Book Review

I meant to post this a while back but life happened. I wish sometimes that my brain could type out my blogs for me as I think them. ;-) I like New Years Resolutions (or goals)...I don't have a clue why because I don't keep any of them but I guess in my head new beginnings are encouraging. One of my goals for 2015 was to read LOTS of books (like 30!). Twenty months into this stay at home wife/mom thing and I'm still terrible at realizing how much time I have or don't have and how to use it. I'm going to tame my number down for next years' goal. Anyhow, I did FINISH a book recently and thought I'd review it a little bit.

The book was "Paper Towns" by John Green. I read "The Fault In Our Stars" and really liked it so I assumed I'd like this one too. WRONG. I really liked the plot but it didn't go anywhere at all. And the language was SO awful. Every word imaginable was used...GD, F, etc. and very crude sexual statements. I wanted to read a few more of his books this year but I'm really not getting in a hurry to do so after reading this one. I can't say that I won't give his books another try but it'll be a while!

I'm currently reading "See Me" by Nicholas Sparks. So far it's been great but Nicholas Sparks has a way of suckering me into these books that end terribly tragic. :-)

Your Grace Is Enough

I had an outpatient test done today and found myself increasingly nervous while on my way to the hospital. I'd shared my appointment with a few family members and a few friends a few weeks ago and asked them to pray while I myself have been praying as well. I asked those same people today to pray for me today before my test since I was nervous. I dropped JohnDavid off with my mom and continued on my way to the hospital. I wanted to sing to the Lord so I hit play on the CD player not knowing what was on there and every song I sang (5 in total before arriving at the hospital) was spot on to my heart, His glory, His will, His love, His peace...and by the time I arrived in the room awaiting my test I found myself no longer a ball of anxious nervousness. Jesus is the Author of Peace; He is Peace and I had peace today because I have Jesus. What about you? I'm so thankful to have a husband that prays for me and sends me encouragement straight from Scripture. I'm so blessed to have a godly man that always points me to Jesus. I'm so thankful for all of my family and friends that prayed for me today. I'm so thankful that the God of this Universe not only heard my petitions and the petitions lifted up on my behalf but He answered them! Doesn't that astound you? That the Creator of all things we know hears the prayers of His people and He answers them. I received very good news from my test and I'm also thankful for that, but like I shared yesterday: if God took everything I have away today He would still be good because of Who He is. I want so badly to be smitten with this God that loves me and you SO much. Christmas is a beautiful season and I love to spend this time of the year pondering more of Christ the King. Overwhelmed with thankfulness once again.

To God alone be the glory for the things He has done!!!! With His blood He has saved me, with His power He has raised me! To God be the glory for the things He has done!

THANKSGIVING!

We had an absolutely wonderful relaxing Thanksgiving and I hope you did too. We went to Lake Guntersville and stayed in a GORGEOUS lake house. It was so fun to have all my nephews and nieces, my sisters & brothers in law, and in-laws all in the same house. I am glad to be back home because all those kids together is pretty loud and eventually we'd need our own space! ;-) lol. All kidding aside, it was a great trip and I'm looking forward to the next one...which won't come nearly as soon as I'd like it to. The guys and kids loved fishing off the dock and the girls enjoyed the guys not being too far away! Our fishermen like to spend all day doing their hobbies so it was nice to be close.

I've been trying to get our Christmas tree up all week with not so much progress. I love this time of year but it takes a lot of time and energy to put up a tree(s). I'm not sure how those of you who go all out do it! 

I've been overjoyed with thankfulness to God this week for allowing me to stay at home with JohnDavid. I had someone tell me a few months ago that they'd never seen someone enjoy motherhood like I do. While I'm certain I'm not the only one who enjoys motherhood, she is right that I very much enjoy it. For as long as I can remember I've wanted to "just be a wife and mommy." I know I am so much more than "just a wife and mommy," but I don't desire anything else. And I owe it all the God. He's the Giver of all good gifts and I've certainly been blessed. I have to address Him being the Giver of good gifts though, if He took it all away tomorrow, He'd still be good because that's Who He is. 

I let JohnDavid "decorate" his tree today nstead of doing it for him and the outcome is indeed precious! He didn't want the ornaments hung on the tree but rather stuffed IN the tree. So, there's one side FULL of balls and an upside down snowman and another side with only the ornaments I hung. :-) I hope I remember the way he got so happy over this tree and how proud he was of himself. I hope I remember so much about this toddler stage...the way he signs "more" and "please", the way he says "I wuv oo", the way he runs/waddles, the way he squeezes our necks so tightly, the way he holds my hand, the way he belly laughs and squints his eyes when he's laughing, how tender hearted he is, how silly he is, how much of a jokester he is (and is going to be!), and oh those priceless kisses. Lord, please let my memory not fail me and let me soak all this in! 

Anyhow, time to go finish our tree *hopefully*!!! Happy Advent Season!

It Was Time...

For our sweet boy to have his first haircut so that's what I did today! I don't think I did too bad! I got the scissors, small clippers (or electric shaver...or whatever it is!), a comb, and detangler spray and went to work while he napped! I'm glad I didn't attempt this while he was awake or attempt to pay someone else do it! I had one *small* spot I wanted to fix when he woke and the slightest touch of ANYTHING to his neck made him cringe. I should've thought of this because his neck is one of our favorite places to tickle him! Anywho, it still looks good! 

I love this kid of ours so much. He's going to be a jokester just like his dad (and so many other relatives (; ) Thank you God for this good and perfect gift from You!

When I Am Weak, He Is Strong!

