This afternoon, during Jasper's nap time, I heard him softly singing to himself, "what can wash away my sins? Nuffin' but da bwood of Jesus..."
I'm so thankful for God's grace in Jasper's life.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Saturday, October 17, 2015
fall :)
Fall... my most favorite time of year! :o) what a sweet day we had today. It was not without its occasional hiccups here and there, but it was overall marked by sweetness. We had peaches and oatmeal for breakfast, went and got a few pumpkins from the vegetable stand down the street, got Dunkin Donuts, went trick-or-treating at the Avenue (Jasper got his face painted like a dinosaur), celebrated sweet Jackson's birthday and remembered sweet Toby's life, and now we're cozy on the couch watching the Buckeyes. We're very blessed- God is good to us!
Thursday, October 1, 2015
a few random updates
On Tuesday of this week, Brody said his first 2-word combo! I know this sounds minor, but it is quite exciting for me to see his little mind and speech continuing to develop. he said, and I quote, "Buh-bye, Dada." when Andrew was leaving to go to school. It was precious.
~~~~~
The other day, I was getting Brody dressed for the day and Jasper came ambling into the room. Jasper casually glanced at Brody and then stopped dead in his tracks. He just stood there, staring at Brody. I just stood there, staring at Jasper, wondering what on earth was going on.
Finally, Jasper said, "Wow!"
and I said, "Wow what, buddy?"
and Jasper said, "Wow! Brody looks really cool today."
I looked at Brody, who was wearing blue sweat pants and a long-sleeved blue onesie that looked like it's been around since 1980.
and I said, "He does?!"
Jasper said, "Oh yes! He looks really cool. He's got a PENGUIN on his shirt!!"
I said, "he does?!?!?!"
Jasper walked over and pointed at this tiny, itty bitty, tiny little graphic of a penguin on the bottom corner of brody's shirt... and said,
"oh wow! Brody looks so cool! He's the coolest friend I have!"
and then Jasper turned around, walked out of the room, and mumbled to himself, "oh wow. Brody is finally starting to look cool. He's REALLY cool. He's gotta penguin on his shirt. He's so cool!"
and I turned to Brody and said, "well how 'bout that!? your big brother thinks you're cool!"
and Brody said, with the biggest grin on his face, "Hiiiiiiiii!" I kinda think he knows what we were talking about. :o)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jasper has started teaching me a lot about animal habitats (his words, not mine). He loves animals and their habitats and is always either asking me questions about their habitats or telling me things, such as...
- butterflies taste things with their feet
- blue whales are over 100 feet long
- beaver dams are strong enough to keep out the strongest of animal predators.
- etc, etc
What I find particularly endearing is that whenever we're driving and pass a pond or lake, he always pipes up from the backseat and says, "I think there's a coral reef in there!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The last few weeks, we've had some sweet opportunities to minister to friends through a variety of ways. I'm thankful the Lord is giving us these opportunities!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've started canning for the long, hard fall and winter months ahead (haha! j/k. GA winters are the perfect blend of cold but not too cold). But I really have started canning again. I have a mother's helper who comes over once a week to help with the boys and I've used that opportunity to start canning a lot of things. Over the last 3 weeks, I've made/canned ham and white bean stew, black bean and vegetable stew, green pepper relish, and apple butter. I can't wait for next week's canning!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You know you've married a good man when your husband tells you that your Fantasy Football QB is having a bye week and suggests that you might want to substitute a new QB in, even though your husband is your opponent in this week's fantasy game. If that's not true love, I don't know what is! Andrew Meade, you're a darn good man!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've been taking line dancing classes at the Y and it has been a blast!! An absolute blast!!! Oh my, I love it so much!! This upcoming Saturday evening is the monthly line dancing party from 7-11pm at the local community center and I think Andrew and I are going. I can't wait! As my sweet elderly instructor said, "It's a dancing party, not a drinking party, so be ready to dance the roof off!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had the sweet opportunity to lead my small group at ladies' bible study on Tuesday, and I LOVED it. as I was sitting there, leading the small group, I just felt so thankful to the Lord for the opportunity and like this is what I was made to do. It somewhat goes along with the opportunities I've had recently to minister to friends. It's all kinda wrapped up in ministry to fellow women. I love it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most evenings, Andrew, the boys, and I share prayer requests during dinner time. When Andrew's gone at school, the boys and I still do it. Most evenings, especially when Andrew's gone, my prayer request is that God would help me not to sin. I then go on to explain to the boys that I am feeling tempted to be impatient or selfish but that I know God can change my heart and I ask them to pray that God would help me and I wouldn't sin.
