Shining Promises

How sweet the promises of the Father are...

"Those who sow in tears, shall reap with shouts of joy!  He who goes out weeping, bearing the seeds for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."  Psalm 126:5-6

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecution, and calamities, for when I am weak, then, I am strong!" 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it!" 1 Corinthians 10:13

"The Law of God does revive! Psalm 19:7
"God does lead us to springs of water!" Psalm 23:3
"God does show us the path of life!" Psalm 16:11
"Joy does come in the morning!" Psalm 30:5

"Lay aside very weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us!  Hebrews 12:1

When my tears come, when sad things happen, when old wounds are opened, when there seems to be no way out of the darkness, when things didn't turn out as I thought they would, when my heart is troubled, when my nights are sleepless, when the load seems too heavy to carry...

He reminds me of His promises...

They are balm to your soul, medicine for your diseases, peace to your heart, and joy everlasting!

The sun will shine always shine again...

Thanking the Lord for his promises today!!  

Oh the places you'll go...

"Oh the places you'll go"

Dr. Suess

I can hardly believe just a few days ago my "little" boy turned 15 months! Has it really been that long?? Has he really been ours for 15 whole months?!? Time has flown by... Not a day goes by that I don't think about what he will become... What he loves... (favorite toys, things to say, and foods to eat!) Its been so fun to watch him grow... and grow he has!

My friend invited us to go with them to the Children's Museum... and it was a blast to say that least!! I watched Barrett march himself right into the building, just like a big boy, and upon entering he yelled, as loud as possible, for all to hear.... DAAAADAAAA!! haha! No Barrett, dada is at work...

Anyway, he proceeded to "run" (he is still learning that his head picks up more momentum than his feet at times!) all around! He couldn't believe there were so many cool things in one place... and he could touch them all! That was mama's favorite part too... I didn't have to tell him no over and over... i just let him run wild!!

It was so fun to watch his eyes light up in the bubble room because he thought that every bubble was a ball... he ran in circles yelling "ball, ball, ball!"

I loved watching him learn his confidence... usually by trying to stand on one foot... but he's getting it! He's realizing there are alot of things he can do by himself! I love being right next to him when he learns how to do something new... and he looks at me... and i clap and say, "Yeah!! You did it!" my heart smiles :)

Barrett's buddy Ty... they love each other! Ty is always giving Barrett hugs! So sweet! I love that Barrett is learning how to play with others.... we're working on the sharing thing! :)

Barrett has always loved to "drive the car." Occasionally Ray or I will let him sit on our laps in the driveway and turn the steering wheel and use the windshield wipers... He thought he was hot stuff doing it all by himself at the Children's Museum! He was turning that wheel as fast as he could!!

intermission: more hugs!!!

Now its time to turn one back!! haha! These boys went shopping in the market... it was so fun because they were able to pick up whatever they wanted!

Human Body Room~ I think I just might have a heart surgeon on my hands :) He loved taking the body apart... His favorite part was the heart... I think mainly because it looked like a ball! :)

The boy loved the "nanas" aka bananas at the market! He was yelling "cracker, nana.... and of coarse ball... for every apple, orange, and lemon was a ball! Thats my boy :)

Dog!!! Another one of Barrett's favorite words! He loved putting the dogs in the kennel and he even decided to drag one of the dogs with him around the museum for a bit! Slamming the kennel door was another highlight of this room!

The big chair~ My little boy in a HUGE chair! He was rolling around in it, jumping on it, sitting on it, laughing his head off!

Fire Truck~ Boys + trucks always = FUN :) He tried on the firman suit and had a little break in the fire truck eating some goldfish! You know fireman have to have energy to fight the fires!!

This is where we were both getting a little tired, but there was still the WHOLE upstairs... so we snuggled in the train room for a little rest and re-geared to head upstairs!

We had an amazingly wonderful afternoon! At the Children's Museum I swear you forget all your worries and you feel like a child again :) I ran after my boy, not wanting to miss one little thing he discovered! Sometimes I watched from farther away and other times I was right there holding his hand when he looked up with his big blue eyes and said, "is tha", which means, "What is that?" I would start to explain what it was and he would run off to the next thing or sometimes give me a puzzled look :) We made some pretty cool memories here...

We were not even out of the parking lots and little mans head rolled to the side and his heavy eyelids shut and I am sure he was dreaming of all the fun he had at the museum :) This will have to become a frequent afternoon outing!!

BEACH!! As long as the Barrett has come water and a ball he is happy :)

We enjoyed a fun morning at the beach with Aunt Betsy, Uncle Kyle, and Uncle Caleb a few

weeks ago! I love making memories with family... and it was extra special to have

Aunt Betsy with us!

my sister, my best friend <3

I can only imagine all the "other" places Barrett will go... the interests he will have... the memories he will make...

and for now I am going to soak up the fact that he loves to have his mama right there next to him!

