Voting

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Happy 9th Birthday Kelsey


Happy 9th Birthday to our sweet little angel Kelsey! She almost always has a smile on her face and is so excited about her everyday life!
Kelsey can light up a room with her warm attitude and her cheery disposition!


I have to admit that Kelsey is my most loving child, she loves attention, and she loves to give lots of hugs and kisses!

Here are a few wonderful things that we love about Kelsey..........
* For her birthday her grandma gave her $10. Kelsey always talks about how much money Ashley gets from babysitting, and how she never has any. So we go to the store and her brothers both want something, and Kelsey offers to buy it for them with her birthday money, and get nothing for herself. She is always giving to everyone around her, even though she may want something for herself so bad.
* I have never in my life received as many notes or letters from anyone, as much as I have received from her. She leaves notes of love, appreciation, and encouragement to everyone in our family. She can cheer up the sad and make them feel glad in no time at all with a quick note of love.
* Kelsey is a good friend to those around her. She has her bad days and she will come home and tell me about them. She will then go to her room and say a prayer, and then come back to me and declare she knows how to fix the problem straight away, and she does it. she amazes me with her attitude.
* I only have four children, but out of all of them, Kelsey is the most loving. She is always playing with her brothers and Ashley, (when she lets her). She can make Andrew and Dayton believe in magic. She can fix a problem with a story, and she can get the boys to bed better then I can. Someday she will make one amazing MOTHER!
* Faith! Kelsey has amazing faith in God! And she loves to declare that to others. She almost never misses the chance to bear her testimony. And every time I hear her do it, I can feel of her love for her Heavenly Father!
I can still remember the day I found out I was pregnant with Kelsey. She is my sunshine when the clouds seem gray and she is my rainbow when the rain comes down. We have all been blessed to have her in our family! we all love her so very much! Happy Birthday Sweetheart!





Love dare Day 6

Alright now it has almost been a week since I started my challenge. I would like to state that it has been easy, but the truth is I can't say that! When you start to look at yourself and learn about the content of your heart, it can be hard to learn that there are MANY things you need to work on! Some of the challenges I faced this week talked about a selfish heart, and much to my dismay I learned that in my marriage I have been a very selfish person. This week I tried to let go of anger easily, and I was successful a few times. I held my tongue on a few occasions, which I must say was very hard, but I learned that I was able to do it. And yesterday we had a birthday party for Kelsey and I was very stressed. I needed 2 cars because we had company in town, and they needed a car, and I needed one. I had asked Matt to get a ride to work from a coworker, which he did. However at 2:00 he called and asked if I could pick him up for the day. I was very stressed out and had very little time to accomplish all that I needed to do, so I hung up the phone frustrated with him for not getting a ride home. However, when I went to pick him up I quickly apologized for my behavior, and admitted that I was being selfish! To my surprise he said he understood, but he would come home and help me with all that I needed to do. I quickly realized how sometimes my anger over little things can affect my family. And if I just learned to let things go I would have a much better marriage! If you want a challenge, or maybe just even learn something about yourself.
Accept the challenge for Day 5............
Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attacking them or justifying your behavior. Then ask yourself these questions...
How did you handle hearing it?
What do you plan to do to improve these areas?
Listen to this thought....
Love will lead you to forgive instead of holding a grudge. To be grateful instead of greedy. To be content rather than rushing into more debt. Love encourages you to be happy when someone else succeeds rather than lying awake at night in envy. Love says "share the inheritance"rather than "fight with your relatives." It reminds you to prioritize your family rather than sacrifice them for a promotion at work. In each decision, love ultimately lowers your stress and helps you release the venom that can build up inside. It then sets up your heart to respond to your spouse with patience and encouragement rather than anger and exasperation.
The Love Dare by Stephen and Alex Kendrick

Monday, February 1, 2010

The love Dare

I have always tried to seek out good friends in my life that build me up and make me a better person. I also believe that I tried to find those same qualities in the man I married. But am I that good friend to others, or am I especially loving to my husband? The truth of the matter is I don't feel that I am. I want to be that person so badly that can show love, and patience, and kindness all of the time, or at least most of the time, especially to my husband! So thanks to my friend Abbey I have accepted the challenge to read the book, "The Love Dare", and try to incorporate the teachings of it into my marriage. It is a 40 day challenge that after reading really does state the obvious, "challenge" being the key word! So today is my first day of the challenge, and just so you can gain insight into my mind.... I picked Monday as my start day because I would have less time with Matt and my kids, verses the weekend. Thus hopefully being able to meet the challenge presented on day 1. Sad I know, but this is going to be hard and I need some time to adjust. And I really want to be successful!!
Day 1---Love is patient
Today I will be completely patient in all things, and I will be completely successful because I am strong!
I have not told Matt that I am doing this challenge over the next 40 days, as I am hopeful that he will see a change in me on his own. I love him with all of my heart and I want to be the best wife to him. I may post a few of the challenges and my thoughts over the next 40 days, and maybe you too will be inspired to improve the relationships in your life. Oh, and by the way... I am hoping that I can incorporate these challenges to be a better mom also. Thus the Monday start! Wish me luck and prayers, because I need it!! Here's to a great 40 days to a better me on the inside!!