I couldn't have said it better myself...so I won't....

I have been reading this blog a lot lately and I guess it just resonates with me because of the fact that we are having another child. Please read her beautifully written blog post "Could it be?"

I love the idea that our home is "holy ground"...beautiful.

I will try to be back more often. I miss blogging so much!!!

Love,
Jules

Love is not a fight...

Love is not a place
To come and go as we please
It's a house we enter in
And then commit to never leave

Lock the door behind you
Throw away the key
We'll work it out together
Let it bring us to our knees

Love is a shelter in the raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
If we try to leave, may God send His angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for

Warren Barfield - Love is Not a Fight

Edifying words...

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29


May I carry this in my heart and on my tongue all through the day!! 

~Love,

Julie

thoughts on marriage from Sally Clarkson....

As you know, I am a huge fan of Sally Clarkson...please take a minute and read what she has to say on marriage, here...you will be blessed.




"Children, then, are an accountability factor in staying faithful. We have to choose to not give children a legacy of compromise, disloyalty, brokenness. Children always feel somewhere deep inside that it is their fault when parents are not loyal to each other. The way a husband and wife treat each other has a direct correlation on how a child builds his internal sense of his own being deep inside. It is very difficult to teach your children to follow the ten commandments (You shall not steal--even though I did by robbing someone else of their purity--you shall not lie--even though I did by deceiving my husband---honor God--even though I didn't when I broke my vows before Him. --very difficult to teach your children to have integrity if you choose not to have integrity in the very place that is to be the foundation where they see truth lived out. "

~Love~
Julie

Of things hoped for....

A blog I try to read often because it is such an encouraging blog for mothers to read is this one. She has written a wonderful series on Biblical Motherhood and this post is just one in that series. I love the way she describes motherhood and leaving her legacy. I love the way she describes family, just as it should be, in my humble opinion. Have you ever considered just how you will treat your children's future spouses? Do you pray and prepare for them, even now?

She gave me some things to think about, that's for sure! Why don't you go on over and read for a bit? It will be time well spent. I promise!

more of my rambling...........;)

I ran 1 mile today and walked a mile and a half. Pretty good for not running for a few years! I have been a little busy having babies! :) It felt so good to run and today was such a gorgeous day to run! 74 degrees and windy with a touch of rain in the air.......aaaahhhhhhh....... I had forgotten how much I love to run and just be alone, just me, the road and God.

I don't know how many miles I am going to be able to get since I am home all day with the kids and I don't have babysitting close by. Charlie usually doesn't get home until late so that's out. Hopefully, Mom will watch them a couple of days a week for an hour so I can run and the other days we will just walk and I will do some walking videos in the house with the girls. :) That's always fun! They love to exercise with Mama! And, I can always get in some running time on Saturdays and Sundays and I am thinking that will be enough for me! I am not in this for the miles. I just want to be healthy for myself and my family. I want to feel better and be the best wife and mother I can be. That's why I run.

I bought Claire's stuff for her Princess party this weekend. Hopefully, I wil get invitations mailed out this weekend. We also have been invited to a valentine's party on Saturday so I got everything for that, too. I am making Red Velvet cupcakes with cream cheese or buttercream icing (can't decide yet) and placing candy hearts on top. She picked out Princess valentines for the girls and Car valentines for the boys. They got pencils with their Valentines. I thought that was a cute idea.

Tomorrow we are making supper and baking cookies for a family that goes to our church. Miss Tammie's mama is sick so we are going to make her feel better. They don't know yet, it's a surprise! Hopefully, I can get it done. If not tomorrow, I will take it Tuesday. Also, we are going to make a Valentine's garland and work on our letter of the week (A). shape: square number: 1 and nursery rhyme: Hey Diddle Diddle, our theme is Cows and our vocabulary word is calf. We are reviewing or that's the plan anyway!! We are working on grasping objects with Drew and he's getting pretty good at it! Oh my goodness, he is growing SO fast!!

