cruisin' into the fall...

so we've made it to the end of the first trimester....yay!!! the consistent nausea is not as consistent and the getting up 5 times a night to go to the bathroom is down to about one time, so i'll take this much desired relief and cruise into the second trimester. i got to hear my babe's heartbeat yesterday! i love love that sound!! so precious...it's hard to believe that 14 weeks have already gone by

i don't have a ultrasound pic of my own for 13-14 weeks (wouldn't it be so amazing to have one every couple weeks to see the baby?!) but i found this one and while i'm completely sure my lil' gummi bear is more beautiful, this will do :)

the big kiddos are back in school, just starting week 4, and 'K' is happily soaking up all the one-on-one attention. i really wasn't quite ready for them to go back just yet, but i was ready to stop hearing the hum of the PlayStation3 and disney channel and arguments about who double bounced who on the trampoline...on purpose.

cute picture of my posse of the kiddos at my brother-in-law's wedding a few months ago...just thought i'd share how awesome they looked :)

i started a new business from home (in addition to all the crafting stuff i already do, like this super cute purse/bag i made)

and i'm really loving it....but i'll do a separate post about that soon, okay?

hhhmmmmmm.....what else can i say is happening? i've been laying back and resting in the presence of God and His Grace, seeking to trust Him with all the changes that are happening and forthcoming. really been working on accepting His gift of unconditional love in a way i know i never have in my 20+ years of salvation. let's just say that it's liberating to truly serve and believe on Christ knowing & reminding myself that His love & blessing for me has nothing to do with me and what i give Him but is a demonstation of His blinding awesomeness!!! His faithfulness!!! that's pretty amazing and noteworthy don't ya think?!

my prayer for you this week (and month for that matter)is that you would slow down, close your eyes and take note of the graces, gifts, blessings that surround you, give thanks to Him who is the Giver and snuggle in a bit closer to the One who loves you more than we can ever comprehend.

be blessed....

stumbling blocks and direction

there are so many things i want to do and yet i become my biggest stumbling block...

...you don't have time

...the finances are there right now

...what if you fail and everyone knows you failed

...i don't even know what the next 7 steps should be to get from "here" to "there"

...what do i really have to offer

i don't like to struggle, to be without vision and answers, whirling thoughts create a vortex of unknowns into an ache

He is doing something in me.... i desire to do great things for Him and that very desire is from Him to begin with

but which "great" thing should be the focus? where would you have me look, Lord?

so His Word falls open before me and tells me to look to only Him, serve only Him... devotion and obedience brings blessing and wisdom and protection...

i continue to commit His word to my heart. the one and only commitment i've planted myself upon for this new year.... Philippians, the whole book, commit to memory so that His unspeakable joys and love, a whole book-ful will grow and blossom within this life of mine devoted to His

it's a start. a wonderful one, excitement abounds!!

but He has more, much more. still listening and seeking so i can stay on His path, so His righteousness blankets me against the stumbling blocks...

i pray this first month of the year has you seeking and yearning for His direction, this journey of faith and following Christ into 2011 together in this small community.... Lord, let your grace flow and overwhelm me Jesus with your Joy and Love, that all be for your Glory

feel free to open up and share where the Lord is taking you this year and how i might join you in praying for direction and favor...

favor...

oh, yes! i crave and need His favor! presently and for the narrow path ahead of me... don't we all

be blessed, dear one!

imperfection

i am completely imperfect and messy

i don't clean my house as much as i should

i tend to do the laundry, lay out the laundry, but struggle with putting away the laundry

sometimes dinner is organic peanut butter & jelly sandwiches

i yell at my daughter for whining about her outfit, reminding her to have a Spirit of gratitude for clothes...where is my Spirit of patience...

i can't walk into my oldest son's room without commenting on how disgusting it is

it is the 12th of january in 2011 and i've yet to write down my goals

do i have goals?...what dreams has God given me...where should my focus be this year, month, day...

i let my preschooler play computer games for an hour so i could make beds, pick up rooms and hang up my Man and i clothes (only taken me 2 weeks & mulitple loads)

in all my messiness, floating adrift in my heart and mind for the last few weeks, maybe months, the Lord is still speaking to my soul...

"I love you with an unending, eternal love"

"I have plans to prosper you"

"I think you're beautiful and I want you"

"Nothing is impossible with Me, my dear daughter"

maybe you're seeking His heart for direction, wisdom, discernment, approval, dreams just i have been

feeling a bit lost

wondering what to do, where to go

even when i don't know what to do next, i do the one thing i know will bring me nearer to Him

i praise, regardless of my circumstances, my attitude

i live thankfulness, tick through the endless blessings that He pours on me

i seek to have less of me, much less

that His grace will flow over me, through me

i want be a world-changer for His name's sake

i'm just seeking how He wants to do that this year

the anticipation is wonderful and frustrating all at the same time

...help me see the glimmers of your Beauty, that i may follow after you

...steal all of me, Jesus

...my imperfections and messiness....take it all

my random tuesday thoughts....

so you might have noticed that my blog background was all sorts of bijiggity, and just after i launched the redesign, geez!! but all is back to black, white and pink... just as the world is supposed to be!

