Mommy's Little Blessing!

Show Us Your Life - What do you feed your kids???

2011-02-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

So I love Kelly's blog over at www.kellyskornerblog.com. Check it out if you have some time! This Friday's "show us your life" was on feeding our kids which gives us mommy bloggers the opportunity to share with other mommies what and how we feed our children. I just had to jump in on this one because it is something that is very important to me and I'm constantly on the look out for new and creative ways to feed my little blessing. I will enjoy reading the other posts but for now, here are some of the things that we eat around our house . . . . . .

Breakfast:
oatmeal - made with pureed pumkin and ground flaxseed. Its delicious, nutritous and Isabel LOVES it.
"panny" cakes - aka pancakes made with the water from boiled beets. Beets are incredibly nutritous and their water turns the panny cakes a delightful pink color, which by the way, is very popular with little girls. I also add ground flaxseed to these.
eggs - an all around great food!
berries - you just can't beat them

Lunch:
boiled egg, steamed broccoli, celery w/ peanut butter, homemade pizza (using round wheat flats, ground turkey and organic pasta sauce), berries, orange slices, apple slices, organic yogurt, spinach with homemade ranch dressing (of course I would love for Isabel to eat the spinach without the dressing but hey, I think the advantages of the spinach far outweigh the disadvantages of the ranch dressing), pb & j sandwich with all natural pb on whole grain, whole wheat bread

Snacks:
frozen fruit (Isabel loves it and its a lot like eating a popsicle), more berries, whole grain cheerios with organic milk, yogurt, all natural cheese (we like the Sargento mickey mouse cheese)

Supper:
I serve Isabel whatever we eat . . . . always have!! We don't eat very much red meat. As a matter of fact, I never buy it. We generally eat most of our meals made with all natural, no hormone and no steroid ground turkey or chicken. We like to add black beans or lentils a few times a week and we eat a lot of steamed broccoli and steamed green beans as well as fresh spinach salads. And we choose brown rice over white.

So there you have it! I'm sure we could do a lot more to eat healthy but I am confident that we have given Isabel a pretty good start!

What are some your tricks and treats around the kitchen??

Angela

New Year

2011-01-16T20:13:00.001-08:00

I can not believe that its really 2011. Really?? My little girl will be 4 years old this year . . . that can't be! It was just yesterday that I was pregnant with her. Often times I get sad when thinking about her growing older but then I have to stop and put things into perspective. By that, I mean that there are many, many parents who would love to celebrate watching their children grow and its with that thought that my frown turns to a smile and I say, "thank you God for allowing me yet another year to enjoy my child and watch her grow". What an honor!!

You will see from the pics below that we had a very fun, exciting and busy close to 2010 and beginning to 2011. Scott, Isabel and I traveled to TN to spend Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains with my brother's family and our parents. We had a really great time! We woke Christmas day to a downpour of snow which continued for 48 + hours. It was beautiful and such a special treat for us! We really did have a white Christmas and the time spent with our family was priceless!!

Two days after returning from the mountains Scott, Isabel and I boarded a plane for Chicago to visit with his mom and brother for the new year. Our flights were nice and smooth and we enjoyed bringing in the new year in the big city! On that visit we ice skated, had lunch with Bitty Baby at the American Girl store on Michigan Avenue (fabulous experience), visited Greek Town, toured the Lincoln Park Zoo to see the Christmas lights and spent some great quality time with Nan and Uncle Bob. It was a total blast!!

And it doesn't stop there!! Two days after returning from Chicago my parents came into town for the weekend of my brother's deacon ordination. Wow! That was incredible. We were able to watch my brother give his testimony in front of the entire congregation before being prayed over by the ordained men of our church. It was soooo special and I am so very proud of the fine man that he has become and the way that he has stepped up to lead his family by example. I love you Lance!!

So as you can see, we've been busy but its been great!! Now we are home for a little while, taking it easy and enjoying "family time". We do leave in 4 weeks for our family vacation at Disney World and we are really, really excited about it! This year, Scott and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary and we always said that we would do it with a big trip to Disney. Yay!! It will be so fun and I can't wait to watch Isabel and Claire experience the magic.

As well as all of the fun stuff that we have been doing and the places that we have been going, we have also started some new things at home. For instance, I have begun teaching Isabel the books of the Bible. Yes, she is only 3 but never under estimate what children can learn at such an early age. So far, after just one week, she can tell you that, "the first book of the Bible is Genesis", "Jesus had friends Luke 2:52" and "God so loved the world John 3:16". Isn't that great??!! We will add a book of the Bible each week along with a new Bible verse and more words to John 3:16. You know, Scott and I have always prayed that Isabel would have a love and a longing to know God and a genuine desire to study His Word and God has been faithful!! She gets so excited when she learns a new Bible verse and we love to see that in her. We pray that what she sees in us will cause her to long to know Christ. We must be the example to her and discipling her must begin now. Parents have no greater job than that of discipling our children. Wow!! Its a big job but what an honor that God has chosen me to parent this precious little girl for the time that I have her on earth. Thank you God!

Enjoy the pics,

SUYL

2010-10-08T20:58:00.000-07:00

Its "Show Us Your Life" Friday over at Kelly's blog, www.kellyskornerblog.com, and today is kitchens. I think I barely made this post in time but I wanted to because I love our kitchen which is, like many, where a lot of our daily activities take place. Sooo, enjoy!!

This is my neat little twig bowl with fresh fruit.

This is a great, healthy and hearty oatmeal recipe and my little girl loves it . . . . from the Deceptively Delicious cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld. Good Stuff!

I had to post pics of my great chair covers that my mom made. They are custom and have our initial in each one . . . . love them! Mom is soooo talented.

Thanks for visiting and have a fabulous weekend!

Angela

The Simple Things

2010-08-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

We've been having fun . . . lots and lots of fun!

The weekend was great, for the most part, for all of us.

Friday night was "Girls' Night" for some of the young girls from my church. We try to get together once a month just for some chill time. We all bring food, we eat, we fix each others hair, we give massages, we tell embarrassing stories on ourselves, we eat some more and we just have a really good time. So, I did that on Friday night while Scott and Isabel had a "date night" together at the high school football game. It was a yucky night but all was well when Scott took Isabel shopping for rain boots and a poncho before the game . . . . boy, were they a hit!! She and her daddy stuck it out for the whole game, in the rain, and had a great time. They even dined on pizza and skittles . . . . . now that's what Isabel calls fun!!

Saturday morning, Isabel and I woke to the wonderful smell of "panny cakes" that daddy had cooked for us. After breakfast we headed to the farm to feed Mr. Darryl's goats and cows and to go fishing at his pond. By the way, does anyone have any idea just how long a cow's tongue is?? Yeah, well, neither did I until I walked right up to the cow and began to give her a piece of bread. Holy cow (no pun intended) that cow had a long tongue and I was quite grossed out when the slimy thing touched my hand. But no fear, I quickly learned how to lay the slice of bread on the tip of her nose just right so that she could get it with ease. It was quite fun and Isabel had a blast!! Grady, on the other hand (our springer spaniel) wasn't so sure about the farm animals at first but he did warm up pretty quickly and he, too, had a ball. I wasn't so thrilled that he enjoyed walking and rolling around in all of the horse poo that was everywhere. Oh well, he enjoyed it none the less.

We also went fishing and though this mommy absolutely despises buying crickets just so that they can be attached to the end of a hook and sacrificed to the fishies, it does do my heart good to watch my precious darling shriek with delight each and every time she reels in a fish. It was great fun and Isabel was thrilled to report to her mimi and poppy, immediately after leaving the farm, that she had "fished better than daddy" because she did, in fact, catch more fish than him. And is it a bit ironic that we snacked on fried fish as we were fishing?? Funny, huh??

