Yellow River Game Ranch

Well.

I think I found our new favorite place. It just screams boy fun. And it was, indeed, very fun.

Cohen and I headed out to the Yellow River Game Ranch yesterday with some friends. There was a promotion going on that made admission $1, so you know I couldn't pass that up.

If I could look into the future, I'm pretty sure I would see us at this place. A lot. Well, until Cohen starts teasing the mountain lion.

Chilly

Well, this weeks topic sure was appropriate! It was most definitely chilly outside this week, causing me and the boy to pretty much lose our minds being cooped up inside. Can next week's topic be heat wave? Please?

1. Learning shapes and animals.

2. Playing with pine cones.

3. Cold front moving in.

4. One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn't belong.

5. Nap time bliss.

6. Ministering to Atlanta's homeless.

7. Spending time with God.

Just Be Still

I Heart Jesus video and I Heart Faces edit

Have you seen this? Amy shared it on her blog the other day, and I can't get it out of my mind.

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On another note, I'm participating in another photo editing challenge. This time it's with I Heart Faces. And let me tell you, I'm a scared little schoolgirl right about now. These people are real-deal amazing photographers.

Anyway, here's the photo SOOC (straight out of camera):

Adorable, huh? I think the photographer did an amazing job. I am loving the background.

Here's my edit:

And here's how I did it:

I rotated the photo to the left slightly, then cropped to get more of a focus on the baby. Then I opened the picture in Picnik (because Photoshop still scares me) and increased the exposure by 50%. I used the poloroid action, faded 60%, and then I boosted the colors of the image a little. And voila.

Comparision:

Whatcha think?



Dear Anonymous

Last week, a favorite blogger gave her readers the opportunity to anonymously share their truest hopes for 2012. It was such a powerful exercise for me to be able to publish my thoughts and hopes to the world without having to attach my name. Without having to worry if someone would judge me.

And while I was being honest, you know what? So was everyone else.

I just read through the resolutions, and the one thing I noticed over everything else was how similar they all were. How, even though we feel like we're all alone, there are other women out there who deal with the same stuff.


I want to fall in love with my husband again.
I want to conquer my envy.

I want to be confident in my own skin and to be the best me. I want to see my real purpose in life, beyond dishes and cleaning, again. I want to quit trying to control people around me. I want to stop all my jealousy. I want to love with my whole heart, expecting nothing in return.


I want to get closer to God and be a person of integrity and worthy of trust.


I want to quit talking bad about my friends behind their backs because I have some crazy idea that it makes me more interesting to my other friends. Drama is overrated.


I want to have more patience with my husband and children. I want to cut ties with the people who bring me down and lead me on. I want to get butterflies when my husband kisses me again. I want to learn how to sew and make cute things for my littles.


I want to have hope that my marriage will hold together, despite my husband's constant absence (due to military). I feel so very hopeless and that I don't even know him, because he's deployed 4 times. I'm so tired of not being together. I want to have HOPE.


I want to feel like being a mom is enough. I don't have to have Etsy shops or meals on the stove or DIY projects going constantly enough. Screw DIY projects! I'm raising a human being! That is enough.


I want my family to get through this ridiculously tough time we're going through. I want my father to be able to say no to things that are ruining us as a family. I want my little brother to understand, I want him to stop hurting so much over something that isn't his fault and has nothing to do with him. I just want us to go back to loving the way we used to, without the distrust and the anger. And dangit I want UNO night back.


I want to find balance. This will be the year that I accept that I need counseling and to deal with depression head-on. I want to find love, or at least be confident that what I have is love. I want to be brave in admitting that even if things aren't perfect, I don't have to lie about anything.


I guess my hope for 2012 is that my path becomes clear. I've never been more confused in my life...


I want to learn to love myself again. To not be bitter towards myself and my broken body and women who are blessed. I want to love my pregnant sister in law and not hate her. To not think of myself {and 5+ yrs of infertility} as less than other women. To embrace our family as two, and truely, honestly be ok with it, except that I am enough for my husband.

I want to come to peace with the abortion I had almost a decade ago. I want to stop feeling like I will never have children because of it.

I want to move past the heartbreak of a canceled wedding...that I didn't choose to cancel.


