A few must reads for moms

If you haven't heard of Laura Black (a mom of 3 from Briarwood that is dying of cancer) you have to check out her caring bridge site. Her journal entries are absolutely incredible. She writes letters to her kids and...wow.....just go read.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lblack/journal

One of my dear friends from college started a company/website called Shepherd My Child. It's all about how to intertwine the Gospel of Grace in EVERYTHING with your children. She's an incredible writer and her website also points to many books and resources for us to use with our children.
http://shepherdmychild.com/

Finally, I just read the best "parenting" book....if you even call it that....I think the Lord used it just as much to teach me of my constant need for His Grace as it did about how to teach that to my kids. Seriously, I wouldn't say this about just any book but I am SO SO thankful to have read this while my kids are still young...so many profound but also practical points. It's not a "5 steps to how to raise your kids to be good kids book".  I love this quote from it: "We hinder our children from coming to Him when we inadvertently teach them that the good news is meant for good people". I've already started to change the way I phrase things to Ryder. Instead of "Ryder, you are being such a good boy" I say "Ryder, wasn't it so kind of Jesus to help you be obedient today!" Or even with potty training we'll say "Ryder we are so proud of you! No accidents today! But you know even when you have accidents we're still proud of you because you are our son and we love you no matter what" etc etc. Things that we all know to be true but I don't always choose to take the time to speak in that way. It's so neat to see how God changes my own heart and I see my own need for the gospel as I'm trying to teach my 3 year old.

"Give Them Grace by Elyse M Fitzgerald and Jessica Thompson
http://www.amazon.com/Give-Them-Grace-Dazzling-Jesus/dp/1433520095/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339897847&sr=8-1&keywords=give+them+grace

Best Kid CD's Ever!

I found these amazing cd's from, what else, another blog! So, I thought I would share because seriously, I can't even tell you how much I'm obsessed with them! They are called Seeds Family Worship and it is all scripture put to music....they are the most precious songs in the world. Some of them can be cheesey...but for the most part I love them as much as Ryder does. And it just melts my heart when I hear Ry in the back seat singing scripture....and like I said, it's just as good for me as it is for him! (I probably need to hear it more...in fact, I find myself driving around town listening to them with no kids in the car)
So Ryder now can quote/sing several Bible verses all by himself. Love it.
Ok, so, now you MUST go buy them(:

You can read about the ministry here and see all they have to offer
http://www.seedsfamilyworship.net/about/

I paid a lot more than this but just saw these on sale!!! Might go ahead and get the rest of them now!
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product/1288062971?item_no=CD04429&event=CF

If you ever go to Napa....

....take your hubby... and 6 amazing friends........rent a limo for the day to take you around to the wineries which provides for lots of togetherness...and lots of wine drinking...
...take a tour of a winery so you can learn all about the deliciousness your drinking...
...make sure you take some comedians with you......
....stop to pose for pictures.....

....wear your shades so you can fit in with all the A-Listers that you might spot around town...
...rent a nice cozy house so you can all be together after a rough day in wine country.....

Indulge in the amazing food at Bouchon......

...Go on an olive oil tour and tasting.....
....and a wine pairing complete with Duck Confit

If blogger wasn't such a pain to upload pics to then I would add more of the 450 I took....but I guess you can get the idea from above.....a trip you should definitely put on your bucket list if you haven't been!

4 Months!

My little Jackson is 4 months now and such a JOY!

He smiles all the time! Today he chuckled at me several times and I wish I could have stopped time and done that all day long!

In between smiles...he spits up...what must be gallons of milk! Anyone else have babies that did this? I am not kidding, I can't take 5 steps without having a burp cloth handy...it's amazing he's so fat.

Ok, so maybe he doesn't smile all the time....he cries between 2-7 on and off (and 30 minute cat naps here and there) and I am so ready to get him on a nap schedule. He naps great if we are in the car, in the stroller, or doing anything but in the house trying to take a nap! I'm not sure what's up with that...but he sleeps from 7-7 at night so I can't complain too much.

We had a little photo session in the front yard while our azaleas are in bloom...it's much easier to take pics of him than a 2 yr old, that's for sure.

Here's big brother and a few other random pics from the last week

Clothes Battle

what mommy likes to dress Ryder in.....What Ryder likes to dress Ryder in....
it's a losing battle I'm afraid.....

That was Quick

God has been so gracious to give me some quick direction in my seeking our "normal". At first I thought it might be something like dropping an orphan on our doorstep or getting a call from some ministry asking us to move to Africa. Or maybe our house was going to catch on fire and then we would move to downtown Bham and live among the poor. But, guess what He's told me?

Seek Me.

Slow down. Rest. Find ME more and more beautiful through prayer and My Word.

"My Sheep know My voice and follow me wherever I lead." Jn 10:27

Think of yourself less. and ME more. And others more.

" The Bible says that human beings were made in God's image. That means, among other things, that we were created to worship and live for God's glory, not our own. We were made to serve God and others. That means paradoxically that if we try to put our own happiness ahead of obedience to God, we violate our own nature and become, ultimately, miserable. Jesus restates the principle when he says, "Whoever wants to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Mt 16:25" Tim Keller, The Meaning of Marriage

"I need you Jesus to come to my rescue, where else can I go? There's no other name by which I am saved oh capture me with GRACE! I will follow you!......this world has nothing for me"

(from the song Rescue- by Newsong)

So tonight I am thankful for the Gospel. I'm thankful for Truth. I'm thankful I don't have to figure it all out. I'm thankful for His work in my heart- a heart that desperately needs a Savior.