Books I have read..

Surprise, I haven't forgotten about this blog. I just have neglected it!

I started this year with a goal to read 12 books, one each month. I have surpassed that and needed a place to keep up with them. So I figured this would be a good place.

In no certain order

By Liz Curtis Higgs
1. Thorn in My Heart
2. Fair is the Rose
3. Whence Came a Prince

Francine Rivers
4. As Sure as the Dawn

Davis Bunn and Janette Oke
5. The Centurion's Wife

Janette Oke
6. Love Comes Softly
7. Loves Enduring Promise
8. Loves Long Journey
9. Loves Abiding Joy
10. Loves Unending Legacy
11. Loves Unfolding Dream
12. Love Take a Wing
13. Love Finds a Home

Jerry Bridges
14. The Gospel for Real Life

Marilynn Robinson
15. Gilead

Homer Hickman
16. Red Helmet

Paul L. Maier
17. Pontius Pilate

B U S Y!

I know I commited to blog more and I think about it daily however I just don't make the time.

Update: Justin got a promotion, he is now the general manager. He is still learning a lot in the process and trying to stay on top of all those things he needs to do. We are moving, locally but nonetheless we are packing boxes and moving! So my house is more messy than general! On top of that Justin and I are taking a course on Biblical Counseling. We are hoping to become certified. I am also teaching our ladies Bible Study at church. Not to mention the day to day tasks of wife and mommy!

You know what though, in all this craziness I have SOOOOO much peace. God has been so gracious during the dark times that He shines so brilliantly when the sun shines in my life. For that I am so grateful!

Just wanted to give you a very quick update. Here is a picture of miss K I took last week! She is so curious (or nosy) she pushed the kitchen table chair into the living room to the front door and stood on it so she could see out to the snow. Well that wasn't good enough. She took her Dora chair and put it on top of the chair so she could sit there and stare out the window. I thought it was too cute! I guess the open windows were not enough!

Snow Moments

blogged this here but thought you guys might like it too!

Yesterday I got to do something fun with Miss K. I realize she is not going to remember this moment but I will! We played in the snow. Not when you are 20 months old and there is snow you don't walk so great in it nor do you do much in the snow. But nonetheless we got out it in for a bit and walked around. Honestly I think it took us longer to get dressed and undressed than we were outside! But we went and that is what counts.

Some of my favorite snow memories:

When I was a kid I remember my dad making big snow piles! Sometimes they would be snow and gravel but it was still fun to slide down. He would get a tray sorta thing and make a path for me to slip and slide down! It was the coolest!

One of my favorite things would be to walk out into fresh snow, without any footprints! But at the same time I hated messing it up! I remember being pulled behind 4-wheelers on occasion and many snow angels.

I remember mom, every time, making me stand right inside the front door making me take my wet boots and clothes off. She greeted me with a big warm blanket and usually something warm to drink. We had a fireplace to stand or sit by and get roasty toasty! Good times!

My favorite snow memory with Justin comes right after we started dating. He lived across the street from my dorm and as we walked me home one night we played in the snow together. I think many snow balls were thrown and some tackling was involved but we both survived. Being silly college students all we had on were jeans and such so we were pretty frozen but none the less it was great!!

Our very first Christmas we got stuck! It was after work so probably 11:00ish the night before Christmas eve we were turning into the drive way of our apartment and got stuck! We were out there for probably about an hour before we got smart and used carpet for traction! It was not so funny at the time but the next day we both got a good laugh. Anytime we push a car we get a good giggle!

Thanks for enjoying my snow memories with me, here are a few of Miss K in the snow!

and a few of the ice

Pretty much speechless..

Tonight I have been racking my brain over something to blog but nothing worthwhile came to mind! I could write a vent about something silly or fill you in on how useless I have been lately! I could share with you my latest conviction or how I am really tired of the big purple dinosaur, but I won't. Instead I will rejoice! I will rejoice in who God is and what He is doing in my life.

The Lord is my shephard, I have all that I need.
He renews my strength.
The earth is the Lords and everything in it.
The world and all it's people belong to Him.
O Lord I give my life to you.
All day long I put my hope in you.
For the honor of your name; forgive my many, many sins.

(pieces of psalm 23, 24, 25 nlt)

Miss K Update!

I love fresh air! It is in the 50's here today! I have a window open behind my desk and I love it!! Kyla is sleeping and I am enjoying some me time! I am about to finish my latest adorable newborn session but in the meantime wanted to give you an update on Kyla!

