see you soon

we're in the middle of moving!!! here we go on another adventure! we're all quite excited! with all the packing boxes, moving & unpacking i won't have time for blogging (i haven't been as present for the past couple weeks for this reason).
i'll be back soon!!!

but for now... watch our little Christmas video from last year & get in the mood!
praise the Lord, He's come!

al

lately grams

1) jude's (family) b'day party cake. there will be more celebrating closer to his b'day. :) 2) build your own pizza. my sweet sweet younger brother came to be with us for thanksgiving!!!! 3) sweet boy. he was so embarrassed as we sang to him. 4) thanksgiving table set. 5) vegan thanksgiving. 6) cute boys chowing down. 7) baby rowan & mommy having a chat. 8) baby rowan. sooo chubby & cute! 9) playing some cards on thanksgiving. 10) football in the front yard. 11) watching the snow with uncle nick! 12) jude thinks uncle nick is so great... so do his brothers! 13) first time to the movies as a family of 5! amos usually doesn't watch tv/movies, but he watched the whole thing! 14) wreck it ralph. 15) dressed for the iron bowl... roll tide! 16) so so soooooo excited this came in the mail! check out grace for grace on etsy! :) cute cute stuff!

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funny/favorite/current things...

*we're moving!!!!!!! we're all so excited for this new adventure! we're excited to make friends & get involved in a great church! we're excited for daddy to go to seminary!

*i'm sooooooooooooooo excited to decorate our sweet little house! 

*we loved every second with my brother, nick! he loves his nephews & they adore him! he's so loving & patient. so refreshing to be with him!

*i LOVE the holidays!!!!!

al

soooo thankful!

one of the greatest things i'm thankful for on this thanksgiving day! my wonderful/dear/loving/patient/gentle/kind/funny/fun/handsome/God-fearing husband!!!
THANK YOU LORD!
al

my boys, His grace

oh mommies... read this blog post & be encouraged!

"if you're like me, you're painfully aware of the imperfect example you are to your children. but this is good, for it brings us back to the cross."

aren't there so many days when we are at our lowest? we don't "feel like" being mommy & every little thing sets us off. we may not even feel sorry or repentant in the moment of our sins toward our children/husband/friends. oh Lord may our hearts always be soft to realize our sin & repent before You & ask those we've sinned against to forgive us. 

it's so good for our children to know that we're not always right & perfect. we make mistakes... the same grace the Lord showers on us we need to in turn shower on our children. coming along side them as fellow sinners. we're not better than them & somehow justified in our sin towards them because we're adults. we are just as they are... desperately in need of our Savior! we NEED to apologize for our sin & show them that we want the Lord to change us! tell them how much we need the Lord to help us be "a good & loving mommy". 

an imperfect & repentant mommy points our children to the cross of Christ.

al

lately grams

1) my sweet sweet boys after their bath/shower... one of their favorite things to do is act like babies when they're all wrapped up in their towels. it's humorous. 2) crafts. 3) sammy was being feisty & didn't want to be in the picture. 4) beautiful farm house in michigan. 5) short but sweet time with our cute friends owen & eden. 6) twins/pals. 7) happy place! for our anniversary we spent sometime looking at antiques! 8) cutest b & b that my husband (of 6 years) surprised me with!!!! he knows me soooo well!!!!!!! antiques, b & b alone with him, dinner, breakfast in bed, movie... couldn't be happier! 9) breakfast in bed by the fire at our b & b. 10) on the porch. 11) headed to our movie with this hottness. 12) anniversary roses that jude picked out. he's REALLY good at picking flowers... like it's crazy. 13) candy land with my ALMOST 4 YEAR OLD!!! 14) found these 2 sleeping like this at grandmom's house. i'm soooo grateful that our boys love each other! 15) some quality time with great grandma.

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funny/favorite/current things...

*jude picked up an onion ring at dinner (i made them from scratch & they were baked in the oven... super healthy ;)) & said, this is an "O"! 

*jude's also picked up a paint brush & painted the letter "I". what is happening to my little boy?!!!

*one of my favorite things jude says... "if i do that, because i do that". very good logic. ;)

*sammy says E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. oh my goodness! i'm like not surprised by anything he says now.

*amos... if i even act like i'm hurt he leans in & says "sorry mommy" & puts his head on me. so tender hearted.

*i just ordered THIS BEAUTIFUL PRINT!!! can't wait to get it & put it up!

*i'm selling a ton of furniture on craigslist to buy some furniture at antique stores or craigslist. ;) yay!!! ikea dressers, record player cabinet, bookshelf, changing table. yay!!!!

*my brother is coming in 3 days & i cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*thanksgiving is almost here & wow it's one of my favorites!!!

al

mackinac island family trip

we went to mackinac island with mike's family last month. 

it was so beautiful & so cold! we had fun!

sweet sweet boys! we LOVE spending time with them & exploring this big world!

& we're ALL about family trips! we really enjoy the adventure of discovering a new city/town... so fun!

al