Postitive VS Negative

So today I am chewing on positive things vs negative things. And how so many times you can have so many positive things going for ya and the BAM! One negative comes and all the positives fly outa your mind! Why is that? Why is it easier to focus on the glass being half empty vs being half full? Some people say it's just personality, but I think it's more than that. Yes, personality problem enhances it, but I don't think it's the cause. When you start to focus on the negative then discouragement comes in like a flood. Once discouragement settles in than comes all those depressing thoughts and thoughts of giving up. I can't tell you how many times over the last year this has defeated me. AND just last night I got made about it! I was in a great mood, had a great time at Paradigm and came home and BAM hit with a negative situation. But you know those 'negative' things, really don't have to be a negative to you. I believe (or I say I do, sometimes my actions say differently!) Anyhow, I believe that all things work together for those who love God! I love God therefore He WILL work ALL things together for MY good! So much easier to say than to really live life that way isn't it? But going back to the beginning, I was enlightened last night that negatives in all reality come from him...the evil, despicable, conniver satan himself. Because if he can get in your mind and make you believe that these things are negative and then you let those thoughts turn to depressing thoughts then depression will come. Once in depression all life seems pointless and you will give up. But I've got news for him today! This chick is not gonna give up! You know that song where it says 'There's pain in the offering' well, even though there's pain I will still offer what He has given me! You know, He was rejected before we ever were! Anyhow say all that to say this is where I'm at folks. And yet a smile will still remain on my face, and I will CHOOSE to rejoice in whatever state I am, and I will CHOOSE to live for His glory! Enough said. 

Crafty Endeavors!

So for Mother's Day my dad sent me a sewing machine via mail! It was a total surprise! And I had never been happier (between you and me, I cried!)! Anyhow, it has really stirred creativity in me so I've been trying some things here and there! There is so much I want to try but have been shy to try harder things! But in due time I will attempt something larger! Right now it's been fun doing these small things!

This was a headband I made for my niece - Emma- birthday!

This was the shirt to go with it!

Happy 3rd birthday Emma!

Then I started with Bibs and Burp cloths!

This one I made literally from scratch! Now I have created my own pattern for it! I've started another one already! yay!

This one I am so excited about! It looks so darling on my little girl! And best thing is- no one has the same one! (well, unless I make them one! hee hee)

Isn't she darling? 

Too cute!

Anyhow, this is def a big outlet for me! Whenever I feel upset/down or stressed- I just slip out all my sewing stuff and start being creative! Best thing yet, is that it's a really cheap hobby! I mostly shop clearance fabrics and walk out of the store with 1/4 yard of 3 or 4 fabrics for a whopping $2! And that lasts for several different endeavors! Yay for creative outlets!!!

We finally have family pictures! 

About three weeks ago we went and had them done! It was so stinkin' hot outside even at 10 o'clock in the morning! But we should've known this IS Texas! lol Anyhow, I thought I would share some personal favorites out of the 300 we got back! 

O how I love this precious little girl!

She is so cuddly and just warms your heart with her smile!

                                                 

And I just adore this little guy too!

He is so handsome! My little helper, my big boy who loves to 

kiss/hug and read together!

Aren't these the cutest kiddos you've ever seen! I love all the 

personality that both of them have! 

This is def one of my favorites! I love the angle! And I love my family!

 

I thank God every day for each one in my family!

And as a side note a special thanks to Alexandra Carullo for taking the photos! 

She did a great job and I would recommend her to any of you! 

6 months Already!

Gavin - 2.5 years old!

So recently I've been so amazed at how fast your children grow! I didn't really notice it with my first born, Gavin. But ever since Emory has come along it seems like both of them are growing so fast! Or maybe it's that I'm so busy that time seems to go by faster!? lol But they are getting so big just the same! Gavin absolutely loves music and movies! We are STILL potty training- unfortunately! :(  He gets 'it' he just doesn't want to! (poop anyhow! He pees all the time on the potty!) He loves to play with his cars and to color. His new found love is reading books! He wakes up in the morning and grabs a book and brings it to our bed and says "Read it Daddy!" So we've been reading about 15 books a day! And he loves his little sister so much! When she cries he runs to get her paci! And when she's laughing usually it's because he's playing or talking to her! They are so sweet together!

Emory is 6 months old! Wow! She now eats baby food, sits up all by herself and is happy most times! She is such a good baby! She loves to cuddle - which makes mommy so very happy! And crazy thing because she's so young but she loves books! Which also makes mommy happy! I loved books when I was a kid and believe it is so much better for you than TV! Anyhow, off my soapbox! 

Emory 6 months old!

I thank God for these kiddos everyday! They are such blessings in my life! 

7 years & counting.....

So yesterday Nick and I celebrated 7 years together! (the above picture was within the first year of our marriage!) Wow, how time has flown by. It's one of those things that are bittersweet - bitter because it means I'm not 20 anymore! Sweet because our marriage is so much more now than it was 7 years ago. We got off to such a rough start that both of us admit that if we hadn't been Christians and divorce was never an option- we totally would've been divorced within the first 5 months! YES, it was that bad! But it also proves/shows the redeeming power of God! He has made us both into better people through being married to each other. We balance each other out so much better now! Before it was polar opposites! Now it's more 50/50! I am so thankful I married a man of God. A lot of the reasons it was so difficult for us in the beginning is because I was so stubborn! NO you say, not you! hee hee! God has used Nick to help mold me and shape me into who I am today. I am definitely a better woman because I married him. So cheers to marriage! Cheers to being married 7 yrs! And Cheers to 70 more years together! God willing! I love you so much Nick and I really am so thankful that I married you!

We were so excited we made it to year 3! lol It started getting better from there on out!

I tried to look for a recent picture of just the two of us and there are none!  So I will work on getting one!

A Mini 'Stay'cation!

So one day 2 weeks ago, Nick called me and said 'Hey are you ok with me taking next week off?' Duh! Of course! So we had a fun time doing all kinds of things in the Dallas area. If you ever want to visit Dallas, there are so many things you can do! Some of which we are still discovering! We went to places like:

The Dallas World Aquarium!

Both the kiddos absolutely loved it there!

Then another day we ventured out to Firewheel for dinner!

She loves kisses from Daddy!

We also took Gavin and Emory to their very first Rangers Game! 

And in between all those fun things, we had lots of play time with Daddy! 

Especially Wii competitions! hee hee

We had so much fun last week just hanging out with Daddy! It was a much needed time for all of us! Yay for a Daddy vacation! (not away from him but with him!)

*One thing that God ministered to me while taking this time off was that taking time to replenish is a good and GOD thing to do! Even Jesus' days were filled with counseling, encouraging, loving on children, protecting the innocent, feeding the hungry etc.... etc...! All those things are also a part of my life! So no guilt could be found on my mind last week! We took it off and enjoyed every minute of it! I was able to put aside all the thoughts/concerns of those I have been 'entrusted' with. After all, if they can't survive without me then something ain't right!!!!

Last Sunday we dedicated our little girl to the Lord! We love her so much and are blessed with such great children! The service was done by Dr. Inzer- one of the elders at our church. He also delivered her when she was born! So it was special to have him help us give her back to the Lord.

               

          

They love each other so much!