Joy

Have you ever stopped to think how wonderful our God truly is? How everything good in our lives is completely from Him?

Have you ever stopped to think how good God truly is? Even when things are bad in our lives, are bad in the world, God is still God. And God is still good.

"The secret of being thankful is learning to see everything from [God's] perspective." Sarah Young

I love this quote because it speaks to me at my deepest core. God's perspective is so different from our own, isn't it? Our limited view disillusions us at times. Why tornadoes? Why worldwide hunger? Why massive tragedies? How does God's perspective look in light of ours?

I don't believe God likes to see tragedy strike us. We know that the world is not as He intended it to be, but sin entered and, therefore, things are not perfect.

But we can make them better.

Tornadoes, hunger, tragedies...those give us the opportunity to love others and show others who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are: loving, kind, generous, sacrificing, serving.

James 1:2 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."

Easier said than done. Consider it pure joy to face trials? But, what if our perspective shifts a little? Could it be that trials allow us to see God's provision as well as the goodness of others? It does not bring God any joy to see us suffer. But what does bring Him joy is seeing His people help those who are suffering.

One way is to simply donate. Here is a website that lists different organizations and how you can donate to the relief of those affected by the tornadoes that hit the South.
http://www.examiner.com/home-living-in-atlanta/relief-efforts-continue-the-south

Another way is to get dirty and serve with your kiddos and your spouse! Talk about bringing joy to others...who doesn't like to see little ones helping others?!?! Not to mention, it would be a great memory to share together as a family. :)

Fun Outdoors

If you had told this "semi-prissy, likes to be clean unless I'm supposed to be dirty" Mama that I would be outside more than inside after I had kiddos...I would have told you that you were looney. But, alas! I have been fully converted by my husband and two kiddos - including my "Mom, can I get dirty today?" asking little girl.

Most of the time we are content playing in our yard, but there are times when we seek adventure. Our latest adventure was Amicalola Falls.

Monkey see, monkey do. :)

Let the adventure begin!

Our hike started out pretty leisurely...

 Landon thought he'd just run on ahead. :)

And then they both thought they would climb the stairs. Are you wondering how long that lasted?!?

 Not very long.

Now...it was about 175 steps into this adventure that I thought I might actually die. No more photos until the top. Or coherent sentences for that matter. How many more steps to go???

 Oh, only 425! I have 3 words for you: BEST WORKOUT EVER.

I made it to the top with this sweetie. I could not stop during the hike; if I stopped, I knew I would never start back again. Random strangers kept giving me words of encouragement and telling me that I was almost there. They all lied. But, we made it.

Ella Beth and Landon needed a cooling off from their strenuous rides.

We finished our adventure going down. So. Much. Easier. :) And of course we ended with a picnic and a dip in the stream.

I love being a part of this family! Even if it did mean getting out of my prissy comfort zone just a little. :)

Multitudes on Mondays

201. Hearing Ella Beth shout out "It's empty! Jesus rose from the dead!" every time she opened an empty egg at our Easter egg hunts. :)

202. the movie Tangled

203. popcorn w/ butter and salt

204. Adventures in Odyssey

205. sleeping in

206. resting on the Sabbath

207. serving others with my husband

208. flip flops

209. homemade calendars

210. flavored coffee

211. Starburst jellybeans

212. sunglasses

213. baseball caps

214. sitting by the campfire, roasting marshmallows, and listening to the Braves win

215. chocolate chip muffins...for breakfast or dessert :)


Psalm 100:4 "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

Just for laughs

Last night as I was laying in bed waiting to fall asleep, I started rethinking the day's events. And I cracked up. I just want to document this so that when I'm 88 and having a cranky day, I can pull this up and laugh.
--
I went into Ella Beth's room and was going to put her bathing suit bottoms in her chest drawer. When I got close to the drawer, I screamed b/c there was an 8-legged thing on the drawer pull. (I hate 8-legged things, and I can't even say the word. They are just so scary to me!)

Now, I don't mean to offend anyone who may have turrets syndrome...but when I see an 8-legged thing I uncontrollably say S@#T. I can't help it. And this is from a girl who doesn't even say "sucks" b/c I think that is a bad word. That's just how terrified I am. It's awful, I know, but I just can't help it!!!

