grat-i-tude

:the state of being grateful: THANKFULNESS

There are so many thoughts rolling around in my head. I have about 10 posts I'd like to write about. But when I sit down, all my inspiration seems to leave. So for today, I am thankful for sunshine and family. We love having Jesse home from work and being able to have lots of family time. We're currently building fence around our property (1 mile!) which is great experience for the boys and we're making many memories together.

I am trying to work on having a more positive outlook on life. I am a very realistic person, which can also lead to being negative, (happens when you see most things in black & white). But when I stop and think about all that I have, I cannot help but feel grateful. There is a line from a song that keeps running through my head "...Can the joy of life be found in simple gratitude? And is gratitude as simple as perspective?..." I would say yes.

It brings such joy to my heart when I hear my children talking to each other and expressing thanks to each other. How much more joy does it bring to God when we are thankful to Him? Even, maybe even especially, in the little things.

So today I choose gratitude.

What will you choose?

Lent

This morning I was reading my morning devotions. I have been reading in my one year chronological bible. I have missed many days, but I try to keep going. It is easy for me to feel like I failed and just put it away for another year, but I am so glad I have tried to keep going, even when I miss days.

Today I read in Deuteronomy about the Festival of Unleavened Bread and celebrating the Passover. Then I started thinking about Lent. I have given it a few passing thoughts in the past, but they are quickly pushed aside for more demanding things. I would like to celebrate with our family. I did not grow up doing this and do not want to do it legalistically, but rather as a celebration and remembrance for our children. Today I plan to dig in more and see just what that entails, because, really, I just do not know where to start.

Do you celebrate Lent? What exactly do you do? Do you have recipes to share?

I also was reading on my friends blog this morning, and learned about this book: One Thousand Gifts: A Dare To Live Fully Where You Are by Ann Voskamp

Hmmmm.....sounds like a great book for me to read! I think I'll head over and order it right now.......

~Ashley

Okay, so I know I posted that I would be better about blogging. And I think we can all see that I obviously haven't been. I am not going to make any more promises. This started out to be an adoption blog to keep family and friends updated. But now I have different goals and want to share about our many blessings, everyday life, learning processes and maybe even a few recipes. When it comes down to it, I am not a writer and wonder if I have anything to say that anyone cares about anyway. But then I read all these other blogs and feel inspired....but still not sure what to write about.



As a quick update since my last post, we decided to NOT sell our house (or not for now anyway), we have remodeled, celebrated birthdays, became a family of 7 with the birth of our baby girl Feb 23, are going to be building a barn so we can get our milk cow......I know there is more, but those are the big things.

Here is a picture of our beautiful daughter Amita Rachelle, 7 lbs 10 oz, 20 1/2 in. Born 2/23/11 8:41 pm

Anyone looking to buy a home???

We are desperately trying to sell our home. Our house is about 2500 sq ft, attached 2 car garage and sits on 40 acres! If you (or anyone you know) is interested, please let us know! Click here for the information.

Confession

Not long after writing that last post about "I'm going to be a better blogger....I promise...." my computer crashed. I do have my husbands mini laptop I use, but seriously, what a pain! Plus all my pictures and everything else are on MY computer! I have had great things to blog about. Wyatt starting t-ball, Summer, our new baby on the way, etc, but without my computer, I cannot upload photos. And blog posts without photos are simply...boring. So really, I have not forgotten to blog, I have simply chosen not to.

Thoughts...

After almost 7 months of not posting.......I'm baaaacckkk!!! I have considered, (many times) of closing my blog. It is just something I never got around to. Then the last few weeks I have been catching up on friends' blogs and remembered why I have one in the first place. I am not a writer, and I don't know that anyone really cares about what I have to say. But I do know that it helps me to process things as I write them down. I do not promise to be back every day, or even every week. But I do promise to do better than every 7 months!

Okay, I don't even know where to start, so much has happened and changed and is changing.....God is speaking to us, and I am so excited to see where He will lead!

Last week I was reading my friend Abby's blog, which led me to read this post from Katie's blog. And let me tell you, that is one of the most inspiring things I have ever read! It is long, but so worth every word! The part that I especially cannot get out of my head, and almost haunts me is "Aw, that's nice,"

I pray that you will read Katie's post, and be inspired! We are still pondering and praying, seeking and obeying, listening and following the voice of God....and we pray the same for each of you!

Thanks for reading!

~Ashley

Oh my goodness! I am so far behind, I do not believe I will ever catch up!

Olivia has been home for almost 13 months. There is not a day that passes that we do not thank God for her. We cannot imagine life without her. She fits so perfectly into our family and adds so much excitement.

Mya continues to grow and talk more every day. She is also potty trained, which is such.a.blessing! We have not had a break from diapers since Wyatt was born...almost 6 years ago! And a lot of that time, there has been 2 in diapers! Now we are down to just one, and I can see an end in sight!

Wyatt started playing soccer this week. Today was his second game. He is starting to get the hang of it, and seems to really enjoy it! And the really cool thing is that he is on the same team as his cousin, Tyler!

Today was also Brett's 4th birthday (more about that later)! I am constantly amazed at how quickly time flies. I mean seriously! 4 years??!?!?!!

I will add more pictures later. I promise! Right now, though, it is way past time for bed!

Thanks for reading!

Ashley