Thursday, January 31, 2013

QOTW: 1/31/13

Here are a few Carterisms:
"Yestertime...(rather than last time, or yesterday)."
"I sure can!" (in response to things we ask him to do)
"Oh, awwwright." (again in response to asking him to do something)
"Dis is heaven." (when he likes something he is eating)


When we were saying prayers one night, "Mommy, I sure am glad you let John Paul out of your tummy."

When we were passing a Semi-truck on the road, "MAN!  I weally wish we had a truck."

We are trying to teach Carter to look people in the eyes when they talk to him.  So, I was holding his little face in my hand trying to get a point across (after he had been a little disrespectful).  As I was talking, his eyes got big and semi-horrified and he said, "MOM! you dot someting on yo face!  What dat on yo face????"  It is a mole by my eye.  Yep, kinda scary.


And a few recent pics.  The boys have new haircuts...



Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Life...


With the March for Life having just taken place, the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and novenas in petition for a greater respect for human life, I've been reminded (again) of how blessed I am.  It hit me even harder when a friend posted this link on my Facebook page yesterday.  

The story is beautiful.  What is even more heart-wrenchingly (might have made that word up) honest, is the story of her middle baby's birth (referenced in the link).

I cried my eyes out at as I read it, especially the part in which her sister reminds her that "God chose her."  God chose her to be that precious baby's mama.  God chose her to give her life, love her, and bring her back to Him.  

In reading it, I wondered if I would have had the same strength.  Would I exhibit the kind of pure faith and trust that she did?  Would I have been able to look so courageously at love staring up at me and know that I could handle the pain of the cruel world for my precious baby? 

She was reminded that God chose her.  
In our every day life, God chooses us.  Sometimes that choosing is cleaning up spilled milk.  Sometimes it is reminding your child time and again that he isn't supposed to hit his brother.  Sometimes it is truly suffering through loss, anxiety, loneliness and pain.

However, He chose us to live the very life we're living.  He blesses us with challenges and suffering in order to bring us closer to Him.  He chooses us to each bear an individual cross, that only we can bear...with Him.  

Life is a gift.  Every single one.  And each has its challenges.

The life He chose for me has thus far been blessed especially by these three miracles.  I realize more every day that they are just that...miracles.  

Thank you, God, for choosing me.
















Monday, January 28, 2013

Our Everyday: Volume 3

I am thinking this might morph into really more of our everyday, rather than just our everyday Monday!  There is more to us than just some cookie-making here and there :)

Our sweet cousins, Kyle and Andy came over Wednesday night to teach us how to make pizzas on our new pizza stone.  If you have never experienced the deliciousness that is the cooking of Kyle Wyley, you are missing out!  

Of course, I didn't get any pictures of the most amazing girl around, Andy.  But, I did capture a few of Carter helping with the pizza (while also helping consume the cheese)...






Then came our cookie-baking.  This week it was Homemade Graham Crackers!  While a little more detailed than our last two ventures, they sure were tasty!  

A little blurry, but he was so excited...

 and that baking soda should be baking power - thank goodness I noticed before I poured it in!

A little honey to sweeten things up...







One of the recipients of these delicious treats lives in Chicago; the other is a special granddad!


"I have a pwesent for you!"
What a joy it has been to be able to share in these moments with Carter and to see his excitement when he gives a treat away.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Our Everyday: Volume 2

Carter and I whipped up some old-fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies today. Again, we made a few modifications to make them our own and got to cooking.  This time, Carter's favorite things were eating the chocolate chips and then presenting his Daddy with a cookie he made, "All by myself!"

Here's to cookie-making and family fun!
























my favorite picture of the day...














Peter participated in the eating of the cookies...







In an attempt to work on giving more of ourselves and bringing more joy to life, we delivered half of these to a couple in town.  Carter got to ring the bell and give them away...he was one proud little boy!  Until next week...happy day!