So, I scream and say my dirty word. The kiddos come running, of course. They find me freaking out, wailing my arms, and about to hyperventilate. (I am such a baby!) I run down the hall and grab our fly swatter. As I try to very bravely kill the thing, I miss, and it runs under the chest. S@#T! Opps, said it again. Don't think the kiddos noticed. ;)

It is here that I started cracking up as I was in bed - I give Landon the fly swatter and tell him, "Landon, I'm going to run and get the bug spray. You stay right here, and if you see that thing come out, kill it!" I seriously can NOT believe that I put my sweet little 3 year old on "patrol" standing in the door frame with an arsenal of a fly swatter. Seriously?!?! So I run down the stairs, grab that can of bug spray, and run back to find Landon standing at the ready with the fly swatter high above his little head ready to kill! Such a sweet boy for his bad terrified mama. :)

I spray under her chest, around her chest, along the walls...basically until no one can breathe in the room. We wait until Scott gets home and tell him to get it out.

Would you believe that stinkin' thing wasn't even under the chest??? Aaaahhhhhhh! So, I was laying in bed worrying where it could be...and then started cracking up as I relived the moments!

Teaching littles about Easter

Easter is my most favorite holiday. Not because of decorations or good meals like at Christmas time, but simply because of Jesus. I made the decision this year to completely disregard the Easter Bunny. To me, the Easter Bunny is just irrelevant and it takes away from the entire meaning of Easter. Yes, my children will get an Easter basket (full of candy and one small gift) - but they will know it's from Mommy and Daddy. :)

I want Easter to remain focused. On Jesus! Easter is the most special day of the year, to me. While Good Friday is holy beyond words with the death of our Savior who overcame all of our sins by dying on the cross, Easter is GLORIOUS!

I have a very sensitive little girl. The first time we read through the Jesus Storybook Bible, she cried when Jesus was put on the cross. I understood her heart - how could someone so good die because of those mean people?

So we don't focus on Jesus' death too much right now. No, we exalt Easter Sunday! Isn't Easter Sunday, the third day, what sets apart Christianity from all other religions anyway?! Every other "great leader" of any religion died...but only Jesus rose again! And that is what we celebrate. Easter Sunday, He Is Risen, is our celebration!!!

One way that I have found to teach the Easter story is through Resurrection Eggs. My kids really enjoy these eggs because they tell a story and because they can touch them. :)

We sit on the floor together every day during the week leading up to Easter, and we talk through the story of Easter together. You will be surprised at how quickly little ones can remember the entire story as they hold and touch the elements that each egg represents.

Egg 1: A small branch w/ leaves for Palm Sunday
Egg 2: A small wash cloth to represent Jesus washing the disciples' feet
Egg 3: A dime to represent Judas' betrayal
Egg 4: A cracker to represent Jesus' body at the Last Supper
Egg 5: A small cup to represent Jesus' blood at the Last Supper
Egg 6: A rubber band or piece of leather to represent the whips used to beat Jesus (we touch very lightly here)
Egg 7: A small stem from a rose bush (of only thorns) to represent the crown of thorns the Roman soldiers gave Jesus to wear
Egg 8: A small cross made out of sticks (We talk about how Jesus chose to stay on the cross because He loved us so much. He could have come down at any moment, but His love kept Him there.)
Egg 9: A piece of gauze to represent the linens that Jesus wore on the cross
Egg 10: A die to represent the Roman soldiers casting lots for Jesus' linens
Egg 11: A stone to represent the one in front of the tomb
Egg 12: Empty - to represent Jesus' resurrection - He Is Risen!!!

We celebrate BIG after we open Egg 12. We sing and dance, and the kiddos say over and over He Is Risen! He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!!!

I would love to hear any of your ideas that your family does to celebrate Easter and keep Jesus as the focus. :) And I just love to say...We serve such a wonderful Savior and King!

Teaching littles about Easter

Easter is my most favorite holiday. Not because of decorations or good meals like at Christmas time, but simply because of Jesus. I made the decision this year to completely disregard the Easter Bunny. To me, the Easter Bunny is just irrelevant and it takes away from the entire meaning of Easter. Yes, my children will get an Easter basket (full of candy and one small gift) - but they will know it's from Mommy and Daddy. :)

I want Easter to remain focused. On Jesus! Easter is the most special day of the year, to me. While Good Friday is holy beyond words with the death of our Savior who overcame all of our sins by dying on the cross, Easter is GLORIOUS!

