As Zachary's 5th Birthday approaches....

.......I have been reflecting on what a precious gift he is.  It's been a long (yet somehow quick) 5 years, full of many things, from stress and frustration ... to joy and incredible memories!   I am so thankful God has richly blessed me with the opportunity to be his mommy!  Out of all the women in the entire world...HE chose ME!  WOW!  

Here's my Z over the past 5 years of his life with us...
*He LOVES green...so I decided to post in green!*

Our Gift

Zachary Tyler

March 15th

7:05am

6lb 12oz.

 LOOK...at those eyes!!!!

He can bring a smile to anyone's face! 

Z and his blankie!

SO Sweet! 

 He LOVES to swim!  Such a fish...

He loves nothing more than a "jet bath" in mommy's bath!

He also loves to cook with mommy!!

He love to play outside...and motorcycles too!

That boy just melts my heart!

Whenever you come over...this is how you will find him on many days!  Clothing-less!

You can guess.....there's never a dull moment with Zachary around!  He is full of life, fun and laughter!! 

1st Birthday boy! 

He's got a SMILE on him!!!!

again....LOVES being outside!  He's a super sledder!

and QUITE curious and dangerous...this helmet should pretty much stay on his head most days! :)

 Our surprise trip to Omaha...he found a new favorite...the hot tub!

LOVE that he can lighten things up!  This is a FAVORITE of mine!  He is SO fun!!

What a DOLL!  He was SUCH a cute baby!

Truly...he is just SOOO much fun!!  I am thrilled that I get to teach him about his Creator...and that he is so interested!  He has a very special place in our family...it would not be the same with out him!

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Over the past few weeks I have asked him..."what do you want for your birthday?"  As the words came out of my mouth...I just felt a sense of disappointment in myself.  


Why am I celebrating his birth with THINGS?!  


Why is that all we ask kids...what they WANT?!  They want EVERYTHING! 


 I have been convicted to stop asking that and just focus on what we can do TOGETHER as a family to celebrate the life God has given him....his healthy, his heart, and just who he is!  I am gathering thoughts and ideas of things we can just do together to encourage him as he starts a new year in his life!  


I love doing birthday WEEKS instead of having a birthDAY!  We can celebrate over the week of his birthday..makes it even more special!  I'm sure Dominic will have some excellent ideas!  We will definitely be spending time on our knees, praising His Maker, for the incredible gift of him! 


I'm so glad we have hope in Jesus Christ...so that we don't have to have our hope in the "stuff" of life...that can never meet our needs permanently and brings disappointment time and time again!    Please join me in prayer for Zachary as his birthday arrives....that he would have a passion to seek and follow Christ and become a boy/man after God's own heart!

Alone Time

So I had a chance today to get out by myself for a little bit with no one but myself.  Mark and Q were sick so they stayed at home while I dropped the boys off with my sister and went to Charming Charlie's and Target.  It was STRANGE...I am not sure I could really say that I truly enjoyed it but it was nice.  I just felt lost ... as if I didn't really know what to do with no one with me.  I just wandered around looking at stuff.

I got Q some socks and NutriGrain bars, Mark some Mucinex, a clearance pair of panties for myself... $2.10.  I looked at and tried on 2 cute pajama outfits but didn't get either...I couldn't bring myself to spend money on them.  Why is it so easy to buy the boys a pair of pajamas....yet I can't bring myself to spend the money on something for myself...and I need it more than them?!?!  It frustrates me that I'm like that.  I got home and wished I had bought them.

Anyways...it was just weird being out alone.  Maybe I just need to have more practice?!??  Yea, I think that may be the case!!! :)  Awesome part of my day...got to spend some sweet time with my sister, Jenn!

Do I?

I have felt nudged to start a blog, so I am beginning this blogging journey mainly as a way to air out the days thoughts but also to share with you what God is doing in my life and be an encouragement to others.


The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. 
Zephaniah 3:17


This verse has come to me twice today so it must mean that God wants me to hear it.   I definitely need a reminder that God delights in me, as I have always found it hard to believe that anyone would find me to be worthy of delight, especially God!  How silly though for me to think that ... He is my Creator and Sustainer...why would a creator not delight in his creation?!  


As I read, re-read, and read again this verse...many questions come to my mind.  Do I truly believe that God is with me?  Do I really believe He is mighty to save?  Do I truly believe He loves me, delights in me and rejoices over me with singing?   These may seem like totally easy questions to answer...but when we really look deep in our hearts, we may not always be able to answer yes to them.  For me, today...these are hard to answer a yes with.  I feel discouraged and broken...but I totally know that, in His Word, is where I need to be...seeking Him is my only way out of this pit!  


I often feel like a failure as a mother, a wife and a child of God ... on so many days ... but I know this is a journey.  Sanctification is a process in which I must be patient and obedient.  I feel Him drawing me to come closer to Him and I desire to follow His leadings.