Our Weekend Birthday Bash

Alex turned 8 last week and Alexis is about to turn 6! So this weekend we had our big birthday bash!
It started out with a massive snow storm! It was breathtakingly gorgeous outside!
Then daddy took Alex on his annual trip to Friendly's for his birthday breakfast! (Side note: Friendly's is a chain of ice cream shops in the mid-west. I worked there for 4 years as a waitress! We LOVE Friendly's in my family!)

The theme for the birthday party was dogs! Alexis wanted 101 Dalmation Dogs.


And Alex wanted military dog fighting planes. The centerpiece was our pinata!

Mommy made 2 pans of lasagna for our relatives, along with Caesar Salad and Italian bread.


Then we took pictures before all our guests arrived!

Sweet!

Cousins! (a couple are missing in the picture)


The cake was from Dairy Queen. Our local Dairy Queen said - "choose any theme and we can google it and put it on your cake!" Awesome huh? They did a GREAT job!


Singing Happy Birthday and blowing out candles.

Lexi's favorite gift - roller blades! She spent her Sunday afternoon rolling through the house! We need some warm weather so she can use these OUTSIDE lol!


Tired parents! lol!

Silence...

The evening ends with wrapping paper, plastic cups, balloons, new books and toys scattered.

Mommy gulps as she reflects on the memories of her little ones who each day grow a little bigger.

Time.

Time seemed so slow during the Barney days.

Time.

Time is moving so fast I just want to hit the pause button.

Where did the days of binky's, bottles and blankies go?

Gone.

Completely gone - never to return.

Tear *

She wonders is she good enough?

Is she doing the right things for her children?

Has she given them too much, too little, enough?

It seems like life is 2 steps forward, one step back.

Signs of maturity sparkle but then the bubble bursts and ugly messes she never saw coming spill out.

And she wonders - trembling - how will this end, will they live well?

She lays her head in the chest of her strong man and says, "I think this is hard for a reason.
God is making sure I don't think I can do this in my own strength.

He is keeping me humbled so I will learn to persevere in prayer.

It seems I forget to pray on my knees when we take 2 steps forward.

But on days when we are one step back, I am reminded I am weak. He is strong."

And 2 who are 1, comfort each other as together they look to the future with hope.

Hope in a great God who is faithful.

Hope that in our weaknesses, God will give us strength for the days to come.

Hope that our children will be the next generation to shine like lights in a dark world.

And hope for future generations.

Lord, have mercy on us - help 2 who are 1, spiked hair son and dimpled daughter. Strengthen us. May we be fully committed to you.

2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the Lord range through out the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." NIV

Walk with the King!

I'm 35 Today!

I woke to a new beginning. The age 34 is behind me and today I'm 35! A lot happened in my life last year - I began my first year of homeschooling and LOVED it! We moved to a new home. The blog grew with the Rachael Ray appearance. The Good Morning Girls groups began on-line and grew to over 600 ladies this past summer! My husband began a new business. We lost two loved ones to death. We made many wonderful memories as a family and have grown spiritually. I grew as a wife, mom and friend. It was one of the busiest years of my life. It was a good year filled with many blessings but we also had our fair share of struggles and sadness.


As I reflect, my heart is filled with thankfulness to God. I sat this morning quietly with the sunrise - alone with Jesus. I looked at the communion cup that I keep by my computer. It's a reminder to me of why I honor my husband, why I read God's word daily to my children, why I do this thing called "blogging". It is my whole reason for living. Jesus is everything to me.


The last time we took communion at church, I was at a discouraging point with blogging. I felt "exhausted". As I held this cup in my hand there in the pew, I sensed God's presence. And these thoughts went through my mind - "Jesus is Worthy of all my sacrifice. He is worthy of my complete surrender. He is worthy!" And so when communion ended, I slipped this cup into my purse. And now it sits by my computer reminding me of the blood Jesus shed on the cross that takes away my sins and THAT is what I am MOST grateful for on my 35th birthday.

I don't know what the age of 35 holds for me. I don't know what's going to happen next on my journey. But I know who holds the future and I know "My Redeemer Lives". I am not alone. And that gives me great hope for the future.

If you do not listen to anything else I say on this blog, this is the one thing I so desperately want for my birthday from you, my dear reader. For you too to experience Jesus in your daily life. He is alive, he speaks through his word. He hears our prayers and answers them. He is worthy of our complete surrender to him. He is worthy of us rising early to meet with him. He is worthy of our sacrifice to serve our family and friends. Don't let your life slip by too busy to sit down alone with him. One day we will look sweet Jesus in the eyes. We will see his nail scarred hands and feet. Will we have regrets? What we do today in our homes matters. Live it for him alone!