I have a very sensitive little girl. The first time we read through the Jesus Storybook Bible, she cried when Jesus was put on the cross. I understood her heart - how could someone so good die because of those mean people?

So we don't focus on Jesus' death too much right now. No, we exalt Easter Sunday! Isn't Easter Sunday, the third day, what sets apart Christianity from all other religions anyway?! Every other "great leader" of any religion died...but only Jesus rose again! And that is what we celebrate. Easter Sunday, He Is Risen, is our celebration!!!

One way that I have found to teach the Easter story is through Resurrection Eggs. My kids really enjoy these eggs because they tell a story and because they can touch them. :)

We sit on the floor together every day during the week leading up to Easter, and we talk through the story of Easter together. You will be surprised at how quickly little ones can remember the entire story as they hold and touch the elements that each egg represents.

Egg 1: A small branch w/ leaves for Palm Sunday
Egg 2: A small wash cloth to represent Jesus washing the disciples' feet
Egg 3: A dime to represent Judas' betrayal
Egg 4: A cracker to represent Jesus' body at the Last Supper
Egg 5: A small cup to represent Jesus' blood at the Last Supper
Egg 6: A rubber band or piece of leather to represent the whips used to beat Jesus (we touch very lightly here)
Egg 7: A small stem from a rose bush (of only thorns) to represent the crown of thorns the Roman soldiers gave Jesus to wear
Egg 8: A small cross made out of sticks (We talk about how Jesus chose to stay on the cross because He loved us so much. He could have come down at any moment, but His love kept Him there.)
Egg 9: A piece of gauze to represent the linens that Jesus wore on the cross
Egg 10: A die to represent the Roman soldiers casting lots for Jesus' linens
Egg 11: A stone to represent the one in front of the tomb
Egg 12: Empty - to represent Jesus' resurrection - He Is Risen!!!

We celebrate BIG after we open Egg 12. We sing and dance, and the kiddos say over and over He Is Risen! He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!!!

I would love to hear any of your ideas that your family does to celebrate Easter and keep Jesus as the focus. :) And I just love to say...We serve such a wonderful Savior and King!

Multitudes on Monday

188. perfect mornings

189. handmade gifts

190. Easter candy

191. long evenings

192. planting flowers

193. watching my children play

194. listening to Landon count while playing hide-and-seek

194. kissing Ella Beth while she sleeps

195. the warm spot Scott leaves in the bed when he gets up early in the mornings

196. coffee ready for me when I get up

197. the beauty of our backyard - all abloom with flowers and dogwood trees

198. the promise of Good Friday

199. the love of a Savior

200. teaching my children the story of Easter

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 "Death has been swallowed up in victory. 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

8 Wonderful Years

Today marks 8 years that I have been married to my best friend. I love that after 8 years, we are still in love - we still cuddle, tease each other, flirt, and enjoy being together.

I am truly blessed to be Scott's bride, and I look forward to many more years together. :)

We celebrated our anniversary on Monday because Scott didn't have to work all day. We saw the movie, The Lincoln Lawyer...it had a great plot, but the language was slightly atrocious. Afterward, we went to one of our favorite restaurants, Rice, close to our house. We shared an appetizer (awww!) and each enjoyed a new item off the menu (which is a really big deal to me b/c I usually order the same thing everywhere I go).

Of course, we had our picture taken. And I just love that we still look so much alike. :)

Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful man!!! I am SO proud to be his bride!

Multitudes on Mondays

171. fevers that break after 52 agonizing hours

172. a sweet girl who perks right up and says, "Mommy, I feel better!"

173. beautiful weather

174. time spent with Meredith

175. watching children play nicely together

176. listening to "make believe" stories

178. silly songs

179. chick flicks

180. waterfalls

181. anniversaries

182. "super big kisses"

183. hearing Landon say over and over again, "Push me SUPER high!"

184. the fact that my kiddos love everything "super big"

185. the fact that their "super big" things are kisses and pushes on swings

186. hearing Ella Beth pray for the people in Kenya and the people in Haiti

187. romance :)

Psalm 7:17 "I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High."

