Wednesday, December 30, 2009

STEVE....




I know it's your birthday that is coming up soon, but

PLEASE OH PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BUY ME THIS.......

IT WILL MAKE MY WHOLE PREGNANCY SICKNESS SOOO MUCH BETTER, I PROMISE :)


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37579938&ref=sr_gallery_10&&ga_search_query=&ga_search_type=&ga_page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

Friday, December 25, 2009

It's Over

It's 9:22 and it's over. The little two munckins have been in bed since 8, and I am ready to climb in myself. It was a great day, of great fun, and priceless memories that I will treasure in my mind forever, and will upload photos once I don't feel like falling asleep.

May the Grace and Love of our Beautiful Father Bless You Beyong Imagination This New Year



p.s. On sunday I will be 6 weeks along in the pregnancy and I'm pretty sure I will be wearing maternity close before the new year....... that is a little depressing to me, I know it shouldn't be because that simple fact means i'm blessed to be carrying a baby, BUT STILL, at SIX WEEKS REALLY??????????????????


p.p.s. Oliva is now awake and crying, so no bed for me yet :(

It'

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I think I have forgotten how to have fun :(




I know this may sound sily, as it does to me while I write these words, but sometimes I think I have forgotten how to have fun. Of course "Fun" to me is a whole different term then what it used to be, and that in and of itself is not a bad thing. But when I look back on my life with my girlfriends we used to have so much fun together, laughing doing silly things, just being girls.....

Please don't get me wrong, I LOVE MY GIRLFRIENDS sooo much. God have truly blessed me with an amazing group of women who love me and love God, and for that I am forever grateful.

But there is so much "serious" talk that comes with being a grown up/mommy, how to do this, my kid does this, how do you discipline in this situation, how to do this etter, what we need to work on ... etc.... these are important conversations to have, and I do believe that these are the converstation that God loves to hear us have. Because we are growing and learning and loving life together. But still I miss the fun.

I have so much fun with my kids, but again this is a different kind of fun, laughter with them is amazing, they tickle my soul in places that no adult can reach, and make me realize everyday that there is so much more to life, yet it is still the "fun" of a child, so maybe that is why when I get around adults I head straight for the "grown up conversations" instead of "grown up fun" (does any of this make sense..... it does in my head but as I type I think it might be coming out all funny)

Allie and I threw a WONDERFUL Party this past friday (if I do say so myself) and it was sooo much fun! I enjoyed every little moment of it, and it made me realize that I don't have fun like this so much anymore--- "grown up" fun to me now consists of going to bed before 10:30 :(
I need fun like this..... we all need fun like this.... before we lose it and become just another adult ;)


I want to make clear that I DO love my time with my girlfriends more then anything,and I know that life isn't all about having fun (believe me I preach it to david all the time) BUT don't you think we need some more fun girl time instead of just fun mommy time??? I do because I don't want to grow up to fast, I want to enjoy being a girlfriend and a fun 30 year old girl, and not just enjoy a mommy for a moment

Monday, December 21, 2009

Best Birthday Princess Ever!!







So my Baby O had a PERFECT 1st Birthday Party
and a lot of it is thanks to the most perfect Auntie Allie in the world.

We Love You So Much!!!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

I have a lot of updating to do





but I am sick right now, and watching The Family Man and LOVING IT, just like I do every Christmas Season.......

Truly one of my favorite movies of all time

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Olivia Faith Clark- Happy One


It all started in South Carolina, well I guess not exactly in S.C. ;)
but from the moment I thought that there was "something" going, I remember it Perfectly.
I was in Savannah for a work conference, and I knew that "it" was supposed to be happening soon, but when it didn't, I didn't worry, until I woke up early one morning feeling a little sick, and I just KNEW it was more then that.... I immediately called Steve to tell him my theory... to which he said.... "you don't call me early in the morning and tell me THAT" I laughed and thought of him laying in bed, his mind racing in all directions... within 5 minutes of my first call he called me back with much more panic in his voice then before..."was I sure?" of course I wasn't sure, I was at a hotel for a work conference, do you think I'm going to ask my boss to run me to the closest drugstore so I can pick up a pregnancy test??? So Steve continued to call me every so often throughout the day to check on my status and see if I had started.... after about this 8th time calling, I think that is when the reality set in....... Another One???? This was the same week that Cohen broke his leg while sliding down our slide with David.... so needless to say the Chaos that was happening at home, was not being lightened by my suspision of another baby arriving in 9 months... Needless to say I was right and the thrill began to find both of us, especially when we found out it was a girl.....A Daughter!