i have been busy non-stop since last week's birth control & precious unborn babies post, but no comments...hhhmmm, just don't want to say something hateful or you didn't get a chance to read it yet? well, click here to read for the first time if you missed it

so i finally had the garage sale on saturday! praise the Lord!! i can't even begin to tell you how incredibly happy i am that it is over. i am not a garage saler, nor do i like having garage sales. we did pretty good on the money side of it, but mostly i got rid of a ton of stuff!! plus i have several bags of clothes left to go donate at the local woman & children's shelter, but most importantly my Man has his beloved garage back. you should have seen him! it was like a kid in a candy store putting all his tools and such away... so cute

my lil' Girlie came back from church camp on saturday afternoon too!! yay! i missed her and her sweet smile... she has given me a good topic to write about as well, and i'll share soon... don't miss it! (she was on the red team, so she's all painted up still! and her team won 1st place too!!)

what else?..... oh! i finally saw the movie The Blind Side this past weekend and it was wonderful!! love it, love it, love it!! my sister (in law) said that i channel the mom (played by sandra bullock) and i have to say, other that driving around in a mercedes, i'd have to agree :)

i've been putting the finishing touches on one of the 'jewelry portraits' for one of my blessed readers who won it.... it is pink and beautiful and i can't wait to ship it to her later this week.

you want to order one? fantastic!!! send me an email at floodedbygrace@gmail.com and i'll have it done and shipped in 7 business days and all for 18.00 (plus shipping)

and finally you'll get to see the new house!! yep! at 9p CST you'll get part 1 of the tour... there might be a giveaway involved but i'm not going to say for sure, so swing by...

love ya'll!!

do you just love it?!

okay, you have to tell me what you think.... do you love it? the new layout and pictures? is it easier to navigate and read? because i am so happy with it, not perfect yet, but liking it even more than before!

i want you lovely people who stop by to enjoy this blog as much as i love writing it. i have always been a "writer" of sorts as far as journaling, short stories for my kiddos and some plays & such for church; but putting all my thoughts, opinions, questions and personal walk out for all to read has been a challenge but i love it! i love sharing my parenting victories and failures, putting up the cute pictures of my babes and giving you a window into how are family does life.

so as i grow in my walk with the Lord, mature as a wife and as i am daily perfecting my mothering skills, i want to encourage others in their faith that God is with us! we are blessed to be a blessing to others, not to try to be "an island unto ourselves" so if in some small way you leave this place uplifted, then i know i'm doing exactly what God has for me at this time... which is a wonderful privilege and honor to do life with you!

and without further delay, let me announce the two winners of the 'jewelry portrait'.....

out of the five entries, i let the geniuses as random.org chose the winners, so don't blame me :)

and the winners are angela i. and meeyeehere!! okay girls, send me an email (floodedbygrace@gmail.com) so i know where to ship your 'jewelry portrait', the colors you definitely want and just a few little extras that i'll ask about....

this was so fun!! so glad you all came to play.... if you're sad that you didn't win, don't worry! you can also contact me (floodedbygrace@gmail.com) to order your own personalized 'jewelry portrait' for just $12.00 plus shipping, but this discount (originally $18.00 w/ shipping) is just for the other three gals that entered.... but please pass it on to your other friends, i'd love to create for whoever!!!

tomorrow i'll have the part 1 of the video tour through our new home!! i'd love you input on some rooms that just need that "something" extra!

be blessed!!! the best is yet to come!!

late night thoughts....

what have i accomplished & been thinking about this week? hhhmmm....

i did laundry & got it all hung up (it's the hanging it up part that bites when doing laundry isn't it)

i have swept & mopped the kitchen, dining room and living room like three times

i babysat a cute 7 month old; i played on the slides at the park with my 'K'; drew with sidewalk chalk & blew bubbles

prayed a lot; spent much time in the Word

hugged my kids; cheered as 'P' won his basketball games; typed up some blog posts but still haven't published them (can anyone say "procrastinator!"); did a little grocery shopping; sat on the front porch daydreaming about my new home

helped my Man pay bills; helped my Man cut our budget down some more; stopped at sonic for raspberry tea two times (but it was during the half-price happy hour, so it's like i only went once..)

did an Avon order while thinking ugly thoughts about the new distribution center filling my orders :) i know, i'm working on it...

made 4 beds each morning; did the dishes twice a day for several days & wondered how 5 people can possibly dirty so many dishes; polished the stainless appliances once; cleaned all three bathrooms; vacuumed just about every day

questioned my sanity on more than one occassion; argued with my oldest son about something stupid & reminded myself to let some things go

worked in some "work" but didn't really get much done with clients & decided to drop one of the three projects i work with & yet still stress over not getting enough "work" done each day

practiced numbers & counting with 'K' and his Bible verse for the week; worked with lil' Girlie on her multiplication & she achieved her reading goal for the month & explained to me that we are killing the bears by cutting down trees & i reminded her of reality instead of the progressive Earth Day agenda

i calmed my perfectionist-driven daughter that an A- in math on her mid-quarter grades was nothing to freak out about and motivated my son to get his comm arts from a B+ back to the usual A-

i kissed my Man every opportunity i got & reminded him how proud he makes me to be his wife

i asked God if i was where i was supposed to be and how i get where He wants me

i'm thinking about what God is going to do in church on Sunday, it excites me to know He will reveal the Word anew to my heart; i can't wait to teach my class of toddlers that Jesus loves them & desires their little trusting hearts plus i love craft time!

thinking about planning another Sisters Party, who to invite, worried if anyone will come, what project should we do; praying for the coughing & feverish toddler in the next room

i ended each day this week feeling as if i had done nothing! i hate that feeling! after reviewing my week in writing & reeling through my thoughts and actions i know that i did a lot... maybe it's my expectations & goals that need some tweeking

never the less, i influenced and shaped my children's hearts and minds, i held the power in my words & actions to encourage my Man & be a blessing to him...

Lord i am a blessed woman... thank you for placing me here to fufill your purpose...