Daily Reminders

Sometimes we need a little reminder concerning what life is all about. Its not about my career, what movie to see next, what new car I would like to have..... Its living for the Lord.  No matter how hard I try to make that my first priority, something always seems to take over that position.

A wonderful company, Dayspring, has given me the opportunity to receive a few of their products in return for a review.  All opinions state are my own!

The first is an amazingly constructed vase with the word  BEAUTIFUL" down one back and Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time." down the front.  What a reminder each day of what beautiful is through God's eyes.

My favorite product I received was a set of six coasters. Each coaster reminds of of how blessed we each truly are and how much He loves us. "Beloved God chose you from the beginning." 2 Thessalonians 2:13. " In all things God works for the good of those who love him and all are called according to their purpose. " Romans 8:28

What a reassurance I receive when I sit my drink down!

These both come from the Redeemed collection found at Dayspring.  I love this collection so much I would like to giveway a product!  The retail value of the mirror is$ 23.99.  The winner will only be responsible for shipping ($6) To enter, please become a follower of my blog and a winner will be chosen by random.org.  The giveaway begins April 16 and ends April 20! The winner will be contacted with certificate to redeem for the mirror.  Good luck and thanks for reading!

   

Fierce Beauty by Kim Meeder

What matters most to you? Your career? Your family? How you look? This powerful book will make you look at your priorities to determine what you really value in life!It was a real eye opener to me!

Through Kim sharing instances in her life in which she has seemed to hit rock bottom or has someone close hit rock bottom, we as readers stand in awe at the grace of God and how he can pull us from any situation if we set our focus and our lives on Him.  A answer to the brokeness that we feel when faced with trials and tribulations is beautifully revealed throughout this book. 

We often chase after this world's definition of beauty and value and reject geniune worth offered by our Lord.  Will we live in fantasies of our own creations or choose God's best purpose for our lives?
I recommend this book to any woman who is struggling in her life and is searching for a peace that only He can provide.  A truly amazing book!

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing group for this review.

Capturing Bree

Its so very amazing how fast our little girl is growing up! She turned 31 months old yesterday.  It is mind blowing to think that in just 5 short months she will be 3!!! Brady and I try to video tape and take pictures as much as possible to capture the moments that are passing by much too quickly but I also am coming up with some other (hopefully creative) ideas to do so! For each of her future birthdays, we are going to interview her with 10-20 questions about her "favorites." It will be awesome to see just how much her answers change from year to year.  So I wanted to start now and with some of the questions to see how she answers and then again at her third birthday we will ask again and see if the answers are different.  Here is our interview!


Bree's Favorites:


Most beautfiul color: Blue
Greatest toy: "Hampstoms"  translation: Zhu Zhu Pet Hamster
Most delicious fruit: Blueberries
Most amazing tv show: Dora the Explorer
Yummiest snack: Raspberries
Coolest animal: Rhino
Best way to start the day: with Oatmeal
Greatest book to read: Teddy Goes Night Night
Words to sing: Baa Baa Black Sheep
Favorite cereal: Cheerios
Best sport to play with Daddy: Golf
What do you want to be when you grow up: A flower :)


Listening to her answer these questions was just too cute!! Made me laugh!


Another way we are capturing her "funny" moments..... Anytime Bree does something to make us laugh, we are writing it down on a small slip of paper and then we place it in a jar we have just for this.  Then on New Years Eve 2012, we will read all of them and fill our night with laughter of all the ways our little angel has filled our year with joy.

Catching up

Where was winter?  I really really am upset we did not have any snow.  I was so ready for us to build a snow man with Bree, snow angels, snow ice cream!! With the small amount of snow we did receive a mini snowman was built and Bree got to at least play in SOME snow. 

The first week of March is always fun for our family.  We head south to Austin for the Girls State Basketball Games.  It is three days of A LOT of basketball!! Whew!! This is the third year that Bree has attended and as we thought back over all the years that she has gone, its amazing how she has gone from sitting in her carrier sleeping in 2010, just sitting in our laps and falling asleep when she was tired and barely walking in 2011, and then this year, she was all over the place! We had to take a bag of toys to keep her occupied! But all three years she was wonderful and wasnt any trouble at all.  Sort of a mini vacation for us: hotel, great food, and my precious little family!!!

We couldn't wait for Brady's spring break to finally start! We were so ready to spend a week with him, and it was well deserved for him. The long haul from Christmas break to spring break is tiring.... oh I remember well! The first weekend of spring break we went to Oklahoma to stay with Nonnie and G for a few days. Of course, Bree had a blast having them to play with for four days! I am sure they were worn completely out once we left. While there we met with most of the family and had dinner at a mexican food restaurant in Norman and did a little shopping (looking around) together. It was a great time. We loved being with them and spending that time together!

