Ava is walking!!

Today I had to run a few errands and Ava went to her grandmother's house (MaMi) for a few hours.  When I got back Muncle Matthias told me that Ava had taken her first steps to him!!!!  He was excited that one day he will be able to tell Ava that her first steps were to get to him!  I wanted to see so we all knelt on the floor and sure enough she took about 1 1/2 more steps to get to her MaMi!  I was holding back tears as my little baby concentrated so hard to move those chubby little legs.  It was so cute.  I can't believe how fast all this is going by! 
When Gabriel got home we tried to convince her to do it again and again.  When I would try to record her she became less interested in walking and more interested in the fastest way to the camera, crawling.  So when bath time rolled around (she LOVES bath time) we convinced her to take a couple of little steps to the tub.  I have a short video below.  If you watch the video turn it down because I, for some odd reason, am VERY loud!  Hope you all enjoy!
My apologies for the sideways video!

Lent Day 2

I wanted to share with you a couple of things today.  I decided to say the rosary everyday during Lent.  For a couple reasons.  a.  because I don't normally do it b.  because I really wanted to know how  c. because my soul really needs it and finally  d. because I feel this will bring me closer to where/who I would like to be.  I have many books that teach you how to say the rosary and they have been helpful but it can get a little confusing when you get to the mysteries (for me anyway).  So, I turned to Google and I found an amazing website that I plan on sharing in our next RCIA class and, of course, with you! 

This site is perfect for those just learning how to say the rosary.  There is a video with peaceful beautiful pictures that scroll by as someone guides you and says the rosary with you.  You can choose to say the rosary individually or worldwide.  At any given point, if you choose the worldwide option, there can be 100's of people saying the rosary with you, all from your home computer!!  There is a screenshot below that I took a few moments ago and you can also see where it highlights in green where you are on your beads.  I am truly excited about this!!  You should give it a try, it doesn't take very long and leaves you a little bit more at peace each time you do it!  I hope I can continue this even after Lent is over.  I really think this is going to be a great help!

Here is the link to the website and the screenshot I took.  If you try it please let me know what you think of it!  Hope that everyone has a wonderful day!

http://www.comepraytherosary.org/



"It's not the load that breaks you down - it's the way you carry it"



I saw this quote today on someones facebook status.  It really caught my eye and made this morning one a good one for me.  A morning where I really sat here and thought about what it meant and how it applies to me and my life. 

I think sometimes we are our own worst critic.  When we receive forgiveness from GOD he lets our sins go and never looks back on them.   If GOD then can let them go and forgive us completely then why is it so hard to forgive ourselves?  There is another saying that GOD never gives you more than you can handle.  That is very true.  It's just that sometimes where GOD has forgiven our sins WE continue to carry them with us.  When a hardship or a rough day comes along we just pile that on top of our already heavy "load" and it continues to pile up and before long we have accumulated an unbearable load. 

Today is a new day, tomorrow will be too. 

We should all try and unload the things that already have been forgiven and start each day fresh with nothing on our shoulders.  We can't change what happened yesterday, an hour ago or a minute ago.  But we can change what is happening now.

So, I challenge myself today to let go of the things that HE has long forgotten about.  I challenge myself to look ahead instead of backward.  I challenge myself to love myself as the person I am right now and not the person that I was then.  Afterall, HE doesn't even remember the person I was then.  He only knows me as I am now, with Him.

Celtic Woman

I am so bummed right now.  Last year I promised myself that I would keep up with this years tour schedule for these amazing women.  Well, time got away with me as usual and of course they are going to be performing in Fayetville, Ashville, Charlotte & Durham in the next 3 weeks.  Not in enough time for me to save and buy a ticket.  I am sure it's going to be wonderful and I am sure they will return next year.  Until then, here is a little clip!

Dream Baby Dream

I took some pictures the other day of sweet little baby Ethan.  I have this one that stood out to me that I love and just thought I would share it!  Dream Baby Dream.

Sleep, Baby, sleep,

Dream, Baby, dream,

Dance in the starlight,

Swing from a moonbeam

Imagine the things

You'll grow up to be,

Create your own world

In still reverie.

Play on the playgrounds

You're meant to explore,

Sail all your sailboats

To faraway shores

The future is yours, Baby,

To have and to hold,

Take hold of your fancies;

Be strong and be bold!

Sleep, Baby, Sleep,

Swing from a moonbeam,

Tomorrow's your future,

So Dream, Baby, Dream

Few things are sweeter.

As I type this right now I have this little Angel asleep on my chest.  There are very few things in life that are as sweet as a baby.  At times I am just about as frustrated as a person can be.  But as I sit here right now and look at her little face, her little hands and watch her eyelashes flutter from the beginnings of beautiful baby dreams I can't imagine a world or a life, MY life, without this little girl.  All things bad in the world melt away when she looks at me and smiles or lays dreaming in my lap.  There simply can't be anything in this world better than this.

Reading for the FIRST time!

After this LONG wait I finally have it in my possession!!! Ree Drummonds "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" book. I have been waiting on this book to come out for some time now and couldn't be more excited that I have it. I read a little tonight and I realized that I was going to sit here all night until I finished it and that's just not acceptable! You know those times where you have a really really good book and you read through it so fast because it's so good and you just can't put it down? Then, when you read that last page you give the *sigh* because you know now that it's over? NOW WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?!?! The book is over and you have read it and it was the best book ever but now it will never be the same again. Why can't I just read it again you ask? Well, I can, and I do, and I will! But it's something about your first time reading something. You are surprised at every turn of the page. When you read it a second or third time you already know what is coming.

I remember when I met my husband and his family I felt like I HAD to read Narnia in order to understand and participate in conversations with his handsome little hobbit brothers (I already had LOTR down). I read the first few pages and was hooked. I believe I read the entire series in lightning speed. I couldn't put it down, not just because I loved the little handsome hobbit brothers so much but because it was REALLY good! Then when it was over I was disappointed. Not disappointed because the book wasn't good, it was wonderful and I have since read it over again! But, disappointed that I will never get to read Narnia for the FIRST time again.

Anyway, I feel like I have rambled on a little much tonight but as you can tell I am excited! I will let you know when I finish it. I will try and take my time although I know that's probably not going to happen.



Until next time!