Click

I am a photographer. I love pictures. I love to take pictures. I love the feeling of having a camera in my hand. If I were to walk into your home, you can be assured the very first thing I would do is to search out those pieces of you. To me it is a glimpse into the person, who they were and who they have become, what is important to them.

I see my life in pictures too. Like when I used to play in my turtle sandbox in the backyard of my childhood home all by myself. Click. Or when I first played Oregon Trail on a computer in a little room of the library at school. Click. The day I insisted I needed braces so at least one thing on me would be pretty. Click. The day I stood next to one of my best friends and graduated from Union County High School. Click. The day I decided I needed wide open spaces and moved to Seattle for grad school. Click. The second date with my husband, riding on the back of his crotch rocket and thinking of the bible verse from Joel, "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten." Click.

There was another day that was a click moment too. Picking out the bedding that would be part of Lilla's nursery, 3 1/2 years ago. I remember it was the day of my shower and my mom wanted to get some things I still needed. We were walking around Target and I just loved the Amy Coe collection with pale pastel stripes on the dust ruffle. For the following 2 1/2 years I so enjoyed seeing those lovely stripes when I would go in to her room at night to rock, hold and nurse her. They were lovely. Finally she got to the point of being in her toddler bed and we took down the bedding, only to be put in a box for the next year.

When Anna was born she got a bed that doesn't use a dust ruffle, so when we had the recent MOPS yard sale, in went that dust ruffle. 50 cents was the going rate. The day went by and I didn't notice when it was purchased and gone for good. Or so I thought.

This Saturday I went to the local arts and crafts fair with my close friend, Shelley. A friend who sews, Emily, was displaying her beautiful creations. I was looking through her collection when I see a lovely dress she had made with pale pastel stripes on it. I commented on how lovely it was when she said, "Oh, that was a dust ruffle I bought at the yard sale." I couldn't believe it! The dust ruffle from Lilla's room...click...the snapshots came back.

Sadly, we are having major septic issues so I couldn't afford the dress, but Emily was so kind as to set it back for me for later. Then again, that, of course, may have been due to how tear stained it became after I cried over the snapshot in my head. It hurt me to walk away from the dress, but oh the tenderness I felt when I pictured the snapshot in my head.

Later, as I spoke with the local harvest council rep., my friend Shelley snuck back and got that dress for me. What joy and thankfulness I felt as I opened the package she handed me. Click, one more photo to hold in my heart.
And then, I must say, because Shelley has a little vicarious living to do through my little Anna since her youngest peanut is 5, she also had to get the little lovebug something too. Is this not adorable?



Thank you Shelley, for being part of this sweet snapshot!

Mighty

Psalm 127:3 Children are an inheritance from the LORD. They are a reward from him.

Life with kids lately has been trying. Lilla has been sick with a double ear infection and pinkeye and it is making her particularly clingy. This is difficult since I have a six month old that still needs to be carried everywhere and prefers to be held above all else. Anna has been fussy too, as I think she is teething. We've had a lot of long days, where my husband doesn't get home until late and I just seem to be losing my patience more and more with them. Emotions have run high and crying seems to be the norm. Often during these times it is a bit difficult to be thankful for my children and remind myself that I chose and GET to stay home with them everyday.

This week though, I couldn't help but look at my life and be thankful. Why? I'm glad you asked, because I want to introduce you to the Mighty Molly Mutz. Dennis Rainey, the host of Family Life Today is her grandpa and he wrote a beautiful article on her this past week. I hope you will spend a little time getting to know her too.

And then, hopefully, you will look at your children, and your life, a little different today. I know I have.

Yesterday, Today

Yesterday I was in a hospital room waiting for you to be born.
Today you are sitting up by yourself.

Yesterday I heard a small cry for the first time.
Today I blew on your tummy and got big belly laughs.

Yesterday I was handed a newborn diaper for your first change.
Today, you are in size 4 and growing all the time!

Yesterday you wrapped your little hand around my finger.
Today you are grabbing everything in sight!

