I Want to Call This a Good Week

But I know that it hasn't been for everyone in my country.  

My heart has been aching for those affected by the tornado in OK.

  

I was reading Megan's blog and if you are looking for a way to help someone out who was caught right in the middle of that devastating twister, here is a family who could use your prayers or even a donation.  

Megan has a legitimate PayPal donation set up here for this family.  I cannot imagine the sadness they must feel. 

 Praying for them and everyone in Moore. 

(I cannot for the life of me find the creator of this image.  If you know please tell me so I can credit them.)

Around here we are continuing to enjoy just playing.

I am finding peace and contentment in our current situation.  I know God has us here during this time in our life for something important.  We are enjoying playing with grandparents and great-grandparents.  We are sitting outside with no where to go.  It's nice :)

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Romans 15:2

My Struggle

Trying to please everyone.

I have literally been trying to make every person I meet or already know, happy with who I am.

It is exhausting.  When I'm alone I think about the things I said or did and wonder if the people I was with approve.  Did I hurt their feelings?  Did I offend them?  Are they going to hate me? 

God has shown me something recently.  I've been spending more time in His word and I know that I am not living for Him.  I should be less concerned with people's opinions of me and more attuned to His thinking of me.  I know that the way I live sometimes is not what God wants from me.  It's not what I want from me either.

I don't know why I am scared.  Scared to live out loud on fire for my God.  I'm scared some people I love won't understand since I'm not always "all in" for my Savior.  I'm scared they won't forgive me and they'll only see me as a hypocrite.

I do know that I should not be scared.  Living for God is worth any pain or struggle.  I want my kids to have a great example of how to live for God and to know that it is worth it.

I am willing to endure for Him.  I want to love Him with every part of my life.  I will fall and fail over and over, but with His forgiveness and love I can make it. 

It is worth it.

For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 

Galatians 5:13

My Privilege

Being the mother of these three amazing gifts.

Isaac, Landon and Hadley.

They are beyond what I could have ever dreamed up.

I get stressed very easily with the day-to-day things like cleaning, laundry, our living situation.

The list could go on and on.

But all of these things are so unimportant compared to my calling.

And I truly believe that is what God has me here for.

To teach my sweet babies who He is and to love them with all of my heart.

I am forever grateful for getting to be the mother of these children.

I pray they know everyday of their lives how much I love them and more importantly, how much God loves them.

Random Lately

We have been enjoying our free time very much around here.  Chance's parents gave us Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun season passes for the family at Christmas.  So we have been taking advantage of those with my sister-in-law Robbie and her son Dez!

I can't stand how cute my guys are in these photos!

Look at how much fun their handsome Daddy is having :)

Friday night myMother and I went through their attic to get ready for the central heat and air unit being put in soon.  Here are some throwback photos of my Mom's family.

(Clockwise from top left)

Grandpa Marvin, My beautiful Mother, Grandma Patty and Grandpa Marvin, Great-Grandma Hoos

Last week I hung out with the girls on Chance's side of the family.  I've missed being able to see them all, but that's all over now!  I hope we get together like this often.  They are an entertaining bunch :)

We also had sick babies here this weekend.  Isaac is slowly getting over it, but Landon's nose started to run last night.  I pray it doesn't get to Hadley.  She's been doing well in her laundry basket :)

To My Mommies

To all of the Mothers who have made me into the woman I am today and helped me grow my own babies in love:

Thank you.

I love you all so much and am so thankful God chose you to be in my life this way.

And especially to my own Mom.  Thank you for being there every time I need you.  You have taught me so much, but most importantly you taught me to love Jesus and to put Him first.  There is nothing greater you could have done for me.

I love you.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm linking up with Jamie at This Kind of Love 

to let you all know what I'm loving today collage style!

(clockwise from top right)

1.  I'm loving that my hubby has good taste in literature.  He recommended this book and so far so good!  Now if I could just get him to read Nicholas Sparks ;)

2.  I'm also loving watching the kids outside.  They would live out there if they could.  Some days I think about letting them...

