Wisconsin Dells 2013 Photo Journal

The annual family vacation to the Dells was a little different this year because we stayed at a resort instead of a campground.  I really missed the campfires and tent sleeping, but my 8 month pregnant body enjoys air-conditioning and a mattress off the ground.  We still had lots of fun!

Mandy and I took a picture of each other so everyone knew we were there!

Grandma and the current babies of the family

LD loves water slides!

Josh and LD waiting for the waves to start.

Kelly and I enjoying some vacation relaxation!

Grandma and Papa with the kids at the bottom of a slide.

Papa and LD

My big kids on the lazy river.  They went around and around.

EM and JR

JR loved crossing these giant lily pads.  He developed quite a technique by the time we left!

JR

EM

LD went down this slide about fifty times!

Happy little swimmer.



Aunt Kelly and EM ready to race!

Grandma - I think she won.

Papa and JR ready to go!

Girls rule!

Anthony and LB on their second car.

Aunt Kelly and her little koala baby crawling through the tunnels.

Anthony's aim was much too good.

Happy guy collecting balls to shoot.

My cutie.

A shot of the whole family.

Our 2013 Florida Vacation in Pictures

Lots of time hanging out at the pool.

All three kids tuckered out from a busy day of driving and swimming.

I could spend Mother's Day like this every year!

Mother's Day at Clearwater Beach, FL

It was beautiful! 

Building sandcastles and digging holes.

EM enjoying the warm waves.

Everyone hanging out in the water.  LD wasn't feeling well this day.  

LegoLand!

One of my favorite parts of the trip was having lunch at the dinosaur restaurant in Downtown Disney.  I don't remember the name, but it was a cool experience!

Silly husband, I love him.

Massive aquarium in the restaurant.

EM and me being princesses.

Our family at the Magic Kingdom

The kids all loved the Buzz Lightyear ride!  I think it might be my  favorite too!

You eat lots of food shaped like Mickey's head at Disney.

Ice cream while we wait for the parade.

We finally were able to see some characters!  

Handsome JR waiting to go into the Haunted Mansion.

Josh in Gaston's chair at the tavern.

I wonder what they were talking about?

LD and I went on the train ride around the park while the big kids went on a roller coaster.  He was a little excited!

EM was telling me about the roller coaster she just went on.  I think she liked it.

Jesse and Woody, Howdy, howdy, howdy!

awwwww...

My boys waiting for the fireworks.  I'm not sure what shocked LD, but it's cute.

EM spent hours chasing little lizards this week.

Daytona Beach, FL

Don't let the waves catch you!

Josh and EM doing some surfing.

Baby and I on the beach.

JR on the beach.

We had lots of fun searching for jellyfish!

Long line at Disney's Universal Studios.

Almost there!

I think he's a little sleepy.

Pretty girl.

It's nothing short of magical watching fireworks over Cinderella's Castle.

The whole crew at Universal Studios.

The "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" play area is always a hit!

How will you use your beauty?

As God works on my heart, these inspiring words of Jessica Rey really resound with me. 

“Modesty isn’t about hiding ourselves. It’s about revealing our dignity.” ~Jessica Rey

Jessica is the designer and founder of a swimwear company whose tagline is "Who says it has to be itsy bitsy?".  I love that and I can't wait to support her company next summer when I don't need a maternity swimsuit. 

I also love what Nancy at There is Grace says about modesty and raising daughters.  "Let’s teach our daughters that a life lived in modesty is the foundation for a life of purity." 

I pray that the Lord continues to help me grow in this area as a woman and as a mother of daughters. 

The Parable of the Sower

I woke up this Monday morning to find peaceful rain falling outside, so I grabbed my Bible and my coffee and headed for the back porch to start my week with some quiet time.  I happened to be in Luke, Chapter 8, which is the parable of the sower.  The Word of God is living, so it speaks differently to your heart at different seasons of your life.  Of course I've read and heard this parable many times in my life, but I've always pictured myself as the one along the path.  Today I put myself in the farmer's shoes. 

 

"A farmer went out to sow his seed.  as he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path;

it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up."

 

 

"Some fell on the rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.

Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants."

 

 

 

"Still other seed fell on good soil.  It came up and yielded a crop,

a hundred times more than was sown."

 

 

I once heard that when you're growing seedlings, you don't immediately put them outside in the harsh elements, but instead give them a head start in the shelter of a greenhouse.  I think Jesus was sharing this idea with me today in his parable in regards to raising my little seedlings. 

 

As I scatter the seeds of truth into their lives, I have the important job of protecting it from those the devil might use to trample it down and steal it away.  As those little seeds of truth are growing and taking root in their hearts they must be strengthened with prayer and time to develop their own relationship with God.  When given this time to mature in a safe environment, their roots will grow deep and the tree will not be easily withered when a time of drought comes. 

 

My seedlings must also be protected from the thorns of this world - life's worries, riches, and pleasures.  These worldly thoughts will attempt to choke the truth and must be guarded against.  I must also keep our greenhouse weeded of external influences who will try to compete with their worldly pleasures against the truth. 

 

The seedling grown in this safe environment of good soil will mature and have a noble and good heart, retaining the truth, and by persevering produce a crop a hundred times more than was sown.  This is my prayer for my children; that they would grow strong and mature in Christ, not easily swayed, and when they leave my greenhouse, produce a crop of their own.  



Just an Ordinary Tuesday Moment

I was lying in bed this morning, avoiding getting up, while LD watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse next to me.  He suddenly said, "Mom, can I have blueberry muffin?"  I'm not sure if Minnie was cooking muffins or how he got the idea, but it reminded me of the huge container of blueberries getting mushy in the kitchen.  Blueberry muffins?  I can do that. 

 

There is no one way to be a perfect mom.

 

But there are thousands of ways to be a good one!

Not very much baby left.

I just tucked LD into his toddler bed for the night.  He would be happy to continue rocking and being tucked into his crib, but Daddy thinks we need the crib soon for the new baby.  He's been sleeping in his toddler bed for naptime for a few months now, so hopefully he'll be comfortable there and sleep well.  (Hehe, I just ran upstairs because he was calling me - his stars had turned off.  I guess that's another chance for one more goodnight kiss.)

LD's been doing a great job using the potty for almost a week now!  He filled up his rocket ship potty chart and is so proud of himself.  We've even made a few trips out this week, accident free.  Now that's some growing up I can get on board with.