After 20 years I want to be able to forgive my mother.

I want to find the joy in living again. I want to believe that, despite how much I still loved him after 6 years together, that there is someone else out there for me, someone better. I want to believe that he left because we were going in separate directions, and not because I was no longer pretty enough, exciting enough, or as physically attractive as I was when we met in college.

And so I began to pray. I pray for each of the 400+ women who shared their heart. I pray for their hurts and their fears and their struggles.

But most importantly, I pray that they allow their hearts to be open enough to hear God minister to them. Because He will. In our darkest moments, when we feel most hopeless, He will minister if only we let Him.

Dear anonymous, He hears you. You are not alone.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.-- Jesus (Matthew11:28)

1000 Gifts, Part II

I touched last week on how I have set a goal to be thankful for 1000 things before the end of the year. But it dawned on it that I didn't really explain why in case anyone cared to know.

I'm taking part in something called the Joy Dare. You should read about it. And you can read more about it here.

And if you're in the market to buy me a gift because Valentine's Day is coming up, or my birthday is in 8 months, or because it's Thursday, you can be confident One Thousand Gifts is a book I'd literally swoon over.

OK, now that that's taken care of, I'm going to pick up where I left off last week.

 I'm thankful for:

22. a bank account that always has just enough in it to get us by
23. a week's supply of fresh milk and Diet Coke
24. a refreshed heart
25. being told, "I'm proud of you."
26. knowing people pray for me
27. fresh vegetables for dinner

28. a moon that hid itself behind the clouds
29. Asher Bracelets and the reminder to pray without ceasing
30. sweet women who share Thursday mornings with me
31. listening to the baby sing himself to sleep
32. cheery things on a gloomy day

33. looking back and recognizing God's hand
34. Bible study messages given just for me
35. realizing how poorly the old washer cleaned my clothes now that the new one is doing a fantastic job
36. a sweet sidekick who never leaves my side

37. feeling understood and accepted
38. a smiling face
39. compliments on my appearance
40. peace in the hard times
41. giving hearts
42. peaceful naps

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

What are you thankful for this week? You can post in the comment section below if you don't have a blog to post to!

Linking up with Candra and Women Taking a Stand for Thankful Thursday.

Little Nature Boy (and an edit)

I'm going to give you a little insight on my boy.

We have a huge back yard. Seriously, it's huge. Think about the biggest back yard you've ever seen, and then double that size. I'm not even kidding here. Cohen loves to be out there. We've got tons and tons of clean, safe, grassy yard, but do you think that's where he wants to be?

Nope.

He'd rather play in the woods. Next to the old shed that houses who knows how many demonic critters. And the kid is persistent, too. I can spend all day moving him to the grass, but he always makes it right back to the forbidden area.

This week, in a moment of frustrated weakness, I gave in; let the kid play in the dangerous woods with the rusty nails.

I jest about the nails. That is ... until he finds some and pitches a holy fit when I take them away. Then, I may cave. Who knows. I'm a terrific mother, I swear.

Anyway, my kid, with acres of plush grass on which to romp and play, choses this. A pinecone. That's what makes him happy.

That's my nature boy for you.

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On a completely different note, I'm linking up for my first ever Edit Me challenge.

I'm terrified to participate because, y'all, I'm just a mom with a camera, fumbling into some good pictures every once in a while. But I'd like to improve my editing skills, so I'm putting on my big girl panties and playing with the pros.

So here's my entry (and, ohmygoodness, is that baby not the cutest thing you've ever seen? Swoon.):

Here's what I did: I cropped the photo to get a tight shot of the cuteness. I increased the exposure by 50% and increased the clarity just a tad so I could see more of that oh-so-precious baby fuzz. Then, I turned the picture into B&W and played with the levels until I found something I liked. I know, so technical.

Here's a before and after comparison:



Soooo ... what do you think?



Cohen is 14 Months Old

Dear Cohen,

Holy moly, kid! You're 14 months old today! I don't even know where all the time is going, and to be honest with you, I don't even know who you are sometimes. You are changing so very fast these days. You are learning and growing and becoming your own person. And I love it.

