Part of my Day...in pictures...

Mommy catches me often during the day sneaking up the stairs.  Uh oh...

Hey the reason I go up the stairs to to make myself beautiful...like my sisters.

Harper's favorite Past-time these days.  Talking on the phone.  HEWWOOO?  Many unsuspected people in my family have gotten Harper's phone calls unbeknowst to me.

Ok Ok...I will pose for you a bit.  But I'm kind of tired.

Kissing her baby doll.  This little one is already OBSESSED with babies.  No one needs to teach gender to these little ones.

We are practicing....on standing!  Yes...at 15 months we are a little behind that we are not walking yet.  But we are getting there.  Slowly but surely.  She will take a few steps when she feels like it though:)

Deep in thought...she is pretending to be "grown-up"

Ahhh..it's not very often I get a "real" smile from this little one.  I think we were discussing the topic of "poop" when taking this picture.  Yes, totally typically of my 3-almost 4 year old.

Finley's new obsession.  Her mommy's red boots.  Hey..what can I say?  This girl has some good tastes!

Tap tap tap tap...Acting and "sounding" like a Mommy.  These haven't left her feet for 2 days!

A BIG FAT F....

Yes...that's right.  A big fat F.  That's what I give myself.  Since I am now teaching, I am into giving out grades to myself and I give myself an F.  An F for FAIL.  Yes, I have been so ignoring and FAILING my blog considerably.  But it's not just my blog.  It's a lot of things.

Let me back up a bit.  Last time I had "blogged" I had mentioned that their was a lot of life events that were changing for my household.  The biggest thing was that I was going back to work.  Well, just two days a week to start so at least not full time. And then come January, I was to start teaching at a local community college here in the town I live in.  I knew I would be busy, sure I knew...  But I didn't want to stop doing the things I love as well such as photography, and baking cakes.  So since October, here is what I have been up to in list form (I am also into organzing my life now..! HA!):

1.  Working 2 days a week counseling kids in school and preparing for each session with them
2.  Preparing for teaching college lectures
3.  Learning my material for these lectures so I can at least sound half way like I know what I am talking about.
4.  Helping to write our church's Christmas production
5.  Rehearsing and starring (ha!!  ok..not really..but a small part) in my Church's Christmas production
6.  Baking cakes for different cake orders that came in (artistic outlet for me!)
7.  Starting a photography business...(What??!!  I know...more to come on that later)
8.  Getting my family ready to leave for 2 weeks over Christmas to PA.
9.  Trying to do this all while my husband travels every week..
10.  And oh yeah....nurturing and pouring into the lives of three precious gifts God has given me..

Ok...I admit.  I had my hand in WAY too much stuff.  But all these things are good things.  All these things I thought God brought to me and I couldn't pass up.  Again, subconsciously, I was thinking I could be SuperMom...at least for awhile.  But come the beginning to December, I starting to Fail.  I started to fail at each of every one of those lists.  I was not being a good employee.  How could I?  I couldn't devote the time I needed to for my clients.  I was not being a good Mommy.  I was so stressed that I unfortuntely, put these precious little pumpkins at the bottom of my list. I was not being a good wife.  Poor Steve--he didn't even make my list.  This man of my dreams should be #1 on this list.  I was so tired with everything going on that I was failing.  Failing miserably.  And my attitude about it all...well let's just say that was ummhmmm...failing as well (and that is putting it kindly).  Something had to go.  I couldn't keep it up.

So I made the tough decision and decided that yes..after only doing it for a few months, I needed to quit my counseling job 2 days a week.  I am not a quitter..so for me to resign after just starting killed me.  It killed me to say that "I failed at this".  It killed me to say that I couldn't be supermom.  A lot of  mom's work...why couldn't I keep up with it?  But monetarily wise, this posistion was not making a lot of sense.  Daycare wise it wasn't working out either.  So Steve and I talked and prayed and knew that this was the one area that was causing me so much stress that needed to go.

I knew I needed to concentrate on my Mommyhood.  And not get so caught up in helping to "bring in the cash" or contributing to the world.  My girls are the ministry God has brought to me at this time in my life and I need to take full advantage of it now.  It always won't be that way.  I need to thank God for this blessing.  God will take care of other things in my life that I worry about.  I need to focus on taking care of my family.  This is something I need to constantly remind myself as I get so caught up in the world's view of working mom's.

I am still an adjunct professor at the community college.  But actually, I am loving it.  I am only teaching one class...and am gone two mornings a week, but it is just perfect for me.  I still get to put my years of education to the test for 3 hours each week, and then I get to be a Mommy the rest of the time.  To be honest, the lecture preparing has been grueling, but I am hoping that next time I teach this class it will be a piece of cake!  :)  I am so thankful to God for the opportunity to have something like this that is so part time.  I am so thankful to have the opportunity to invest in student's lives the way my professors did.  To hopefully help them appreciate the complex and amazing way that God designed us relationally for His glorious purposes.  (Although I obviously can't tell them that in those words! ).