Fast Forward to what seems like a blink of the eye, and Now our Baby is ONE.... My heart beats a little quicker when I say that.... She is the most Amazing Joy to My Heart.

I want you to understand my heart, I want you to understand the way she makes me feel, I want you to understand the way she makes me want to be better for Her, but simple words are not enough... I have a million dreams in store for her, and "wisdom" that I hope to one day say to her. I wish everyone could see her smile, and hear her laugh... I pray I never ever forget the sound of that laugh......

My prayer for her is that she may know that she is BEAUTIFUL in God's eyes, and that she takes that beauty inside of her and blesses everyone around her. That she is strong in wisdom and meekness, and that she never lives a day without laughter.

She has made my life that much more complete and from that moment I knew of her I have been madly in love with her

Miss Olivia Faith - you hold my heart in your tiny little hands

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Heaven's Song

So I would love to post all the lyrics from Phil Whickham's new cd Heaven & Earth, because each one is so wonderful.... But for tonight I will just post this one... Enjoy


You wrote a letter and You signed your name
I read every word of it page by page
You said that You'd be coming, coming for me soon
Oh my God I'll be ready for You

I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song

I hear Your voice and I catch my breath
'Well done my child, enter in and rest'
Tears of joy roll down my cheek
It's beautiful beyond my wildest dreams

I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing...

I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can't wait to join the angels and sing
No, I cant wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Mr. Stroup

Awesome interview of my 8th grade Bible Teacher...... Simply Wonderful and so blessed to get my personal birthday letters each year!!!

Click below to read the story and watch the video-- He is truly a gift from God!!!


http://www.wthr.com/global/Story.asp?s=11443986

A MUST WATCH VIDEO!!!!!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Choices

I have choices, every second of the day, to serve my Lord.

To honor Him with my speech and with my thoughts, with the way I love those around me and the way I worship Him.

Every moment, there is another opportunity, and I want to use as many of them as He will allow.

In fact, Scripture tells me that one day I will stand before Him, and I will hand the King of all Kings a tattered scrapbook of my days.

It is up to me to decide what the pages will reveal.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Cohen is Three!!!

So my Baby Boy turned three and of course I wanted to write him a beautiful letter just like all the other blogger mommies write to their children. I read their letters to their children, and I totally get it. I know exactly where they are coming from, they are reading my mind, and hearing my heart!!! So now it is my turn, it is my boys birthday, and it is time to share my heart........ but I'm blank, my mind empties with words and fills up with photos stored in my memory. I feel like a bad mom because I can't write into words how my heart and life has changed since the birth of my son, which is silly I know, but I still feel it. But I now realize that it doesn't matter that I can't put into words how my life has changed, how my heart has grown, and how I as a person will never be the same since that life changing day!!!

And though I might not be able to post a blog.... so that maybe one day down the road my son will read and know......I know..... and once he becomes a parent... He will know.... and truly that is all that matters.....


So here is my heart, wrapped up with blonde hair, hazel eyes, with a smile and personality that make everything worth it :)
I love you my baby boy...... Happy Three!!!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Happy Birthday to ME!!!


My Super Uber Wonderful Husband Surprised me with a Not Even Yet Released Brand New PHIL WICKHAM cd--- and if you don't know yet... I love me some Phil Worship music... and for all of you out their that loves them some Phil too..... I will tell you it's AMAZING.. but what else would you expect from Phil.... And Steve as well :)

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Top Three Reasons I Love Fall

Hooded Sweatshirts

Super Cute Jeans with Warm Pink Merrells
But Most of All
BABIES IN HATS

........ Even if the babies can't stand them, they are my fav!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

It's a Dangerous Addiction!!

I try to be a "healthy mom" I am by no means obssesed like some moms (and for those moms out there who are.... More Power To YOU!!) And by healthy I mean I put ..... Baby Food Carrots in Cohen's Spagettios...... I put some white powdery stuff in his Milk which is going to help build up his immune system...... I mix water in his apple juice so there is not as much sugar...... I put flax seed in his pancakes..... and try to give hims grapes and strawberries as much as possible....... Not exactly going to win Healthiest Mother Of The Year....... But sadly I learned after a very long, and LOUD screaming session in the car on the wa y to church this morning, that we go to DUNKIN DONUTS WAY TOO MUCH...... I LOVE their coffee.... it's soooo GOOD, and I'm sorry but it is way better then Starbucks.... (don't hate) and it is WAY CHEAPER!!!

