Thanksgiving!

There is so much to be Thankful for today!!! To even be thankful for anything I need to first let it be known how thankful I am for God's Grace and an unfailing savior. 

A plaque I found from Day Spring says "she knew that she was formed by God's hands, dreamed up in his heart and placed in this world for a purpose' 

It amazes me to look back through my life and know the path I was guided on, God was behind me then and will be for ever. He has blessed me with a husband that knows me better then I know myself, a little girl who is a joy to us and everyone who comes in contact with her, family full of love, 2 furry friends that are always excited to see me and snuggle, a home, and a comfy bed :)

Morgan has had 4 ear infections in 10 weeks...a little crazy so we took the plunge after chiropractic care wasn't quite enough and had tubes put in Wednesday. Being this was the first big thing that we have had to decide on for Morgan I think there was a lot more weight on our shoulders then we realized and we worried more then we should have. This is a pretty common and quick procedure, we spent longer calming her down afterward then she was in surgery. She was not a happy girl coming out of anesthesia but that is to be expected and she was hungry!! There are a few places in the bible that tells us not to worry. I am really struggling with not worrying and trusting in God that he has control. I pray each morning that God can be in control of my day and that i am ok with him being in control, that he can take my worry and let me enjoy the day i have in front of me. This has helped a lot i am in a better mood on the days that I heart-fully pray this, but i still struggle in many areas. Matthew 6:25 says “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

  

Waiting to go in to get tubes 

Sick little girl

 she loves sucking on cold rags!

 Our little Marshmallow - (thanks Renkly's for the wonderful cloths!)

 Momma Mable making sure Morgan is ok after tubes - we feel bad we got her fixed and can't have pups because she for sure has momma tendencies

Eucalyptus, Monvee and Grace

My favorite smell is Eucalyptus. After spending a semester in Australia I really started to like the peaceful smell of it! So when I get a chance to take a bath I have a few selections of Eucalyptus smelling bath soaks, i also have a spray (oil)i use often times when i am stuffy in the bathroom after a shower or in our bedroom at night or even in Morgan's room, it helps me breath better!!! Just the thought of it makes me relax!

I am leading a women's Monvee bible study on Wednesday nights, I told Matt when it started i would do the 7 week class and that is it. I am a slow learner and know that when i put limitations on God he doesn't listen well!!! We are going on our 8th week of the study and i think we have at least 2 or 3 weeks left. I have never been in a small group where you can feel that God is there, each and every lady that has showed up was placed in this study for a reason, to tell there stories to help the other ladies, see something in a different light, to learn from each other, we typically have 8-10 women there and each time is amazing. I told the ladies last week that I feel like I can't just end the study at the semester and that we need to keep meeting in January. I am thankful the study is on Wednesday's because it really recharges me to tackle the rest of the week.

One amazing story - we had a lady show up a few weeks ago for the first time, she had stopped into the church a few times but had not joined a group yet, the Wednesday she joined us she was riding her bike past and was ready to get home to watch a TV show she was super excited about. Something (GOD) made her turn her bike around and walk into church to find a small group. As she was walking up to church her landlord was walking out and they knew exactly what study to take her to....it was so amazing to see the group respond in Grace to someone new in the class everyone welcomed her with open arms. The mission statement vision statement (whatever they are called) is:

Encounter grace: we want people far from God to know God through faith in Jesus.
Grow in grace: we want people who know Jesus to grow close to Jesus.
Give grace: we want people who know Jesus to share Him with others and bring His teachings and ways to a world that is in desperate need of the love of Jesus

My group is a PERFECT example of this. Words can't even begin to express my thankfulness to God and my excitement.  I also feel that the story above is under told but i don't know what words to use to explain in! God is Amazing!

GRACE - there is so much behind this! Grace is about being forgiving, looking past what one has done, if you have a bad day, you don't need to take it out on the waitress that maybe is having a bad day as well. Try giving someone that extra smile, hold the door for someone with full arms, let someone into your lane when you are driving, try to be kind to people no matter what is going on in your day and see how that can turn our attitude around. EVERYONE deserves grace, no matter what you have done, haven't been to church in a while, God is graceful, go, if you go every once in a while, don't feel bad about it, you have to do what you can and God is graceful. Were you selfish when you should have really sat down to read with your kid, or call your friend to see how they were doing, its ok. God is graceful.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. ~ 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
God has given you GRACE so you can give it to others...

