I Did It!!

Okay, so I did a post a while back about doing hard things. I've wanted to follow up that blog, but it's been a little busy around here! BUT here's a "mini" follow-up! One of my "Hard Things" that I really wanted to accomplish after having Jordyn was to run a 5 K. So, since 6 weeks after having her I've been exercising to get ready for the big run! Oh, and here is why this was one of my hard things to accomplish. I have not been consistent in exercising for the last 7 years. I like to exercise, I just have not been disciplined enough to make it a part of my regular schedule. So, in order to grow in self discipline I knew I needed to have a goal in sight! So, even the days it was so hard to make myself go and run, I did it knowing that come September 27th I wanted to be able to finish 3.1 miles well. So, the first couple of weeks of running I could barely run a mile. Then last couple of weeks when I could run a mile with ease, I would just praise the Lord that I could do that and then ask Him to help me finish the other 2!!! I was so excited to finish the race yesterday (and not last!) for so many reasons. One, I accomplished one of my small hard things. Two, I know I am healthier and able to serve the Lord and my family better. Three, I am so grateful that I have the physical health where I am even able to exercise. Four, hopefully I am being an example to my girls in caring for their bodies. And last but not least, I am even more aware of my dependence on the Lord for strength and endurance and life and breath!!

The race was so much fun, although we didn't know if we were going to actually make it there or not! Traffic was horrible and we made it just a couple of minutes before the race began! It was down at Winnie Palmer and there were so many people participating! Jim, Ann, Amy, Steve and I all ran. Afterwards they had so many different booths set up - we actually had Panda Express and Chick-fil-a sandwiches at 8 o'clock in the morning! We also picked up lots of little fun treats for the girls! My time was 31 minutes which was actually a minute off of my best time running on the road at home!

4 Months Old!

Today our baby girl is 4 months old!!! Where does the time go???

Here's what's happening with our little sweetie...

Her hair is starting to grow and so far it looks like Reagan's did - light and fuzzy!!

She is smiling and cooing and laughing!

She is beginning to enjoy her toys - especially her little fish!

She is drooling and slobbering all over the place!

She had her first sleepover with her Grannie last night!

She plays in her Entertainer and likes Baby Einstein and the Sound of Music and Barney!

She sleeps wonderfully through the night and for her morning and afternoon nap!

She loves to be entertained by her sisters.

Her fussy time is right about when her Dad gets home - hopefully that will change soon!

She is getting so big - she drinks about 30 oz of formula a day!

Jordyn is such a delight! It amazed me how much I could love Sydney after already having Reagan and now I love the third one as much as the other two!!! I love just holding her and looking at her and wondering what God has in store for her little life!

Turtle

Steve and I were on our way home from helping Keith and Amanda pack up (boo-hoo) and we were getting ready to turn onto our street when we saw this little guy trying to cross it! The girls thought it was pretty fun to get to pet a turtle! But no pet turtles for this house!!

La La La La, La La La La Elmo's World...

Last night we had such a great time! My mom came over after she got off work and took Jordyn home to spend the night with her and then Steve and I took Reagan and Sydney out for the evening!

We started out with dinner at Burger King and then headed out to UCF to watch Sesame Street Live! Our tickets were great. We bought the "cheap seats" but there were hardly any other people up there with us so once it started we moved down a little bit. Then at the intermission a couple and their kids were leaving because their little girl fell asleep and they gave us their row "H" floor seats. It was so fun! Zoe even gave Reagan a hug...Reagan was shaking! It was hilarious!

When the show started Reagan was so excited and Sydney just looked amazed. She sat totally still for a while with wide eyes focused on the stage! We had a blast! This morning when I went to get the girls up Sydney still had her Burger King toy in her hands and they have been playing queen all morning with their crowns!

Sweet Man!

Monday morning Steve flew out to Texas for the week for work. His flight was a little later in the morning, so he was able to get the girls up and all of us have breakfast together. By the time I got up and came into the kitchen, he had already gone to the store and had my favorite flowers on the kitchen counter! I was so surprised! He's so good about bringing me home flowers...and I much prefer the inexpensive ones rather than the florist shop ones - I really do enjoy them more and don't feel as bad when I have to throw them away!!! Especially daisies - they seem to last the longest and they just brighten up the room!

