wordless wednesday

photo taken by my mom this past December...winter in Michigan!

a heart for Jesus

Recently I have been talking with Dan about Malachi's heart for the Lord and we realized we never really have given him the opportunity to ask Jesus into his heart. We always talk like he ialready is there.

At the tender age of four that is a lot for one to soak in, but wanted to present it to him anyway. So one night while putting him to bed I just asked him if he wanted to accept Jesus into his heart. He acted like Jesus was already there...and even though I do believe Jesus was already there I thought it would be really neat for us to declare that. So together we said a little prayer that changed his life forever! This little guy's heart belongs to Jesus! Amen! Dan and I will continue to pray that he will guard his heart and mind in Christ Jesus!

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

sick again

An allergic reaction .....my poor sweet boy!

I feel like the last few months have been an endless road of dr appointments and sicknesses. October broken arm, November the flu, December three week cold, and now January brings bronchitis. Seriously!!! I just want to be healthy!!! Malachi is under the weather too, and it is always so sad when your babies are sick. Malachi is especially sweet when he is sick and just curls up next to me and falls asleep. He started off with a sinus infection, so was put on an antibiodic well woke up yesterday with a serious reaction to the antibiodic. So off to the doctors again.

So here is my commercial for good health: co-pays 90.00. prescriptions 103.00, 7-up and all the other goods 10.00, good health priceless!

My Tuesday/Thursday girl

Every Tuesday and Thursday we drop Chi off at preschool and have some girl time. Often we are running from one errand to the next, but once in a while we make a speial stop just for some girl time. The other day we ended up at a little coffee shop for a special treat. I was thinking it would be a quick stop, but Korra had a lot on her mind. We sat there for an hour, while she ate her bagel and told me all about her little life. I just love the moments, moments when you just soak in what they mean to you and just how precious they are. Looking forward to many more "talks" with my little lady!

his heart

I know I 've said it before, but this little boy has such a soft heart. He has such a passion for knowing more about our savior ... he is a true inspiration to me and my husband. Sunday night he came up to me and said, "mom I just need to spend some time with you", and crawled right up beside me. LOVE IT....!!!
The other day after church we were sitting down for lunch and he asked if he could pray (which he does often). I love it when he prays because I can hear his little heart. These were his words:
Dear Jesus,
Thank-you that we could get home safely. Thanks that we could spend the night at Aunt April's and eat breakfast there. Dear Jesus please help us to not have any bad dreams. amen
The past two years Malachi has suffered from night terrors. This has caused many sleepless nights and tears in our home. Tears as we watch him suffer from something that we have no control. He wakes up screaming during the night and nothing comforts him. We just have to watch and make sure he stays safe. If you know Malachi you know he is already a very fearful child (or as we say sensitive towards ungodly things). We spend lots of time in prayer before bedtime and trust God to keep the heart of our little boy pure.
This world offers so much bad, we hope we can be a glimmer of God's true light. We know God has big plans for this little man and his big heart and know that satan tries to get a foothold on him. Isn't it crazy to think that satan is so cruel that he will try and attack a innocent boy. So our verse for the year is:
Finally brothers whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellant or praise worthy think of these things. Philipians 4:8
I will leave you on a lighter note:
While Malachi was at my sister's house they were asking him for ideas on a baby name. Of course he was sharing his thoughts on different names he liked like: Camden (from his preschool class), Max (from little mermaid(prince's dog), and other names he thought of. After he got done with his list he says to them, " If I think of anymore when I am home I will e-mail you."....ha!
Hey if you have a second send a prayer up for Malachi tonight!

pearls, make-up, and pair of shoes

Make-up, pearls, and a pair of shoes Korra was honored to celebrate with you........(doesn't she look like it.ha!)

After our dinner of yummy appetizers we had a little competition. Along with the theme (dress up) we broke up into three teams and they need to put together a princess with the given materials. Team number 1 won (on the left).

Korra could not wait to ripe open all her gifts and was so excited for each of them. Before the guest arrived grandpa was teasing her saying the gift were his and she had a major meltdown...little tease herself got a taste of her own medicine!

