Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Heart Engaged

The new colors on the blog are what my new living room will be. I can't wait to start painting- TODAY! We close on our house today! Praise God!
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Another part of the blog decor :

"Africa, your sufferings have been the theme that has arrested and engaged my heart. Your sufferings no tongue can express, no language impart." William Wilberforce

Our hearts have been arrested by Africa for sometime. Before we moved, I was on a walk with Sweetpea and Bolt and I saw this shape on the ground that looked like Africa. I wanted to take a pic, but decided not to. A few days later Mr. Incredible spotted it and pointed out that it looked like Africa. I stopped and snapped a cell phone pic. I just felt like it was God reminding us of this country that needs Him and needs us.

I am so excited to get settled in this new house so we can start loving on Africa! I have been hinting about God moving for sometime now. I still will not go into details yet since we are still praying and waiting to see what God's will in this area is. BUT, you can know rest assured that it does have everything to do with the orphan, Africa, and as always, the Gospel.

(ps. The quote by Wilberforce is in regards to the slave trade. I still feel this quote every time I see the sufferings over there, so I hope he doesn't mind me adopting his quote). :) I posted about Wilberforce a few years ago, read that here.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

A Year Ago...

So February 20 marked a year since Sweetpea first went to the hospital for her hydrocephalus, (since she was at home with us). It kind of annoys me that I missed that date, but then again, we were hospitalized for two weeks so as long as I post about it in that 2 week period, right? lolHere is a pic from the first night in the ER. It was two weeks of a lot of firsts for Sweetpea and me. It made me the strong, fighter mommy that I am. I have a lot of respect for Drs and nurses, but I learned to fight when it is necessary. Here is a Full Hospital Recap.
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Sweetpea went on to need another surgery in June, (spending a week in the hospital- search the blog in June 2011 for those posts), and she was hospitalized for a few days in July, (not needing surgery).
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Click here to see God's provision during that hospitalization- so amazing! A must read!
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I am actually surprised she has not had a surgery since. For awhile there it felt like the hospitalizations would never end. With shunts, (a device in her brain to aide her hydrocephalus), they could need surgery everyday, or every 8 years! You never really know. So, for now, we are thankful that she has not had anything major occur in a considerable amount of time. :) We do know that one is failing and will need to be replaced, but they are waiting until she NEEDS it fixed. Mommy is not exactly thrilled that they are ok with Sweetpea not being 100%, but I have to trust in God.
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In His reliable, amazing fashion, God proved Romans 8:28 to be true. As much as I would have loved for Sweetpea to not have had to endure all of that, I am thankful that God was able to show us more of His character and faithfulness! :)

Monday, February 27, 2012

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Somber Sunday

God has been on the move in our home for awhile now. I am so excited to get the ball rolling now that we are about to settle into our new home! More news on what He is doing later. For now, somethings to chew on:
{pics via pinterest}
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Saturday, February 25, 2012

The Man and The Mouse

I have always loved Disney. Every since I was a little girl. Until the day I die.
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I have always loved the princesses! Recently, as you all know, I have fallen in love with the mouse/mice that started it all.
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Walt Disney's story is a story I recently became familiar with. It made me love him more! Over Christmas I was at the inlaws and got to watch a special on Walt.
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I can't remember the details off hand, but he sure fought. He was taken advantage of with his original creation, Oswald, a rabbit. He went into bankruptcy more than once to bring us Mickey and Snow White, and finally Sleeping Beauty actually saved Disney! He is the epitomy of the Cinderella story, (pun intended).
(I love this quote- sure makes you think of Romans 8:28) :)
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When he married his wife he wanted children right away, she did not. By the time she wanted kids they had a few miscarriages and decided to adopt. They went on to adopt 2 girls. :) I loved seeing his deep love for children before the adoption and of course after. :) Oh, and he built Disneyland because of his girls. :)
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Here is a sneak peek pic of our new kitchen. The checker board floor again. :) I actually dig the colors of this kitchen. When we sell it we will repaint the cabinets, but for now, I am embracing them. :) (yes, this is still their stuff, we have not moved in yet) :/
Blogger has made this post almost impossible! I don't know what it is doing. Anyway, here is the fabric I just bought from etsy, (store: SmileStars). I had planned on keeping the room black and white and accenting it all with pink. Then I saw this fabric! PERFECT! A little bit of Disney in my kitchen. Oh yeah!
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Friday, February 24, 2012