Yesterday we became a family of four.
Today it seems we have always been.

Yesterday I fell in love with you, my little Anna.
Today, I'd do it all again!

Happy Six Month birthday, my little lovey! Thank you for bringing so much joy to our lives!

I want to be

Do you have someone in your life that you look up to? Someone who you see as a person you would like to be like, live your life as they have, maybe be as funny as or organized in your home life, maybe someone with a really great work ethic who has been successful or who has a great sense of humor?  Well, I have someone that I want to be like too.

Actually, I am thinking today of three men who’s lives exemplify a quality that I am amazed and in awe of…faithfulness.  Faithfulness to stand up and not only be afraid to go against the grain, but truly be willing to die rather than agree with something that goes against what they absolutely believe in.

Those men?  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who stood against the king in Babyalonia when he demanded they bow down to him.  Faithfulness.  They said they would not as they knew God could save them, but even if he didn’t, they would still not bow down.  Wow!  Faithfulness.  They were then thrown into a very hot furnace where not a single hair on their head was singed and they didn’t smell like smoke.  Faithfulness.

I’m thankful for these wonderful men to look toward as an inspiration, and, I’m praying for that same faithfulness today.

Babywearing Stash

Over at Adventures in Babywearing, Steph is asking everyone to show off their babywearing stash. I actually have a pouch sling, ring sling and two of these:
Both my husband and I prefer to carry her in the backpack. For my husband, he feels less dorky. For me, I have issues with backpain and one chubby little baby so this seems to distribute the weight much better! Anna absolutely loves being carried. She actually gets frustrated in the ring sling and pouch sling but in the backpack she is happy from the word go! It has been especially great when we are on trips, like San Francisco when we didn't even take a stroller. She is at eye level to everything and we can get in and out of places so much easier.

Do you love your slings too?

10 Smile Tuesday

Hey there, after a bit of a break, not for a particular reason but just because life happens, I'm back with some more smiles to share! I just love looking back at the week and thinking about ways that God has blessed us in the past week, both big and small. I love having my faith built as I see how God provides for us in life. Don't you?

So, now, on with the smiles:

1. Anna has started rolling over...ALL. THE. TIME!! She goes from back to front, and boy does she get frustrated there, but it is so cute to see her trying to get her little paws on things. Man, is she a curious little one. So different than a content Lilla at this age who took forever to roll over!

2. Dimple butt. Anna is such a chunk. I'm so not kidding. I call her my Michelan baby. It's so stinking cute I love to just not put a diaper on her. Oh, I just want to eat her up, that chunk is adorable!

3. Forgiveness. I am always so amazed to see the perfect innocence of a child. Lilla recently told me she wasn't going to be friends with someone anymore because they hurt another friend of hers. When I explained to her how we need to treat others the way that we wanted to be treated, she just replied, "OK." And ever since then she keeps telling me she is friends with the other little girl. She'll say, "We need to be kind and loving and nice to other people." Love it!

4. Better eating. It has taken 3 years for Lilla to want to put anything in her mouth, but suddenly she is eating things that are good for her. In fact, she asked me to make meatloaf yesterday! Given, she calls it Cheeseburger in Paradise, but who cares, if she likes it and will eat it, she can call it whatever she wants!!

5. Life lessons. Yesterday I got frustated with Lilla and said something I just shouldn't have. She replied, "We don't watch Spongebob because he says naughty things like that." Yep, she had my number alright! I am so thankful to God though as he humbles me every day and continually shows me how much I need Him. Even through the eyes of a child!

6. Girl time! Since I had Anna I have just not been able to have any alone time, much less time with any girlfriends. Saturday morning though, Michael watched the girls while my friend, Shelley and I just drove around to yard sales in the community. Not a huge thing, but so appreciated for at least a few hours of just being able to be Amy and not Mommy was nice!

7. Yard sales. Speaking of the yard sale, we found some sweet deals on kids clothes, an exhaustive concordance for $1, some homeschooling supplies and random other things. I haven't done that in forever so it was much fun!

