Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Small Town Life

It's rare to get both smiling and looking at me for a picture so, I got Charlie smiling in one and Piper smiling in the other (check out those teeth)!

How 'bout these curls?!

Charlie enjoys his cereal with milk like a big boy these days...and in big boy pants!

We live in a small town now. Not Georgetown small, not LaGrange small...I'm talking a real small town! Before, I never really imagined what it could be like not to live very near a city like I always have. I knew I would most likely be moving someday when I married a man on the road to career ministry, but I never thought about it being in such a different environment from where I was used to.

I miss Louisville sometimes. Things were so convenient there. There was much more to do. The zoo is there for heaven's sake and we LOVE the zoo! My family is there too, and many times I miss them dearly. But I'm finding that I'm gaining something here that I found myself lacking more often before...contentment.

I went to visit in Louisville last week and while we passed some time on those (rainy) days in the mall, Target, etc., I kinda felt yucky inside. I kept finding myself thinking, "Oh, I wish I could have this or that" or, "Ugh, I don't have any money and I want that!"
What is that about?!?! I have all that I need and even more! That was the world luring out the evil in my heart and pulling it to the forefront. I did NOT like it!

So, even though I still miss my family terribly, I'll praise God that the drive is only an hour and a half. I'll cherish my new life here in this small town, at home with my little ones, with not too many places to go, because I'm learning that God is using this place at this time to mold me little by little into the image of His Son. I DO like that!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Things that I love


I love that my children dance whenever they hear music.
I love that my husband has a sense of humor that sometimes only I can appreciate.
I love that God gave me a little boy and a little girl to raise in my home.
I love that my children have great namesakes to learn from and be inspired by.
I love ice cream.
I love that my son has an imagination that lets him be Buzz Lightyear or an Imagination Mover who is friends with Curious George and Mickey Mouse and have a hundred and one pet dogs that sleep with him and chase him around the house.
I love baths.
I love wedding rings.
I love that Piper has learned to say "hi" and waves her little hand at anyone who'll look.
I love that I get to listen to my husband preach God's word with confidence and conviction every Sunday morning.
I love that we have a great big yard, front and back.
I love that we have a "big room" that is scattered with toys and books and pillows when the kids are up, and is straight and comfy for me and Stephen when the kids go to bed at night.
I love Mexican food.
I love the sky.
I love reading in bed before I fall asleep.
I love coffee in the morning...or anytime.
I love that when I look out the window these days, I see birds.
I love that spring is coming and that we have birthdays and celebrations on the way.
I love that I'm in my 30's.
I love that my husband never mentions the bit of baby weight that's still hanging around.
I love that Charlie sometimes puts his arms around me and says, "wuv you momma" without being told to.
I love friends...old, new, my age, younger, older...they bless my life.
I love that God hears my prayers no matter how I feel about them.
I love that there are 2 Cracker Barrel rocking chairs on our back porch.
I love that my children feel so loved and at home when we're at church.
I love when my kitchen is clean.
I love that Piper is almost walking, almost eating all table food, and almost ready to drink milk.
I love that Stephen chose me.
I love that my parents/sisters/grandparents come to visit and lend a hand...and love it.
I love that my family loves me even though I'm not the greatest homemaker in the world.
I love that sometimes there are dinosaurs in our living room.
I love Tulips.
I love that I can pray that God will save the souls of my children.
I love that Jesus saves anyone who will sincerely ask Him.
I love that God is real.