Why Kenya?

"I see kids in the street with not enough to eat. Who am I to be blind pretending not to see their need?"

My favorite song of all time is "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson. I remember seeing the music video for the first time when I was 8 years old. I remember sitting in my living room on our country-blue carpet and I sobbed uncontrollably. At 8 years old, God gave me a heart to serve and love orphans.


"That's why I want you to know...I'm starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways."

When I came back from Kenya in June of 2009, and when Scott and I returned from Haiti last year, my heart began to change. And it keeps changing. My views on life and what will make me happy have changed significantly.

I am ashamed to admit that for the first 7 years of our marriage my biggest dream, my biggest goal, my highest aspiration was to have "bigger and better." A bigger house, a better car, designer clothes, a closet full of trendy shoes, more, more, more.

But God, who started working on me when I was only 8, didn't quit. He wouldn't allow me to stay self-centered. No, His heart is much bigger than that. I am thankful that He is giving me more of a heart like His. To abandon my dreams for His own.

This beautiful little girl is Wiuwa. I fell in love with her on my first day in Ngaamba, Kenya, and every day we would spend time together. And every day she was wearing this worn and tattered dress. Leaving her (and my friend Damarus) was the hardest part of my journey.

I wrote her name on my arm so that she would know that I wouldn't forget her. And I haven't.


"And no message could have been any clearer, if you want to make the world a better place take a look at yourself and then make that change."

Maybe it surprises you, given the fact that Michael Jackson had a "colorful life", that he wrote such a powerful song. But it doesn't me. I believe God gives us all a heart to serve and love others.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

One of the most profound sentences in the song "Man in the Mirror" is this:
"You gotta get it right, while you got the time 'cause when you close your heart, you close your mind."

It is the truth that we (especially in America) can so easily turn a blind eye to the heartbreak in our world. I am guilty of it, too. I rarely watch the news because I get so upset by stories of horrible acts that people do to one another, and I cry uncontrollably yet again when disasters strike and families are left homeless and fighting for their lives. But when I refuse to "see" the hurt around me, that is when I become caught up in my own life and forget to serve others. 

That answers the question, "Why Kenya?" Why? Because I have to leave my eyes open. I have to allow myself to travel and live in uncomfortable situations (for just 10 days) in order for my heart to remain open. I can't turn my back on anyone, because everyone is a child of God.


"I'm gonna make a change. It's gonna feel real good. Come on! Just lift yourself, you know. You gotta move. You gotta stand up! Make that change."

 https://my410bridge.org/AmberCastleberry

Multitudes on Mondays

152. a GOOD vacuum

153. warm weather

154. new picture frames

155. lovely portraits to frame inside new picture frames

156. using the word "lovely"

157. planning for a small getaway

158. my mama hosting my best friend and her children along with me and my two kiddos for a week

159. my mama cooking for us :)

160. Landon breathing easier

161. an "aggressive" doctor who won't just treat Landon's breathing issues, but who wants to SOLVE them and get them under control

162. our pediatrician, Joanna Morris, who is also a dear friend

163. the fact that my kiddos l-o-v-e their pediatrician and are always ready to visit

164. listening to Ella Beth reading signs at the pharmacy - she tries so hard to sound out the words, and then she will squeal (sometimes very loudly:)) when she figures out what the signs say!

165. a sweet husband who knows how to help me handle tough circumstances

166. watching how hyper Albuterol makes Landon - he becomes a chatter-box who literally can NOT contain his energy

167. bursts of energy from Landon after he has slumped for days on end

168. tending to our vegetables and herbs that we have grown from seeds

169. anticipating eating our homegrown veggies and herbs in just a few short months

170. Ella Beth's "tent clubhouse" (as she calls it), made out of her comforter and over-stuffed chair. It fully takes over her room...and I let it. :)

1 Chronicles 16:34 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever."

Landon's messiness

This is after just ONE meal. Landon is the messiest eater. Ever. I declare that this boy is slow in gaining weight because more food makes it onto the floor than into his mouth.

And...most of the time he is not even making any sort of mess on purpose. He is just flat out messy.

It drives me crazy, but I still love him! :)

Now, when people think it's crazy that I vacuum at least TWICE a day...they will fully understand!