8. Monitor. We found a wide, flat screen monitor on like 60% off clearance the other day at Wal-Mart so I got it for Michael for Father's Day. Of course he couldn't wait to put it up so I'm typing on it now and holy cow, what a difference! Not only for space on the desk, but you can see EVERYTHING so clearly, nice!!

9. Gardening. The last few weeks we have been planting, weeding, digging, hoeing and watering, and we are finally seeing things coming up and seriously growing now! We've got green and red peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, green beans out the wazoo, artichokes, honeydew, watermelon, cucumber, herbs, sunflowers...lots of stuff that I can't wait to harvest and share with others! It's been especially fun when Lilla and I go out together and work it like that. Just fun!

10. Steering. On Sunday night all the steering team members for MOPS came to my house and we had such a nice time looking forward to next fall and the planning for it all. I'm excited about what will be!

What are you smiling about today?

Help

The peanut has now been potty trained for a couple of glorious months. It's so great, and, quite nice on the wallet too, to not have to do the diaper thing anymore. I don't think anyone is really a fan, and I'm right there with those anybodies.

Part of the whole potty process though is helping the wiping of the tushky and the helping in public bathrooms. In and out, out and in. That can become a little bothersome and often is a rushed time where I'm just going, "OK, let's just move...come on..."

Therefore, a few days ago when I was relegated to the task again, I was just trying to push through when I looked down at the biggest blue eyes I've ever seen staring up at me so sweetly. I had to catch my breath at her beauty, even in this cramped and dirty bathroom stall. The kindest little voice said, "Mommy, can you help me wipe my butt."

I, of course, replied, "Yes, mommy will be happy to help you."

She then looked so seriously at me and said, "Yes, you need to help me 'cause you my mommy."

And I can only say, I truely am blessed to be! Wiping behinds and all.

Wordless Wednesday

I will never be the same again

Today we started new members class at the church we began attending a few months back. You may remember we were up and down about switching as we really loved the people at our old church but we had become so involved in ministries at this church it just felt right. So, we did.

Well, we are all or nothing kind of people, and being part of a body of believers is important to us, so although we've only been here a few months, we're joining the church.

It's a 5 week series of classes basically explaining the church, it's values and beliefs and how to get plugged in through small groups, activities and ministries. This first part included a video of a baptism service the church did last year. I cried, of course, just watching the video. Not only for the changed lives and washing of rebirth, but, because I so long for the day when my children will accept Christ and follow him as well.

So, during the video I began praying for my girls. I prayed for them in my usual way, that they will accept Christ at an early age and follow Him all of their days. You see, I had a lot of hurt in my life that could have been avoided if only I had chosen the path of Christ. I didn't for a long time, and I will regret that all my days. I so want something different for my girls. So, I pray, pray and then pray some more that I will be a good mommy to them, Michael will be a good daddy and we will teach them about Jesus and they will understand it and love Him more.

Tonight as Michael was putting Lilla to bed, he asked her, "Lilla, do you know how to get to heaven, so one day you can live with Jesus?"

She replied, "Yes, you just ask Jesus to come and live in your heart."

"Have you ever done that?"

"No."

"Well, when you are ready, you come and tell me and we can pray together."

"I am ready."

And then they prayed a simple prayer. "Jesus, come and live in my heart. Amen."

And Lilla will never be the same again.

Rush, Rush

So today we had the MOPS garage sale at my house. This last year we had very little money for anything extra to do or just fun crafts so we were hoping to raise enough money with all the donations from MOPS moms to fund some things for next year. We had tons of donations, but not tons of people that came out. Unfortunately it was rainy and chilly today, so there just weren't a whole lot of people out. We did however, make a few hundred dollars, which will make a huge difference in our budget for next year so that alone is happy!

It was also just fun to spend some time with other MOPS moms, laughing, goofing around, pushing people out of the mudpile that is now my front yard, trying to get a very feisty groundhog out from underneath a customer's car, eating pizza and finding a summer wardrobe for Anna. I think all in all it was a productive day, and best of all we had lots of help to clean up, so it didn't take long and Goodwill is now the recipient of boxes upon boxes of new donations!