Well, that has apparently stuck in Jasper's mind. Quite well. Because now, all he ever prays for is for mommy to stop sinning so much. In his sunday school class, he shares this as his prayer request. If he prays for breakfast, it goes something like this: "Dear God, thank you for this food and please help mommy to not sin so much. Amen." He shares it with his friends when they come over. He prays for it. A lot.
Yesterday morning at breakfast, I got a text from a dear friend and told Jasper, "Hang on buddy. I need to pray about something real fast." And I closed my eyes and silently started praying for what my friend texted me about. In the background, I hear Jasper tell Brody, "Don't worry, Brody, mommy's just praying that she won't sin so much today."
It made me laugh, but it also humbled me on the spot, and I instantly started praying that God would keep me from temptation and sin. Out of the mouths of babes. :o)
~~~~~
The other day, I was getting Brody dressed for the day and Jasper came ambling into the room. Jasper casually glanced at Brody and then stopped dead in his tracks. He just stood there, staring at Brody. I just stood there, staring at Jasper, wondering what on earth was going on.
Finally, Jasper said, "Wow!"
and I said, "Wow what, buddy?"
and Jasper said, "Wow! Brody looks really cool today."
I looked at Brody, who was wearing blue sweat pants and a long-sleeved blue onesie that looked like it's been around since 1980.
and I said, "He does?!"
Jasper said, "Oh yes! He looks really cool. He's got a PENGUIN on his shirt!!"
I said, "he does?!?!?!"
Jasper walked over and pointed at this tiny, itty bitty, tiny little graphic of a penguin on the bottom corner of brody's shirt... and said,
"oh wow! Brody looks so cool! He's the coolest friend I have!"
and then Jasper turned around, walked out of the room, and mumbled to himself, "oh wow. Brody is finally starting to look cool. He's REALLY cool. He's gotta penguin on his shirt. He's so cool!"
and I turned to Brody and said, "well how 'bout that!? your big brother thinks you're cool!"
and Brody said, with the biggest grin on his face, "Hiiiiiiiii!" I kinda think he knows what we were talking about. :o)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jasper has started teaching me a lot about animal habitats (his words, not mine). He loves animals and their habitats and is always either asking me questions about their habitats or telling me things, such as...
- butterflies taste things with their feet
- blue whales are over 100 feet long
- beaver dams are strong enough to keep out the strongest of animal predators.
- etc, etc
What I find particularly endearing is that whenever we're driving and pass a pond or lake, he always pipes up from the backseat and says, "I think there's a coral reef in there!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The last few weeks, we've had some sweet opportunities to minister to friends through a variety of ways. I'm thankful the Lord is giving us these opportunities!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've started canning for the long, hard fall and winter months ahead (haha! j/k. GA winters are the perfect blend of cold but not too cold). But I really have started canning again. I have a mother's helper who comes over once a week to help with the boys and I've used that opportunity to start canning a lot of things. Over the last 3 weeks, I've made/canned ham and white bean stew, black bean and vegetable stew, green pepper relish, and apple butter. I can't wait for next week's canning!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You know you've married a good man when your husband tells you that your Fantasy Football QB is having a bye week and suggests that you might want to substitute a new QB in, even though your husband is your opponent in this week's fantasy game. If that's not true love, I don't know what is! Andrew Meade, you're a darn good man!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've been taking line dancing classes at the Y and it has been a blast!! An absolute blast!!! Oh my, I love it so much!! This upcoming Saturday evening is the monthly line dancing party from 7-11pm at the local community center and I think Andrew and I are going. I can't wait! As my sweet elderly instructor said, "It's a dancing party, not a drinking party, so be ready to dance the roof off!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had the sweet opportunity to lead my small group at ladies' bible study on Tuesday, and I LOVED it. as I was sitting there, leading the small group, I just felt so thankful to the Lord for the opportunity and like this is what I was made to do. It somewhat goes along with the opportunities I've had recently to minister to friends. It's all kinda wrapped up in ministry to fellow women. I love it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most evenings, Andrew, the boys, and I share prayer requests during dinner time. When Andrew's gone at school, the boys and I still do it. Most evenings, especially when Andrew's gone, my prayer request is that God would help me not to sin. I then go on to explain to the boys that I am feeling tempted to be impatient or selfish but that I know God can change my heart and I ask them to pray that God would help me and I wouldn't sin.
