A Mother's Prayer

Dear Lord,
So far today I've done all right. I haven't gossiped, I haven't lost my temper, I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or very indulgent. I'm very grateful for that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on, I'm going to need a lot more help. Amen.

The Toddler's Busy Book - Trish Kuffner

14 month update

i'm in the separation anxiety phase with will. just really started about a week or two ago. he's always been so independent and busy, so i was surprised the first time it happened. i always think, not my child - yeah right! i started a new Bible study at a different church and that either triggered it or really it was inevitable. very upsetting for me, but as with everything - this too shall pass.

there's been another change too. he has dropped his morning nap. the first few days, i had to adjust more than he did. it's really wonderful now though because this routine allows so much more freedom. plus he goes to bed a little earlier and gets up a little later!

a few weeks ago, he began singing. this is the sweetest thing ever.

about the same time, he developed a strong attraction to his blankey (really, he has three - they're all the thermal kind with a little embroidered picture on them - and of course he loves the tag).

he doesn't say any words yet, except ma ma and da da. he also says zzzzz for bee. and he says na na and tuh tuh sometimes. oh and of course the car sound (loose spitting of lips - what do you call that?) for car, tractor, truck, bus. and he does a squeal for train. anything with wheels is his favorite.

today i flushed the toilet and he bounced up and down dancing to the "music". then when it stopped flushing he clapped (you always clap after a song) and then he did the sign for all done by waving both his hands. i laughed so hard.

he also loves to wrestle. if you are on the floor he will most likely run at you and bury his head into you.

he loves to be outside. one of his favorite things to do is push his big stroller around and point to the sky when he hears an airplane.

it's hard for us to listen to any music now, unless he's in his high chair because he knows the volume button and likes to turn it all the way up and then run away. this is pretty funny to watch.

doesn't he sound the cutest? even though he can frustrate me sometimes (unrolling the toilet paper, trying to open the oven door, playing in the trashcan, etc.), he is a wonderful little boy - wait, he's still a baby for a little longer.

rain rain rain

i wrote this on monday -

this is the 8th straight day it has rained - and i mean really rained and stormed. the ground is saturated. 2 years ago we experienced a major drought. we were to the point where we didn't even flush the toilet very often. (if it's yellow, let it mellow - if it's brown, flush it down).

"there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" ecc. 3:1

this past summer, i've never seen so much rain. there is a lot of flooding nearby. i think the death total for georgia is 9 now.

today - the past two days have been sunny and clear. there's nothing like a week of rain to make you appreciate the sun.

singing

will has started singing a lot in the past week. he also loves sitting on top of things like my red dustpan. he is my buddy.

a date in the woods!

okay, this is actually at our house the night before our date. my orange slice smile isn't nearly as good as lee's. we agree it's because he has a bigger mouth - literally and figuratively.

we checked out the suwanee greenway. this is about 20 minutes from our house. in some places you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. this pic doesn't really look like me, but there weren't a lot of good pictures to choose from.

check out these awesome pics i took - i love my camera!

Praise God - the Mighty Creator

i did it!

i finally did it - i went shopping and saved more than i spent! i've always wanted to do this and post the picture of the receipt - inspired by whittaker woman (i think she does much better than me though). i needed some bathroom cleaner and noticed the deal at publix on southern savers. i took advantage of some other publix deals coupled with some coupons and ta-da! (i had a coupon for a free candle - so that really helped out the savings number, but look below at what i got!)

now if i could only get my grocery bill to a couple hundred dollars a month. haha.

we had a blast at stone mountain on labor day. a nice relaxing picnic and will got to see a goose up close and personal for the first time. he also saw a boat! i love the simple pleasures of a one year old.

he is on the move at nana's house. wide open spaces - yeah!

and on the move at home too - he loves stepping off of this messed up place in our driveway.

weeee!

bye bye, will!

his new big thing is waving hello and bye bye. today he waved bye bye when i blew some bubbles after they popped. bye bye bubbles.

southern savers

everyone that lives in the southeast and wants to save money on groceries - check out this website.

southern savers

i have been using this website for a few months now. i don't do as well as some, but it still has really helped me take advantage of some great deals. this girl does a lot of the research and work for you as far as what is on sale and what coupons are available for those items. just click on the store you shop at and look at all the deals. she even provides links for the internet coupons. you can use an ecoupon plus a paper coupon on the same item!

i like one year olds

he remains a ham!

this was blurry, but i had to post it. not sure what this face means, but we both enjoy it.

running around outside in his diaper.

this is what i found the other night when i went to cook dinner.

he still loves shoes!!! he brings me different pairs of shoes throughout the day to put on.

