Happy sixth birthday my dear sweet boy!

Six. Family. Painting. Prince for the day. Happy. Scavenger hunt. Sweet cards. Love. Stickers. Optimus Prime. Fun. Movies. Pancakes. Lasagna. Balloons. Joy. Cake. Smiles. Six!

JOYfulness VS. Self~Pity God can turn our greatest sorrows into our deepest joys.

JOYfulness is the bright spirit and radiant countenance that come by being in full fellowship with the Lord.

It is possible to have joy and sorrow at the same time, because joy is an expression of the spirit, and sorrow is an expression of the soul. Joy and sorrow can effect our hearts so that we will have either a joyful heart or a sorrowful heart.

• Joy is our strength~ For the joy of the LORD is our strength Nehemiah 8:10
• Joy is our health~ A merry heart doeth good like a medicine Proverbs 17:22
• Joy is our brightness~A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance Proverbs 15:13

What are the steps to experience JOY??

Give thanks unto the LORD. It is God's will for us as a believer.

• All things come from the hand of God. {Job 1:21, Matt.10:29}
• Ever thing that happens to us is ultimately for our good. {Rom.8:29}
• Every circumstance can build character in us. {Rom.8:29}
• Difficulties and afflictions can teach us God's ways. {Psalm 119:71}

Call upon His name. Are you trying to live this Christian life of your own accord and your own energy? I know I have. God will put us in situations beyond our human ability to deal with to remind us that we need Him for His strength to give us the desire and power to do his will! {For when I am weak, then am I strong 2Cor.12:10}

Make known His deeds among the people. When we cry out. He will respond. It is then our responsibility to tell others the mighty things God hath done for us! Our rejoicing glorifies Him and strengthens the faith of others.

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him. Eph.5:18-19. A person who sings is joyful!

Talk ye of all his wondrous works. Our conversation centers around people and events which we are most excited. It is a joy to tell others about the mighty things the Lord is doing in and through us!

Glory Ye in his holy name. {John 14:14} He is the Great Physician, the Tireless Provider and the Strong Protector.

Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jer.29:13 Trails and tribulations are designed by God to turn our affections away from temporal things. When God has our WHOLE hearts, He fills them with joy, because No Good thing will he withhold from those that walk uprightly Psalm84:11

Seek the LORD and his strength. We can ask Him for wisdom to discern the benefits of such trials, so we can thank Him for them. The resulting joy strengthens us, because ...the joy of the LORD is...our strength Neh.8:10

Seek his face continually. Are there sins or transgressions that would cause Him to hide his face from us? Or cause us to not want to look up at His face? As His face shines upon us, our faces also shine and brighten the lives of others. This is the very essence of JOY!!

HAVE YOU LOST YOUR JOY?!

I have lost my joy before. There is no better time then NOW to get it back.

I have been studying a book called The Power For True Success How to Build Character in Your Life. Most of this has been quoted right from the book... May it be a blessing to you as it most definitely was for me!

Sweet BMW!

Dear little Blake,

This is your Auntie Talia! I am just so excited for your Mama and Daddy and I can't wait to meet you, little doll baby! I already love you so much! Funny how your little ultrasound picture can make me cry every time I see it. And I am not even your mama! I pray for you. For your heart and mind to be strong and for your bones to be straight. And I pray that one day you will know our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and that you will serve him with your life. I love you Blake Michael!! See you in June!

Sugar detox...week 3. NO SWEETS!

So this week we make a drastic decision, well at least to me it is a drastic decision. No sweets. What?! I thought we would ease into this one...well I guess jumping in with 2 feet is the best way. So no sweets here I come. We don't have anything sweet in the house right now, except animal crackers, so that makes it a little easier. Although it is hard to remember! I walked to Starbucks this morning with my family and ordered a tall peppermint white chocolate mocha and thought nothing of it! Until about half way home it dawned on me!! Duh! I totally think this counts as a "sweet". Oh well. I really have only had Starbucks like 5 times since we moved here. And if you know me that is really good! So I will still refrain from dessert when we go out this Saturday night. Okay? Okay. My incredible sister-in-law, whom I have watched over the last few years completely change their eating habits, posted this the other day on FB. It was so great to read this. I want to change my and my family's eating habits out of love not fear. It puts it all into perspective. At least it did for me! Anyhow, here's to no sweets! For however long I need!

Sugar Detox...challenge #2. No diet things or white flours...

