Welcome Baby Liam!

On behalf of my little family, I would like to congratulate my sister-in-law and her husband on their new little boy, Liam (my husband's step-sister by way of his dad)! We are so happy to welcome your precious baby into the family! I hope to get to meet him for Easter!


With all our love,
Uncle Josh, Aunt Amy, and Bailey!

The Sweetest Little Thing

Addi is dainty and sweet and loves to wear dresses! She likes church dresses, play dresses, dress-up dresses, princess dresses, long dresses, summer dresses, any dresses! She has a soft little heart and she's smart and kind and graceful. She was born with pretty red hair (her momma says brown) that turned into gold, and pretty pink lips that stayed pretty and pink, she was so tiny and adorable and sure didn't out grow that! When she was a baby Grandma Cheryl said she looked like me (when I was a baby) but as she's gotten to be a big girl she looks so much like her beautiful cousin Emilie. I think of it almost every time I look at her. She fell in love with her Uncle Josh from the moment she laid eyes on him. If he was in the room, forget about holding her. She only had eyes for him (or Mom and Dad).
I love to hear her voice and the things she talks about and to hear her sing. I love the way she says my name, she says the sound of the letter "A" like in Apple and I will never get tired of it. I love to watch her play alone or whisper and giggle with her sister. I love to read her stories and snuggle with her. I love love love her sweetness.
I am so proud of these children that my brother and his beautiful wife have brought into our family.
I am so happy to love you Addisyn. Happy 5th Birthday!

Bailey

When I met my darling step-son he was about 2 years old I think. The little stinker mauled my glasses and I had to get a new pair. Then next time I met him he was 5 years old and I hoped I would love him and that he would at least like me a little.
I was meeting him and his dad at my favorite state park and was running late. I hadn't been feeling well but didn't want to miss the fun, so I put the pedal to the metal and zoomed the hour and a half drive to the park.
When I pulled into the parking space beside them, there was this little brown head and these two blue eyes peeking out the window at me. I hopped out of my car and the boys climbed out of theirs and then it hit me. The same thing that EVERYONE says when they meet any combination of my husband, his dad, or Bailey; Oh my gosh you look just like your dad/grandpa/son. I said it. The three of them are almost identical, except that they keep getting better looking. haha.
So once I got over the shock of seeing Josh as a child, we headed down the path and up to a nice big hike. Before we were half way up Bailey and I realized we were in love. We held hands, snuggled up at dinner, and I even got a kiss goodnight. From that very first moment, I have never wanted to let him go.
Happy 11th Birthday Bailey Scott. I'll try not to slobber all over you while you're going through these cool guy years, but I really love you.

In Preparation for Divorce Awarness Month (May)

May is Divorce Awareness Month and I want to start talking about family right now.

Family is not something you can opt out of. If you have a family it’s your full-time, lifelong, never-ending job. If you love your family, or hate your family, it doesn’t matter. Nobody gets to chose who they are born to, who their siblings are, or even who their extended family is. You might have gotten stuck with the entire population of Loserville but they are yours forever. Learn to love them, even if you don’t like them. Every person has something nice about them; make it your hobby to find it. Learn to make family events a time that everyone can enjoy without having to hear one another’s opinion about one another.

Someone said once that some things just have to be said, and they believed they were the right person for the job. I disagree. Not everything has to be said, talked about, or hashed out, especially at family events, functions, or holiday gatherings.

In the same way that you didn’t get to choose your family, they also didn’t get to chose you. They might not be thanking God everyday that you are a part of the family. Take a moment to be amazed. Now wipe your eyes and suck in your lip. This holds especially true with in-laws. In-laws are tricky, most of us have them and so most of us are them. You may be madly in love with your spouse but rather out of love with his/her family. That’s okay. You’ll just have to pretend for the rest of your life. I’m not kidding. You are probably not the person your mother-in-law prayed her baby would marry. If you are, then you’re lucky, and so is she. We have many differing opinions about child rearing in my family. I am responsible to discuss my own only with my husband. I don’t get to offer my opinions to my siblings or my husband’s siblings, and neither would I want to be told how to raise my own perfect little darlings. If you are asked for advice, give it gently and cautiously and don’t assume that because they asked for it, your advice will be regarded.
Family is not a choice. Your only choice is what to make of it.


***This is in no way a reflection of or directed at any member my wonderful set of in-laws. I love each and every stinkin' one of you.

Meet Chloe!

Chloe is a boxer/collie mix and she moved in about 4 days ago. She's settling right in and we're loving' her!

As you can see she like to dig around and get into stuff. It's so cute to watch that I can't seem to stop her...

See what I mean?

Happy Spring!

Thank God for beautiful weather!
I love the snow, I love the rain, I love the Autumn's falling leaves! Most of all, even more than Fall, I just love the Springtime breeze!
I just made that up. I know.

April Fools!

Wish I had a good one for ya!

Instead, I'll tell you my most recent favorite scripture verse:

1 Cor. 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

So, to not take this out of context, here's the rest (1 Cor. 1:18-25), and then some commentary:
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Here's the commentary. It's by J.P. Holding and I came across it online here.

If you'd be interested in putting in a little more reading on this subject, click here for a link to another blogger's words. It's worth it.

Leave your comment below and tell me about your favorite scripture verse or April Fool's Day trick!