Happy Easter!

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (NIV) Romans 6:8-11

Taking Some Stock....

I just read this blog post from another blogger's link. It's going "viral." You can read it HERE. Basically what she said hit home to me and I feel like a good friend has just come alongside me and just kinda said "hey I don't think you can see that you are doing a lot of these things and I am just wondering what your true motive is and I hope that it is not done out of pride, jealousy or some other unrighteous motive."

I wanted to leave a blog post comment but then soon realized I have way too much to say about myself to try to put into just a comment. So I am writing a little blog post (to myself basically) to remind myself why I participate in social media and to gauge whether I should continue at the rate I have been at.

I am a "facebooker" as my husband would say. I enjoy keeping up with other people's lives on there and I enjoy posting from time-to-time (read: not 3 times a day and not unless I feel I have something of some worth to say) and I upload pictures of Jonah fairly regularly too. I will admit thought that I am "on" Facebook a lot more than I know I should be. I am also on blogs and my own blog a lot more than I probably should be. I definitely know I am on Pinterest a lot more than I should be.

I have justified all this in the past with, "I work from home everyday and I am on the computer all day and I just don't get the social interaction that I used to get from an office environment." And some of that is true. But over the time spent on these medias, I know I have become somewhat of an "abuser." I need to dial it back and I need to do it now, before Jonah catches on to what all of it is about.

I never thought about it from his perspective. I am posting things about him and pictures of him (mostly all in good nature) but he has no say and that stuff is going to live on FOREVER on the big WWW. I need to think about this a little more. How would I feel if I grew up and learned that lots of people I didn't even know, knew so much about me (good or bad), and I never had a say in any of it! Well I wouldn't be too happy about that, I don't think.

Also, the other area she discusses is going crazy over out-doing the next Mom with parties for our children. I feel somewhat guilty in that but it wasn't to impress my real-life, friend, Moms. It was to impress people I don't even know out in blog-land or FB! Yes some of it was just fun for me because I love to plan and orchestrate parties (showers, gatherings, entertaining in general) and I love to craft and make things. So I get some joy and feeling of accomplishment when I create an adorable pennant banner for my son's birthday that I use after the party is over in his playroom. I also get enjoyment out of hosting friends and family and feeding them a lovely tasting meal and seeing their joy in that.  But I cannot sit here and lie that if someone else compliments or "likes" my party pictures, my punch recipe or my cupcake tower, that I don't get a big head. Because I certainly do and that is prideful.

"Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6:4

"The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished." Proverbs 16:5

I guess I am not sure what else I really want to say....

I am guilty as charged in these areas and I do believe there is a root of sin somewhere in some of my past actions online. Perhaps it's obvious to others, perhaps not. Either way it is something that I should seek forgiveness for. And that I should forgive in others.

The problem I have is that I have always been hard on myself so much more than other people are to me. I expect so much of myself that sometimes I just expect the impossible. Comparing myself with what others have, do and are is just setting myself up for failure. So I can either remove myself from the situations and places entirely or I can grow myself by learning to adjust my expectations and reactions to what I encounter online. I think the latter is more what God would have me to do. To uplift others and to be honest with myself and limitations. And most importantly to put God first and then my family and then everything else will fall into place.

My Buttercup!

Not sure I have very many more years to call Jonah my little buttercup. It's not exactly a tough, boy sounding nickname. LOL

However, he is my buttercup and the apple of my eye for now. I just had to take the opportunity a couple of weekends ago to get some pictures of him with the blooming buttercups. I am so glad I did it that day because we actually had snow here in TN on Monday night! So the buttercups are not faring well after that.

Here are the pictures I managed to get. Some of them his little ears are glowing due to the sun being behind his back. I am still learning what to watch for when taking pictures but at the same time you have to be really fast with kids to get a good one!

Bunny Pictures

Last weekend we stopped in to our local (and fantastic) professional photographer's studio to get some pictures made with the live bunny. Jonah was so excited about going to do this and could not wait to see the bunny. He basically walked in the studio and was like "where is my bunny?" LOL

Jonah was in such a great mood and did really well with the pictures and Christy (the photographer) is so good with kids! The bunny was being very lively that morning and he did a nose dive out of the basket into some of the live flowers she had. It was funny but he just didn't want to stay very still even though she had food inside his little basket.

