my heart is full today

The Lord has been reminding me lately that I am so so blessed to be doing what I do as a Mommy.

Today was one of those days where every look, smile, diaper change, whine, giggle, roll, bow organizination, non napping baby, applesauce spill...

has made my heart full.

(some pics from the last day or two...)

I cannot handle that cuteness.

why does Abigail look so old and beautiful? time needs to slow down. for real.

and those eyes.

the best of sissies.

"imma do a bridge!" - gymnast in training

taking well to a bottle every now and then!

first bottle given by her big sister. a sweet sweet moment they both loved!

playing in baby's crib before night night.

her fav place to explore!

reading a "Memaw book", a card sent by her Memaw and Hop!

again with the looking so old. and beautiful.

carefree joy.

best flower-smelling-face ever!

"not so tight Abigail!"

preciousness.

So so thankful I get to do life with these two.

It's been a good day. :)

Hope y'all had a lovely Thursday too!

God speaks through Happy Mail...

He does. and He did to me this week.

In the form of some surprise "happy mail" from a sweet bloggy friend, Aly.

I am still just blown away and humbled.

Read my email below that I sent to Aly yesterday, explaining how the Lord used her sweet package to speak to me.

{my email to Aly:}

girl. I am blown away by your generosity and sweetness to me! I LOVE love love the prints, and I am currently hunting for the perfect place for it. :)

I love the design and colors and everything! it was SO much fun to receive some surprise "happy mail" :)

I know it was the Lord who had you send it to, and my husband agreed, when I showed the prints to him last night. we were both blown away at God's goodness.

attempting to make a long story short: :) ha....

as you know, I was a dancer my whole life, it was pretty much what I breathed growing up. But I obviously havent danced in years, and have been missing it, especially lately since Abigail started ballet. :)

A few years ago I got into cycling and did my first triathlon, etc, and loved it. I am trying to get back into it to do another one this Fall. And as much I love doing that, I keep feeling this pull to get back into dance. But I have been torn because of just trying to make the time and effort to do a dance class seems too much as a mommy. (whereas with tri training, I can take them with me to run, etc). And honestly I have been really under-confident to get back into dance since it has been so long.

ANYwho, we watched the So You Think You Can Dance auditions, and there was a 29 year old Mommy of 2 little ones who tried out and was amazing. (oh and she was even from Dallas like me), and that was the first thing that gave me hope that I could get back into it.

Then, we ran into a friend a few weeks ago, and his wife starts telling me about the studio where she dances here, etc. I looked up the classes and the times are perfect, after the girls' bedtime, etc etc. So I've been getting excited thinking maybe I really can get back into it!

But then last week, I got discouraged that maybe it is just a pipe dream that I can actually dance again and that I wont be good, etc etc. So I resorted to just focusing on tri stuff. Parker has been encouraging me that I can do both, but I have just brushed it off thinking there's no way. As silly as it sounds about this small thing, its been like a roller coaster to me. :)

and then.

I got your happy mail yesterday, and it was like the Lord's voice to me when I opened it.

"I HOPE YOU DANCE".

ahh! I know they are the lyrics to a song everyone knows, but to me...when I opened it...it was God speaking to me about HIS heart for MY heart.

ok crying now. :)

anyways. I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you sending me these and that it really was the Lord's timing and prompting. He used you to speak to me, and I am so thankful. Now I'm gonna go sign up for those dance classes!! :)

Love you girl!!!!!

-Sarah

and then I received a precious precious email back from her,

encouraging me to dance.

to embrace my gift as a form of worship, and to do it for my soul and for Him.

I was not only blessed immensely by the gesture of her gift to me, and her sweet note and beautiful prints...

I was blessed that she listened to a simple prompting from the Lord to send me what she thought would just be a cute happy to hang on my wall.

She had no idea that it was the LORD having her do that, and that He would be using her,

and in perfect timing, to speak to my heart.

It makes me want to really listen and follow through when I feel even the smallest prompting from Him.

It may just be that He wants to use me.

Thanks again, Aly. I am so thankful for your friendship!!