Anyhoo, friends came over for a visit Saturday afternoon and played in the tent . . . in the living room. They did leave just in time for my ugly stomach bug to show up and torment me with a vengeance until about 4 am Sunday morning. Ugh. It was awful!! Scott and Isabel slept in the guest room as I was up and down, barfing, all night long. At least it didn't last very long and I was still able to cook a delicious roast for Sunday lunch. Lance, Toto and Claire joined us for lunch and after we finished eating we released the lucky crickets that escaped death on Saturday and then it was time for our nap. Oh, the joy of Sunday afternoon naps!!

All in all, it ended up being a pretty good weekend!!

Today, we've played at the park and the girls are now down for a nap so its nice and quiet . . . . for a little while anyway. But oh, I wouldn't have it ANY OTHER WAY!!! And tomorrow we have a swim date with friends. Yay!!

Enjoy the pics (although none are from the farm b/c I totally forgot my camera!!),
Angela

Life . . . . . .

2010-08-25T06:22:00.000-07:00

Life is good! We've spent our days playing, feeding the ducks, reading books, learning to write our name (that would be Isabel), having play dates, building tents and just loving the last days of summer. And as you can see from the pics, we've spent a few nights playing in our tent . . . . . in the living room! Fun, fun times and priceless memories. We are looking forward to the cooler weather so that we can put our tent to use in the great outdoors rather than in our living room. Won't that be fun??

Scott took me to dinner this past weekend to celebrate my birthday. We went to a local Japanese restaurant for sushi and it was delish. After dinner we headed to Quakes for some yummy frozen custard to top off our date night. Isabel was at my brother's but we ended up having to go get her by 10:00 that night because she was crying for us. Though its a slight inconvenience to drive to Ocean Springs late at night, it is nice to know that she would rather be at home cuddling with mommy and daddy . . . . . . . and I love it!!

On our way home from dinner on Saturday we saw the most beautiful rainbow! It was incredible! I was in awe of God's creation, I mean, how in the world can you explain something like a rainbow?? How can anyone deny that there is a God?? I was sad that Isabel wasn't with us to see it but I did take a few pics, which do it no justice at all.

My mom will be here in a couple of weeks and I am so excited to get to spend some time with her during the days . . . . . . yay for moms!!

And thanks to Shellie for bringing a fabulous birthday dinner including corn on the cob, which Isabel LOVED!! Love you Shellie!!

For now, its time for Claire's morning nap, Bible story time with Isabel and then breakfast clean up . . . . . . . so,

Have a wonderful day,
Angela

Booked!

2010-08-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

Yes!! Our 2011 Disney vacay is officially booked . . . . . 2/11 - 2/18 we will be eating with Mickey Mouse and Cinderella and we are so very excited! I absolutely can NOT wait to see Isabel's face and hear her shrills as she sees the incredible and oh so magical sights at Disney World. Now, all we have to do is wait, wait, wait! Isn't that the fun part . . . . ha!

Precious Minds

2010-08-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

So last night, I'm sitting in the living room and Isabel walks up to me and says, "mommy!!" while pointing to her panties. She had teeteed in her panties, uh oh! I said, "Isabel, we aren't supposed to teetee in our panties, we are supposed to use the toilet." To which she so sweetly replies, "weeeeellllllll, God wants me to teetee in my panties." Okay, seriously, how was I to keep a straight face?? It was hysterical . . . . . . oh, if I had taken a picture to capture the look on her face as she tried to convince me that God really did want her to teetee in her panties. It was simply adorable. Even more precious than her words, to me, was her heart. She really thought that it would be okay that she had teeteed in her panties if she could get me to believe that it was what God wanted her to do. Yes, I understand that she was "telling a story" and I did explain that to her but the fact that her 2 year old little mind can comprehend that there are things that God does and does not want us to do was, well, is incredible to me.

Never underestimate the mind of a child!! They understand much, much more than we give them credit for and there is no better time than the present to teach them about God and what His plan is for our lives. Isabel knows, at 2 years old, that God has a plan for each of us and that we are to do what He instructs us to do . . . . . . even as simple as teeteeing in our panties or on the toilet!

Oh, those precious little minds. May we be reminded that they are absorbing everything that we say and do.

Have a great Tuesday!

Post of Pics . . . . .

2010-08-16T06:25:00.000-07:00

This post will be mostly pics from our weekend. We had a great time and we enjoyed celebrating Reid's 1st birthday with him . . . . . fun party! We used to call him Baby Reid but we can't do that anymore. Anyhoo, the pics are mostly for my friend Cissy, Reid's mom, so enjoy.

Aside from the party, we dinner at Chef Scott's Noodle House on Friday night topped off with some frozen custard and sno-balls from Quakes. On Saturday, before the party, we got started on the "Great Sullivan Home Organization Project" of 2010 . . . . . long overdue and I'm so happy to be on our way to a neatly organized home! Oh, the things that make me happy . . . . . I'm OCD like that. And then we had some great services at church on Sunday. Scott preached at a local church for both services and he enjoyed that as well.

Enjoy the pics . . . . . some are of Isabel ready to help her daddy on Saturday morning, some of the party and then some of Isabel and Claire saying the blessing this morning.

Have a great Monday!

Many Thanks!

2010-08-13T06:54:00.001-07:00

While I've already posted this morning, I was struck as I sat here at the computer and heard the sweet voice of my precious 2, almost 3 year old daughter talking to her babies in the living room. I am soooo very thankful for her life, for her health, for her happiness but most of all for my Lord and Savior who allows me to spend these moments with her. I acknowledge the fact that there are so many parents who would give anything to celebrate a 3rd birthday, cheer on as their child "teetees" on the potty, clean yet another mess, comb rats out of hair, comfort a cranky toddler . . . . well, you get what I'm saying. And for all of these seemingly mundane tasks, I say thank you God! Thank you for the breath that you allow me to breathe and for the little eyes that are watching everything that I do . . . . may those eyes see a glimpse of you in ALL that I do and may I be blessed enough to watch as she grows and discovers who you are and the plan that You have for her. Motherhood is such a gift and I am sooooo incredibly thankful for the little hands that are patting me on the leg as I type and the little voice that is begging me to help her poopoo on the potty.

Thank you God Almighty for your incredible gift!

The Happenings . . . .

2010-08-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

Its been a great week this week but I am also glad that today is Friday, even though it is Friday 13th. Why am I paranoid about that? Could it be because my brother and I always watched those horrible horror movies when we were growing up?? We would sneak into the living room (because we didn't have televisions in our rooms) late at night on Friday the 13th with snacks and we would stay up late watching the silly movies. Okay, so it was a little fun, but I now I really don't like Friday, the 13th!! And today has been incredibly yucky with lots of rain, thunder and lightening . . . . ugh! Oh well, its games inside today with 2 precious little girls.

So far we've had a good week . . . . . kinda slow but good. Our good friends Cissy and baby Reid came over for a play date on Tuesday and the girls had a great time. While here, we discovered that the Disney site had published the new 2011 rates so we were able to get some quotes on our upcoming trip. We are planning a big vacay to Disney in the Spring with the Ormon family and all of my family . . . . . should be lots of fun. If we can get the right price that is. We'll see! I'm already soooo excited. And then on Thursday we spent the morning at Monkey Joe's with some other great friends and it was a lot of fun. After jumping, we headed next door to Chef Scott's Noodle House. That was our first time there and it was really yummy. I think we may head there for dinner tonight . . . . . yummo!! All in all, its been a great week.