This 100% innocent addiction started because they had a special on their large coffee for .99 cents, and since I couldn't pass up that deal.... I started going.... and my first time there I thought I would treat Cohen to a donut.... He picked a "pink donut" otherwise known as Strawberry Frosted. It was a great day, I learned about the DD coffee and Cohen learned what a Pink Donut was........ that was when the addiction started to creep in....


( It also doesn't help that DD is right by Once Upon a Child, and everytime we go..... Guess who Rememers this new love..the boy NEVER forgets anything)

But now it has become a 2-3x a week outing :)

When I was little my parents would take Adam and I to Rosslyn Bakery before church on Sundays... It was such a fun tradition! And we would look forward to it each and every week. So I thought I would pass the tradition along....... plus I could get coffee for myself.... so I started this tradition, which sadly has turned into a umm.... every other day obssession, and not so much a Sunday Special Treat!!! But this sunday was a little different. We were running late, and not our normal "late" we were really late. So we had to skip DD and head straight to church, and that's when it happened. The Meltdown quickly occured once my precious angel of a boy realized that we had driven past DD and he was minus a Pink Donut--- That's when the wailing, snot flying, tears streaming, legs kicking tantrum begun.... needless to say it was a Long and Loud drive to church..... and that's when I realized He Is Addicted

So now I am putting my foot down..... and am going to work on being a HEALTHY MOM-- and limiting myself and my son to Sunday Special Dunkin Donuts.... stay tuned to see what really happens

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Maybe, Just Maybe

I've had this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach for awhile.... that feeling is the feeling that I should start blogging again... I know it sounds silly, but it's seriously been bothering me because I know I stopped for all the wrong reasons.


I stopped blogging because I was comparing my "blogging style" to all the GREATS! (see below for an incredible list)

I always thought that mine wasn't good enough ... and maybe that is true... but it doesn't really matter, these are my thoughts, my moments in life, and why do I care who does or doesn't read it, because I am doing this for me right!


It's my journal, out in the open, and that's all it needs to be..... not a comparison of what kind of mother I am.... or how much I can beautifully describe my love for my husband, or how my tragic story has changed my life... or how I can create 50 meals with 5 ingredients or less and have my family begging for seconds....... Don't get me wrong here ... because these are ALL the things that I LOVE from the GREATS!


Their blogs do inspire me in so many ways and God has blessed these women with these Amazing gifts. But maybe my gift is something different..... Maybe it's to write a pretty plain blog, that God can use somehow, someway speak to someone....... Or....Maybe it will only be me that it speaks to.... and I think that is pretty okay.

Without this blog world, I would have never been so engrossed into the lives of the GREATS! Like.....KATIE MAYES, Audrey Caroline, MckMama, Nie Nie......just to name a few of my FAVORITES!!! (So please please do yourself a favor and get involved with these Awesome Women!)

They will never know that they have spoken VOLUMES to my life... and maybe, just maybe I can do the same to someone.....

I have like 40 bazillion diaries/journals that I started throughout my life and NEVER finished... I would always find a new pretty journal and think.... Ohhh this one is sooo pretty I will want to write in it Forever... and then months later I would look back at the 5 entries.
Soooo maybe I should keep this one going and NOT give up, NOT compare..... and although I will probably never be one of the GREATS, maybe to one person I will be


On a side note... I have the worlds most precious baby girl, who LOVES to take a bath, and I just had to share... Because it makes me SMILE ... how bout you??

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Just Had To Post It!!!

Three in the morning
And I'm still awake
So I picked up a pen and a page
And I started writing
Just what I'd say if we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me, I'd tell you these simple truths,
Be strong in the Lord and
Never give up hope
You're going to do great things, I already know
Gods got his hand on you so don't live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don't forget why your here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say
Last time we spoke
You said you were hurting
And I felt your pain in my heart
I want to tell you that I keep on praying
Love will find you where you are, I know cause I've already been there
So please hear these simple truths
From one simple life to another
I will say, come find peace in the father
Be strong in the lord and
Never give up hope
You're going to do great things, I already know
Gods got his hand on you so
Don't live life in fear
Forgive and forget, but don't forget why your here
Take your time and pray
Thank God for each day
His love will find a way
These are the words I would say

--The Words I Would Say-- Sidewalk Prophets

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Attn:

PLEASE PLEASE DONT FORGET TO VISIT ME AT


Thank You!