Today was one of those long days as a stay at home mom because JohnDavid didn't feel good and because I began my day without Jesus. I left my Bible at church last night along with my current devotional book and notebook and I felt lost without it this morning...even though we have other Bibles here at home I could've used, I chose not to "because it's just not the same as MY Bible that I write all in." Honestly, I know better by now than to even attempt to do anything without Jesus but I'm oh so sinful. Sweet JohnDavid coughed all night and all day, was really clingy and whiny, and by the time bedtime rolled around I felt like an overdone steak. Today wasn't all that bad now that I'm looking back on it, but in the moments when I was frustrated I see how weak I am without Jesus. The truth is I'm ALWAYS weak without Jesus. I'm even weak WITH Jesus but it's then that I'm supposed to lean into Him and His strength! I LOVE these words of Paul:

“Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 HCSB

When I don't seek Him or lean into Him, I don't see His strength let alone feel strong or victorious. I told Jeremy this evening that I had gone in the negative with housework today and that I had some bad mama moments and his sweet, understanding reply was: "That's what tomorrow is for." Y'all...this man of mine gets me. He KNOWS what I need to hear and SAYS it. He's good to me and he's good for me. 

One highlight of today was while JohnDavid and I were outside. I was pulling weeds and JohnDavid began to yell "Pawpaw! Pawpaw! Pawpaw!" I looked up and saw Jeremy's pawpaw walking up his driveway to move his garbage can and JohnDavid took off down the hill towards his house. So I got up in a hurry and didn't grab my phone (camera) or even my glasses. And you know what? There were several times I wanted to have my phone with me for snapping photos of this all boy of ours knee deep in dirt, sitting on a "mawnmower", playing with nerf guns with Pawpaw, or begging me to "ride Mama" in a Step 2 toy that had to be pushed. But since I didn't have my camera I actually got to be ALL IN in the moment and it's an afternoon I won't soon forget. Those big brown eyes and long lashes, the way he runs,  the way he says "mawnmower" and "pishies", the way Pawpaw laughs and grins at him, the way JohnDavid lays in the dirt pushing Tonka trunks...the stories Pawpaw tells me of the days gone by...these are the sweetest times as a stay at home mama. I'm so thankful I get to do this every single day. I'm also really thankful that JohnDavid has so many grandparents and great grandparents that we get to visit with on a weekly basis! I love to hear stories from my grandparents and Jeremy's grandparents and the "good ol' days." We are so blessed and I was reminded of God's love for me in this afternoon. Nevertheless, I was happy to lay our snotty, congested, coughing boy down for bed and unwind. Tomorrow I plan to begin my day right...right in the Word of the Lord asking Him for His strength for the day because I know I can't do it on my own. 

Smitten with you!

Almost 19 months ago I gave birth to our handsome son. I still have to pinch myself that this is our life. I've never wanted nothing more than to be a wife and mommy. And both, being a wife and a mommy, have been far more magnificent than I ever dreamed. I'm so thankful for this season and for the little boy that still loves to be draped in our arms. 

Picture day!

It's no secret I love to take pictures, have pictures taken, look at pictures, etc.. My mom paid for a photographer to take pictures at JohnDavid's first birthday party back in April and I really loved the pictures and the photographer, Wilson Oppert. (Local peeps: if you need pics use Wilson Oppert Photography!) When it came time for our fall pics (to be used for our Christmas cards) I knew who I was going to call! Here's a sneak peek from our session yesterday: 

My sister-in-law, Jennifer, brother-in-law, Johnathan, and my nephews, Jansen and Jaken, also had their pics taken and I can't wait to see the pics Wilson got of the cousins! Here's a sneak pic of them: 

Aren't they adorable?? I'm a little biased but I sure think they are! ❤️

Anyhow, it's still rainy here but God is faithful to shine even when the sun doesn't! Happy Sunday! 

It's raining, it's pouring...

Today was kind of gloomy for us and the rain didn't help that. Our pastor of 7+ years is resigning and our hearts hurt. I absolutely believe it is God's will for him to do so, for God's glory and for the good of their family, but man it stinks. Jeremy and I can't express how much we love our pastor and his family. We simply cannot say in words what his teachings, encouragement, mentorship, and their friendship has meant to us spiritually and in our marriage. 

Nevertheless, JohnDavid is a bright spot in our days. He LOVED the rain and loved getting wet. Hope your Sunday was a wonderful day!

Life is good today!

I tried to drink my coffee warm almost 10 times this morning and that's no exaggeration. I never did finish it but I did find it in the microwave at 2:14pm! This week has been so busy for me between housework and the fall festival at church...to top off my exhaustion JohnDavid's been into lots of "fun" things this week, such as a HOT PINK SHARPIE on our KHAKI couch! In case you're wondering, alcohol, fingernail polish remover, and toothpaste with baking soda will ALMOST get it out when scrubbed to death. 😁 But you know what? I wouldn't trade a single moment of this life of mine for anything. Some days are long as a mom, but the years are short. Soon the sight of our little boy pushing this lawnmower will be a faint memory. 

So, for now, I soak up the numerous kisses that follow a spanking because he knows he has done wrong and he wants to make it better, I soak up the snuggles and giggles and fascination with bugs, I soak up the fact that he's wants "mama" all day and to nurse so much, and I soak up every line of Nemo (we've watched it for over a year now, literally) because tomorrow he'll be a bit more grown. 

On the road again...

I feel like JohnDavid and I have become nomads. From Georgia to Texas to South Carolina and now to Arkansas all in about 5 weeks time span! One thing I've noticed in all these places (and I'm certain Arkansas will be the same) is that people are the same no matter where you go. People are people. People are looking for happiness everywhere. The people in South Carolina aren't much different than the people in South Alabama. Every one of us has a story. Every one of us has problems. And thankfully, there is ONE solution for us all. JESUS. Jesus is the ONLY One who can satisfy all of us. Do you know Him? I'd love to share Him with you if you don't.