c o m e + l i s t e n + L I V E

I love words!

I'm a verbal processor, so I love to share them with friends and family.

I love to read books and blogs. I appreciate words written in cards and spoken by friends and loved ones.

As 2015 was coming to a close, I felt an urging to get back into God's Word in 2016. Not that I haven't been reading it throughout the past year...I have. But I often read it as a box to check off my to-do list.  Or as an aside - a few verses that add onto the words of another.

What I mean is that I'll get into a Bible Study and hang on to every word of the author. I'll read a really inspiring book that challenges me to look at my faith in a completely new way. This is great and all...but I have been asking God to increase my desire for His Word. I've been filling up so much on the words of others, that His Word has lost its appeal.

I am so thankful that He heard my prayers and has answered.

God's response came in the form of a study called "Open Your Bible". Yes, it's another Bible study, but this one is very different from other studies I've done. It was written by the founders of She Reads Truth (which I've talked about multiple times here on the blog...back when I was blogging more regularly). And while it is another Bible study, the whole premise is that:

God's Word is for me (and you)

...and it is for now. 

It is for today, 

...and every day of my life (and yours).

It's simple, and at the same time so profound.

Since turning the corner into 2016, I can honestly say that I've opened my Bible more. Not because I need to read God's Word for Him to love me more. Instead, I'm re-discovering that Scripture is where I find life, and rest, and peace. It's truly the place where I can meet God daily, and see Him more clearly. His Word has been inspiring me more than what others' words ever could (no matter how true or how beautifully they are articulated). I am retraining my mind to go to Him first. To approach His Word with a new attitude and anticipation of the life that will come from that time well-spent.

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Here's a passage that struck me from my last week's reading (especially the part bolded below from verse 3).

I S A I A H  5 5 : 1 - 3

Come, all you who are thirsty, 

come to the waters; 

and you who have no money, 

come, buy and eat! 

Come, buy wine and milk 

without money and without cost! 

Why spend money on what is not bread, 

and your labor on what does not satisfy? 

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, 

and you will delight in the richest of fare. 

Give ear and come to me;

listen, that you may live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

my faithful love promised to David.

(emphasis added)

.    .    .

The Lord wants us to come to him, and to listen; this, He promises will bring us LIFE!

This is what my heart has been longing for. I look to so many others (who are talented, truth-telling, inspired, creative people) and all the while I've been feeling like something was missing. For me, I discovered that it was because I wasn't going straight to the source. I think the the words and creativity of others will bring my life, but in reality - my life comes from the Word of God.

So that's what I'm working on this year. I don't have a "New Year's Resolution" or a "word" for the year. simple act of coming and listening and receiving the life that Jesus alone can give me.

It's so freeing! So inspiring! To know that the Creator wants me to come...He wants to share His words, with me...today and every day!

26 Weeks | Pregnancy Ramblings

Well I'm 26 weeks, but haven't taken my "official bump pic" yet because the past week Harry and I have endured the plague...okay, I exaggerate. It was just a cold. But when you're pregnant, sneezing/blowing your nose constantly, coughing, and taking care of your child (who has all the same symptoms plus a fever)...it feels like the plague, or at least something worse than a cold.

It could have been worse, but I'm just SO THANKFUL to have gotten a full night of sleep and to be feeling a little better this morning.

I actually put on mascara, so that's a good sign, right?!

Well here are some random pregnancy pics I've taken in the past few weeks:

I don't take many "bare bump" pics...but here's one for your entertainment ;)

Restaurant bathroom selfie. I am not sure why I was making this face...but if I'm remembering it correctly, I think I was feeling extra awkward hoping no one would come through the door and catch me taking this dorky pic. Probably a sign that I should refrain from these kinds of pictures in the future. 

This isn't even all of the tubs of boys clothes that we have. It felt really good to get them organized though so that we can start cycling through them once Ellis arrives in April! 

Here's my 24 week bump. Harry wanted to be in the pic (with his "collection" - which basically means random toys that he had re-discovered in some toy bin that afternoon). I have basically been living in this sweater (and those shoes)...in fact I'm wearing the sweater as we speak.

Harry was comforting me when I started coming down with is sickness. He was singing about how he loves his baby "b-wudda" and kissing my belly. I was so tired and run-down that I started crying a few minute before taking this pic...and his response was "I'll make you feel happy mommy!". Such a sweet little tender heart he has.

This is basically all I've eaten in the past few days. So comforting!