Monday, June 29, 2009

A Sad Sad Thought

Sooo this might be one of the last posts that I do.... I have been such a slacker in the blogger world :( I am barely online anymore and when I am I am working on real estate and that blog.
Or I am on facebook ( I know sad but true) I have Loved doing my blog, and looking back through all my posts is so much fun to see how things have changed for our not so little family. It's not official yet, but a change may be coming....... but until then check out what I have been doing HERE

Saturday, May 9, 2009

A New Addition To The Family

So most of you at least know of the "small love" of Basketball that Cohen has but what you might not know is the umm.... large access we have to "Hoop Ball" as Cohen affectionately named it. So I thought I would post some pictures just to give you an idea!!

this is the hoop that started the whole thing.... Thanks Mom:)



this one above it the latest addition-- isn't she a beauty-- David thought we "needed" it because we didn't have a double hoop..... so of course this was perfect... does anyone think we have a few to many hoops?!?


The sad thing is this is just our hoops, I didn't feel like spending an hour taking pictures of our Soccer goal, baseball bats, ping pong table, kiddie pool table, our golf ball set(s), bowling, hockey, Basically this poor angel doesn't stand a chance!!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

YES!!!

We are still alive and kicking.... just a little slow with the blogging world :) But I promise to try and do better--


Enjoy this beautiful photo of my precious Nephew!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Resurrection Sunday with a little egg finding as well :)

Our Resurrection Sunday was WONDERFUL!!! We had our family over this time, and it was so nice to start our own family traditions!!
I am to tired to type a lot right now..... so here are some photos instead-






Wednesday, April 1, 2009

My New Book

Soo I have been wanting to purchase this book for awhile, and have kept putting it off. So finally last week I decided to go ahead and suck it up and pay the $6 on Amazon and buy "Parenting the way God Parents" and I just got it in the mail and I am soooo excited and already learning soo much so I had to share some quotes that I just loved and for any parent that is wanting a good parenting book to read I am totally recommending it -- and I am only on page 46

So Here Ya Go

Family discussions about such topics as devotion, charity, heritage, and excellence must find their way back into our living rooms. As Kingdom parents, we have to go deeper places of discussion with our children than simply their outward behavior. Jesus warns against working to make people took good on the outside while neglecting the more important heart issues like patience and faith in the face of uncertainty


Of course, no one wants to pass generational sin on to his children. But simply not wanting to is not enough. We have to take a more active role. Just as God our Father is a shield and protector to us (Psalm28:7) we must shield out children, praying against specific generational sin and looking honestly at ourselves for signs of influence.


He want us to leave the things that are familiar - the way things have always been- and to go out in faith, building a family of His design. It's easy to build a family of our own design, but God invites us to throw off what we think we know and open ourselves up to HIS vision for our families. Just as God challenged Abram to trust in His plan, He calls us to trust Him wholeheartedly with our families.


Our best hopes and dream for our children pale in comparison to those God has for them.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

She now wears a size 2

I am so sad :( She is getting to be a big girl

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Who knew my house was cleaned by a leprechaun?

So I am learning that I am not as good with Holidays as I thought I was. My neighbor blows me away with the creativeness with EVERY Holiday. Today was not a disappointment!!

So her 2 little boys and 1 little neighbor girl, came off the bus to green water in all the toilets, a compass in the mailbox to help them with their treasure hunt, green bags to put their goodies, and then a serious treasure hunt inside and outside. Oh... and their was green silly string all over their deck..... The leprechauns had taken pillows and stacked them up on the couch, put bottles of water and coke cans all of the kitchen in a crazy manner, and put things in odd places. The kids LOVED it and knew that the leprechaun must have hit our house as well (Ummm.... oh no, hear comes the thing that I may not be as "with it" when it comes to Holidays)

So we went on a walk back to my house to see what the leprechaun had done at my house, and I was nervous that they were going to be sadly disappointed, and tried to create my story as to why nothing at my house was out of the ordinary


The little kids walked in to my not so messy, not so clean house, and they KNEW that he had been their as well because so many things were "out of place"

They kept looking around my house and gasping when they would find things that HAD to have been done by this leprechaun...... My Bananas were out of place on the table? My 2 pillows were on one side of the couch instead one on each side! A light was left on in the bathroom, there was a guitar in cohen's room .... a definite sign of a leprechaun they LOVE guitars!!


But the funniest thing was when the kids went upstairs to make sure we didn't miss anything that this "little leprechaun" might have done in our house, so I decided to make Olivia a quick bottle before we left.