Jonah was so excited to "carry" the bunny in the basket. We had to let him walk around (with our help) a little bit carrying the bunny in the basket.

Here is a sneak peak she posted of his session. I can't wait to see the out-take album of funny shots from all the bunny pics.

Easter Hutch

Hello! I hope you are just about ready for all the Easter festivities. We have some fun things coming up next week but my main goal is to read through the Crucifixion and Resurrection story before Easter Sunday comes. That is what Easter is really about!

Jonah has an egg hunt on Wednesday and Thursday next week. One with his library class and one with our church. Then I think we will do our Easter gifts on Saturday morning so we can just focus our hearts and minds on Jesus on Sunday. How do you do Easter?

Well I've had my hutch decorated most of the month but it's been a work in progress. I honestly still don't feel like it's "done". But it will have to do. My wonderful mother-in-law got rid of all her Easter decor (downsizing) last summer and I scooped up some of it. So most of these items came from her stash and then I added a few other things I found along the way. It's not really what I had pictured in my head but there is always next year! I really wanted to do a burlap Spring banner but just lost track of time. So I did an egg banner instead! It was really easy and fun to do too.

I will try to list sources at the end in case anyone wants to know where I found stuff.

-Easter Bunny Silhouette Printable (free) found HERE.

-Plates on top middle are from Big Lots as well as the candle holder.

-Orange flower plate from Big Lots too.

-Flowers in vase are all from Hobby Lobby a few years back.

-Blue bunnies and yellow chick from Dollar General store.

-Painted eggs are wooden and ordered from American Woodworkers Supply

-All other decor from my MIL. :)



Linking up to these lovely blogs:

Friday Funny

This week Nana took Jonah to story hour at our local library. They both love going and the ladies that organize it every week are so great too!

This week was sort of a St. Patrick's Day theme. They read the book called There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover!

Nana said that Jonah was really getting into the book and watching everything the old lady put in her mouth (they had a puppet and put stuff in it's mouth). He got so tickled over it that he was just giggling and saying "what that old lady going to do next" LOL!! Everyone was getting tickled at how much he was into the book too.

Needless to say, the book came home with him and Nana that day to enjoy some more at her house.

I am so thankful that Jonah loves books like he does. We all read to him every day. He is always going through his bookcase in his room and bringing me books to read and he will sit and listen to every word.

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

After a long break, I am joining Jamie again for WILW!

I have a lot that I'm loving right now and a lot of it stems from this new pregnancy and finding out we are expecting a girl. So if you are doing neither of those things....you might not enjoy it. LOL

#1 I'm loving that it's still daylight at 6:00 at night!! The only problem now is that once the sun does go down, I realize it's time to hurry and do bath and bedtime. 

#2 I'm loving these adorable scarves I found at....you won't believe.....the Dollar General store! They were only $5 each and so cute for spring!

19 weeks and my first time to do a self-portrait for the blog LOL

#3 I'm loving my new Halftee that came in the mail this week! If you have not heard of them before you need to check them out. For women who prefer to be modest and not show all of their goods, these are so great. They are so comfortable and come in lots of colors and sleeve lengths. They come to just below your bust so you don't have the bulk of an undershirt and worry about it showing under your top. I have lots of maternity shirts that are just too low-cut for me, as I am not big chested, and these help with that so much. Also I love the look of maxi dresses but they can be pretty skimpy on top too. I can't wait to wear this under one of my spring dresses to church and not worry about being too exposed. 

I got a white one in this style.

#4 I"m loving that I've already ordered several decor items for the new baby girl's nursery. It didn't take me long to make decisions because I think I have just been dreaming about this for so long. I so enjoyed doing my son's nursery too but there is just something about a girl's room! I intend to make her bedding myself using several different tutorials I've found online. I've ordered the bumper pads and the fabric to cover them. Below is exactly what I will be recreating. Thank goodness if I get in a bind with making it, I have a Granny and Mother-in-law that are excellent seamstresses.

