it dawned on me...

just a moment ago, after reading Psalm 123, I thought to myself 'when I am insulted, who am I that I should demand an apology from the offender?' I am nothing compared to our Lord 'Who is enthroned on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth?' Psalm 113:5-6. I don't know what else to write, I don't know of any better put way of saying it than the Bible.

Before the rooster sang

Today I did get up early. I had time to read my own Bible reading AND do my Bible study. I also had time to correspond with girlfriends this morning! I got up and I actually thought to myself, 'this is so great I need to get up earlier!' I love my family, but boy do I LOVE HEATHER TIME! :) Savannah did not sleep through the night, she did awake once while I was sleeping my foolish 5 hours. I will be praying for strength for the entire day! Well here's to early rising!!

Unmotivated

Well I should get an "-I" for incapable of keeping up the getting up early club. Maybe they lost my membership. I have an abundance of excuses and not enough motivation to get myself up in the morning. Recently I have been sticking to the line that Savannah is still getting up multiple times in the middle of the night. I have prayed about it and I feel the Lord telling me to come be with him in the morning and all will fall into place. I still hold to the notion that EVERYTHING has to be perfect in order to change my life dramatically. Though I can tell you I am not corresponding with as many people, or entering posts on my Blog because I don't have that special time in the morning. I find myself using my children's time to email. Not to mention I have not been able to keep up with my Bible study I am currently in because of this loss of time. I am going to bed early tonight, even if I don't I am getting up early tomorrow! Love to all! -Heather

Well......

Well......
I am in aw of the response I have gotten and how many people this getting up early thing is truly a struggle for! I must admit that while I would love to tell you about my victory this week, instead I am laying myself out there and telling you, the earliest I woke up this week was 6:30...once! Although I did have one night with many awakenings from Savannah and another night staying up until 1:30... that is because we are FINALLY working on getting Avery, after 3 years, to sleep the whole night in his bed. I am not doing any better right now, considering I am posting this at 10:30. I plan to go to bed by 10:30 every night next week and get up at 5:30 every morning!! Please pray for me as this is difficult, as it is for many of you that have shared with me! It doesn't say anything about God commanding in the Bible to awake early, though it does tell of the benefits of praying and being still with God. I had the most blessed, peaceful, motivating morning that morning I woke at 5:30 and I can't seem to get back to it. Thank you again for all your encouraging emails. I feel like getting up at 5:30 is like telling a sloth to run! I need to be face down this weekend and pray for victory over my stronghold, which is lazy sleep!!

HERE'S TO COFFEE!

A Turtle Named Gus!

This little turtle wondered up onto our back patio and we have NO idea how he got there! Considering we have a privacy fence and no creek near by! Avery absolutely loved him.

Avery asked me what his name was, and I said 'what do YOU want to name him?'
He said GUS was a great name.

Gus almost fell on the floor because Savannah was so determined to grab him.

We are letting him go tomorrow, but boy did we have fun learning about Gus the turtle and what he eats and how he swims in the bucket! :)

Picnic in the Park

We went to the park after church this past Sunday and had a picnic! It was so much fun laying out blankets and bringing our own brown bags.

The kids love to swing! They both fussed when we took them out to play on something else!

Our little mulch eater! :)

Daddy and his dirty little girl.

Savannah and her friend Karina

Caroline and Savannah

"She gets up while it is still dark" Proverbs 31:15a

Boy it is NOT easy, but I am letting myself go and learning what putting GOD first means. I mourn the movie watching at night and the not staying up with Aaron, but at the season I am in my life GOD, husband and then children need to have priority. That means I need to get up early to serve my entire family because when I am up to greet my husband and children with a warm hug and "crest" fresh breath it goes well with all of us. I have been so encouraged by all of you that have seen my testimony and my struggles. I praise GOD for the family and loving friends that He has provided for me! Thank you all for the emails, notes and phone calls! I have failed two days in a row at the 5:30 appointment, but I am not discouraged, rather encouraged to provide my GOD and my family with that service of getting up at 5:30 because I have now seen the fruit of rising and the bitterness and discontent that comes from my lazy, selfishness. If the Lord is tugging at your heart to rise with him, don't be afraid, don't let another day go by without surrendering to him and sitting at his feet. It is VERY HARD!!!, but like having a baby, it must not be that bad because I had another! LOL! ;)

Playing Outside

Avery and Savannah enjoying one of their favorite things to do, PLAY OUTSIDE!
Savannah has an ear for when the door opens! As soon as anyone opens the door she is in a hurry to rush out and play outside. While I was changing her into play clothes she was SO, SO squirmy and I told her "you need to sit still we are going outside?" INSTANTLY she sat as still as patience! She loves to chew on pebbles, gnaw on bark mulch, crawl all over in the dirt and scavenge for just the right leaf that will fit perfectly in her tiny hand. She is so proud of her leaves, that we typically find them in the house!!

Avery is taking a love of the scooter, and basketball! We were just blessed with a basketball hoop and Avery loves to hang off the rim while Daddy holds him! We think he is going to be good at any sport he wants to play! I like to call him my "Chipper-Woods". He loves to push Savannah around in the cart and kick balls into the street! (don't worry we are working on that)

Avery is THREE years old!

Reepa, Mom-Mom and Dahnielle flew down for the day and spent Avery's 3rd birthday with us. We had such a good time exchanging Christmas gifts and throwing a small birthday party for Avery!

Mom-Mom and Savannah

Avery and Dahnielle enjoyed playing tether ball, playing baseball and drawing on the sidewalk with chalk.

Cute babies!

Who is having more fun here?!

Mom-Mom arrived with a spider man cake which was perfect because that was the type of decorations I bought for the party!

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Avery,
Happy Birthday to you!"

Our spider man with his spider cake.

The traditional cutting of the birthday cake, by the birthday person.

Reepa and his cute grandchildren

I think we might have another pilot in the family, Reepa!

Christmas Eve

Our first Christmas close to family we traveled over to Aaron's parents home where we were treated to a mini birthday party for Avery and Aaron. Then off to the Bellengraph garden where we met up with the Aunt Allison, Uncle Daniel and all the cousins. We then were serenaded with dancing to Christmas music. We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve. Rebo made FAMOUS waffles with strawberries and whip cream! YUM! While Papa cleaned up afterward! Yeah for Papa! We had such fun being with family and having Christmas early!

Even Toby got in on the dancing!

We had our own little gift swap, first with the brothers and sisters, then the children.
(theirs was not really a swap though, could you imagine with little ones?)

The first dress I have ever made! CUTE huh?!

Wake up guys!

Papa and Rebo the day we left.

Lights at Bellingrath Garden!

We went to Bellingrath Garden in AL with Papa, Rebo, the uncles, the cousins Aunt Allison and Uncle Daniel. Rebo catered a cookie and hot chocolate snack, and we all rode up in one BIG church van. We had so much fun and the lights were beautiful! We got out just as it started raining. The uncles were such huge helpers in this event. Uncle Jason amused Savannah with the lights and Avery hopped from person to person, wild as ever!

Uncle Jason and Uncle Kebie, such good uncles!

Rebo and Papa
Uncle Jon trying to smile through his pain! ;)

Halle Grace and Avery, cute little cousins!

Ethan and Avery
The whole gang!