Honey, thank you so much for my pretty flowers! The girls and I have been thoroughly enjoying them! I think about you every time I look at them! We miss you and are looking forward to Friday! Thank you for working so hard for us!!

Silly (String) Saturday!

Saturday was a pretty labor intensive day for my sweet husband. See, our neighbor's water pipe had a leak in it so Steve set out to dig it up and fix it after he mowed the yard. In the process of getting to her pipe, poor guy cut our pipe! But amazing handyman that he is, he had them both fixed by mid afternoon and still had a smile on his face when he came inside!

He is traveling again and needed to pick up a few things from Wal-Mart...a store we avoid on weekends if at all possible! But he HAD to go and I found some good deals that I wanted to pick up from there, so we loaded our crew up and headed to the store. He and I went separate ways so he could get a couple of gifts for the girls for while he's gone and so I took Reagan so she wouldn't see what he was doing!! When we got home he had also picked up Pez dispensers for the kiddos and Silly String. (I like when he goes shopping - I stick to my list and he gets the fun stuff!) So we took the girls outside and he gave them their candy (which Sydney inhaled!) and we attacked them with Silly String. It was so funny to see their reactions (or lack there of)! Reagan thought it was great and Sydney...well, Sydney didn't know what to think! She just sat there and took the attack!

And the fun didn't end there for the night! I have to brag on my husband! He has been doing so well planning our date nights recently! Saturday night was our date night in and we made homemade chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies, had good conversation and then played Mortal Kombat - the part that's like Dr. Mario...I usually kick tail at that game, but not Saturday...it was a pretty even match!

Now that was a good Saturday!

Out of the Depths

I just love the words to this new song off of the Sovereign Grace Psalms CD. Here it is...

Out of the depths, O Lord, I cry to You
When I am tempted to despair
Though I might fail to trust Your promises
You never fail to hear my prayer
And if You judged my sin
I’d never stand again
But I see mercy in Your hands
So more than watchmen for the morning
I will wait for You, my God
When my fears come with no warning
In Your Word I’ll put my trust
When the harvest time is over and I still see no fruit
I will wait, I will wait for You
The secret mysteries belong to You
We only know what You reveal
And all my questions that are unresolved
Don’t change the wisdom of Your will
In every trial and loss
My hope is in the cross
Where Your compassions never fail

And here is a quote from our Ladies Retreat that I have been thinking on this week..."We bring nothing to our salvation except our sin that made it necessary."

It's amazing to me how the LORD chooses to rescue us. He chooses to rescue us when we are not looking towards Him or running towards Him - He rescues us as we are running from Him. He loves us so much that as we grow in our walk with Him, the Cross doesn't grow smaller and dimmer, but bigger and brighter. It's amazing how our past is no match for the cleansing blood of our Savior!

This week one of my friend's brothers whom many, many people in our church have prayed for for years was rescued! The LORD wooed him and he surrendered his life to the Creator, the Redeemer, our Savior! I will never cease to marvel at His kindness towards His people!! And my sweet, dear friend, I know I told you earlier this week, but thank you for how you have loved your brother through these many difficult years. What an example you are to me in so many ways!! I know you are enjoying welcoming your brother home!!

Random Blog

I've been wanting to update, but time to do so has been minimal! So, let me try to post a little real quick!

Here are my sweet little darlings in a rare moment of mutual hugging. They do love each other, but I have one daughter who is super into touching and another who I think would do well not being touched - ever! So as you can tell by the quick shot I took through the banister this was a rare moment!

I love a good salad on a hot summer day! Here's our dinner - a Cobb salad - from Friday night! It was super yummy!

And here is my super deal of the week (actually, I made the order in August, but I just picked it up tonight). I bought ALL of this for $1.99!!! (6 books for the girls for Christmas, a CD for the girls for Christmas, a CD for Steve, one for me and a book for me!)