Faith

I've read several blogs lately talking about having Faith in God for various things. For some it's faith in getting a new job, some faith that God is in control over this healthcare bill passing, some it's faith for a spouse, others have faith for a child. We serve a God who is so Faithful. Our timing and His timing may not coincide and sometimes that makes it so difficult for us as humans. But His timing is perfect. His timing is what keeps us in His will.
Today I got a Word of the Day on my facebook account from my favorite tv minister...Joel Osteen. I think I am so drawn to his messages because they are not negative. They encourage me to grow in the Lord. The messages are encouraging. These days we all need that!
Today's verse that was shared is : “For the vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarries, wait for it” (Habakkuk 2:3, KJV).
Joel's message:

God has an appointed time to fulfill the visions, dreams, and desires in your heart. Just because it has taken a long time or because you’ve tried and failed doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. Don’t give up on those dreams! Don’t be complacent about pursuing what God has placed in your heart. Our God is a faithful God. No matter how long it’s been, no matter how impossible things look, if you’ll stay in faith, your set time is coming.

Remember, every dream that’s in your heart, every promise that has taken root, God put it there. Not only that, but He has every intention of bringing it to pass. Hold on to that vision today. Declare by faith, “My time is coming. God is working behind the scenes on my behalf. I will fulfill my destiny!” As you continue to hold on to that vision and speak life over your dreams, it won’t be long before you see them begin to take shape. You’ll see your faith grow, you’ll see your hope strengthen, and you’ll see yourself step into the destiny God has prepared for you!

Prayer for Today: Father in heaven, I receive Your Word which is life and health to me today. I ask that You ignite my heart with Your holy fire so that I can pursue Your perfect plan for my life. Make my thoughts and words agreeable to Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. "

I will share with you the story of two times in my life where I stayed in Faith and witnessed God's plan unfold.

1. I prayed to become a mother for several years. I was married and it just wasn't happening. I had an invasive surgery to prepare me for fertility. A month later the man I was married to told me he wanted a divorce. What was I to do? I prayed. I stayed in faith. God didn't put that desire in my heart to be a wife and mother for no reason. I believed He was going to fulfill it! I marched on through the divorce with prayer and faith. God helped me through that time. I always new He had a plan for me that I just didn't see yet. I met my husband and he has blessed us with two wonderful daughters. It was going to be all in HIS time. I now have a faithful husband who is an AWESOME father. I could not see how in control God was for me at the time, but I had faith that he was.


2. I've talked about my hubby being deployed recently. The circumstances were not just a normal thing. He'd been stoplossed just two months before his contract was up with the Guard. We'd already determined he would not re-up. How could this be happening. What were we to do? Pray. We prayed...daily, even hourly sometimes! I believed God for a miracle. That somehow he would not have to go. The time came and he left us. I was sad, but life had to go on for my girls. I kept myself in an attitude of faith. I woke up everyday and thanked God in advance for my hubby's early return. I told him when we talked he didn't have long to go because I had FAITH that God would return him to our family quickly.
I continued to pray. I continued to have Faith in God. I believed that he would not spend the timeframe over there that was given to us by the Guard. I continued to believe my God was bigger than the Army. Let me tell you, HE IS! My husband came home a few months early! This was just a very quick and almost unbelievable happening. He didn't end up missing the lil' cupcakes first birthday, he didn't end up missing Christmas, he didn't even miss Halloween or Thanksgiving! WOW, just WOW! How awesome is that?!

What about you? Do you have any stories to share about how you have stayed in Faith and seen God move?

Typical Spring Afternoon

When we got home from work daddy wanted to do a little yard work. Our yard is a HOT MESS! We quit having it treated while daddy was deployed so we could have someone mow it for me!
Since daddy was spraying chemicals all over I decided to take the girls for a wagon ride. It started off with the girls holding their "flower" the princess picked and talking like this:

And this...

Then a certain someone wouldn't stay seated. She was adamant she wasn't going to sit. She'd had a rough ride home with lots of crying (I think she was just overly tired and she is also still cutting teeth). At any rate I ended up holding her.
Ofcourse after I got cupcake out the ride just wasn't the same so the Princess also wanted out.

The lil' cupcake was wanting to run around. No one was in the cul de sac so I quickly ran in front of her to get a quick snap shot before we headed back to the part of the yard daddy hadn't treated yet.
The princess wasn't far behind.
I went to put Cupcake in the yard so I could go back for the wagon and she threw a fit! Reminded me SO much of the Princess after a wagon ride when she just a little older (but about the same size). See any family resemblence? These girls let you know when you've interrupted their world. LOL!
After we got calmed down the girls took turns on all the millions of ride on toys we have.


Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer so I hope we get home early enough to get out and play some more! I just love a typical spring afternoon, don't you?!
Have a blessed day!

