Brothers

Late March and the toboggans are still being used. Guess I should be thankful since I {finally} remembered to get a picture. :)

Our tiny Peanut is ONE!

To say that I was in denial about Peanut turning one would be accurate. To say that I am still in denial that he is actually one would also be accurate. :)

We had fun celebrating out tiniest love despite my denials with family and dear friends who were so faithful to pray for us and encourage us throughout my pregnancy and Peanut's eventful first year.

Though we celebrate big, it's simple - CFA nuggets, sides, a homemade smash cake and cupcakes, and of course - homemade ice cream!

















 





That was yummy!!!



Our sweet cousin, B, likes to give his own personal gifts that meant a lot to him. This bear was a big hit!





He was excited to show Mama his new PJs!

Big Sister wrapped his present all by herself...and Peanut needed just a little help getting inside all of that purple duct tape. ;)



Yay!! I'm ONE!!!



 

Multitudes on Monday

1674. Peanut is ONE!

1675. celebrating our littlest miracle in a big way

1676. Peanut digging into his birthday cake - first one of ours to do so!

1677. friends who came out, despite the cold and rainy weather, to celebrate Peanut's first birthday

1678. eating Chick-fil-A on Sunday

1679. fun toys for the baby boy

1680. cute PJs for Peanut to grow into

1681. Buddy-Ro taking a bath with Peanut and enjoying the new bath toys as much as his baby brother :)

1682. Birdie-girl's best friend, J, spending the night with us...the last time before J and her family move to Alaska

1683. flowers from my friend, Amber, that brighten up our kitchen table

1684. my Mama coming in town for the weekend and being a huge help with Peanut while I get everything ready for his party

1685. homemade ice cream...it's a staple at our birthday parties

1686. my mother-in-law bringing side dishes for the birthday party so I didn't have to do it all

1687. the way God has used Peanut's life to show us and others His faithfulness

Psalm 136:4, "Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever!"

What will Heaven be like?

So many people ask the question, "What will Heaven be like." Children, adults, Christians, people who are searching for answers.

Physically, I don't know what Heaven will be like. I don't know what it will look like, where exactly Heaven will be, what exactly we will do for eternity.

But what I do know with all of my heart is that Heaven is where we all belong.

This world is not our home.

One of my current favorite songs is by Building 429.
I'm not home yet. This is not where I belong. Take this world, and give me Jesus. This is not where I belong.


Sometimes it feels like I'm watching from the outside.
Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing but am I alive?
I won't keep searching for answers that aren't here to find.
Unfairness, judgement, mistreatment, gossip, rudeness, pettiness...these things surround us here on earth. But I truly believe that when we get to Heaven, the relationships that are so hard here will be healed there.

Relationships with fathers.
Would-be sisters.
Lost friends.

I believe that though I had a love/hate relationship with my step-dad I will run into his arms once I reach Heaven and all of the wounds will have already been healed.

I believe that though I have a tough relationship with "would-be sisters" right now in my life, no apologies will be needed in Heaven.

I believe that even though I haven't seen my biological father for years and years now, that he will recognize his grandchildren and our relationships will not be awkward. Forgiveness will simply be there.

Heaven is where we all belong. Pain is a reminder that this is not our home. Pain is the revealing of a greater thirst that simply cannot be quenched outside of Heaven.

I want to be found in Jesus at the end of my time so that He can take me home. To heaven. Where I belong.

Multitudes on Monday

1658. a beautiful weekend to spend outside as a family of five

1659. a photo scavenger hunt to celebrate Buddy-Ro's birthday

1660. watching Buddy-Ro open his birthday presents - with as much enthusiasm as he does on Christmas morning

1661. our van to haul all of the kiddos and all of the stuff that goes with them ;)

1662. seeing Buddy-Ro in his new "official" baseball uniform

1663. reading Forever After with Birdie

1664. planning Peanut's first birthday party (through my tears!)

1665. the cutest cake and cupcake toppers ever!

1666. hearing Peanut jabber all.day.long...even though we have no clue what he's saying most of the time

1667. new Veggie Tales movies to watch as a family

1668. playing Trouble and Connect Four with the kiddos

1669. Math-U-See to teach Birdie-girl math in a much easier way than I ever learned it

1670. not being pinched on St. Patrick's day despite not wearing green

1671. laundry that is back to normal {manageable} portions after the norovirus has been eradicated

1672. Buddy-Ro's preschool who celebrated his birthday, even though he {finally} made it to school two weeks after the big day passed

1673. Scott's "fancy" salad making abilities

Psalm 92:1, "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High."

Moving

I have decided to move my blog to its own website. Fancy, huh?!?

I may be starting out on a new venture with this, but if not I'll still be HERE doing what I usually do. You know, blogging about what's on my heart, spilling the beans about all of my faults (well, most of them anyway), and documenting moments in the life of our family.

Hope to see y'all there!

