prayers.by.meredith

Meredith makes my day every time she prays. It warms my heart. Claire volunteers often to pray at dinner, but it has been just recently that Meredith has been volunteering as well.

We have been offering to let Meredith pray for quite some time, but she just always seemed intimidated by the idea. Then, about a month or so ago, she wanted to pray but just repeat whatever Josh or I would say.

Then, she decided to start praying. She always says "thank you" for pretty much everything even if she really wants to ask for help/assistance. This is what she prayed for tonight at dinner:

Dear Lord,
Thank you for today.
Thank you for this food, sickness, Easter, sickness (yes, twice), the President, and my ouchies.
Amen.

She always ends with her ouchies. :)
(photo by Claire)

 

trying.not.to.worry

We have family, friends, and friends of friends that have been affected by the current state of our economy. We've been praying for the economy, our friends and family, and President Obama.

Our pastor addressed this in his sermon a couple of weeks ago. We read out of Matthew 6, and every time I read the passage, I can't help but feel like Matthew is speaking directly to me when he says, "...O you of little faith." Why do I worry so much?!! Hello....if God is taking care of the birds and the flowers and the grass...of course he's going to take care of us!

"Are you not much more valuable than they?" The answer is a resounding YES! We're worth way more to him than birds, flowers, and grass!

And this one....Tomorrow will worry about itself and each day has enough trouble of its own. I love that part.

I read something once that said, "If you worry about something and it doesn't happen, then you've worried for nothing. If you worry about something and it does happen, well...now you've worried twice." So true....I need to remember this more often.

I'm going to try to worry less, and I hope you will too. :)

MATTHEW 6:25-34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

party.time

Cake:

Complete fascination with the candle (she stuck her finger right into the flame):

On the verge of tears from being told "no" because of touching the flame:

A little (or a lot) of sugar can cure just about anything that ails you:

Amelia did a great job of eating the back side of her cake! She was very lady-like and picked small bites off her cake as she ate. She did have plenty of frosting on her face at the end, though!

 

a.little.decor

For Amelia's birthday, I thought I'd try a little sewing project that I found online. The above picture is what the kitchen looked like from afar.

Here is a closer look at the party garland:

And here's an even closer look:

It was pretty easy to make, and I think it only took me 2-3 hours from start to finish. Honestly, I never know exactly how long because I always have to stop in the middle of my projects to wipe a bottom or kiss an ouchie. You know how it goes.

Here is the tutorial for the party garland.

This is what I found easiest after reading her tutorial:

1. Make the shapes' templates out of a heavier paper (instead of a brown paper bag like she suggests)...I always use old file folders since I have them around. (Oh, and I made the shapes a little bigger than her sizes, which I would definitely recommend).
2. Quadruple your fabric so that you make twice as many shapes at once. (She had mentioned that cutting the shapes was kind of a daunting task.)
3. Use a pizza cutter sewing tool (there's probably a technical term for this tool, but I don't know it) to cut out the triangles and rectangles.

I really liked the way that this turned out. However, if I must admit it, I would probably just do triangles the next time I make it (if I do another one). And I would probably make all of the triangles the same size. It would make the project easier, faster, and I am kind of a sucker for a uniform look. Clean lines.

All in all, I was very pleased with the way this turned out, and we'll be saving it to use again for the other girls' birthdays. I'm excited that we can use it year after year!

 

1st.birthday

Happy birthday to you...

Amelia Kate, you are one of the sweetest babies ever, and you bring our entire family such joy. It has been such a pleasure to watch you interact with Claire and Meredith. They love you so much! I'm sure that even Claire (who was going to send you back if you were a girl) wouldn't trade you for the world!

The day you were born.

Amelia took her first few steps a couple of weeks ago, and she's been gaining momentum. She's consistently up to 4-5 at a time! She has also started to give us kisses which I assure you is one of the cutest things in the world.

She loves her sisters, baths, her pink bunny, milk, and the dishwasher.

She hates getting her faced washed after dinner and being told "no". It's actually extremely comical. She's only been told "no" sternly a couple of times, but she cries the saddest cry followed by lots of sniffling and gasping for air. Josh and I were in tears yesterday (from laughing so hard) as we listened to her.

We just adore you Little 'Melia! We can't imagine our world without you!

Here's a peek into your first year:

one.year.ago.today

....was my last full day of being pregnant! This picture was actually taken the morning that we had Amelia. I was so excited to be in labor...really! Look for a fun birthday post tomorrow!

My baby's turning one!

 

mommy.i.need.you

This is what happens when Daddy does hair. :( Do you see that little rubber band hanging by 3 pieces of Amelia's hair up there on the left? Good try, honey...you're much better with a single ponytail for Meredith. Keep trying, though!!