Oh, how I love her!

Ava is 10 months old today!

Ava, you are 10 months old today. You are crawling at record speed which has made for a very tired mommy. Daddy said you are to mature for toys because they don't interest you, you are on the move. You are pulling up and cruising along the furniture. You still just have two teeth on the bottom. Since last month, you have had a snotty nose. Mommy is sick of snot! You still love your bath. The other night me and you were taking a bath together and Daddy decided to turn on the jets. Did it scare you, No! You loved it, now you want them on constantly. Such a water baby. We are going to take you to Mom and Baby swim classes starting in May. You love to say "Hi" and you have started to clap your hands. I have to say right now your favorite person is Daddy. I really can see why, he loves you so much. You love to play wrestle with him. You make us so very happy, life is so much sweeter with you!
You and Daddy practice walking everyday. You are getting good. I wonder if it is going to be harder when you start walking? You already get into everything! You sure keep Mommy on her toes!Sweet girl, you are a gift!

Prayers for Ronel

Please go here and read Debra's blog. Will you all please commit with me for praying for Ronel? This sweet boy needs to come home to this awesome family, the family God has PICKED for him.
Thanks so much!

In the market for new furniture

What happens when you get a new house? Of course, you need new furniture! We have been looking and I think we found a couch we really like. We have microfiber now but we are going to try leather because I think it will be much easier to clean with dogs and a baby.

I am excited, because next week I have a lady coming to take measurements and she is going to bring some fun fabrics and ideas from what I told her we liked in the store. Can you guess the fabrics? Leopards, of course!

I also want a fun red chair and Hubby has begged for a recliner to watch his TV in. I am being a good wife and giving in! Our living room is huge so we need quite a few pieces. I can't wait for it to come all together.

What do you guys think of the couch? I did not think I would like brown but it went so well with the leopard and surprisingly the red accent pieces too!

Hello all. Hope your week is going well so far. It is Thursday, only two more days to go! We have been having some work done at our house and I am looking forward to being back home this weekend. (Elissa, thanks for letting us stay with you! You are so lucky to have you!)

I wanted to give you all an update on Ronel. Debra says it best so go here to read. Please keep praying that God brings this sweet boy home with Ernest. I sure can't wait to meet this boy that I have been praying about since meeting Debra and Ernest.

I finished Same Kind of Different as Me. All I can say is Wow. I was amazed at how the book spoke to me.
"The word says God don't give us credit for lovin the folks we want to love anyway. No, he gives us credit for loving the unloveable." This is something I struggle with at work. It is hard sometimes to love all people, espically when they are so mean and ugly. This quote spoke to me that I need to try much harder. I don't want to give the book away, but these people truly loved the unloveable. They spread the word of God and isn't that ultimately what we are here? Maybe that is why I am where I am at now?

And, of course I have to share some pictures of Ava:

Lemons, Really?
Happy week everyone!

Book Club

I have been following a book club and we started a new book that everyone should read. Go now, get this book. My kindle shows that I am 68% complete and I have cried 3 times. These are people that are living out the will of God. Are you living out the will of God? Is your heart in tune with his heart? Are you on God's agenda, not your own? I can honestly say that my heart is probably not always in tune with God's. Probably more than not to be honest. This book shows a woman who was letting God plan her agenda. A woman after God's own heart.

I will be sharing more on this book during the week. Sharing some parts that really spoke to my heart. I hope you all will consider reading this AWESOME book!

Wordless Wednesday

Just because I love her~

The "Milk Truck" is offically closed!

Or maybe I should say, the "Dairy Queen" is out of business....
Well, as many of you guessed, I am finished breast feeding. In so many ways, I want to dance, sing, and shout because I feel so free. But part of me feels sad, sad that my baby no longer needs me for that part of her life. I have tears because this is just another step in my baby growing up!
Schepps, here Ava comes for your milk. Well, not quite yet for real milk but soon enough!

TGIF!

Wow, this week has been a rough week!

