Okay, Pintrest: Let's do this!

-So I made the decision to tackle my Pintrest boards. I mean, what good are all my cool DIY projects and recipes if I just keep them sitting there, right? So I went right to my foodie "Nom Nom" board and got crackin with some breakfast. We started our day with a little of this:

http://www.fatgirltrappedinaskinnybody.com/2011/04/bacon-egg-cups/

We had a few minor tweeks here and there, but still, they turned out quite delish. 

Here's how they turned out:

We substituted bacon with Canadian bacon, and then used the leftover egg custard 

to make mini French toasts with some baguette that we had. 

Voila. 

Super easy, no stove-hovering. Plus, it was nummy. 

Feeling quite accomplished by 7:00 am. 


We put a second project to use before lunch.
This time, we found a handy tool to help little preschool hands
handle a hand of cards. We play cards several times a day 
around here....

http://inlightofthetruth.blogspot.com/2011/01/kids-card-holder.html
So here's the template that we used to inspire us.

And this is ours....

There was nothing to it.
 She loved being able to play like a big kid!

But God...

BUT GOD... 

I can't help but love Hagar.

In the midst of her messes, the Father took notice of her; and spoke directly to her- twice!

The whole experience must have been absorbed into her core, THAT'S  how amazing it had to have been. What a precious and gracious gift that she could cling to when the storms of life came. 

The first time HE speaks, 

 He says, "Where have you come from? And where are you going?"

 I love how the Father lovingly initiates dialogue and pursues us! He gives us room to consider where we are at. He doesn't bash us over the head, pointing out our sin. He is gentle, and patient and wise.

The text continues:

 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me, ” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. Genesis 16:13,14

Ah, to know that the LORD sees me, exactly where I'm at -with all of my stuff, and desires to give me comfort and guidance, in spite of it all. 

The second time He speaks, Hagar finds herself in the middle of another marital spat. She and her son are thrown out a second time, and she is left penniless, hungry and left to die in the desert. 

"...she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.  And God was with the boy, and he grew up."

Genesis 21:16-20

A sweet reminder to hold my guys close as they navigate a season of change, while in so doing, reaffirming my own call and purpose for ministry at home with them. This really was an answer to prayer.
(So encouraged.)
He is the Father Who sees, and hears.

Transitioning.

 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:1-5

And so, we wait. And by God's grace, wait well.

More than many.

Have you ever been in a slump? Let me tell you kids, I have. Actually, you have had front row tickets to my slumps- the unemployed, no-home-of-our-own-kind. Not gonna lie. It stinks. But I want you to know something, even with our life as messy as it is, we have a sure thing in the unshakable Love of the Father. Without a doubt. 

And through it, HE blessed me with a husband that I love more and more each day:

Here are just a few of the reasons why:

• I look forward to seeing him
• he looks for excuses to laugh
• he plays with my hair in waiting rooms at the doctor's office
• I trust his counsel most
• he pours over greeting cards to find the exact, perfect one
• he cautiously weighs and considers decisions for our family
• he is protective of us
• he ministers to me every time we read the Word
• he is the most teachable person i have ever met in my life
• he is unashamed of his bad musical taste
• he can identify any Baroque composer in just a few notes
• he says, "Does anybody mind if I finish the rest of the chips?
• he makes my heart go pitter-pat
• he stops to help strangers with their flat tires 
• he makes a point not to shave on weekends because I like it
• he remembers every detail of our wedding day
• he reaches for my hand while driving
• he asks for my input 
• he usually apologizes first
• he has an amazing memory/ retains knowledge
• he tolerates and buys hazelnut coffee because he knows i like it
• he can turn a tense moment around, and we end up laughing
• he doesn't mind a good chick-flick
• when he quotes Is.40, it makes me cry
• there is nothing funnier than his hysterical laugh. nothing.
• he is not afraid to use baby talk with the little ones
• he tells me that he loves being married to me every day. without fail.

He is the best of men. 

To my girls, I would say:

Marry a man that you want your sons to emulate.

 I did.

 And so even now, when we have next to nothing, I can say with confidence, that we still have more than many.

Thanks be to God.  

Some of today's morning devotional

And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.

1 Samuel 2:35

-Sweet words of encouragement as we truck through 1 Sam.

Happy Birthday, America.

America is an idea. A beautiful, beautiful idea.

 Hey Neighbors, click here to get inspired:

http://www.worldwariihistory.info/Medal-of-Honor/

Guess what I'm watching later?

Prayer for her

Selah Grace. We named you this because Selah, in basic terms, means: "think about it." And apart from the fact that this particular phrase is actually a part of your parents' love story, we settled on the name because our prayer for you is that you stop and consider the grace of our Father, every day of your life. It is the noblest of life's pursuits. The more you consider it, the more it will overwhelm you. It is a new gift everyday; one that meets every need, strengthens every weakness. It comforts, sustains, and renews. And it's yours. Never to be taken away, earned, or improved upon.

Selah, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8,9

A gift from the start.

Treasured and fully known by God before we even met. Created to reflect and glorify Him. He can't have ugly thoughts or plans for you. That's just not Him.
In Him is light, there is no darkness at all. 1 Jn.1:5

Each new day, there is new grace for you.

Each one, lovingly given.

And everyday, you grow. God has given you strength, baby girl. 

At four she loves... graham crackers, raisins, dress up, any sugar at all, pretending to be seven, 

Humphrey, Madeline and Fancy Nancy books, kitties, Tinkerbell, Cinderella, painting, and making her dolly Suzy filthy.  You are joyful, tenacious, and independent.  You hop when you get excited, or are proud of an accomplishment, your brave, and completely unaware that you are the youngest one in the room. You plan to be a princess when you grow up. You whisper when you get serious, and are loud and contagious when you laugh. And surprisingly, you like to go to bed. 

 ...We have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col. 1:9-14

What an honor to be chosen as parents for you.
Happy Birthday, Princess. Cant wait to see what the Lord has in store for four!