Monday, January 30, 2012

Our Weekend + Monday Morning

I can recap our weekend in just 3 pictures.  Yep, just 3.  Starting with this one.


Sickness.  Massive head congestion combined with coughing & fevers.  I started it all on Friday, Lily had it by Friday night & Aubrie started coughing on Saturday.  We like to do everything together.  :)

+
A Sunday afternoon walk because another afternoon in the house was an unbearable thought to us all.


=


This is Lily this morning in WalMart.  Poor thing.  I dispensed our last dose of Motrin at 3:00a.m. She had to wait for another dose until Aubrie was at school & we had grocery shopped.  Even the college aged male checker noticed how pitiful she looked.
And yes, that is a pool of snot/drool on her leggings.  She was out cold on the shopping cart.
Our Doctor's Appointment is scheduled for this afternoon at 3:15.

Time to load up on Vitamin C!
Rachel

Friday, January 27, 2012

Favorite Thing Friday



Have you seen the newest Cheerios family member?  Introducing Peanut Butter.  They are SO good!  So.good.  It has the best peanut buttery taste without being too overly sweet.  It has been our go to snack this week (yes, snack...not even breakfast).  If you like Peanut Butter you will not be disappointed.  Promise.

And speaking of sweet...LilyPie makes the list.  I couldn't resist adding this sweet picture (that was taken at her request) of her "Dancy Dancy Ballerina."  (That translates to "Fancy Nancy Ballerina" for those of you that don't speak Lily.)  She wanted her Daddy to see how "prettyful" (her combination of pretty & beautiful) she looked playing dress-up.  Love her!



Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Our Prayer

My husband (Bferg, as I lovingly call him) has been preaching at a small country church 45 minutes from our house for about the last 5 months.  The church has a very special place in our hearts & it has been a really special thing for our family to serve this church.
My girls have figured out that Daddy preaches & while they talk about it frequently; they had no idea what that really meant.  Until this past Sunday.
The church allows the family to worship together during the "song service" & then they have an amazing little kids sermon before the children are dismissed to their classes.  Well, this past Sunday during each song Lily wanted to be held & not just held but she kept laying her head on my shoulder & was becoming more lethargic with each song.  At the children's sermon time her cheeks were flushed & she was burning up.  I was worried that she was getting sick & developing a fever right before my eyes.  I decided to keep her in service with me & once Aubrie caught wind of it she wasn't going anywhere by herself.  So with Aubrie on my right & Lily on my lap Bferg began his sermon.
I don't even think he had made it through the introduction when Aubrie (4.5 years old) leaned over to me and whispered, "Dad is awesome at this preaching."  It was precious!  She was so proud to be her Daddy's daughter & proceeded to sit still & intently listen to all 45 minutes of her Daddy's talk.  (I was SO proud!)
That is all the back story to introduce this picture.  (And I apologize for the poor quality...it is off my phone.)

That evening as dinner was being prepped & prepared, she got my Bible out, set up her own pulpit & just preached her little heart out...for about 45 minutes straight!  Ahhh...child like faith!  It was such a sweet, sweet time for our family.  (Even though she was adamant that we all sit criss-cross applesauce & not talk nor get up. :)

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul & with all your strength.  These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.  Repeat them to your children.  Talk about them when you sit in your house & when you lie down & when you get up.  Bind them as a sign in your house & let them be as  a symbol on your forehead.  Write them on the doorposts of your house & on your gates."
Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Our prayer for our children is not that they become pastors.  But it is that they love passionately the Lord & serve Him & others all the days of their lives.  We are by no means perfect parents but the Lord did give us a reminder Sunday night that our efforts thus far have not been in vain.

Rachel
And in case you were wondering...Lily was not sick nor feverish.  She was just cuddly & a little tired.  She too sat through her Daddy's whole sermon with the help of some gum & a pen/paper.  :)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

{Sisters} Two Years Ago...

I found this today.
Two sweet babies playing in a home-made tent.
Oh where does the time go?
I need time to either stop or have another baby....
Or maybe I'll just keep looking at sweet baby pictures & hug my girls tighter today!

"You have filled my heart with greater joy!"
Psalm 4:7

Rachel

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Majesty!

Majesty...


Majesty...


Your grace has found me just as I am,


Empty handed but alive in Your hands,


Majesty...


Majesty...


Forever I am changed by Your love
In the beauty of Your Majesty!


Rachel

Hillsong United Lyrics

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Audacious

Audacious: Fearlessly, often recklessly daring; bold.

On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:
"Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nations avenged itself on its enemies, 
as it is written...The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.
Joshua 10:12-13

A challenge to pray like Joshua.  He asked God for the sun & moon to stop so that the enemy could not escape in the darkness.  Not only did Joshua ask for such a mighty work but he did it among his fellow believers, warriors, family...people who knew him best.

Fearlessly, often recklessly daring & bold.  I want to have faith to pray like that!

Rachel

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

{Tasty} Tuesday

Welcome 2012!  We are making a conscience choice to eat healthy in our house...like every January.  :)
We don't (for the most part) eat unhealthy but I am trying to intentionally add more veggies, cook with mostly lean proteins & cut out fat when cheese isn't a necessity...easy steps.

Spring Rolls
This isn't really a recipe as much as it is a method.  Use your favorite veggies, add a meat or keep it vegetarian...I've even seen it used with all fruit.  Consider the rice paper an empty canvas...just like the New Year!  :)

I started with Rice Paper (soaked in cool water until flimsy) & shrimp (raw, deveined & tails removed).
 Next comes the veggies.  I used spinach, cilantro, red kale, green onions & julienned carrots.
 Make a little pile in the middle of the rice paper.  Be careful not to overfill...it is very delicate & tears easily.
Fold in the sides & then fold it over itself in a burrito style roll.  It is much like a swaddle.  The tighter you roll the chances of an escape go down.
 Cut in half to serve.  I makes your plate look pretty & shows off your layers...especially when you stack them on each other like the pros.
I made a peanut/soy dipping sauce & we also used a store bought sauce that was sweet/sour & had some heat.  It was yummy!  And healthy.

Enjoy!

Rachel

Friday, January 6, 2012

Favorite Thing Friday

"As for me & my house...
We will Call the Hogs!"

Woo Pig Sooie!  Go Hogs!
Cotton Bowl
2012


Happy Friday!

Rachel

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!

We had the most amazing Christmas this year!
Rather than typing all the details I'm going to bombard you with pictures.
Get ready!  :)
The Week Before Christmas:
Cousin Time.


Deep conversations with Uncle Justin.
Passing out gifts & patiently waiting their turn.


Remote controlled puppies that look like Charlie!

New Camera!



Christmas Eve: 
Sweet sisters in Smocked Santa!
Love it!

Getting Santa's cookies ready.



Christmas Morning:
He Came!!!

Wasting no time.

"Exactly what I wanted!"

Gettin' purdy.





The Week After Christmas: 
Cousin time + New umbrellas!

Drive through Christmas lights.

A post Christmas nap....


We are looking forward to 2012...God's blessings were rich among us in 2011 & we are so grateful for His love.

Rachel