 Aussie boy!

 to cute!

 happy Holloween - well kind of..she wasn't to thrilled about the outfit!

 Morgan and Mable playing!

nose crinkle!

now for a bowl of ice cream

******SIGH********

my bowl of ice cream was great!

My  I am wore out! I haven't sat down for more then 20 minutes since church! So my brain isn't working quite well to write much

ahhh! she is trying to stand!

 After a 2 hour party in the middle of the night this is how she passed out!

 Grandpa Steve came to visit and meet Morgan

 love the way she is looking at Matt!

 Matt's aunt and uncle and their dog came to visit and meet Morgan as well!

 enjoying some fall weather and leaves

8 months old!!!



Ah my baby is growing up way to fast.

I don't have to much to ramble about tonight...so here are some pictures of what we have been up to, her personalty is starting to come back!

 

she thinks she is funny, learning new tricks

 Dog sitting Jax - My friend Ashley's dog..our dogs did pretty good

 Sara was home!! Meetting Morgan for the fist time

 Grilling - Aussie loves the grill, this is his favorite spot when its on so he can breath in the smells!

 Lots of steam baths

 Didn't like the lights in the morning and didn't want to get up!

 Lots of nebs (she isn't always this good with them)

 Rolling, Rolling, Rolling and more Rolling

 Finally had a chance to make some Baby food!!

 I made sweet potatoes and carrots

Lots of sitting and scooting...she was in the bobby

God grabs our attention

Morgan has pneumonia.

This weekend was going to be super busy…Friday night was to be a girls night, Saturday morning running/walking a 5k, Sunday pastries in the parking lot which I helped organize, this is the weekend where what Matt does at church comes to life …the launch of Monvee and handing out the packs to a congregation off 1000 + ish  AND Growth Group sign ups for groups starting next week!. (seems like a simple task…not so much!) So I will be helping him out and a impromptu pastors wives gathering Sunday afternoon plus all the normal stuff that didn’t happen during the week, sweep, vacuum, disinfect our house from the colds etc. laundry…you know the list. 

God sure grabs our attention when we have to much going on and don’t focus on him and our family ..when we get stressed and to busy …he lets us know, in a way I DO NOT like.

This is the second time this has happened. We tried to go visit Matt’s dad and grandparents over Memorial day.

 

Morgan ended up sick.  it was the start of pneumonia.....

The trip was not the stressing point, it was everything around it and God new we just needed a weekend at home we didn’t tell anyone we were home so we slept in and relaxed and truly enjoyed being a family, we didn't even go to church because we had planned to be gone.

So our weekend plans now included, kind of watched hitched while we played with Morgan, a wonderful budget meeting (yes I used the words together..when we do this together God provides!) Time for me to clear my inbox and sort out the calendars (down to  4 and doing pretty good!!)  I am going to make up some hours Saturday since I spent the afternoon home with Morgan, a nap, sometime in the hammock and of course snuggling time with Morgan. Sunday will still be a little hetic but thankfully we have wonderful friends and family who are going to come and watch Morgan while we go to church and maybe the pastors wives thingy.

I realized this tonight as a felt a sense of relief and needed to write it while it was on my mind. 

hopefully i will have a chance to post some pictures this weekend...unless i decide to hang out in the hammock a while longer :) 

annoyed

i should have known when i saw the message 'error while trying to save' that i needed to stop and figure out what the deal was instead of keep typing and lose my blog!!!!!!!!!!!!   i can't really be mad becuase in the big picture IT DOESN'T MATTER! i was just rambling on how different it is running outside then it is running on a tredmil the race is only 2 weeks away all i want to do is finish it!! so here is a blurb from what i call my hope for the day - (first place for health daily calendar)

Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

birthday

I had a great birthday weekend!!!!! I took Friday of for a sanity day and Morgan went to daycare, I went back to sleep after Matt and Morgan left and I slept until 11, I woke up in a panic because i have not done that in a LONG time thankfully i had nothing planned for the day so there was no reason to panic. I spent the after noon relaxing and some time in my new hammock...it is lovely and our backyard is truly a gift from God, it is so peaceful...except when Mable runs away. after relaxing in the backyard the dogs and I went to the ponds (dumb grounds, nature park, whatever you call them south of town!). I even hit up the Hy-Vee 2 day sale before the after work rush..oddly I was looking forward to going there...although I am starting to realize that i think Matt should do the grocery shopping because i spend way to money when i go, even if i have a list.  

