We celebrate the boys on their actual birthday by giving them surprises about all day.  They get to choose where they will eat one meal.  For Samuel, he woke up to a masking tape filled living room  He had some presents and a breakfast bar (his request) with a candle in it.  We went to Chick Fil A for dinner.

We had their birthday party this past Sunday.  It turned out well.  I can’t wait to post pictures on that real soon!  Loved the puppy theme!  Chad’s dad and step mom came over afterwards.  I told them I felt hungry but didn’t really feel like eating anything.  We had a great visit.  Just as they left I started feeling a little sick at my stomach.  That night the worst stomach flu I’ve ever had hit me hard!  Chad stayed home all day Monday and Tuesday morning.  It was quite a blessing to have so many new toys for the boys to play with.  I was able to stay back in my room (which I really didn’t want any form of audio or visual stimulation at all) and get some rest.  It was bad!

Ethan celebrated his birthday with balloons and a big sign waiting for him.  He requested Dunkin Donuts for breakfast as his meal.  They woke up and I told them to get dressed.  We headed out for donuts.  That’s they last thing I wanted after being sick!  But I was delighted to fulfill his wishes.  We went to a few stores where they spent some birthday money.  Not feeling well still, I enjoyed sticking on the couch watching and listening to them play and assemble Legos.  I love boys.  I came to the conclusion this afternoon that sometimes being down isn’t so bad.  It gives you a chance to just sit and listen.  And it is nice when you aren’t too sick and can handle the craziness.

So two birthdays.  Two big boys, now 5 and 7.  Two very sweet and special boys I love so much.

There is nothing like receiving a card in the mail, especially during these times where much of our communication is on the computer or the phone.  It is so personal.  You know that someone took the time to pick that one out just for you.  There’s nothing like sending one, either.  It’s like Dayspring puts it:

Your heart.  God’s love.

I love Dayspring cards, and I love the cards I am honored to review.  I received the Simply Marvelous collection.

Messages of encouragement, friendship, and birthday greetings

I’m so glad I chose this one.  I so enjoyed sending some of these out already.  I picked each one up and immediately knew who it belonged to.  I love that.

This one was the first to be sent out…

This card is so girly.  I had the perfect recipient for her, too!

Another was this…

This one is a birthday card that reads:

Simply Marvelous, indeed.  You have to get your hands on some of these and bless someone today!

And finally what I’ve needed all my life.  The ultimate card organizer!  How lovely is this?!

It looks nice sitting out and serves as a good reminder.  “I will bless you…and you will be a blessing.”  That is what it’s all about!

Bless someone today!  And let me help you out!  Do you want to win $20 towards some Dayspring cards, or an organizer, or anything from their website?  Leave me a comment and tell me about the last card you received in the mail.  I will randomly pick the winner on January 26th.

It’s always amazing what fun a big box can be to little boys!

I made an iPad pouch using this great tutorial from One Shabby Chick.  This involved some skills I had not done before, but I did it and am quite proud of this little thing!  And it only cost me a few dollars. I had everything except for the fabric, which I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby.

I had some extra (and still do) so I made an iPhone holder made out of a lotion bottle.  Also from Pinterest, I followed this tutorial.

I’ve done more, and have more in mind!  I think the key is leaving my sewing machine out so it’s easy to access.  The boys are always interested and want to help me push the “gas pedal”, so I let them.  I need to find something they will be interested in making.  My mom is such a good seamstress, so maybe I’ll pass some of that on, too.

A tradition that we should have started a long time ago is putting scripture on wood pieces that Chad makes.  I guess it’s not too late for most things.

Everyone contributed to what they wanted to be on there.  We signed our names and put the date on the underside just before Chad sealed it.

I love knowing it’s under there!  And I love knowing that wherever it ends up someday, memories and God’s truths will be spread.  It’s like building your foundation…our sturdy foundation in this family that starts with this guy…

Oh how I love this man.  What a true example of love he is.

The table legs!

