A Lovely Life

There are days when I cannot keep up with my 3 year old. Ok, make that most days.  He is full of energy and always getting into something he shouldn't be. That can be frustrating at times. But what the Lord has shown me through this adventure of parenting is to love each child for who they are. To really know them and rejoice in the  qualities they were created with. While I have at times cried {can I get an amen?} this kid makes me laugh harder than I ever have. These are just some of the lovely moments I get to experience on a daily basis with N.

He can play for hours with his head in a box...

with one shoe...

this is how he eats a cupcake{& pretty much everything else}

he somehow gets the dog to stand still long enough to do this...

and I sometimes walk in to find scenes like this...

He is one of the great gifts in my life. Wouldn't change a thing.

Some Confessions on My Birthday

In honor of my 35th birthday I thought I'd share some confessions with you.  Just little things about me that you may not know.

I will never stop loving songs by Richard Marx.

source

I sometimes have raging insecurity about my role as a wife & mommy.

I drink far too much coffee.

source


I cannot stomach anything to do with a loose tooth, seriously, it makes me queasy.

When I'm waiting in the car during piano lessons {which keep in mind are only 1/2 hour} I fall asleep. Every time. I'm talking mouth hanging open, there might be drool involved kind of sleep.

Obviously this isn't me but you get the idea.

I went to the NKOTB reunion concert and it was life changing! {ok, that's a little dramatic but it was completely awesome}

I'm not kidding when I say I think I could live on pizza.

I DO practically live on these, but I'm trying to change that.

It drives me crazy that people don't put their grocery carts back in the proper spot. Some poor kid has to trek all over the parking lot collecting those stray carts.

I hate being the center of attention.

I am a Daddy's girl.

Here he is with my baby girl

I have always wanted to live in a really old farmhouse somewhere far away from California.

source

I am very impatient and a huge procrastinator {not my better qualities}.

I own not 1, not 2, but 4 pairs of glasses because I can never find them when I need them.

I am  grateful every day that God blessed a broken woman like me with these treasures.

A View & A Winner

The best view in the house? I'll let you be the judge.

I'm not sure she thinks so...

The winner of the Love is Rising giveaway is...

EMILY!!!!! 

{just so you know,it's a very scientific process where my son randomly picks a #.It makes him feel very important.}

I'll have Rachel contact you.

Now some business...

My new blog address is www.callmeblessed.com

So much easier right? It may take a few days to have everything up to speed so stick with me.

I'll be posting some confessions for my birthday on Monday so come back and I'll give you plenty to make fun of.

Happy Memorial Day weekend! 

Baptism

My oldest child was Baptized on Sunday and it was most definitely one of the highlights of my life.  There is something about watching one of your children publicly proclaim their love for Jesus that is completely overwhelming.  There was such a feeling of thankfulness that swept over me. Thankful that I was chosen by the Alpha and Omega to be His daughter. Thankful for the gift of these little souls he has trusted my husband and I to love and guide. Thankful for the moments He gives me like these...

W telling our church why he wants to be baptized

the look on my hubby's face as he prepared to baptize his first born

one of our dear pastors asking W "Do you love Jesus with all of your heart? Do you want to follow him all the days of your life?"

watching my son symbolize the cleansing and fresh start that only Jesus can give.

These moments are pure gifts from God. He lavishes us with moments like these because He loves us. Not because we deserve it, but because He IS love. 

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:3-4

One more day to enter the giveaway!

Linking up with Casey & Rachel.

"Love is Rising" Giveaway!

My favorite part of blogging is the amazing people I get to "meet". Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Rachel from Love is Rising. Her faith and trust in the Lord are truly inspirational.

My name is Rachel, lovely to meet you. I'm a mama, wife and etsy shop owner! I started my shop soon after my hubby and I started our adoption process. I have wanted my own etsy shop since college, and finally got up the guts to try it and i LOVE it. I love the process of creating (start to finish), meeting new friends and funding our adoption in a fun and new way. When i’m not designing, I enjoy traveling, finding treasures at antique stores, eating veggies out of our garden and spending time with my husband and baby. Eek!! I can't wait till we're able to adopt and meet our new baby. So yes, I'm pregnant "in my heart." Cheesy, I know, but go with it. 

She's the cutest right? And look at baby London, I just want to squeeze her.

I am so thrilled that Rachel is doing a giveaway for my readers. I won a necklace and pair of earrings from Rachel's shop and I wear them A LOT. Really...A LOT. I love them. Here is the beautiful necklace that she is giving away.

I want this necklace but for some reason I can't enter the giveaway. Whatever.

You have to go check out Rachel's shop. She has amazing jewelry and now these super cute t-shirts to help her bring home baby #2.

What could be better than wearing a cute t-shirt that helped a little find it's family? And to sweeten the deal Rachel is offering my readers free shipping on anything you purchase, just use code "callmeblessedship" when you checkout.

Giveaway ends friday (5/27) at midnight. Winner will be announced on Saturday.