Now I'm just sit here to enjoy a few minutes of quiet time while Anna naps and Michael and Lilla watch Alladin. Hopefully they will be out soon too. It's peaceful in the house, and exactly what I need after days and days of busy times, preparing for our last MOPS of the year yesterday and then the garage sale today.

I need a nap...

Weedin' and Seedin'

Lately we've spent a lot of time in our garden. Planting, digging, pulling weeds, watering...on and on it goes. It sure takes a lot of work to really take care of a garden, and you never truly feel like the work is done. I continually notice more weeds to be pulled, more ground to be watered and more soil to be worked.

Why do I keep doing it then? Why not just drive down the road to Wal-Mart and pick up whatever is in season today and leave the work to the professionals? Oh, the promise of what is to come! There is nothing like something that comes from the work of your own hands. Not too long from now we could be sitting down to a bountiful blessing of fresh from the garden zucchini bread, a mountain of green beans, red peppers to snack on and watermelon to savor.

Last spring we spent so much time and money on the garden and then the rains came...and came...and came, and came some more. Our entire garden was wiped out. It felt devastating to look at the destruction, the absolute decimation of something that had been so cared for and desired.

I wonder through that then how God feels with us. After all, that is just a garden, we are His people. He loves us, tenderly cares for us, weeds us and feeds us. He gives us the best soil, prunes us in just the right places and gives us sunlight and water so we have all we need for the day.

And then the rains come in life. And we allow ourselves to get swept away. We get angry, we get depressed, we don't hold on, we lose hope...our strength to grow.

I don't know who you are, where you've been, what you have been through and are going through right now. I do know the garden of my own life and how there is a trail of rocks and weeds, broken branches and dirt that needs tilling. I also know is there is a God who loves me, who wants to grow, even me, to produce a harvest that I could never even imagine.

I also know He has a plan for your life. The pruning and tilling are not going to be easy. In fact, they often hurt, but oh, oh the harvest. So beyond words worth it!

Is your hope in Him today? He has ALL you need.

"Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:4-6

10 Smile Tuesday

Here we are again on another 10 Smile Tuesday. So many smiles going around lately, and lots of pictures to share. I tell you , this time of year makes me want to take pictures, and boy have I been! My computer is starting to crawl again from the amount on here...whew. I seriously love the green grass, the flowering trees, the sunshine, spring is such a blessing. I hope you all are enjoying the warming up and greening of everything too!

So on to the smiles...

1. A family photo...This past weekend we went on a picnic with our good friends and took some photos while we were at it. I love it when we can get everyone in one and we all are dressed decent and not looking quite grungy from the day yet...2. Warmth...It has really decided to warm up here this last week and slow down on the rain too, and it has been wonderful. Just to be outside, enjoying my family, eating on the patio, working on the garden, just love this great weather!

3. A wagon. Oh, the sheer entertainment value one object can bring! We were at the church on Saturday night setting up for Sunday when the peanut and her friends started playing with this wagon. Holy cow, they played with it for like an hour and a half!4. The garden. So we finally were able to plant part of my garden the other day. Oh, it is so wonderful to see the yummy veggies that are going to feed us in a few the yummy veggies that are going to feed us in a few months!5. Picnic in the park. Like I mentioned earlier, we were able to go on Sunday with friends to have a picnic. It was good food, good friends and a good God to thank for such a lovely day. We are so thankful for our friends, how fortunate we feel!6. Dressing up. Last fall I got all these dresses for Lilla for this summer on clearance and I have so enjoyed bringing them out. One on Sunday for pictures and then today, she went to a Cinco de Mayo party with her friend and I thought this dress was just perfect for it!
7. This picture. Who needs fancy photography fees when you can take pictures like this yourself?
8. Freshly mowed yard. We finally got our mower back and so Sunday night after our picnic Michael mowed the yard and oh, I am so thankful. It was up to our knees and now it is so much more enjoyable!9. Us. You know, since we had kids we just haven't taken any pictures of just us. We are a family of four after all, but sometimes it is nice to remember we are Michael and Amy too! So, when I saw this picture of us it definitely made me smile!