And yes..I am in the process of starting a little photography business.  But this is a slow, long process.  Photography has become an absolute LOVE of mine.  I am excited to develop it more and if I can make a little money in the process then...hey..it makes it even more fun, right?  :)  I am hoping to post more info about this in the future. 

Well failing...it's not something I do quite gracefully.  It's quite humbling.  Thankfully I have a God who helps me get back on my feet and gives me 2nd (or 3rd and 4th) chances.  So...blogging..while I am not committing to anything right now in the midst of psychology lecture preparing, I am committed to do better then once every 4 months.  I mean, this is for my girls, right?  I fail at the whole scrapbook thing so I at least better make this work so they have a little bit of memories in their young days!  :)    So here's to improving my grade....!!

Trick or Treat....

Trick or Treat

We Look real Neat

We Got way too much good stuff to eat

My Momma does say

that if it don't go away

she will have a big price to pay

For crying out loud

Those dang Snickers she chowed

And for that she ain't too proud

For her buttocks now looks like a jello jiggler going floppity flop

And the love handles....have you heard the term "Muffin top?"

The candy has now got to go

Before she stoops to an all time low

Somebody help find that discipline she does know

Because everytime we turn around

We hear the "hands in the candy" sound

Momma shouts, "Look what I found!"

And pulls out a Snickers again

Is this the unpardonable sin?

So now we hide the candy in a great big tin

Praying she won't let herself in

Momma it's for your better good

PLEASE stay away from the sugar food


Ok...I really wrote that for myself.  Hoping it would be self motivation to KEEP MY HANDS OUT OF THE CANDY JAR.  Darn Halloween!  But I do have the cutest trick or treaters on the block!

This year we had a Bride, A Pink Poodle, and A Black Cat.  No Theme this year...sniffle sniffle.  It was the first year Steve hasn't dressed up with the girls.  They both had admandent ideas this time about their costumes.

My Sweet little Trick or Treaters...

We did have a fun Halloween.  My inlaws were in town from PA so they got to participate in all the fun.  I love having girly girls so dressing them up was half the fun for me.

Harper's Dedication

A couple Sunday's ago, Steve and I had the privledge of dedicating our sweet Harper Sophia to the Lord.  By dedicating her, Steve and I acknowledged and made a committment to the Lord that we were going to raise her by teaching her about Him and training her up as the Bible commands us to.  It also means that I will pray on a daily basis that Harper will come to know the Lord as her personal Savior and grow up to do mighty things for Him!  Heaven knows she is already a little powerhouse who needs little sleep!  HA!  Along with her dedication, I picked up a verse that I wanted committed solely to her on this day:

Ephesians 3:19-20
(add ins by me...)

"Harper I want you to know that Christ's love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you, Harper, will be able to know that love.  Then you, Harper, can be filled with the fullness of God.  With God's power working in you, Harper, God can do much, much more than anything Harper could ever ask or imagine."

Harper's Dedication Day.  She looked so cute but didn't feel well at all.  Her first time being really sick:(  Hence her runny nose!

Storms....

Do you remember that song that we used to sing in Sunday School when we were little?  Ok here it goes...umhmm...(me clearing my throat)....Ha...good thing you really can't hear me huh? :)

The Wise Man built His house upon the rock
The Wise Man built His house upon the rock
The Wise Man built His house upon the rock
And the Rains came tumbling down!

The Rains came down and the Floods came up
The Rains came down and the Floods came up
The Rains can down and the Floods came up
And the House on the Rock stood firm

The Foolish Man built His house upon the sand
The Foolish Man built His house upon the sand
The Foolish Man built His house upon the sand
And the Rains came tumbling down!

The Rains can down and the Floods came up
The Rains came down and the Floods came up
The Rains came down and the Floods came up
And the House on the sand went SPLAT!

So Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
 build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
And the blessings will come down!

The Blessings come down as the prayers go up
The blessings come down as the prayers go up
The blessings come down as the prayers go up
So build your house on the Lord!

I was reminded of this song as I was listening to one of my favorite speakers, James MacDonald who is doing a series on the family.  On the family during hard times.  Isn't it awesome how God uses random things and people to speak through you when you really need it?  And sure enough...he uses simple children's songs to inspire you....well at least me:)  As I was listening to this sermon series James Macdonald said something that I LOVED.
He said, "EVERY family goes through storms.  No family will beat the odds of getting off easy here.  We will all encounter some type of storm in our family lives.  And until the storms come, every house on the block looks good...it all looks the same.  It is only when these storms come can you determine which house is built on the rock and which is built on the sand.  It is only when these storms come that it is apparent if your family is built on TRUTH."

