Memories and Miracles March 27, 2009

In exactly one week our babies will be 1 YEAR OLD.  Man.  I just cannot believe it!  It has been one fast year.  A year full of love and miracles.  Looking at old pics of them when they were just born made me cry.  God kept us SO strong with everything that went on.

Below are some pics of my prego belly (torpedo at the end), and also a couple pics from Gabriel, Trinity, and Asher’s  first month!  I am sure you will laugh….or gag at my belly.   but I’m ok with that now.  Hope the baby pics aren’t too hard for you to look at.  There was a lot of stuff hooked up to them, but most of it didn’t mean anything bad, except for Asher.

God sure did give us 3 BEAutiful miracles!

put your mouse over picture to see description. for some reason didn’t put in order I specified, so they are out of order.

Why the tree? March 23, 2009

Last night Chris and I went to the MIX (youth ministry) at church.  I was there observing….getting a feel.  Is this where God wants me to serve?  The topic at The MIX has been Freedom and last night was the last part of the series.  The main question purposed last night…….Why did God plant the tree with the forbiden fruit?  What was it’s purpose?

As I sat there I listened to many wonderful answers.  But God showed me something else.  You see I’ve never really dwelled on the thought with to much depth (always a lesson on “don’t sin”) until last night.  And as I sat there I heard God whispering…”I planted the tree to show that you cannot do anything apart from me…on your own.  You need me.  You are nothing without me.  You are WEAK without me.”

You see, before God even lit the sun, before Adam, before Eve, HE knew what was going to happen.  It was no surprise to Him that Eve grabbed the fruit and then she and Adam ate.  There was no plan B.  He knew the outcome.     I believe this story can be used as a lesson in humility.  It is only when we allow ourselves to admit our weakness and nothingness that we are able to draw closer to Him.

All of us have heard that small voice saying “no” and yet we still persist to say “yes” only to our own folly.  Yet God is still never surprised and always picks us back up, peels us off the pavement, as we learn day by day that He is the only one who can.  We are all weak until we rely completely on Him.  We really are our own worst enemy.  Satan will tempt us, but it is each of us who decide to eat the fruit.

So, how do we become free? How do we become strong?

we let go

The talk last night was great.  God kinda took me on a different direction.  But that’s God, showing me what He wants me to hear.

Planning for the BIG #1 March 7, 2009

So, I think I could possibly be one of the world’s worst planner. And my husband is no better.  I am still surprised that we got our wedding invitations out.  And even more surprised about getting THANK YOU cards out after our baby showers.  It’s bad.

HOWEVER!  I am bound and determined to do this right. I will be scouring looking for invitations this next week.  Probably at Wal-Mart and Target (so excited about it opening up at the Promenade!!! WOO! YAY!)  I want something NON-CHEESY – which totally x’s out Winney the Pooh.  sorry, pooh, but your stuff is just annoying for some reason, like nails on a chalk board.  I think it was all those years of seeing women carrying around nothing but Winney the Pooh diaper bags. ugh.  it just makes me cringe. (sorry to all you Pooh lovers out there, and especially if you were one sporting the Pooh bag. ha ha…oh sorry.)  I will be searching for cute, but modern.  Is there such a thing for 1st year parties?  I guess I will find out.

Second is the whole cake thing. I am thinking about a cupcake for each of them with a candle on top.  Then a reg cake for all the guests.  Probably a white/choc. mix….or just chocolate.  Haven’t decided yet.  I remember a couple years ago at teen camp, one of the leaders had their twins 1st B’day at teen camp.  They both had their own individual small cake.  And they were stinkin sweet lookin.  no pun intended.  So thinkin’ the “in our budget range” for that would equal cupcakes!  I may even end up baking everything myself, as I love to bake but never have an excuse to do it and Chris and I could never eat a whole cake just the two of us.  OOOOOO I’m getting excited!  Another option is a friend I have who makes totally kick but looking cakes.  She made a Noah’s Ark cake for my baby shower and it was super cute.  And she’s done a lot more than just that.  hmmmmm.  options….

