a royal party.

the bigs and i are looking forward to settling in for

a viewing of the royal wedding for

friday movie night 

(a new tradition for us).

B remembers his mom 

waking him up in the middle of the night 

when he was four years old 

to watch Princess Diana's wedding.

i am grateful for tivo so that i do not have to do that.

and, it was absolutely perfect timing that B's mom 

just returned from a trip to London

where she brought us back this lovely 

oven mitt.

now i just need to think of something 

delicious to cook. 

1036. the weight being lifted

1037. excitement and anticipation

1038. picturing what our summer will be like

1039. being able to enjoy the last dr.p

1040. picking up a tear-free L from the CBS nursery

(a first)

me and the hubs.

it's {embrace} the camera day!

here we are,

all gussied up

and celebrating the resurrection of our Savior.

1031. backyard shindigs

1032. a break in the near, near future

1033. new ideas

1034. a very fast trip to the airport and back

1035. a leisurely bedtime routine for the munchkins

picture me {im}perfectly.tired

i'm tired.

well, i'm not actually tired at all. 

i'm completely exhausted.

you know, like when you feel so run-down 

that there seems to be a cloud over everything?

yeah, that kind of tired.

right now, i'm just really tired. 

tired of keeping it together.

the kids,

the house,

my emotions.

i know that i cannot do this. 

not on my own. 

but i keep trying.

and i keep failing. 

He is before all things, 
and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:17

you must watch this video.

and be sure to check out

Wendy's post from last week

as she reminds us that we are not perfect 

and that sometimes strangers can surprise us. 

picture me {im}perfectly

is a weekly project to reveal that we don't have it all together.

i will post a 

picture me {im}perfectly

blog post every wednesday 

where you will be able to link up to your blog

revealing that:

you are not picture perfect,

your kids are not picture perfect,

your house is not picture perfect,

your crafts are not always picture perfect,

let's 

encourage, 

inspire and 

remind 

other women 

that none of us have it all together.  

<a border="0" href="http://capturingmotherhood.blogspot.com/search/label/picture%20me%20%7Bim%7Dperfectly" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_TEajznl6Lw4/TTTZOgmZkqI/AAAAAAAAHAw/NH8EssqyeZc/s144/pictureme8.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />

add my button to your blog post

and link up to your direct posting

and feel encouraged. 

1026. rest (to come?!)

1027. a change in the schedule

1028. His true Word

1029. eating outside

1030. encouragement from a friend

uncomfortable.

i am realizing more and more 

that life is not about being comfortable.

it's not supposed to be comfortable. 

it's a good thing too, 

because i am not comfortable.

here, 

there and

everywhere,

i am reminded that i am not comfortable. 

a quick trip to the grocery store, 

a birthday party,

sitting in our house, watching families walk by.

here, 

there and

everywhere,

i am reminded of where we are not. 

i am reminded of what is missing. 

i am reminded of what i am longing for.

in this world,

i am reminded 

and i am grateful

that i am not comfortable

because He and He alone is my comfort.

and with that mindset,

here,

there and 

everywhere 

i should be seeing what i do have.

what He has given me.

and this incredible blog post so resonates with me. 

i too want to have that 

complete and utter dependence on God 

all. 

the. 

time. 

all.

the.

time.

As a mother comforts her child, 

so will I comfort you.

Isaiah 66:13

1021. resurrection eggs

1022. this recipe (thanks, Auntie B!)

1023. teensie tiny babydoll diapers from etsy

1024. feeling uncomfortable in this world

1025. His comfort

africa.

my sister, Aunt WW, 

recently returned from a trip to Kenya.

we were so excited for her to go on that journey.

so excited.

and we were equally excited for her to return from her journey.

excited to have her teach us all about what she saw and experienced.

not only did she make us these delicious and adorable cookies,

she presented us with a slideshow of 350 of her favorite photos from the trip.

it was simply put: awesome.

1016. my baby sister had her baby!

1017. a beautiful Easter day

1018. the rain

1019. the rain that stopped

1020. life and not death

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so talented.

you know what's neat?

each and every day i get to enjoy both 

hot coffee

and

iced coffee.

unfortunately, it's the same cup of coffee.

and it's not really iced, just cold.

isn't it absolutely incredible how messy a child can get 

with one teensy tiny piece of chocolate 

that she got for finding george the giraffe at our TJ's?

it's a talent, really.

and you must, must read this blog post.

we are too thrilled to be able to celebrate with them.

And we know that in all things 

God works for the good of those who love him, 

who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

i hope that you have a blessed Easter 

and are filled with the joy that only comes from Christ. 

1011. celebrating!

1012. fun, full days.

1013. sleepy babies

1014. the birds chirp, chirp, chirping away

1015. feeling sore

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not the life for me.

it's {embrace} the camera day!

we have been having a lot of fun this week.

no school.

no CBS.

no therapies.

