...more to the story...

Remember that waiter the other night 

that was rude?

did you know he found out that day that he was losing his job, and he has 5 kids at home?

And remember that girl who cut you off when you were driving to lunch?

did you know she was on her way home from getting bad news at the doctor?

Oh, and that mom who drives a nice car that you envy and judge her character by?

did you know that she was given that car as a gift?

And what about the guy at the home improvement store that was so short with you?

did you know he found out the day before that his baby girl had a serious illness?

The list could go on.

We never know what someone is going through or how they got to where they 

are in that moment.

But there is something we can do about it.

Something on my heart lately,

and especially this weekend as we remember the 

GRACE given to us by Jesus hanging on the cross.

What if we stopped for just a second and CONSIDERED that there might be more to the story that just what our eyes see and what our ears hear?

What if we stopped and asked God to help us see that person 

the way He sees them?

I think it could make an incredible impact on the way we love people.

He might even lead you to help them.

or He might lead someone to help YOU if you are the one who forgot to use your turn signal because you just found out bad news.

I know God's just beginning to scratch the surface with me about this,

but I so desire for my heart to always take a moment to hear from the Lord 

before I pass judgement, get upset, or turn away.

He might lead me to give grace and love like He has done for me.

Im glad He sees the whole story 

when He looks at me.

linking up with other hearts shared today over at Casey's.

"BEING" her mommy

"...let your face smile on us, Lord.

You have given me greater joy than those who have 

abundant harvests of grain and new wine."

Psalm 4:7

In the midst of many "adjusting" days to toddlerhood (for her AND me),

today was one that captured my heart and brought me a lot of joy as HER mommy.

Every day does, really.  

But sometimes I think I get caught up in the

"being a Mommy" (and all that goes along with that),

 instead of just being with her.

does that make sense?

I told myself and the Lord today that I want to pursue more times of 

just BEING in the moment with my little girl.

We aren't promised tomorrow, and with loss too familiar to us in this season,

 I don't want to ever regret missing these precious moments.

so today, Im soaking them up...

When did this little baby grow up so big?!

She walks her snacks back to the little table in her play area and sits in the chair

waiting for me to join, but the minute I sit down she pulls me up...

it is clearly HER table.

But she does want me close by, on the floor next to her.

(just not at the table! ha!)

I'm happy to sit wherever next to my little bug.

(thats been her nickname since about 6 wks old)

This bag must have been filled 

and then promptly emptied 

a million and one times with easter eggs.

She is very intense and diligent about whatever she is doing.

I found myself at one point picking up the eggs to put them away, 

because she had moved on to the next thing.

But something in me just stopped and said 

not to worry about picking up right then...

to just go BE and play with my girl.

Im trying to just BE in these moments, remember?

And precious they are.

This afternoon, we did a little "water painting" in the driveway.

She LOVED it!

She loves sticking the paint brush in the water and seeing the stripes she made on the ground.

And when she pulled one shoe off and threw it in the bowl of water,

And when she decided the paint brush was enough like a hair brush to paint her head with it,

And when she tried to drink from the bowl...

I remembered to BE in the moment, just like she was.

That's the face she makes when she's super excited.

"ooooooo"

so stinking cute.  :)

I "painted" a big A for her name and she finished it.

She did not want this to end.

and neither did I.

We used the whole bowl of water until it had all splashed out or been painted away.

My precious Abigail, I am so blessed by the 

joy you bring to my moments.

exciting blog news!!

I am SO happy today!!
"Blogland" is a whole new kind of fellowship that I believe God has brought into my life in the last few months...He knows my heart desires true and real relationships.You might think that cant happen over the computer....but it can.
I honestly am daily encouraged, inspired, and challenged by the words and hearts of other bloggers.
That's why I am so thrilled and honored to have been selected to be part of this week's New 10 blogs over at Faith Blogs....an amazing network of bloggy friends who pour their hearts out in words, with a purpose of sharing life and sharing Jesus.
Thank You Faith Blogs!!!

I look forward to sharing in this journey with so many others...

real people just trying to trust God through life!

Through the joys, sorrows, ups and downs.

We need each other.

Go check out their sweet website and blog...and explore the hearts of others out there.

You might just come across

exactly what you need to hear today, like I have so many times.

Abigail is so good at displaying the JOY in her heart...

and this picture is how I feel today!

Thanks yall....I am blessed.

eyes to worship

"Sing a new song to the Lord!

Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!

Sing to the Lord, praise His name.

Each day proclaim the good news that He saves.

Publish His glorious deeds among the nations,

tell everyone about the amazing things He does.

Great is the Lord, most worthy of praise!"

Psalm 95

(Abigail "worshipping" and dancing to music before bed tonight...)

When Abigail was about 2 weeks old, I had a very spiritual moment

as I was nursing her one day...

I felt the Lord's presence come over me and speak to me about the

gifts He would give to my precious daughter.

They were spoken into my spirit, not all to be shared here,

but one thing He did tell me was that she would have a heart of worship.

And that she does. Full of JOY, just like her name.

You can see it in her eyes.

I have been learning from my little girl to see the things in life

that are worthy of praising our God for...

every dog, every doll,

every "bid" (bird) in the sky, every nap, every breath, every new morning.

She's so good at finding those things.

I think a lot of us mommies could say that our children teach us how to see the world through a different perspective...a joyful, innocent one, full of excitement.

A view that makes God worthy of praise.

I so desire to see my world and my day through the eyes of worship,

and excitement...through the eyes of trust.

Trust that God has the best for me and that when i look at Him,

He will show it to me.

Even if its not the prettiest thing...I would see His hand there,

And praise Him anyways.

(Abigail dancing back and forth to worship music at bed time)

God loves our heart of worship no matter what season we are in.

He is worthy of our praise and our daily trust,

even when we skin our knees or fall chin-first into the coffee table.

He's still there with His perfect plan in place,

one that is worthy of praise.

Help me see it, Lord.

Abigail's Art Show!

Last night was Abigail's "Art Show" at her Mother's Day Out...

The entire school puts on an Art Walk and displays things they've worked on during the year.

I could not have been more proud.

yes, she's only 15 months old.

But Im SO proud of my little bitty artist!

she was proud to show her daddy her work.....

The theme was a walk through the nations...

Each age level, up to 6th grade, had a different country and the bitties had Mexico.

(wait till you scroll down a few pics...you might just wet your pants!)

She worked SO hard, which is no surprise given her intense personality!

Here she is working so diligently at painting her artwork,

which was a Mexican Zarape (like a blanket or shawl).

Remember I told you you might wet your pants from laughter?

well, here it is...

Is this not the cutest funniest little thing?

All the girls wore this dress and the boys wore a zarapa and a sombrero,

and each had their pictures displayed with their artwork!

I definitely pulled a first-time mama move and cried.

Because I was so proud of her and so excited that she was so proud.

My baby is growing up so fast...

Being a proud mama is whats on my heart today,

Im so thankful for the gift God has given me in this little girl.

link up here to share your heart with some more ladies today...