So week 2 and challenge #2. Get rid of the diet things and white flours...Apparently your body processes white flour the same as sugar! White flours make up a much larger portion of our diets than sugars but our insulin response{after consuming sugars our blood sugar rises, body responds by putting out insulin to bring sugar levels down, now they are dropped low enough that we feel hungry in order to regulate the blood sugar. It's a vicious cycle!} is the same when we consume white flours...Very interesting! Had no idea that our bodies treated white flour the same as sugar. Now I know, and now I say byebye...As far as the diet things go, we do not buy anything diet. Ever. So until next week!

Sugar Detox...Goodbye HFCS!!

Well, I am doing this Sugar Detox 2011 challenge through http://www.naturallyknockedup.com/. I know considering the name you all are wondering if I am trying to get pregnant...THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!! haha I have always wanted to say that to someone. But really, I do indeed want to have another baby! In fact I would like to give birth tomorrow! I feel so ready for another lil chubby bub to hug and kiss. And yes I am sure. Even though I have my plate full and frequently have crazy and hilarious mishaps. Like yesterday when a sopping wet monkey, dripping with potty water, smacked me in the face to wake me from my very wanted nap! But that is in the Lord's hands. So I will wait until His perfect timing takes place. But I do want to be more healthy overall and that is the reason I am doing this detox. The more I read about sugar and all it's negative health effects {3 big ones being: causes an imbalance in our blood sugar levels, cancer feeds on sugar, majorly suppresses your immune system} the more I want to never consume it again. And for those of you who really know me. I have a mad sweet tooth, with a mind of it's own! I could live on sugar and carbs. Not really, but I would be happy :) So anyway this challenge will last 8 weeks. This is week 1 and the challenge is to rid your house of any and everything containing HFCS aka high fructose corn syrup. This wasn't too hard because we have been avoiding it for over a year now. But we did still have a few items...which went straight to the trash...well, except the frosting which was quickly claimed by my friend. And the Manwich sloppy joe mix...gulp...which I made for dinner last night...But I do solemnly swear to NEVER purchase it again so long as I live! With that said I am ready to eliminate or at the very least greatly decrease the amount of sugar I and my family will be consuming from here on out. I am excited to see what the next step will be!! Follow the link at the beginning if you want to join me in bettering your health this year!

My Grandpa...

Grandpa Bruce. My sweet Grandpa Bruce has gone home to be with the Lord today. And with a tears streaming I write. Writing about him will help me. May it be a blessing to you as well. My most favorite memory of my Grandpa is back from when I was 5. I spent a lot of time at his house when I was that age because we lived in the same apartment complex. He always said, "Hi Talia! {with a huge denture smile} whatcha doin?" To which I would always reply, "Nothin." To which he would always reply, "Nutin honey?" I thought he was the greatest. It always made me smile. So one day, as usual, I went over to Grandpas house. and asked for some werthers candy. We had our same conversation. Only today Grandpa had something else to tell me. I sat on his lap sucking on my candy as Grandpa explained to me that I was an angel. Ha! I laughed. He didn't. He just smiled. He wasn't joking! Was I really an angel? He told me to feel my back, so I did and sure enough they they were...my budding wings! I was an angel, I truly was! I had wings growing out of my back! I could feel them. But just to make sure it was really truly angel wings growing, I had to pass a test. He very seriously looked at me and asked, "Can you wiggle your ears?" Huh?! That was a strange question. But I tried it, and sure enough!! My ears wiggled! That settled it. He said only angels can wiggle their ears. So it was true, I was an angel! And he never let me forget that. Even now that I am 27 years old, I am still pretty convinced. The last time I got to see him, was on Christmas Eve. And he told me again, "You're an angel, I love you." I will miss my Grandpa so, so very much. But I know he is up in heaven praising Jesus, and laughing with the angels. Heck, he's probably doing cartwheels! I look forward to the day, when God calls me home, and I get to see my Grandpa again! I know I am going to heaven when I die. Do you? I will never forget his great sense of humor. Or his smile. Or hand feeding the raccoons with him. Or how he always drank his milk with ice. Or his great big bear hugs. Or him crawling around on the ground at his old apartment {his dentures securely in a cup next to his chair} chattering his gums at us, while snorting and growling! I will never forget how much he loved me, or how much I will always love him! I will never forget my Grandpa Bruce!

Welcome 2011 !

