Little update..

Ok, I'm very bad at blogging...especially now that I have the iphone...I rarely get on the computer. I've had several blogs in my head over the last few weeks...but haven't had the time to get on and do them. I hope to, maybe even today. Here's a little update. The house is finally on the market. We had it ready the first week of February and we had a lady who wanted to buy it before we listed it. I will get into details later but we thought it was a God thing but it just didn't work out, and maybe that was a God thing too. We listed the house with a realtor February 15th and have had some action on it. Our realtor tells us 2 of them plan to make offers on the house but we don't have one in hand yet. Tommy's job ends March 30th so we're hoping everything falls into place at the same time so we can close on the house and move then too. I'm really at peace and just sitting back and trying to focus on God and know that His timing is perfect. So many times we want to do things ourselves and our way. I refuse to do that this time. My constant prayer is that this will be all God and not me.

The other night I was up feeding Tristan at about 1am. I was sitting in the rocker, staring out the window into the sky. The shades are normally closed but for some reason it was open. I was talking to God and just asked that he show me He was here and in all of this (like wanting him to talk to me but not really expecting him to). I then almost immediately saw the most amazing shooting star shoot across the sky. I knew it was meant just for me. I'm thankful. I will never forget it. (I told Tommy about this the next day and he told me it's rare to see a shooting star this time of year). I'm thankful God knows what I need and when I need it. I pray that I can follow Him wherever and however He leads, without doubt and without fear. Until next time....

Thanks God...

So God and I had a chat yesterday and I'll share it with you. I'm a firm believer in being real and honest and transparent. I also believe that God allows us to go through things so that we can use them to reach others when "only someone else who has been there" can understand. Some of you may know, most of you probably don't know, but since having Tristan I've had some struggles dealing with some postpartum depression type stuff. I won't share everything on here now but I'm up for talking about it if you need someone to talk to who's "been there"...know that you're not alone. Anyway, about my chat with God. I walked into church yesterday and as we began to worship, God spoke straight to my heart and I know it was Him. He told me "your husband is a gift to you, from Me and you need to cherish him and treat him that way." My first thought was "Yes, I've been grumpy lately and we have a lot going on, but God, he knows I love him." I was overwhelmed with love and admiration for Tommy as God reminded me of all that he blessed me with in a husband. I know this post could go on forever but I'll keep it short. In our conversation, God told me that I view my children as gifts from Him and I cherish them but I don't always view my husband like that. I take him for granted and I have so much to learn from him. I'm selfish at times and he always gives to me. I'm grumpy and unloving at times, but he continues to love me (not only with words but with actions) no matter what. Thank you God, for the reminder. And Thank you God for one of the greatest gifts of all. I'm so in love and grateful and will forever treasure Tommy as a gift from You, to me. Thanks God.

Big Boy News!!

Ok, so of course after having Tristan, Brodie has seemed like such a big boy. He amazes me every day with his big boy "conversations" and thoughts. He truly brings joy and laughter into every day for us. Brodie has recently taken 2 big steps as a big boy. January 2nd, he threw away his paci! Yes, he had a paci but only for naps and nighttime. Brodie threw his paci in the trash can in order to have his new "Cars" TV in his room. It's been gone ever since. Then...January 14th Brodie pooped on the potty! I know, kinda gross but if you're a parent you know what I mean. lol. Brodie has been peeing on the potty and been in big boy underwear since June but has refused to poop on the potty (he would ask for a diaper). I had found 2 presents in the garage that I had forgotten to give him for Christmas. I told Brodie that he could have them when he pooped on the potty. It worked. For 3 days in a row now he has pooped on the potty. We are so proud of him. I have to say, one thing about this boy is that he will not do something until he is ready (no matter how much pressure, bribery, etc)...but once he is ready he decides, does it and that's it. He has been this way with everything from peeing on the potty to the paci and now pooping on the potty. I think he gets this from his Daddy and I have to respect the fact the he never does things half way. When he makes the decision to do it, he sticks with it and never goes back. It seems like just yesterday he was our baby boy and it is such a blessing to watch him as he transitions to a big boy. Thank you God for allowing us to be a part of this and for the things you teach us through our kids!

Where did the time go?!?