And the tissues. Oh the amount of tissues we used this week. This was all from me in the middle of the night (the one in which Harry slept in our bed with me, and Josh opted for the couch to avoid catching our germs). We hardly slept a wink due to the constant nose drainage (as evidenced here).

Did I mention how thankful I am to be feeling more like a human today?! SOOOOO Thankful!!!

.    .    .

Well I suppose that's about it for now. I'll post a pic of "26 weeks" once I get around to taking one.

Ellis continues to grow and move all around which is just the biggest blessing ever. I really can't believe this is all happening sometimes. Last year was so hard. So filled with loss and doubt/fear that we may never get to experience bringing another little life into the world. And here we are. Just a couple of months away from meeting our second son!

Thank you Jesus!

And on a "mushy" note...Josh left us this note the other night. He had to work in the evening so by the time Harry and I returned from school he was gone...but he left us with a clean house and this. We are thankful to have him as our husband and daddy. He works his tail off for our family and we are so  grateful (even if it means we miss him when he has to work long hours at times).

3/52 (2016)

All of Harry's dinosaurs were eagerly watching him eat his pizza.
According to him, they wanted bites of the meat (since they're meat-eaters).

2/52 (2016)

We were heading somewhere in the car, and Harry was being super goofy in the driveway. He's blurry, but I love his silliness. I hope he never loses the freedom he feels to just be himself.

Oh to be almost four again! 

1/52 (2016)

Three years ago I took a photo of Harry every week of the year. I wish I'd been doing this every year, but I haven't done it since. This year however, I've decided to resurrect the project and document Harry's 4th year by taking his photo every week and documenting here.

Once Ellis arrives I'll be doing the same with him.

Can't wait to share little glimpses of our boys' year with you in this simple way.

It snowed on the first Sunday of the 2016.

Harry was so excited to bundle up and go "lick the snowflakes". His wonder and excitement at the little moments like this is one of my favorite parts of motherhood.

10 on 10 :: January 2016

   

22 Weeks: Baby Ellis

Ellis Gideon Matt

So we've named this little one! (insert heart eye emoji)

It's a name we haven't heard much before, but we love it. My favorite may be hearing Harry say his name (he chants it over and over, and says it so fast you can hardly tell what he's saying). Speaking of Harry, isn't he just THE CUTEST?!?! I'm clearly biased, but now that we know we're having another boy I am just so thrilled. Having another one of these just melts my heart:

Here I am at 20 weeks...just before Christmas break. Clearly I look tired and SO ready for some time away from work! ;)

And here I am at 22 weeks. Ellis just keeps growing and growing. I'm now to the point where I'm feeling him move around a lot more, which is the very best part of pregnancy! 

We've had a really relaxing week and a half off from work/school. Josh still has work, but he got a fair amount of time off during the Christmas festivities (which isn't always a guarantee with his job) so we soaked up every moment! 

This was us trying to get a shot with a selfie stick. Harder than it looks ;) lol

Harry thoroughly enjoys wearing his pjs all day, which is fine by me! We went to the grocery store the other day with him looking like this (and his bear dressed up as well). It was the best!

I can't believe that in a month's time we will have a four-year-old on our hands. This boy is SO EXCITED to turn F O U R and we can't wait to celebrate him! :) He just gets more and more fun to do life with all the time. His personality is so enjoyable to be around...although he does have his grumpy moments (which just reminds us that he's a normal kid).

And in four months we will get to meet baby brother, Ellis Gideon who has already captured our hearts. Harry kisses my belly at least ten times a day. It's pretty cute. Hopefully he'll still love his baby brother this much when he's crawling around and getting into all of his toys ;) 

I've been pretty bad about blogging every two weeks like I planned to throughout my pregnancy, but I've posted plenty of pictures on Instagram to keep family/friends up-to-date. Pregnancy with a child is way busier than with the first. When I was expecting Harry I had so much free time on my hands, but this time around I'm lucky if I can stay awake through Harry's bedtime stories each night. I wouldn't trade it for anything...but blogging has not been my top priority. My goal is to keep writing Harry his letters every six months, and to write letters to Ellis each month once he makes his debut (like I did with Harry). But aside from that, we'll see how much blogging I do.

I'd also like to do the 10 on 10 project again in 2016. It's been a while since I've managed to keep up on it, but since I'll be home on maternity leave this spring, I figure I'll have more "non-work" time to take photos on the tenth of each month. It's too hard to remember to take a picture every hour when I'm wrangling students through math and reading lessons all day.

Alright, enough rambling here. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and that this New Year brings you a fresh start to get after whatever it is you'd like to get better at this year! :)