Wednesday, October 30, 2013

All about Elizabeth!

Elizabeth has been doing a lot of new things lately!
 
She is 9.5 months old now....
and in her usual style,
she hit several milestones within a few days.

Standing up on her own all the time,
Saying "Dada", Clapping (especially if you say "Yay!"),
Waving and saying "bye-bye," saying "ball",
and saying "Woof, woof, woof" - oh, this is ADORABLE!
 
She is such a climber, too!
Very crazy/fearless and hard to keep up with!
 
 
Elizabeth modeled for our photographer and pinkbowtique.com
 






Mommy snapped a couple of pictures, too  :)



Climbing into the swing


Trying to get in on the fun with her brothers

9 months old!


A sweet, contagious smile :)


Chillin' with the pumpkins :)


Mommy's girl  :)


She looks so smart here....


Too many good books to choose from, Mommy!


1st Halloween!
 
 
I love this sweet girl!
 
<>< Stacy

Monday, October 28, 2013

Is facebook really all that bad?

I sat down at facebook after a tiring day at Co-op
expecting to read a few quick interesting status messages.
 
Instead, I quickly came across both of these stories.
                                         (adoption page)
 
Read, Pray, and if you can, Give,
but most of all, PRAY.
 
 ------
 
A lot of times we hear about facebook in a negative light...
addictive, time consuming, and makes us compare our lives to others.
 
Although this CAN be accurate, it doesn't have to be.
 
Facebook is a great way to spread the word about people in need,
and to develop prayer chains for those in need of prayer.
 
God quickly showed me both heartache and hope today.
I didn't need to see anymore status updates.
I was encouraged to press on and pray without ceasing.
 
Please join me in praying for these!
 
<>< Stacy
 

Friday, October 25, 2013

Clear the Stage

What do you devote your time, heart, thoughts, and actions to?
 
This is powerful.  Watch and listen.
 
No, really. 

Turn your mind from everything else
and purposefully watch and listen.
 
Listen for God.
 
If you can't hear Him,
then watch and listen AGAIN.
 
 
 
 
Idols. 
We all have them.

We may not worship golden images,
but we have other idols in our lives.
 
We take something we like or want,
and give it prominence over God.
 
And to make matters worse,
we try to justify it instead of overcoming it
to make ourselves feel better.
 
Clear the stage. 
Seek the Lord.
Crush the idols.

We must not worship something that's not even worth it
Clear the stage, make some space for the one who deserves it


"Clear The Stage"

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze

If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols

Jerk the pews & all the decorations, too 

Until the congregations few, then have revival


Tell your friends that this is where the party ends 

Until you're broken for your sins, you can't be social

Then seek the Lord & wait for what He has in store 

And know that great is your reward so just be hopeful



'Cause you can sing all you want to

Yes, you can sing all you want to

You can sing all you want to

And still get it wrong;
Oh, worship is more than a song



Take a break from all the plans that you have made 

And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper

Beg Him please to open up His mouth and speak

And pray for real upon your knees until they blister

Shine the light on every corner of your life

Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open

Then read the Word and put to test the things you've heard 

Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken


'Cause you can sing all you want to

Yes, you can sing all you want to

You can sing all you want to

And still get it wrong;
Oh, worship is more than a song


We must not worship something that's not even worth it

Clear the stage, make some space for the One who deserves it


Anything I put before my God is an idol
Anything I want with all my heart is an idol
And anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol
And anything that I give all my love is an idol



'Cause I can sing all I want to

Yes, I can sing all I want to

And we can sing all we want to
We can sing all we want to
We can sing all we want to

And still get it wrong

Worship is more than a song

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze

If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols
 
------
 
Lately I have been convicted to realize my own sin.
It's not enough to be a 'good person'. 
None of us are 'good enough'.
The Bible calls us to mourn over our own sin
and realize that we are broken without God.

God is all that matters.

<>< Stacy

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Apple Picking 2013

My family has gone apple picking every Fall
for as long as I can remember!
 
We have pictures by the "How tall this Fall?" sign
dating back to when my brother was in a stroller  :)
 
Our usual spot, Skytop, has gotten pretty busy for weekend picking,
so we tried out a new place this year:  Stepp Apple Orchard
 
 Not exactly the same as Skytop, but plenty of apples to choose from!
It was so SO so SO so SO hot that we didn't get to stay too long.
 
It was still a fun family experience with my family
that has now become 12 people!
 
I'll just let the overabundance of pictures speak for themselves :)
 
 

Happy in the wagon

Excited!

Loving my little girl :)

Science lesson? = field trip!

Fun climbing in the trees!

Snacking :)


So nice living together this Fall!!!!

Daddy gets the hard jobs :)
 
 
Just chillin' in the shade
 

Me and my bro

Still veeeeeery excited!

Trying an apple...

Getting HOT at this point!

Cousin Violet sneaking a smile  :)

Some of the many faces of Christopher.....

when he still had teeth!

Lizzy had a few things to say about the apples.


too hot to cooperate enthusiastically
 
Cutie pies!

These two seriously love each other!!

Elizabeth's  first time apple picking!

Daddy's girl ?

Yummy!

Cooling off in the car
(which I might add you can DRIVE around the orchard)

The hard workers...


Uncle Steven
 
 
Back at Grandma's house....

The 5 grandchildren


Excited about pumpkins  :)

When did he get so big?

We have plans for these baking pumpkins!

Christopher loving on his cousin, Lily :)


The baby girls hanging out together
 
 
Fun was had by all   :)
 
<>< Stacy