OMGosh…Do they need a theme? I mean, seriously, they are turning 1.  I know this will definitely get tough as they get older and “into” whatever the trend is at the time, so why not go as simple as possible now while we can, right?

HMMM…..so what am I missing?  If any of you have any good ideas out there, let me know!

Like to Read? March 4, 2009

I like to read….a lot.  Which is kinda funny seeing as when I was in school, I hated reading.  It was a mere means to and end…read to study to not flunk test.  It was never all that fun I think because I HAD to do it.  Funny how things in life all of a sudden become fun or interesting when the HAD/HAVE TO is taken away….when it is merely for pleasure.  Ironically enough, the books I enjoy reading are books that teach, mostly about my relationship with God.  I highly enjoy reading books that challenge me and help me become a better person and see God in a bigger, brighter light.  I desire to be a godly woman, wife, mother, friend.  But how can I do this if I do not allow myself to grow.  And yes, I do read my Bible regularly.  That is a necessity for growth in my opinion.  But books help bring the Bible to life for me.  Helps me understand many things in the Bible in a new light.  Again, all about growth.

So, what are some books that have shaped me in some way…here is a list

• A Woman of Strength by Neva Coyle (read this Sr. yr of HS. totally changed my perspective)
• Revolution in Wold Missions by K.P. Yohannan (currently reading.  has really opened my eyes and mind)
• Parenting the Way God Parents by Katherine Koonce (the best parenting book I ever picked up)
• Dangerous Wonder by Micheal Yaconelli (talk about inspiring, and a book that gets you on FIRE!)
• The Bait of Satan by John Bevere  (just good!)
• The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning (it’s Brennan Manning)
• The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne  (oh my gosh…this book is amazing)
• Love & Respect by Emerson Eggerichs (great book on marriage)
• Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Ormartian (has some very good points)
• Believing God by Beth Moore (powerful and very informative – in that Beth Moore way)
• The Dreamgiver by Bruce Wilkinson (inspiring and really makes you look at life around you)
• Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus  (again, just makes you re-evaluate what’s around you)
• The God Chasers by Tommy Tenney (powerful)
• Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (just starting our TMM)

The next book I will be reading is Abba’s Child by Brennan Manning.  If it ever arrives in the mail!  got it for $4 on Amazon!  Another book on my list of books to read is Breaking Free by Beth Moore and I Dare You by Joyce Meyer (own this book, just haven’t read it all yet).

What books have shapped you in life?  Feel free to share some of you fav’s!!!  I am always up for a new book.  If you have any questions about any of the above books, just let me know.  If they are on the list, odds are I have not just read through them, but picked them up again and again (I’m a highlighter….can’t help it.  like going back through books once I am finished to remind myself of things)  I am always willing to loan a book out ONLY if you will bring it back and ONLY if you don’t mind all my highlighting!

11 mos old today! Eat it UP! March 3, 2009

Today Gabriel, Trinity, and Asher are 11mos old!!!  woo hoo!  And to celebrate we had some mashed potatoes mixed with some shredded chicken….left overs from my lunch of mashed potatoes and chicken strips.  It was really a hit!  Especially with Gabriel.  They have yet to get the full function of the spoon down.  They get the whole idea of putting it in the mouth, but haven’t grasped how to put food on it by themselves yet.  It was a lot of fun.  Hope you enjoy the pics!

food time at the Howard hizzi

“I know how to use my spoon!”

“I prefer the hand shovel method, thank you!”

left hand food, right hand spoon!

“heck with the spoon!”

Canvas Painting March 2, 2009

Today’s Canvas Painting. It has been a LONG time since I have done any of this! It was quite fun. Hoping it will look good once in a frame. Just have to decide on what color frame. Prob go with black, as that seems to be the theme for our home.

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