Well, that has apparently stuck in Jasper's mind. Quite well. Because now, all he ever prays for is for mommy to stop sinning so much. In his sunday school class, he shares this as his prayer request. If he prays for breakfast, it goes something like this: "Dear God, thank you for this food and please help mommy to not sin so much. Amen." He shares it with his friends when they come over. He prays for it. A lot.
Yesterday morning at breakfast, I got a text from a dear friend and told Jasper, "Hang on buddy. I need to pray about something real fast." And I closed my eyes and silently started praying for what my friend texted me about. In the background, I hear Jasper tell Brody, "Don't worry, Brody, mommy's just praying that she won't sin so much today."
It made me laugh, but it also humbled me on the spot, and I instantly started praying that God would keep me from temptation and sin. Out of the mouths of babes. :o)
Sunday, September 20, 2015
potty training
We've been doing some mild potty training with Brody, and today for the first time, he went to the bathroom on the potty!! It was sweet and a big milestone for him. Jasper was 21 months when we switched him to undies, and Brody is currently 19 months, so he might be on the same track as J was.
In other news, we are camera-less. We have been for a while now, so I sadly haven't had any picture to put up here b/c I haven't taken any in ages. :( I have been snapping pics with my phone, though, and putting my favorite one from the day up on Instagram, so that's soothing my photography itch for now.
In other news, we are camera-less. We have been for a while now, so I sadly haven't had any picture to put up here b/c I haven't taken any in ages. :( I have been snapping pics with my phone, though, and putting my favorite one from the day up on Instagram, so that's soothing my photography itch for now.
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Brody is talking!
Brody is actually saying words now!! It's incredibly precious! He's up to 20 words, and you can just tell that he loves being able to communicate with his fam. His favorite words are, "jasper, ball, bear, and ruff!!". Some others are car, truck, momma, Dada, Nana, papa, grandma, grandpa, spoon, drink, juice, bug, and uh-huh. His sweet little voice is so deep sometimes and its such a delight to watch him blossom!
Jadip
Oh gracious! What an incredibly sweet day we've had today. All day, I kept thinking, "this is just another day in paradise, thank you God!" How kind He is to give us such sweet family times!
There was nothing special about today; it was all very normal... Laundry, grocery shopping, hiking at Line Creek, going to a craft show, family devo's, playing outside, cooking, and lots of dishes. But it was just so precious. God is so good!
Sunday, September 6, 2015
my dearest future Brody
My dearest Brody,
I love you so much. I love you so, so, so, so, so much.
I love you so much that some days my heart positively aches when I look into your sparkling, mischievous blue eyes. Your daddy and I prayed for you and hoped for you and ached for you long before you ever joined our family. I still remember the exact moment when we found out that the Lord answered our prayers in giving you to us... We had just gotten home from a vacation to Mexico when I found out and I started shaking and crying and hugging your daddy. And smiling. I smiled like crazy. I smiled and smiled and smiled and I couldn't seem to wipe that smile off my face. And now that you're in our family, dear son, and are a vibrant, energetic little guy, you're still bringing a constant smile to my face.
While I call your older brother my tender, talkative ray of sunshine, I call you my joyboy firecracker. You, my little joyboy, bring so much joy to our lives. You love, absolutely LOVE, to make people laugh. Once you realize that you've done something to make people laugh, you do it again... and again... and again. And each time you do it, you do it a little "bigger" and "louder" and more "firecracker-y". You love to bring joy to people's lives. You love to make people smile and laugh. You love to be a ham and lighten the mood and you do your absolute best to make any mundane little moment a party. And I absolutely love this about you.