I put her in her swing and started making the bottle when the kids came down and totally started freaking out and in loud shreakish voices they pointed to Olivia and said "OHHHH MYYY GOOOSHHHH.... HOW DID SHE GET IN THE SWING.... SHE WASN'T THEIR WHEN WE WENT UPSTAIRS....... OHHH MYYY GOSHHHH THE LEPRECHAUN DID IT"


:) I want to be a kid again!!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Can it be true??


Is she really 3 months old today? These past three month have FLOWN BY.
I love that she is getting a personality, she smiles when she sees me and her daddy, she coos at her brothers and has just brought so much love to our family!! Happy 3 Month Birthday Baby Girl
WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!


and p.s. how cute are these new shoes of hers!!

Monday, March 9, 2009

A Child's Angel

I LOVE being a mommy!! It is truly a gift that I am everyday blown away with. I learn so much about myself, and I Always seem to get glimpses of God's love for me through my children.
But...... it can be difficult and I struggle sometimes with being a mommy and my responsibilities vs. Steve and his fatherly responsibilities. And MAN OH MAN.... it is so hard not to be jealous and compare. Steve passed me his cold this week ( right after I was getting over the stomach flu from last week... it seems to never end in our house) When he was sick he was able to lay in bed and sleep for as long as he wanted, well now that I am sick guess what.... I am still doing all of my duties and it is hard not to hold that against him. I really try not to I promise, but the desire of my heart and the thoughts in my head are controlled by two different people :)
So that was my heart this week.... not where God would have it to be, and thankfully HE is still working on me and hasn't given up yet!!
But even with all these "Not Fair" emotions building up inside of me I am reminded of a poem that my grandma bryan sent me on mother's day. It is one of my favorites and I have it in my closet where I look at t all the time. So I thought I would share :)

Enjoy

A Child's Angel

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born.
So one day she asked God: They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?
Among the many angels, I chose one for you.
She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.
But tell me, here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile, that's enough for me to be happy.
Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day.
And you will feel your angel's love and be happy.
And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don't know the language that men talk?
Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.
And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?
Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.
I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?
Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.
But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.
Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly: Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name.
Your angel's name is of no importance, you will call your angel: Mommy
~Author Unknown~

To all of the Mommies out there that sometimes feel like I did.... your right it's Not Fair....
WE HAVE IT SOOO MUCH BETTER DON'T WE :)

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Happy 2nd Anniversary!!


I want to give a HUGE Happy Anniversary to my beautiful brother and sister-in-law!! I can't believe it has been two years. The time has flown by, and yet I feel like we were just in AZ :)
It has been so fun watching them grow in their marriage and enjoy the beauty of marriage that God gives to us!!
I also want to say that I am more than THRILLED that they will be making me an Aunt very very soon :) To say I am excited to meet this little guy is an understatement!! I can't wait to do fun things with my nephew like, take him out for ice cream, buy him Christmas and Birthday presents, push him on the swing in the park, make him laugh, and watch good ole kiddie movies with him while eating popcorn while his mom and dad are on a date night :)

You two are such beautiful people inside and out and I know that you will be AMAZING parents to this precious gift from God, and I am thrilled beyond belief to be apart of this stage in your life


Ad by the way this little princess is so excited to see her cousin and show him what life is like on the "outside"
XOXOXOX

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Okay... so I feel like I should post something, I mean I don't really feel like I have posted in awhile and I am soo sure I am letting so many people down(?) Anyways you would think I would have something excited to talk about tonight-- But I don't I am sleepy and it is only 10:30... ahhh gone are the days when I would be going out at 10:30. and now All I Can Think About is going to bed.... And I couldn't be happier :)
And by the way if you were here right now with me in my house, you would get to see the most precious little ones asleep in their beds... why is it that little ones have such amazing peace when they sleep? I don't think I have this look to me when I sleep... and I KNOW Steve does not, but I think that has more to do with the distraction of the SNORING then anything else.
But ohh... if you were here you would be able to sneak a peek and enjoy smelling Olivia's sweet baby smell, and Cohen's little boy sweat (it is precious I promise) and David, Oh shoot I forgot I am supposed to run up and tell him good night, and I am down here blogging, well before I go upstairs to tuck him in, I have to tell you it is still so cute that David is 10 and he stills asks me to come up every night to "Huggy Kissey" him.
Awww... Still a little boy on the inside

GoodNight

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Dear Angela

Wanna Come Play!!!



We will make you feel right at home :)