Your physical milestones have begun to taper off. I guess that's because you started them so early. You walk and run and climb and are pretty coordinated (well, except when you are sleepy, that's a different story). You've got a good grasp on your motor skills. Physically, you can do pretty much whatever you want to do. The changes I've noticed most this month are your cognitive abilities and your speech.

Oh my gosh, kid, you are a talker. You jabber jabber jabber all day long. You have your own baby language firmly established, complete with making your words get higher in pitch when you're asking a question and lowering your tone when you're giving a command. You talk in your crib, you talk in the bathtub, to talk in the car seat, you talk during meals. You join in conversations and even talk to the television. You have mastered a few words, too. You are quick to tell me when you want water ("duice?") or a graham cracker ("kuh-kkkk?"). Whenever you see a dog, you say "woof woof". Recently you have started looking in books, pointing at dogs, and saying "woof woof". You don't care about any other animal.

You blow kisses to me all the time, and you think it's just hilarious when I blow kisses back to you. You also love a good game of Peek-A-Boo. You use the backs of your hands to cover your little eyes, only you always leave enough room so that you can peek out at me.

You also love to investigate things. Everything has to be looked over and broken down. You are so curious about everything. This month, you have passed by your toys many times in order to investigate "real" things. You also have an understanding that things work in certain ways, and I can see you trying to follow those rules. You put puzzle pieces back on the puzzle. You put runaway balls back in your ball pit. Papers go in the trashcan. Stray items get placed in a drawer. When you get your hands on the remote, you automatically press the buttons and look up to the TV.

You are so very friendly, and you still love people, but I can see you starting to get a little shy around strangers. You warm up quickly, though. Last week, we were at the grocery store, and a man took our groceries out to our car with us. You just looked up at him the whole time, and I could tell you were a little uncomfortable with a stranger that close to you. By the time the man left, though, you were waving bye bye and blowing kisses. You love other children. I think bigger kids excite you more than babies. You love to watch big kids at the playground. You squeal in delight as you chase them around and try to do what they are doing. Sometimes those kids are really sweet and will play with you, and you love that. The last time we went to the park, you stood at the bottom of the slide and tickled the feet of the kids who came down. Everyone had a blast. Sometimes, though, the kids are mean and don't want you around. You don't understand, but it breaks my heart. How could anyone be mean to you?

 You are starting to become more toddler-y and less baby-ish. You get frustrated pretty easily and will express that frustration by screaming and sometimes crying. This weekend, you didn't want dada to hold your hand while we were shopping. So you pitched a baby sized fit (and you actually walked into a glass door, which sent dada and me into a fit of giggles as you stood there throwing your tantrum). These outbursts are short and relatively quiet, and I know they're going to get worse before they get better. For the most part, we just ignore your tantrums and remove you from the area. You are also starting to become more picky about what you eat. You will still eat pretty much everything, but some things take a little more coaching than they used to. Like last night's broccoli. You also love to feed me anything you're eating. You get such a kick out of putting food in my mouth.

You are wearing size 12 month and size 18 month clothing. The 18 month clothes are still a little too big for you, but the 12 month clothing is getting a little snug. You wear size 5 (and some size 6) shoes, and you are in size 4 diapers all the time now. When you got sick a few weeks ago, the doctor said you weighed 25 pounds. You are really tall, but I think most of your length is in your upper body because you've still got stubby little legs.

Your biggest love this month has been music. Any kind of music, you don't care. You love to beat on drums to create music. You love to clap to music. You love to dance to music (and this month, you added bouncing to your dancing arsenal). You love when I sing, and you love music on the radio. In the car, whenever a song ends, you clap your hands and say "yay!". Dada thinks that's just the funniest thing ever.

You are still very much a snuggly little boy, and there is no better way to unwind before a nap than to climb into my lap and cuddle for a little while. You love to have your head stroked during cuddles, and you will hold my hand. Those moments are the absolute best moments of my life.

You will never know what joy you bring into my life. I hope, throughout your life, you always know how much of a treasure you are to me and dada and the rest of your family. You are the sweetest little boy, and I love you to the moon and back, forever and ever.

Until next month,

Mama

Project 366, Week 1. Again.