First, my heart goes out to the people of Haiti. I hate to even watch news reports because it truly upsets me to see the devastation. My old neighbors (who I miss so much) are waiting to adopt their son Ronel from an orphanage in port-au-prince. They have heard he survived, but I know Debra and Ernest have such heavy hearts about what Ronel is enduring. I believe he is enduring more than we can imagine. I sure hope that through all of this he gets to come home to such a neat and loving family much sooner than expected. What a lucky boy he will be. Read more about Ronel here. I learned at work today that they are matching dollar for dollar for all employees who donate to devastation funds. That made my heart happy. I sure hope many choose to take them up on this offer as I plan to!

I am so glad today is Friday and this week is over. Ava and I have been sick this week. I just can't seem to kick what I have. It has made me tired and cranky. I have to admit that I have had a little self pitty this week. Monday was such a bad day at work. Have you ever had bad days at work that stick with you always? Well, Monday was one of those! It was so busy that I do not believe that I even had time to go to the bathroom in 8 hours. I got home and was so tired and feeling quite bad. I went straight to bed and you would know that Ava decided to get up at 6 the next morning! (keep in mind, she usually sleeps till 8:30..I know I am lucky, she likes sleep like her mommy!) I was beat! For those of you who know Ava, she loves the water (again like her mommy) and she loves to play in Rozzy and Sophie's water bowl. Well, she would crawl to it and splash around and I would continue to tell her no and redirect her. After the fourth time, I had had it and I slapped her hand and really yelled out, "I said no!". She looked at me and started screaming and crying tears, I mean real BIG tears! It tore my heart out! I felt horrible. What a bad mommy moment. Here I was getting so frustrated over something that was no big deal and people are worrying in Haiti if they will even have clean water for their families to drink. I am sure they would love for their kiddos to have a bowl of water to play in. All I can say is, Prespective.

I am so thankful that God has such grace and wants to help me be a better mommy which hopefully means to have fewer "bad mommy moments" as I call them. I should be thankful that I have a baby that loves the water like her mommy. One day we will have so much fun playing in it together. We already love bath time, and I have to say it is something I look forward to most days!

Thought I would share some pictures of us celebrating my mom's birthday. We all went out to eat last Saturday and had a great time! Happy Birthday to my wonderful mom! You make life for us so much sweeter!

9 Months Already? No! It can't be!

Miss Priss, You are 9 months old. Where has the time gone? It seems to me you should be about 5 months. This month has been a big month for you! You finally have two teeth on the bottom. You are now crawling at record speed, this has added a whole new perspective to our day for sure! You are pulling up, you love to stand! I think you will be walking soon. You love to wave "Hi". We have you on video at Christmas waving to us...Precious! You got your first cold and ran a little fever. I think we are going to have a wonderfully fun year! I love you!
Mommy

Happy New Year to all! Wow, what an amazing year this has been. I have to say that this has been my favorite by far. Ava has blessed our 2009 beyond imagine, we are truly so thankful for her. She brings joy to everyday life around our parts. I look forward to everyday with her and I am so excited to see what 2010 has for us!

My new years resolutions:
1. Start to cook more! This has been hard for me working the late shift at work. My poor hubby hardly ever gets a home cooked meal and never complains....I am so blessed! ;-) If anyone has crock pot recipes I need them!

2. Get my scrapbook room in order. Oh, what a job! Anyone want to help?!?
I also need to get caught up, I am behind since the birth of Ava. Yikes!!!

3. Find a Sunday School class both Jarred and I like. I have enjoyed my bible study group so much and I look forward to the Spring semester!


Now on to showing you some pictures from Christmas. What an unforgettable Christmas it was with Ava being here. Our first Christmas as a family of 3! I don't think I will forget the look on her face each time she got a gift. That sweet smile would appear on her face and melt our hearts. Happy First Christmas Ava Grace. I have to say, Mommy did not need one gift because you are my best gift EVER! I love you!