3.  I'm really loving that we've had the last snow of the season.  I can't believe it snowed in May.  Come on Missouri!

 (clockwise from top right)

1.  I'm loving that our baseball team is actually doing well so far!  It probably won't last, but we're going to catch a few games anyways.  Can't wait to take our 4 year old.  Any Royals fans out there?

2.  I'm also loving the time my babies are getting with their grandparents.  Being home is awesome!

3.  And of course I'm loving my sweet little family.  Even with the faces they are all making.  Real life right there folks!

I hope you're all having a blessed Wednesday so far!

Giant Jenga

Last week we went to game night with our Sunday school class.  Isaac tagged along and was an angel.  It's nice to be able to give our kids time alone with us without siblings once in a while.

I'm really loving the friends we're making.  There are a few couples we have known for years in there too that it's been great catching up with.  Have I mentioned how glad I am to be home yet? ;)

We ate desserts and then played Giant Jenga.  Yes.  We played with huge wood blocks stacked in threes.  I know we played for at least an hour and a half.  It may have been two hours.  I'll let the pictures tell you who won between the guys and girls :)

No one paying attention.  This is after I said, "guys look over here".

Isaac teaching Mark how to play

Sarah and Isaac watching the game.  Headless Brent in the back.

Chance trying to steady the wobbly blocks.   Apparently the rules are slightly different in the Giant Jenga.

Ouch!  Those are solid wood too! 

Lot's of fun.  Next month we're going to the Royals game together.  So blessed to be around these folks.

Slater

My aunt and uncle own a lot in the middle of Slater, MO where they park their camper.  They've built a sweet picnic area and shower house.  They camp there with their other side of the family.

Yesterday we went to enjoy each other and celebrate Grandma Patty's 75th birthday.

This is why we moved home.

Family.

I understand how blessed I am here with this family God put me in.  Every time we all get together it's fun and relaxing.  We talk, play games, eat and just enjoy each other's company.  

I am so thankful for these people.

Hadley and her Great-Grandma Patty :)

Grandma Patty, My mother Keri, Hadley and Aunt Kathy

My cousins Brandon, his girl Carie, Jeremy and his wife Kendra playing washers I think.  Who cares if they were suppose to be 21 feet apart instead of 9 ;)

Grandpa Marvin, Uncle Dennis, Grandma, Mom and Aunt Kathy relaxing

Playing Cranium with Jaxsen, Kendra, Mom and Aunt Kathy.
I wish I had captured the flying squirrel on camera :)

My cousin Nicole snuggling baby Hadley

Playing Frisbee with Jeremy, Kendra and Brandon

I wish I had captured a group photo, but not everyone was there and I try to be in the moment as much as I can instead of planning blog posts (even though the thought does run through my head sometimes).

Fun Times at HOME

We've been home for a few weeks now and IT. IS. AWESOME!

We've visited pretty much everyone so it doesn't feel like a vacation visit anymore.  It just feels like life.

We've also gotten into a fun Sunday school class at church that's full of couples.  Some even have kids which is something we haven't run into until now. Did you read that right?

SOME HAVE KIDS TOO!!!!

  Anyways, I don't post often enough I know :( but here are some pictures from the last few weeks.

The boys playing with Alea at the Jeffery's house.
I didn't get a group photo of us all.  Why!?!
There is always next time (if they let us come back)
;)

Chance holding Hadley talking to his best friend Noah watching all the kiddos play.
Alex fixed a delicious Thanksgiving-esque dinner for us all!

My Grandpa meeting Hadley :)
Our children are so blessed to get to meet great-grandparents.

Pretty much all the boys do at Nini and Papas.  Ride trucks :)

Hadley meeting my Grandma :)

Truck riding with Papa :)

Hadley meeting my other Grandma :)

I just realized I don't remember to take my camera to Chance's family's house.  I have no idea why, but I definitely will try to be better about that :)

Moving On

We're leaving this place in 3 days.

After 3 years, we can finally go home.

This was an adventure for us. 

One we would never trade.

We met amazing people and had some fun experiences.

God has a plan and the last 3 years are a part we will forever cherish.

Goodbye North Carolina!

Hello home :)