(photo taken by my brother)

my parents took the kids and me 

to a petting zoo earlier this week.

(photo taken by my dad)

now, i have this dream to someday be a rancher.

but honestly, after being there for a few hours

and allowing my children to get 

filthy, filthy dirty

(well, not L)

and giving my children a bath and 

washing all of their clothes

the moment we entered my parents' house,

i've realized that it's not really the life for me.

i just don't think i could get used to that.

1006. being back home

1007. a fun, fun day had by all

1008. watching Tangled with the bigs

1009. not getting anything done

and not stressing about it

1010. Parenthood

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picture me {im}perfectly.messes

is it just me or 

does having more than two children rock your world?

it rocks mine.

and not always in the most calming way.

i turn around.

i blink.

i take a deep breath.

i finish a single thought.

and in that short, 

(such a short amount of time)

my house is destroyed. 

i think that i probably touch more than 400 items a day

and unfortunately, i don't think that's an exaggeration.

i think we need to minimize the stuff.

if my children haven't played with something for more than two minutes, 

it needs to go bye bye.

that will surely bless our house.

surely.

less is more.

it is so so so much more.

but i think more importantly, 

when i am present

(and i mean really present, people)

the destruction in my house seems to decrease dramatically. 

i also think that if i borrowed an extra child for one week

and then gave them back to their parents, 

i would think three kids is a breeze.

any takers?

there were so many incredible women who linked up last week!

hop on over and visit

Kay's blog

 

where she reveals her need to be less serious.

(i do, too!)

picture me {im}perfectly

is a weekly project to reveal that we don't have it all together.

i will post a 

picture me {im}perfectly

blog post every wednesday 

where you will be able to link up to your blog

revealing that:

you are not picture perfect,

your kids are not picture perfect,

your house is not picture perfect,

your crafts are not always picture perfect,

let's 

encourage, 

inspire and 

remind 

other women 

that none of us have it all together.  

<a border="0" href="http://capturingmotherhood.blogspot.com/search/label/picture%20me%20%7Bim%7Dperfectly" target="_blank"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_TEajznl6Lw4/TTTZOgmZkqI/AAAAAAAAHAw/NH8EssqyeZc/s144/pictureme8.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />

add my button to your blog post

and link up to your direct posting

and feel encouraged. 

1001. kind words

1002. mixed CDs

1003. Truth spoken

1004. completely empty dinner plates

1005. time to blog

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what joy really means.

apparently, i didn't get lunch on the table in time. 

i have been talking with 

a couple of sweet, dear friends 

who have been going through a lot lately.

loss.

heartbreak.

confusion.

resentment.

doubt.

i know by my own experience with L 

that God isn't going to bring us through anything 

that will not draw us closer to Him.

in those terrifying moments, 

we have the option to either 

cling to Him 

or crumble.

my life is not at all what i would have dreamed it would be. 

but God is changing 

my heart and 

my desires 

to be more like 

His heart and 

His desires. 

to see things the way that He sees them.

i know that without 

what we have experienced 

and are continuing to experience 

with L, 

my faith would not be where it is today. 

i am choosing to cling to Him.

I have found David son of Jesse, 

a man after my own heart; 

he will do everything I want him to do.

Acts 13:22

in my CBS class last week, 

we discussed that the word joy 

(which i learned means gladness in Greek)

"is constantly linked with hardship and suffering"

in the new testament. 

isn't that incredible?

yes, it is incredible.

He draws us closer.

that is what He is doing.

He is at work with His people.

He knows what He is doing. 

He has a plan.

i am assured that we are saved by grace 

and not by anything that we can do 

other than believe in Him 

who was sent to die for us.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed. 

Isaiah 53:5

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 

whenever you face trials of many kinds, 

because you know that the testing of your faith 

produces perseverance. 

Let perseverance finish its work 

so that you may be mature and complete, 

not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

i am also assured that 

everything 

that we go through in this life 

is there to strengthen our relationship with Christ.

from every good and wonderful gift 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

to each and every heartbreaking moment.

And surely I am with you always, 

to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:20

i have a strong desire 

to have all of my joy 

come exclusively from the Lord.

oftentimes, it doesn't. 

but it is my desire.

 In this world you will have trouble. 

But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

right now, 

this very moment, 

i am in a good place.

but it's only because i am choosing to cling to Christ. 

i am trying (oh so trying) to live in the right now 

and not in the fear of what the future may hold.

996. great, great health news for that Guy Herb

997. holding onto what is to come

998. homemade chocolate sauce

999. living it up this week

1000. how counting my gifts has dramatically changed me

it has taken me nearly a year. 

but i have counted 1,000 gifts.

and yes, you better believe that i am going to continue to count them.

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