My highlight for this week was when I was getting breakfast ready for the girls and I turned around to see Isabel holding Claire's hands and trying to teach her how to say the blessing. It went something like this, "Thank you God, for, for, for, Claire, thank you for blessing, amen". Isn't that just wonderful??!! I love it! I can't even begin to imagine what God has planned for these 2 precious children and I can't wait to see. Soooo exciting!

Well, currently, while I type this post Claire is screaming her head off because its almost time for her morning nap. So, I need to run put the sheet back on the crib mattress and let this little blessing get some rest.

Happy Friday the 13th to everyone!

Summer!!

2010-08-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

It has been a fabulous summer so far but where did the time go??!! It doesn't last long enough but we did at least make some great memories.

Isabel and I traveled to the lake in June with Toto and Claire to meet mom and Aunt Linda for a few days of "chill time" and it was great. My cousin Staci met us there with her 3 boys and we had a blast tubing, swimming, boating, etc. I'm so glad that we had the opportunity to visit and relax.

In July, we went to the beach in Perdido Key for a week with all of my family and oh man, it was wonderful. The weather was gorgeous, the water was breath-taking and we all really enjoyed the time together. While there, we went "goofy golfing", had ice cream and snow balls, shopped, had dinner and even went on our first sail boat ride . . . . fun stuff and pics are below. Not only did we have a great time but we were able to get some great pics, possibly even our Christmas card pic for this year, in the adorable outfits that mom made for the girls. And oh, how blessed are we that my mom is so very talented and giving of her time to make so many incredible outfits for our girls! Thanks mom!!!!!

Besides the trips that we have taken, we have also spent our days jumping with friends at Kangarooz, bowling and shopping at Target and swimming.

I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to stay at home with Isabel and spend so much quality time with her. She is such an amazing little girl and I don't take one minute with her for granted.

Oh, and starting today, we are keeping "Claire Bear" each day for my brother and his wife. Let me just say, life is very busy but oh so fun. Watching Claire and Isabel interact is very entertaining. They adore one another and I just pray that they stay as close and lovey as they are right now.

Enjoy the pics and we'll be back soon . . . . . . .

Hello again!

2010-06-30T19:12:00.000-07:00

Well, its been a while since my last post but we are very much alive and well here in the Sullivan home!!

Since my last post I have done something that I've dreamed about since I was a little girl . . . . I resigned from my part-time job outside of the home so that I can be at home with my precious Isabel full-time. Yes, we did it!! We made that big jump and we are soooo very happy with our decision and I absolutely LOVE being with Isabel every minute of every day. Okay, maybe not EVERY minute, but you get what I'm saying.

So, as of today, this is my 3rd week at home with Isabel and let me just say . . . . life is still hectic! We are having a lot of fun but its definitely not a "life of leisure" as some may think. Granted, we are absolutely blessed to have the opportunity for me to be at home and I wouldn't trade it for the world but it really does seem like I am busier now than I was before. Part of that is because we were so excited about me being at home that we packed that first week full of activities with friends and family. My second week at home was spent teaching Isabel's VBS class at our church. That was a lot of fun, a huge blessing and very exhausting. And this week, well, its been a little more low-key but I've been trying the get the house clean and the laundry caught up from being busy my first 2 weeks off! Wow!

Again, we are so very fortunate and thankful for the life that God has given us, both in the "life" that we live and the precious that we have the responsibility of caring for . . . . Isabel!

And about Isabel, I must share her news for this week. As part of staying home and making sure that God receives the glory for the time that I am allowed to spend with Isabel each day, part of our daily routine is to spend a few moments in Bible study and prayer together each day. And for those of you who are wondering, it is an age appropriate study, sometimes just being a book that we read about God. On Monday, we were reading her book "Tell Me About God" and as I finished I heard her mumbling. I asked, "Isabel, what are you saying?". To which she replied, "mommy, God has a plan for me". Okay, wow! To hear those words from my precious 2 year old daughter's mouth was such a gift from God. Granted, I'm sure she doesn't fully grasp the words that she is saying but isn't it exciting to know that she is learning?? And from this, Scott and I are taking the advice that our pastor offered in one of his sermons and we have begun asking her, "Isabel, what do you think God wants you to be when you grow up?". Do you see the difference in that question and the "usual" question that adults ask children which is, "what do you want to be when you grow up?"? You see, by starting out early and asking what God wants them to be, we are teaching them that yes, God DOES have a plan for them!! Its just so amazing to watch our children grow, learn and discover, especially when they begin to discover that they are God's children, created by Him and for Him and that they have a purpose!!

Thank you God for my precious baby girl and for my incredible husband who works so very hard for our family so that I can stay at home and teach my Isabel about you!! Thank you for our life . . . . oh how I love you Lord!

More to come and maybe some pics too! Hopefully I will be more faithful to my blog now that I am at home but I'm still in the process of working out our new daily routine!

See you soon!!

Yes, We ARE still here!

2010-02-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

Yes! We are still here and doing quite well. Our computer was down for quite a while and we have just gotten a new one . . . . . its a bit different but I am learning to adjust. Anyhoo, there will be no pics with this post as I haven't gotten any downloaded to the new computer.

Oh, and that's another thing, Scott and I had a nice 3-day get away to the mountains and I, well, WE dropped our camera in the beautiful Laurel Falls that we hiked to see. Yes, that was a bit distressing and as I walked away, totally disgusted that not only had I dropped my beloved camera into the freezing water but all of my pics were ruined, I wondered, "why has this happened?" It was at that very moment that God revealed something to me . . . . . . it didn't really matter that we had ruined our camera and would most definitely be spending money on a new one. It may sound odd for me to say that it didn't matter but really, did it matter?? I mean, there I was, hiking the Smokeys with my husband . . . . . its takes health to be able to that. Health that my husband and I both are fortunate enough to enjoy. Now I'm not saying that either of us is a "picture of perfect health" or anything, just that we are, by the grace of Almighty God, free from delibilitating or life-threatening illness. More importantly, our precious 2 year old was safe at home enjoying some wonderful bonding time with her most beloved Mimi. And she, too, is currently enjoying abundant health. That said, our little camera, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't really that big of a deal after all. So, right there on our hike back down the mountain with a wet and dripping camera, I took a moment to thank God for the abundant blessings in our lives!! And yes, we now have a new camera so not only am I navigating my way through the new computer, I still need to spend some time familiarizing myself with the new camera as well. So, I promise that pics will come, sometime in the near future!

There is much, much more to share about our lives and what has been going on since my last post but at present, its almost 10:30 at night and, well, I'm getting a bit sleepy so you'll just have to wait!

I will say that much has transpired and much in on the horizon for our little family of 3. All of which we are incredibly thankful for. God has blessed our family and we desire to be a blessing to Him as we continue to seek and serve Him!

Its with a thankful heart that I say Good night!

Angela

We are still here!

2009-09-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are still here and are doing well!! It was a very busy summer but we had a lot of fun. Now we are welcoming the fall and enjoying the ever so slightly cool weather . . . . . what a blessing.

Since my last post we have . . . . . . . said good-bye to a wonderful uncle who lost his battle with alzheimer's, watched with smiles as Isabel began "school" for a few hours each day, traveled to Chicago, laughed as Isabel milked a cow, began the daunting task of potty training, started a new 2 year old class at church on Wednesday night, began a ladies Bible study on Wednesday night, started aerobics, spent some "girl time" while daddy was on a golfing vacay with Lance and Poppy and so on and so on. We've had a lot of fun!!

I promise to post again soon . . . . . . . for now, enjoy a few pics!

