One of the things I've always loved about my Husband is his spontaneity!
So as Valentine's Day approached I was anxious to see what he had in store.
We had spent the weekend prior to Valentine's Day with our sweet friends Nathan and Bethany at their Church. They invited Rick to host a couples retreat. We had a great time! We stayed at a beautiful hotel and I really enjoyed the time away with Rick. Jonah came with us, but since it was for couples only, we had to leave the boys with Grandma. I missed them so much.
I truly enjoyed listening to my husband share his heart on topics such as family and the home. We made some wonderful new friends and enjoyed just being together. Rick took me shopping and spoiled me rotten. I'm a lucky girl for sure.
When we got back to Ohio, we picked up our boys. The next day was actual Valentine's Day so Noah and I were busy making treats for his class. Rick had to go back to work and so Eli Jonah and I spent the day celebrating up at Noah's school. I brought in treats and took some pictures for the yearbook.
When we got home, I was anxious to hear what Rick's plans were for the evening. He called me on the way home and said "Pack your bags!"
What? I just unpacked them from our weekend of traveling.
Then he told me we were headed to the Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate with the kids. We were ecstatic! We grabbed our stuff and piled into the escalade.
It was so fun!
The boys were giggly with excitement. I was happy that my sweet Husband wanted to do something so special for our sweet boys. They deserve so much.
We spent that evening and the next day playing in the water, going down the slides and just "being together." I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate our love.
Sure, I was tired from the weekend prior and I had just got Jonah back into his routine at home, but it was worth it. Even though I was struggling and missing my Maddie Grace so much. Even though there seemed to be 13 month old baby girl's every where I looked that day; I tried to just be in the moment with my boys cherishing every second.
I love being spontaneous and having fun. I love that my Husband continues to keep this in our marriage and our family. =)
Sometimes you just have to pack up and go... just for fun!
And so we did.
I hope your Valentines Day was shared with as much love as ours was!
Much Love,
Natalie
I snapped some of the sweet memories we shared those days. Enjoy...
I will update again soon. I have pics from Jonah's 2 month photo shoot and the last month. Thanks for continuing to follow our story of hope. Jonah is truly fulfilling everything we dreamed of. We are so blessed by our three little boys. <3
Love is in the air...It's that time of year where pink and red prevail and cupid and hearts are every where you look. It's almost Valentines Day.
I love this holiday!
Maybe because it celebrates love. Maybe because it's filled with lots of pink and sparkles, all things girly.
I don't know exactly what it is, but I definitely have a lot of fun on this holiday.
I always set out special treats and balloons for Noah and Eli. We make Valentines and cookies and we just celebrate how much we all love each other.
As I think about love, I can't help but be grateful for Rick and my boys. They fill my life with so much love on a daily basis and they have taught me what real love is all about.
I trusted my sweet Husband with my heart 8 years ago and he has not let me down yet. And because of the love we have created and committed to each other, out of it, our 4 precious children were born.
All because two people fell in love... =)
My sweet babies trust me. I take care of them, provide for them and meet their needs. I have been given a great privilege to do so and I'm so thankful for it.
But raising children is a hard job and none of us parents should take it lightly.
I love to read the Word of God. It helps me have a better relationship with the Lord and my Husband. It helps me to know my role as a mother and parent. It gives me the instructions I need for life.
People joke that children do not come with an instruction manual, but that's not true. The Bible gives us all the instructions we need to raise our children and the rest falls to prayer.
Do you pray for you children?
Maybe that sounds like a crazy question and you can quickly answer, "Yes! Of course!"
But do you PRAY for you children on your knees, begging God to use them? Keep them safe? Prepare them for life.
I know I fall short here and everyday I try to find the time amidst caring for them, my husband and my home to truly pray for them. It can be a challenge.
Yet those little loves of mine are growing up everyday and moving one step closer to being out of our home and on there own.
Who they become will have a LOT to do with how I've raised them. What they do in life and the kind of person they are will be a reflection of my Husband and I.
Just the other day, Eli asked me "Mama, what can I be when I grow up?"
Most parents responce..."Anything you want to be, honey. Just follow your dreams."
Not bad.... but how about this...
"You can be whatever God wants you to be, sweetie."
I love that. Rick says it to the boys all the time and it makes so much sense. You can't be out of the will of the Lord if you ask Him what you are to do in this life. He will show you.