Each guest brought something ot put in Korra's dress-up box!

that is a better smile my Birthday girl!!!

dress up chi

I love this kid!

Two today

Two adorable, two sweet, two fun, two crazy, and two today!

Today Korrayah turns two. I feel like she has become a little lady, mood swings and all. This little lady can light up the room in a matter of minutes. She just loves to be silly. We love her zest for life, but I have to admit she makes me tired. She knows just what to do, when she shouldn't!! She also knows how to get just about anything she wants (maybe that is a girl thing). "No" is for sure her favorite word, and she is not afraid to use it.

She just loves playing with her babies. She spends so much of her time changing and caring for her dolls it is so sweet. So also loves to give out kisses and hugs. I love how she just leans in to get that perfect kiss!!!

Here are a few more of this little girls favorites:

make-up, pizza, Malachi (she wants and does everything Malachi does), grandmas (she will wake up in the morning crying for a grandma...who doesn't love grandmas), babies (especially her cousins Makayla and Clara), chocolate milk, sweets, being held, and the jingle bells song.

She is just a little charmer. Saying "hi" to everyone and reaching up to be held by anyone.

One of my favorite thing she does is when she is done talking to anyone on the phone she kisses the phone...lol!

Happy Birthday Korrayah!!!

just enough snow

This morning there was too much snow for me, but just enough snow for this:

Looking forward to 2011!

So much to look forward to in 2011:

Korra turning two, Malachi turning 5 and starting school, my annual sister shopping trip, a fun getaway with my parents in February, a visit with dan's brother and his family from Minnesota, camping trips, cabin retreats, and so much more.
I am also super excited, because during Thanksgiving my brother in law and sister announced that in 2011 they will have their first baby. Their announcement was our prayer before dinner so I thought I would share:

Our Thanksgiving Prayer

Dear Jesus,

I think I’m really going to like Thanksgiving. You get so much time with family and I have your birthday to look forward to right around the corner, which is Mommy and Daddy’s favorite holiday.

There’s so many people to be thankful for. Like Grandpa who has so many talents there’s not enough time in a day to do them all. I can’t wait for him to make my bed someday. Or Grandma who I know will love spending time with me and she always makes sure the snack drawer is full, including for Daddy.

I’m also thankful for Uncle Dan who has taught my Daddy so much about faith, I know he’s quite goofy deep down. And Aunt Amanda who I know is going to be so much fun and has taught Mommy so much about life and parenting.

Then there’s Uncle Andy who is always willing to drop everything to help someone in need, including picking Daddy up in Indiana. And Aunt Janelle who I know will help Mommy with any advice she needs in the near future.

I know I am going to see great things coming from Uncle Matt in the future. I can’t wait to be on his backyard football team. And Aunt Angie who just like Grandpa has so many talents. She’s always thinking of others and I know she’ll make me feel special. Jesus, please hold their hands during this holiday season.

I am so excited about my cousins. Malachi who I know will teach me all the ins and outs about life. And Korra who will be so much fun to watch and play with. Or Makayla who I know will be the one who has your back.

I thank you for Daddy, who I can’t wait to go hunting with. He will be my partner in crime. I can’t wait to roll around the carpet with him. I hope we don’t stress Mommy out too much. I can’t wait for Mommy to shower me with all her kisses and hugs. Be with Mommy because I know Daddy and I kinda caught her off guard. A lot of things are making sense to Mommy right now, like the crying uncontrollably especially when Daddy wouldn’t come home from the fight a couple months ago and the skin tag that just appeared on her face. I pray for their anxiety and excitement in months to come.

Jesus, I also pray for all the soldiers and their families who mean so much to our country. I also pray for all the homeless and the hunger in this world. And all who are sick. Give them all encouragement and be with all of them today.

I pray that this food we are about to eat will nourish our bodies and that we enjoy our time together as a family.

You have blessed my family already in so many ways, but I pray that on December 16 you help me to have a strong heartbeat. I can’t wait to meet my whole family around June 29, 2011.

Amen

This is a picture of the parents to be 2 and a half years ago on their wedding day! Congrats Matt and April. 2011 will be life changing for you!