10. Yard sales. I love this time of year when all the yard sales start happening. I normally don't buy too much stuff, but I just enjoy "the hunt". Saturday there was this humungo sale for miles along a highway, so we hit it. Didn't find too much but it was just fun being together, the kids were pleasant as we found a Ming Ming duckling at the first house and that entertained Lilla the whole day and sometimes it's nice to just do something different!

What are you smiling about this week?

Saturday Photo Hunt - Walking

Photo Hunt theme this week: Walking

Anna does not like to just be held while we are sitting down, so we walk...A LOT with her.
This picture is of my husband just strolling around our living room watching House or LOST
I think, while he was walking with her.

To join the hunt go to http://tnchick.com

Ten Smile Wednesday

Well, it's 5 am here and I can't sleep. Both girls have been up coughing so now I'm paranoid so I have to sit here listening for them. Ugh. I do believe there is a good chance for a doctor's office visit in our very near future.

So, I am a day late on my 10 smiles, but I figure as long as I'm up, I mine as well use the time to record some things before the time passes, and I forget the beauty of the moment and all my smiles to go along with it.

1. Potty trained at last! I keep forgetting to share this and holy cow, this is huge! A little over a month ago some of Lilla's friends were over to play and I had just decided that day we weren't doing the pull up thing anymore. She was playing and oops, pee pee ran down her leg. Oh, she was so embarrassed, but, guess what? No more diapers since! She's had two days of accidents in the last 5 weeks! Is that crazy?!?! Totally a smile worth sharing!
2. Summit. This past weekend our MOPS group hosted a leadership summit for our area. It was neat to meet other MOPS leaders and form some new friendships. Also, looking ahead to the new year in MOPS is always fun! Here is me wearing Ms. Anna at the summit!3. Sandbox. Last week it was finally time to fill the sandbox again! Lilla has been so happy about that sandbox you'd think she struck gold! Every day she practically begs me to go out there and play in it some more. Definitely a highlight for her!4. The weather. Oh my, the weather has been so nice here lately. Yesterday it did drop down again and rain, but hey, it's spring. And it was such a lovely weekend. We spent a bunch of time outside and I've been on a picture taking rampage now that I have natural light again, good stuff!
5. Popsicles. Along with the weather comes another of Lilla's very favorite things...popsicles. She would make a meal of those things if I would let her. Oh, she's been so happy that they have made an appearance again!
6. Daddy time. While Anna and I were at the conference all day Saturday, Michael and Lilla spent the day together. It was so sweet to hear how they got their haircut together (completely Michael's idea, I was impressed!), played the match game, colored and just spent time together. Nothing like a little daddy time!

7. My garden...at last! This is a week belated, but still so happy it makes me smile! My parents came last weekend to help Michael build a raised garden for me! Yeah! We actually have a HUGE garden area already but it sits on the bottom of a hill and tends to flood so I wanted something closer to the house and on top of the hill. I can't wait to start a planting!
8. Friends. Lilla just loves her good friend, Gracie. So when her mommy needed a little time last week and asked if she could come over, we were more than happy to oblige! The girls had so much fun playing in the sand, in the little house, on the trampoline, in the car, eating at McDonald's. Oh, so much fun to be had, so little time!
9. Flowers. God bless the woman who used to live in my house. She planted all these gorgeous perennials that make spring time so much fun! My crapapple, apple and cherry blossom trees have brought a beautiful fragrance to my yard that can only signal new life and sweetness. The bleeding hearts are beautiful, the hastas are huge and the irises are coming forth! Oh, and the creepers...beautiful!
10. Roll over. Monday night after bath, I put Anna on her belly to give her some tummy time when I noticed her leaning to her side. Suddenly she just rolled over! So fun to see yet another milestone with my little one!
11. Photoshoot. I love taking pictures of my girls. Here are some more I captured the other day when I took them outside for a spring "photoshoot"!