Source

#5 I'm loving that in a couple of weeks I will be taking Jonah to get his first Easter pictures taken professionally. We have an awesome local photographer that does Easter/Spring pics every year with live bunnies and chicks! I was showing Jonah some of her pictures on her FB page last night and he was just so tickled about the real bunny. One time he even said "that is the sweetest thing I ever saw!" LOL I don't know where he comes up with this stuff!

Source

Would love to know what you're loving too!!

We're Going To Have A.......{Gender Reveal Party}

We decided to jump on the gender reveal party bandwagon. :)

We had our ultrasound at 18 weeks on Friday and then we had friends and family over to the house the next day to reveal what we are expecting. It was so fun and the reaction was great!!

We didn't go all out but we did feed everyone and I baked a cake. Here are some pictures from it and of course, the reveal!!

We set up the cake in the living room and the other food was in our kitchen.

I went with chocolate icing to hide any and all colors.

Jonah in his big brother shirt.

HERE WE GO......

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

My emotional Mom giving us a hug. You could hear her squeal two counties over. Obviously she was voting for a girl with her pink shirt. LOL

Mom, Dee (my MIL) and Roro (my grandmother) after hearing the news.

Looks like the votes were right!! My brother in the back in the white and my sister in the back in the pink and black.

We had a great time and if was really a fun and exciting day. I was a bit shocked when we heard the ultrasound tech say she was 99% sure it was a girl. I really just had a feeling it was another boy. Michael, on the other hand, thought the whole time it was a girl and he was right. Now he doesn't know what we've gotten ourselves into LOL. Also, I have to note that my FIL predicted a girl too and he has yet to be wrong on his predictions over many years.

We just feel so incredibly blessed to be on this journey to parenthood again.

Friday Funny

As often as I can, I want to try and document the funny things Jonah is saying and doing at this age. Here is one from this week.

Back-story: When Jonah was 5 weeks old, his Nana and Papaw (my Mom & Dad) took off on a road-trip on their motorcycle to the Grand Canyon and out West. While they were visiting the Grand Canyon they stopped into the gift shop and bought Jonah a little wolf/puppy and a story book that goes with it. Fast-forward to today and Jonah loves this puppy and has been sleeping with it for a while. It's the most realistic looking stuffed dog I've ever seen.

The Funny: Just this week Jonah started taking "Puppy" with him every day to Nana's house and she decided to tell him the story of Puppy riding in the trunk of the motorcycle all the way back from the Grand Canyon. She also showed him all their pictures from the trip and he was just mesmerized by the whole thing.

So now "Puppy" has a new name. He is now "Grand Canyon Puppy." And Jonah will correct you if you just say Puppy.

Book Recommendations

I have been on a reading kick as of lately and have read several books that I really enjoyed. Two of them were random books I picked up at my local library and found that they were really wonderful. The other was one I planned on getting as soon as it came out.

Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle



I follow Melanie's blog, Big Mama and love her writing. She writes so down-to-earth and you can really connect with her. This book is all about her journey into motherhood and the experiences she went through. It will have you literally laughing out loud and nodding your head a lot at some of the stuff she went through. I highly recommend if you are a new mom or a veteran mom.


Lost And Found: One Daughter's Story of Amazing Grace by Kathryn Slattery




This book was one I just picked up at the library and brought home. I wasn't sure how it would be but I ended up loving it. It is a memoir (true story) of the author's life and relationship with her mother growing up and then as she is caring for her mother in her old age. It is heart-breaking and uplifting all at the same time. I personally have such a wonderful relationship with my mother but it was enlightening to read how a broken relationship with your mother can really mess you up if you let it. It is also a wonderful story of forgiveness and letting God into your life. I highly recommend it.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay



This is another book I picked up on whim at the library, but after starting it, I realized it really is starting to be a popular book and on several people's "must-read" lists. This book affected me for weeks after I finished it. It is not a true story but the time period and the history of the events surrounding the story are true and did, in fact, happen in France. It is set during the Cold War and when the roundup of Jewish people occurred in Paris, France. It is the story through a child's eyes of that event and also switches to a current day story of a ex-pat writer/journalist living in France and uncovering family secrets that relate to the roundup. It will suck you in instantly and you will be changed by what you read. It is heart-breaking in a lot of parts and yet so redeeming too.

I am still in a reading kick so if I find some more I will post them too. Enjoy!