Later,

Angela

A new sandwich

2009-07-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

I just have to share my new sandwich idea with everyone, although I'm quite sure its not original. As a wife and mother, I have the nutritional health of my family in my hands and I take is very seriously. I am the one who does the food shopping and preparation for my family and because the are going to eat what I buy and prepare, I am always looking for new ways to prepare healthy, nutritious and balanced meals. Isabel is a really good and healthy eater and I sincerely hope that I have given her a decent start in life as far as her health is concerned. On that note, I "created" a sandwich yesterday that was REALLY delish! First, I made a homemade avocado spread, put that on 2 slices of 100% whole grain, whole wheat bread and topped it with 2 slices of fresh tomato and a few slices of fresh cucumber. Yummy!! It was very good and refreshing and healthy. I've listed the avocado spread recipe below. Try it and enjoy.

Easy Avocado Spread

3 ripe avocados (a super food), peeled and mashed with a fork
2 tbsp minced garlic (great for the body)
a handfull of grape tomatoes, quartered
4 tbsp tahini (very nutritious)
a dollop of sour cream
a dash of lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Just mix it all together and enjoy as a sandwich spread or as a dip with fresh veggies. We also ate it with organic blue tortilla chips. Its REALLY yummy and very healthy!

Enjoy!
Angela

Update!

2009-07-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

Zeke taking a ride!

Isabel playing dress up while mommy was cleaning out the closet.

Bubbles!!!!!!

Isabel and Mimi!

July 4th, on the way to a cookout with friends at the beach and fireworks.

Chillin at the lake with Poppy.

Cheeeeeese!

Ready for dinner after a long day on the water.

I love this pic . . . . . . "hmmmm, a new book!"

Reading with Poppy!

She LOVED the tube and screamed when we got off!

Its been a pretty busy summer so far . . . . . I can't believe we are almost to the end of July. We have had a lot of fun and are continuing to enjoy the beautiful blessing of summertime. While it is often waaaaay too hot down here in the South, nothing is better than a summertime cook-out with family and friends! And we have had several . . . . . .so much fun!!

A few quick updates . . . . . . . Adrianna had her surgery on Monday to remove her tumor and so far, she is doing okay. She was to be in a medically-induced coma for 3 days because of the pain and then hopefully she'll start the road to recovery which will include more radiation and treatment. I continue to pray for healing for precious Adrianna. Along those lines, mom and I attended a benefit auction for Adrianna in Franklinton, LA last Friday. We went in support of my friend Kristi (our pastor's wife who organized the whole event) and though we were interested in seeing the many items to be auctioned we had no plans of making any major purchases. Well, can I just say that my mom, of all people, bid on and purchased a 14 week old maltese puppy that she has named Zeke!! He is the cutest, sweetest little thing. She has wanted one since we bought our first one in 2003 and I guess the timing was right! Soooo, not only did we leave the auction with an adorable little puppy but my mom also made a pretty decent contribution to the "Angels for Adrianna" fund! It was a good night!! ;0)

On another note, Scott, Isabel and I are flying to Chicago next month to visit with Scott's brother. While we are very excited about the trip, I am getting a little anxious and nervous. To be honest, I have never loved flying and now I am getting on a plane with my adorable little, strong-willed 20 month old. Oh Lord, please help us all!! Any suggestions on making the trip go as smoothly as possible?? Sheeeesh!

And about Isabel, what is she up to these days?? Well, she will be 20 months old on the 27th and she is quite the firecracker! She LOVES to say "stop" and I am trying to put a STOP to that. She has amazingly figured out how to unlock and work Toto and Lance's Iphones . . . . . . how can she do that? She is a little fish when we swim and likes to jump in and go under water, whoa! She LOVES for her daddy to put her to sleep at night. She eats TONS of cottage cheese and that is the best way to hide stuff that she doesn't like, not that there is much that she won't eat. She has taken to sleeping with mommy and daddy which doesn't bother either of us but we both know that its a bad habit. What to do?? She would live outdoors if we would allow it and she loves to swing. Her daddy bought her a baby stroller for her dolls and she told him all day that day, "tank you daddy, stroller." How sweet is that?? She adores her baby dolls and takes very good care of them and is quick to let me know to "shhhh" when they are napping. Oh, I could go on forever . . . . . Oh yeah, one last thing, she really likes to read Bible stories from her Bible story Bible and she loves to dance! I love that little girl!

I've included a variety of pics from different events . . . . . . Enjoy!!

Later,

Angela

Show us where you Live Friday!!

2009-07-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

The were some delicious frosted sugar cookies that
we gave as treats with a note attached that said,
"Thank you for coming to my party, your friend, Isabel".

Treat bags for the little guests.

The theme was bunny rabbits, which we love

and these were yummy little frosted cakelettes.

The table of sweets!!

The birthday girl with her birthday dress!

More food!

Daddy grilling burgers as Poppy and Uncle Lance

supervise.

Isabel's little cake to dig into!! That was fun!!

Kids taking turns of the swing.

The fun part!!

Kelly is still doing her "tour" over at http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/ and this Friday is Children's Parties. I decided to jump in on this one because I just loved celebrating Isabel's 1st birthday. And can you believe that she will be 2 in ONLY 4 months. I just can NOT understand how that happens?? Make the time slow down.

Well, I've included some pics from Isabel's party. It was just a family/friend get together at home but she had a ball!! I'm not sure what we are going to do this year. I was thinking about having her party at the beach park so the kids could have tons to do BUT, her birthday is in November and though we live on the Coast, SOMETIMES its chilly in November. Then again, we are wanting to get Isabel a swingset for her birthday so wouldn't it be fun to have it at home and surprise her with the swingset out back?? Any suggestions??

Have a great weekend!!

Angela

Master Bedroom

2009-06-30T06:32:00.001-07:00

Entrance to our bedroom.

You can see the french doors in the background. There is a sitting/library area before you enter our bedroom. We turned it into a "playroom" for Isabel and she loves it. Its really great, especially for those mornings when we wakes really early b/c we can lay in the bed while she plays right next to us!

The door you see in the entrance to our his/her walk-in closet. There is also a closet entrance from the bathroom too.

Looking into the bathroom, that is Scott's "side" that you see. The picture on the wall is our wedding invitation that everyone signed at our reception . . . . . it got wet during Katrina and you can still see the water line along the bottom but its still a treasure!

Okay, so its not Friday but I'm still joining in on the "Tour of Homes" at http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/. Last Friday was Master Bedroom day and since we were vacationing at the lake, I'm getting in on the tour a little late. Anyhoo, this is our master bedroom and we really like it. It is our special retreat from the world!! Thanks to my wonderful hubby for always giving me the freedom to decorate our home however I choose, he's just cool like that.

Have a great day!

BTW, I'll update with pics from our lake trip a little later!

Toodles,

Angela

Father's Day for a Fabulous Father!

2009-06-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

Totally pooped on our way home from the beach!

My 2 lovies!

Helping daddy unwrap his gifts!

Yesterday was Scott's 2nd Father's Day and I think it was pretty good for him. He says that he is blessed but I have to tell you that Isabel and I are pretty darn fortunate to have him in our lives. I just love how Isabel adores her daddy and because of that, I am incredibly thankful that she has such an amazing role model in her daddy. He loves her, nurtures her, plays with her and makes sure that we spend time as a family in Bible study and prayer . . . . . . how awesome is that? I love that man!

This weekend we took a quick trip to the beach, just the 3 of us, and we had a wonderful time. It was just nice to get away, relax and enjoy the blessing of family that we have been given. We swam, played in the sand, had dinner, went to the ice cream parlor, jumped on the bed and danced, slept late, had breakfast in bed, shopped, ate some more and swam some more . . . . what more could you ask for? Thanks to my sweeite for planning a special family getaway for us, we love you!

