See you soon!

My mom sent me an annoyed email saying that I hadn't put more new pictures up this week, so I thought I would put in a few. We haven't been up to much out of the ordinary this week... Halle has been learning to color, if we can keep the crayons out of her mouth, and Remy spends his days trying to bury her in pillows on his bed. I guess he figures if she can climb up there she must want to play. I think he's in for some terrible payback if she ever outgrows him, which she's on track to do! (Once again, no one is wearing pants in the pictures. Please forgive me, it's just so hot!)

We leave on Saturday for Oklahoma to see my sister and her family and also my grandparents. No one down there has met Miss Halle yet, and we are excited to make the much anticipated introductions. It will likely be quiet on this space for the week, but after that I'm sure I'll have tons of new pictures. I am also hoping to have a bunch of things to fill my shop in time for fall shopping. So please check back soon!

Memory Monday

Let's just get this in, right at the start. Last week's verse, Nahum 1:7, from memory:

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him

This was a great one to meditate on this week. I kept coming back to the word refuge, which for me drums up images of a hiding place, tucked away from the world. There are many moments, days even, when I would like to retreat to such a place. But while getting away isn't possible, it's wonderful to have him... always waiting to be my hiding place, even if only for a few minutes at nap time. The Lord is good!

I ran into a quote from Joni Eareckson Tada today, and thought it was a great one. She says 'We dare not think that God is absent or daydreaming. The do-nothing God. He's not tucked away in some far corner or the universe, uncaring, unfeeling, unthinking... uninvolved. Count on it- God intrudes in glorious and myriad ways.' I love that love that it kind of ties into the verse I chose for next week, Proverbs 16:9:

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

We can plan all we want. I certainly like to make list after list, whether it's a meal plan for the week, household chores to be done, or even the bigger things like where we might live next year, or whatever... but truly it's all in God's hands. How many times has my frustration been rooted in the fact that things don't go my way? (I am sounding strangely similar to a certain three year old I know...) I pray with conviction each day that God orders our steps, and yet I continue to be disheartened when things turn out different that I planned. I just need to pray that I am more aware of him as he 'intrudes' because he is not far away!

I thought I'd end this post with a few more pictures from this weekend. Halle is trying to climb all over everything. She can't quite master the couch but has gotten quite adept at getting onto Remy's bed. Unfortunately for her she hasn't figured out how to get down so easily and there is a lot of spotting involved so she doesn't get hurt.

The Weekend in Pictures

This weekend the local agricultural museum had a free farm day- and if you know me at all, you know I am all about the free entertainment! We actually went to this same event last year when I was about to pop with Miss Halle. Needless to say, it was MUCH more enjoyable this year with baby in tow and not in utero. The weather was wonderful, as we are having a bit of a cold spell (which here in summer means under 90).

Remy adores the little sheep, though they acted like one too many preschooler had already fed them that morning. The didn't really want to eat, but obliged him by taking a few kernels out of his hand. (It reminded my of myself, eating that one piece of whatever dessert, so as not to insult the hostess!)

Remy insisted on going down this path to see the small garden and pond at the other end. Trace was a trooper hauling Halle in her stroller over all the mulch and bark.

"Why did God make these trees SO big?"

This man insisted that there were fish in the pond so Remy had to spend some time looking. We never saw any, but he did see a frog and same lily pads that seemed 'pretty cool'.

Petting the donkey... The large one tried to eat a man's Starbucks and Halle's snack, so we stayed away from him.

Here's the money shot... my cowboy on a saddle.

After the petting zoo we went to a local park for a picnic and to play on the playground. Halle had to test out her new climbing skills on the equipment.

Marching back to the car

Friday Love

Here's my girl just hanging out... It's a nice thing to do on a Friday!

Today I'm loving:

~That even though excuses are sort of bothersome at the time, it really is sweet that Remy gets out of bed because he 'forgot to tell you you're the best mommy in the whole live world'. Precious!

~That Halle is starting to 'talk' a lot more. Remy and I have decided that it sounds a lot like she's speaking chicken, but we know she's saying sweet things.

~This tea idea... Genius!

~My patient, grace-full husband. He tolerates me even when I do things like teach Remy the proper (yet unkind) way to use the word 'jerk'.

~Air conditioning. I know, Trace says I use the word necessity too often and that A/C is really a luxury, but really? When you live in the south in the summer, I think the two cross into a bit of a gray area.