I wanted this to be completely unique, and it will be!  I have an aqua color in the kitchen, so we thought it would be fun to do a darker blue/green color on the legs (teal or jade, not sure).  I became really nervous about how this was going to look early in the week, but Chad said this was the color.  He will finish the corners with a metal piece to go for a funky modern, yet rustic industrial look.  Ok, that’s probably way out there.  But it will be us.

And best of all, we will serve and love from this table with the Word of God underneath!

That’s him.  He is covered in JOY.

If you asked my boys where joy comes from, they would say Jesus.  I hope they always remember that.

I looked up some verses that reference joy.  They are ones you have heard before, no doubt.  They have that warm and familiar feel to them.  I recall learning them as a child myself.

Psalm 16:11 – You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.   I want the fullness of joy, don’t you?

Psalm 30:5 -…Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.  I am sure we can all testify to this one!  And thank You Jesus, for that joy we find every morning.  Mercies new every morning that I need so badly.

John 15:11 – These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  Oh Lord, please let Your joy remain in me.

James 1:2-3 – My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.   Joy when we have problems?  How can that be?  It’s a chance to surrender and rely on Christ alone.  So many times in our every day we put our trust in other things and in other people.

I want to be “covered in joy, covered in joy”.  I want others to see that joy and wonder where it comes from.

How about you?  What are you covered in?

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  Psalm 90:12

I love that verse, and I pray that is what we hold onto each day during this new year we face.  Looking ahead as much as our minds can hold, there’s a lot happening this year.  Some things we know about and can plan for, but mostly things we cannot.  I just pray that I might be closer to the Lord than ever before.

The book of James tells us that if we ask for wisdom, God will give it to us generously.  I need wisdom every single day, so many times a day.

I had some heart to hearts with a couple of people this week.  It was a rough week trying to get back into the swing of things after the holiday.  Rough.  My kids didn’t want to do their school work, and I really didn’t want to teach it.  I had little projects going here and there, and my house just couldn’t get to where I wanted it.  Or it would almost get there, and go right back to where it was when I blinked once.  It’s winter (although a very warm one) and the boys were going stir crazy.  I couldn’t hear myself think, let alone hear myself talking to God to ask for that wisdom (and patience and understanding and peace and rest) that I needed.  I needed a break, and I knew it.  I asked grandparents for some help, and they were there.  It was good for all of us.

We had a great weekend with lots of family on Saturday and friends today.  I love the support we get from all sides.  I look forward to a better week.

The picture here is my dad’s hand holding my three boys’ hands.  He thought it was kind of silly for me to take such a picture (he loves it when the camera comes out, ha!).  But I told him to trust that it would be precious.  It is to me.  Don’t you think?  And it speaks wisdom.

That is a big, fat table leg for my huge farm table Chad is building me.

I am so excited about this table!  I told Chad as I stood at one end of the 96″ long table that my dream had come true!

A table is a dream, you ask?  Yep.  A big ole table to serve the ones I love, and sometimes the ones I hardly know.  For that is my passion.  I love to feed people!  It’s one of the ways I love, and one of the ways I feel called to serve others.  Friends and family sometimes tease me at my partying self, but that’s truly one of the reasons I’m here.

And Chad?  One of his passions is building things.  He has wonderful skill that has really developed over the last 12 years.  As I slowly woke up this morning, I began to think of what our house is filled with: the work of my man’s hands.  Going through the house in my mind, this is the list I gathered (and gasped at):

We have the night to ourselves.  We picked up the stain for this new table.  Going bold on this one!  The top will be a wood color, but the legs a different color.  Oh my, this is scary!  We met a sweet lady who is single with 3 children.  She told us how frustrated she has been trying to hang a shelf/coat rack.  We gave her our number and you guessed it, Chad is going to help her by cutting some keyholes in her shelf.  She was so very excited.

That’s my Chad…loving, compassionate, and pretty daggone gifted.

I can’t thank you enough, baby, for all the hard work and heart you have put into our home and into the lives of others.

Do you want one?  I’ll gladly make you one and email it to you!

Time for me to get busy!  I am having a blast planning this puppy themed party, and I’m having way too much fun!