This week we leave for Lake Martin for some more fabulous family time and we are looking very forward to it! I'll be sure to post some pics from the trip as soon as we get back!

For now, have a great day, stay cool and enjoy the blessing of summer!

Angela

Still here!

2009-06-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

We are still here and trucking along just fine. We are staying busy this summer and so far, we are loving it.

We took Isabel to the Exploreum in Mobile a couple of weekends ago with some friends and their 2 little ones and we loved it . . . . much fun! We also had a birthday party that day that included a slide into a kiddie pool . . . . ofcourse she loved that as well.

Last weekend Isabel had a pizza party for some of her friends and they all had a blast! We also had a wedding, a baby shower, a swimming party and a date with friends and their daughter for some Japanese Hibachi . . . . yum, yum.

This weekend we are heading to the beach for a quick trip and then its off to the lake for a family reunion, fun times!!

So far, it appears that Isabel is quite the fish when it comes to swimming in the "big pool"! She loves it and we are looking forward to this summer at the lake with her. Like I said, we are staying busy and loving every minute of it!

Oh, and we've also had fun growing vegetables in our garden and letting Isabel pick and wash them for me to cook. Its fun for all of us!!!

I hope you all are enjoying your summer as well!

Take care,

Angela

Thankful!

2009-06-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

Today, I am thankful. Thankful for a God who saved me, who snatched me from eternal damnation by covering me with His grace and mercy. Thank you, God, for blessing me with life eternal with you.

I am thankful for a loving husband who was persistent in his pursuit of what he knew God's plan for his life was . . . . . a life married to me, a life that I had not envisioned. Scott, thank you for not giving up on me and for loving me so incredibly.

I am thankful for my precious, healthy, active and loving baby girl who said to me last night, "I luu loo darlin". She is such an amazing blessing in our lives and I am so very thankful that God has entrusted me with the responsibility and the opportunity of raising her, teaching her, and modeling Christ to her. Isabel, thank you for the joy and happiness that you bring to our lives day in and day out!

I am thankful for my family . . . . . a mom who is my best friend, who loves tremendously and gives so very much of herself to all that she cares about. I am thankful for a father who is and always has been true to himself and a wonderful example of how to stand for what is right.

I am thankful for my brother and his wife who love my daughter and desire to spend time with her, investing in her life. And I am also thankful for the precious life that is growing inside of my sister-in-law . . . . . isn't God great!

I am thankful for Scott's family who are all very loving and supportive. They love Isabel and enjoy watching her grow. It is so helpful and encouraging to be surrounded by a caring family.

I am thankful for the health and happines of my family and for all of our wonder friends!

There is so much to be thankful for, I could go on forever . . . . . . . I just needed to stop for a moment and remember all that I have been given and to give praise to God Almighty for His incredible blessings!

Loving my life,

Angela

Tour of Homes!

2009-05-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

My mom made this lamp . . . . . isn't it adorable!

This is the rocking horse that caused the busted lip, she still loves it though!

Isabel loves her "babies"!

This is what we often find in Isabel's room.

Its show us where you live Friday at Kelly's place (www.kellyskornerblog.com) and today's room is the nursery. I just love Isabel's nursery and so far, she seems to love it too!! Its almost exactly what I had envisioned and it has always been so very peaceful.

I will NEVER forget the very first time that I nursed Isabel in her room after coming home from the hospital. I sat in the green chair, turned on her lullabies and prayed over her while she nursed, for the very first time at her own home and in her room. It was incredible and is a very cherished memory!! I remember feeling completely overwhelmed by the anount of love that I felt for my precious daughter. Thank you, God, for blessing us so abundantly!

I've included quite a few pics because I also wanted to show off some of the clothes that my mom has made for Isabel. Yes, she sews and is very talented and, no, I don't very often have to buy ANYTHING for Isabel . . . . . we are very fortunate to have Mimi!

Enjoy the pics and see you next Friday!

Angela

Those dreaded words!

2009-05-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

Can you tell that she loved her sausage biscuit? . . . . . . a Saturday morning treat!

So very unhappy about having to get off of daddy's bike!

Well, she did it! I went to pick Isabel up from "school" yesterday and what did the teacher tell me? Yes, she bit a child. Apparently they were fighting over a book and Isabel decided to get what she wanted, one way or another. Needless to say, I was devastated. She's not even there very long . . . . . can't they just all get along? And I know, its not really that big of a deal and no blood was shed but when you start to see the true sin nature coming out of your precious little girl, its just a little heart-breaking. I mean, we try so hard to protect our children and to teach them to love and respect all people and then they go off and bite their friend because they aren't getting what they want. Oh geeez, the joys and trials and ups and downs of parenting. I did make sure that Isabel's teacher made her apologize when the incident occured and before we left, Isabel apologized to her teacher and told her that she loved her. Now, how do I teach Isabel to really love people and to have a heart of compassion?

Aside from that, its been a pretty good week. We took Isabel out for her first bike ride and she loved it. You'll notice from the pics that she was not very happy about having to get off. She would have ridden for hours I believe!

We are looking very forward to a calm and relaxing weekend at home and I hope we have some great weather for this Memorial holiday.

I've also included a few pics from our visit to Scott's mom's in New Orleans last weekend. We had a fun time and Nan was excited to visit with Isabel while daddy made a few house repairs.

Have a great weekend and a fabulous Memorial Day!

Angela

Mother's Day!

2009-05-13T10:35:00.001-07:00

I hope all of you mommies out there had a wonderful Mother's Day! I did!

We traveled to Augusta, GA to spend the weekend with my parents and it was a lot of fun. We shopped, ate, swam, walked the river walk, ate some more and shopped some more.

Sunday was beautiful and though it started off kind of hectic (I woke up late), it was really a great day. I managed to shower and dress for church in 30 minutes, yes, 30 minutes and mom and I made it to Sunday School just in time. Okay, so we were a few minutes late but they were still going over the announcements. She really wanted me to go with her so that I could meet her ladies' class and I'm glad I went, they all seemed really great. Dad and Scott met us for church after SS with Isabel and we attempted to all attend service together BUT, having a 17 month old in church isn't always easy. So, mom and I left with Isabel, took some pics and got lunch on the table while dad and Scott enjoyed the service.

After Isabel was down for her nap, mom and I headed to Macy's to use the gift card that Isabel (mom) got me for Mother's Day and then we stopped by TJ Maxx, just to see what specials buys they had and I got a great dress for $16 . . . . . isn't that awesome?! Yeah, I was excited too!

The drive to and from Augusta is always long (8 hours with a 17 month old) but Isabel did remarkably well, especially considering that she slept very little during the ride. She was very glad to get back home and that was fun to watch!!

Thanks so much to Candice for watching my house and playing with my dogs while we were gone, what would we do without great friends?!

I have to say that I feel so incredibly blessed to be Isabel's mommy and even more blessed to have a wonderful, supporting, loving and compassionate husband by my side. He is a great spiritual leader for our home and I'm so thankful that Isabel has him to look up to because he sets a great example for both of us. He is amazing and so full of wisdom and discernment and I am so thankful that God brought us together and has made us the parents of our precious baby girl. We both cherish the responsibility that we have of raising Isabel and teaching her about the love of Chirst. One of my prayers for Isabel is that Chirst will ALWAYS be her very first love!

God bless and have a fabulous week!

Angela

Not Me! Monday!!

