just a thought.

i had this thought yesterday....

 

the only scars that will be in Heaven will be worn by Jesus.

 

we go through temporary pain...resulting in scars, both physical and emotional...

but in Heaven, they'll be erased.

 

Jesus' scars are perfectly eternal.

the miracle of His resurrection is eternal.

we'll never forget what He did for us.

 

i just pictured all the perfection that is in Heaven...

the gold streets...

the singing...

the worship...

the angels...

the trumpets....

and then, Jesus' scars?

 

perfectly redeeming scars.

 

perfectly healing scarred hands.

 

perfectly all-powerful wounded hands.

 

they definitely belong there.

order of events.

1. momma got a new flash!! yay!

...but she doesn't know how to use it!! boo!

2. try to get away! fast!

3. lose my mind.

4. get mocked.

things i've learned {second installment}

I've learned that...

16. you should do everything you can while in the bathroom with the door shut, because once you open it, you're immediately back on duty.

17. other people's comments about how their kids are the best or the cutest can cause an internal rage inside of you that can only be compared to the Hulk as you fight every childish inclination to argue that YOUR baby is, in fact, the cutest and the best.

18. a clean diaper means a poop is imminent.

19. squealing and yelling really are acceptable forms of communication...unfortunately, that's just not true for adults.

20. what i know is a difficult poop session, my husband will think is a seizure.

21. food makes a great distraction.

22. cartoons are really meant for adults.

23. hearing your husband talking to her in the other room about how her little, white denim shorts are "almost as cute as she is" will make you melt.

24. Baby Einstein can cause the same internal rage (see number 17) if watched consecutively. not recommended.

25. getting out of the house on time should be an Olympic sport (with or without baby).

26. crumbs, paper, paper towel, toilet paper, string or anything of swallowable size can become a meal.

27. dressed in a completely pink outfit, with ears pierced and a bow on her head....and i'll still be asked how old HE is!

28. remote controls work best as toys without batteries.

29. she'll find options on my iPhone that i didn't even know existed.

30. she will wave at her shadow, her reflection, the food she dropped on the floor, the light fixtures, but NOT the cute, old lady in line behind me in Whole Foods.

see the first installment of "things i've learned" here

not home.

people usually question the negative circumstances in their lives...

why did i lose my job?

why did he die?

why is my marriage so hard?

why am i having so many financial problems?

i often wonder why zachary was taken away from us...and i don't know why i wonder...because i know it was for Heaven's gain! i think God knew i would need a purpose for living...even though when zachary left us, i didn't want to live anymore...honestly, i didn't want to take my life, but i really didn't want to live either. zachary's short life was and is a reminder to me that this world is not our home...thank God! our circumstances, no matter what they are, are temporary...and that was something i needed to learn in order to continue to live with HOPE!

hope:noun

4. a person or thing in which expectations are centered

verb (used with object)

6. to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.

7. to believe, desire, or trust

my hope is found in nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. this is the Person and thing in which my expectations are centered. because of this, i look forward to heaven and have confidence in His faithfulness. i believe...i trust in His ways, His plan, His direction and His will for me.

so don't get caught up in your negative circumstances...there's usually something invisible happening. what is your hope? hold on to it...and remember, if you know Jesus, this world is not your home.

Feeling like a refugee
Like it don't belong to me
The colors flash across the sky

This air feels strange to me
Feeling like a tragedy
Take a deep breath and close my eyes
One last time

Storms on the wasteland
Dark clouds on the plains again
We were born into the fight

But I'm not sentimental
This skin and bones is a rental

And no one makes it out alive

Until I die I'll sing these songs
On the shores of Babylon
Still looking for a home
In a world where I belong

Where the weak are finally strong
Where the righteous right the wrongs
Still looking for a home
In a world where I belong

Feels like we're just waiting, waiting
While our hearts are just breaking, breaking
Feels like we're fighting against the tide

I wanna see the earth shaking
I wanna see a generation
Finally waking up inside

Until I die I'll sing these songs
On the shores of Babylon
Still looking for a home
In a world where I belong

Where the weak are finally strong
Where the righteous right the wrongs
Still looking for a home
In a world where I belong

In a world where I belong

This body's not my own
This world is not my own
But I can still hear the sound
Of my heart beating out
So let's go boys, play it loud

On the final day I die
I want to hold my head up high
I want to tell you that I tried
To live it like a song

And when I reach the other side
I want to look you in the eye
And know that I've arrived
In a world where I belong
Where I belong

I still believe we can live forever
You and I we begin forever now
Forever now
Forever
I still believe in us together
You and I we're here together now
Together now
Together now
Forever now
Forever now

 

things i've learned {first installment}

i've learned that...

