Wednesday, June 24, 2009

A moment of PEACE...

As I sit here this morning, writing out my "To-Do Lists" for the day and for the week~ I find myself getting overwhelmed with all the things LIFE is consumed with... All the bills, the schedules, the deadlines... All the chores, the expectations and decisions that consume my "Every Day". My mind starts to race as I try and put all the pieces of this crazy puzzle together. I finally decide to put my notebook down, and I choose to STOP and actually listen to the song that is filling my kitchen right now. As I close my eyes, and listen to each word, I remember what LIFE is supposed to be all about.

~The more I seek YOU, the more I find you...The more I find you, the more I love you~

~I WANT to sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hand, lay back against you and BREATHE... Feel your heartbeat. THIS love is so deep, it's more than I can stand, I melt in your... PEACE... It's overwhelming.~

So many times I forget. (Don't we all?)... I am CONSUMED with this life... The BILLS that never go away, the schedules that never slow down, the stress of trying to juggle being a mom, a wife, a friend, a daughter, a sister... I feel as if life is going a thousand miles a minute and I CAN'T SLOW IT DOWN. No matter how much I try... I just can't. But today, on this ordinary morning, I remember who CAN.

"Lay back against YOU and Breathe"... Just BREATHE... Just REST... Just feel YOUR presence. Feel YOUR heartbeat... Feel YOUR peace.

I close my eyes and I can see it... Him sitting, WAITING, Beckoning for me to come and just be with Him. To put our notebooks full of lists down. To put our fears DOWN. To put our worries DOWN. To put our expectations, our decisions, our anxieties DOWN. To just put this "every day life STUFF"- DOWN. To simply lay back against our Savior and breathe.

The puzzle may still not be put all together. The lists are still a mile long. The schedules are still filled to the top. The decisions are still left hanging. But I have felt my God's heartbeat. I have felt His peace. I have rested in His arms. And this LIFE begins to make sense. THIS is why I am put on this earth. To simply REST in my Father's arms. To hear Him whisper the next step. To let Him take care of that bill. That fear. That decision. That... (you fill in the blank). To truly let Him lead me. STEP. by STEP. by STEP. Holding onto His hand ever so tightly the whole way through.

I don't know what YOU may be facing today. I don't know what is on your to-do lists, or what is filling up your schedules this week. But I DO know that Christ longs for you to put all that "stuff" down~ even for a minute~ to just "Lay back against Him and Breathe". To feel His peace, His Grace, His overwhelming LOVE for you. Go ahead. Try it. Maybe you too will walk away understanding what this LIFE is really all about.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Musikgarten Performance!

I have truly enjoyed teaching Musikgarten this past year! I have averaged around 20 kids- split into two classes. I teach songs, stories, poems, listening skills, and lots of fun instruments! The ages of my kids are anywhere from 2-5. I get the privilege of teaching my own children and watch them grow and learn in music! Here are some pictures of Samuel and Serenity all dressed up before the performance! Also are some videos of the actual performance! Make sure you watch Serenity as she loves to be the "Star of the Show" and Samuel- Adorable as always... but most the time doing his "own thing" =)



Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Some of my favorite Summer Photos so far!

We have enjoyed the weather getting warm more than EVER this year!! Most days are spent outside- playing in water, having picnics, sitting around a bonfire, just enjoying SUMMER!!!! Hope you enjoy these "summer favorite photos" so far...








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Friday, June 12, 2009

~Movie Night~

One of my favorite moments being a mom is having nights like tonight... When Samuel asks~ "Daddy? Can we have a movie night?!!"... Then Jordan saying, ask mommy!... Samuel running up to me~ "Mommy!! Can we have a movie night?!!" (of course I say yes) :) Then, as a family, we all walk to the store, let the kids pick out a fun, kids movie... We come home, get blankets and pillows and spread them out over the floor. They anxiously wait while daddy gets the movie ready and I pop the popcorn. Some nights (like tonight) are EXTRA special when they get little skittles or m&m's in their bowl! Tonight we watched "Balto"- they loved it. Of course it's not about how great the movie is, or what kind of "surprise candy" they get, it's about all the wonderful memories we are making right now. I hope and pray Samuel and Serenity will ALWAYS remember these nights... And someday, they will be able to share with their kids "family movie nights"! The night also had a perfect ending... Our city has it's "Friendly City Days", and we were able to set out chairs in our backyard and watch fireworks! Serenity was already asleep, but the noise woke Samuel up- so the three of us snuggled up under blankets and had an incredible firework show right in our backyard! It's gonna be a great summer.


Thursday, June 4, 2009

It's a..............................................

Well... Looks like everyone who voted was wrong this time!! =)


IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!


Everything looked absolutely PERFECT. We are praising God for this little blessing.

She even gave us all a HUGE smile! (That was captured on the ultrasound photo!)...Looks like she can't wait to play with her big brother and big sister (who were standing right there when we saw it!)

It took Samuel a couple minutes to warm up to the idea that he is going to have ANOTHER little sister... but we told him that it means eventually he will get his OWN room and the girls will have to share! (He liked that idea.)

It was great to see a little "Snap-shot" of our newest Smith member... and we can't wait to (very soon) meet her in person!

~God is good.~

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

The Big Day

So tomorrow is the "big" ultrasound... Jordan and I go back and forth wondering if this one will be a boy or a girl. I have been really sick... So that makes me think girl... But it will be fun to officially know! With both Samuel and Serenity it was very hard for them to tell me 100% if it was a boy/girl... Serenity they only gave me 75% sure it was a girl... And with Samuel at my 20 week ultrasound they couldn't tell- I had to wait until I was well into my 6th month. So I'm kinda hoping this baby will be in just the right position for the technician! Ultimately all Jordan and I want of course is to hear that we have a healthy baby... girl or boy doesn't really matter! If you haven't yet, go ahead and vote what you think this next baby will be! I'm believing to report back wonderful news tomorrow!