Sunday, August 26, 2012

Covering Our Home with the Word

Before we started building our home I told Marc I wanted to write God's word on the framing of our home.  I wanted every room to have a verse, and it seemed like such a daunting task.  Finally one night when Marc was gone, I put the kids in bed and pulled out my Bible.  I prayed that the Lord would direct me to verses that spoke to our family and our home, and the Lord BLESSED that time in His Word.  It was such an amazing experience to have the entire Bible in front of me but to see God lead me to so many specific verses. I have these verses saved on my computer, but I want them here on my blog.  I print out copies of my blog each year, one for Marc and me and one for each of the girls.  I want the girls to know that the rooms of the home they grew up in were covered in scripture.  It is part of our foundation, something that will not be changed or destroyed. 

Foyer

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.  John 3:16-17

Dining Room
 
 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, and when you lie down, and when you get up.   
Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that t may continue forever before you.  For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.  2 Samuel 7:29

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

School Room

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Teach them His decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to love and how they are to behave.  Exodus 18:20

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  Ephesians 4:29

Dining Room

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.  Psalm 100:4

 Kitchen

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.  Proverbs 24:3-4

but man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. 
Deuteronomy 8:3

Breakfast Room

He took the bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all.  Acts 27:35

Office Desk

Both riches and honor come from You.  1 Chronicles 29:12

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  1 Timothy 6:10

Laundry

And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:8

Master Bedroom

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the Church.  Ephesians 5:22-23

Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.  Ephesians 5:25

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  Proverbs 15:1


Master Bathroom

Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4

Master Closet

I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.  Acts 20:33

Kayla’s Room

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Ephesians 6:1

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your Word.  Psalm 119:9

Kayla’s Bathroom

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 
Proverbs 31:30

Macy’s Room

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Ephesians 6:1

How can a  young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your Word.  Psalm 119:9

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9

Macy/Brooke Bathroom

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.   
Proverbs 31:30

Brooke’s Room

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Ephesians 6:1

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your Word.  Psalm 119:9

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9

Girls’ Hallway

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring are a reward from Him  Psalm 127:3

Monday, August 20, 2012

First Day of School

Today was the first day of 2nd grade for Kayla and the first day of kindergarten for Macy. Everyone (including myself) was ready to get back in the swing of things.






Brooke didn't want to miss out on pictures and asked for one to be taken with her "Papa Bear."

We love our school and I can't wait to see where this year will take us!


Babyland General Hospital

We were supposed to go to Stone Mountain yesterday, but with the threat of thunderstorms we decided to take the girls to Babyland General Hospital - the home of the Cabbage Patch dolls. 

See those dolls on display? They are some of the original ones and they are now worth $15,000! I have one from when I was maybe 10 years old (and we read that Xavier Roberts started the dolls around the time I was born). Maybe mine will be worth $15,000 one day!



One excited little girl.

Another excited little girl.

While we were there we saw 3 dolls being "born." The "nurses" had obviously memorized a script, but the girls enjoyed it.

Whenever Brooke slipped out of our sight we could bet she was playing with all the new doll toys like this one.

"Daddy, take a picture of me doing this!"

We spent more time in the car traveling to and from the hospital, but the girls really had a great time.  They each came home with a new doll and spent the rest of the evening playing with them.  While the girls have been in school today Brooke has enjoyed playing with the dolls and not having to share. :)

Saturday, August 18, 2012

First Day of Timothy and Open House

This is my first year that I will not be teaching at the Timothy Ministry since I started 6 years ago. It's very bittersweet.  I know God pulled me away so that I can focus on teaching my children on Tuesdays for this season of my life.  Going to the Timothy Open House was hard.  I am used to being the teacher and not just the parent walking around.  I will SO miss teaching with Cherie.  She has become such a good friend to me and it has been such a blessing in my life to see her weekly.  I have seen her children grow up over the last five years we have taught together.  Thankfully I can still stop in and see her on Tuesdays this year since the older girls are each taking a class there and Macy is also taking dance on Tuesdays. 

Marc had to take the girls on the first day of classes because I had both of my King's Academy meetings that day.  He did a good job getting everyone where they were supposed to be.

Friday night was Open House for King's and the girls were able to see their classrooms and meet their teachers.  Macy will have Mrs. Hollenbeck just like Kayla did in kindergarten. Macy is so excited and I am excited for her.

 Kayla's 2nd grade teacher is Mrs. Foster.  I have heard so many wonderful things about her. She had quite a sense of humor, and I'm hoping that my serious Kayla learns to have fun with that.

School starts Monday and we are all very excited to get back into our routine!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Beach Vacation Part 3

I really thought I had more pictures from the pool.  Guess I was busy riding the lazy river and/or reading. :) It's a fabulous pool with a kiddie area, a zero entry pool, a lazy river, a wave pool, a waterfall you can swim under, and several other cool things. The girls had the best time.  A couple of times Marc took all three of them out to play while I read my book and soaked up some harmful rays.

  
 

We enjoyed a night of putt-putt. 



We all rode the ferris wheel at the condo this year.  The older two girls enjoyed their first time on one of these contraptions.  Brooke wasn't too happy that she didn't get a turn.  Thankfully the promise of ice-cream helped heal her broken heart.
 


We finally got around to feeding the seagulls.  We had some bread with us all week, but the beach was always more crowded than I would have liked.  Not everyone likes a flock of sea-gulls descending upon them. This was our last time at the beach before we headed home.  It was after a storm had come through so the beach was almost deserted.

At first there was one...

and then all of his friends showed up.


The kids love their bunk beds in the closet.  Brooke slept in our bed and did quite well going to sleep and staying asleep.  One night she laid up against my back, put her arm over me, and fell asleep.  So sweet! I will say I have missed that little snuggle bug in our bed - but not too much!

We are so thankful for the opportunity to get some time away, especially after the busy spring and summer we have had building a house and moving. School starts in less than 2 weeks so we are going to try and enjoy every moment we can until then.

Beach Vacation Part 2

The next day the girls are up ready to go.  Marc found a fun park for them to go to, so he took the girls to play for a little while.



After the park we headed to the pool (pictures to come) for the rest of the morning. After lunch we all took a nap before heading out to the beach for a picnic dinner and play time.


Not sure the orange glasses do much for the sunlight, but she sure loves them!



Brooke loves her Nini.

LOVE this picture! It it totally Brooke.

 


Monday, August 6, 2012

Beach Vacation Part 1

For the past 7 years I have always needed a vacation after a vacation.  Going out of town with young children is not easy. As they get older I have realized that things are getting easier.  It has been over a year since we have gone on a vacation with our girls, and two years since they have been to the beach. To say they were excited would be an understatement.


We arrived at the condo in Orange Beach mid-afternoon.  After settling in a bit we headed out for dinner (Shrimp Basket, of course!) and then went for a walk on the beach.

This was Brooke's first time on the beach since she was about 8 months old.  She was unsure of the sand and water for about 4 seconds.

The walk started off nice and calm.  Walking in the sand, dipping our toes in the water...

And then the excitement took over.  Macy was drenched by a wave.  They were pretty strong and knocking the girls over.  

Brooke got knocked over and it scared her for a bit, but she got over it once we convinced her that it was okay she was completely wet.


More to come...