What are you smiling about today?

The Darkness too

The other day as the girls and I drove down the road I started singing the words to the song, Bring the Rain. Do you know that song by Mercy Me? The chorus goes:

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

Well, the peanut really likes to learn any kind of music. She asks me just about every day to give her a new song to sing. Whatever I'm singing she asks me, "What are you singing Momma?"

So, I told her the song I was singing and started explaining to her how God gives us all kinds of different things. Sometimes we experience things in life that are really sad and sometimes we experience things in life that are really happy. I told her that this song was all about that and how sometimes it rains, even though that is not always fun.

I then heard a small voice from the back say, "God sometimes brings us sunshine?"

I replied, "Yes, he sometimes brings us sunshine."

A few second pause and then I hear, "And sometimes God brings us darkness too."

My breath was taken away.

"Yes, Lilla, sometimes darkness too."

10 Smile Tuesday

Have you ever heard that old wives tale about bad things coming in threes? Well, I think I was living that wives tale this week. First the washing machine started making a loud scraping noise that was definitely not good, then the brakes began making a horrible crunching sound, very soon after I had to laugh when the handle broke off the toilet. It was a laugh or cry kind of week, so I just chose, and I stress, chose, to laugh. It's just been that kind of week. But, in the midst of it, we had a lot of fun and a lot of smiles.

1. Easter egg hunts. Lilla went on three hunts this year. She was one busy bunny I tell you! She is very methodical and kind of takes her time just looking around, getting excited with one egg while the other kids are tearing from one place to another. I love that she is like that, what a good way to enjoy life. I find myself trying to rush her to catch her up with the other kids, but I'm going to be mindful of that, because, she doesn't care, so why should I? 2. Baby blue eyes. Oh, this baby has the blue eyes! I know every mother thinks their own children are the most gorgeous, but these blue eyes are just melting me by the day!
3. Friends. Everytime I put Anna down, this is what I find next to her in a hurry. Lilla likes to climb up to wherever she is at and just hang out with her sister. How great is that?

4. Growing up. Can you believe Anna will be 4 months on Thursday? Too true, too true. She is getting two bottom teeth in, wanting to sit up all the time, aware of all of her surroundings, belly laughing at everyone and just as sweet as she wants to be!

5. Bathtime. For a while there bathtime with Anna was really no fun. She just was not happy to be put in that water. Oh, her scream can reach the rafters when she wants it to. But recently, she has begun to enjoy the bath. She just lays there and lets me wash her, kind of looking around and smiling. I'm so glad because this is a HUGE part of Lilla's day, she loves it and will spend an hour in there sometimes if we let her. It won't be too much longer and they will take baths together so I'm so happy when I see that happy bath smile coming through!

6. I don't know if you can really see it in this picture, but Anna has been doing this thing with lifting her legs all of the time. Wherever she's at, whatever she is doing, she just likes to lift her legs. I think it is so incredibly cute. I don't know why, I just want to eat her up she's so adorable, and that is just one adorable thing she does that I always want to remember!

7. More growing up. Lilla is really turning into a little girl. Gone is the toddler, we are on to little girl stage now. She's really developing into a beautiful young girl. She's smart, funny and thoughtful. I was talking to her about forgiveness the other day and when I asked her about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins she said, "He threw them away." I about cried. She is nothing short of beautiful.

8. A family picture. I am always the one behind the camera, which makes for very few pictures of our whole family together. So, when I do remember to ask someone to take a picture of us, I'm so glad to have one to look at!9. My girls. Easter morning we were rushing around and I just quickly snapped this picture of the girls before we went to church. The first of them smiling in a picture together and the only one of them together on Easter. So glad it turned out so cute!
10. Easter day. Is there a better day in the year? All the other days lead up to this for the Christian and to celebrate that he arose...well are there any words? Not from the likes of me! So I'll just leave you with a couple of smiles for the day...