September 2016

Highlights Include:  First football game of the season, Finishing up indoor T-ball, Daddy buying a new old truck, Making “Fluffy” at Build-a-Bear, Matching with Mom, Rocking her “Rock Star dress”

Baby #2!!!

Well…. we’re having a baby!  We have been trying for 25 months (who’s counting) to give Mollie a brother or sister.  And just when we both got comfortable with the idea of Mollie being an only child, and I schedule a garage sale to get rid of all the baby stuff cluttering up our attic, I take a pregnancy test and BAM…. It’s really happening!

This was on September 29, 2016.  This was the day we found out we would be a family of FOUR!

Nate and I are still in disbelief.  As I type I am almost 17 weeks along and we are still totally in shock.  We will be finding out soon if the baby is a boy or girl and I know this will be a turning point in my mind.  We are so super excited and grateful and just can’t wait to meet our little one close to June 1, 2017!

To celebrate we went to eat at Olive Garden and tried our best to hide the good news until after our first ultrasound on November 3.  After we saw there was a real baby in there, we called our family and friends and the news just kind of trickled out from there.  I had a lot of cute ideas on how to get the news out, but I was too sick to make any of those things happen.

We are praying every day for a healthy baby and feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be parents again.  Mollie will be the best big sister ever and it will melt us to see her with the new baby!  Looking forward to every new step!

Disney on Ice 2016

September 15, 2016

I just love this new tradition.  This was our second year to take our girl and even more fun than the last!  It is something I will look forward to every year.

This year it was a medley of shows… Frozen, Cars, Toy Story and The Little Mermaid.  Plus all the Disney character we know and love made an appearance too.  We were armed and ready with the light up thing we had bought the year before and plenty of glow sticks.

All three of us really enjoyed it!

Comparison:  Last year and This Year…

Mollie’s First Haircut

September 10, 2016

At home, Mollie doesn’t stop talking…. but out and about, she is actually pretty shy.  If there are other people around it always takes her a while to warm up… or especially if there are other kids.

I’ve cut her hair after a bath several times, but I was getting a haircut on this day and decided it was time for her to try it out.

One of my girls has decided to be a hairdresser.  I am super pumped about this decision as I am always on the hunt for one that won’t stop talking to me after they find out I work at a church. ha  So, I got to be her very first haircut!  It was exciting and a little scary for both of us.

Afterwards, we took Mollie to a children’s haircutting place where she got to pick which chair to sit in…. she picked McQueen… and get a tattoo before she left.  She was scared but so brave.

Before and After of us both:

Generous Compassionate Hope

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”  {Luke 23:13-15}

 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ {Acts 20:35}

…………………………………………………….

We recently went through a short series with our youth about greed.  It stood out as something I definitely need to remember and also, something I hope to always teach Mollie. 

The gist is… Greed will ultimately make you miserable.  To break the “gotta have everything…. and right now” selfish mentality that is so prevalent these days, we need to do three things:

1.  We have to offer generosity and increase the joy in our lives. 

2.  We need to pay attention to those around us and show compassion in any situation. 

3.  We need to offer the hope of Jesus to the world around us.

People are always wanting more.  It doesn’t matter what it is… money, clothes, electronics, make-up, cars, boats, houses, vacations… if it isn’t more of Jesus, there is probably a problem.  When this issue of greed comes up, I always think about seeing my friends sell everything they own and move to China to be missionaries.   It’s gut check time when you have to choose one tub of things to keep out of your whole house.  One tub, people!  How Christ-focused do you have to be to do that?  It is an awesome gauge to use…. ask yourself, if I was asked to give this up, would I be able to?  When the answer is no, you have become consumed with something that isn’t worth your time.  And then the more you have, the more it takes… or the more you want.

Greed will eventually steal your happiness.  Steal the joy that should radiate your life (if you know Christ).  And the easiest way to cure greed…. is to give.  Being generous is a wonderful trait!  One that I strive to have in my life.  And, one I’m constantly trying to teach Mollie.  I am blessed to know several generous people in my life but I would say my best friend Melissa, is the most generous person I know. 

She gives so much of herself and asks nothing in return.  I have seen her selfless attitude first hand so many times…. She gives her time endlessly to ministries at church.  Now that she has a great women’s ministry off the ground, she is starting a children’s ministry from scratch.  She gives her money to people in need or ministries at church, even when she needs it herself.  She gives her undivided attention to everyone she talks to… and plays with every baby or kid around.  Just last night I watched her play “Anna and Elsa” with my daughter through a whole football game.  And lastly, she gives her influence…. being open to talk to others about things she’s learned.

I know first hand that it is such a blessing to have someone like this in your life.  If we give of ourselves to others, joy will come.  And if we pay attention to needs and look for ways to meet people where they are, greed will melt away.  And if we can somehow spread the hope we have in Jesus… there are no limits to the blessings that will fall.

The challenge to take away is this….. Ask yourself where you can practice generosity… with your time…. with your money…. with your attention… with your stuff…. with your influence???  And make a conscious effort to get over whatever is holding you back and do it!  Always remember that the people around you need compassion.  Look for ways to serve them, help them, or stand up for them.  And pray that God would help you shine His light and show hope to someone that needs it.  If you take the time to look around, I promise there is someone right in front of you that is craving a generous act, compassionate smile, or word of hope.