She is getting so big, she is 20 months now! She is talking all the time, most things are indecipherable but I usually get it! However her most used words are Momma, daddy, baby, cup, peese, dank ewe, dogga, baba (barney), Boz, beeeeee (blanket), hot, and cold. She make animal sounds too. My favorite is the elephant (which was her first) and also the chicken (mainly because she flaps her arms like wings!!) She is a blast and a joy! Justin and I are very blessed that God allowed us to parent this wonderful child!! I am sure most parents feel that way!

Here are some of the latest images of her:

We were out in the snow for this one (the image in the blog header is here makeshift snow boots! Call me a redneck if you like but it gets the job done :) )

In case you haven't seen these amazing locks in person!!

Just my girl saying cheese for her momma!

Kyla and justin had a midnight chocolate date!

Going for a vintage artistic shot of her lashes and lips!


Thanks for letting a blesses mommy oogle of her little girl!

I am going to try

to blog more! I know most people say that and it does not happen but I am going to make it a goal! When I originally started blogging it was suppose to be like most blogs, a way to get my thoughts out, a way to share my life. And lately it has been rather bare and boring (okay really it has always been this way, sorry!!). I am not even sure how many people read this and really it does not even matter!

So today while miss K is napping I am going to tell you a story...

one day a freshman in college went to this small country church in rural Missouri. She met some really nice people and a very cute associate pastor. After a few visits to this church it was apparent to her and her posse (you know you all have called your friends a posse at some point in your life) decided that they were going to call this their church home. That handsome associate pastor just happened to be the College Age Sunday school teacher. That was fortunate for most of the class was made up of girls!! But really it was most fortunate for her! After a month or so went by she started hanging out with the very attractive Sunday school teacher (she was pretty naive and was not catching on to his interest at this point) in a group setting until one night when they ran into one another. He suggested that they hang out for a bit and chat. So they did.. until curfew that night! He asked if she would hang out with him the next week and she agreed. The following week rolled around and the handsome fellow came to pick up said freshman. Once she jumped into the truck the fellow looked at her and informed her they were on their first date!! Much to her surprise (considering she had on jeans and a sweatshirt!!)! During their conversation that evening he informed her of his interested and she reciprocated and well folks, the rest is history!

How to pray for your pastor

Got this from here thought is was excellent! We need to all be lifting up the men of God that fill our pulpits and lead us feeble sheep!

Pray -

1. That [your pastor] would know and love the living God, would have a saving interest in Christ, being purchased by His blood, and thus would be bound to the Lord by the indissoluble bond of the Holy Spirit.

2. That [your pastor] would know, embrace and ever more deeply understand the Gospel and be shaped by it in life and ministry.

3. That [your pastor] would be useful servant of the Lord, that he would know and love God's word, God's people, and God's kingdom; that he would be used to build it up and so that it prevails even against Hell's gates.

4. That [your pastor] would study, practice and teach the Word of the Lord, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

5. That [your pastor] would love to pray, because he loves to commune with his God, and that he would be a man of prayer, characteristically.

6. That [your pastor] would be ever dependent upon and filled with the Spirit; and that he would possess true Spiritual wisdom.

7. That [your pastor] would be holy unto the Lord. That his tongue and heart would be wholly God's.

8. That [your pastor] would be kept from pride, and especially spiritual pride. That the Lord himself would be gracious to slay pride in him, and that your pastor would endeavor to always be putting pride to death, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

9. That God would give [your pastor] guidance as to where to focus his efforts in ministry.

10. That He would protect [your pastor] from himself, from the enemy of his soul, and from all earthly enemies.

11. That no decision which [your pastor] ever makes or desire that [your pastor] ever pursues would restrict his ability to pour his whole soul into the Gospel ministry.

12.That many would be converted and many built up under [your pastor]'s ministry, to God's glory alone.

13. That the Lord would bless [your pastor]'s wife, [. . . ], with holiness and happiness, Gospel assurance and Gospel rest.

14. That God would make [your pastor] a decent husband and father.

15. That [your pastor] would be a good friend to his wife, and love her self-sacrificially,

16. That [your pastor] would be a good daddy to his children. That they would love God, their parents and the church.

17. That [your pastor] would be a testimony in the home so that his wife might be able to respect him when he is in the pulpit, and so that [your pastor] will be able to feed her soul, along with the rest of the congregation.