This is my life verse and my prayer for you. Galatians 6:9 "Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season you will reap a harvest IF you do not give up."


Persevere sweet sisters. You are not alone - we are in this together! I love you!


Walk with the King!

Dear Weary Moms, This One's For You!

Today my sweet baby girl turns 5! She was born on April the first, so she's an April Fools Baby! She was very high energy as a baby and rarely wanted to sit long to be rocked once she could walk and so I remember the day we decided to move the rocking chair out of her room so we could put a brand new doll house in the rocking chair corner.

It was Christmas Eve. She was 3 1/2. I had to hold her tightly to get her to stay on my lap and then it happened - she fell asleep on me. And for the last time, I rocked her to sleep in her room in that old rocking chair. It was a bitter sweet moment as I looked at my little angel in my arms, I remember a tear trickling down my cheek as I knew it was our last night to rock together in that corner of her room.

Are you are a weary mom today? This poem by Karen Kinsbury is one of my favorites titled:Let Me Hold You Longer I think it will comfort you.

(Warning: If you have a child age 5 or older - get your tissues ready!)


Long ago you came to me,
a miracle of firsts,
First smiles and teeth and baby steps
a sunbeam on the burst.


But one day you will move away
and leave to me your past
And I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts…

The last time that I held a bottle
to your baby lips
The last time that I lifted you
and held you on my hip.
The last night when you woke up crying,
needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket
wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me,
still small enough to hold.
The last time that you said you’d marry
me when you grew old.


Precious, simple moments and
bright flashes from your past-
Would I have held on longer if
I’d known they were your last?


Our last adventure to the park,
your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favorite
faded baseball cap.
Your last few hours of kindergarten,
those last few days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League,
last colored picture made.


I never said good-bye to all
your yesterdays long passed.
So what about tomorrow-
will I recognize your lasts?


The last time that you catch a frog
in that old backyard pond.
The last time that you run barefoot
across our fresh-cut lawn.

Silly, scattered images
will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures,
never quite sure of your lasts…


The last time that I comb your hair
or stop a pillow fight.
The last time that I pray with you
and tuck you in at night.


The last time when we cuddle
with a book, just me and you
The last time you jump in our bed
and sleep between us two.
The last piano lesson,
last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school,
last soccer goal you make.


I look ahead and dream of days
that haven’t come to pass.
But as I do, I sometimes miss
today’s sweet, precious lasts…


The last time that I help you with
a math or spelling test.
The last time when I shout that yes,
your room is still a mess.


The last time that you need me for
a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night
with your old tattered bear.


My life keeps moving faster,
stealing precious days that pass,
I want to hold on longer-
want to recognize your lasts…


The last time that you need my help
with details of a dance.
The last time that you ask me for
advice about romance.


The last time that you talk to me
about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey
for your high school team.


I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed
seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time,
I’d hold on to your lasts.


For come some bright fall morning,
you’ll be going far away.
College life will beckon
in a brilliant sort of way.


One last hug, one last good-bye,
one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand
just how much you’ll be missed.


I’ll watch you leave and think how fast
our time together passed.
Let me hold on longer,
God,to every precious last.

In the midst of fevers, spit up, diapers and dishes we moms can grow weary. We can forget all the firsts and LASTS that our children are progressing through as we wish for the next season - one we dream to be easier.

Today I hold my Alexis a little closer. So proud that she's such a sweet 5 year old and yet sad that the preschool days are forever gone. 3 months ago in our old house, she loved Barney and the Mickey Mouse Club. But when we moved to our new home, she grew up overnight and informed me those shows were for babies. I now realize that another last had just passed us by. The door of the preschool chapter of our lives just slammed shut in my face. Gone forever!

Weary moms enjoy your children today! Psalm 127:3 "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him."NLT


Walk with the King!

Ps. Lexi's tutu is from a fellow blogger who I have followed since the very beginning of blogging in 2008 at Shabby Tiara . Her blog is filled with beautiful things! Stop by and enjoy!

My Greatest Teacher

Today my greatest teacher turns 7 years old! My first born son, Alexander, has taught me more than anyone else about sacrifice, enduring love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, patience, joy, self-control, anger, endurance, obedience to God, and humility. In just seven short years, this little guy has taught me lessons I have needed to learn to mature in my walk with God.

Psalm 127:3 says "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him." This boy - this little boy that God has given to me for a short time - is my reward. Some days are so rewarding. And then there are days when the sacrifice and patience that it takes to train him does not feel like much of a reward and I am reminded - God is not just doing a work in this little boys life - but he is using this little boy to do a work in my life.