Diet!

I finally started back on my diet today! For those who don't know I gained a TON of weight with my Princess. This might tell you a little...I lost 60lbs of it. Then, I got preggers with the lil' cupcake! I gained 40lbs and I've lost that 40lbs. But I have a WAYS to go to get ready for the summer. Since the Princess is now 3, and I'm officially off the menu, I figure I have no exuse. I am an all or nothing kind of person. So once I get over the initial 'hunger' phase, I think I will be fine. Wish me luck in this journey to get my body back pre-baby! When the effects of no longer nursing are not ailing me I plan to get moving in the mornings with Denise Austin again! Oh, so since I'm announcing so much on my blog, I am going to keep it real. Here is a full body pic of me from November. Nothing has changed. I look like a BLOB up aside my bestie, who still has that gorgeous tiny waist-line! Just as an FYI I may be MIA the next few days. I am really busy at work right now and I'm sure with the new diet I will be really tired when I get home. Hopefully I will resume soon!

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mom's birthday was Thursday! I took her to lunch that day and we enjoyed some chic-fil-a...her choice. Here is a pic of her and my stepdad from Christmas.


This weekend I made her strawberry cupcakes with creamcheese icing (my maw's recipe) and ofcourse the Princess sprinkled the cupcakes with pink sprinkles. The weekend has been so busy I didn't get a chance to snap any pics. We met my mom and stepdad and my brother at Rosie's for dinner Saturday night. She got her cupcakes and gifts then. I ran off without a camera!!!! For SHAME! I can't believe I did that. I hope she had a good one...we sure tried to make it special!

My 'little' brother

What's been going on around here? My brother and his friend have been heading up to Nashville, TN to play at the BLUE BIRD cafe!!!! How stinkin' awesome is that?! I am so jealous. For those who do not know me I *LOVE* to sing. And a love for all things music runs in my family. My brother is an awesome musician.

Josh and his buddy, Dustin, also very talented, have been getting together and writing songs and just being uber talented. Check out some of the action shots below (I totally swiped these off of his facebook account, but I HAD to brag! I am so proud of him!)


Have a blessed weekend!

I *heart* Thursdays!

It's time for I ♥ Thursday's again!




I love to look back on the week and remember why this week was special! So Check it out at You and Me Plus Three. Go there now to add yours and read others!!

i ~♥~ my mom. Today is her birthday!
i ~♥~ that my lil' cupcake has a new buddy at daycare
i ~♥~ that the hubby pitching in on the housework!
i ~♥~ the health of my family. I think we are all flu free!
i ~♥~ that Easter is on it's way! And the ADORABLE Easter dresses I got the girls this week!
i ~♥~ that I had such a peaceful ride home yesterday...only one baby and she slept!
i ~♥~ the princess is dressing up with all my jewelry now! Too cute!
i ~♥~ having my hubby back safe and sound...I keep getting reminded how good it is he got back safely!
i ~♥~ sales! Good good sales!
i ~♥~ sleeping ALL NIGHT LAST NIGHT!!!!!! That may be my favorite this week! ;o)

Par-tay! *SHOE* Par-tay!!!!

Today I am linking up with Beth at The Stories of A to Z for the SHOW ME YOUR SHOES party! Oh, Beth, how I *LOVE* this idea!!! Check out hers and others by clicking on the CUTE button below!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE shoes! I shop EVERYWHERE for them. These days, I am finding MUCH of what I LOVE at Tarjay! YES people, TARJAY! They have many shoes made by Mossimo that look SO MUCH like Steve Madden shoes! It's crazy! And my love for shoes is typically what is in for the moment. So I don't like to spend too much money on them so I can have LOTS of pairs. =) So for my target round up. Check out these cutie patooties I got last season! I *heart* these ruffled babies. And that wedge makes them COMFY!

Next up, and also from Tarjey, this cute sandal high heel. Also with my favorite girlie touch...ruffle!
Now I got these last year. There are/have been TONS of gladiators running around town. I am short fun sized and the hubby is a GIANT. So I prefer a heel. I found the perfect gladiator for me... check it double deck it!!!!!
Now on to this year's crop. I found these birk-a-likes dressed up in goldish and blings. They are perfect for a day at the beach or SHOPPING. LURVE 'em! And they are COMFY too!

Not to be out done, I found a goldish heel I love...with more of that girlie touch but a little different ruffle-dee!
Next up, what I am getting. I love these silver YellowBoxes. They are CALLING my name.
And these little zebra with the hot pink trim...again, calling my name from Belk in the yellowbox isle!

