Just for Fun

I took the girls outside on Wednesday while Nathan was working on replacing our tub faucet in our hall bath. (I'm SSOOO proud of him...it's looking great! He had to cut pipes, replace backboard, tile some, as well as a ton of other little things!) I also took my camera out to snap a few shots of the girls. 

Happy girl! 

Tired eyes...

Peek-a-boo! Where's Madison?!

Hannah: "Maddie; I love"

This is what I got when I asked her to say "cheese." 

Love this little girl...

Love her to pieces!

"Mommy, can we go inside? I'm tired."

Watching Hannah play

Always on the move...she's saying cheese, but is too busy to look at the camera. :)

Cheese!

November Happenings

Here are a few pics of our every-day lives. Mostly just having fun around the house, enjoying our time together.

Hannah wearing the bonnet I wore as a little girl.

Playing with beads and string "Aunt Conna" outgrew and passed along

Singing along with me while I played the piano...this happens EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Enjoying the stickers she got for being good (or was it for being cute) during Jr. Church last Sunday.
She managed to COVER herself during our 10 minute ride home. She was so proud of herself!

Guess what Hannah can do now...although I took this after she was crying for help
because she got stuck halfway in and halfway out. :)

Self-assigned job; she insists on putting the laundry in everytime she hears me start the water.  I'm ok with that.

Hannah is well supervised during her laundry chore. :) Or maybe this is her helper-in-training??

Tuesdays we going to work with Daddy. The girls are watching Dumbo after their naptime. 

Playing with foam dough. She loved squeezing it through her fingers. 

And yes, she made quite a mess, but it was ok...it was mopping day anyways.
It actually cleaned up easily and Hannah helped.

This is my favorite picture...Daddy got a flower just for Hannah. She was so proud of it. She asked us to move it to whatever room she was in as well as have it right next to her for dinner that night.  ♥

The prized flower

Giving Aunt "Conna" a lotion massage at family night last week.

Helping Mommy cook eggs for breakfast

I was surprised how well she did cooking them! I think we may have a chef on our hands.

Watching a little cartoon while Mommy prepped Thanksgiving food.

Helping Mommy make sweet-potato-balls. Passing down the tradition to another generation!

Thanksgiving 2013

What a wonderful day we had yesterday; God has truly blessed us to overflowing. Yesterday was spent at Grandma and Grandpa Ogden's house. It started with a treasure hunt for Hannah! Since she can't read clues yet, she had to find 3x5 cards with the letters of her name. It took her a few letters to figure out what was going on, but soon she was going full force! The rest of the day was spent cooking, talking, enjoying the fire place, sleeping, eating, and watching a Christmas movie. Enjoy the pics!

"A" was hiding in the toy closet!

Once was in Aunt "Conna's" room

Another was hiding under Grandma and Grandpa's bed--that was pretty funny!

Hannah would line up all the cards on the couch as she found them.

The "treasure" at the end was enjoyed by all! Along with some chocolate milk!

She found them all! Even the one Grandpa hid in a ziplock baggie in the "potty."  Yuck!
Daddy had to help get that one.

Enjoying her treasure!

God Knows Our Every Need

"The Scripture clearly teaches that a wife and mother is to devote her attention to the needs of her husband, children, and home (Titus 2:4-5). But is it possible that the additional responsibility of working outside the home is keeping some women from devoting themselves to the "one thing [that] is needful" (Luke 10:42)?

There are many factors that go into a woman's deciding to have a job outside the home; but I believe Christian women must be encouraged to make that decision in light of the things that matter most in this life and for all eternity. The point is, if you cannot have a job and manage your household and find time to get to know God, then ask God to show you (and your husband) how you can be released to come back into your home so you can focus on becoming a woman who knows and walks with God."

-excerpt from A Place of Quiet Rest by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

I'd like to thank the Lord for providing this exaxt opportunity in my life right now. I can honestly say I'm closer to God right now than I've been in several years. I didn't know the above excerpt was my heart's desire, but upon reading it, I had one of those "YES!! That's it!" moments.  I'd also like to thank the Lord for my husband who is willing to stretch the budget to keep me home. I realize his commitment to let me stay home with the girls doesn't come without a great deal of faith on his part. We joke with each other that no earthly financial coach would ever suggest our current situation, but we're learning that we have a heavenly financial Coach who promises to "direct our paths" and "supply [our] need."  I'm humbled that God would allow me the life I live now and desire to use it for His glory. May our girls learn to "hunger and thirst after" God.

                                    

    

We Have Chairs!

The Lord has provided so much for our house since our move at the end of April. One of the last "needs" we had was for a set of dining room chairs--we were currently using 2 folding chair, a computer chair, and a bumbo. We didn't really mention it to too many people, but simply prayed and stalked Craigslist and yardsales.  We knew God would provide in His timing. Yesterday out of the blue I received a phone call from someone we've only seen once since our move. She asked if we could use a dining room table and 6 chairs...oh, and a hutch too. Um...YES!!!  We went to pick them up last night (we even had already planned for childcare so we could go on a date!) and here they are:

It fills the space so much better than our previous table--it's amazing what rounded corners can do for a room. We were able to move our previous table and buffet out to our porch for our use there (Hannah enjoyed coloring on it this morning and I envision it as a great sewing table--it's so big with all its leaves in!). 

Our God is truly "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think."  Ephesians 3:20

Sunday Thoughts

Thought from Sunday School this morning:

Just as we would not physically grow healthily by only refusing any junk food or desserts, so we cannot spiritually grow by simply ceasing our sin habits. To do so would simply be a form of conformity; we must also "hunger and thirst after righteousness." What a burden I have that my children will learn of this hunger and thirst. I believe many in this world can raise children who refuse the junk food of this world--who know the right answer (who obey, polite, kind to others, etc); however, it will take the supernatural hungering and thirsting after righteousness (God's Word) for them to grow spiritually. 

Lord, give my children a hunger for Your Word; use me in any way to increase their thirst. Allow the "fast food" of the world to become less appealing as their spiritual tastes mature. May they find Your Word so rich in flavor they find no enjoyment in sin.

Family night

We enjoyed a great family night last Saturday which included some sweet memories for our family. First off, we played a board game with Hannah for the first time. I picked up a couple kid games at a yardsale Friday, so we decided to try them out as a family. Hannah loved taking a card for her turn and moving her person around the board. I see many Candy Land adventures in our future--maybe some of them Daddy will let one of us girls win!

After Candy Land we let the girls take a bath together. It's so refreshing to see Hannah's excitement about being with her sister, and it's just as rewarding to see Madison's little grin when she sees and hears Hannah. 

After baths, we tucked the girls in. This was the first time we tucked them in together, and Hannah had a hard time letting Madison go after we prayed and talked together. I see some slumber parties ahead. 

God has blessed with two wonderful girls, and we thank Him for each day we have with them.

Painting!

We've done some painting in the house and several have asked for pictures. It's still a work in progress, but here are a few:

Living Room Before:

 

Living Room After:

I'm crocheting matching blankets...the colors match the curtains:

Dining Room before (the right side, under the chandelier):

here's a closer shot at all that BROWN!

Dining room after:

Shed before:

Shed after:

Next few projects (as time allows):

-finish curtains for front door (the same fabric as living room curtains)

-finish living room accents (pillows, blankets, wall decor, lamps, etc.)

-KITCHEN!  table, buffet, doors and counters will be black; cabinets white; some of the backsplash red.

Then...on to the bedrooms and bathrooms!

We know it's not perfect, but it sure is fun calling it ours!