As I was going walking through the living room this morning Sophie said to me, "Mama, Jesus made me just the way He wanted me, because He loves me. And mama, Jesus has puppies at His house with God. And mama, Jesus died on the cross."
Not only was this precious to me, but it spoke directly to my heart. Several times last week, I struggled with my thoughts about my personality and what I wished was different about me. Whether I was comparing myself to somebody else, or ridiculing myself about something I may have said in a group of people it is all lies that I chose to buy into. God spoke to me this morning through my three year old. He made me just he way He wanted me, because He loves me!
Psalm 139:13-14 13 For you formed my inward parts;you knitted me together in my mother's womb.14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well.
This is the Masters weekend, and every year on this weekend Mabry plays in the Green Jacket Tournament at the VCC. The tournament is in the afternoon, and then they all gather at the host's house to grill and watch part of the Masters. Mabry and Matthew won this tournament a couple of years ago.
While he was at the golf course the girls and I had a fun day together. We spent the morning at Old Navy, and Target buying the perfect birthday present for Mary. Happy Birthday Mary Rebecca! We can't believe you are 7!!!
Then we had lunch at Chic-fil-a. The whole time we were there Sophie kept saying, "thank you so much mama for letting us come inside". I usually tell her we don't have time and just go through the drive through. I especially use this excuse on Saturdays, because it is so busy. It was worth the extra effort to go in today!
After some good naps, we played outside the rest of the afternoon. We picked up a new box of chalk at Target, and that's what we did the most of.
I love when they play so hard, and their faces get all dirty;-)
It was such a beautiful afternoon, and we were out there for so long that I layed down and enjoyed the breeze!
I always feel a little awkward when I have not blogged in a while, and then decide to post something. I suppose I will make up for lost time and do some back tracking for the month of December and January. For now I will post a picture that makes my heart swell.
The girls eat dinner around 5:30 p.m. Miss Maddie is usually in the kitchen around 5 o'clock looking to be fed like a little bird. After they eat they run straight to the back screaming with excitement for bath time. They splash, scream, laugh, and beg for me to keep a steady stream of water flowing from the faucet until I turn it off and say, "that is enough girls, we are wasting water". It is the same thing every night. As soon as they are dried off, Miss Maddie gets suited up with what Mabry calls "a Maddie suit", which are footy pajamas. And Sophie asks with anticipation if her "Belk's nightgown is clean. When I tell her it is, she squeals with delight. The next part is my favorite. Sophie climbs up on my bed and takes her place with her flower pillow and Maddie stands next to the bed making the "ugh, ugh" sound that I hope I never forget when she starts using words instead of noises. I put Maddie next to her sister and they watch a movie together.
They never had to learn to love each other, it is natural. The love between siblings is an unexplainable gift. This is the drill. The same routine every night. I hope I always remember it.
I would be telling a story if I said turning 30 didn't sting just a little bit. I did not think I would be phased at all leading up to my birthday, but when I say it out loud I can feel a little tug in my stomach that makes me a little uncomfortable. I am going to embrace it!
My twenties were great. Mabry and I got married, and we had our beautiful girls. I can only see that life is getting better and fuller. If I could pick a "birthday song" this would be it. I pray that this year I would make this declaration everyday. Hosanna in the highest!
Heal my heart and make it clean Open up my eyes to the things unseen Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause As I walk from earth into eternity
I see the King of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
We celebrated Sophie's third birthday on November 11. She was born 11-11-07. She pretty much had a "birth week", because we had several different little parties. We took purple cupcakes to her dance class. Aunt Crystal showed up with balloons and best of all, Annie;)
Earlier that day we met Mimi and NeeNee at Chickfila for lunch. I thought they looked like little angels in their dresses.
On Saturday, our family came over for grilled hotdogs, chili, and a purple Elmo cake. A generous friend loaned us their bounce house for the party, and it was a huge hit. I don't think the children ever got out of it.
I love these pictures of her opening her gifts. The look on her face and her posture as she sits there inspecting new toys.
She loves Uncle Matt. I think it is safe to say that Uncle Matt loves her too.
All of Sophies' "people".
Here she is holding up three fingers. "I am three!"
One of the wonders of living in the south. You can have on a warm up suit in the morning and be in a bathing suit by the afternoon. She got a Dora the Explorer bucket and she wanted to go to the beach.
You are three years old Sophie Pie! Your daddy and I love you so much. We can already see so many things about you at such an early age- compassionate, tender hearted, loving, rule follower, safe, smart, and eager to learn! There are times that I treat you a little older than you really are because you seem to be a little brighter than a three year old should be. You are our first born, and we love you to the moon and back.
Sophie fell asleep on the sofa after lunch, and Maddie and I spent some one on one time together before I put her down for her nap. This was Sophie's dress, but I don't think she wore it more than one time. I love this picture, because you can see all the little creases on her arms. I can't remember when Sophie lost hers, but it seems like those kind of things happen over night. I don't want to forget them.
She looks so much like Sophie to me in this picture(with her paci). Miss Maddie has definitely found her voice in the family. She is always easy going, happy and laughing. In the last couple of weeks she has figured out that if she screams really loudly and turns red, Sophie will give her whatever it is she wants! It cracks me up. She has also started biting me, and pinching me! I'm not sure if she is just testing me, teething, or wanting my attention. She is only biting me, nobody else. Miss Maddie has been waking up around 5 am, and when the time changed it was around 4 am for a couple of mornings. I have started getting up with her, and we snuggle for about an hour, as I try to keep her quiet and not wake the rest of the house. Secretly, I love every minute of it!
Some days I still can't believe I have two daughters. What a responsibility to raise them to be sweet and kind young ladies. To always have a giving heart, to be content with what they are doing and what they have, and most importantly to love the Lord God with all their heart, mind, and spirit. I pray over them every night that they have a strong hunger and desire to know Him at an early age, and that He might reveal Himself to them at an early age.
We have been married for almost five years! I am able to stay at home with our two precious girls. I love to cook, am learning to sew, and I am also challenging myself to cut coupons and be creative to save big and live simply! I am using this as a family journal to keep a record of the day to day things I don't want to forget. God has given me an amazing life!
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm 139:14
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" Zephaniah 3:17
