Halloween Pics

Happy Halloween

{I'm not really a huge fan of Halloween, but I LOVE Fall and going to the Pumpkin Patch!!}

 

I hope you have a wonderful, fun-filled, spoooky Halloween!!!

*****

Ashley

Just Because....

A Psalm 51 Experience

I have deemed Psalm 51 as my life chapter...

I know....most people have life verses, not me, nope....

I need a WHOLE chapter!!  Ha!

If I had to focus on a few verses {technically} it would be vs: 10-13

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
   so that sinners will turn back to you.

You couldn't have written more perfect words to describe my drought from Christ than verse 11.  For six years I was missing my God, my Redeemer, my All.  I accused Him of leaving me, when in reality I had put up a wall and wouldn't let Him in.  But I knew one day I would be restored, one day I would feel that great depth of emotional healing that only Christ could bring.  I was under the impression that to "feel" God {in other words, get all tingly} was the best way to acknowledge His unspoken words.  What I didn't realize was that was how an immature Christian relies on God.  A mature Christian relies on the Bible....God's written words, a prayer life and Christian accountability.  

I am so grateful for Christ's love....

I am a sinner, His love sets me free....

Because of his freeing love....

I can worship openly....

Because I can worship openly....

I am able to take part in a Beth Moore Bible Study....

Because of this bible study....

I found my life chapter/verse....

Because I found myself in these verses....

I can weep with gratitude.

I sat last night bawling my eyes out reading the words of Psalm 51 to Joey.  I wept with such joy.

I pray the words of this book reach out to others....that they realize...God CAN and WILL forgive you of all your sins...even the deep, dark, dirty ones that you hope no one knows about.  He knows, and He is just waiting for a confession of those sins.  Once we confess, we are cleansed of all our past.  What a wonderful gift!!!!  He forgives, cleanses and RESTORES!!  

Hallelujah!!

*****

Ashley

Please Sing Me a Song...

My children all asked me to sing them to sleep tonight.

I quickly sang a few ditty's from my mommy

repertoire to Finn and Owen,

then I moved on to B...who had been waiting patiently 

saying, "momma, mommy, mom, momma" from her bedroom.

She laid her head on my lap and I tickled her back, and ran her beautiful locks through my hands.

She happily listened as I sang the old stand by songs.

She smiled and was content to sleep...

after she got a sippy cup of juice.

I then remembered Aidan calling from his room asking me to sing him to sleep 15 minutes earlier.

I went in to sing and he was already asleep.

But I felt the need to wake him up to sing his favorite melodies.

And as I sat there singing our songs, I reflected back on 9 years of singing to this precious baby boy.

Only he's not a baby anymore...

he's huge...he's nine...I can't lift him anymore...

but still this precious big boy wants constant hugs and kisses from me and it is my privilege to give them,

and such a privilege to sing to this sweet child....

I know one day he won't want me to kiss him, hug him or sing "You Are My Sunshine" anymore.

So I must revel in this sweet time together.

My cheeks are covered in tears of gratitude that the Lord would let me be your momma.

I love you my sweetheart.

you are my sunshine

my only sunshine

you make me happy

when skies are grey

you'll never know dear

how much I love you

please don't take my sunshine away

*****

Ashley

Cheetos Bath

His first run-in with a tray full of Cheetos!!  Ha!  He loved them...obviously!  He was covered in orange crunchy bits and soft mushy balls.  It was so messy he had to take a bath in the kitchen sink...which he also loved!

Silly, crazy, messy boy...I love you!

Sad, Sweet Tears

Aidan threw up a few times last night,

Breslyn called from her bed at 6:15am this morning that she was going to throw up.

So when I went in to wake Finn and he started crying I assumed he was going to follow suit.

I was very wrong.

I listened to his cry and it was so sad and I really wanted to know why he was so upset...

He started crying even harder and said he, "didn't want to think about 

his nightmare anymore."

Of course I pressed to know what happened, and he said it involved Breslyn.

 I held him and he sobbed saying, "a man took B."

And that they were "at home, but a different house."

He was genuinely so upset, and it broke my heart.

But I was also so moved by his compassion for his sister....

I held him and loved on him...such sweetness packed in a few salty tears.

*****

Ashley

12 in 12:September AND October

Sooooo....I have slacked on my "12 in 12" goals lately.  Boo to me...but really I'm not too far behind!! 

For September my goal was TO SURVIVE!!  As a known homebody, being on the go constantly with deadlines and major stress (oh and a very sick family) just about knocked me out!!  To recap my September....go HERE!!! 

For October my goal is to clean out the kids closets....put away the clothes that will be reused, get out the fall/winter clothes, get rid of the clothes that are too tight, return borrowed clothes and toys, switch B's clothes to her new armoire (project coming soon) and in general organize!!  I also MUST finish editing the wedding pics I took a few weekends ago....I took 600 so there are a lot to go through, edit, delete and save!!

I have slacked on my posts lately...I have so much to say (and so many posts that are half written), but hopefully I will have pics and writs to read!!  Haha!! 

*****

Ashley