Through my parenting challenges and hurdles God has drawn me closer to Him as I have sought Him in prayer and in His word. God has used this boy to teach me. As I look at Alexander, I see a mirror - so many of his flaws are partly my own flaws. I tell him to be patient with his sister - while I am impatient with him. I tell him to use self-control while steam is pouring out my own ears. But each year as he grows one year older - I notice that I also have grown one year older. As he matures, I mature. Together we are growing in our walk with the Lord and becoming more like Christ as God reveals our flaws through the flow of family life.


Alexander is the perfect child for me. God created him in my womb and placed him into our family because God knew that this is the child that we needed for his glory. And we are so thankful for him.

Happy 7th Birthday Alexander - You are my favorite little boy in the whole world!
Walk with the King!

Happy Birthday To Me!

Guess what? It's my Birthday! So I read a few verses addressing the issue of selfishness. Why address selfishness on my birthday? Because I have noticed in past years - since having children - that the temptation to feel that I deserve a "special" day on my birthday has begun to creep in.


Of course - when it actually turns out really special and everything goes my way - I am happy. But oh - if the kids are difficult and my husband has forgotten to buy me a present - I turn into a grouch and for some reason I feel justified - it's my birthday! But I don't see an exception clause in the Bible for selfishness on special occasions (like Mother's Day - for some reason selfishness creeps in on that day too - yucko!).


I Corinthians 13:5 says Love "is not self-seeking" - so whether it's my birthday or not - my kids should not have to go through the day with a "self-seeking" mommy. Philippians 2:3 says "Do nothing out of selfish ambition" - my husband should not have to go through the day on pins and needles trying to make his wife happy.


Acts 20:35 says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

This principle is true everyday of the year and on Birthdays too - because God's word is always true. "It is more blessed to give than to receive" - even on my birthday! So off I go to cheerfully serve my family like every other day of the year - but this year I feel steadfast on watching that no selfish ambition or self-seeking attitudes creep in.


By the way, my hubby has a business meeting all day today so we won't be able to be together on my birthday... I'm trying to not dwell on that. But I do have two gifts that the Lord has given me - my son and daughter, who are going to be with me all day and they plan to take me out to dinner - I am honored to be their guest!!! Wonder where they will take me? I'm not sure I'm selfless enough to let them choose or I could end up at the golden arches for my birthday...hmmmm... what's that verse in Acts again??? Lol (Laugh out loud)!

Walk with the King!

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Teaching Your Child the Joy of Giving

On Monday I posted how to throw a Princess party. Today I want to share with you another birthday idea that could really be thrown for someone any age! But in this scenario my friend Hope threw it for her 6 year old daughter. I found the idea so compelling I asked her to tell her story - so here's what she wrote:
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We knew my daughter Addie was going to have her first 'friend party' and have it at Chik-fil-a. One day we were riding in the van and she was talking about her party and her friends coming and I thought to myself 'the last thing we NEED is more toys' so I just said, "Hey Addie, what do you think about your friends not bringing you presents at your birthday party?" At first she was like, "um, what?" Then I thought and said, "We could have them bring something for Heart to Heart International Care Kits (because we had done that over the summer http://www.hearttoheart.org/). She wasn't really too keen on that idea and then I thought of something closer to home.

I said, "Addie, how about you have your friends bring kids coats in for Urban Connections Ministry at church, you know, for the kids who walk to school and don't have coats?" Her eyes lit up at this and she got very excited and said "Yeah!!!!"

I made sure she understood ALL of this--'this means none of your friends will bring you gifts to your party, there will be no opening any gifts because there won't be any." She was totally on board but did ask one question, "Can grandma still get me a gift?" "Of course, honey!!! Family can still get you gifts at your family party."

We mailed invitations out that simply said, "In lieu of gifts please bring a gently used child's coat." Several parents pulled me aside to talk to me--"Can't we still bring a gift?" "Are you sure about this?" "How about a coat and a gift?" "Please tell me your daughter is getting something for her birthday?!" I assured all of them, absolutely no gifts, just the coats please, and yes, she's still getting gifts from us and from family.


The day of the party we made her cake, gathered up the party favors she had made for her friends and 2 laundry baskets to put the coats in. Once at the restaurant, we put the baskets on the floor and people put the coats in them and many of Addie's friends made her cards. It was great, the kids ate, played games and had cake and ice cream. After the party we took the coats home and had enough to fill 2 black trash bags! Some people even brought more than one coat.


Addie delivered the coats to the ministry director for Urban Connections at our church. He asked her, "Addie, where did you get all these coats?" She replied, "For my birthday I chose to have my friends bring in coats instead of bringing me gifts."

It was also a great lesson in being humble. We explained to Addie that she should not go around talking about what she did for her birthday or that would be boasting. I was even REALLY torn about letting Courtney write a blog about it but I really feel like it's a great idea and Addie has learned a great lesson from this.