Friday night we all curled up in blankets and watched "Facing the Giants". That is such a favorite around here. We could watch it again and again. :)

Charlie heads back to work tomorrow and I am not ready for that at all. Check out the "My Husband Rocks" t-shirts on my sidebar. I am going to order one and wear it with pride. He definitely deserves it. I have such an amazing husband. Oh Lord, you have blessed me more than I EVER deserve and I thank you!!!

Well, I have to go. Just wanted to touch base since I have been gone all week. I probably won't get to blog much this week, either. I have so many things to do and such a busy week planned with the kids and Charlie.

Talk to you soon, though!! Have a blessed week!!

Love,
Julie

another wild post....

Didn't get to go to church services today. Lily was sick. She's better now. I hate it when my kids are sick. I wish I could take their place every time. Poor babies. :(

Got my running shoes yesterday. Nikes. Silver & kind of a mauve purple. I will have to take a picture. I know a lot of people don't like Nikes for running but I do. These fit the best out of all the options I looked at. Also, I wore Nikes for 7 years playing basketball and they never really hurt my feet. Maybe I won't like them so much after I put some miles on them but for now, they are great!! :) Also, a GREAT price!! Charlie & I both got shoes for what I would have paid regular price for mine!! I LOVE a great deal!

Still haven't found the perfect computer. Still looking. I am such a tightwad. I also have to buy a new printer so I am just cringing at the prices. Laugh if you want. I am serious. This is why my computer is ancient and about to kick the bucket on me. I just hate to buy anything expensive. See above on running shoes. Haha. :)

So, it's a lazy Sunday. I am going to head out in a little bit and get Valentine's for the kids Valentine's party next week and stuff to make them a box.(SO excited about this!!!) I also need to get their Valentine's presents from Mama & Daddy and Charlie's gift. Also, I have to get final things for Claire's birthday party (her birthday is the 15th.) So, I have A LOT to do today!!

Going to do some baking and cleaning. Already did 6 loads of laundry and 2 loads of dishes. Cleaned our bathroom and dusted from the wood stove soot. Argh..... well, hey, it's heat and it's free!!! (we cut our own firewood off of our property)

So, now I am off to go running while the kids nap... I don't know how much I will be blogging this week. Kinda busy!! Lots to do and plan!! Family: I am mailing birthday invitations so you should get them sometime early this week. Sorry it's so late! But, that's how we roll around here. :)

Have a great week, everyone and remember, to keep up the Husband Encouragement Challenge!!! Also, the 31 Days of Praying for your husband are great, as well!! Do these along with the Love Dare and you will be knocking Satan out right and left!! :)

(If you need information on any of the challenges or the love dare just email me at mama2clairelilydrew (at) gmail (dot) com. using the symbols, of course, not the words! I will be SO glad to help you in any way!!)

Love,
Julie

*LOVE, LOVE this on the bottom of my shoes:

"I run like a girl; try to keep up" ;)

sweet note ....

Well, I am supposed to NOT be blogging but I just HAD to share with ya'll this sweet note I got in my mailbox today! (I will try to take a picture of it and post it later). It's the prettiest card with dainty little flowers and this sweet poem from our precious friend & cousin, Melissa!! What a wonderful surprise and encouragement for me! :)

"A person can hear, but a friend listens for the meaning,
A person can look, but a friend sees the heart,
A person can know, but a friend understands your dreams,

Thanks for listening, seeing & understanding!
Thanks for being my friend!"

Well, you're welcome & Thanks so much for being such a wonderful friend, sweetie! LOVE YOU, TOO!!! :)

And, here are the lyrics to the song included in the card (I love music and girl, you know that! You just spoke right to my heart today!)

I Was Made To Praise You by Chris Christensen

"I was made to praise you
I was made to glorify Your name
In every circumstance
To find a chance to thank You
I was made to Love You
I was made to worship at Your feet
And to obey You, Lord
I was made for You"

LOVE those words; so much truth in them. :)

Thanks, Melissa, precious friend, for making my day!!