Our House...Our Home!

A home is a house we live in, where we rest and serve Him, until we make it Home!

This year my goals for our home are not physically aesthetic ones.  My goals in 2011 actually have nothing to do with paint colors or fabric swatches.  This year I am going to try and focus on what makes this house  a home! 
I have talked about my new career in past posts which is the glamorous job of being a stay-at-home mommy!  Though it is by far the most rewarding job and fulfills His plan and purpose for me more than teaching first grade ever did I have found myself constantly looking and thinking about newer, bigger, and greater since staying home.  I want a new house, I am ready for a bigger family, and I want to fulfill a greater purpose.  And in the past months I have heard the Lord saying "Whoa, slow down there girl!  Try and focus on the newer, the bigger, and the greater that you already have!"  So...that's what I am trying to do!

NEW-

My NEW job allows me to spend my days with this amazing human being!  Of course not all moments look like this one but I have been so convicted to find the joy in each NEW day!

BIGGER-

The Lord has blessed me with these two amazing guys!  And I have been so blown away at the fact that since I married Graham and since we had Wells my life is so much BIGGER than just me!  Together...we make a much BIGGER splash!  Together....we have a BIGGER party!  And together...we serve a BIGGER God! 

GREATER-

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Isn't it beyond reassuring to know that He has a GREATER plan for our lives!  Right now, my purpose on this earth is to serve Him, to serve Graham, and to serve Wells.  Though at times I think I want a GREATER purpose, my Father has it all planned out!  And my plan may be okay...but boy, I'd be willing to bet that His is far GREATER!

Happy New Year!  I hope that you will be reminded each day of just how NEW, BIG, and GREAT our God really is! 
Check out some other fun home goals at The Nesting Place! 

Baby Love, My Baby Love....

So, Graham and I had a very difficult talk tonight which involved me telling him about a new love in my life.  It was hard and painful for us both but Graham handled it well.  In fact, I don't think he was surprised at all.  I mean, who could really resist this precious face?


Tee Butler, my nephew...quite the cutie! ;)



Leader!

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 
Ephesians 5:22-23

I have never known the full meaning of the above verses until recently!  Graham came to me this year and told me that he felt called to leave his Landscaping company behind to pursue other opportunities.  And though the initial thought scared me to death I felt a strong peace.  You see, God is never surprised.  He is not surprised at the fact that I am now a stay-at-home mom.  He actually planned that!
We had begun a book in our homegroup by John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life and in that book I had read this quote: (spoken by John Piper's wife to John) "If that's where God leads you, that's where I'll go."  So, we prayed, and waited, and prayed, and waited, and waited, and our waiting became disobedience, and we began to question, and our questions led us to a place of...well, not a very good place.  Needless to say we arrived at a very pivotal point of WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!  It was time to move!  I looked at Graham, who was looking up at Him, and I said..."What next?"  I am so thankful to have a husband who isn't afraid to LEAD!  Thanks for leading us Graham!  We are pulling for you!

What We've Been Missing...

So, for quite some time we have heard the constant buzz.  We knew that something huge and hilarious was going on.  Graham and I buried our heads and just ignored the revolution!  I don't know if we were scared to be sucked into something new, or maybe we were refusing to jump on the bandwagon.  Regardless of the reason, we were really missing out on something great.  Well, thanks to my wonderful sister and brother-in-law, Missy and Archer, and a Season One box-set we are finally out of the dark!  And seriously, we now know what we've been missing!  We're hooked!  And frankly, our week is now a little brighter and filled with more laughter!  And, it's all because of these people:   

It Was So Merry!

And it was White!

It was such a merry Christmas!  The special day was full of love, laughter, and joy.  And the whole thing left me feeling...well, pretty darn blessed!  Christmas is by far one of my favorite times of the year and Christmas day is always so magical!  You can see why for yourself:

CeCe, Patterson, and Wells waiting to go in and see if Santa came!  I'm sure he did...these are some mighty sweet kiddos!

He came! 

Forget presents...Santa left cookies!  How are they buddy?

Playing with Mommy and Daddy!

Such a big boy on Christmas day!



We all love D.D. and GrandJohn!



Johnny, looking like such a natural with baby Tee!



CeCe and Aunt Mare ready to open some presents! 



I'm not sure how CeCe feels but Mommy and Daddy look pretty excited!  And Patterson's shirt...a witch on Christmas day, perfect choice! :)



My pretty mama!

The soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Westmoreland!  We are so excited about March 12!

I love this paper!

Wells sure is having fun!

Peek-a-boo!

 Our annual pajama pant picture!

This is so Pat Pat!  Please notice the snow in the background!  Patterson, a bathing suit is a perfect accessory for the snow!
  

If we were dreaming of a white Christmas, our dreams came true!  Christmas and snow sure do bring out the kids in all of us!  We had "snow" much fun playing!

 Happy Birthday Jesus!  With all of the fun, snow, and presents it's sometimes easy to forget to celebrate the reason.  But you, precious and holy one, are by far the greatest gift of all!