A bunny and a baby, (oh and a couple of sisters)

I have somewhat of a germ phobia. Animals are my worst enemy. But because I am such a selfless person, HA, I have allowed for MANY animals to enter my home because of my adorable children! So while I was out the other day and left my animal loving girls home to babysit, I saw these pictures on my computer. They felt it necessary to allow their germ-infested  sweet bunny to snuggle up to the baby while feeding him my milk through a bottle. 
I just hope they did not try to give a taste to the bunny first! :(

I sure am glad we don't have a pot-belly pig at our house! 

Dying to self...

Dying to self is:

• hard
• a contstant struggle
• a battle
• uncommon to the world
• pleasing to God
• asked of us by God
• led by example from Jesus to the point of His death
• possible
• a command
• profitable to us spiritually
• usable because God can replace the "Him" mentality with the "me" mentality :)
• neccesary
• essential when following Christ

The more of Him we have in us, the better equipt we are to see things the way Christ does.  If we are in the way, He cannot do the things HE desires to do effectively in our life.  If attempting to do things in our own strength, we are just setting ourselves up for failure.  Only in Him and through Him, are we able to give up self and have the ability to replace all that we are not with all that He is! 

Today Jesus, I pray that every inch that I have will be willingly submitted to You and your plan for my life.  The more I seek You, may I find You that much more.  The more I find You, the more I love You!!  Help me to give everything up for You no matter what I "feel"!  Thank you for the true Joy only you can give!

Foto Friday

One of the sweetest things in life for me,
 is to witness a baby sleeping! 
I could not pass up the chance to take this picture!

Have a restful weekend relaxing is Jesus!:)

Another B-day!

4 years has come and gone,
but the joy and smiles you have brought,
leave lasting memories on our hearts!
Can't wait to see what God has in store for you little man!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The difference

The difference between the 1st and the 11th:

1. 
   
   With the first child, you cannot WAIT to wear materinity clothes!   With the 11th, your regular clothes ARE your maternity clothes!  :)
2. 
   
   The 1st pregnancy, you watch and know EVERYTHING that you eat, by the 11th, you realize that a diet coke here or a candy bar there won't do permnant damage on the baby!
3. 
   
   With the 1st baby, I had the nursery ready 3 months before the baby was even due!  By the 11th, I had to have my husband get down the bassinet and newborn clothes the day we came home from the hospital.
4. 
   
   My 1st child had matching nursery decor and beautiful white burp cloths.  My 11th has every color of the rainbow blankets and burp cloths?  As long as there is SOMETHING around to wipe it up, we are good!
5. 1st child, had a closet full of brand new baby clothes that FILLED his closet, my 11th does not even have a closet!
6. All of my 1st babies clothes fit him perfectly!  My 11th wears whatever I have out.  Maybe a little snug, maybe have to roll the sleeves up a bit, but at least he is warm!
7. The baby book I have for my 1st child has EVERYTHING written down from weight to gifts, the 11th...have not EVEN started his baby book yet and he is 8 months old!  
8. The 1st seemed so "old" to me when he was 2 years old, the 11th seems like a newborn at 8 months!  
9. My 1st had birthday "celebrations"  with store bought cakes and Chuck 'e' Cheese with an entire choir of family and friends singing happy birthday.   My 11th... will have a homemade birthday cake after we eat dinner!  (Hey, at least he will still have an entire choir singing happy birthday!)  
10. I just HAD to get my 1st child potty-trained by the time he was 2!  My 11th?  I fully understand he will not want to wear diapers by the time he leaves home! 
11. With the first child, naps were NEVER missed!  By the 11th, if we need to go somewhere, he can sleep in the car!
12. I always gave the first baby his daily bath after my shower EVERY day, the 11th?  When I feel like he needs one. 
13. I had a wipe warmer for the first baby!  #11?  As long as it's wet, it will do! 
14. My first had a crib, diaper changer table, dresser, rocking chair and swing in his room.  With 11, he has a crib in our room that is all! 
15. I love my first with everything in me so much that it hurts!  #11?  Nothing has changed!

Motherhood does not get easier with the 11th, but I do know that I take time to enjoy the little things more and spend less time sweating the small stuff!  I love this job!  God is sooooooo good!

Foto Friday

No time for cabin fever

when you can get out and play in the snow!

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

:

The joy you bring into this home is amazing!

You:

::have shown us see how funny it can be hearing somebody learn to communicate with 12 other people!

::proved an 18 month old CAN learn 12 other peoples names and speak them fluently!

::show us how innocent an 18 month seems, but how that mysteriously changes by the age of 2!

::when asked what you are doing, you reply with "Nuffing!"
::everything you say has an 'e' at the end- car'e, gum'e, bed'e

::can be giving kisses one minute and then sit in a sulk the next

::still NEED 2 naps a day

::love any fruit
::learned to eat with a spoon and fork at 13 months
::did not sleep through the night until you were 14 months when you were staying at grandma's
::ever since then, you sleep from 7 pm - 7am every night

::RUN to daddy when he gets home

::will do ANYTHING for somebody to play ball with you 

::OR ANTHING for a jellybean

::learned how to copy what seven 7 boys do WAY to fast! (Good AND bad!)

::are attached to your blanket at nap and bed time

::love kittens (the love IS NOT mutual)

::say "no" for yes

::chew gum and make us laugh because you look like a cow chewing your cud

::are jealous when your big brother holds the baby

::love baths but hate swimming

::would be outside 24 hours a day if we let you

::are the RUNT of your siblings weighing in only 3 pounds more than your 8 month old baby brother!

And you have...

wrapped us ALL around you little finger,

made us smile more,

 laugh more!

What a beautiful 2 years this has been!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY our big 2 year old!!

If You Give Your Wife New Furniture...

If you have never read the children's book, "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie...",
 You might not appreciate this as much.  But after my husband bought new furniture for us, (which was VERY apprectiated I might add), my mind began to wander as I sat on our new couch in our living room...

Because...
IF you give your wife new furniture...
She is going to want new curtains to match...
and...
then new carpet,
new tables,
new lamps,
new fireplace screen,
new chairs,
and new paint for the walls.

But if you do all of that,
then...
she will want a new house to go with it!

So, for now..
 because money does NOT grow on trees.
I will be sitting in my white-walled living room with my old tables and lamps enjoying our new couch!

We don't have the chance to buy new things often, and IF we do, they are from thrift stores.  Which is still great!  But for our family of 13, used couches don't last long!  No thrift store for this one! 
A BRAND SPANKING NEW, LEATHER COUCH!
Believe me when I say I am no happier than I was before the couch, (okay, maybe a temporary happy), but how less stressful it is to not have to take a deep breath every time I sit down  for fear of wondering if the frame is going to hold! :)

I am so thankful that we have this new addition in our living room, but I am always amazed how the flesh wants more and more!  I have learned to be content for now, and that is VERY good!  I am thankful for what I have and realize I only WANT more, not NEED more!  :)