BSF

it's september 1st! oh my gosh. the weather is cool outside - very pleasant. i'm really not a fan of august.

in two weeks, Bible Study Fellowship ( a non denominational Bible study) will be starting up again and i just wanted to make anyone who reads this blog aware of this very cool study of God's word. i was able to participate 2 years ago when they studied Matthew. they are studying John this year - i don't think it's gonna work out for me this year, but it might work out for you!

if you want really intense, structured, deep study of the Bible, go to the website

Bible Study Fellowship

find a class near you and show up at that location in two weeks to register. they will assign you to a small group. this is not your typical women's Bible study. i've heard people relate it to seminary courses. oh, and it's free. they operate off of donations. during the day classes they have childcare starting at 2 - 5. at night they have childcare for school age children all the way to 12th grade. the children are learning the same scripture that you have been studying during that time.

if you have any questions feel free to ask me. i'll try to help.

Delight in the LORD

My Dear Sister

God has not overlooked you
He has not ignored you
He hears every petition
And intimately knows
The heart beneath it.
Give Him full access
To all your longings
Pray every single day
To become a person who delights in Him.
When it seems to disappear
Remember to check your JAW
Are you jealous?
Are you angry?
Are you worried?
Roll it all on Jesus
He's strong enough to carry it
Big enough to handle it.
Trust God with all your heart
Now leave this place
And go into the world
And do some GOOD.

Saturday's commissioning
inspired by psalm 37:1-9
beth moore and living proof ministries

i'm a broken record

things i say everyday - repeatedly

- that's a ______ (fill in the blank)
- put it back please
- be careful, that's dangerous
- get down
- don't touch!
- what do you have in your mouth?
- don't bite
- don't play with the oven
- be gentle!
- out of your mouth, please! (this usually refers to electrical wires)
- that stays there
- come back
- stop, please
- no, sir!!!

and of course there's a lot of just plain - No!

There's Power in the Blood

Our church had a baptismal service this past Sunday. There were 3 children and 4 adults who were baptized. They gave testimonies about the power of Jesus in their lives and declared publicly that they want to live for him. It's days like this one when God encourages me and reminds me that he is at work and still in the business of changing lives if people will believe he is who he says he is. He is Almighty God - nothing is impossible for him.

the boy loves shoes!

this is will in one of his favorite places - outside of my closet, pulling out shoes.

he loves this navy heel in particular. hmmm

"i need to carry it all over the house"

"wait, maybe daddy will wear it"

he loves giving us our shoes to wear. and other people's shoes to wear.

patty cake

i know i'm biased, but this is the cutest thing ever! mom taught him how to patty cake a few weeks ago. whenever people clap on the tv, he smiles and joins in. too cute

will at 13 months

he's climbing things other than stairs now. monday he climbed up on his music table and then on his rocking chair. the toddler years have begun!

this is his excited face.

unbelievably cool

okay, so this is my younger brother and mom parasailing in panama city. if you know my mom, you will not believe what you are seeing in this video. she barely gets in the pool and here she is hundreds of feet in the air above the ocean! they said it was quite peaceful.

baby pool

beach pics continued

here's the whole group. this is my family and all of the significant others and children.

this is one of my favorite pictures. my sister in law took it i believe. check out the spiky hair.

will at the beach

he liked the water.

he hated the sand.

the view from our condo - gorgeous

will reflects on life - "hmm, i think i might walk tonight". this was on tuesday and he did take his first run of multiple steps that night. yep, he's officially walking!