It's been a while

Todd at his first NFL game and it was a great one!!

Jackson with his toy Todd made for him last year. He loves it b/c it has Todd saying I love you!

Christmas card failed attempt #1. Have I mentioned that this child is fast. Brad was taking the picture the minute my hand left the hat and he still beat us a few times!

I have not blogged in so long. Part of that is because I have not had much to say. I have been spending some time thinking about the many blessings I have and the fact that I am unworthy for all of it! However, the main reason is SICKNESS!! I am so tired of this family being sick. Jackson has been the worst of all. In November, he managed to lose 2 pounds due to stomach virus things. We are still having trouble with that sensitive stomach. Please pray that we figure this out. It has begun to really alter our lifestyle. We have to be so careful what he eats. Please pray we outgrow this soon!! I hope to post some more soon. Until then, here is my cute kiddos!

Melissa And Doug free giveaway

There is a contest going on to win a great puppet stage from Melissa And Doug company. I have always wanted one but could not afford them. You may want to take a look.
www.melissaanddoug.com Follow the links to the contest. It ends soon.

Read and Share The Story of Christmas

I had the pleasure of reviewing The Story of Christmas by Gwen Ellis. This book is in Thomas Nelson's line of Read and Share stories for children. This book is ideal for young children because of the simplicity of the pictures and the simple sentence structures. There are fewer words on each page and large pictures. There is also a question at the end of each chapter, which is good to engage the children. These questions can be appropriate for an older age child, too. Overall, I feel this would be good for children ages 2-6.

I really enjoyed the DVD that came with the book. The pictures are very child-friendly and colorful. There are also a few coloring pages that are mainly animals that are great for young children.

Overall, I think this would be a great book to help keep children focused on the birth of Jesus for Christmas. That is why I am giving this book a 4 1/2 star. I think the DVD makes the mark a little higher.

Questions Song Lyrics | Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics | Christian Music Song Lyrics | NewReleaseTuesday.com

This song is amazing. So often I question things that happen. Steven Curtis Chapman released an album that is his raw emotions that surrounde the death of his daughter. These songs are such great reminders of the goodness that God has and that He is in control and beside us in all trials!

Questions By Steven Curtis Chapman

Who are you God
For You are turning out to be
so much different than I imagined

And where are you God
Because I am finding life to be
So much harder than I planned

Know that I am afraid
to ask these questions
But you know they are there

And if you know my heart
The way that I believe you do
You know that I believe in You
Still I have these questions

Like how could you God
How could You be so good and strong
And make a worls that can be so apinful

And where were you God
I know You had to be right there
I know You never turned Your head

You know that I am confused
By all of this mystery
You know I get afraid
But if you know my heart
As completely as I trust You do
Oh You know that I trust in You

Is it true
That for every tear I cry
You cry a thousand more
Because you weep for those that weap

And are You there, just holding Yourself back
From crushing all the pain and evil in this world
For reasons we just can't understand for now
But isn't there a day of redemption coming
OHHH
Redemption is coming
OHH

Quickly Lord, come quickly
Lord come quickly
OHHH

So who am I god
That you would raise me from the dust
To breathe Your life and Your love in me
You know that I believe
And make a world that can be so painful

Called To Worship

I have been reading a book titled Called To Worship by Vernon M. Whaley. This book takes you on journey studying worship throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Dr. Whaley has taken some familiar stories and some unfamiliar stories and related them back to our purpose: worshipping God.

Though this is a lengthy book ( 300+ pages), I found myself captivated by the points Dr. Whaley makes. This book is very good for people that do not know all of the stories because he discusses them at length. This was the only downfall for me. Sometimes the "background information" was too lengthy since I am familiar with most of the stories he discussed. However, I enjoyed reading them because he pulled out themes of worship I had not thought of prior to this book. Overall, I was very challenged and called to a higher need for true worship in my life.

One year ago

We were blessed to welcome Jackson into the world. He was such a blessing to us and a gift. He keeps us on our toes at ALL times. His laughter brightens our days. I think he will have some similarities to Todd but will have his own aspects, too. He loves to read books and climb into buckets. He likes cars or trucks and he loves the dogs and his brother. He is beginning to use lots of language. He says bye, momma, dadda, buba, dog, five, and has his own "words" for buddy, rocket, see you, and peek-a-boo. He can get anywhere he wants to go. He can clap, too.

Jackson, you were an answered prayer for many of us. You are blessed to have the best big brother you could have. May God continue to bless you just as you have blessed us!

3 months old

1 year old

troubled times

I have become a reviewer for Thomas Nelson books. I get to pick a book and read it and then post reviews of the book. I am just now on my first book. I will be posting a review of it soon, but this was too good to wait.

I have been feeling a little overwhelmed at times lately. I know so many people that have been struggling. I had considered posting this but had not gotten around to it. After reading my friend Tamara's post, I decided this would be a good time to post it. I am obviously not the only person feeling overwhelmed.

As I look over our daily e-mails, I am seeing so much sickness, death, children with difficulties, people taking their own lives, losing jobs, losing homes, etc. You name it and I seem to know someone dealing with it. It is often times like these that I begin to wonder where God is. Sure, I know he is in the midst of it, but where is his stance and why is all of this happening?

In the book I have been reading, it discussed the Israelites. In Jericho, there was a 15' high wall. It was impossible for the Israelites to penetrate the wall on their own. However, God knew that the land He had promised was on the other side. Then, they had to cross the river. How could they do these things? Was it an easy feat? I don't think so. They stepped out in faith. They trusted God and did as they were told. None of it made real sense to them. They did not wait for the obstacle to move, they just walked out in faith. They took the first step. Some days, that is all we can do is take the step. We don't have the energy to go any further.

That is how I feel right now. These problems are like that 15' wall or that river. There is NO way we can solve these problems alone. We must just step out in faith and let God take over. We have to continue to worship Him in full confidence that He is in control and on the other side is the land he has promised us.

As we step, we must not do it alone. We have to have support from those around us. I think that is the point of all of these trials. We have become so self-dependent. We do not think we need anyone else. We think we can do it alone. I think with all of our struggles, we are turning more to God and those around us. I believe God is thinking, "They are finally getting it". So, as we struggle, let's help one another and ask for deliverance from these trying times!