Life

It’s been a while since our last post. Since then we’ve welcomed a new life into the world, Jocelyn Camille Maxwell.  She is now 9wks and so lovely and smart.  Josh has started going to school majoring in computer science with a minor in business.  It is also the start of fall, which kicks off multiple bible studies, holidays and plenty of activities.   Life tends to be busier than I ever anticipate and any time for self is just a dream.  Life is spent assisting three little ones and getting caught up in the joyful hustle and bustle. Though I dream of days spent sewing, reading, and playing the guitar ( not very well) , there is joy in the things I do and I’m more than content where God has me.

Pictures of my Blessings below. Enjoy.

A Heart Like His…

I have recently been doing a study on David. For a long time, I have yet to see why he is the one, of all people, to have the title ” A man after God’s own heart.” As I’ve read through his life story throughout the years I could only see his  ”All-American Boy” like qualities, that may have found him favor with man, and I’ve seen his sins. However, as we all know God does not look at our outward appearances. He sees our hearts. So what did God see in David?
As I go through this study it is hard to express in words how I know that David is who God says he is, but I will do my best. I saw that David loved the things and people that God loved. In I and II Samuel there were times that David could have taken revenge on his enemies, but his enemies were Israelites. God loved the Israelites and so did David. When others took revenge on David’s enemies on behalf of David, he rebuked them and punished them.
That of course isn’t even half of David’s story. His life was full of hard decisions. With every decision he made he sought out God, b/c he loved God desperately and knew Him as his rescuer and the One who loved him and chose him. I pray that God would continue to change my heart so that I love so desperately the things of God. That I would love His people most of all.
Sometimes there is more guilt in our hearts to serve each other and reach out to others than there is love. So how can we speak out of love and love our neighbors as ourselves? By doing what comes first  ”Loving God with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength.” (Mark 12:30)For if we love God, it will only lead us to love the things He loves and desires.

Christmas ’09

Had a wonderful Christmas. It was our first christmas in our new home. It was nice quiet and relaxing.  Life gets so busy sometimes I don’t get to sit down and enjoy my family as often as I’d like.  It’s amazing how many ways people have been blessed this Christmas and have viewed His glory. It’s all b/c of  the birth of one man who was both man and the Living God. Happy New Year to everyone!

Christmas Morning

Almost Christmas 2009

Her First Story

Amara loves for me to read to her anything and everything. I’m glad she loves it so much, b/c I do, too. It’s also a great learning tool. I also tell her story’s I make up and fables.
Well, the other day she told me her first story. As I was talking to her, Amara says ” Mommy you have to be quiet and then I will tell you a story, okay?”
So I say ” okay.”
Amara begins ” Once upont a time I had a booboo ( she points to her leg) and it hurt……”
The end.

Weekend Projects

Amara’s and Jagger’s Birthday

Amara and Jagger were born five days apart. So they had a joint birthday party. The theme- Cardboard Carnival. Amara loved every minute of it.
She’d been waiting all month for her birthday b/c ” I will have my birthday and papa will be there and lita will be there and grandma will be there and omi will be there and jagger will have a birthday with me!” and so on.
Here are some pics from the party. Enjoy!

Jagger-Ama’s 3rd Birthday

The Extinction of Dinosaurs

Josh and I recently painted Amara’s room. Amara helped when she was able.  When we moved into our new home the walls in one room were covered in a dinosaur mural. Amara, at the time, loved them. Now She has been telling us almost every night that she no longer likes her dinosaurs. So we decided maybe she really doesn’t like them and we should go ahead and paint her room. After moving her out of her room to paint for a couple of days Amara says ” But I like my dinosaurs.”   …… too late Amara.

It was no easy task; we had to sand and wash the walls first. Amara helped sand the walls a little then had to leave the room, b/c of all of the dust.  Then she helped us wash the walls off. I was kneeling down beside Amara who was on a stool and the following took place:

Me- “Amara, what are you doing?” ( slightly irritated)

Amara- “I’m just standing on your head.”

I guess the stool wasn’t tall enough.

Anyhow, the task is done and the dinosaurs are now extinct. However, as always, there are still fairytales of sightings from the townspeople.

Lowered Expectations

We went out for some ice cream yesterday just because Anjelica had a gift certificate from helping-out with Vacation Bible School and Amara had a free cone. It was a hot day, we just had some dinner at Macaroni Grill, and it was going to be free dessert; so everything was shaping up perfectly which is how Anjelica envisioned it.

I stayed in the car with Violet and Anjelica and Amara were going to get the cones for us…three cones…one adult and an over excited child…on an extra-hot, warm-breezy day. Let that simmer a bit and you get ice cream EVERYWHERE!!! While Anjelica was sitting Amara down at a table, she set the napkins down (the ones that she was planning on using to clean up), and a breeze sent them flying all over the parking lot.

Chocolate was on jeans, Strawberry Truffle was on purses and Purple Dinosaur was in curly, curly locks of hair and all over the lips and chin of a great, big smiling face.

Veggies

We are growing some of our own veggies and herbs.  Bell peppers, jalapenos, basil, oregano, and

tomatoes. Here are some fruits of our labor. This is all Josh’s doing. If you have questions ask him.

He makes it look easy.

Legos and Paperplate Flowers

Sometimes I find myself  falling into panic about what Amara does and doesn’t know. I want her to be equipped for anything and everything, but she’s 3yrs. old.  She will have plenty of time to work  hard. Now is her time to play and be carefree.  So I’m just sitting back  and enjoying her lego homes and towers and paperplate flowers. I’m  not worried about the technique she uses in her masterpieces. Only her joy in making them.

” Parents must learn to love what their children are, not what you      want them to be. Love their efforts today, not their excellence  tomorrow.”  author Michael Pearl