Amber

www.ourhopeisintruth.com

Moved and settling in

I've moved. Not into a new house (and I'm not even going to sigh at those words), but I've moved to a new blog/website. According to my fellow "geek friends," I needed to Grow Up to a better website than blogspot. Of course, blogspot served me well and I was happy there. But, as my writing matures and I settle in to this new venture, I suppose Growing Up is inevitable. :)

So here I am! And I've brought my heart, my honesty, and my family right along with me. I would love for you to Follow Me and subscribe to this blog. I have transferred over some of my posts from the old blog as they allow you to see the true me. I am honest to a fault sometimes, and being vulnerable comes easier than I thought it would - in writing at least.

Thanks for following/joining me here! I'd love to hear from you. :)

Multitudes on Monday

1643. Pampers Swaddlers diapers. (I am now a diaper snob. After this horrible norovirus infested our house, Huggies and Luvs don't get my endorsement.)

1645. homemade popsicles for the big kids who don't like Pedialyte

1646. Peanut drinking Pedialyte out of a sippy cup - he thought it was a treat!

1647. Scott being home two days last week when Buddy-Ro was super sick and then once the norovirus hit Birdie and Peanut

1648. my mother-in-law who took Buddy-Ro for two days once he started feeling better...at the same time the other two were getting worse

1649. faithful friends who pray and check in

1650. a washer and dryer that have held up under 27 loads of laundry in the last 7 days. (From Disney laundry, to sheets, towels, clothes, sheets, towels, sheets, towels...)

1651. beautiful weather - even though we weren't able to get out and enjoy it, I opened up every window in our house to let fresh air in. It did wonders to improve my outlook and override germs.

1652. a grocery bill of $78 for the upcoming week

1653. finding great recipes on Pinterest to try

1654. working on a project...even though projects go much slower than they used to ;)

1655. planning two birthday parties within one week of each other for the boys (had to reschedule Buddy-Ro's b/c of nororvirus)

1656. being able to meet with God in the quietness of Peanut's nursery. I have not had a quiet time all week, but still being able to pray and talk with God during quiet moments between caring for sick babies has sustained me.

1657. the faithfulness of God to meet me where ever I am. (I fully believe that quiet times of studying God's word are important to our relationship with Him, but I know that He is not "legalistic" - he understands when life gets in the way. But still reaching out to Him and having Him meet me shows me His goodness and love.)

Psalm 28:7, "The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."

Multitudes on Monday

1643. Pampers Swaddlers diapers. (I am now a diaper snob. After this horrible norovirus infested our house, Huggies and Luvs don't get my endorsement.)

1645. homemade popsicles for the big kids who don't like Pedialyte

1646. Porter drinking Pedialyte out of a sippy cup - he thought it was a treat!

1647. Scott being home two days last week when Landon was super sick and then once the norovirus hit Ella Beth and Porter

1648. my mother-in-law who took Landon for two days once he started feeling better...at the same time the other two were getting worse

1649. faithful friends who pray and check in

1650. a washer and dryer that have held up under 27 loads of laundry in the last 7 days. (From Disney laundry, to sheets, towels, clothes, sheets, towels, sheets, towels...)

1651. beautiful weather - even though we weren't able to get out and enjoy it, I opened up every window in our house to let fresh air in. It did wonders to improve my outlook and override germs.

1652. a grocery bill of $78 for the upcoming week

1653. finding great recipes on Pinterest to try

1654. working on a project...even though projects go much slower than they used to ;)

1655. planning two birthday parties within one week of each other for the boys (had to reschedule Landon's b/c of nororvirus)

1656. being able to meet with God in the quietness of Porter's nursery. I have not had a quiet time all week, but still being able to pray and talk with God during quiet moments between caring for sick babies has sustained me.

1657. the faithfulness of God to meet me where ever I am. (I fully believe that quiet times of studying God's word are important to our relationship with Him, but I know that He is not "legalistic" - he understands when life gets in the way. But still reaching out to Him and having Him meet me shows me His goodness and love.)

Psalm 28:7, "The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."

Disney Characters

Not many words needed with these pictures. The kiddos warmed up to the characters as the week progressed. We met just about any character you could meet at Disney!

At some meals, we ate between photo ops!

Sometimes we waited in line for 45 minutes to get pictures taken.

Sometimes we just happened upon a character. (And now it's time to introduce my kiddos to Mary Poppins...they've never seen the movie!)

Even Mama got invited for a hug.

Peter Pan was definitely the kiddos' favorite character. He was a hoot!

The fairies of Pixie Hollow.

We even stood in line in the rain for a picture with Pocahontas.

We met up with our cousin, B, mid-week. The kiddos were so happy to have him at Disney with them!

After our very last, and very long day there were still smiles for Mickey!

Disney Characters

Not many words needed with these pictures. The kiddos warmed up to the characters as the week progressed. We met just about any character you could meet at Disney!

At some meals, we ate between photo ops!

 Sometimes we waited in line for 45 minutes to get pictures taken.

Sometimes we just happened upon a character. (And now it's time to introduce my kiddos to Mary Poppins...they've never seen the movie!)

Even Mama got invited for a hug.

Peter Pan was definitely the kiddos' favorite character. He was a hoot! 

The fairies of Pixie Hollow.

We even stood in line in the rain for a picture with Pocahontas.

We met up with our cousin, Bentley, mid-week. The kiddos were so happy to have him at Disney with them!

 After our very last, and very long day there were still smiles for Mickey!