Barrett Boy, you will go many places... I know the Lord has many incredible journeys for you to go on... praying for you everyday little one...! xoxo

His name and the Hurricane

its lunchtime for me while my little post-sickness boy is napping... AND i'm eating my dessert first :) i love doing that!

just made some monster cookies to prepare for the hurricane that is headed directly for us! yikes!! my cookie is melting in my mouth, its peaceful outside, and its hard to believe that a hurricane is coming right for us! everything seems to like normal.... other than...

my little guy got the stomach virus (or so i think...

after 6 episodes of cleaning up throw up and

changing pj's multiple times). he is so

pitiful when he feels bad... he wouldn't even lift his precious little

head off my shoulder... all night! therefore, mommy got

no sleep last night either and ended up calling out of work...

my sweet friends at work were all so gracious and said...

family first! what a gift to have

friends that understand how important family is... i'm grateful that i

have been able to be with him today... lots of snuggling, naps,

crackers, and pedialyte....

oh that brings me to another thought...

ray left to go out of town yesterday... not a good

weekend to leave,

yeah...so sitting in the rocker with my

puking baby and my

thoughts, i decided i needed help.. and so my sweet friends

came to my rescue with pedialyte

and a surprise visit from another

couple just to check on my boy and i.

man, i was really overwhelmed that my friends

were so willing to help

and just be there for me... i even woke up

to numerous texts to check

on barrett... thats jesus... thats his heart

and i am so grateful to

have friends like that... thanks guys!! xoxo

anyway, back to the original post... :)

so... hurricane irene... pretty scary from the looks of it, but we are all just sitting here anticipating what's to come. i've been watching the news, listening to all the changes, and just waiting! i think my heart has been beating a little faster the past 24 hours... with ray leaving (which he did come home late last night.. thank you lord!), barrett sick, having to work, and a hurricane coming.... i was starting to get anxious!

one word has been on repeat in my mind...

JESUS

i can call his name out when i feel alone,

i can call his name out in the middle of the night

i can call his name when my son is sick

i can call his name for protection

i can call his name for wisdom

i can call his name when i'm scared

there is power in the name of JESUS...

"Your name is a strong and mighty tower,

Your name, let the nations sing it louder,

Nothing has the power to save,

But your name!"

(from a favorite song by Paul Baloche)

cookies made, candles ready, flashlight in every room, food prepared, cars gassed up, water stored... but the most important thing... HIS NAME... i can call on Him at anytime, no matter what is headed my way... hurricane irene, sickness, fear, loneliness... JESUS... JESUS... JESUS...

What "name" has you terrified for your life?

Whisper "Jesus."

Jesus. What a beautiful, powerful Name.

oh, and more to come on my amazing time with my sis...

she just celebrated her birthday and is heading into

her senior year at Lee University...

i'm so proud of her...

she's an awesome girl and i love our times together!

Question...

one question i have been asking myself lately...

WHAT AM I LIVING FOR?

(before my dear friends jonathan and sharon left for china, they shared this video with

me... and it has radically changed ray and my perspective on what we are living life for.)

DON'T FORGET TO TURN OFF THE MUSIC AT THE BOTTOM...

psalm 27:4

one thing i ask of the Lord, this is what i seek;

that i may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in his temple.

asking the Lord to blow us Away by His glory...

to sweep us of our feet in love with Him...

and to shatter our dreams of living a nice pretty life...

whatever the cost.

busy with my boys

been busy chasing my little guy around, cheering him on as he learns to walk (still hilariously wobbly!), going to my big guys softball games, late night chats together, and just living life!

my dear family arrives on saturday to OBX... i am eagerly awaiting some SERIOUS SISTER time! there are so many things i want to share with her... and the phone just doesn't cut it sometimes... so we have LOTS to talk about, laugh about, and who knows what else! oh, and i can't wait for her to get some time lovin on her nephew too!

more pics to come of our laundry mat fun!! :)

the WoRd

"be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways..." Psalm 37:7

"but the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations." Psalm 33:11

"surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days if your life." Psalm 23:6

"for the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land - a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills... you will lack nothing!" Deut 8:10

"and in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposes... no, in all these things we are more than conquerers through Him who loved us. nothing can seperate us from the love of Christ!" Romans 8:28, 37-38

thankful for His promises

thankful for His Word

thankful that He is alive

thankful that He is at work in us!

now to Him who is able to do IMMEASUREABLY more than all we could ASK or IMAGINE,

according to His power that is at work in US,

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus

throughout ALL generations

forever and ever AMEN!

NYC just us :)

decided to share a few pics from our Anniversary trip to NYC...

our hotel... called yotel

Dates!

dinner out with my raybo

ferry ride :)

2 peas in a pod

statue of liberty!

mine :)

Mary Poppins!!

Saw Mary Poppins on Broadway! loved it!

Yankees Game with my boy :)

yanks hall of players

met up with jon murray (ha... ray looks so serious!)

entering the stadium!

the field

all things nyc!

loved come back to our room... little bed... and everything nice and clean!

ready to hit the town every night!

the rush of times square... ah, i love it!

taxi taxi taxi

we made precious memories together on our trip :) just being together was very refreshing! we are both up for adventures and this sure was a fun adventure! making marriage a priority, especially after having a child, is so important! it felt like a second honeymoon... and there is no one else i would have rather spent it with! here's to many more years, by God's grace!!

but there was no denying...

both of us were so excited to get to our little munchkin... who was a very good boy for grammy and gdaddy!! my mom had prepared so much to make it special for barrett... she called her house, "Grammy's Resort"! though barrett couldn't say thank you with his words, i saw how close he had gotten to them in just a few short days! it was hard for my parents to say goodbye, but we were so grateful that they were able to care for him while we were away! but we couldn't wait to get our hands on him and make up for all the days we missed with him!!

and now its back to real life...

but i love real life...