Well I always make "new years resolutions" and then the excitement fades and so do the resolutions. It is kinda pointless to wait all the until January to try to make things better anyway. But none the less...I have a few commitments I would like to renew and add {in no particular order}. *Be up by 6AM each morning to ensure I read and pray everyday. *Integrate more JOY into my everyday life. *Keep a journal. *Try a sugar detox challenge. {I have a mad sweet tooth that needs to go bye-bye!} *Send out birthday cards to my family and friends through-out the year. *Take {and give the kids} vitamins and supplements everyday. *Do family devotionals at least 3X per week. *Eat and feed my family more raw foods. *Stop buying processed anything, even if it is marked organic. There are more little things here and there also, but these are the main things I want to do better or at all in 2011!

Christmas Whirlwind

Well our Christmas weekend was packed with joy! We arrived at my parents at 930 Thursday night, after a 5.5 hour drive over a clear and dry pass! Spent Christmas eve lounging around then headed out to my Grandpa Bruce's house {my dad's side} It was so nice to see so much family! Those of you who didn't make it, you were truly missed!! After a ham feast and gifts and hanging out and watching all the second cousins playing we headed back to my parents to open our traditional Christmas eve PJs. Christmas morning we woke up had breakfast and opened gifts, then went to Grandma Stubb's and ate snacks and opened gifts and then headed out to my Aunt Sandy's and had a blast playing pool and cooking up a giant turkey feast and opened up even more gifts!! The kids were so excited! In fact, Ethan was so happy he kept running around asking what other presents say Ethan on them?! I had to tell him to hush ;) We went back to my parents and Sunday headed to our old church and saw {almost} everyone! That was such a treat! Afterwards we went out to my bro-in-laws place and had a post Christmas ham feast and got to hang out playing games and catching up and watching all the cousins {all 12 of them} play!! It was perfect. We left there and headed out to the Sconyers house where some of our friends came out to visit and play more games. We ended up leaving there around 330AM to return to my parents. Didn't get much sleep. Packed up double what we came with. And made our trek home. Again, over a clear and dry pass, thank the Lord! Unpacked and picked up and then opened up our gifts here...We got a Wii...so as exhausted as we all were, we stayed up until midnight playing before we fell over sleeping! {PS the kids went to bed around 9, they melted before us} So all in all? A wonderful whirlwind of a weekend!!

Lyla's Language + Translation

• maa-maa{very loudly} = mama
• pa-pa {in a whisper} = papa
• poo-poo = well you know
• yi-ya = Lyla
• na-na = banana
• moe = more
• eeese = cheese NOT please
• no-no = no
• aaaahhhhhhhhhhh =NOO!!!
• uh-huh = yes
• e-ya-ya = Elijah
• e-teh = Ethan
• meee-ma = mima
• ah-de = all done
• ah-ay = okay mama
• happy = happy
• i = eye
• no = nose
• mow = mouth
• ewe = ear
• hah = hair
• if she rubs her tummy = please
• if she pats her bottom = either trouble or diaper change
• ni-ni = goodnight
• falls down on the ground whining = why can't you understand me?!? or i don't want to! or i want THAT!! or hey! i had that first! or.......well you get the idea
• hi = hi
• eeee = eat!

That's all for now! :)

Sometimes we just need a little reminder...

The Past. Dreadful. Ugly. Wicked. Past. At least that is what mine is. I hate that I did the things I did. And that hurt came unto me. No one really knows my past...I do. God does. It's ugly. And every once in a while it comes back to haunt me. To bite me. To bring me down. And I just need a little reminder. Ever feel like that? I do. Not very often anymore. Thankfully. But, I do, occasionally....and it's hard. And sad. But I am so so thankful that on November 21, 2002 I was saved from a terrible path. Leading me straight to pit of hell. God changed my life and my path. At times I faltered, yes I did. I am no better than any other person. And in this walk of Christianity, there are still hurts and hang-ups.But I believe the bible with all my being. You may not. And for that I am sorry. But I do. I always knew there was a God. But I did not always KNOW him. He has forgiven my ugly, wicked past. He has even forgotten it. I have not. But He is merciful. He is faithful. He is my God. And I am his child. He loves me. He wants me. And for that I am thankful. So very thankful. Sometimes we just need a little reminder. That God is good. So good. And He doesn't want our past to haunt us. But to help us. And to help others. So when the time comes. I trust that the Lord is trying to teach me something. And in turn maybe I can help another along the way. And in doing so, it makes it all worth it. All the hurt and pain. And wicked ugliness. Makes me thankful. Yes thankful even for my past. In all it's ugliness. That I can use it to do something so little as serve the sweet Jesus who gave his life for mine...

