Journaling with Sadie

I love to journal. I try to spend a portion of every day writing something. Writing helps me make sense of life. It makes me sane. It gives me a chance to go back, reread and see the incredible things that God has done in my life. It causes me to be more thankful.

I usually do a majority of my writing during rest time. Rest time is a beautiful time at our house. Everyone is quiet for an hour. Ahhh.... peace. While Cole naps upstairs, Sadie stakes out the chair and a half with books and a blankey while I claim the sofa with my Bible, books and journal.

Recently Sadie has become interested in my rest time routine and has wanted to read her Bible, too. She's also wanted to journal. It's one of those moments in life when you jump on the opportunity to teach... here's what we worked on. :) Obviously I do not draw pictures in my journal on a daily basis (maybe I should, it's quite colorful)... but a preschooler gets to start with the wonderful world of drawings and simple sentences.

I modeled for her things I was thankful for...

When I was done, she told me I forgot something and quickly grabbed a brown crayon. Do you see what she added??? CHOCOLATE. Does that girl know me or what??!!

Next, I had her write her own page and I wrote the words she said next to each illustration. Last, we looked up a Bible verse about God's greatness.

Psalm 145:2 - "Great is the Lord and most worth of praise his greatness no one can fathom."

Easy peasy... but it's made an impact.... she keeps wanting to go back and reread and enjoy her journaling... and hopefully having a thankful heart as she does.

Taking our Pic in the Downtown Door Reflection

... because we are just that fun!

Our Baby Girl is FOUR!

Sweet Sadie Noel, born July 21, 2006 at 8:37AM. I will never forget the moments we rejoiced over her birth that day... bliss.


Sadie's 1st Birthday!

Sadie turns 2!

Happy 3rd Birthday...

And when you are FOUR... you party in your princess gear!


Praying that you grow in "wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52) We love you!

Do you feel the love???

This is about how well my children get along these days! Pray for me! ;)

Inspector Gadget

Do you see what I see???

30 B4 30

Here is a list of 30 things that I am hoping to do before my 30th Birthday! I had no idea how hard it would be to come up with 30 things to do... here's the list nonetheless!!!

1. Learn to make homemade lemonade.
2. Teach Sadie to tie her shoes.
3. Complete reading through the Bible.
4. Hike a new park we've discovered and Coronado Heights.
5. Take the kids fishing.
6. Take Eric on a surprise date.
7. Get photo albums updated - this could take an eternity.
8. Bake cinnamon rolls like Cooke.
9. Save for my 30th Birthday cruise getaway with Eric.
10. Get pictures secured in Cole's baby book.
11. Invite 30 people to CrossPoint.
12. Take a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge.
13. Get 6 hours of college credit to renew my teaching certificate.
14. Read 5 books every season.
15. Plant perennials at our new home - Lord let us be in our new home by the time I'm 30!
16. Get a good picture of a Kansas sunset.
17. Meditate/Memorize 5 segments of scripture:
Daniel 2:20-23
Psalm 131
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Isaiah 30:18
18. Make plans to travel to CO to be with Brady, Janelle and Katelyn in December or January.
19. Take 20 minutes every month to just be still. (This is probably going to be the hardest thing on my list.)
20. Learn to make homemade bread without using the bread machine.
21. Take cookies to our neighbors.
22. Play a board game I've never played before.
23. Search Goodwill for a glass cake cover for my cake plate.
24. Find the address of where my grandpa grew up and then find the house.
25. Take treats to the fire station and police station.
26. Research photography and picture editing.
27. Build a snowman with the kids (normally I make Eric do this because I HATE the cold).
28. Have family pictures taken.
29. Get a good photo of a church I've been wanting to take pictures of off of the highway.
30. Send two packages to our World Vision child, Vilma, this year.

When did she learn to draw like this???

Love watching a developing artist! :) All of a sudden Sadie's pics make sense... I love how happy they all are too! :)

Welcome to the World, Katelyn Reese

The Lord heard our prayers! Little Katelyn Reese was born July 2, 2010 to my brother and sweet sister-in-law. Weighing in at 7 pounds 7 ounces, 20 inches long... she is completely precious. She is truly a miracle from the Lord and we are so thankful for this little life.