january 31, 2010

exhibit a: today i am thankful that it is almost time to meet our newest niece! lil miss is excited and can say new baby's name very well and is ready to teach cousin c how to be a great big sis. to get in the mood, lil miss tried on her cousin c's big sis shirt today fresh from the sewing machine.
exhibit b: i am up to my eyeballs in projects. totally my own fault for wanting to make so many things all at once, but regardless, my to do list in the crafting room is looooong!
exhibit c:

january 30, 2010

exhibit a: today i am thankful for our home. i am grateful we have a safe and comfortable covering for our heads when so many across the world dwell in conditions that are anything but.
exhibit b:

exhibit c:

exhibit a: today i am thankful that the girls seem to be weathering their colds very well and that the cold itself seems more mild than the last bout. both are full of smiles and giggles...

exhibit b: all in a day's work...
i walked in and saw three babies on three platters...i still haven't figured out what she was thinking!
exhibit c:

january 28, 2010

exhibit a: today of all days, lil miss asked, "where papa tunney go?" i asked her to repeat herself because her question was totally out of the blue and yet such a coincidence. he has been on my mind so much lately and i know on the minds of all my family members, but must be he has also been on the mind of his first great-grandchild. i started crying and turned away when she repeated herself and then answered her own question with, "papa tun tun go bye bye."
january 28th is papa tunney's birthday so today i am thankful for the 28 years i knew him...full of life, full of love for his God and his family and friends, and full of wit and humor, grandpa's is a life to celebrate, so it is hard not to continue doing so. i am grateful for the wonderful memories i have of such a remarkable man.
exhibit b:
exhibit c:
today lil miss was especially tender towards her sister. we looked down while strolling at the mall and saw that she had reached into sweet pea's car seat to grab hold of her hand and the two were contentedly sitting there hand in hand. my heart also gladdened to peek in on the girls while making dinner and to see lil miss "reading" the Bible to her "lidle whun". i also watched her take a blanket and cover sweet pea's little frame once she fell asleep. awwww...my heart melts. i know they won't always be so sweet to one another, so i want to bottle up these moments!

january 27, 2010

exhibit a: today i am thankful for sweet pea's angel's kiss birthmark. when she was first born, mountain man and i both worried about it--what it might mean for her as far as if she'd be made fun of and all that...
before she was arrived i was praying for her heart...over and over i'd pray that the Lord would give her an exceptionally giving and others-centered heart, a beautiful heart for Him. it took a few days for it all to come together for me, but in the hospital, i remembered my prayer for her heart and as i looked into her precious face and saw her heart-shaped birthmark, this verse popped into my mind:

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) ~ The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

i look at her mark now and wonder at how the Lord will use with this little one. i continue to pray that He would give her a beautiful heart.

exhibit b:
exhibit c:

january 26, 2010

exhibit a: today i am thankful for a little girl who loves a good story!
exhibit b:
exhibit c:

january 25, 2010

exhibit a: today i am choosing to be thankful that both girls are sick...again. now that both of them have come down with colds (lil miss with croup) i am grateful that i no longer have to segregate them and force lil miss to steer clear of the sister that she so wants to be around all the time. now moments like these can continue as usual...
sweet pea looks as if she'd like to say..."lil miss, that is one crazy outift you have on!"
(daddy made her the pebbles dress after a trip to tj's this afternoon)
exhibit b:
exhibit c:

january 24, 2010

exhibit a: today i am thankful for the church. it has been far too long since we have been able to attend a service at our home church, but today we got the chance to go without the girls, which was so very nice--no distractions! maybe it was that i haven't been among the body of believers in so long or maybe it truly was a remarkable service, regardless...i felt the Lord's presence so clearly and was so encouraged by our pastor's words and the praise songs we lifted up to our Maker. i am thankful that our church is not afraid to speak the truth...even when it is controversial, as it was today, on sanctity of life sunday. i am grateful that the Lord infuses his people with gifts and that we are priviledged enough to sit under the teaching of a wonderful pastor.
exhibit b:
exhibit c:
lil miss wanted to participate in mountain man's P90X workout...from her highchair. no that is commitment!

january 23, 2010

exhibit a: today i am grateful that lil miss loves to pray and that she knows who made her: "God did!" although sometimes it comes out as "Did God!" Lord, capture her heart and keep it close to yours.
exhibit b:
exhibit c:

january 22, 2010

exhibit a: today i am thankful for my savior...i figured i had better make sure that that was clear from the start. it goes without saying that my thankfulness for my God and His Son and what His death on the cross and resurrection mean for me and us will always trump whatever it is i highlight here each day. what triggered me to dwell on the awesome gift of Jesus today? mountain man gave me time this beautiful, sunny, clear afternoon to run while the girls slept. running without them afforded me the opportunity to run with my new ipod (also, thanks to mountain man)...it has been a while since i have run with music and i had forgotten how wonderful it is to stretch out my legs with brilliant praise music soaring through my ears while admiring the scenery i pass and marveling at how good our great God is. the first hymn on my playlist got me going...so in lieu of a picture, its words are here:

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

and so i am thankful, too, that God has infused so many gifted artists throughout the centuries with the ability to pen and compose music and lyrics that over and over again bring me to my knees.

exhibit b:
exhibit c:

january 21, 2010

exhibit a: today i am thankful that God equipped mothers to provide for their babies nutritionally. i wanted so badly to make nursing work for us when i was pregnant with lil miss. i was nervous it might not and was so relieved when everything went smoothly for us right from the start. and i am grateful that the same has held true for sweet pea and that our freezer is already stowing reserves!
exhibit b:
the fun never ends when grandma and grandpa are around!
exhibit c:

january 20, 2010

exhibit a: today i am thankful that God built newborn babies with the need to sleep a lot and the ability to sleep in virtually any situation. i am taking advantage of this feature of sweet pea's stage while i can...i know from experience with lil miss that in no time at all she will not so easily lull to sleep. right now though the little one dozes well if it is quiet and equally well if it is really noisy! today for instance, lil miss and her boy cousins were running all over the house and sweet pea didn't seem to notice one bit, sleeping soundly in the midst of the ruckus.
exhibit b:
exhibit c:

january 19, 2010

exhibit a: today i am thankful that God has totally restored sweet pea's health--no more coughs and little to no congestion! for a few days there i could not see a light at the end of the tunnel or an end to her symptoms and i am so glad to have her back to normal. here's praying we are spared from all other winter bugs this year! and being thankful that sweet pea weathered a cold quite well for a newborn makes me thankful that that is all it was-- a cold. there are many heartbroken parents who have heard horrible diagnoses for their children and many who have had to say goodbye to their children or had to watch them suffer so very much. it was hard for me to watch tiny sweet pea work through her cold...i can't imagine...can in no way imagine what it would be like to watch my child endure the ravages of a cruel disease or watch them go through countless surgeries or anything like that. thank you, Lord, for the two healthy girls you have entrusted to us for a time...we are beyond blessed.
exhibit b: i am planning on trying to sell my clips and hair accessories at some sales this spring and my friend made some adorable cards and stickers for the shop and delivered them today! i love them and now i have no excuse not to start making lots and lots!
exhibit c:

january 18, 2010

exhibit a: today i am thankful for mobility--mountain man and i have always said that our biggest fear would be to lose the function of our limbs. so today i praise the Lord that i can move and walk and run and get around with ease. i never want to take that for granted. spending three months on crutches a few years ago taught me a lot and i will never look at running, one of my favorite pastimes, the same way!

i love my brooks adrenaline shoes, so i am grateful for those, too!

exhibit b:exhibit c: