In our home we do Love,

we do Mistakes,

we do Grace,

we do Loud REALLY WELL,

we do Forgiveness,

we work on Patiences,

and we do FAMILY.

But most importatly we love JESUS

and the Sweet Blessings he has sent our way.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Gotta lot of catchin' up to do


This is how our March ended.I have never taken a picture of my EPT test but I was in a bit of shock. Not the bad kind of shock just the "oh ok" kind of shock. Derek and I had just decided to plan a spring `13 Disney trip with the girls...so we would wait awhile and think about baby 3. If in fact there was going to be a baby 3. I look back and laugh at the fact that we thought we could control God's plan for our family. We never had the control...and well God used this to prove it to us.
The next morning Isabella had her preschool Easter Egg hunt








































Two days after I found out I was expecting my Dad, the girls, and I headed to TN to visit my brother and his family. We don't get to see each other often so it was an exciting and fun trip.The kids had a great time just being around each other. I couldn't have asked for a better trip.
Plus I got to share my excited news face to face!



We got to see Owen run his first 1 mile Fun Run. He flew...second place. I don't know who was more excited Dad, Chad, Laurie , and me or the O Man.

A couple of days after we got home we heard the sweetest sound... Baby P3's heart beat
6wks 4days: November 28th

The Easter Bunny stopped by!
The girls in their Easter Dreses.
Isabella's love since August has been Gymnaustics. She got a new leotard w/ her gym's name on it. She was so Proud!
This is what Isabella thought was appropriate to wear to the grocery store. Its the new style around our house.


Phia has learned how to swing in the big girl swing.
Enjoying the beautiful weather.

We took a trip down to Williamsburg for Mother's Day. This was the girls first trip. They loved all the horses, the fife and drum band, and the gardens. After a fun day there we drove to Petersburg to eat at Kings....it's a family tradition and it was YUMMY!
This was taken in May...13wks. My bump is a little bigger now.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Jenna vs Gina

Is our family complete?
This is the question that is bouncing around the walls of my mind as well as my home. Derek and I have had this discuss a million different times all ending with different answers. I have finally come to the conclusion that there is no answer because we don't know. And coming to the conclusion is so very frustrating for me. I am a planner. I am a go get um' kinda girl. I am not an indecisive person...I never have been.
Some days I feel like I can be a better mom to my two healthy beautiful girls than I can be to three children. Then there are other days when I know somebody is missing from my family. I have watched my girls play in the tub, the sandbox, or just looking at them through my rear view mirror and know not everybody is here. Does that make me crazy? I part of my says yes most definitely but another part whispers no. And this is where Jenna vs. Gina come in. I tried to explain to my mom what I was feeling and the best I could come up with was that one part of me knows without a doubt I want another (Jenna) and the other is not so sure (Gina). Crazy...I know!

For now we will enjoy our babies. For now we will play with our girls. For now I will be content. For I have been blessed twice...I really should not ask for more.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Merry CHRISTmas!!







Snowflake Dream Christmas

Personalize your Christmas card at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Friday, November 4, 2011

What's on my Heart and Mind

Lately I find myself clinging to certain scriptures. They play through my mind like the credits of a movie. They present themselves just when I need them. .. a gentle whisper from my heavenly father. I love that they come at just the right time.

God has a way of bringing me peace as I fold my 4th load of laundry. I don’t know about other people but for me this is a time when I find myself worrying, dreaming, hoping, checking off my mental to do list (which grows longer every min.) planning and so on. I hear:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
or maybe it might be:
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” Luke 12: 25-26
Whichever one scrolls through it’s ALWAYS just the one I need. I love that about Jesus. He knows what I need.

As I being to lose my patience with one of my girls because the whining is out of control, the listening is lacking, or mommy is just having a bad moment. In my head I hear:
“Love is patient, Love is kind, It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
I don’t always remember the whole verse or exactly where is comes from but I hear what I need to.

During Isabella’s gymnastics or Sophia trying her hardest to talk to me.
Watching my daughters play or love on each other. I see in my mind:
“You have filled my heart with JOY” Psalms 4:7
or
..you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love."
Nehiemiah 9:17
I know that I do not deserve the life I have but because he is a God of unfailing love and grace I can sit on my couch and watch, in awe, my two beautiful girls playing on the floor.

As a mother I am committed to disciplining without anger, loving with all my heat, encouraging daily, and teaching my girls about the love of Jesus. I could not do any of the things above without my husband who stands beside me and my heavenly father who lives in my heart. As a parent I want to succeed in raising children who love Jesus with all their hearts for that I love Proverbs 16:3 :
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.”

I have come to the conclusion that I have always had a love/hate relationship with my faith. It’s sad but oh so true. In the last three years is has slowly evolved into something more. My relationship with Jesus is something that I have come to enjoy and need. I have fallen in love with an inspiration Christian author, Karen Kingsbury, and I know that her words have changed me. I am grateful that my sister-in-law shared her with me last Thanksgiving. For a book lover I absorb her stories and messages within. Her books have become part of my devotional time. I love it!

This blog was not meant to preach…it was just something on my heart and mind. Maybe it will encourage others who stop by to read my blog…I don’t know why I just felt that I needed to share.

Enjoy your day!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

For these I am Thankful

I am THANKFUL for...

my husband. D what an encouragement you are to me and our girls.

Isabella Kate. I love the way you practically burst with energy.

Sophia Madelynn. I love your silly grin.

unfailing love and grace from my heavenly father

my daily phone calls from my dad.

my mom, who is my best friend.

my healthy family.

the opportunity to stay home with my girls.Thanks D for being the provider for our family.

Jeremiah 29:11. For the days when my life feels like it has no direction.

answered prayers and even unanswered ones!

quiet mornings.

friends.

my weekly luncheon with Nanie.

my mother-in-law. She rocks!

a good book.Especially Karen Kingsbury.Thanks to Laurie who started it all!

dreams.

Saturdays that we spend as a family.

encouraging words from TN.

Fancy Nancy, Mickey Mouse club house, and sugar cookies.

my sister. Two women couldn't be more different which is why I love her so.

the mountains. It’s our place…and we pray one day it will be our home.

the relationship my girls have. It shines brighter every day!

gymnastics. I love to watch B…its complete joy I see on her face.

holidays with my family.

coffee.

the hope of a bright and exciting future.

Friday, October 7, 2011

SMP 1

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly offers exclusive photobook layouts so you can make your book just the way you want.

IKP 3

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly photo books offer a wide range of artful designs and embellishments to choose from.