~Costco- someone gave us a membership, and we love it so much! Who would have known that a year's supply of peanut butter for $7 would make me so happy?! (along with the samples and endless rows of giant boxes of everything you could ever use...) C-o-s-t-c-o spells a fun evening at our house.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Trust

I know, I know, I already posted today... but I just wanted to post a few words from my journal. It's a prayer of sorts, and a few words of truth that I'm thinking someone else may need for today. I find it comforting in the words of David, that he many times repeated the phrase 'I will trust in you'. It reminds me of the way I have to say it often throughout my day each time I get hung up in worried thoughts, frustrating toddler moments, or just quiet times when I feel forgotten. It's a choice, and one I must make many times.

Psalm 55:23c

But as for me, I trust in you.

Psalm 56:3-4a

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,

in God I trust I will not be afraid.

I will trust in you. Because you have a plan for me, even though I can't see it. (Jer. 29:11) Because you are good. (Psalm 37:3, 86:5, 119:68) Because you are God. In choosing every day to trust in you, I am choosing to not place my trust in this world, in money, in comfort, in other people, in success as the world sees it. Because I can only serve one (Matt. 6:24), I will trust in you and you alone.

A few projects & a shop update

My biggest news to report is that yesterday Halle took her first steps! I am not really excited about the fact that more and more she is into everything, after we just got to where Remy would (sort of) stay out of things. But I love each milestone, and the proud look on her face that accompanies them.

I have been happily sewing away at my machine the last few days too. Halle has been the recipient of a few new dresses. The pink was my first attempt and was made from a pillowcase that mom scored at a thrift shop. As soon as Remy saw Halle in it, he bowed low to the ground and said 'Hello, Your Majesty the Fairy!'. So it has been renamed the Fairy Dress.

I have also updated my shop with these next two dresses as well as a few other things. They are my first original dress patterns, and I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. I made the sizing such that the dresses will be able to be worn for quite a while, first as dresses and later as tunic/shirts with leggings or jeans. I also used french seams for all the seaming, so no rough edges would be rubbing against her skin. I hope you'll check them out and let me know what you think!

I'd better get off of here, as the natives are getting restless (and hungry!) Have a happy Thursday!

Memory Monday

Yesterday just got away from me, and it was around 3 this morning that I realized I hadn't posted my verse for this week. Galatians is on hold for a bit, as I feel God has led me to this verse in Nahum. I hardly knew where this prophet's book was, much less what it contained. I kind of felt like a stranger treading somewhere unknown, which I don't think is such a good feeling in my Bible. Anyway, I was led to this verse through a study of God's provision. I am tired of worrying, tired of feeling like God has a plan (of this I am certain!) that he isn't letting us in on, just tired.

I woke up yesterday feeling uncertain and a little uneasy, but I started my day by saying to God that I trusted him. My whole purpose in this life is to worship and serve Him, and with this singlular goal my day seemed to play out much better than I expected. I woke up this morning and repeated the same thing, and our day has been a great one. Both kids stayed in their pjs until well after lunch. In fact, so did I because rather than workout and shower during Halle's morning nap, Remy and I built a castle in the sand and played checkers in the living room. As I have taken a break from all that pointless worrying I have been able to really see the awesome blessings right in front of me. 'But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.' (Matt. 6:33) So my verse for this week:

Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust him...

Chattanooga Aquarium

Here are some of the pictures from our trip to the Aquarium. I took way too many to load one here, but if you want to check them out you can find me on flickr here. I am still getting other stuff loaded on there, but it's a start.

This is before we went into the Aquarium. Remy was so intrigued by the big 'mess' on the sidewalk. I don't think he knew it was intentional.

The stingray exhibit is always Tracey and Casey's (Trace's brother) favorite. Remy wasn't so sure about actually touching them, but he got his hands in the water (no surprise there).

The butterfly garden is beautiful and one of my favorite spots. There are so many,and we had to keep reminding Remy not to swat at them. Leave it to us to kill an endangered species or something. Luckily we made it out without doing any damage.

Remy tried out the shark cage.

The new thing this time was the jellyfish exhibit. They were amazing, and a great thing to practice new things with my camera. I am so tired of taking crappy pictures!

Halle picked out a new little penguin as her 'surprise', as Remy calls it. She really does love him, and hardly let him go even as she slept!

Remy sees what it's like to be in an aquarium.

Here the guys tried to talk Remy into petting a sturgeon, and again he felt the water and that was enough. It was very cold, and they did look pretty gross!