As I mentioned above, you're my joyboy firecracker. Your Daddy and I use "firecracker" as one of our words to describe you because there is nothing subtle about you. You make a BANG, both literally and figuratively, in everything you do. You do nothing part-way. You are either "all in" or "all out". You are so very passionate. When you decide to do something, no matter what it is, you are committed to it to...the...death. Nothing can deter you, dissuade you, or distract you. You are so focused in your passion and commitment to things. And, dearest Brody, you are simply spectacular; much like how firecrackers are spectacular and beautiful, so are you. Dear boy, we love you so much and are constantly begging God to save you at a young age and to grow you into a boy who loves the Lord and loves His word so that this passion and commitment and firecracker-ness which makes up your DNA will be your greatest strength as you cling to the promises and the teachings of God.
While we haven't had too many conversations yet as you're pretty content to let your brother do most of the talking (all of the conversations between you and me are pretty much limited to dogs, because not only do you know how to bark but you also LOVE to bark and do so with great passion... hence, we talk about dogs a lot.)... Anyway, while we haven't had too many conversations yet, I simply can't wait to start talking with you, hearing what's on your heart and what's swirling around that little head of yours. I can't wait to walk through more of life with you. I can't wait to see you grow into a teenager with passions, goals, and ambitions. I can't wait, dear joyboy. But while I can't wait for the future, I'm also so incredibly thankful for the present. I'm so thankful for each day that God gives me to play with you and be with you and watch you. I'm so thankful to be your mom. I'm so thankful that our family dynamic is made up of both a tender, talkative ray of sunshine and a joyboy firecracker. Our family simply wouldn't be complete without you.
You are passionate.
You are joyful.
You are my ornery ham who will never give up and never back down.
And I love you, darling son, body and soul.
I love you so much. I love you so, so, so, so, so much.
I love you so much that some days my heart positively aches when I look into your sparkling, mischievous blue eyes. Your daddy and I prayed for you and hoped for you and ached for you long before you ever joined our family. I still remember the exact moment when we found out that the Lord answered our prayers in giving you to us... We had just gotten home from a vacation to Mexico when I found out and I started shaking and crying and hugging your daddy. And smiling. I smiled like crazy. I smiled and smiled and smiled and I couldn't seem to wipe that smile off my face. And now that you're in our family, dear son, and are a vibrant, energetic little guy, you're still bringing a constant smile to my face.
While I call your older brother my tender, talkative ray of sunshine, I call you my joyboy firecracker. You, my little joyboy, bring so much joy to our lives. You love, absolutely LOVE, to make people laugh. Once you realize that you've done something to make people laugh, you do it again... and again... and again. And each time you do it, you do it a little "bigger" and "louder" and more "firecracker-y". You love to bring joy to people's lives. You love to make people smile and laugh. You love to be a ham and lighten the mood and you do your absolute best to make any mundane little moment a party. And I absolutely love this about you.
As I mentioned above, you're my joyboy firecracker. Your Daddy and I use "firecracker" as one of our words to describe you because there is nothing subtle about you. You make a BANG, both literally and figuratively, in everything you do. You do nothing part-way. You are either "all in" or "all out". You are so very passionate. When you decide to do something, no matter what it is, you are committed to it to...the...death. Nothing can deter you, dissuade you, or distract you. You are so focused in your passion and commitment to things. And, dearest Brody, you are simply spectacular; much like how firecrackers are spectacular and beautiful, so are you. Dear boy, we love you so much and are constantly begging God to save you at a young age and to grow you into a boy who loves the Lord and loves His word so that this passion and commitment and firecracker-ness which makes up your DNA will be your greatest strength as you cling to the promises and the teachings of God.
While we haven't had too many conversations yet as you're pretty content to let your brother do most of the talking (all of the conversations between you and me are pretty much limited to dogs, because not only do you know how to bark but you also LOVE to bark and do so with great passion... hence, we talk about dogs a lot.)... Anyway, while we haven't had too many conversations yet, I simply can't wait to start talking with you, hearing what's on your heart and what's swirling around that little head of yours. I can't wait to walk through more of life with you. I can't wait to see you grow into a teenager with passions, goals, and ambitions. I can't wait, dear joyboy. But while I can't wait for the future, I'm also so incredibly thankful for the present. I'm so thankful for each day that God gives me to play with you and be with you and watch you. I'm so thankful to be your mom. I'm so thankful that our family dynamic is made up of both a tender, talkative ray of sunshine and a joyboy firecracker. Our family simply wouldn't be complete without you.
You are passionate.
You are joyful.
You are my ornery ham who will never give up and never back down.
And I love you, darling son, body and soul.
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