Tristan's conversation with Daddy

So Tristan has begun cooing and making noises trying to mimic us talking to him. I'm sorry this video is so dark, but just keep listening. I love my little munchkin. He's changing and growing so fast, we're trying to cherish every moment. He melts my heart. ;)

-Love, Mommy

Thumb sucker?

I know, I have a lot of blogging to do to catch you up to date...but this is what I found this morning. :) Brodie was a paci baby, however Tristan, is not as attached. He will take it sometimes and then usually spit it out when he sleeps and is fine without it, but wants it here and there sometimes. He's only done this like twice, but we may have a thumb sucker on our hands! He's Momma's sweet boy...ok and Daddy's too :)

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Brodie is sooo excited about Christmas this year. It started when we began talking about some of the ornaments we bought for him last year, to go on the Christmas tree. We've started a tradition that we try to get ornaments for the Christmas tree for him, for whatever he is into that year (ex: spider man, super man, batman, handy manny, little einsteins). So, even before Thanksgiving Brodie began asking to put up the Christmas tree. We finally convinced Daddy to get it out of the loft in the garage, so we could do it. Well...little did I know that to Brodie, putting up the Christmas tree meant that it was "Christmas time!". Let me explain...after the tree was up and decorated...Brodie says "So is it Christmas time...can I open my presents now?" lol. So yes...he asks this just about every day now. He began "finding" his presents around the house so I quickly had to wrap them and put them under the tree...not to mention they were taking over my house. We also got out the little people nativity scene I bought last year and we've talked about the Christmas story with him. We talk with him about the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it. That is is Jesus' birthday and that this time of year is to celebrate Him. We have also decided to adopt a little 2 year old girl named "Dearia", to help her have a Christmas that she may not otherwise have. I'm excited to do this with Brodie, as we shop for her and teach Brodie that it is not about us, and that God blesses us so that we can help bless other people who need it more than we do. We may not can do much, but I'm excited that God may be able to use us in even a small way to minister to this family and little girl. We have been watching Christmas movies as a family, such as "Elf" and "The Grinch who Stole Christmas". Brodie has been excited to learn "Christmas songs", so far "Santa Claus is coming to town" is his favorite. Listen below...

Are we willing?

This morning I told Brodie that Mommy was going to have some "quiet time" and he says "I'm gona have some LOUD time". haha. Anyway, I did get to have some quiet time with my Lord and it spoke right to my soul.

Psalms 123 talked about looking to God for mercy as well as God's leading. God is committed to us. He's committed to care and provide for us. I pray that we will trust him completely in this area, as we make this move to Vegas.

Lately our life has seemed full of trials and hardships, but as I read this I am reminded that we must continue to persevere and finish the race as God has called us, as the prize awaits us. (2 Tim 4:7, Heb 12:1)

Here is an excerpt I read from "Streams in the Desert".

"They overcame him by the blood of the lamb...;they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Revelation 12:11

When James and John came to Christ with their mother, asking Him to give them the best place in His kingdom, He did not refuse their request. He told them that the place would be given to them if they could do His work, drink His cup, and be baptized with His baptism. (Mark 10:38)

Are we willing to compete for God's best, with the knowledge that the best things are always achieved by the most difficult paths? We must endure steep mountains, dense forests, and the Enemy's chariots of iron, since hardship is the price of the victor's coronation. Arches of triumph are made not of rose blossoms and strands of silk but of hard blows and bloody scars. The very hardships you are enduring in your life today have been given you by the Master, for the express purpose of enabling you to win your crown.

Therefore do not always look ahead to your tomorrows for some ideal situation, exotic difficulty, or faraway emergency in which to shine. Rise today to face the circumstances in which the providence of God has placed on you. Your crown of glory is hidden in the heart of these things--the hardships and trials pressing in on you this very hour, week, and month of your life. Yet the most difficult things are not those seen and known by the world but those deep within your soul, unseen, unknown by anyone except Jesus. It is in this secret place that you experience a little trial that you would never dare to mention to anyone else and that is more difficult for you to bear than martyrdom.

Beloved, your crown lies there. May God help you to overcome and to wear it.

It matters not how the battle goes,

The day how long;

Faint not! Fight on!

Tomorrow comes the song.

(Streams in the Desert-L.B.Cowman)