Hold Hands

Sweetpea has taken to holding hands. She'll say, "hold hands." So sweet! One problem: she likes to hold hands when we're sleeping-what's gonna happen when she's back in her own crib?

I'm going to buy her a small Minnie that she can sleep with to make the transition easier. :)


Thursday, February 23, 2012

Close Date House Preview

OUR CLOSE DATE HAS BEEN POSTPONED. UGH!
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I have been dreaming about this house since we found it. Dreaming about the decor ideas. Needless to say I have it all planned out and ready to go. So, postponing the close date just makes me have to wait longer to decorate. I assume there are some of you readers out there know my pain. ;)
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The house was a very low price. We bought it so we could pay it off quickly. :) We picked this one over other houses for two specific reasons. It had two large extra rooms. One will be the playroom, the second one will be the homeschool room. :)
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Here are pics of the homeschool room. (it is still filled with all the former owner's stuff) It will be the last room I decorate since it will not be in use right away, but I am very excited to decorate it! :)
After some new paint, the black wall will have a bulletin board on it that will be redecorated every few weeks like in a real classsroom, and it will have an art wall to display their art work. The wall to the right will have a dry erase board and mommy's teacher desk. :)
To the right of the fire place will be the kids' desks. The left of the fireplace will be the library. In front of the fireplace will be nothing. That space can be used for floor space- like for large art projects, or if they decide they want to learn on the floor for one lesson, (wasn't that always so exciting in school?). lol And of course we want access to the fireplace. :) I may make some floor cushions for this space too.
I think I will be using this built in to store in progress projects. Oh, and I am loving the floors. :)
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As I said last week, decorating brings me so much joy! :) I can't wait to show you pics of the house once I get my hands on it! :)

New Love, True Love

We are completely smitten with Minnie! I have purchased everything I posted about yesterday, (except for the furniture, I have to save up for that). :)
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Today we went shopping, and we went to Walmart to buy the Minnie pillow pet, (It is the cheapest there. Though it is sold out on their website, there are plenty in both the Walmarts I have been to recently).
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When I picked up Minne, Sweetpea put down her food to cuddle her! She cuddled Minnie all the way to the check out. After the cashier scanned her, she handed her back to Sweetpea who promptly returned to cuddling her. She cuddled her all the way to the car. She cuddled her in her carseat. She is in love.
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If you'd believe it, I had planned on not buying this for her. She received a good sized stuffed Minnie for her birthday, (before we were Minnie fans), so I thought the pillow pet was overkill, despite how cute it was. After we fell in love, I decided to buy it for her. Needless to say, looking at the below cell phone pic, it was worth every penny!
Miss Beauty cuddling Miss Mouse while I unloaded the bags. :) SOOO CUTE!!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

New Love

Ok, so last week I did a post about the little things that bring me joy.
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Well, I spoke too soon.
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I have fallen in love with Minnie Mouse.
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I saw this pillow pet and began to fall in love. (pillow pets are kinda lame, but come on, how cute?!)
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When my sister visted, she brought money from my mom who said to buy Sweetpea something special. We bought her some dress up costumes for her playroom. :) Tiana, Belle, and then I saw a Minnie Mouse costume. I was offically in love, I HAD to get the Minnie costume!
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It sent me into full blown love with Minnie and then I found these:
Are these not the cutest things you have ever seen? I will be purchasing these for Sweetpea's playroom!
I also found this sweet rug to go with the set!
Lastly I found these pjs on sale for Sweetpea, and I have to get the matching set for me! :) Minnie and leopard?! AHHH!


