1. i am thankful for friends! this is our buddy Ezra who just moved in down the street...we went for a walk with him the other day, boys are different than girls for sure! it was fun!

2. i am very thankful for new glasses! i had an allergic reaction to something in my eye, contacts? makeup? not sure...but i had to get some glasses ASAP! now i am a happier momma for sure!

3. my boy Brighten!! is about to turn one! wow, how the year flew by!

4. pudding! i love it! (esp the vanilla kind)--and yes i did consume a whole box of instant pudding all by myself this week! yes, hubby was gone, and i enjoyed every drop...and i'm considering doing it again :) (yes i am counting those points!)

5. i love martha stewart magazine! yep, i just bought myself a year subscription...about time!

stronger already!

yeah, so ryan--my hubby-- has an itch to go go go! he's ready to go to KC tomorrow! right now he's at a john eldredge conference, "being fathered by God"-that ministry has been sooooo effective on him, wow, i'm blessed to know them and i really appreciate his ministry! so ryan's being blessed tonight, i know for sure!

honestly, i'm ready for him to go! just go already! i need some time alone with the children, and to rise up and be strong for them for awhile...really when i don't have a crutch to lean on (my hubby ) i get stronger...or realize how strong i really am! it's weird how i do that...but i'm ready! :) i love him dearly, but it's time to go and seek out what the Lord has for us in this next season! i'm eager to find out what!

a cool, random thing that happened today...as we were shopping at walmart for his road trip, a random lady, who i don't really know, but recognized jumped into ryan's line and paid for all our groceries! what?! cool!! and so unexpected! humbled, yet blessed! the Lord is good!

life hasn't been peachy for me lately...or lets just say life around me has been great, just the feelings inside of me haven't. ugh! that's the stinky part...how do i change my feelings? or not believe them more than the Truth? so hard! so i've just had to remind myself, almost minutely, that the joy of the Lord is my strength! i could use some encouragement and reminders of the Lord's perspective in times like these...where feelings feel more like the truth...but they are not! ah!~!

1. the JOY of the Lord is my strength!- nehemiah 8:10

2. He delights in me!--2 samuel 22:20

3. His strength is made perfect in my weakness.-- 2 Cor. 12:9
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=54&chapter=12&verse=9&version=31&context=verse

here's my big boy!! almost about to be 1 year on may 1st! has it already been a year?? yes time surely flies! i am so happy to have Brighten Joel in my life, already he wants me to hold his fingers so he can walk around and he LOVES outside! he walks to the door almost ever chance he gets!! yay Brighten!!

thank God it's friday!

i'm thankful and here's why! :

1. i am so thankful for eye doctors, or doctors in general when they can really help you out and solve your problem...mine was an allergic reaction in my left eye..still don't know "why" but got medicine to help solve the problem! i love relief!

2. cool rain makes for a cozy feeling all around the house!

3. my hubby making chicken alfredo!--you know it's gonna be good! :)

4. laundry day--keeps me busy and feeling productive!

5. i love at&t! our new phone plan, so i can talk freely to friends and family far away!! yay!

how about you? give me one of yours!

my friend lora is having a giveaway from her blog of her new products that she's selling on her etsy shop! check it out, it's a great idea for those who want to quilt and don't have all the time it takes!
http://eagerhands.blogspot.com/2009/04/lets-celebrate-with-giveaway.html

i've been feeling sick the past couple of days....itchy throat, congestion...yuck! so not much inspiration or motivation. but i have discovered my love to shop! oh man! i re-visited TJ Maxx...and discovered Ross, i cannot wait to go to Marshalls! with my new weight loss of 53 lbs, i'm a new size that i've never been, so trying on clothing is amazing!! oh i can't get enough, there isn't enough time or energy in the day! and being with my 4 children hinders me in that adventure so every chance i get i want to run to those stores!! i could have a new addiction?!! sure is fun!! what's yours?
'

i love plants!!
i love seeing them grow and live...every new leaf excites me....but i never realize how much "work" it really is to start and plant anywhere! oy! i just bought this climbing rose bush...it's small but was on clearance for $3...that would look sweet on my trellis!! so i bought it, but i'm already regretting it just because of how much digging i have to do...looks like a job for hubby!! :) i started to dig...but when i hit the rock-like bottom....i took a "break". whew! i know it's worth it, i'm just tired. i still love plants!!