2009-05-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

You MUST check out MckMama's website . . . . . its a hoot! Literally! She is so incredibly funny and uplifting and is a very gifted writer. MckMama has been through a lot with her MSC (many small children) and I find the stories on her blog to be quite entertaining. Head on over to her site at http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ and enjoy. BTW, her youngest child and his health is definitely and answer to MANY prayers lifted on his behalf! And she also has some great recipes.

Anyhoo, MckMama hosts a Not Me! Monday which is a lot of fun. Other bloggers can post about some embarassing things that they did during the previous week. Isn't that a hoot?! I mean, we all can use a little encouragement by reading about the goofs that other women experience, right? We are all human, after all!!

As for me, I did not walk outside to feed the cats in nothing but my robe (which is a short one) and bend over to pour out the food before realizing that I was, in fact, outside in broad daylight in, as I mentioned, nothing but my robe, my short robe. No, I didn't do that, NOT ME!

Have a great Monday!

Angela

Tour of Homes

2009-05-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

Kelly (http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/) is doing a Friday Tour of Homes and this Friday's room to showcase is the kitchen. I've attached pics of our kitchen . . . . . . hope you like it.

A little background, our home was completely destroyed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After a long year of being displaced and rebuilding, we finally moved back into our home in Spetember of 2006. While it was a horrible experience to lose everything, I am thankful for our remodeled home. Its not a mansion, but it sure is "home" to our little family of 3 and we love it!

Our kitchen and great room is where much of the daily action takes place. Many meals are prepared in our kitchen and we love to have friends and family over for food, fun and laughter.

Enjoy!

Angela

Pondering Prayer

2009-04-24T07:39:00.001-07:00

Have you ever thought about the purpose of prayer? I have been pondering this for a little while now. I follow McMama's blog and she had a great post earlier this week regarding the same topic.

The question is, if God knows ALL things, even before they happen, then why should we pray? I mean, since God already knows the outcome of the situation for which we are praying, then what is the use? That's a good question, right? Should we assume that we might be able to change God's mind by our prayers? But again, God knows all things so wouldn't He know that He was going to change His mind, and again, what would be the point of praying because God already knows what decision He is going to make?

As I pondered these questions, I thought about several things . . . . . one being my love for my husband. Scott knows that I love him, he just knows it. But don't you think that he likes to hear me say those words? Think about it.

Also, as disciples, we are called to live a life that models Christ and Christ, himself, prayed to God the Father while here on earth. Not only did He pray himself, but He encouraged His disiples to pray.

Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Okay, so if Jesus himself prayed and taught His disciples about the importance of prayer, can't we gather that it was IMPORTANT?

Absolutely!!

I also have been thinking about my prayer life. About the difference it makes when I go into my bedroom, close the door, and get on my knees before God. I can pour out my heart to God about anything and everything that is on my mind and then I stop. I stop to just feel God's presence and to be quiet and hear from Him. I stop and I ask Him to meet with me. That moment is sooooo powerful and I can feel God's presence so clearly with me that I sometimes think if I open my eyes, I will see God sitting there in front of me. And He is there!! Isn't that amazing?

And what about those specific prayers that we pray for healing, safety, health, etc. Yes, God knows ALL things but He desires for us to bring our requests before Him, He desires to hear our voices calling out to Him. He desires to hear us say that we love Him.

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for the Lord's people.

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray continually

So prayer, is it important? Yes! Is it a necessity? If you want to deepen your relationship with Christ, then Yes!! Its a necessity! I don't know what I would do if I didn't know that I could meet with my Lord, daily. What would I do if I didn't have the faith that I have, knowing that He hears every word from my mouth and my heart!! He truly is an awesome God and so very worthy of our praise!!

If you've never taken the time to find a quiet spot, a place where you won't be disturbed, to be alone with God, to pray to Him and to just sit in silence and beg Him to meet with you, you should. Its absolutely amazing to feel the presence of God Almighty. And don't feel that you have to offer up some long-winded prayer full of big, impressive words. That's not what God is looking for. He just wants to hear your heart. He wants to hear you say that you love Him and He wants you to invite His presence to sit with you . . . . . . will you?

Have a great, prayer-filled weekend!

Angela

BTW, you'll notice Isabel's busted lip in the pic. Well, the little dare-devil was rocking too high and too fast on her rocking horse and she took a nose dive, head first over the front and onto the hardwood floor. It was just awful!! There was blood everywhere!! I'm soooo thankful that her daddy is calm during disasters!

The other pics are from the zoo and the park!

A precious Prayer!

2009-04-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, April 15th, while in the middle of Walmrt, we received a call that my 11 1/2 week pregnant sister-in-law was bleeding and headed to the emergency room. Talk about being scared. My husband drove over right away and as soon as we got home from Walmart, mom headed over. I was planning to just hang out with Isabel and wait for some news. Well, anyone who knows me knows that I'm not good at sitting and waiting. So, Isabel and I loaded up and headed to the hospital. On the drive over, I explained to Isabel what was happening and that we were going to check on Toto and her baby. Ofcourse, she had no idea what I was talking about but she listened intently. So, to make a long story short, the baby is fine, Toto is fine and she has strict orders to take it easy and get lots of fluids. She went to see her Ob doc this morning and he said the same thing. They did a 3D ultrasound and the little squirt was bouncing around as normal!! Praise God Almighty!! And I must add that Isabel has been asking to say a "bessing" for Toto. "Bessing", by the way, is blessing, which we say when we eat, and maybe in her young mind she already understands that we can talk to God! So sweet and such a precious prayer!!

God Bless!
Angela

So much to say!

2009-04-15T10:58:00.001-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but we've been really busy!

It started with the Beth Moore conference in New Olreans on April 3rd and 4th which was absolutely incredible! She is so amazing and so anointed. Can she just come live with me be my cheerleader? Seriously!!

We had a great group of ladies from our church and we spent the Friday night at the JW Marriott on Canal Street. After Friday night's service, we headed downtown for Cafe DuMonde . . . . . yum, yum!! Saturday morning we headed back to the conference center to hear more from God's word through Beth.

Not only is Beth amazing but the praise team with Travis Cotrell is, well, wow! Talk about ushering us to the feet of God through praise and worship . . . .!

Its so incredible to feel the presence of God Almighty in a room of more than 6000. To feel Him so personally in such a large arena! If you haven't yet experienced a study with Beth Moore, you should. God has blessed her tremendously and gifted her with a platform to reach out to women. I was truly blessed.

While there, I bought one of Travis' praise and worship cds and when I got home, I still had so much worship in me that I needed to release. Sooooo, Isabel and I went into my bedroom, closed the door, turned the music up loud and just let loose dancing, singing and praising our awesome God! It was such a sweet time!

You know, we don't have to teach our children to dance to music, its something that they do when they hear the beat. Why? Because we are born with a desire in us to "praise" and to "worship". Its just in us and we have to let it out! I pray that Isabel is unashamed to worship our Lord. Sometimes, especially in our more traditional "Southern Baptist" churches, we can begin to feel stifled when it comes to worship and we need to be able to just be alone with God and praise Him for ALL that He is and ALL that He has done for us and continues to do!! My baby girl raised her hands in the air and had the best time dancing with mommy!! May we never stop enjoying the praise and worship of God Almighty!!

BTW, her daddy was at a church leadership conference in TX that weekend with the students, that's why there is no mention of daddy joining in on the dancing!! He did get a glimpse when he got home though!!

The next week was spent preparing for my dad to arrive for Easter. Mom was already here and will be here throughout April visiting with Isabel. We are so blessed to have her here with us and Isabel and her Mimi are big pals!!

Dad arrived on Thursday and we had a very busy weekend. We grilled burgers at Lance and Toto's on Friday, had dinner with relatives Friday night, went to the NOLA zoo on Saturday (which Isabel loved), dyed eggs Saturday night, went to our Easter services on Sunday, had Easter lunch, hid and hunted Easter eggs at home after lunch and then hid and hunted Easter eggs with some more family after that! See, I told you we were busy!

