She REALLY 3?!?!

She is! Yesterday Reagan turned a whoppin' 3 years old! She was so excited when she woke up she could hardly stand it! We had a really fun day. Around 11, Tish, Madeleine, Ainsley and Emma came over for lunch. The kids played in the sprinkler, on the swing set, in our "jungle" and even spent time looking for our black racer named Skinny! We had pigs-n-a-blanket (or as Madeleine liked calling them - hogs-n-a-comforter), cheese doodles, and cupcakes ...mmmmmm... so healthy! =) Reagan was able to open her presents from her cousins and a couple from us. I think her favorite in the moment was her Dora the Explorer outfit from her cousins. As you can tell in the pictures, we even let her wear it to dinner (it was a major pride killer for me, but she's only 3 once, right?!?!). We went to Fazoli's for dinner with Mama, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Tia! Then it was home again to open more gifts. We've been enjoying all the new and fun toys today and are looking forward to playing again tomorrow! =)

Reagan is such a little joy. She has definitely begun trying us and trying to push her limits, but I am thankful to God that she does respond to us. It may take all day disciplining, but she is still responding! We pray together everyday that the Lord will soften her heart and that she will respond to the Gospel early on. She is growing so quickly. Sometimes I just want to freeze time and keep her little, but then again I love seeing how she grows and what she comes out with next!

Oh, and she can say the Pledge of Allegiance all by herself now! We only need to work on the word "liberty". For some reason she thinks it's "liverty"!