So, remember this post?

Well, things have been crazy good since.  I have been booked solid and so often I'm finding myself saying, "Holy Cow!"

I'm loving it and it makes my heart feel great to know that every beautiful picture will somehow, someway help a beautiful lost soul. For a portion of the fee will go straight to missions, nationally and internationally, as a gift for Christ.

Pictures with a purpose, as my sweet SIL, coined it. 

Here is a sneak peek at For His Glory Photography.  Launch coming soon!

Sometimes, even though I try my best to suppress it, I'm a sentimental schmuck.

Today, I'm longing for a day gone by.

If I close my eyes really tight, I could almost pretend I am 8 years old again and all the world is right.

Giggles, dreams, cabbage patch kids, riding bikes around the neighborhood, and grandparents.  Because grandparents = childhood.

Those were the days, right?  Remembering back to the kid I was, sometimes wanting to dismiss the adult I've become.  Only through the grace of God, I've turned out relatively unscathed and I'm still standing on my own two feet with a faithful husband and two (oh-so!) cute kids of my own.  Life is pretty good.  And, now, I'm enjoying looking through the eyes of my children, almost like getting to relive my childhood once again.

Yesterday, we traveled to see my grandmother, who is almost 84.

Widowed for 5+ years, longing for something more.

My mom and dad (more than likely) have made a decision that an assisted living would be the best for her, so that means possibly selling "grandma's house".

I've watched her age, become forgetful, and sometimes a little grumpy:-/  But in the end, she's my grandmother and she will always be bigger than life.  Even on her worst day.

Saying goodbye to her house is the beginning of saying goodbye to an era.  The ending of a tangible chapter.  The beginning of another.  Its becoming more and more obvious that my sweet childhood will only remain in the rear view mirror as life continues to drive on.

I am beginning to fully grasp the reality that I'm an adult, even though the innocence of 8 sounds appealing.

Yet, I so desperately enjoy looking back because the love from those years sustains me and my faith to this day.  

In my mind, my grandmother always look like this......


Just like Mimi & Pops will always represent childhood to my Layton and my Luke.  







As my tangible childhood fades in the rear view mirror, my children's childhood is coming into plain sight.

And a resounding thankfulness is ringing through my heart as my view is replaced with this....

Layton had his second visit to the dentist, where Miss Cindy cleaned and checked his teeth.


She and Dr. Frye gave us a thumbs up, and we walked away with clean teeth and no cavities:)  I was 24 years old before I had my first cavity, I really hope that Layton will follow my lead!

Later that day, we volunteered at Hope House (even though Layton called it Hope's House), which is located downtown in our city.  It is a volunteer facility that reaches out to the impoverished community, giving out clothes and food, but mostly important the gospel.  We went to help with their backpack ministry where food is distributed to local schools and then given to children in need of food on the weekends.  It breaks my heart to think of hungry children in my very own city.........so, the least we can do is to give back and help in a small, small way.

We met several couples from church and we immediately saw that we had a long night ahead.  The bins were empty. Over 1700 bags needed to be filled with milk, protein bars, nuts, mac & cheese, nutrigrain bars, crackers and cereal.  It was a daunting task, but knowing the end result meant full bellies....so worth it.

My cousin, Olivia (hi, Olivia!) watched Luke, JJ and baby Luke....but Jessica and I really wanted Layton & Sydney to go and help.  We want their eyes to open to the needs in our city and in our world.  Physical needs and spiritual needs.  I realize that a 4 year old can only comprehend so much - but its a start.  *Since then he has already initiated giving up some of his food in the pantry to "kids in the world that don't have food!" - so maybe we did begin to plant a seed of sacrifice.*


Anslee, Sydney and Layton organizing the crackers

 I had two very hard working boys:)

And the kids did an amazing job....they truly helped as we assembled the bags.
*With the exception of an occasional chase of the cat and a trip to the litter box that just about ended the night in a heart attack. Yet, all is well - we think!*

But in all seriousness, it was a LONG night with no dinner, yet we all kept working with no complaints.  Some even came after working all day and standing all night. 

However, in the 3rd hour, we were all getting a little looney!  So, Gretchen and I splurged and gave the kids TWO Rice Krispy treats instead on just one!  Such rebels! 

The final result......

1700 backpacks will be stuffed with food bags for needy children all across the city.


Beautiful teeth and Full Backpacks:)   It was a good day.

Anyway,

Ya'll have got to turn off your word verification! It will change the way you blog and helps people comment SO much easier. Blogger recently changed it and makes you type in a PARAGRAPH before you can hit "publish your comment".  You know what I'm talking about, right?


Here's how....simple easy!!

Click on your "Dashboard"

Go to: "Settings"

Then to: "Comments"

Then scroll down and where it says "Show word verification for comments?" CLICK NO!!!!!!

Hit save at the bottom and there you go!  Easy - peezy!



Thank you,
your friend that loves to comment but HATES word verification:)
Have a great day!! :)))

This week, I bought size 6 diapers because his sweet chubby legs had marks in them from the size 5's.  He would point and say, "I hurt!"

Well, what's a Momma to do?  Get the boy some bigger diapers, the biggest ones the diaper industry makes (besides pull-ups, which are mucho expensive!)

So, we get home with the new diapers............guess what? He doesn't want to wear them.  Luke takes his diaper off constantly, along with most of his clothes -- so this child is naked all.the.time.

Point to my story is this -- I put underwear on him for the FIRST time and we may begin the long journey of potty training.  Do I think he is ready?  Maybe (he did go #2 yesterday in the potty).  Do I want to begin truly training?  Not really.

But oh my word, he sure looks SUPER CUTE in his brothers' underwear......size 4, by the way:) And he fills them out quite nicely.

Oh, and his sweet little feet, size 9 WIDE:)  Layton wears a size 11, if that gives you any perspective.  And he is 2 1/2 years older......

Luke is truly my lump of love!

A few snippets of life as we know it;)

Well, a new year called for a new look!

Thanks to Faith and her amazing skills, she and I came up with the perfect design for my blog.  I wanted a simple look with a little chevron (I'm obsessed with right now!) and with just a few emails back and forth ---------- ta da!  I love it:) If you are looking for a makeover or an update, check her out:) She is talented, sweet girl who loves the Lord.  Doesn't get much better than that!


"Treasuring the little Things" is now, "Treasuring these Things". Why?

In the past year, I have felt a conviction on my life in many different ways.  One has been this blog.  The original title was to treasure everything that was/is the boys.  Yet, my heart changed.  I realized that I shouldn't be treasuring just the boys, my treasures should be focused more eternally.  More than "things/children/etc" but "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable" Philippians 4:8. 

Here's to new look and a new focus;)

Words to remember.....