An old post from Jan 4th 2008

I was going over some of my old blog posts from "My Book of Remembrance" blog.  I am amazed at how God works and how He fulfills His/our desires in our lives.  He truly does use ALL things for good in our lives.  I want to put a word of encouragement out there for those of you who are going through the fire and your desires and self are being refined and purified - hang in there, God is not finished with you yet.  Continue to press into Him.  He does have good things in store for you.

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Friday, January 4, 2008  
God's Desires vs. My Desires

I was listening to a message a few weeks ago, while listening, something struck me... "God wanted a family. He plants his desires within his children.  God desires for us to have families too."

For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to be a mommy, even when I was a very small child.  I always had a dolls (or 4) glued to me 24/7 and babies were constantly an attraction to me. The desire to be a mommy was strong then, and it's even stronger now. This desire is not a fleeting one. I realize there is a huge difference between God's desires and my own desires. My own generally come and go very quickly. But the desires that are placed there by God, always stick around, even when faced with trials and fires I still come out the other side with those desires (God's desires) intact.
Sometimes I hear people say things like, "Maybe you're not meant to be a mother.  Maybe you should pursue a career instead." You know, for a moment I thought that all these people were right. But then again, after the revelation of God's desires for me to have a family, I realize that that advice (or whatever it is) isn't for me, in fact I would say it was a fire dart aimed straight for my heart in order to knock me off my feet, or off my faith.
Who will I believe...men or God? Where is my faith? Is it in what men say or what God says? Men didn't fashion me, God did. So how can men fully know all that God has put within me? I have made up my mind...I must listen to what God says vs. what men have to say.  I know He put this desire, this desire to be a mother, right in the center of my heart.
I also realized that when I go through fires my desires are refined. Just like silver in refined and purified by fire so are my desires. My own desires generally get burned up, and the desires that are placed there by God remain, they become more refined and purified. The desire to be a mother is not my own desire. If it was, I would have lost interest long ago. But through this last 2 years, the desire to be a mother has been put through the fire. Yet now I realize more and more how I long for the WILL/DESIRES of God to be fulfilled in my life.  How blessed I am to have a Father that desires the best for me. "Lord, more of You and Your desires, and less of me and my fleeting desires. Refine me and my dreams..."
Isaiah 55:8-9 - "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
1 Corinthians 2:9  -"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.
Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Hebrews 11:1  Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

Working on Christmas Cards

Yes, yes...I know it's still October, but I have finished my Christmas cards and have even ordered my first stack.  I found a few pictures that I loved and I decided not to waste my time on putting my cards together. 
Here is a sneak peak

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Life Story, His Glory

Lately I have been thinking a lot about our angel babies; maybe it's due to the fact that I have a playlist on my iPod (example song: "I Will Carry You" - Selah) that is all about our children that are in heaven and God's faithfulness.  Maybe it's due to the fact that I have 3 healthy children now and I need something to bring me back to a place of "thankfulness" for what God has given when the days get crazy and I feel overwhelmed.  Maybe it's due to the fact that a few dear friends are walking the road of heartache and loss of their own and it makes my own heart ache for them and with them.   Maybe it's due to the fact that I have a circle of friends that God has called me to minister to. 

Let me just say, it's all an honor.  I am so thankful that God spent so much time comforting my heart during our heartache and loss, just so I could turn and comfort others that are walking that familiar road.  Only our God can take our heartache and loss and turn into something that will bring Him glory.  What an honor to serve a God like that and to serve his servants.

God, give me your eyes to see and reveal to my heart the perfect way to minister to each one you bring into my life.  Let my life story bring you glory and may it always point to You.

We sure miss you Isaiah, Jayden and Jael - our sweet angel babies.  We know the day will come when we will hold you near just like we hold, Joshua, Saray and Grayson.  Until then, continue to enjoy the presence of the Almighty God!   Your life stories live on, even here.  God is using your story to bring Him glory!  Praise God!


