Look at Me!

I am three months old!

I love to be engaged in conversation...just talk to me and I will talk, laugh and smile for as long as you like.

Watching big brother and sister run around is one of my favorite things to watch. I sit in the Bumbo and watch them go back and forth racing their strollers.

I also like to watch Beckett and Taylor Joy help cook and look forward to the day I can help mommy too.



I was dedicated at church this month and the whole body of believers agreed to pray for me and help my parents shepherd and train me as I grow up in the church community. Aunt B came to visit that weekend and be a part of the dedication.






The third month was stellar!

Pumpkin Patch Pics

Say that 10 times fast ;)

Dependence

My baby is 2 months old and since his birth I have been determined to soak up all of his littleness before he decides to become "big" like my other two.

I have been blessed and overjoyed to witness all of his babyish ways.

Those baby arms.

That double chin.

Those chubby thighs.

The plump cheeks (both sets!).

His big eyes, ever exploring the world, ever following me around the room.

His sweet dependence on me.

His expectation that I will meet his needs.

Those big smiles and overwhelming joy, his delight in me.

All of this soaking up of his precious infancy has led me to greater insight, by God's grace, of my status before the Lord.

As Easton depends on me for nourishment, comfort, and love, so I must depend on the Lord for my spiritual nourishment, comfort and love.

So often, on my quest toward finishing this life well, with good intentions I slowly begin to depend on myself. When life leads me through trials, I begin to depend on myself to get through it. Often it isn't even conscious. If I think about it hard enough, I know that that I can't possibly get through it without the Lord. Other times, I have planned something in my head and I have a need to control it, regardless of the Lord's plan.

I think the Lord must look at me and see me as a toddler scurrying around (picture Beckett), saying things like, "I can't pay my bills!" or "How will I get all this housework done!?" He is so patient with us, waiting for us to slowly come around and realize that we must depend on Him.

As I looked at Easton staring up at me the other day, smiling his precious little face off, the Lord gave me great insight into the way that we can delight Him. He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. I was so delighted to see my son smiling at me, satisfied with his mommy and content to look upon me.

It reminded me of how often I fail to just sit and be content before the Lord, delighted in Him, in who He is. Often I read the Bible just seeking out application to my life, instead of first recognizing the character of the Lord in the pages that I read and praising God for the way that He reveals Himself to us through scripture. That is the way that true application takes place. A desire in my heart to serve the One who I owe everything to. My true gratitude for the Gospel and what it means in my life, soaking that up, is what leads to effective application of the way the Bible says I should live.

I hope this encourages you to rest in the Lord, no matter what you are going through.

"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good." 1 Peter 2:2-3

Crafty Links

This one is for my crafty friends...which really means, those who desire to craft something. The crafts that I pick are extremely easy and anyone can do. Really.

My lack of posting about crafts in no way means that I haven't been crafty, I just haven't had the energy to post about the crafts, which means I am combining several of my favorite crafts into one post.

And, before I begin, I just want to say...posting fun crafts to our blog is a way for me to expose you to the fun of crafting and show you that anyone can do these! This is not my way of showing your how crafty I am..as a matter of fact, I get all my great ideas from someone else. There is rarely something I came up with on my own. So, be inspired and get crafty this week!

T-Shirt Shrug
Cut Out and Keep
This was definitely the easiest sewing project I have ever done. I am recommending it for your first sewing project. And I am going to make about 10 more of these for myself as well as some for Taylor Joy. They are perfect for layering.


Painted Pumpkins
My family loves to decorate pumpkins every year. We paint pumpkins, carve pumpkins and eat lots of yummy pumpkin desserts.

Last year I became frustrated that our pumpkins weren't lasting longer and so I bought a bunch of foam pumpkins on clearance at Hobby Lobby, thinking it may provide a way for my fall decor to go further in the season. After all, fall decor usually starts in October in our house and ends right after Thanksgiving when we pull out the Christmas decor.

I pulled out some acrylic paints and glitter from the craft closet and went to town on the foam pumpkins a couple of weeks ago. I painted stripes, polka dots, I layered paints to give a distressed look and I even glittered some. I tied raffia and bought a straw bundle to accessorize the pumpkins. I was very pleased with the result. And the best part, I can use them again next year!

So here are the steps:

1. Buy:
foam pumpkins
acrylic paints
glitter
raffia
straw bundle
Clear coat spray

2. Paint pumpkins as desired. Dots and stripes do not need to be perfect. Mine certainly aren't.

3. Let dry and then spray with clear coat.

4. Accessorize with raffia, etc. to achieve the look you desire.

Peasant Skirt
J-Caroline Creative
I made this skirt (a 3 tiered) with some ladies and being together was the most fun part. Actually, wearing them to church together was fun and reminiscent of my high school days when me and my friend Misti would wear coordinating outfits...oh the days! It makes me smile to think of our neon-wearing, platform-sporting selves.

Best. Husband. Ever.