So when my world is shaking, and my heart is breaking. I never leave Your hands...

Thankful. So thankful.

Well, despite not being able to go back for Thanksgiving due to the crazy amounts of snow that have hit here...It. Was. Wonderful! We got to spend the day with friends! New friends. Which I am so so so very thankful for! There was a TON of yummy food. A few took all but 2 kids sledding! They said it was a looooong walk home but it was so much fun!! The kids watched movies and just hung out. We talked and laughed and ate and talked and laughed and played Apples to Apples and laughed and ate and laug......It was so much fun! I really missed being able to spend time with our family over on the "other side" but this was a special year anyway, and that I am very thankful for! Thomas had 4 days off! In a row :) we had lots of fun just hanging out all together. He built an awesome snow fort with the boys! We went sledding down our front stairs and yesterday we went and got our tree from Greenbluff. The snow was so deep! I had to carry the younger kids while Thomas carried the tree! It was up to Ethan's waist :) I am starting to really love the snow. I am so scared of it. I love to look at it. I love the icicles and pure whiteness of it. And the beauty gives everything it touches. But when we drive in it...I think I actually have mini strokes the entire drive...and I almost pee my pants. Every. Single. Time. Maybe one day, just maybe, I'll learn to drive in it or at least get more used to it. I'll keep you posted :) Moving over here has been nothing but an adventure! I have had some lonely moments, but by far the blessing after blessing after blessing after, well you get the point, have far outweighed it! I love it here in Spokane and I love and cherish the friendships that I have made over here and I'm so excited as I a sure they will only grow! Praise be to God! He's done it again. He has taken care of my EVERY need. My cup runneth over!

Today.

• Had a wonderful visit with sweet friends.
• Cozy chai tea lattes.
• Kids played out in the leftover snow.
• Tomato soup and grilled cheese for lunch.
• My almost 16 month old decided she didn't want a chocolate chip cookie, but would rather have orange slices. I can't complain.
• Elijah gave away 2 "hotwheels" cars to a special friend.
• Ethan has been wearing one pair of underwear all day!
• My sweet hubby is bringing me home a peppermint white chocolate mocha. I. Can't. Wait!
• Bible study and fellowship tonight!
• Today was and is great!

Let's celebrate the first snow!!

The littles. And me.

• Lyla's newest. She has to have everything whole...bananas, bars, fruit leathers. Everything. If I break off a part, or bite off a part, she falls apart. Looks like a little training is in order!
• Ethan says our house is cold. He said, "I'm touning to ice!" I told him to put some clothes on. He cried.
• I tried this http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/ . Elijah cried. He thought I was mad. I laughed so hard I cried. Now he thinks I'm crazy.

It's a Lightning McQueen, prince, happy kind of day!

Today is the big day! My Ethan Landry is 3. I. Can't. Believe it! Has it really been 3 years?! We lost our Cars movie over a year ago. But Ethan still loves Lightning! He said, "It will be my bewthday. You all will sing happy bewthday to ME! And I will eat a why keen {lightning mcqueen} bewthday cake!" He was so excited about this for the past 2 weeks :) Seeing him smile makes my heart melt. So today he is a prince. He gets whatever he wants. All day. He gets to be spoiled. Rotten. For 1 day. That is what I would want. He wants oatmeal for breakfast. Pancakes for lunch. And pancakes for dinner. So that is what we will have. I made a banner for him and hung up some streamers. He opened his gift before Papa went to work. Elijah made him a sweet card. And bought him {with his own money} a color changing lightning mcqueen car and a grabber thing. We got him some mcqueen slippers. He LOVED it! And tonight, after pancakes, we are going to surprise the boys with Build-a-Bear. I can't wait to see their faces! Birthdays are a fun thing around here! I hope it's always as special as it is right now. Happy 3rd birthday to my oh-so-sweet, strong-willed and very intense, loving, funny, little Ethan! I love everything about you with all my heart.