Two weeks after her birthday party she lost her first 2 teeth. She got a dollar for each tooth and I asked her what she wanted to spend her money on, she replied, "I want to buy a coat for the kids who don't have coats" I was moved to tears and still am to this day, with that statement!


Thus, it started another giving tradition in our home. When our kids loose a tooth, they get $2 for it, if they choose to bless someone else with the money by giving it away, we will double their money. Addie lost a tooth last week and at first she was going to keep the money, then she decided to bless kids in Malawi, Africa with it!
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Doesn't that encourage your soul! When Hope told me this story, I knew immediately it was a story that people needed to hear about - I pray that little Addie's willing heart to sacrifice her toys for coats will inspire other children to do the same and Addie's giving will be multiplied! Read this blog post to your child today - maybe they too will have a heart that is willing to give rather than receive. Teach your children the joy of giving - Acts 20:35 "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Walk with the King!

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

Tasty Tuesday: How to Make a Princess Cake

Yesterday I posted - how to throw a princess party and today I want to share with you how to make a princess party cake!

Princess Cake

Ingredients
Shortening
Flour
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
2 (16 ounce) packages vanilla frosting
A couple drops of food coloring - your choice


Cooking Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2-quart ovenproof Pyrex glass mixing bowl with shortening and dust with flour.
2. Prepare cake as directed on box. Pour batter into prepared bowl.
3. Bake 50-60 minutes or until cake tester inserted into center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes.
4. Invert on cake plate with widest part of cake on the bottom. Cool 3 hours before decorating.
5. Insert a clean doll into center of cake. Decorate the skirt with icing tinted any color or use more than one color. Use a decorator tip to make the skirt as fancy as you like. I used the star tip.


Also, here's the link on how to make a castle cake! If this princess cake is not large enough to serve your guests - you could make a castle to go along with it!



I am participating in "In Passionate Pursuit's" Tasty Tuesday and in Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday. For more blogger recipes go to these links



Walk with the King!

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

How To Throw a Cinderella Princess Party

For my daughter's fourth birthday I threw a "Princess Party". She chose a Cinderella dress to wear and so that became our theme. On our invitations, we invited all her little friends to the "Royal Ball" in our home and requested them to wear their "Royal Attire".

As the little girls arrived they were handed a dust rag and told to head into our living room to begin cleaning as Cinderella did. They all cooperated with smiles and made my living room shine :-) When all the little girls had arrived a "Royal Announcement" was made by my sister - "Hear ye, Hear ye, all the ladies of the land are invited to the palace for dinner and a ball - please line up at the door for dinner."

I was the fairy Godmother and as the little girls entered the dining room, I waved a magic wand around them saying "bippity boppity boo" and told them how lovely their dress was for the royal dinner. Each little princess found a seat at the dining room table for some finger food and to apply some jewels to a foam crown as a craft. Then it was time to head to the ball!!!

The little princesses went back to the living room and lined up on the couch and as princess music began to play - in came our prince charming! My sister's 7 year old son... my son was going to play a prince also, but he became too bashful when time came, so I released him from his princely duties!

As the music played each little princess had a turn to dance with the prince. Then it happened! Our grandfather clock began to strike midnight - bong bong bong - I told all the little girls to drop one shoe and run back into the dining room for cake!! They giggled with glee and ran.

After eating the princess cake (which I will share the recipe for tomorrow for Tasty Tuesday) - my sister went around with each little princess's shoe and fitted it on the correct princess and that was our "Royal Ending" to our "Royal Birthday" and my daughter truly had a "Royal BALL"!!!!

What is it that makes a little girl want so badly to be a princess? Children want to be a part of a royal kingdom (my son also enjoys being a prince!). If you are a child of God - you are a daughter of the one true King – you are a princess - and you do belong to a royal kingdom. We know that this world cannot be all that there is. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says “God has set eternity in the hearts of men.” And Mark 10 tells us there is a kingdom – and we all long for that place deep in our hearts.

This world is like Cinderella’s ball – the greatest day or joy eventually comes to an end. The clock strikes midnight and we fall on hard times. All joys we have here are just a taste of what is coming in heaven. And one day when we enter the kingdom of heaven we will never have to step foot back on planet earth where the clock can strike midnight again. Forever we will be with the King of Kings and there we will live in joy for eternity! What a great hope we have!

Revelation 19 tells us that one day our Prince will come riding on a white horse to take us with him. “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True…His eyes are like blazing fire and on his head are many crowns…He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God…On his robe and on his thigh he has the name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

Princesses – Your prince will come for you! If this world has dealt you a royally bad hand – hang on – it won’t be long now till you stand face to face with the King of Kings! Take hope and courage from that – and have courage today to live life with defiant joy! He is worthy!

Walk with the King!

This is linked to Kelly's Korner.