After we came back to good ole Texas, we took Bree to the Dallas Zoo. We had been to the Ft Worth Zoo before we had Bree, but never the Dallas one so we wanted to give it a try. I'm glad we did! It was great and Bree loved it. She couldn't wait to see the elephants, the giraffes and the crocodiles. She played in the little kids area, watched a bird show, and rode the monorail. The few days before going to the zoo, that was all she could talk about! She would name all the animals that she hoped to see. From the amazement in her voice when she saw her favorite animals to the beautiful smile on her face, we knew she had a blast on her trip to the zoo!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Christmas 2011 was a blast! Bree just loved it and that made it so much more magical for Brady and I too! We traveled north on I-35 to Wynnewood to stay with my parents for 4 days.  Bree just loved spending time with her Nonnie and G.  And I know they loved the time spent with her! On Christmas Eve night, we opened our gifts with Nonnie and G.  New kitchen, cleaning cart, baby high chair, chefs apron and hat, coloring books and crayons, books.....Bree was in awe of all the presents she received.  She had so much to play with.  She wanted to open up and play with EVERYTHING!! Nonnie and G sure spoils this girl.... although they say she isn't spoiled.  We had a few firsts for Bree while in Oklahoma: she baked her first batch of Christmas cookies with Mommy and built a gingerbread train for the first time. 

On Christmas afternoon, we went to Aunt Gigi and Uncle Chris's house! Bree had a great time playing with her cousins: Marlee, Layton, and Jade.  Brady and I also enjoyed getting to see our family and fellowship with them.  We had some good food too!! Brisket, Nonnie's potato salad (my favorite!), corn casserole, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, and homemade bread.  YUMMY!!!  After we ate, all the kids opened their gifts.... once again Bree was super excited for her presents.... mixer set for her new kitchen, flashlight, books, Wow Wow dvd, puzzle, an Owl themed plate and bowl...... Anytime she hears the word "presents" now, her eyes light up! 

When we got back to Texas, Santa had left Bree a few gifts here!

During the week after Christmas, Brady's team played in the Whatabuger Tournament.  On one day of the tournament, Nana and Pop came to go watch the game and we had Christmas with them while they were here too.  And of course, Bree was super excited for more presents!!!  Clothes, basketball goal, Little Tikes Carnival, boots........ 

A New Year

Wow! 2012 already? It is quite amazing how quickly time is flying.  Bree is 29 months old now!!!! Our baby girl is getting so big, but still so beautiful.  Her vocabulary is outstanding and she is very articulate.  She has started using using small sentences and is very well mannered.... always saying "please", "thank you" and "you're welcome" without being prompted to.  She catches onto everything so quickly.  Show her once, and she's an expert!


Bree's Favorites:


TV SHOWS:   Wow Wow Wubbzy, Peppa Pig, Team Umizoomi
FOOD: Squeezable Applesauce, Raspberries, Pasta, Spanish Rice, Graham Crackers, Whipped Cream
TOYS: Puzzles, Flashcards, Flashlights, Books, Playing on Momma's cell phone, Basketball Goal, Kitchen

Oh my!!

Wow! Ok, so I am realllllllyyyy bad about updating this blog.  I want to keep it up to date but.... ????  Well a lot to update on!  Little Miss Bree is two years old now!! It is so amazing how she has developed into such an intelligent, beautiful little girl! God is so amazing! He blessed us beyond our imagination with Bree.

What a social butterfly she is! She is more social than Brady and I put together.  She has never met a stranger... which at times scares me but I so love to see her being so happy and interacting with all that she meets.  Brady and I are in awe every single day of something that she does.  What joy it gives us to see her learning, which she loves to do.  Learning her colors, shapes, counting, alphabet.... You name it, shes up for it!! So much fun to watch her!

Bree is a very busy girl, not only at home exploring all that she can , but also going places! She attends preschool at Fellowship Church every Saturday evening while we attend the service.  She learns a new message every week:  from ' Be Kind to Others' to ' Help Those in Need'.  She is always so ready to go in the door to her classroom!!! Every Wednesday morning she attends Bible Study Fellowship with me.  She goes to the Preschool where they teach her bible verses, songs, and the Word of God in a way she can understand.  I am so blessed to be able to attend and to have that seed planted in her little soul!! 

She is still attending swim lessons every Thursday night.  She is in Water Babies 3.  One of  u still gets in the pool with her, but in the next few weeks we will slowly transition to where it will only be her with the instructor :(  I am not ready for that!! I love being in the water with her.  In a few weeks, she will be even busier! Her daddy's basketball games will start and we will be attending those games most Tuesdays and Fridays.  She does watch a little of the games, but most of the time interacting with the fans!! :)

A quick little update on Miss Bree.... Hopefully more to come soon!!