In Celebration and Praise

When We Fall

Lola has recently learned how to ride her bike.

She is eight years old and simply had no desire to do it before. She didn't even really ride her bike with training wheels...it wasn't important, she didn't enjoy it and she complained every time we encouraged her to do it.

It wasn't until I kicked her out of the bike trailer that her "want too" changed.



 I know that eight sounds a little old to still be riding in a bike trailer -it IS, but she is just a tiny little thing and just slipped right in there with Kolton...so until this year we just went with it.

She actually learned VERY quickly and took off like a champ!! She rode every day, her balance getting stronger and stronger! I love watching her...hair and skirts, blowing in the wind! But after a couple of weeks she started backing off her practice time. First it was a couple of days between rides. Then...an entire week went by.

Maybe it lost the fresh excitement or maybe it was too hot or too much work. Maybe she just didn't want too. I asked her about it and she simply responded, "I know (sigh)" and trucked into the garage and fetched her bike out.Off she went with a wobble, knuckles white and elbows out straight! Around the turn of the driveway she slowly went and CRASH! Legs and elbows scratched up and bleeding. She is upset. Upset that she fell, upset that she is hurting and upset that she "forgot" how to ride.

I cleaned her up. I loved her up and encouraged her to get right back on and try again. She was sorry and discouraged it had been so long she forgot. But she went out and picked up her bike...scared determination in her eyes.  She put that leg over, worked it around so she had a good starting petal...and with a big push, off she went again! Made it past the first big turn and then around the second. The more rounds the bigger the smile!

That afternoon she crashed a total of 3 times which is more than any other time she had ridden but she got back on and took off once more. I was so very proud of her!

This morning as I went for my run I was running through scripture verses in my mind.

Remember this post?

Well I quickly discovered that I couldn't completely remember most of them. Then I felt guilt ridden that I haven't stuck to my 2 verses a month! It had been since April that I had added a verse to my notebook...let alone continue memorizing what I had already THOUGHT I had learned. It had been so long that I had forgotten!I struggled through the last of my run (the time that I have devoted to Him).

Will I fail at this too?

Will I mess up this commitment like I messed up and failed at my scripture memory?

When God brings things like this to the forefront of my mind, I have a tendency to beat myself up. Big Time! I know that we need to hear what God is speaking to us, repent with a pure heart and move forward...but I tend to linger -getting mad at myself.I messed up again. Yep...failed again.

But God so lovingly brought Lola's bike riding to my mind.

I looked through these pictures of her and my heart was full!

Where is my want to? What is my NEED to!! When we fall we need to get right back up. God's arms are big and will lovingly pick us back up! His word will encourage us and we need to dust off and keep going.

I don't have to spend time with Him or memorize His word as a HAVE TO, I desire to want to!

It is more than simply being obedient.  It is love! His love first for us and then our loving Him.

I want to be obedient to what He calls me to do because I love Him. So often in my life I tried to be obedient for God to "love me more". To please God like I've tried to please people all these years and then of course fail and beat myself up for weeks.

I'm praying for my "want too" to change!  PRAISE God that He cares enough, loves enough to keep moulding me -each of us!  We will all fall. But it is getting back up and starting again. I thank you Lord for the opportunity! =)

"Let your roots grow deep into Him and draw up nourishment from Him so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done." Colossians 2:7

(A re post from the archives)

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As we end one year and start another,
may we not be discouraged and give up on the things the Lord is leading us to do. 

Just this week I read, "A habit is what we wear. A habit is the way we wear our days."

I loved that!

Personally I know I have many new habits that I desire to wear in 2012!

Here is to looking with expectant hearts into the new year! {Cheers!}

There's Love in the Air!

Love is in the air and I am just *SMITTEN* over this new fabric collection by Barb Tourtillotte! 

Some sweet Valentine dresses will be available within the next couple of weeks for all your little lovies! 

A new style of dress will also be making it's debut!{I'm so excited!  It is so easy to put on/off -AND- it's reversible!!  YAY!!}

Don't forget to send in your photo's for our photo contest!  Email HERE & details can be found HERE!

The Gift

Children's smiles, giggles and goofy moments flood back and fill, as I edit each photo.

Memories are now captured in time, I smile at their faces.  Excitement in the gift!

Wonder and anticipation filled each mad tear of the paper!

And now days later the presents unwrapped (and somewhat) put away, we move forward into a new year. I look at all these photo's and can't help but think, have I lost this excitement I see?

Right before Christmas I stood in front of the children and held up a gift.  I asked them what if we received a gift, but chose not to open it. We held it. Admired it. Maybe messed with the bow a bit...but sat it back down and walked away.

Of course they said how crazy that was!  Why wouldn't you want it?  Why wouldn't you tear the paper off and throw open the lid?  Why wouldn't you want the excitement, wonder and anticipation of the gift especially if it was the best Gift ever given...

Kind of silly isn't it?  To have the gift available but to never open it?

Well what if we have opened it?  What if we have taken hold and opened the Gift of Christ given...eternal life...our name forever written in the book of life.  Then what?

Isn't it when the Gift has been opened that we should be really experiencing the excitement and wonder?!

We can so easily get lost in the current in life.  Our mind can grow numb and eyes can lose sight of all the wondrous things around us....God here with us, God in us!  The opened Gift of life in Christ!

I look at Kolton's face and I smile.  May that be me today and everyday! 