Besides all of the festivities, we did take the time to sit with Isabel on Easter morning and read the resurrection story to her from the Bible. Yes, she's still young and doesn't understand but atleast she is hearing the Word at home. It is very important to Scott and I that we raise Isabel with a true meaning of the holidays and why we celebrate.

Also, mom and I watched The Passion on Saturday . . . . wow! No matter how many times you see it, its still hard to watch. And though we watch a recreation of the accounts on tv, we will never fully understand the price that was paid for US!! I was just sick to my stomach, literally. I don't deserve it, at all. None of us do and yet He still died for us and He continues to love us. Christ died, but the grave was not the end of the story!! He conquered death, for you and for me, and we must die daily and LIVE for Him! This is a truth that I pray Isabel will see lived out at home.

I hope your holiday was as blessed as ours!

Enjoy the pics!

Angela

**I must add for my own remembrance purposes that Isabel named each animal that we saw (after we told her what it was) and said goodebye to each as we walked away. "Bye, bye amingo (flamingo), bye bye orilla (gorilla), bye bye agator (alligator)." It was too sweet. Also, when we saw the leopard, he was sitting in the bushes. When we left there, we headed to the ice cream stand for a quick treat and what did she do? She leaned into the shrubs and called "lepee, lepee" which is what she calls the leopard. She was looking for him. It was precious!!

Not much to say!

2009-03-31T08:47:00.001-07:00

I don't feel like I have much to say today but we'll see where it goes.

We had a pretty nice weekend. Scott and I took Isabel to dinner on Friday night at Mellow Mushroom, yum, yum! They have the absolute best salads and we love the place! Afterwards we stopped by "Ance" and Toto's house to say hello. They were babysitting a puppy and we just had to stop in to see it . . . . . and their 200lb chocolate lab. Okay, maybe not 200lbs but he sure looks every bit of it. And, he is GREAT with Isabel. Sometimes he can be a little intimidating for her but she's really good about telling him, "NO NO". As well as playing with the pups we got to jump in on a fun game of Mexican Dominoes with them and some friends. If you've never tried the game, you should, its a ton of fun. On the way home it was pouring and lightening something awful but we made it home safe and sound and all was well.

Saturday we had a wedding and reception to attend and the weather cleared up just in time. It turned out to be a beautiful day and I'm sure the bride was happy! Afterwards we headed to our favorite Japanese restaurant with some friends for sushi and hibachi and the kids loved it! They were really entertained.

Isabel and I didn't get to attend church on Sunday because she woke up with a yucky cough. Although she had no fever and seemed okay otherwise, I was hesitant to leave her in the nursery with all of the other little babies . . . . . and I'm sure the other parents appreciated that too! We did make it Sunday night for the children's worship service (because I could keep Isabel with me and limit her contact with others) and it went great. The kids had a wonderful time!

Other than that, all is pretty much the same. Isabel still has a yucky cough and is congested but no fever. I'm unsure about whether to take her to the doctor. What to do? What to do?

On another note, my wonderful hubby has joined the "blog world" so head on over to his sight and check it out at http://www.thirstfortheword.blogspot.com/. His site is sure to be much for spiritually indepth than mine! ;0)

Have a great week!

Angela

An amazing God-filled weekend!

2009-03-23T09:19:00.000-07:00

Wow! We had such an awesome weekend at church with the students. It was our annual "Elevate Weekend" ,aka "Disciple Now", and it was incredible. The speaker was Brad Fogarty, http://www.bradfogarty.com/, and the worship leaders were Beggartown, http://www.beggartown.org/. Both Brad and Beggartown are annointed men of God who are fulfilling their calls to go and spread the Word of Christ to a lost and dying world. We were challenged by Brad to evaluate where we are in our walk with Christ. Are we truly making disciples as we are biblically mandated to do? Do we really understand that we are covered by the blood of Christ and that we have been granted the blessings of Christ because of who we are as His called children?

The theme was "The Crossroads". Have we made the decision to turn right and follow Christ, leaving everything else behind or are we on the path to the left, living for the world? We have been called to be disciples and to make disciples but do we understand exactly what that means? When we think about the original 12 disciples, they left everything, including their families to walk with Christ, to learn His teachings and to imitate His every behavior. Yes, they were able to physically walk with Him and we aren't but we can still walk with Him as we study His Word. We so often try to make God fit our lifestyles rather than patterning our lifestyles around God. God is God! He is not who we decide to make Him. When will we ever come to understand that? Why are we so afraid to live for Him and to let His Light shine from us? Why are we afraid of offending those around us by living a life of obedience? Why is it so hard for us to believe that God will do for us what He says He will do? Why can't we accept the promises of God in His Word? These are all questions that I am pondering. How about you? Do you realize that "church" is not what saves and gives eternal life? Its a true intimacy with the Father and a life that imitates His Son!! I am excited to examine myself as I begin to "study" the Bible, rather than just "read" it. How about you?

I've attached some pics of Isabel from the weekend, she had a great time with everyone. Scott and I had the opportunity to pray over Isabel with Brad and his family and it was such a special time. No, Brad isn't God, but to have a man who walks so closely with the Father sit and pray over my child and the life that she has ahead of her in Christ was more than words can describe. Scott and I pray that Isabel is set apart and that she grows up to do MIGHTY things to change this world for Jesus!! I can't wait to see whats in store for her and to watch her grow and produce fruit!!

Oh, and the messy picture, well, I let Isabel feed herself some spaghetti . . . . . she loved it and had to be bathed twice to get it all off!

Have a great day!

Angela

PS - She's sitting in my brother's lap clapping to the music of Beggartown . . . she's such a little worshipper!

Wow, how time flies!!

2009-03-19T07:36:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it is already Thursday, the 19th of March . . . . . wow! And my little girl is almost 16 months old. It seems like just yesterday we were anxiously waiting to get through our first trimester so that we could share the news with friends and family that we were expecting. As cliche as it may be, time really does fly. And what fun it has been!! Isabel is such a blessing to her daddy and I and the rest of our families . . . . . what did we ever do before her? Its hard to rememeber what our lives were like before she came.

I must admit that I daily struggle with trusting God to protect and bless Isabel. While I know it in my heart, I too often allow thoughts to get into my head that cause me to doubt. There are so many families out there that are struggling with sick and dying children and I am so afraid that we will be one of those families. I don't understand why we have been allowed to have a happy and healthy little girl. I pray daily that God will protect Isabel and that He would heal her and keep her strong and healthy because I really do feel that she will have a ministry one day, that she will have a desire in her heart to share the love of Christ will people around the world. It is my prayer that Isabel grows up to have a heart of compassion for the lost and conviction to go and share. While this is my prayer, I know that she must see and learn about the God that we serve, here in our own home. I am constantly aware that the example that I set for Isabel will mold and make her into the woman that she will be one day and that is a huge responsibilty, one that I can't handle on my own. It is only with God's strength that I can be the mommy that He desires for me to be. I pray that Scott and I are found faithful in the way the raise and teach Isabel!

On another note, I've attached some pictures of Isabel. We spent Saturday visting Nan (Scott's mom) in New Orleans. You'll notice the hat in one of the pics, Nan bought it for Isabel for Easter and its too cute!! The blue dress is one that Mimi (my mom) made for Isabel and Sunday was her first day to wear it. The artwork in the pic is Isabel's very first! She made it at church Wednesday night and we have proudly displayed it on our refrigerator . . . . how sweet.