2 Corinthians 1: 3-5 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.





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Josh and Saray's 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Josh and Saray's 3rd birthday last week!  Unbelievable!  We decided to celebrate with a Rainbow theme; I find it very challenging to decide on a good theme when you have a boy and a girl that are the same age.  I just so happened to find some great blogs and some great ideas for our Rainbow party.  I found a great and cheap way to make a rainbow balloon banner (thanks to http://www.designmom.com/2011/05/balloon-banner-diy/ ), we made rainbow ribbon streamers for birthday favors for the kids.  We also made rainbow fruit skewers & fruit salad and a fun-fetti cake with homemade butter cream frosting and a rainbow made out of sprinkles (thanks to Jer!), oh and don't forget the rainbow goldfish.  We also had a guessing game for the adults, they had to guess how many skittles (taste the rainbow!) were in a small jar.   Amazingly enough, I was able to fit 344 skittles into a small jar!  Guesses ranged from 73 - 250, minus Levi and My Mom who guessed 15 and 7 below the actual number of skittles.  
Overall, I kept the planning for the party pretty simple.  I didn't plan any games for the kids since they are still pretty young, plus we were having the party at a great park, we knew the kids would just want to play anyway.  Most of the kids were old enough to play on the playground while the adults sat around talking and eating.  Seriously, it can't get much better than that. 

I have run out of time.  The twins rarely take naps now, but are required to rest/play quietly together in the room.  That rest time is over for today and the twins are ready to move on with our day.  I will write more later.  Enjoy the pictures from the party. 

Rainbow Cake

Rainbow Fruit Skewers

Rainbow Fruit Salad (due to the fact that I didn't want to skew anymore fruit)

Rainbow Ribbon Streamers - Party Favors

Jer and I blew up 72 balloons, used a needle and kitchen string to tie 4 balloons together (coloring according), then threaded them all together. 

Rainbow Balloon Banner

Family of Five

Homemade Flubber + Josh & Saray = Giggles

Josh and Saray playing with flubber a video by The Chapeau Fam on Flickr.

Lately I have been shooting more videos with my Canon 60D, pocket camera or computer camera. It's been such a joy to go back and watch the videos (some over and over). The kids truly do change before your eyes and we don't even see it until we look back, even over a span of a month!
Daddy decided to make homemade flubber for the twins back in the middle of July. It was a bit gooey, had a nice smell to it and it was super bad on clothes (hence why the twins are in their undies). Saray jumped right in touching and stretching the flubber,. Josh on the other hand was a bit shy, but once Daddy entered the picture, Josh thought flubber was hilarious!
I personally could hardly contain my giggles from hearing Josh giggle, but being behind the camera one learns to be a little more silent., especially when doing video clips.

Enjoy the new video clip.

Video - Daddy making Josh and Saray laugh

Video - Daddy making Josh and Saray laugh a video by The Chapeau Fam on Flickr.

This video was taken just a few days ago (August 8th). I love how Josh laughs and at the end Saray adds to the laughter.
Life is full and busy. Jer is busy working on getting the sprinkler system in, which always seems to take WAY longer than originally planned. I finally unpacked another set of boxes and moved a ton of boxes out of the garage. It felt so incredibly good to get that stuff moved & some of it unpacked and put away. We can now park either the Sienna or Xterra in there without feeling cramped. Yay! 
I will try and take some pictures of the house soon. I haven't taken any yet just cause I don't think of it. Plus I don't have any wall decor up so it feels a little blah to be taking pictures of it, but nevertheless, I really should take pictures of at least the progress.

Enjoy this last month of Summer!

Trent and Tanner's Photo Book

Just wanted to post this even though it's old.  Please pray for Trent and Izaak as God brings them to your mind.  Pray for their safety and for wisdom for those that make decisions regarding their safety.  The current situation has turned from okay to not so good.  I will keep you posted as I know more.

Trent is now 6 and his brother Izaak is now 7.  Hard to believe!

Enjoy the book of memories that we shared with Trent and Tanner. 

Click here to view this photo book larger