Matt picked out a fabulous fettuccine Alfredo recipe that he made for supper and of course had some cheese cake for desert! The rest of the weekend was relaxing and to top it off Mogan slept until 8 on Saturday and was super happy all weekend even with a stuffy nose! We had her 6 month check up and she is in the 95% for weight and as healthy as can be! 

Climbing around on daddy

 enjoying my birthday present

cheesey face

 this one looks a lot like one of my baby pictures!!!

 i love this girl!

 way to cute!

.........

I don't have much to say, i am winding down from a busy week at work and a lot going on after work. I am ready for my day off to enjoy doing what ever I want!!!!

Aussie doesn't like to miss out on the snuggle time

 the nasty carpet in the kitchen is GONE! (i need to take a new picture)

 She loves to sleep on her tummy and get her head stuck under the crib toy

 So stinkin cute!

 Let me share my birthday cake with you - Happy 1st birthday cousin McKayla!

 Amazing sun set

 Anthony and Morgan

 Riley and Morgan

 Sleeps just like her dad! We got a smaller toy so she would quite hitting her head!!

 I want to eat my foot!

24 hours

Here I sit with a swiss cake roll in my hand...wondering how we all have 24 hours in a day but it seems like there are some people who have 48 hours in one day and they can do twice as much as the average person and still hold it all together. Yes i know not to long ago I wrote about how a sabbath is so important, it is so easy to forget and keep in practice what I learned recently...and i must not have taken a rest day this week. Last week i did pretty good at keeping up on cleaning but did no reading this week, i haven't done anything and the way the week is looking, i don't think i will get much accomplished on the cleaning end or on the reading end.

With only a few hours to spend with Morgan I try to soak up each moment with Morgan after work, since we have from 5.30 - 8ish with her each night and then Saturday and on Sunday really only from noon - 8 ish when she goes to bed. I am not complaining about work, in fact i feel i can be a better Mom because I work, i can focus on her when we are home and she is awake, if i were home full-time i feel i would worry more about how clean the house is then what is going on with Morgan and getting her in a routine, plus i like to be busy...to an extent, that i would need something to do... ideally part time would be better but anyways for now full time it is and we are making it work well, it helps having an amazing husband. Also we have such amazing daycare it makes working so much easier that she is in the arms of someone who loves her just as much as we do.  

Anyways back to the real post (24 hours), i sat down to feed Morgan just after 7 and started flipping through the channels and the bachelorette was on, typically i can watch a show like that for 30 mins and not care much for it...well 2.5 hours later the show was STILL on!!!!! so this made me think...how do people do it? our society is so obsessed with reality shows that how do people spend time with their kids when they are watching shows? am i the only one that stresses that i want to clean my house more? we could really clean out the laundry room tonight? do i worry to much about the dishes that i can't sit down and watch a show? whats the difference? i have NO clue but i learned and promised myself in college when i started watching Lost that i wouldn't let myself get hooked on any other shows because at the time i didn't think i had time to watch shows and i have stuck pretty true to my word. i get to wrapped up in the show that i schedule my life around it, so i told my self...NO! plus i could really care less if we had a tv upstairs, i got so much more done when we didn't have one. 