It is my prayer that Steve and I are building our home on truth.  The "sand" is the easy way to do family and quite honestly when I feel like I don't have any energy to stand up let alone "train up my child" or "work on my marriage" the "sand" is the most appealing way to do things...and do them quick.  But building my home on the Truth...on the rock..takes time...it takes perserverance...it takes energy.  But it's the only way our family will make it through these storms...and I know that when I ask the Lord for supernatural energy to do this...He will show Himself mightly.  He already has:)  Both Steve and I are committed that we want to build our houses on the rock...and not take the easy way out.  Maybe this is why God allowed these storms to come into our lives.  Maybe we were drifting off path and starting to get lazy...maybe our house was turning into sand.  But not anymore...we are refocused.  We are moving forward.  As my heart wants to grieve all this hard stuff going on around me, I can hear the Lord's still small voice telling me, "Sarah, look in front of you.  Not to the right or to the left."  It's His way of telling me to endure building this house up with a firm and not shaky foundation.  It's His way of telling me that "He works all things for the Good  to Those who love Him."  And I will trust in Him.  Because He is TRUTH!

Lord guide my feet and my mind in a direction that will lift my HOME and family up to your glory!

What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger......

 I hope.....


I have been absent.  again.  sigh.  But quite frankly the reason is....well....I haven't wanted to blog.  I haven't wanted to share what is really going on.  I haven't wanted to act like everything is ok too.  Because it's not.  I'm really struggling.  Our family is reallly struggling.  It's been probably one of the hardest times our family has had to go through.  And while I don't feel like I am up to sharing what is going on, I do ask for prayer for us.  I realize that every family struggles....and I will be the first to tell you that our family is obviously not exempt from these.  And as we are going through a difficult time, I can't imagine those families who go through these times without the hope of our Saviour.  I honestly couldn't make it through the day without His encouragement and His Word that has told me that everything will be ok.  That we will be ok.  God is really tugging at our roots and breaking down all facade that have masked our true identity of who we once thought we were.

When I really needed to hear from God, He spoke.  It was loud and clear and completely directed at me.  And completely brought me that peace when I needed it most.

Isaiah 41:4
"Who caused this to happen?  Who has controlled history from the beginning?  I, the Lord, am the one.  I was here at the beginning, and I will be here when all things are finished."

Isaiah 41:9b-10
"I have chosen you and have not turned against you.  So don't worry, because I am with you.  Don't be afraid, because I am your God.  I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you."

Isaiah 41:13
"I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, "don't be afraid.  I will help you."

Thank you Jesus for your love and comfort...and most of all your soverignity. 

It's during these times that I will admit...the journey to joy is hard to find.  When all around me seems to be crumbling and what I thought life would be like is completely not.....I have to choose joy.  How do I do that?  Well...I will get back to you once I figure it out myself.  All I know is that I am going to have to make a conscience effort each and every day...maybe each and every hour. 

But I do know...God gives me the strength to do everything.  And that He who began a good work in me will continue it until completion....and it's those truths that I have to hold on to.


Well on a completely different note...I have never blogged about my baby's first birthday.  Now that was a joyful time.  The birthday girl was the smash of the party, of course!  She LOVED her cake (now I know for a fact that she is MY daughter!  HA!)  She had no problems digging right in.  And she did get into opening her presents too.  It was a lot of fun.  We had a Diva party for her.  Complete with a pink leopard print foofed out cake I made for her.  :)  It was a low key party (the poor third baby never gets the big shindigs like her oldest sister got!), but it was super cute!  I wish we could do it again soon.  Here are some pics...



The Birthday Girl!



The Diva Birthday Cake!



This Girl brings me TONS of joy!  :)!!



She shoved in her cake!



mmm...purple icing!




Brining in her mini cake!




This is the theme I got the cake idea off of!

Well we had a lot more pictures of the birthday party but I am not patient enough to deal with blogger upload right now!

New Uses for Ordinary Things...take 5!

So yes...I have been absent this week.  It's been busy again...not even a moment to sit.  And well..something less fun came up too...maybe that will be a blog post at a later time.  But for now..a new use for an ordinary thing! 

So Here is our Ordinary thing or things....

Paper and a Permanent Marker!!

Now...who doesn't have these things right?!  But did you know that besides the usual writing and drawing...One could do this?

drumroll Please....



A CENSOR for your husband's Sport Magazines!

I mean...come on  ESPN magazine.  There is not very many magazines that my husband can subscribe to anyway without gross..tempting pictures.  And now...you have followed suit as well. ESPN's annual "body issue" I guess.  It features...rather revealing photos that well...lets just say after 3 kids I would not fare well in this issue...HA!   Well..I took matters in my own hands.  And did you know how much fun censoring can be?  You can find that you have a whole bunch of talents with just a pen and a permanent marker...

Look what all you can do while censoring with a marker and paper...

Write LOVING notes to your husband while he reads....

Become your own fashion designer with just a marker and paper!

And become your own stylist....

Ok Steve...you may now read your magazine....:)

Coming soon...pics of Harper's 1st birthday party!  It was a blast.  But she is now up from her nap..screaming.  So I will have to upload later!!