Now, to quote a friend of mine's son...(I told her I was SO stealing this saying, love it!)
Let's go get FLIP FLOP FRESH!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I hope everyone remembered to wear green today and is not getting pinched! Our girls had school pictures scheduled for today but they both had some green in those little smocked dresses! I will have to post a pic when we get them back!


This post is dedicated to POP. He is my hubby's grandad. He is the most IRISH man I know. He is a hard worker and a wonderful man. We love him so! Here is a pic I snapped on our last visit to CT when we visited with him. Imagine this...we met up with him at an IRISH PUB for lunch! =)

House of Pain?

Three of the four of us have been sick with the flu the end of last week into the weekend. First Daddy had it, then the Princess, and then the lil' cupcake started with the fever. Daddy actually got a positive swab mid week and the Princess then was diagnosed based on symptoms Friday. The lil' cupcake just ended up having meds called in. Whew. It wasn't really a horrible weekend though. We stayed in for obvious reasons but amidst the naps and feeling bad there was time to play. Last night before bed I snapped a quick shot of the princess, well, being a princess (a theme for her this weekend).

Daddy called me into the living room today to find my lil' cupcake rocking her baby.

Once the princess heard that the lil' cupcake was rocking her baby, she had to join the fun.

Another fun thing I noticed this weekend was how the Princess hides during a good ole game of hide and seek. She and daddy played hide and seek ALOT today...even when she was dressed as Cinderella...which was BEFORE she got dressed up like snow white. LOL So check out this great hiding spot!

So most of the pics so far were taken today and the girls and daddy are feeling MUCH better thanks to tamiflu! While they were napping on Saturday I did manage to squeeze in a SUPER quick project I was wanting to try out. I love all the girlie flowers on shirts, headbands, shoes, skirts, etc. I can not take credit for the idea, but for the life of me can not remember what blog featured the tutorial. I just thought hey I already have all the supplies for this! So I had to give it a try. Check it out!

It's a little flower made out of ruffle ribbon and felt! I used a black ribbon wrapped headband that was just a plain ole headband we got at walmart. This was supposed to be for the girls BUT...

I like it, even for me! Maybe this will be a lesson in sharing! LOL!
Have a great Monday!

I ♥ Thursday's

It's time for I ♥ Thursday's again!




It's a GREAT way to say what we are thankful for during the current week. So Check it out at You and Me Plus Three. Go there now to add yours and read others!!

i ~♥~ the weather the day of the Princess's bday party =)
i ~♥~ my little boo's full of personality and all smiles all the time!
i ~♥~ that the hubby did laundry a couple of nights ago
i ~♥~ my bestie's Linda and Nancy. They are ALWAYS there for me
i ~♥~ that the MIL is planning a trip down in the near future
i ~♥~ that the Lil boo is so into giving me kisses now days
i ~♥~ my new cell I talked about here
i ~♥~ when the princess tells me she loves me
i ~♥~ that we got TWO Dora mermaids at the bday party...so that means no fights in the tub!
i ~♥~ little girlie giggles
i ~♥~ my work friends

New Cell-ee ♥

Last week my blackberry pearl flip refused to charge. I got this phone about a year ago. Bought it on ebay because I refused to be tied in to a contract requiring internet service. Got it in black because the other 'colors' were just going for so much more!

I had thought I better just use the 'loaner' my mom was offering me and wait until the hubby's stuff got back from Iraq and get my old blackberry pearl(non flip).

Mine old blackberry pearl is black, not titanium or pearl white. Just plain ole black. I also had purchased it off of ebay a couple of years back. Again, the colors went for oh so much more. So back to why it's MIA right now...the hubby had decided for some reason that he thought he'd be able to use a smartphone during parts of his deployment so I gave him the pearl and got the pearl flip. But now, my only option at a decent phone is stuck in Iraq! So I got my mom's back up phone as a loaner. It was an old nokia. So old I had trouble using the text message function on it! WOW! It took me back to my first cell phone texting experience...and my memory barely goes back to yesterday! LOL! So, as I'm using this loaner I decided to take a gander in the tmobile store this week. And I saw this...

♥ GASP! ♥ My heart skipped a beat. Could it be that there is a Motorola (the last cell I ever loved was a motorola), in Pearl white, that is a smart phone, and slides open like a side kick?!!! WOW... And have I told you how much having a smart phone could help me stay organized and how desperately I need organization?! Have I convinced you yet that I want NEED this phone? Well, it took me just a day or two and I caved. I signed for the ball and chain internet service as well...upgraded the phone and contract. I have NO buyers remorse what so ever! I am still in heaven. And the best part...I wish I'd gone mobile internet years ago! I am loving it. And it's not nearly as bad of a commitment as I had originally thought now that I have it. =) Now it's such a smartphone that I might actually have to read the manual at some point. But so far, I'm lovin' the challenge.

Have a blessed night!