Never A Dull Moment. 4

Well though it has been a while, I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not...Ethan has passed along his "love" for baby powder to Lyla Jane...so twice in the past couple weeks one whole 15oz bottle of Johnson and Johnson's baby powder {about half each time} has found it's way onto the carpet and the couches and in the bird cage and on the coffee tables and all over two very guilty and darling children...once I was eating and the other time cleaning up the kitchen. Both times I suddenly smell this very strong powdery fresh smell...to which I say a bit aggravated, "Who is playing with the powder?!" And faintly from around the corner I hear Ethan. "Me and baby was..." So off to trouble..and a couple days later, same scenario. The good thing? Ethan has learned how to vacuum! And Lyla Jane? Well Lyla decided she won't touch the powder for a while...instead she takes the birdie food {by the handfuls} and throws it all over the carpet and couches and coffee tables instead...{sigh} Today though. Today was different...I sent my big boy Ethan into the bathroom to dispose of his potty diaper, use the toilet and put on some big boy undies...I went downstairs to help Elijah find some plain white paper. Ethan still hasn't come out...so I go in. Then I go right back out of the flooded bathroom. Breathe. He is just a curious little boy. God help me deal with him with out getting angry...so I go back in. GASP. The hand towel is stuck down the toilet. He said he flushed "a really lot of times" Only about 1 inch of water covering the entire floor...a few towels will take care of that. But then I see he has taken out the bubble bath. And squirted it all over the toilet, floor, tub...I guess he wanted a bubble flood? This all took place in about 3 minutes flat. That's my boy! Very efficient :) Needless to say the clean-up was a bit more than 3 minutes. But somehow his sweet, "I sowy fo doin dat mama." Makes it all better. Really. I love those little knuckleheads! There is NEVER a dull moment!

Some October fun...

feels. like. fall.

i. love. fall. crisp days. kids want cider. or hot nilla milk. i always want chai tea. we wear pjs longer. watch the rain and wind outside. even close our eyes and listen to the drops on the skylihgts. little birdies on a feeder out the front window. bible. then books. lots of books. the coziest blankets. if its not raining. walking. walking is lovely. or a short bike ride. i have to wear a hat. or my ears hurt. ever get that? baby in a stroller. if we had a dog, dog on a leash. rubber boots. yellow. orange. brown. red. some green. soup in the crock pot. smells so good. mixed with the smell of fall flavored candles, they smell even better when they are a gift from wonderful welcoming new friends. quietness part of the time. kids squealing joyously the other part. singing from the hymnal. anxiously awaiting 530 when the man comes home. fall feels like the beginning. the beginning of colder days. of pretty lights and cinnamon. of the celebration of a little baby. our lord and king. who came just to die for us. so we can all have that new beginning. that new life. all of these blessings in a clearer light. each season. each day. new. i. love. fall.

We are settled!

I am so thankful for the Lord's provision once again! It still amazes me when we have been praying for something and He answers with such clarity. We have been wanting a slower paced lifestyle for quite a while and just haven't had the means. As most of you know, Thomas lost his job back in January of 08. That was a very rough and low time for both of us. No job for 3 months is a scary thing, I can't imagine those of you doing it for any longer! But praise the Lord He ALWAYS provides. I am so thankful we went thru that time. We both got a wonderful chance to see God work and to grow closer to Him. Our only source of income was from me babysitting. But we made it! Not only did we make it, but we made it without missing or even being late on a single bill! But as far as our dreams of slowing down, that seemed so far away. Both of us strongly desired to have me stay home, so me going out and finding a job was out of the question. We knew it was bad when T called 17 grocery stores within a huge radius of our house and NO ONE would hire him. At this point in tim Thomas had 13 years grocery experience!! So 3 months go by and still nothing. Then Thomas calls Super Supplements. Just to see, again, if they have any openings...You know that God is in it when a job you had been trying to get into 2 years prior just so happens to have an opening. Not just any opening but management. Now he was in management before, but making about 50% less! WOW. Wow. Thats all we could say. And within a a 6 month period he got a 4% raise, then a 3.5% raise, then any oppurtunity at a rural store, and another 5% raise! God is so good to us. It brings me to tears because we don't deserve one bit of it! Here we are sitting in a wonderful house, with lots of room to grow our family. And it has a yard! A Yard! We have NEVER had a yard before! And this one is HUGE! Thank you God! Thank you for always taking care of us, and for providing abundantly above anything we ask or think! We serve a great God. I am so excited to be in another wonderful church with great foundations! We can't wait to start serving in church and in our neighborhood. I know there will be trials and fire and low times. But God is still good and through Him we can do anything. So. Here are a few photos of another present from the Lord. Enjoy!