If you would have told me almost 7 years ago while I was expecting my first child that I would have been a Stay at home Mommy, I would've laughed.
Not me!
I love to be out and about. I went to college for Education and had every single intention on teaching 2nd grade in our Christian School. That was what "I" always wanted to do. That was my plan.
However, God had different plans.
The moment I held my firstborn son, I knew. That was it. I was to be a Mom and a wife. That would be my job.
It's sad too. So often being a Stay at home Mom is frowned upon. People say "oh you don't work?"
Ha!
I believe the job I do is the most important job on earth outside of a Preacher pointing people to Christ.
I'm molding a little life for the future.
My little sweethearts stay with me until they go to school and from there I continue to teach them and shape their lives into the people they are.
I LOVE MY JOB! It is what God called me to do; to love my children and love my husband with my whole heart. To provide the needs of my children and be a help meet to my husband.
I love to help build my husband up. I love to be able to encourage him when he's down. I love to be able to take care of his needs and take care of our home and our children. We are such a team. It takes both of us to make it happen.
So as I think of my sweet boys and Husband, I think about the verse I claimed many years ago when I first became a Christian.
Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
I love this verse!
And for so long I thought it meant, If I'm happy in the Lord, he'll give me want I want in life (my desires.)
I mean who doesn't like to get what they want? I know I do.
But through time and searching out the heart of God, I soon realized what this verse really means...
If I delight myself and am happy in the Lord, He WILL give me the desires of my heart. But.... Those desires are not what (I) want for myself, but what He wants for me.
For when my heart is in tune with the Lords.... my desires will be His desires. My will, will be His will.
And truly, there is no better place to be that the will of God.
Are there still desires in my heart that have not been fulfilled? Sure. Of course.
There are many things I would love to see happen still in this life.
One particular is for the Lord to give us another daughter and let us raise her. I don't know if this is His will. I know I desire it, but is this his desire for me? I'm still praying and searching Him for that among many other things in this life.
But one thing is for sure. There is not a better place than to be in tune with the Lord.
He has filled so many of my desires...
My desire to marry the love of my life.
The desire to bear children and raise them so far.
To be in a Church and have a wonderful Pastor and Church family who loves me.
To use my sweet daughter's life for the good in this life and point people to Christ.
Those are just to name a few.
God desires so much for us and so often when we get caught up in what we want, we lose sight of it.
So, I want to challenge myself and all of you to tune your desires to the Lords. I promise you, you will not regret it. He has great plans for our lives.
Maybe you are struggling with a sick loved one.
Maybe you are dealing with infertility.
Maybe you lost a close family member.
Maybe a job fell through or you were let go.
Maybe you are going through financial trouble.
Maybe you are struggling with trust and fear of bad things happening in your life. Or happening again.
Whatever it may be, God knows our hearts before we even pour it out to Him.
And He desires so much for us.
He loves us.
He LOVES us.
So this Valentines Day as you find yourself surrounded by those you love and those who love you. Remember God, the one whose love for us is grater than we could ever imagine. John 3:16
And may we fall in love with the desires of His heart for us, so we may be happy in ours.
Much Love,
Natalie
Here's a sneak peak of our sweet Jonah's latest photoshoot! I will post the rest when I get them. =)
Also... =)
In honor of my little loves, I wanted to share this video Rick made. It was the very first one he did. He's so great at these! Enjoy!
Also, thank you so very much for your sweet words about "Maddie's song" and video on the previous post. We are glad you all loved it as much as we do! =)
My heart is overwhelmed every time I hear these words.
My eyes fill up with tears as I see God's goodness overplayed in my head and through these pictures.
One year. Two babies. So much love.
Sometimes it doesn't even feel like it was all real. Sometimes it feels like Maddie Grace was just a dream. She definitely was a dream come true. And though she didn't stay long, God gave us hope again and fulfilled it with sweet Jonah Asher.
God doesn't send replacements, He sends reinforcements.
He does send that Rainbow of Hope when you need it the most.
I'm thankful for every moment I shared with my little girl. I'm thankful for my three little boys and my precious Husband who help my hurting heart through these hard times.
And I'm so thankful for my loving God.
The God of Yesterday (is) still the same...
Enjoy =)
Thank you Joey Day for writing this beautiful song in honor of our little girl. The words are perfect. We will forever be grateful that you did this for us. You have been such a true friend and help through all we've endured. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you.
