A Summer Addition

Jake's sister Mel is staying with us for the summer and man oh man has it been great to have her here!

I'm so thankful she is getting to know Israel and bond with her nephew. 

He likes her a lot.

We all like her a lot. 

She got a job at a cute cafe (Tomato Pie Cafe) before she even arrived in PA. 

God is taking good care of her. 

She's been doing the Night Watch with us and has brought a fresh fire and passion to our prayer times. 

Her commitment to God is spurring me on to seek and find Him more!

I'm so thankful that I married into such an awesome family and I can't wait for our Paurus beach trip in June! It's going to be a blast.

Jake and I did our best to fix up our basement for her arrival. 

We live in an old farm house so the basement was a little less than inviting before we started this project.

We painted the walls, laid carpet, covered the nasty exposed ceiling with colorful and mismatched sheets, created some custom-made artwork, sprayed raid in every crack and crevice that bugs could enter, and my favorite part; we decorated! 

Hooray for a new season and a fun summer full of memories to be made!

1st Mother's day!

I love being this guy's mama. 

Happy Mother's day to all!!

Success

 Israel's least favorite time of the day... tummy time!

My hair, sadly, on most days is in the classic no-style-messy-bun. In fact, it's like that right now. :)

Some thoughts for today:

"This is my success; to love You and be loved by You"

I was made for worship. I was made to behold the King of Glory.

My heart comes alive when I am overflowing with love for the Father.

"God is most glorified when I am most satisfied in Him"

That is a weighty statement and it doesn't come naturally.

To be satisfied means you're not looking for anything else. To be satisfied means your longing is fulfilled.

I was drawn to the house of prayer because God revealed to me that I was not loving Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. 

I knew that we fall more in love with God as we spend time with Him, as we gaze upon His beauty and seek Him in His temple.

I've definitely lost sight of this on many occasions since God gave me that gentle rebuke. It's something that can get so easily complicated even when it is simple. 

Jake always says, "It takes vision to love God will all your heart." 

I am in desperate need of vision.

But one thing I am certain of; God is so pleased with my small attempts and my weak love. 

A life well lived is one spent growing in love for my creator day after day, week after week, month after month. 

In the small ways and in the big ways. In the sacrifices and in worship. 

Hallelujah!

He is worthy!

Even the trees will clap their hands

It's flower season again and I am so excited! 

I've literally been dreaming about working with flowers again.

My mentor has already done a few weddings this season and I got to help out a couple times. 

This is just a little experimenting I did with some of the leftovers.

"The earth laughs in flowers" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jake and I were talking about this quote the other day and it got us thinking about the passage in Romans 8 about the earth:

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Just imagine it! The earth is going to be restored just as we have the hope of having a resurrected body! What will that look like? Well, we know the trees will clap their hands and instead of thorns and briers there will be trees (Isaiah 55:12-13) So, what kind of flowers will there be when God makes all things new?!! I'm quite certain they will be breathtaking.

I want to keep this hope ever before me. 

God, let me always be reminded of Your eternal promises and long for Your return, just as the earth itself groans and waits! I need that perseverance in the waiting.

Under the Sea

 These were a few extra fishies in the back corner of the room

I love watching Jake paint.

He is so extremely talented and 'comes alive' when he's doing what he loves to do. 

He got to paint this mural in one of the kids rooms at our church. It took him a little less than a week and he enjoyed it a lot. My favorites are the purple mohawk fish with the underbite and the octopus :)

Check out the time lapse video the church's youth director made:

Sleepy Crib Time

Izzy was completely oblivious of his mama turning his first nap in his crib into a full blown photo shoot. He does well in there which means he'll make the switch at night sometime soon. I'm going to miss waking up with him next to me in his bassinet. 

 My mom made this funny octopus after seeing one like it in a toy store. She's amazing.

 Not pictured: the new curtains we just hung up in his room. They look awesome! My mom made them with a nice 'black-out' lining to keep it dark while he sleeps. Did I mention she's amazing?!

These cool prints above his crib were made by our lovely and talented friend Audrey. We met Audrey in Vienna and quickly became good friends. Our time together was short, but both Jake and I love hearing from her whenever we can. She is an extremely talented artist and as soon as I saw these prints in her etsy, I knew they would be perfect for a little boy room. Check out her etsy and blog!