Indescibable....you are amazing...God

Toddlers change everyday.  Everyday there is a new word...a new sign (Emmanuel also does sign language)...a new dance move...a new fun "thing"--it is amazing to watch him grow.  

Well, my firstborn son truly ministered to me the other night...he ministered to me in such a powerful way that it was the focus of my quiet time for the next two days...it was a simple observation that gave me new perspective about God...it was a new thing for him...and an awesome reminder for me....

We've been working on letter recognition and pictures.  Well, for the letter "M," I use a picture of the moon.  And after teaching it to him for a few days, we went outside at night time, and he pointed to the sky and said, "Moon."  But after he said it, he wouldn't move.  He kept pointing at the moon...waving at the moon...blowing kisses to the moon.  I had to pick him up to get him to the van, and he started crying and said, "My moon, my moon."  

He then made it his personal goal to talk to the moon and about the moon.  He was fascinated with the moon.  And now when we go outside at night, he looks for the moon...points to it...does the sign for a circle...you name it.  He loves the moon. 

This truly ministered to me.  I take the moon for granted everyday.  I see it most everyday and go on about my business.  I don't stop to praise God for the moon.  I don't stop to admire its beauty.  I don't take the time to observe its purpose.  I just know that it is there.  

My son stopped.  He observed.  He admired.  He was taken aback by its beauty.  I like to think it was his way of thanking God for his beautiful creation.  

Our God created the whole universe...He is the God of all creation...He takes time and cares about everything He created and loves...His creation is beautiful...and while He created the moon and the stars and planets, etc...

He also created me...he takes time and cares about me...even when things on the surface do not work out how I would expect, Emmanuel reminded me that God cares about me...and takes care of me...I am His beautiful creation.  

Now when we read McBratney's "Guess How Much I Love You," I pause a little longer on the last page, and I really think about what it says, "I love you right up to the moon--and back."  

February Birthday Extravaganzas!

Almost every weekend in the month of February, Emmanuel attended Birthday Parties for friends.  He had a blast being around his friends and cousins! 

Joshua turned 3 years old!  I think this is a great picture of him because he smiles ALL THE TIME!  He is truly a content kid...and Emmanuel loves him so much.  

Joshua's party was at Chuck-E-Cheese.  While Emmanuel wasn't that interested in playing any of the games, he loved seeing Chuck E and being picked up by his cousins and his Aunt Dawn.    

Connor's party was also a Chuck-E-Cheese and he also turned 3!  Here is Emmanuel with his favorite adult.  (We are pretty sure that Emmanuel would leave us and go live with his Aunt Dawn in a heart beat...he loves this lady! )

  
Connor had a really cool cake, and it was fun seeing him get so excited about playing all of the games! 

Above is a picture of Connor and his dad, Carlos. 

LOL--Emmanuel didn't know what to do with all these rides!  It was so funny to watch him. 

Sweet Jamiya turned 2 years old, and she had her party at this bowling alley/toddler indoor playground/skating rink/laser tag place.  Again, Emmanuel didn't spend too much time playing the games or riding on the toys, but guess what he DID ENJOY THE MOST.....

Dancing...for almost an hour straight...at the foot of the old "Showbiz Pizza Place" stage!  So, can I just say that when I walked into this place, it was like de ja vu, because Showbiz Pizza is my generation...it was so neat to see Emmanuel dancing to the music.  They literally sang songs for about 45 minutes and everyone kept laughing at how Emmanuel was dancing.  He was mesmerized.  Now, if I can only convince his dad to let me sign him up for ballet lessons when he turns 3...

Here is Emmanuel with Mr. Jarvis, Jamiya's daddy! 

Jamiya had a Princess Party :)  

Jamiya only wanted her mama to hold her when she was blowing out the candles to her cake.  It was so sweet.  

Emmanuel loves his cousins and his friends.  I am glad that he is able to spend time with them while we are in Tennessee.  

This beautiful BLUE color...

Hi, everybody!  It's Emmanuel.  

I know it's been a while since I've written a post.  I've been busy exploring the city of Nashville and finding my way around this Southern place.  When I was digging in my mama's closet last week, I found a beautiful blue hat.  It was the most beautiful hat that I've ever seen...and it had the most beautiful logo on it.  Somehow, all the other hats in our house are an AWFUL orange color with a big "T" on the front...but this hat is marvelous.  Mama said that I could have it.

Mama also said that the color looked superb on me!  I've gotten lots of compliments on my hat. I think I will keep it!  Somehow, when I'm out with just my daddy...he forgets that I have this beautiful blue hat...and it stays in the house.  Anyway, mama taught me two very important words:  "GO HEELS!"  I'm working on perfecting those words...just for her! 

I like coffee....

I am a coffee drinker.  

I have a hard core coffee machine (a Cuisinart Grind and Brew) that automatically grinds my beans right before brewing.  I use only the darkest, richest whole beans in my coffee.  (When I am not preggo) I drink coffee all day--I like decaf, too.  I love coffee.  I used to drink coffee with my parents in the morning before high school.  One of the greatest times I had with my dad was buying him a cup of Starbucks and drinking it together while talking about life.  My best friends and I used to meet up for...coffee (or tea for them).  At my going away party for my job in Baltimore, they gave me a Starbucks giftcard.  I married a non-coffee drinker and converted him (applause, please).  

I am a devout coffee drinker.  

But, now, I have a toddler.

I used to be able to leave my coffee cup on the table when it was almost finished...now I have to be a little wiser.  I noticed a coffee stain on my son's shirt, and I thought....hmm...what is that about.  I said, "Emmanuel, let me smell your breath."  He smiled and ran.  I caught him, and well, 

I think Emmanuel is a coffee drinker, too.