Books for the Little Ones

 
Some of My Favorite Books for the Little Ones!

    What are your faves???       

MG’s 1st Haircut & Painting Fun (different occasions mind you.)

Look at that smile! Priceless!

I just realized I didn’t blog about MG’s 1^st haircut. I think I was irritated that the lady cut her bangs too short. But looking back at the pictures makes me smile because I remember what a big girl Makayla thought she was; sitting up in that ‘big girl’ seat getting a real haircut. So cute! 

She thinks she's putting on makeup.

 I snapped some pictures one day when she was painting. She really loves the whole arts and crafts thing. 

Sweetness!

Our blackberry plant has grown even larger this year! I just love the sweetness of blackberries, especially when they are perfectly ripe.  I like to go and look at the plants every few days. I just think it's so neat to watch something like an ordinary green plant become something so extraordinary.  

There are SO many of them! Yummy!

While I was outside admiring these berries I thought about the fruit God talks about; the fruit of the spirit. 

I like this picture because it shows several stages of the berry.

 

Galatians 5:22-23

²²But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, ²³Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [^[a]that can bring a charge].

So as the ordinary plant became something extraordinary, God uses ordinary people to do live extraordinary lives. These fruits are what God uses to draw people to Himself through you. 

extraordinary 1. beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or established: extraordinary costs.

Christians are suppose to be different. We aren’t suppose to do, say, or think in a way that is considered “common or ordinary” in this world. Being different doesn’t happen over night, it happens as we grow in our relationship with God. Just as the berry plant goes through stages, Christians do too. I know that’s kind of a strange way to put it, but it’s just what came to mind at this second.

I thank God for adding the perfect kind of sweetness to my day today by reminding me of these fruits.

In Awe of the Beauty God Has Made,

Shawna

 

 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/extraordinary

Father's Day 2011

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Dear Dad,

Your example of compassion and love for your family is priceless to me and I cherish every moment we spend together. I am so blessed that God chose you to be my dad! You are such a loving grandaddy and I am proud to say that Makayla & Jackson adore you more than anything! 


With Love,
Shawna
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Tim,

I can't believe I got so lucky to call you my husband. I thank God that I have you to share my life and love and dreams with! Writing 10 things I love about you was so easy for me to do...but here they are. 

Love you bunches!

Shawna

Bubbles & Babbles

Jackson at 5 months old

Growing, growing, growing! Jackson is growing so fast (5 months old already!) and becoming very strong. His little hands are so strong that he is able to grasp my hair so tightly and yank a little out…haha! Jackson is a wonderful baby! He has such a sweet personality and loves his mommy. I will have to say that he’s a momma’s boy which is just fine with me. He loves to be cuddled all day long. He often falls asleep in my arms only to awake when I try to put him down. I think that Jackson would let me hold him all day long if I could. To be honest, it’s actually very comforting and relaxing to me when I hold him. He stares into my eyes and bats his little eyelashes. Ah I love that boy so much! Jackson loves blowing bubbles on his lips and seems to be showing off a bit to his big sister. He and Makayla adore each other. Makayla seems to have gotten over that jealousy phase (Can you see me now? I’m wiping my forehead with a sigh of relief.) and is now into being very motherly towards him; she tries to give him her paci, she asks him, Why are you crying?”, she covers him up if his feet feel cold, and tickles him.

Jackson is also becoming quite vocal. He babbles all day long, and seems very curious to the things around him. I wonder if it’s time to stop taking him into Sunday morning church service? Neh, I will give it a little longer until we try the nursery.

What’s LJ eating these days?

Milk is still his # 1 source of food though he has started eating solids.

1^st solids: rice cereal

2^nd: carrots

3^rd: pears

4^th: sweet potatoes

He can sit up all by himself. Woo-hoo! He can’t sit up very long by himself but in the world of infants this is quite the accomplishment. He grabs at everything now and is able to hold onto toys better. So that’s my update on my happy baby boy. I love him so much!

Shawna

I love playing with my toys

hanging out with Aunt Summer

My mommy loves me!!!

another picture?!

giggling at mommy

chillin with my daddy

playing with my sissy :-)

sissy is giving me kisses 

Not Forgotten- “June 4th”

Psalm 139

 ¹ O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
 ² You know my sitting down and my rising up;
         You understand my thought afar off.
 ³ You comprehend my path and my lying down,
         And are acquainted with all my ways.
 ⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue,
         But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
 ⁵ You have hedged me behind and before,
         And laid Your hand upon me.
 ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
         It is high, I cannot attain it.
      
 ⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit?
         Or where can I flee from Your presence?
 ⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
         If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
 ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning,
         And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 ¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me,
         And Your right hand shall hold me.
 ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall^[a] on me,”
         Even the night shall be light about me;
 ¹² Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
         But the night shines as the day;
         The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
      
 ¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
         You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 ¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;^[b]
         Marvelous are Your works,
         And that my soul knows very well.
 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
         When I was made in secret,
         And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
         And in Your book they all were written,
         The days fashioned for me,
         When as yet there were none of them.
      
 ¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
         How great is the sum of them!
 ¹⁸ If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
         When I awake, I am still with You.
      
 ¹⁹ Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
         Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
 ²⁰ For they speak against You wickedly;
         Your enemies take Your name in vain.^[c]
 21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
         And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
 ²² I hate them with perfect hatred;
         I count them my enemies.
      
 ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
         Try me, and know my anxieties;
 ²⁴ And see if there is any wicked way in me,
         And lead me in the way everlasting.

I find this Psalm to be of great comfort. Tim and I miscarried our first child 3 years ago.  I will never forget how broken we were before God. But we serve a mighty and loving God who knew that we would make it through, and be stronger in the end. I have several loved ones who are going through difficult times right now. Please know that God will never forsake you, and He will always carry you through those hard times.

With Greatest Sincerity,

Shawna

My Most Inspirational Teacher

In the fall of 1985 I walked into Mrs. Kraft’s kindergarten classroom. I was a shy little girl with a curly head of hair. I was a momma’s girl back then and dreaded leaving my mom to go to school. Mrs. Kraft was a caring teacher who seemed to hate seeing me upset; not because my crying got on her nerves, but because my crying seemed to pull at her heartstrings. There is one memory that has always stuck with me. Just about every morning I would start crying because I missed my mom so much. Mrs. Kraft would go get me an cold carton of milk. That was the best milk I ever had; ice-cold, refreshing, and therapeutic. She would sit with me while I drank that milk. She had a comfort about her that made me feel safe and loved. I think I took one of her heartstrings with me on my last day of kindergarten because I have never forgotten her. Without her even knowing, Mrs. Kraft inspired me to become the teacher I am today. Like Mrs. Kraft left me with fond memories of days gone by, I long to leave my students with memories they will never forget. I long for my students to feel important, loved, cared for, and inspired; the same way my teacher of 26 years ago made me feel then and even today!

This is my kindergarten picture! :-)

Over the last few days I’ve had a desire to find my kindergarten teacher. I have already started an internet search and hope it will be easy. I would truly enjoy telling her the influence she left in my life, and how she’s inspired me to be a teacher that will be remembered always. Thank you Mrs. Kraft!

Sincerely,

Shawna