Ok...so I have some catching up to do:
10-13....Im not too far off task :)

(continued from below...."Things I love".... See 1-9 below)

Things I love:

#10 Panera Soy Caramel Latte's - nuff said.


#11 Good lyrics. I love when a song speaks to me right where I am. I mean, really....isnt that an amazing thing? Great cd's to listen to.....Tenth Avenue North. EVERY song on tha CD is a devotion. I like to get in the van (the sporty, cool, mini-van) and turn a song up realllllly loud. Surrounded my music. I love being there!!

Amy Grant - Yes, she taught me to sing into my hairbrush at the age of 5. I am forever indebted to her...she inspired me to love music...to celebrate REAL life in the moment.

Toby Mac....Bebo Norman....etc



#12 Naps. I love a good power nap.


#13 Productive Ministry Meetings with my friends. I am energized by ministry planning. I love it. Today, I got to hang with some wonderful people who love Jesus....and love the thought of connecting others to Jesus. What a wonderful start to the day!

continued from "things I love". see 1-8 below :)

I love

#9

Today is February 9, 2010. So that means I am on task as of NOW :)...since I am writing about #9.

Today I want to be thankful for a warm home. I am grateful. As I ran some errands today in the cold, snowy, wet weather...it was refreshing to come up the hill and see my house. I knew that I was almost home....in the warmth....in the comfort of my own home. There is no where quite like home. No where. It used to exist for me outside this house. Before mom died. I still dream about what it would be like to pack up my kids (whom she never met) and take them along with Aaron and sweet Molly to see my mom and dad for the weekend. What would she do with them? What would she bake? What toy or outfit would she have bought them while she was away from them? Would she be louder than they would be when they first saw each other?? They say "you cant miss what you didnt have"...but, I do.

I am grateful that I have a house...and I am even more grateful that it is a HOME. Candles burning...something baking...bubble baths, bleach, laundry, crockpots, iced tea, warm tea, a broken dishwasher, wooden floors, painted walls, the stocked fridge, tableclothes, messy cabinets, the sound of the boys wrestling in the other room, toys on the floor. It is home. Good and bad...messy and clean...it is still home.

I want to preserve "home" for my kids. I want to always have "home" waiting for them each day....even when it is loud and grumpy. :) Still....it is "home".

I want to live long enough for them to bring their kids to me and Aaron. For us to be louder than they are when they arrive. I want to give them that gift :)

Home.

A place.

A feeling.

A blessing.

A gift.

I am so grateful for HOME.

I love...

#8

I love the seasons. I am totally in favor of each season having its own time. I mean, that is even Biblical, isnt it? (Eccles. 3:1)

I love how the snow is nestled in the woods right now. How the snow rests on the evergreens. Even the bare trees look beautiful. Seasons remind me that things change...that renewal happens. There is a sense of stillness in winter time. Is in almost like nature is in awe of God's extreme presence. It is captivating.

I love....#7

I love....

#7 - I love A Reason To Cook. Cooking with purpose is a favorite thing of mine. Cooking for a family event...a holiday...a special day...friends...is so fun for me. I love planning the menu and being with everyone. It is so thrilling to find that special recipe too. My favorite recent one: Lemon Pasta (A Barefoot Contessa recipe shared with me from my dear friend, Kelly.) It is amazzzzzzzing!

See my February Blogs (Dwelling on the things I love 1-6) below:

So, I am reading my friends blog (Kelly, "The Feathered Nest") and I see that she is inspired to spend the month of February dwelling on things we love. I too, must join in! I am 6 "days late to this party" sooooo here goes....my first 6 and then, I will try to keep on task for the month :)


I love:


#1 My real God. I am so thankful that God loves me. A real love. I am thankful that He is for me...and that I dont have to be afraid of Him, but I can embrace Him as my biggest fan. He loves me unconditionally to the extent that I need NO words to explain myself to Him. Grace is wonderful. His love is overwhelming.