1. her definition of "the end of the world" is not the same as mine.

2. a low grade fever can cause hours and hours of research on the internet...coupled with a rash, it could cause a near mental breakdown.

3. sending text messages about poop is acceptable...picture texts are borderline.

4. empty paper towel rolls, tags, my pocketbook and the package of wipes are the best toys.

5. doctors don't know everything.

6. her laugh changes everything.

7. mandarin oranges, blueberries, green beans and peas are all weird when seen post-digestion (see number 3)

8. i can sleep through a blaring alarm clock; but if her breathing changes slightly, i'm wide awake.

9. people who think dogs are the same as kids are delusional.

10. ironing clothes is overrated because we're just going to be wrinkled again in .25 seconds.

11. being with her all day is physically exhausting...but getting the chance to be out alone is almost just as exhausting emotionally.

12. teething bites (pun intended).

13. she thinks i'm the worst mom in the world because i force her to wear her seatbelt in her car seat, i wash her hands and face, and i change her clothes... worst. mom. in the world.

14. she's pretty resilient with a 5 second rebound.

15. taking care of my cranky baby in the middle of the night makes me feel like the most important person in the world.

9 months.

all i need.

"you are the trip i did not take;

you are the pearls i could not buy;

you are my blue Italian lake;

you are my piece of foreign sky.

you are my Honolulu moon;
you are the book i did not write;
you are my heart's unuttered tune;
you are a candle in my night.

you are the flower beneath the snow,
in my dark sky, a bit of blue,
answering Disapointment's blow
with 'i am happy! i have you!"

~unknown

we're tied.

one point for you,

Edy's Slow Churned Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.

how are you so delicious??

favorites.

note: eric's hands are not normally this filthy...but still a cute picture.

love that face!

gummy bear

soleil and grandpa

best friends!!

i love my kid!

perfect

she hates the sun...

on the move

admiring creation

love.

candid, cute pic

parents and big bro

the skinny.

i exercised for the first time tonight since having mykenzie...

it

was

glorious.

there's something so empowering about using your muscles.

there's something about sweat that makes me feel a little pretty.

there's something about pain

that makes me feel accomplished.

there's something about flushed skin

that makes me look forward to doing it all again.

unfortunately,

there's something about the medicine ball

that pulled a musle in my armpit.

maybe i should take it a bit slower since i'm completely and utterly out of shape.

right now,

i'm pumped.

it might not be true of me tomorrow...

and that's ok...

because today,

i fought the urge to sit on the couch eating

Edy's Slow Churned Mint Chocolate Chip

and

started....

that's all i did,

i started.

and in this minute

that's all i need.

and tomorrow,

i just need to continue...

which i don't think is the hard part

because now i remember how good i feel.

dear pesky last five pounds,

i've been feeding our relationship for too long.

you're about to burn...

and yeah, you'll probably return after my next kids...

and that's ok...

cuz it's totally worth it...

but don't think you're gonna stick around.

i'm stronger than that.



a wonderful visit.

my family loves to be together...even though being together invites a certain sense of chaos and noise...with seven adults and three kids, it's almost impossible for it not to be a little chaotic...my brother came and visited for a little over a week...we have been anticipating this visit for a month or so and couldn't be happier about getting to spend time with him! he hadn't met mykenzie or soleil and jayden needed some new memories with his uncle jared...it was a great week!! it's always sad when he has to leave again...especially because we never know when we'll see each other next, but i know we're all so thankful for this week to reconnect and be together...

there will be more to share from this week...

i got some cute pictures of the kids and also,

Soleil had her first birthday complete with a cute party!

counting down.

we finally got a gorgeous day to take pictures of lucas!



i'm looking forward to taking pictures of lucas' face!

 i wonder what he's gonna look like!

no doubt, adorable!

already...

can't believe she's already 8 months!

where is this time going??

i've taken every advice from every elderly lady in line at tjmax, to treasure every moment...and it's inexplainably still vanishing. i pray my horrible memory allows me to remember the way her nose scrunches up...or her fake laugh...or the way she thumps her heels onto the floor...or her "i really need to sleep right now" cry.

i hope my memory spares no details.

 (proof she cries every once in a while)

 (check out those teeth!!!)

his first par-taaay!

last weekend, we celebrated lucas and his soon arrival

(but not too soon since you still have some more baking time left...and i'm sure mommy could use that time on fun crafty things she has planned for you.)

here are a few pictures of the special day!