"Yet I Will..."

"Though the fig tree should not blossom & there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail & the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold & there be no cattle in the stalls, YET I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.  The Lord God is my strength...& [He] makes me walk on my high places."

Habakkuk 3:17-19

I am blessed.  Beyond words, beyond description.  I am who I am because of the love & mercy of my God & it is He who bestows His favor on me.  I am thankful for my God, my family, my dear friends & all my material blessings that I so often take for granted.

Happy Thanksgiving!  

I pray your day will be filled with giving of thanks to the One who lavishes His love on us!

Rachel

Favorite Thing Friday

Aubrielle made this at school yesterday. She is especially thankful for her sister Lily.  I may have shed a tear while standing in the school hallway while collecting her things.  I am a middle child planted between two brothers.  When I found out Lily was a girl there was a part of myself that panicked. I have never done girl drama well & I wanted my girls to be best friends.  But I knew that that was out of my control.

I spent the remainder of Lily's pregnancy praying that God, like only He can do, knit my girls' hearts together.  I truly believe He has answered that prayer!  Yes, we still deal with fights, squabbles over toys & "drama".  But they are best best friends & for that I am so thankful! 

I now pray that God will continue to keep them close & keep their sisterly relationship strong.

Rachel

Makin' A List...

And checkin' it twice!  I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is just a week away!  I love this time of year!

Happy Wednesday!

Rachel

{Thankful} Thursday

Hope
A feeling of expectation & a desire for a certain thing to happen.

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself & God our Father, who has loved us & given us eternal comfort & good hope by grace comfort & strengthen your hearts in every good work & word."  II Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am so thankful for my hope in my Lord.  My hope in eternal life comes through the Gospel.  I can have hope that my struggle with sin will one day be perfected in the new Earth of eternal life.  I can have hope that God can manifest His characteristics through me.  I have hope that God can save & change the lives of many who choose to follow Him with their whole life.  And I can place my hopes & dreams that are deep in my heart in the lap of the Lord because He is love.

Rachel

Priceless

A willing participant  +

Some kitchen utensils  +

Buzz Lightyear gloves  =

Sweet memories with their Daddy!

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him."

Psalm 103:13

Please ignore my messy house & my kids clothing (or lack there of)...it is called real life!  :)

Rachel

Retro is "In"

Today is my 32nd birthday.  Lily thinks we are both 2 & Aubrielle told me I'm almost 25. 

When I was in 6th grade (20 years ago...gosh that sounds old) my Grandma Raye bought me a clock radio for Christmas.  I remember it because it was one of the first years I actually got to pick out my present.  I also remember it because I specifically wanted one with green numbers (unlike the old school red numbers).

My beloved clock woke me up everyday of junior high, high school & college. It has traveled across states & helped me clock my babies feeding schedule.  It is a part of me.

Bferg asked me yesterday if I wanted a new clock.  Wanted a new clock?!?  Insert telling him all I just told you but in a overly dramatic voice.  It works just fine, it is my beacon in the night (literally) and retro is in.

But maybe one year....

Rachel

Favorite Thing Friday

Our annual (last) trip to the lake to view the splendor of the leaves!  They were at their peak & the weather was perfect.

Happy Friday!

Rachel

{Thankful} Thursday

I have seen this week on FB people posting a thanksgiving a day here this month of November.  We also started a new series last night in our connection group on virtues.  I love it & love the thought of trying to incorporate this into my blog this month & hopefully through the whole holiday season.

Grace
Unmerited mercy & a combination of love & forgiveness rolled into one.

"For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace."  John 1:16

I am so thankful for His grace.  Grace that is both undeserved & unmerited but lavished on me by my loving Heavenly Father.

Remember & meditate on His Grace!

Rachel

Halloween Fun!

Trick or Treating at Daddy's Office.

Costume Parade at School.

Waving to Nani!

Halloween Night.

Off they go!

This picture isn't great but it shows them going to each house all by themselves!

Halloween 2010

Halloween 2011

I would like to freeze time now!  They are growing up too fast!  So glad we are making fun family memories together!

Rachel

Pumpkin Patch

I love fall!  We have gone to a pumpkin patch every year since Aubrie was born.  This year we (along with my parents) headed up to Southwest City, MO to try out a new one.  It did not disappoint!  There were fun rides, a ton of free activities for the girls & it was a beautiful fall day in the Ozarks.  We will definitely be going back next year!

Daddy giving Aubrie a big push down the slide.

Lily's turn.  Papa's waiting at the bottom to catch.

Cow Train. 

Bouncing Pumpkins!

This just makes me laugh!

Papa & Grammy.

Lily pushing our pumpkins to the car.

Happy first day of November!  Halloween pictures coming tomorrow.

Rachel