So here is a day in the life of me (each week day typically goes like this besides the time watching the tv. i usually spend a little time on the computer.
3:00 Morgan woke up, get her back to sleep 
5:45 wake up and stick the nuk back in Morgan's mouth and pray she rolls back over
6:15 alarm goes off -
6:40 shower, breakfast(matt is wonderful and typically makes breakfast), pack lunch, get Morgan's bag ready
7:15 wake up Morgan - feed her and get her ready
7:55 we were out the door as a family this morning (big deal its been closer to 8:30 when we left last week)
8:15 - 5:15 work
5:30 work on supper play with morgan, play with the dogs
6:00 feed Morgan apple sauce
6:30 eat supper (home made pizza, Matt also did most of super tonight)
7 -9:30 the dreadful TV was turned on, vacuumed Morgan's room, gave her a bath, feed her, unloaded a few dishes
9:30 tried to install new car seat...didn't quite work
10:00 checked my 50 some emails and only did something with 1 or 2 (i get emails on my phone...why do i have so many when i log in...can't figure that out!!!) i hate having that many unread emails
10:30 realize i am stressed because i want to be someone who can do twice as much with 24 hours and we have a few big projects coming up at work plus we haven't even hit our fall rush and it feels like we are already smack dab in the middle of it.
10:35 Morgan is a pretty sound sleeper so i went and snuggled with her for a bit
10:45 i think i will feel better if i eat a swiss cake roll and blog
11:30 bed

I needed to run tonight and i didn't get that in...tomorrow will be close to the same deal...but i have a women's council meeting so i will come home eat quick just to head back to town for hour- hour and half, then Morgan will be in bed.

anyways i feel better now that i have blogged! I am sure i am not the only one that feels this way so hopefully someone else enjoyed reading this and it makes them feel better as well.

Living Stones

We had a awesome service on Sunday at church…. Pastor Steve talked about being a living stone in God’s plan. Today I was quite aware of how God has placed people in my life even my co-workers! I had been meaning to send a picture of Morgan’s rolls to a friend at work and I finally had my phone with me when I thought of it, so through that she shared it with another lady and we had a conversation about the heat and how it affects baby’s which totally explains how Morgan has been this past weekend. It is crazy for me to grasp that God is that big to orchestrate something so small to be so effective and at just the right times! Not only that but through the Monvee process of being challenged to spend time alone with God for Matt and what he is learning by doing that and what I selected out of a few books Monvee suggested to me, the timing on what I am reading fits perfectly into what Matt is learning. I am starting to completely forget the phrase ‘by chance’ this happen, it is totally how God has things planned out and worked in to our lives.

It is amazing to consider who God has placed in your life to have an impact on you. Take a few minutes to think about how God has put people into your life for a reason, it could be great things or it could be things that were not so great at the time but you look back on it and you can learn from the lesson you were taught, and see why it happen and why they were in your path.  We are a living stone in Gods large plan, how do you fit into it and how can you use your God given talents to serve in the capacity God wants you to? Another thing that is sticking in my mind from the last few sermons is if I serve others like God wants me to and others are serving like God wants them to, we don’t have to have this selfish mind set, because I will be serving you, so someone will be serving me and meeting my needs. As Pastor Steve said Sunday – STOP BEING CRABBY PEOPLE give grace to those around us and see how it affects our community. What does it do to your heart to be kind to others, to slow down and have a kind conversation? Try it at Wal-Mart with the checkout clerk EVEN THOUGH they are remodeling and things are not in the places they use to be. How do you feel when someone smiles at you or goes out of there way to be kind to you, even though you don't deserve it?

 Here is the picture of Morgan's leg...

What happen to July?

Next Friday is the end of the month! ahhh! here is what we have been up to in July....i had lost my camera the week after we got back ...Matt found it in the chair i sat in by the fire at the lake......here are some pictures finally!

AMAZING check mix we took to staff retreat

 We slept in our tent, we haven't done this in quite a while

 beautiful view of the lake

God's paintings are breathtaking - we sat out here for a while and watched the dragonflies eat the bugs

 Saturday we went to the Minor's and hung out with Morgan's friend Harvey

 And we went for Morgan's first boat ride...not to often does the camera fog up because it is so humid out

 I have seen the windows fog up from the inside...but from the outside???

 Gross picture i know... but this is huge for me...its my planner....i have way to many calendars (5) and i am sick of keeping them all up so i thought about this for a while and i am going to toss out 1 and set up appointments in my phone and utilize that instead of paper. I scheduled my first appointment in my phone today! yaya! big step.