my Easter lovely

Not much to write today...

more on my heart to share as the week goes on,

but I definitely HAD to share these precious pictures with you.

Yesterday was her first "active" Easter 

(last year she was still just sleeping in her carrier)...

and she was quite the hit in her beautiful petti-coated dress!

what a little lovely...

She read her new books in her rocking chair at Memaw and GrandHop's house,

and then had fun hunting for eggs in their backyard with all her cousins!

im IN LOVE with this precious dress.

It is TOO much fun to have a little girl.

Cant go wrong with a big back bow on a sweet little girl!

Then we went to her Nonni's house for some more fun..

she was very intrigued by this little "chicky" that chirps when you hold it. 

OK and I saved my favorite photo for last,

It speaks to my heart.

I've shared before about how the Lord has told me that Abigail has a gift of worship and music,

and so to see this was absolutely precious.

And I love that you cant even see her feet because she's still so little!
oh, and she was 16 months old yesterday too, my big little girl...

Heart so happy.

linking up to other lovely ladies today over here!

first egg hunt!

running, giggling, pointing, waving hi to a "real live" bunny,

searching and gathering...

this sweet little girl had her very first easter egg hunt today!

that is MY old basket from growing up (yikes! must be old... )

how sweet is that?!

I love that it is half the size of her, 

but she carried her Easter basket like a pro.

She was a little unsure of all the big kids running towards all the "ba's" (balls)

all over the ground,

but she quickly realized she was supposed to put the eggs in the basket.

(we HAVE been practicing a little bit this week)  :).

oh, and her bunny bow (if you can tell thats what it is)

is one of her and my favorite bows!

I was very unsure of how she'd react to the "real live" bunny,

but being the social bug she is,

she spotted him from afar,

waved hi, and walked right up!

 They even traded a few eggs.  

so proud of her!

full of love this girl is...

this is her leaning in to kiss "bunny".

We are so honored and thrilled to teach our little one about 

the cross and the resurrection and the LOVE of Jesus for her, 

as well as have a little egg hunting fun!

May your day be full of BLESSINGS,

...and maybe a few eggs too!

...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.