Living Life One Cheerio at a Time

We had a great Christmas and lots of fun with the family.  Here are some random pics from the week of fun!

Last weekend, I scheduled with a photographer  to take some pictures of our kids and of our family. Little man was 11 months old the last time we had pics taken and he just turned 3 this summer. Oops! Sarah wasn't just any random photographer. She is a friend. In fact she and I were just around the corner from each other our freshman year in college. {Gulp} 17 years ago..... She recently quit her full time teaching elementary kids art to start her photography business. With her free spirit art background I knew she would be the perfect on for us. I wanted to get away from the matchy matchy studio sit still and smile here picture. She didn't mind that I was going to use color and mixed patterns. This is just a preview of what's to come but I think she did a wonderful job!

Here's an updated photo of my family of SIX. I'll be honest its a bit crazy around here. A friend described it as a party all the time. Well a party with mounds of laundry and dirty dishes and lots and lots of toys! But God is good and providing us with many blessings. This was the best of three pics. Sometimes it takes more than one chance to get it right but I still don't get it right. It's a good thing our God is a god of forgiveness, grace and mercy.  He gives a strength each day to try  again...not to do it on our own but on complete dependence to HIM. Recently, I've been struggling with wanting to be liked by a certain group of people. I see their photos on facebook or hear about their adventures and I feel left out, dejected. Why am I not good enough to hang out with them too? Why do I care I'm almost 36 years old and not in JR High anymore. But when I get in an attitude or take my eyes of the ONE WHO CREATED ME I become self centered. Its not...

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself  in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."  1 Thessalonians 5: 15-18 "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." These were 2 verses God gave me over a year ago to help me get through the land of wait. Sometime last fall I had a desire on my heart. My husband and I had many conversations. This desire just ddin't make sense. Logic would say NO. But I couldn't shake this desire. So I prayed. I prayed for an open door, a soft heart, a yes or a no, a medical miracle, clarity. But I continued to know that if it was God's will it would happen. And I was okay with the no and even the wait. So I stayed in the land of wait  with no answer and continued to pray. You see I felt our family wasn't complete. I wanted another child. I know a 4th baby is crazy talk. I didn't know if it was through foster care, adoption or natura...