spring is in the air

my dear sweet husband has helped to bring a little spring into our house this past week. first he surprised me by bringing home a beautiful bouquet of pink roses. they were the perfect addition to our piano.

they brighten up the whole house.

a few days later i came home and when i looked at the kitchen table there was a large bouquet of yellow daffodils. they are lovely and they smell delicious...everytime i walk past them i have to take a quick sniff.

i love it...spring really is here!!! except, of course, for the occasional cold, rainy day.

trials bring forth fruit

I have been involved in a ladies Bible Study at my church for the last few weeks. It is called 'Becoming a Woman of Simplicity' based on the verse II Corinthians 11:3- 'I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.' It has been an amazing study that shows how we need to simply focus on God and our devotion to Him. Last week we discussed going through various trials in our lives. Even though trials are no fun and, of course, I hate that the ladies who shared their trials have to go through them...it is very encouraging to know that I am not the only one that struggles with things. It made me realize, for the thousandth time, that when I am struggling with something instead of looking at my trials and struggles I need to focus first upward towards God...who has already overcome the world (John 16:33). Secondly, I need to look outwards towards others. Focus on them and what they are going through and that will help me to put my situations into perspective...and keep me from feeling sorry for myself.

there was a fantastic quote in the chapter... 'my desire is to be faithful in life as it actually is, to rejoice not in the trials, but in the good that God can bring from my patient endurance. I have found that the only way I can remain unshakable, assured, and deeply at peace is when I take heart from being in the presence of Christ. The only way I can experience His mercies to live just for today, is to sit at His feet and listen to His Word. -cynthia heald-

thank you, Lord for bringing trials into my life. thank you that they help me to bear more fruit. thank you for making these trials part of the process of becoming more like your Son, Jesus Christ...and causing these trials to make me look upward and outward!

'our trials have meaning and purpose in God's eternal plan, and He brings or allows to come into our lives only that which is for His glory and our good.' -jerry bridges-

gardening and doggie doors

thanks to some big muscles and lots of hard work i was able to get started most of the many small/time consuming tasks that needed to be done around the yard to get ready for our upcoming spring.


this monday seemed to be the perfect day for it. with the whole day off and the sun shining it was perfect.



i called up a and told her that i was going to do some yard work. so she brought c and n over and their muscles to help dig my new garden.



they were great helps. i couldn't have gotten it finished without them. we put our heads together and combined our muscles to, as mentioned before, dig up dirt for a new garden...


carry rocks for the outline of the garden...as well as some huge flat rocks for a step stone walkway to our front porch.


it was hard work and we had to take quite a few breaks, but we all worked hard to get it done.


and for the most part we did get all the main stuff done. Eric did come home later and finish a few odds and ends...but he was surprised to see how much we had gotten done. it always so fun to surprise him.

of course, all work and no play makes jack a dull boy...well thankfully Jack has a doggie door that the boys could play with.

thanks a, c, n, and m... i definitely could not have done it without you!! and it was a blast!!

photo debut

m and i had so much fun the other day at her photo shoot...okay so i had fun...i had to stop a couple to times to get her to stop crying. i think she was tired of the outfit changes...

but if she is like most girls...she will love all the outfits (or lack of in this case) when she gets older.

she was a trooper...all i had to do was get somebody to come and talk to her and she was all smiles.

shocking, isn't it?