Living the JOY Dare

I'm really enjoying this JOY Dare from Ann Voskamp.  It's been a wonderful challenge to search for God's grace in the every day.  Seek it out like a hidden treasure.  Enjoy the small moments.  Be present.  Find Him.

This has been such a challenge for my redeemed heart.  It wants to fall back into old patterns and habits, wants to be negative, selfish, blaming, exacting, etc.  One nail drives out another--so I pick up my new nail, and begin to tap, tap, tap--driving out the old nails.  

http://www.americanshowroom.com/meetourstaff2/

It is work.  Sometimes it's downright painful, fighting, struggling against my old self.  Then it comes, His whisper, reminding me that He can do the work and it will become light and easy for me.  I rest in Him.  Let the Master Gardener do His work.  My heart is new.  Picking thanks, joy, peace, love, encouragement, hope...

I can already feel the difference in my heart.  It seems a strange that being disciplined about giving thanks and finding joy could make such a change.  Seems too simple really.  I can honestly tell you that by staying in an attitude of giving grace and receiving grace--I am forever changed.  Forever grateful.  

2012

I haven't posted anything in a really long time on this blog.  And today, I was thinking about how much I really miss writing about my family!  It's just so amazing to me that I get to have these boys in my life.  I'm so grateful to God for the gifts that He has entrusted me with.  Each day He gives me just a little glimpse into what an important role I play, which makes me realize all the more how much I need His guidance!

Noah turned 3 in July, and started preschool this past Fall.  He loves his teacher, his classmates, and being at school 2 days a week.  He has such a helpful heart and loves to look out for his little brother.  (He also loves to "wrestle him".)  It is such a joy to watch him grow and learn new things each day!

Eli turned 1 in August, and is such a funny little guy!  He growls when he laughs, loves to play peek-a-boo, and loves to wrestle with Noah.  His favorite things are bananas, dogs, and his "burr-qua" (burp cloth).  Since he started walking, there's no stopping him, and he tries really hard to keep up with his big brother.

Jeff and I celebrated 6 years of marriage this past June, at the Ichthus festival in Wilmore, KY.  It was a surprise getaway for Jeff and we had a blast!  So much so, that we've already purchased our tickets for this year!  Jeff is still working as a pharmacist and is glad to have made a smooth transition from floating into a more permanent position.  I'm working at home as a wife, mommy, and professional organizer.  I love what I do and wouldn't choose to have it any other way.

2011 was a very important year for me on my journey with Jesus.  I let Him walk me through some pretty deep wounds in my heart.  And only with the power of His healing grace, I found the courage to forgive and heal.  Someday I will share more about letting the Master Gardener prune my heart.  There are so many pieces to this story that I will have to do some work to get it all out in words.  In the meantime, I'm really looking forward to this new year!  I can't wait to see what He will do in my heart this year!

A New Adventure!

Photography Courtesy of Beth Watson

Some of you may remember 2 years ago, when I had written about my dream to run an organizing business. Well, I'm actually in the process of getting the business started!!! Oh, My, GOODNESS!!! I'm so excited to be able to do this! My friend, Summer, who is in my Lifegroup, has already been running her own professional organizing business for many years. Every time I heard her talk about it, my heart would skip a beat with excitement and hope that I might be able to do it too. So we are joining forces...Her business is called Ducks in a Row, and I just launched a new blog called Clear A Path. We are definitely just getting this process off the ground, but I'm inviting you to come check out the new blog! And for those of you on Facebook, come "like" our page!

Fun in a Box

Rainy day fun!

I LOVE This Sound!

Trying to Take a Picture...

It's getting more and more difficult to get a picture of these two!

I Love Food!

Eli tried some carrots today.  Every time I set the food down on the tray he grabs for it and dunks his hands right in!

More Peas Please!

Eli tried peas for the first time today...he loves them!  Ate everything in the 2.5 oz. tub.  :)
Noah was watching his little brother eat and exclaimed,"Oh, no, Mama!!  Eli spilled!  Eli make mess!"
When I offered him a bite of the peas, he gave me this look...

Eli's First Bites of Cereal

I wanna hold 'im!

Noah loves Eli so much! He wants to hold him all the time! I have a blast watching them play together.

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Baby Toys!

It seems that the baby toys are a lot more interesting now that Noah's too big for them! He sat in the Bumbo seat to watch tv today.

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Say, "Mamaw Papaw Camper"

Last week we stayed with my parents, and Noah got to spend the night in their camper with them. He loved it and continues to talk about it daily! I caught him trying to get Eli to talk about it too...

My Lil' Punkin

We went to the Scarecrow Festival this past weekend. It was a lot of fun! They had a free train ride, games, and food. We got some pumpkins for the boys and I got a pot of Mums. I love the fall!!!!

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First Smiles...

are so sweet!

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Testing out my new phone

I'm supposed to be able to post to my blog from my phone...lets see if it works.

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A Rare Moment of Quiet...

Noah just got his pacifiers and blankets and came in the living room and fell asleep on the couch! He must have been worn out from going to bed late and getting up at 6 a.m.! I'm using this rare opportunity to do some blogging. My last post was a story I'd been meaning to share for, uh, the past 2 years! This story is a little more recent...

I was sitting next to Taylan on the couch at their house. He was looking at my pregnant belly (pregnant with Eli), and started asking me questions.

Taylan: What kind of baby are you going to lay this time?

Amber: (Holding in my laughter.) Another boy.

Finally Got Around To It...

I’ve been meaning to get this story written down for a long time…

Jeff and I were visiting Tara and Jason for Thanksgiving in November of 2007. I was pregnant with Noah at the time. I was sitting at the kitchen table eating a bowl of Cheerios. The Hayes' boys were sitting around the table eating breakfast with me. Taylan was sitting next to me intently watching me eat.

Taylan: Does your baby eat your food?

Amber: Yes.

Taylan: Let me see…

Amber: Well, you can’t see it, because the baby’s in my belly.

Taylan: Does Uncle Jeff have a baby in his belly?

Tayman: (Standing to his feet and placing his hands on his hips.)
No! Boys don’t lay no babies!!!

Elijah William Brown

On August 2, 2010, we welcomed baby boy #2 into the world! Elijah "Eli" William Brown was born at 3:46 p.m., was 20 3/4 inches, and weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz.

We've been home a week and a half and eveyone is settling in. Noah loves his new brother and showers him with hugs and kisses!

Baby Boy #2 Update

We went to the Dr. today, one day past Baby #2's due date. She checked everything out and said that the baby's heart rate is great, that I'm almost 3 cm dialated, and that she wouldn't be surprised if I went into labor this weekend! However, if I don't, we're scheduled to be induced on Wednesday, August 4th. We're so excited and ready to meet our new little one! So the waiting continues...

40 weeks

Noah's 2nd Birthday!!!

I'll just go ahead and say it, I can't believe he's 2!!! We celebrated Noah's 2nd birthday by having a pool party at Uncle Jason and Aunt Tara's house. Both sets of grandparents, Aunt Renee, Uncle Jason, Aunt Tara, and our friends Mark & Glistina, David & Shiloh were able to make it, along with Noah's buddies--"T-T's" (any one of Tara's boys), "Ika" (Isaac), Ryan, Ayden, and Kodah. Yep, all little boys! It was sooooo much fun!! We could hardly get the kids out of the pool to eat or do anything else. We're so thankful to Uncle Jason and Aunt Tara for sharing their home with us! :)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Noah!

Kicked back, letting Daddy feed him the Elmo cupcake.

He had lots of help opening presents!