I tried to link these, but Blogger is being a pain. Search them on Walmart, Target, or Toy R Us.com.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Mini Photographer

Sweetpea loves phones. And cameras. She had my phone yesterday, turned on the camera, and took this pic. :)


Monday, February 20, 2012

Mom in the Shot Monday

Mommy looks rough, but ya know. :)


Sunday, February 19, 2012

Sneak Peek Sunday

My sister leaves today-bummer! But, we close this Thursday!

Here is a sneak peek of some of the decor for our new living room. :)

SO exited!


Saturday, February 18, 2012

Friday, February 17, 2012

Fun Friday

My sister comes in town today, and in 6 days we close in our house! Today is a good day. :)

Sweetpea can make fun out of so many silly things-like brushing her teeth, (pic from a few weeks ago).


Thursday, February 16, 2012

Blue

I was sitting RIGHT next to Sweetpea as she colored yesterday. I looked over and...
The pic in the middle is a pic from the book, "Purple, Green and Yellow," By Robert Munsch. It is one of my favorites! I actually do not have it in our library- after this, I will be rectifying that! lol


Thankfully markers are non toxic! :) These two pics will be framed in the craft room of our home. :)

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Simple Things

My truest joy is from the Lord. I can say this without the smallest inkling of facetiousness because my joy has been tested, and it never wavered. Now, I have experienced true pain and sadness, but in the depths of that sadness, I still had joy in Christ.
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Obviously, Mr. Incredible, Sweetpea Beauty and Bolt are my biggest joys on this earth! I am so grateful to have them in my life!
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This post is about the simple things in life that bring me the most simple joy. Not the major things, (like Jesus and my fam), but the simple things.
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1. Harry Potter & Disney Princesses (tied for first- I NEED to go to Disney World stat)!
{imagine my joy when I found this gem on pinterest} ;)
2. Snow :)
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3. Music
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4. Pictures (having them displayed in my home, taking them, looking back through albums, etc)
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5. Decorating
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6. Crafts
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7. Throwing Parties
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8. all things Boston, (the city and the Red Sox)
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9. Starfish (my symbol for adoption/orphans) and lobsters (symbol of our love- remember FRIENDS)? :)
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10. Other Disney :)
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{I had no intention of doing a top 10, and these were very hard to put in order. These are unarguably my favorites, but the order may be a little off lol}

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Monday, February 13, 2012

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

The snow yesterday was a great reminder to enjoy today! I can't wait for Briar Rose to join our family, but I know I will miss my one on one time with Sweetpea. Hence, the new header. :) The season of Sweetpea as an only child is in it's fall, so we are enjoying every minute of it until the season of Sisters begins. :)
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Check out the snow post below!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Snowy Sunday, Sweetpea Still Sick

I cannot tell you how special snow is to me! I guess I can show you a bit, here, here, and here. It is down right magical, and I always see it as a gift from God.
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This also happened to be Sweetpea's first snow experience! I could burst with joy!
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Obviously Sweetpea's sickness at the moment would not stop us from enjoying the snow! We bundled her up, and she had a blast!
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Snow has healing powers of sorts, she light up more than she had in days! She is back to sleeping and feeling badly, but she had a good sicky recess in the snow! :)
Kissy lips. :) Notice the plants- snowing in the desert :)
Mama with her babies :) When Mr. Incredible took this he proclaimed he would make this his profile pic on facebook. :) Warms my heart- his love for us. :)
Ignore my lovely eyes, no sleep for this mama with a sick baby!



notice the snow falling? and her sock gloves? lol (I couldn't find her actual gloves in enough time so I improvised) :)


She was saying, "COOOLD!"


She was having a blast! What did I tell you about those healing powers? ;)

Everytime it snows, I write the year on the windshield, (now that we live in an area where it regularly snows, I will have to start dating it further) :)


Oh, be still my heart!
See the snow falling?
Sweet angel

Our "home" for the last month. You can kinda see the snow falling...
My van... like the decals I made? :)
Out of our windows...the snow is thicker now :)

A quick shot of our little town :)