My brother and his wife found out on Tuesday that they are expecting!! How exciting!! Isabel is going to have a baby cousin!! We are all very thrilled and we are praying that God allows this little one to grow and flourish in her mommy's belly and that he or she will arrive healthy and screaming. I guess we should start preparing Isabel, somehow, for the arrival of the new baby because I'm afraid she is going to be quite upset to see Mimi, Papa, "Ance" and "Toto" holding another little one . . . . . . we'll see!!

Also, please pray for Adrianna. She is a precious 2 year old who was diagnosed, last week, with Stage 4 neuroblastoma and has started chemo this week in hopes of shrinking the tumor to an operable size. We are praying for this little girl and her dear family! She is currently at Children's Hospital in New Orleans.

That's about it for now! Oh, besides Elevate Weekend that is happening at church this weekend for the students . . . . . it will be lots of fun. Brad Fogarty is the speaker and Beggartown will be leading in worship . . . . . I can't wait!!

Later,

Angela

Busy Times!

2009-03-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

It was a busy weekend but very productive. I'm a list maker and I just LOVE marking things off of my list. It was a great weekend for marking off!!

We started the weekend on Friday by having dinner with some dear friends and their 3 year old daughter. She and Isabel are big pals and we had a great time eating some delicious Mexican food and watching the girls play.

Saturday started with a bridal shower at church that I helped host then it was on to "the list". I have been really wanting to plant some greenery on one side of our house, a side that is rarely seen by anyone and my husband loves to remind me of that. Well, we finally purchased and planted some great plants and they look very nice. That was after we pressure washed the house and mowed the yard. Actually, Scott did the mowing while I pulled weeds, weeds and more weeds!! And then we cleaned the deck. All of this took place during Isabel's 3 hour nap! Wow! And I was able to get the inside cleaned and the laundry caught up! I told you it was a productive weekend. We even found time to go to the park and have a McDonald's picnic and that was a special treat . . . . Isabel doesn't get fries very often.

Our church services were great on Sunday and we were able to rest and nap after lunch . . . how nice!

Monday was Isabel's 15 month check up and the dreaded shot. She did very well and the doctor is pleased with her progress. She now weighs 25 pounds and 8 ounces and is quite the little talker. She is going through a little phase right now of waking up around 5 am and "screaming" for mommy and daddy. And by screaming, I mean, SCREAMING, not the kind of crying that you can ignore thinking that she'll go back to sleep. She screams for us and so we get her up and put her in the bed with us. I know, I know, but hopefully its just a phase and not something that will become a habit. Although it is pretty nice to cuddle with her in the early morning hours. She'll wrap her little arms around my neck and say "mommy" until she falls asleep . . . . precious times!! So while I know it may become a problem in the future, I sure am loving the cuddle time with my little squirt.

Oh, I hear the little darling now, she's up from her nap and calling me!

Until next time,

Angela

Well, at last!!

2009-03-04T16:57:00.000-08:00

Well, Isabel is finally better and acting like her old self again. Its been a long week! We took her to the doctor last Friday because she was still throwing up and had diarrhea and a fever. Turns out she had a nasty little bug that just had to run its course. She asked to "eat" this morning when I was fixing her breakfast yogurt so that was a good sign that she is feeling much better. You'll notice in the pic that she is eating her supper tonight and I am very pleased. All seems to be well but we'll continue to pray that God heals her little body.

Last night was our very first MOPS meeting at church and it turned out great. We had a good show of young mothers and I, myself, had a great time. If you aren't familiar with MOPS, check out their website. Its a great organization for women, particulary mothers of young children, who get together just for some fun fellowship. Its also a great opportunity to reach out to women and share the love of Christ. So often we mothers get caught up in the every day tasks of motherhood and "wifehood" that we don't take the time needed to care for ourselves. It was just so refreshing to sit and chat with other mothers about the joys and trials that come with the responsibility of being a mom as well as our need to daily find time to nurture our relationship with Christ. All in all, it was a great night and I'll try to get some pics next time.

Well, Isabel is almost finished with supper so I better run. If I don't, she'll start with the "apease, apease" with actually means, "please let me sit in your lap so that I can pull all of the keys off of the keyboard".

Good night to all and God bless!

Angela

Sick, sick, sick!

2009-02-26T20:06:00.001-08:00

Well, Isabel is sick . . . . . poor little girl. She has been throwing up and has diarrhea and just wants to lay around. Now she has started running a fever so we are trying to watch her and just keep her comfortable. Its so awful to watch them not feeling well, she just wants her mommy and daddy to sit with her and that's about all that we can do. Just pray that she gets to feeling better and is able to sleep at night, it seems that rest is usually the best medicine.

Hopefully tomorrow will bring a happier little girl who feels much better and is able to eat!

Later,
Angela

Mardi Gras!

2009-02-23T13:32:00.000-08:00

Well, we did it, we took Isabel to her first Mardi Gras parade. Let me first say that Scott and I have never been "Mardi Gras people", we're just not in to the whole carnival "thing" and have never, in 8 years of marriage, been to a parade. But, since we just live 2 blocks from the parade route downtown, we decided it might be fun and interesting for Isabel to experience all the sights and sounds, besides, she LOVES to stroll and it was a beautiful day. So, we set off for the parade with the understanding that we would turn around and head back home at the first sight of "rowdiness". After all, there is this thing called spiritual warfare and we have to do our best as Isabel's parents to protect her from the ugliness in the world for as long as we can. Anyhoo, she had a fun time watching the people and the floats and I think she made her daddy's day when she covered her ears at the loud music . . . . it was funny!

Other than that, we had a fairly calm weekend. Our church services were great, several decisions were made and we started the Fireproof Study in our Sunday School class. If you haven't seen the movie, you should, its really great and has some serious marriage counseling in it!! This upcoming weekend is our church's revival and we are looking forward to that too!

BTW, the diet thing is not going so well . . . . . I have little to no will power! We'll see how it goes!

Below are some sites that you should check out . . . . . these families really need our prayer!

http://www.laurensblog.greenfamily.net/

http://www.andiegrace.blogspot.com/

http://www.dynamicmikelsduo.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading,

Angela

Diet!

2009-02-20T10:31:00.000-08:00

Diet!! Ohhhh, don't you hate the word?? I do!! I've decided to start a new diet and I'm going to use my blog as inspiration and motivation. Each Friday, I will post the previous week's loss, if any. Obviously, I'm not going to post my weight but I'm thinking that if I have to "report" any gain or loss, I'll be a little more inclined to try, you know what I mean?? So, we'll see where we are next Friday . . . . . . and we'll see how long this lasts. I'll let you know when and IF I meet my goal.

BTW, I've posted a pic of my sweet family!!

Its finally Friday!!

2009-02-20T06:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday to you! Don't you just love Fridays? I think its my favorite day of the week, I mean, we get to sleep in tomorrow and have breakfast and watch cartoons with Isabel . . . . . what more could you ask for? And yes, I know, Satrudays are great but once it gets here, then we're on the downhill slope and the weekend is almost over. Fridays are just the beginning!! Much like a vacation, half the fun is in the planning, preparation and anticipation of all that you are about to experience, right? I guess the same could be said about our Christian walk. Shouldn't we be excited as we prepare for and anticipate the arrival of Christ? Are we ready? Wow!

Anyhoo, I am thrilled that Friday is here and I wish you all a safe and fun-filled weekend!!

Later,
Angela

2009-02-19T11:51:00.000-08:00

Just beginning!

2009-02-19T11:43:00.000-08:00

Okay, be patient with me, I've just joined the world of blogging! I'm excited to share my life with you I look forward to seeing what this new journey has in store for us!