Oh, and I signed up for dance classes yesterday. :)

PS yall need to go order some of her awesome stuff from her shop, Blossom & Vine.

I have her stuff all around my house!

sister room sharing

The latest big joy in my life as a mom:

witnessing these two little ladies share a room!

Even though it has definitely caused a few frustrations from mama when I am needing them to sleep and they are just "talking" to each other...

it has been mostly just fun to see them spend even more time loving on each other.

Some people might think we are crazy for having them share rooms so young

(B is still just 6 months), or having them share at all,

but it has just always been something we've wanted to do with our kids,

and I just felt in my heart it was time!

Even though I still get up with B once or twice to nurse, I just rock her in the chair and Abigail usually doesnt even know I am there.

This has actually become one of my favorite times.

It doesn't matter how tired I am, there is just nothing that compares to being in a totally quiet and peaceful room where my daughters are dreaming together.

It has given me a chance to pray over them as they sleep, and to just sit in the rocker and take in their tiny breathing sounds.

I believe this is just the beginning of many late night giggles, secrets shared between sisters,

slumber parties in each other's beds, and more.

And we believe it will foster a way to teach them the imprtance of sharing and valuing each other's space and possessions.

And teaching them the amazing gift of spending time together as family.

They are enjoying it just as much as we are.

It is the CUTEST thing to see Bethany's tiny head pop up and peer through her crib to see Abigail...everyone is loving this new adventure!

They have both adapted really well and we look forward to years to come of them becoming the best of friends. I have to say I am a little jealous I can't share a room with these two myself. :)

(we will just have to have family slumber parties!)

When Bethany is crying, I have heard Abigail "shh'ing" her.

And most mornings, they wake up around the same time and Abigail goes straight to baby's crib and whispers good morning. SO so sweet.

And though someday I may have to get good at saying "be quiet or I am going to separate you two!", I really think this is going to be an awesome thing and something they will hopefully appreciate one day!

Anyways, that's my latest joy. I can't get enough. :)

Y'all have a good Monday!

linking up here:

Thrifty Love Gift Exchange reminder!!!!

Are you a part of the

Thrifty Love

thrifted gift exchange?!?

If so, this is just a friendly reminder to

get your gift (10$ limit!) in the mail soon...

and then come back AUGUST 6th to link up your post

about the gift YOU received from your partner!!

YAY! so fun.

Can't wait to see all the treasures!!!

Hope y'all are having a great week so far!!

PS

I appreciate all the prayers for my health this week!

My body is feeling better as whole, but my mouth (tooth) is still in a TON of pain...

ugh.

I've never looked so forward to going to the dentist, but so thankful my

surgery is in the morning (and its just with laughing gas so shouldn't be too big of a deal)

Anyways.

LOVE YALL. thankful for you! :)

pics and prayer please

I am under the weather this week in a major way...

I have gotten a pretty bad infection in my body from some dental issues, and will have another dental surgery this week to hopefully make it better.

But would appreciate any prayers if you think about it, for complete healing and that this infection would not get into my bloodstream any more than it already has.

I'm pretty miserable, to be honest with you.

And I've been dealing with some fear about all this.

But I am trying to take up my weapons in this battle against fear,

and believing Him for complete healing and prevention of it spreading.

All that to say, I'll be laying low the rest of the week.

(yay for parents and mother in law who are coming to help!)

so I thought I'd share some pictures from my "insta-life"... :)

love y'all. Have a great week!

watching sissy at splash pad // helping mama shop on our monthly Sam's run

first night of sharing rooms // first morning after (so sweet!)

indoor play tubes (=cool) // my fav summer refreshing treat (pushup frozen cherry limeade!)

my little sitter // beautiful A

my favorite "romper" // Cherry Basil Mojito at girls night

fresh cilantro, one of my fav smells // our first local crop-share delivered

new necklace from Carina // beauty with a beautiful bow from Stephanie

organizing little clothes // just me (tired me)

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PS, I just want to say I am so so thankful for yall.

I feel honored to be a part of this community!

Off to get some laughing gas...hahhahhaha

:)