our story :: part I

I have wanted to write out our dating & marriage story for our kids for a long time.  Our 3 girls do what I remember doing as a little girl.  They adore love stories.  They already love to watch weddings and pretend they have a family.  It is often on my mind that I want them to collect as many godly, love stories as they can while growing up.  Stories of couples who depended on God to bring them a spouse in His perfect timing.

Adam and I have had an idea to make a little photo book that told our story of how we got married.  I'd love for it to be something we read and reread together over the years.  They can know everything they want to know about us.  My plan is to write out the journaling in little snipits here.  Hopefully, I can get this project done soon and share it when its complete. ;)

My little beginnings
My story started with a family and a church.  I grew up in a very loving home.  My parents had 2 daughters.  I was the oldest child and 4 1/2 years later my younger sister, Rachel, was born.  (I had to include my "Ms." picture...my mom loved that onesie).

When I was 8 years old, my parents started attending a new church.  This was when we began going to church as a family.  A year later, I put my faith in Christ after my 3rd grade Sunday school teacher taught me the gospel.  It was very clear to me that I needed a Savior and I made a decision to trust Him with my life & my future.  That day was the most significant day in my life, but that was just the first step for me in understanding how God would lead my life.

More for another day...

practical theology for women

For me, during this season of life, I make a big deal about finishing a book.  It is no small thing for me and I love to read.  I just rarely finish books, because I'm always reading 5 books at one time.  I'm kind of a spaz like that.

I finished Practical Theology for Women late last night.   I committed to reading it with 2 friends from church.  We met for lunch today to discuss some of what we learned from it.

Wendy Alsup broke her book into 3 parts.  The first section has several chapters on faith.  The second part was discussing the character of God, and the last section dealt with communicating with God (studying His Word, the Spirit's role and prayer).  In her chapter titled, "What is Faith," I love what she writes to us as believers for when we face a loss or a struggle.

Wendy writes: "He doesn't ask the same things of any two people, and the struggles he allows into your life will be intensely personal.  But when they come, ask yourself, "What is it I believe about God?"  Do you believe that he is good?  Do you believe his promise to work hard things for good in your life?  Do your trust that he's acting consistently with his claims of love for you?  Simply put, do you believe him?  And in that dark moment, are you going to let your belief in his goodness or your despair over your struggle lead you?  Truly, those who lose their lives in the arms of God's grace are the ones who finally see what true living really is."

I love those questions that she poses there.  I had a favorite moment in each of the 3 sections of this book.  I spent several days thinking about what she wrote about Christ in Philippians 2.  Her exhortation about the Holy Spirit near the end of the book was another highlight for me.

This book was a wonderful read and gave my friends and I much to discuss.  I love theological discussions and books that have a deeper level of theology.  Like I mentioned, I have only so much time to read and it is precious to me.  I try not to waste that time, so I choose what I read carefully.  I would have shied away from this if it was self-help or shallow.  On the contrary, it dealt with core truths in our Christian faith and in a very sincere, encouraging way for women.  That is what I was hoping it would do.

When it comes to reading something that really challenges me, I have a few things I read every few years because they always impact my life so much.  I love reading a sermon by C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory.  I also love A.W. Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy.  Practical Theology for Women reminded me of what I love in these two writings.  I love reading these things because they make me so hungry to read more of God's Word and remind me of all that He has done for me.

flying solo

Adam came home sick from work yesterday.  I felt for him because he had a fever and looked miserable.  Then about 4pm today (a day and a half later), I started feeling empathetic for myself.  Flying solo is hard work. :)  I had to pull out all my tricks.  Pizza and the sprinkler park.  And then some long, silent prayers that they would go to bed soon after.

Something about this one (below) that I just love.

I was playing around with our wide angle lens (24mm).  It is so much fun with kids.  And a little tricky at a splash park considering you have to get in close.  I think the moms where looking at me with my camera and thinking I was too crazy.  I say, "What else is a camera for?!"  They're waterproof, right?

bye, bye tonsils

It's never a fun day when your child has surgery.  I couldn't sleep very well last night.  I had my mind on how things would go today, but I was also kept up by her snoring. :)  She had to have her tonsils and adenoids out today because of sleep problems.

OUR COMFORT ITEM + DAD'S PHONE A LITTLE COMFORTING TOO

JUST BEFORE SURGERY SHE WANTED TO TALK TO HER SISTERS...Ahhh, so sweet!

SHE WATCHED BUGS BUNNY AS THEY WHEELED HER IN + POST OP MOMMY CUDDLES

COLORING IN RECOVERY WITH GRANDMA G.K.

The rest of our day today has been filled with pain meds, oatmeal, pudding, ice pops, baby food, jello, sherbet and juice.  It's 9:40 and I'm ready for bed. :)

we went to tea

Today we went to a tea party with 6 other moms & their daughters. A sweet lady at our church organized this. We are reading this book with our girls, Just Mom and Me Having Tea. The book has 6 chapters with a tea party to go along with each chapter. We've decided to do one tea party a month, so one chapter a month. I committed to doing this with my oldest daughter. Our first time doing the book (this morning...yet another area procrastinated) ended up being a really encouraging time for us both.  The book gives you several opportunities to exhort each other and build each other up.  I love that.  Each of the moms is going to host a party.  I chose the Moonlit Night Tea Party, which is basically a s'mores night in the backyard...fun!

sisters

Here is a glimpse of sisterhood and mischievous children...all in one post. I took these picture for a photography class (working on an assignment) and these were the outtakes.

ONE SWEET GIRL...THEN SISTER COMES ALONG

COULD Y'ALL BE ANY CLOSER?

THEY MAY ACTUALLY LIKE EACH OTHER?!

CUTIES!

OH MY GOODNESS! THERE IS HOPE THAT Y'ALL MIGHT ACTUALLY TAKE PICTURES TOGETHER.

OH, WAIT. "EWWW!" "YOUR BREATH SMELLS TERRIBLE!"

GETTING HER SISTER WITH WHAT WE CALL HER "DRAGON-BREATH"

These are the elegant young ladies I'm busy raising. :)

sisters II

SHE LOOKS SWEET...BUT LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING

NOW SHE'S GIVING SIS' THE EVIL-EYE

YEP. SHE DID. THAT'S FOR HER SISTER.

WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO AS PARENTS!

NO JOKE...ONE SECOND LATER...SWEET FACE.

So, that's the truth behind photography. Adam and I have our hands so full with these 3!