Y'all.

Sometimes I think I might really just be dumb.

See, I got so excited about Project 366 that I started it a week early. And documented the last few days of 2011 instead of the first few days of 2012. I figured it was a little weird to use 2011 pictures in my 2012 Project 366, but I shrugged it off and snapped away.

So you can imagine my shock and embarrassment when I realized I wasn't supposed to share my pictures until today. Oops.  So, uh, I now have 2 week 1s. You can see the first one here.

And here is the real week 1.



Monday: We spent most of our time playing in the ball pit. It's great fun.

Tuesday: Finally, Toddler Tunes gives us music we can work with. Loving the Beatles music for babies.

Wednesday: We prepared for our 3rd trip into Atlanta to minister to the homeless and pass out coats and blankets.

Thursday: Fun day at the park with the boy.

Friday: Working on installing shelving in the new laundry room.

Saturday: Mama got a new haircut. Self portrait in the dryer.

Sunday: Finishing touches going up! So exciting!

 

He which hath begun a good work

Getting Ready For Round 3

It's time, again. Time to head into downtown Atlanta to minister to the homeless. This will be our youth ministry's 3rd trip, and my 2nd. You can read about my first trip here.

This time, instead of passing out hygiene bags as we share the Gospel, we'll be passing out coats and blankets. We might be enjoying some mild winter weather down here, but it's still cold out there -- especially when you're not bundled up.

A month ago, we began to ask our church family to donate any coats, sheets, or blankets they could spare. I don't know why I'm so shocked by what they gave. Our church has a long history of giving above and beyond. And they certainly didn't slack this time around, either.

Each item we give out will have one of these tucked inside. We will talk and pray with each person we give to, but you can never share Jesus or His love too much.

We've got a giant mound of blankets and sheets. We've got a pile of women's coats that weigh more than me. We've got more men's jackets than I can count. And just look at that pile of kids' coats. We are going to make some little ones smile, for sure!

We spent Wednesday evening with our students sorting coats and blankets, stuffing them with the Gospel, and bagging them up. If I could say only one thing about our kids, it's that they are hard working. They make me proud.

For the kids we'll see at the last stop, we made goody bags. Last time, one of the regulars brought chewing gum and granola bars. They were a hit with the kids. I just know they're going to flip over our bags!

We go next Saturday. We would appreciate your prayers -- for open and receptive hearts and for boldness and compassion on our parts. Pray that we are sensitive to where God guides us on that day. Pray for souls to be saved.  Thank you!

Thanksday, again.

By the time 2012 comes to an end, I hope to have listed 1000 things I'm thankful for. Some things will be big, others will be small. All will be precious gifts I want to remember. So here's my start:

1. God's artistry.

2. Good blogs that challenge me to be better.

3. Being wanted by my husband.

4. A long-anticipated hair cut.

5. Doors that don't remain closed forever.

6. Watching my boy with his daddy. And watching his daddy with him.

7. Snacks like Nutrigrain bars that make my baby stop long enough to eat without putting up a fight.

8. Fresh starts and new beginnings.

9. Clean floors to walk on.

10. I'm thankful for thank yous.

11.Oswald Chambers in my inbox.

12. Easy dinners that satisfy my family.

13. Sunshine and mild weather in January.

14. Playing with fun Christmas presents.

15. Realizing that my baby is actually understanding what I'm saying to him.
16. A new job and new hope. I love watching God take care of my family.

17. Grace and mercy. It's sweetest when you don't deserve it.

18. I love yous.

19. The gift of family heirlooms.

20. What I see through my camera's viewfinder.

21. The generosity of my church. These coats and blankets will really be a blessing to the homeless.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

What are you thankful for this week? You can post in the comment section below if you don't have a blog to post to!

Linking up with Candra and Women Taking a Stand for Thankful Thursday.

He's Growing Up

My boy is growing up! It seems like once he passed the 1 year mark, the growth came about exponentially. There are so many changes! It's fun, yes, but for the first time in his life, I feel that desire to push the pause button on his life and keep him just the way he is. For, like, ever.

If I could live these days for the rest of my life, I'd be one happy chick.

Linking up with Paper Mama for Wordless Wednesday.