'Hello, little fish!' Remy is kind of Dr. Dolittle and talked to most animals that we passed. He told me that this 'little guy looks sad'.

Halle had a hard day...

On the way home we asked Remy what his favorite part of the Aquarium was, and after all of the cool things we saw he tells us that his 'fravorite' was the mosaic tile floor where 'one of the turtle's back looked like a cheese pizza'. I didn't know that I should have taken a picture of the floor.... figures.

Lookouts Game

This weekend we were able to go to Chattanooga to visit Tracey's brother Casey and his fiance Dawn. Casey had a box for the Chattanooga Lookouts game on Thursday night, and Remy was so excited to go to his first game. (By the way, the ONLY way to take little ones to a game is if you have a box, in my opinion. We could beat the heat inside or go out to watch the game- you guessed it, I spent most of the game indoors...) On the way there Remy told us that he needed a ball cap to watch the game. He certainly does take after me in the accessories department!

Here he is in his new cap.

By the third inning he had a new girlfriend. Trace was very impressed at his skills! =)

Eating popcorn, a baseball staple even to a newcomer... He also had ice cream and three brownies, but who's counting? The food being delivered right to the box was a nice (although dangerous) touch!

Halle watching the game with the boys

And last but not least, we can't go anywhere without a picture of this guy...

I have about a hundred more pics from the aquarium and museum to filter through, but I will try to get them up soon. I also need to get my Memory Monday verse up... busy day. See you soon!

There goes the neighborhood

Remy has been questioning everything lately, as is normal for three year olds, I think. He often asks the typical 'Who made the trees? Who made the sky?' etc., to which he knows our answer will be 'God did' or 'Jesus did'. We were caught off guard the other night as he played cars on the floor with Trace. He held up a truck and asked 'Who made this?' Trace flipped it over to see it's make on the bottom and replied 'Ford'. Then Remy asked if Ford was the same as Jesus. Upon hearing that they aren't the same he asked 'Is Ford Jesus' neighbor?'.

We should've seen that coming...

Flexing our Spiritual Muscles

I realized just after posting that it was Monday, and indeed another 'Memory Monday' update was pending. I don't have all of the Galatians 5 verses memorized yet, but the study is going well, and I hope to be able to type them from memory soon. Although I don't intend to go into detail in this space, I won't lie- this has been a tough week spiritually. Life just isn't always what we expect it to be (or wrongly think it should be), but God is still faithful, and that is unchanging. I have an NIV Worship Bible, which has in the margins many song lyrics, quotes, and poems. Today I opened my Bible to find these words from an old German hymn which seem so fitting for our journey right now:

All depends on our possessing

God's free grace and constant blessing,

Though earthly wealth depart.

They who trust with faith unshaken

By their God are not forsaken

And will keep a dauntless heart.

Flexing our Muscles

It was a great weekend here in Nashville! We were able to spend a lot of time outside, which we don't take for granted, as we live in an apartment. On Saturday we went to the Barber farm. Remy spent the morning getting really dirty, feeding the chickens, and riding his tricycle. Halle even got her hands in the dirt a bit. It's the sign of a good day when both kids need to be scrubbed head to toe before bed! We didn't go out for fireworks, but we were able to see them from our porch. Remy was very impressed, and I think it was a good introduction to them without the accompanying noise.

"See my super-duper muscles, mommy?"

This girl gets really grouchy without a snack...

feeding the chickens

Her first experience with dirty hands

Oh yeah, we've also been doing a little of this...

Brithday gifts and 2 sweet things Shop

I finally finished working on a few things for Halle's birthday. In my frustration (and everyone's it seems) with the mass amounts of plastics and foreign recalls in the toy industry, I am trying to make better choices in the things Remy and Halle play with. This is leading me more and more to simply make our own play things... especially since it's so much fun for me! I had seen sets of cloth/felt play food at a boutique shop here in Nashville, and the price tag was insane, so I decided that I would make a few things for Halle. It turns out Remy likes them as well, and he has been my quality control/durability tester for the process. He is more than happy to do some 'market research', and we have been having picnics every day.

I also decided to just jump in and do something I had wanted to do for some time, which is to open a shop on etsy to sell some of the things I make. 2 sweet things is officially open for business, and I would love for you to take a look. I plan on adding to the shop frequently, but for now there are just a few sets of play food and some of my favorite knitted/crocheted washcloths. There is a button on the sidebar that will get you there. (I'm having trouble getting captions next to the pictures, but I think you can figure out what they are... Sorry!)