May I SEE the gifts of  daily grace! 

May I be filled with wonder and excited anticipation with each mad tear of the day and year to come!

Give me your heart and eyes to see you all around me Lord!
Enable me to joyfully serve you daily in all things.
You have lavished me with this beautiful gift...may I never loose sight of that.  Thank you Jesus...

2011 Christmas Photo Contest!

Were right smack dab in the season with the BIG DAY drawing near...and as you wrap, prepare and organize I thought maybe we could have some fun!!

Personally I love photo's and with all the Christmas Dolls shipped out, I thought it would be fun to have a little Baby be Blessed photo contest!





Here are the categories:

~Children
~Nature
~Animals
~Around the World
~Inspirational

The only rule is that your picture must have a Baby be Blessed doll in it.

Be creative and have fun!!

We will vote for the winners right here on the blog the first week of January!
Each category winner will receive a Scripture Crown with matching Doll Dress and the OVERALL WINNER will receive a $56 Baby be Blessed Gift Certificate!

*Please email your photo's to babybeblessed@gmail.com by JAN. 1st, 2012

Can't WAIT to see them!

To: Mommy - From: Dade

Dear Mommy,

I'm writing you this letter today to tattle on Aunt Tina.  I was exhausted!  Playing, eating, crawling, zooming around in my walker and getting into the Christmas tree ten times over takes A LOT of energy! 

I told her I was tired with my monkey calls but she just didn't listen!

My eye lids were so heavy that I couldn't keep them open anymore.  My head felt wobbly and I could no longer sit up straight!  You would think that she, who loves me so, would feel compassion and put me to bed -but nope!  Instead she grabbed her camera and giggled as she took pictures of my head bopping around!

Can you believe that?!  *sigh*

I think I will get her back by pulling the garbage can over when she isn't looking.

Love you Mommy,
Dade

He makes all things new!

Last week today the rain poured down in buckets. Puddles, mud and mess was everywhere...inside and out! The clouds were gray, sun hidden for days and gloom seemed to lurk everywhere, especially in my heart.

It just started out as one of those days that you wish you could crawl back into bed. This household of six was running away from me. I was feeling the pressure of falling behind and quick approaching deadlines, a fussy baby who didn't feel well and two big dogs that have been couped up in the laundry room for days since their eviction from the mud room the week before.

{Which left one big puppy in deep trouble for digging a whole into the wall while we were away.}

Needless to say, the training cage was brought once again from the attic and sad puppy eyes cried out while I tried to fold laundry around them both. The muddy foot prints, dog hair and constantly being underfoot while I try to wade through the many days piles of laundry about put me over the edge! There was much more than my laundry was piling up...it seemed everything was piled high and about to topple over, so the dogs had to go out into the garage for a while.

An hour went by and I thought I better go check on those pups of ours as the bucket of drywall compound still sitting on the counter caught my eye from our current patch work still in progress. As I ran outside it started to pour. I opened the garage door and literally gasped! Two piles of poop and Natalie's bike down on the ground with the seat torn off into shreds. I didn't even know what to do. I just stood there with my hand over my mouth.

One dog cowered while the other jumped around with joy.

When I came somewhat to my senses , I grabbed the shovel and tried my best to clean up fresh piles of poop, smearing it all over and dropping half of it as I try to walk outside with a jumping dog next to me, the rain pours...

So after scooping, sweeping scrubbing and lots of scolding -I am done! Not just done cleaning up but mentally done. Kolton keeps yelling out the door to me that the baby is awake and screaming when the puppy runs up to him. He slams the door and the dog jumps mud all over the door and window.

My bottom lip quivers as I walk into the house. I grab the dog cage and as I am bringing it outside into the garage it caught the door frame and pulled the trim off. Yep...done.

My eyes well up full and the baby is crying upstairs and piles of laundry and stuff is everywhere and I bang my way out the back door and just stand in the rain.

It poured down steady along with my tears.

What else can you do in these moments but pray? As I cried out to the One who knew already my weakness and struggle I just stood there in that rain...like grace falling down.

Tyring, learning and choosing to praise Him for each very moment (especially through the hard) I cry out into and through the drops falling down!

I can handle this! If this is what the enemy wants to throw at me -THIS I can handle. All the sickness, death and horrible things in this fallen world...I can handle these things with a little smeared dog poop on top. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Thank you Lord for these small things. Thank you for the puppy who never stops and for the baby who is able to fuss and for all the things that still need done...for a house that is living full! THANK YOU!

The Lord washing me clean right there in the rain.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. " 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I can move forward joyfully because I know and trust in Him.

As I picked the kids up from school my heart feeling refreshed, it started to snow. Working with homework and after school chores I didn't even notice until Natalie shouted for me to look outside. The heavy rain turned to a heavy snow.

Everything white, beautiful and new!

I smiled. I think the Lord allowed it to snow just for me!

The kids started to giggle and laugh and dig out last years boots. The first snow of the year! Oh, the laughter!! It was a healing salve on a hurting wound. Snow balls, snowmen and fingers cold to the bone! Smiles and mittens and scarves!

All I could think of is that He makes all things new!

Isn't He the master of turning the biggest muddy messes into the most beautiful piles of beauty you ever saw!

We should expect it shouldn't we? Always keeping our eyes open and watching for it!

Oh Lord...how I praise you!