On Clearing the Clutter

This first few days of the New Year has been all about cleaning house over here.

Don't let me fool you, there was very little actual cleaning of the house going on. I'm talking more of a metaphorical cleaning. Because, y'all, I just don't like to clean.

I mean, I like clean things. I like when things are clean. But I don't like to mess with dirty things. I get weird about touching things I don't think are clean.

My life has a tendency to accumulate dust and clutter. I'm not very good about clearing out the stuff that takes up unnecessary room in my heart. You know the stuff I'm talking about -- that stuff that isn't necessarily bad in itself, but it just doesn't produce anything good in my mind and heart. I've had a good amount of that stuff floating around lately.

And as I rang in the New Year a few days ago, I spent time praying over 2012 and seeking God's guidance for how to make this year more productive and more honorable to Him. His answer came quickly, like before I even finished my sentence. And if you're not in the practice of talking to God, you're thinking I'm a total nut-job right now. But God does, indeed, speak. To my heart. And when you hear Him, you know it's Him.

Let go of the past.

Learn and move on. Dwell no longer. Clear your life of its clutter and make more room for Jesus.

I'm not going to get into the specifics of what that means for me, but you get the idea. And you know, sometimes it's hard to move on. It's hard to leave behind the people and memories and places and activities that have at one time played a very important role in your life.

But in order for growth to occur, change has to be made. In order to be more for God, I have to be less for myself.

And then, just as I began to question if this is what God really wants me to do (because I don't know about you, but I'm quite skilled in second guessing: myself, others, and God), a friend went and shared this with me:

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. Isaiah 43:18

Ok, Lord. I hear You. Message received.

This year, the goal for my life is simple: Do more, be more, give more to honor the Lord.

Another blogger is praying for just one. One person this year who will come to belief in God simply by seeing His grace alive in her life. I like that. But I'm not limiting God to just one. Lord, I would be humbled and blessed and honored if You would use my life to reach as many people as You desire. That's a lot of pressure, but I'm up for it.

I'll leave you with a verse: Micah 6:8. You probably know it.

NKJV: He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly,  to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

NASB: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

I'm not typically one who pays much attention to newer translations, but I do like the way it's worded in The Message-- 

The Message: But He's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.

How are you going to live 2012? Do you have any goals or a specific direction you'd like to go? I'd love to hear about it.

Project 366, Week 1

This year, I've decided try to participate in Project 365 (it's Project 366 this year due to 2012 being a leap year). I say try because, well, this is a pretty big undertaking for me. I'm not the best with follow through. I'm actually pretty impressed with myself for keeping this blog going for 5 months.

So I'm hoping that participating in a link up each week will help to keep me accountable. Eh, let's just enjoy Week 1, shall we?

1. I think it's ironic that the topic of the week was fresh start since the week started out as anything but. That's a hole in my hallway wall. Put there by my husband and father-in-law. The new washing machine is heavy and hard to cart upstairs, so I've heard.

2. My mess of a living room floor 24 hours after Chirstmas. It's kinda organized now.

3. The new beauties. Merry Christmas to me. Ho ho ho and falalalala. Dada has spent the entire week making me a beautiful laundry room. This was the beginning stages of all the beauty.

4. Baby getting squaky clean and loving bubbles.

5. The best errand-running companion I've ever had.

6. The view going down South.

7. New Year's Eve post-sunset at my in-laws. Isn't God the best artist?

Standing on His promises

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

He walks with me, and He will not leave nor forsake me. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

He goes with me. He will strengthen me. He will help me. He will uphold me. (Isaiah 41:10)
He will give rest when I'm weary. (Matthew 11:28)

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

He will supply all my needs from His glorious riches. (Phillipians 4:19)
He gives me peace the world cannot provide. (John 14:27)
He is an ever present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

He will never stop loving me. (Isaiah 54:10)
He will show me where to go. (Psalm 32:8)
He will sustain me. (Isaiah 46:4)

Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

He hears me when I call, and He will answer. (Isaiah 65:24)
He watches over me. (Psalm 121:7)
He will teach me His ways. (Isaiah 2:3)

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

He never changes. (Malachi 3:6)

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.