Here's how to enter:

mandatory entries

*you must be a follower of Call Me Blessed and Love is Rising

*visit Rachel's shop and tell me what your favorite item is

additional entries

*follow Rachel on twitter

*follow me on twitter

*{heart} Rachel's shop on etsy

*tweet this giveaway, include @rachelport & @callmeblessed31

*buy something from Rachel's shop 

Ready...Set...GO!

Praising Their Character

Like most of us with young children I spend a lot of time around other people with young children.  I've noticed I hear a lot about how our kids aregood at sports, or how pretty they are, how smart they are. I'm sure I am guilty of this myself. I started to wonder why we do this. Why are we focusing more on those things than the character and heart issues that God looks at?  I read a devotional that discussed praising our kids when we catch them doing something good. It got me thinking about what I am praising them for. My job is to praise and build up the qualities in my children that God thinks are important.  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

I am committed to catch my kids displaying these qualities and praise them for it. Being patient with their siblings, putting others needs before their own, acting in love even when it is difficult, obeying with a joyful heart.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

I am committed to stop comparing my kids to anyone else. To stop measuring what they do by the world's standards.  I don't think there is any better gift I can give them as their Mommy.

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

I'm linking up here and here.

I'm doing a giveaway over at Rags to Stitches! Go say hi to Alissa.

My Lovely Hallway

We have been working on many little projects this week trying to get the house put back together. We repainted the hallway {yes, we use child labor, don't judge} 

The color is "fine grain" so it's a very subtle color.

And here it is with some of my favorite things...

I spray painted all of my frames black and will be adding fun color as I go.

Here are some of my favorite photos.

1. My parent's at their junior prom. {seriously, does it get any cuter than that?}

2.My all time favorite picture of my 3 oldest kids.

3. A picture of my Mom when she was about 3.

4. My brother's police department picture, makes me so proud.

And here are some other fun finds...

1. "Oh Happy Day" print from Whatever

2. Hoop art form Goose+Trisser

3. A piece of beautiful scrapbook paper. I love the colors in this!

4. A page from a book that my hubby had growing up. It's the sweetest illustration of all the kids looking up at the moon. I was so excited when I found this.

That's my lovely hallway!

One more thing...

My sweet friend Rachel over at Love is Rising, just started selling some awesome v-neck tee's to help fund their adoption. Very Urban Outfitters like. You can check out her blog post here for further info, to see the tee's and learn how to order.   Go check out Rachel's blog and support her, you will love her and her story instantly, I promise.

Come Say "Hi"

Hi friends!

I'm visiting over at Four Flights of Fancy today talking about shopping on a budget. Come say "hi" and peruse Andrea's blog. You won't be sorry!

Grace Like an Avalanche

Today there are many things on my heart.  Mostly that I'm feeling a bit disconnected from God. Of course only by my own doing. Focusing on the wrong things. My oldest son has decided to be baptized on Sunday and I am humbled.  I don't think there could be any greater gift than my children choosing Christ on their own. I know this walk is a long one and he will have many trials along the way but my heart is full.
I want to share a song with you that I usually have on repeat, especially during times that I feel overwhelmed by the love the Lord is showering on me.  I am in awe because I know I don't deserve it, but He loves me in spite of myself. I often find myself praying a song...lyrics that exactly express how I feel.

"I find myself here on my knees again, 

caught up in grace like an avalanche,

nothing compares to this love, love, love."

Happy Birthday Little Man

Dear N,

You are a true gift from God. Daily you make me laugh {and cry} with your shenanigans.  You have a spirit like no other. Daddy and I are so thankful for you.

I love that..

you could swing ALL DAY,

while you are swinging you always say "good job swinging me Mom",

you love to lay on the floor with Chief,

you are always too busy to nap...or clean up...or eat,

we can spend 10 minutes growling at each other until we laugh uncontrollably,

you always want to be the first to pray,

you love to be outside,

when you are caught you instantly say "nothing",

you like your music loud,

you ask for a fruit snack first thing every morning{even if it's 6:30},

you still say "Mommy, hold me!",

you flex your arms on demand,

you are mine.

I love you now and always,

Mommy

To celebrate N's birthday take 15% off everything in the shop. Use code "littleman15"

Things I'm Dreaming Of

I am in love with these bedrooms...

sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

and I've got my eyes peeled for a yellow sweater. I'm not sure why, but I must have one!

sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Linking up with Lollipops.

Some Things to Love

Here are just some of the things I'm loving about my kids right now...

1. Baby C's chunky thighs, oh how I'm gonna miss these when they are gone.

2. Yes, W has a teddy bear, and yes, his teddy bear wears a neck tie.

3. N is fearless, and sometimes that's a good thing.

4. J's artwork. This is something she wanted to tape inside the bathroom studs before we drywalled.

"This is my house, not so big of a house, it is little."

Taking time to notice all the little things that make them who they are. The little things I don't want to forget.