Eleven years of life, and motherhood...........

Today was my firstborn son's 11th birthday! Yow! Eleven years of life for him, and eleven wonderful years of being a mommy for me!! I can still remember what is was like to be pregnant for the first time. The first flutters in my tummy that signified his life truly was being created in me! So amazing! I clearly remember my water breaking, then the call to my dear friend Melissa who was my coach, the drive with my mom to the hospital, the nurses telling me I was 8cm dilated as soon as I arrived at the hospital, then the panic since he was breech and they quickly worked to drug me to stop labor, the fear I felt as I did not want surgery, the needle in my back, then shortly after hearing, "It's a boy!" and just like that I was a mommy and my beautiful son became a very real part of my life. I simply can't imagine my life without him!! 

Pictures from top to bottom; Caleb asked for a watch (I liked this picture because it has his cast in it and his curious brother couldn't keep his hands off the goods!), Caleb eyeing up his cake with Jake (our neighbor who practically lives with us) and Christian, and the lovely snowflakes Colby decorated the window with, me singing to Caleb as he gets ready to blow out his PINK candles (he was a good sport, I realized I had no candles left right as it was time to put them in the cake, all I had left were the pink ones from the pack - GEE I wonder why?!!!), Caleb and his cake that Colby decorated, Me and my four wild and crazy boys in front of the yet to be decorated Christmas tree. Below; Caleb with his new Bakugan (apparently all the rage these days!), my sweet baby Christian, and last but not least this was supposed to be see no evil (Christian) hear no evil (Clark) and speak no evil (Colby, 'cept he was supposed to be covering his mouth). 

Celebrating 4!!

Today was my sweet Clark's 4th birthday! 

He received a new bike helmet, and insisted on wearing it to camp. 

When I picked him up, his counselor said, he had worn it all day. 

He is funny like that!! 

On celebrating 2!!!

My baby, Christian, turned 2 on Sunday!! I simply adore him so! He is one of the greatest joys of my heart! 

Psalm 127: 3-4

³ Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,

         The fruit of the womb is a reward.

 ⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

         So are the children of one’s youth.

Sharing some fun........

A little birthday fun and some good ole' Southern Red Velvet Cake...........

I didn't have my camera, so we used photo booth on the laptop. Today we celebrated my husband Keith's birthday. Months ago, out of the blue, he told me he wanted Red Velvet Cake for his birthday. I was quite surprised at this request, but tucked into the back of my mind. In a recent email to Jamie, she mentioned Red Velvet Cake was her favorite and that she'd be happy to share her recipe. Of course I was honored. So this post is for her, and for fun and to share a piece of our family fun with my fellow blog family!! 

(By the way, it's not easy taking good photos on your laptop...........I had fun anyway!)

Joy for others......

Yesterday was my birthday. I believe it was the first year ever, maybe, that I just woke up really happy to be alive and enjoying this life God has granted me. I don't say that to sound morbid or pathetic, but every other year I was under the law, under condemnation and I didn't even realize it! So the best gift I received this year was to live in the joy of my freedom in Christ. Not only my freedom, but joy for others freedom as well.
I was blessed many times over to receive well birthday wishes and love from many friends near and far. One of the most unexpected blessings was a call from an old friend that I rarely talk to. I was filled with love and joy the whole conversation, and I think my heart sang all night long in my dreams. During this conversation I came to learn that my friend has come to live in freedom as well. She has come to understand God's grace in a powerful way! She said her family is having the most fun they have ever had!! That just makes me smile and brings me satisfaction I can't explain. She shared how the Holy Spirit gave her revelation on how we are no longer under the law, or under the Old Covenant. God wants us to look at Jesus, that's it!!!!
I share this little tale because this is what I long for, to see others come into their freedom in Christ and truly live in the joy of their salvation. His yoke is easy and His burden is light, it really easy!!

This love and joy I have for my friend has deepened unconsciously. I truly believe Christ's love is coming out through me for her! This is how it should be! We live in pure freedom, made available to us, through God's awesome grace and Jesus' poured out love! We begin to love, because He first loved us, and because it's His life in us that comes to life through us. Displaying Christ like love and attitudes toward others. This explains my joy and the fact it is so intense! Because, Christ in me, is bursting out with delight in His precious daughter, that He loves! Wow, it's truly amazing!

My response reminded me of the verse in the series Rob Rufus is currently doing on Attracting the Empowering Grace of God. He has read from Philippians 4:1 and expounded on this part of the verse "Therefore my beloved brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown......." I really believe our hearts begin to expand and deepen for others in a way, in the natural it could not be possible. But, in the supernatural, new life we have been given, where we are hid in Christ, we begin to love and long for our beloved brethren, our joy and our crown. This is how the Father sees us, and this is how we begin to see others!! With much joy, a joy inexpressible!!!
Many blessings, and much abundant joy to all who read here!!!