Multiude Monday #238-260...

"The act of sacrificing thank offerings to God- even for the bread and cup of cost, for cancer and crucifixion- this prepares the way for God to show us His fullest salvation from bitter, angry, resentful lives and from all sin that estranges us from Him."
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

continuing my journey to 1000 gifts as part of the Gratitude Community...

238...a foot of snow

239...snow days where they all play together

240...the beauty of the snow

241...the reminder that "sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow" (wow..this video below of Jesus Paid It All...especially from 3:00 on)

242...6 people 12 times shot #1

243...dinner with old friends

244...moms catching up while boys are running through the house dressed up as pirates and swinging swords and the conversation just continued

245...seeing Will succeed

246...the beauty of baby fat

247...Google calendar

248...boys wrestling and belly laughing

249...games of hide and seek

250...game night with Wes (even though he beat me)

251...Joshua's mission to stop sucking his thumb

252...extra help when my hands were quite full

253...the ed psych report is in our hands...

254...overtired baby falling asleep on my chest

255...laughing with my husband about how you properly wake someone asleep on the couch and tell them to go to bed

256...the hum of the dishwasher

257...husband made pizza

258...treats on Sunday

259...carseats rearranged in the van

260...sun reflecting bright on the snow

video: if you received this post via email...please visit www.wjmace.blogspot.com to view the video

6 people 12 times...January...

This is something I ran across on one of my favorite photoblogs and I couldn't resist giving it a try...I am holding onto this very lightly because I know what it takes to capture all 6 of us. So at the end of each month I hope to post a photo of our family that was taken that month...here is one from our snowstorm from last week. Wes set up the tripod in a heap of snow and we put the camera on self timer...

Success and Baby Fat...

Remember my post about Wills New Years Resolution?
We had dinner with friends last night that live in a split level. The step to walk up out of the living room is a little smaller than our landing at the bottom of the step...so Will practiced his motor planning skills until he conquered it...but would it be enough to "climb" the larger step back home?

This morning mid clothing change he made a dash for the landing...here is a sequence of pictures taken real time (first rule of mommy photography...always have your camera ready)!

ahh...success...

"I guess I'll clap for myself...I did it!"

Now...on the subject of baby fat...scroll back through these pictures...absolutely adorable!!!

Snow, Snow, Snow...

Snow Day...

A Fascinating Author and Illustrator...

Graeme Base

The Water Hole has been a favorite of Joshua's for some time...and Micaiah has always enjoyed Jungle Drums...
we recently borrowed Animalia from the library and it has proven to have the same fascinating qualities. Here is a description of this book on Amazon...
"Animalia...is a vast puzzle, built with entrancing pictures that unfold into layers and layers of objects--all matched to each page's corresponding letter."



Daddy snapped this picture tonight before bedtime. I must admit that it is very rare that reading at bedtime looks like this but it did tonight.

Multitude Monday #223-237...

"Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise."
Psalm 51:16

continuing my journey to 1000 gifts as part of the Gratitude Community...

223...hot chocolate with a friend as we share prayer requests

224...hearing her prayer for me and realizing how thankful I am for a friend that cares so deeply

225...snuggling with Joshua as we rest together on the couch

226...Eli's first self portrait

227...knowing that I serve a God that desires to bring healing to the brokenness all around me

228...a "husband" cleaned kitchen (after a house full of people) so I could enjoy the rest of the game

229...yes, the game in which the Steelers won ("Here We Go...Pittsburgh's going to the Superbowl"...ok I digress)

230...Eli's gift to Cameron on his first birthday...all his own idea

231...watching he and his Daddy get his "paci" all ready for Cameron


232...Micaiah dribbling the ball down the court
233...shooting foul shots after he drew the foul

234...a cat nap when all was quiet

235...kids arguing, yes I'm slowly learning that I should be thankful for this because it gives me the opportunity to teach them that God has made us all unique and we must love one another despite our differences

236...that God knows what the future holds and I don't have to worry

237...hearing God throughout the day as I pray the hours

It's Friday...

time to cook up something yummy...

and enjoy!

Will's New Years Resolution...

So in Will's opinion...crawling is so 2010!

In 2011 he plans to conquer the steps...

he just needs to figure out that standing at the bottom and screaming may not be the best tactic...

Multitude Monday #211-222...

"Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;

make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." Psalm 105:1-4

continuing my journey to 1000 gifts as a part of the Gratitude Community...

211...a snowy morning

212...hot chocolate at the first sign of snowflakes

213...puzzles with Eli

214...neighbor helping with afternoon carpool

215...warm, delicious meal served to us at dinnertime by a loving neighbor

216...ice skating with Joshua's class

217...winter hike in the woods

218...Will's excitement as we trekked through the woods























219...laughing

220...Sunday morning worship...wow!

221...catching them interacting like this
























222...capturing a self portrait

Poor Wes...

all he wants is a little privacy!

Will's New Talent....

crawling across the room while holding an object in his mouth...

yes, he made it...

although it is rather difficult to hold the object AND control the slobber factor

Morning Fun...

Multitude Monday #201-210...

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Wow, what a long week! Muddling through a week like the last one makes me thankful that I've committed to making it to 1000 gifts...
because it's easy to keep my eyes focused on my circumstances and forget to look for the gratitude in the midst of the chaos...
so I continue my journey to 1000 gifts as a part of the Gratitude Community...

201...looking back I realize that the rest and renewal I experienced over the holidays was necessary to push through last week (Thanks Wes!)


202...that someone is finally putting the pieces together so that we can help him in the best way possible


203...a friends offer to take him to play for the morning


204...Psalm 105:4 reading this and knowing He was speaking to me in the quiet


205...neighbors offering to provide dinner


206...days when laundry wasn't the priority
























207...his help when it became the priority
























...he really is the "best helper" hands down!























208...watching him learn and explore (picture taken by Daddy)

















209...just us enjoying an indoor soccer game

















210...a new week

Will is on the Move...

video: taken this morning via Wes' iphone

if you received this post via email please visit www.wjmace.blogspot.com to view the video

Ammo Warehouse...

Ok, so I went to put my boots on this morning...and I guess in my absence they had become a storage for nerf darts. Just a day in the life...

Multitude Monday #187-200...

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—
the fruit of lips that openly profess his name."
Hebrews 13:15

continuing my way to 1000 gifts as part of the gratitude community...

187...this smile

188...he started crawling...just like Micaiah did with one leg up

189...catching him trying to hand feed the birds

190...taking the older two boys to see the Globetrotters..."Big G" made us all belly laugh!

191...Micaiah realizing Michael Oher was in the audience

192...cousins being silly

193...my brother and sister-in law's help in preparing for our New Year's Eve get together when the little one needed soothing (a lot of it) to fall asleep


194...cousins toasting at breakfast on New Year's Day

195...New Year's Day Geocaching with family

196...our boys (minus the one we were carrying in the Ergo) enjoying a hike through the woods

197...Showing off the rock that held the "cache"

198...midway stopping point

199...that I actually made it to the top

200...brothers