#2 My family. God gave me the best husband in the world. I am serious. I totally won. He is amazing in how he loves me and our boys. I want to be the wife that God wants him to have. My boys challange me to truly BE the person that God wants me to be. Every move I make influences them. No pressure there! :P



#3 My Goldendoodle. Molly is God-sent. Another reminder of how God loves me and cares about the details of my life. She is SUCH a gift!!




#4 My laptop. Ok. I know that I am not being deep here....but I love the fact that I can connect with others in a click of a mouse :)




#5 My friends. And NO...these are in NO particular order...for those friends that are reading. It is just what is coming to mind at the moment. Where was I? Oh...friends. I am so blessed with AMAZING friends who love me. God has placed blessings in my life...and I am in awe. I get to "do life" with great, genuine people.



#6 Music. It connects my soul to God. It connects my soul to the moment....the memory... What a gift music is to my heart!



Ok...so there are my first 6 ...to catch up with the date 2-6-2010. This will be a great thing to do for me....to remind me of what is GOOD in my life. We all need a reminder sometimes, huh?

Molly Doodle sporting her cool hair due!

I Cannot be trusted with a full can of frosting

I Cannot be trusted with a full can of frosting...

I made cupcakes for a group of friends the other night. I made 24 cupcakes...and left two of them unfrosted....because I could not see opening the other full can of frosting for 2 cupcakes.

I found myself the next day....frosting the 2 last cupcakes....really thick...and eating them both!! I love frosting. One main reason I love birthdays? FROSTING on the birthday cake.
Cake....it is really just a way to deliver the frosting to your mouth.

It never fails....if I know that a can of frosting is in the house...I will open it and slowing enjoy it spoonful by spoonful...until it is gone.

Happy Birthday to me :)

Coen's football team was undefeated this year!
Here are a few pics of his championship game and our van
all decorated for the parade to the game :)

Halloween 2009 pictures.
Coen, the spy.
Josh, the army man
Molly, the goldendoodle :)

Here are some photos of the boys playing sports. :)
Josh - soccer
Coen -Football.
It is a busy schedule...but fun. :)

Coen talking with Daddy, Pappaw and "Gr-uncle" Willard :)

Coen #37

Soccer - man

Celebrating Aarons 39th birthday last weekend.

Time with Poppie

Here is my daddy with all his grandsons. We got to see him this weekend.
Poppie with Grayson, Josh, Luke and Coen (left to right)

Molly is one.

We giggled at her putting her entire head into the gift bags....she loved her treats!

Celebrating Molly's first birthday!

Hanging out on vacation. Trying to pause a little and breathe. Just breathe. Time never stops, ya know. Before we know it...summer flies by and we stop thinking about sunscreen and begin thinking about No 2 pencils. :) My baby boys are going to be in 4th and 1st grades. How does that happen so quickly. Time. It's not always forgiving. It just doesnt stop. Time doesnt wait for a shoe to be tied. Time doesnt wait for a nap to happen....it doesnt pause for really bad things like an illness or a death. And what does it have against my TO DO LIST? Life just goes on. Time goes on.

Get on board, Im thinkin'!! Join in....and run with it. Maybe I can beat time a little....NOT by adding more to do...and working faster and harder...but by creating more margin....so time SEEMS to be on my side too. Maybe the unorganized closets are not as high of a priority as they once were???? But, petting Molly....cooking for AB and the boys....and laughing more ARE higher on the TO DO LIST! Yeah, I like that idea!!

Life....a constant ride. I am thrilled to be doing this life with AB, Coen and Josh and now, sweet Molly. I am so blessed to know that God is good. God is on my side. If HE IS FOR ME...what and who can be against me? This life...is a good place to be....The next life...will be even greater! For today...Im gonna pause...breathe and take it ALL in!!! Sunscreen anyone???

God has blessed us with the sweetest doggie.
Please meet MOLLY...our sweet Goldendoodle :)
She came to live with us on Monday, July 13th.
She is 11 months old and a sweetheart!