Our Easter Blessings

Does it ever seem wrong to you that we get to be the ones to receive blessings on days that should be a time to worship, adore, and thank our Savior, Jesus Christ?  Today was a special day for us just the same. 

 

It was a time of complete peace as we worshiped together with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  We were reminded today that the Savior is still waiting to once again drink of the cup.  He is waiting so that he can partake of it with you and me for eternity. 

 

  Praise Him.  Praise Him.  Praise Him.

 

I went a little picture happy today.  It was difficult to weed through so many pics of my beauties so I grabbed some of my favs to share:



The girls wanted to have curls for the Lord's day:) 

Myla is at that "eat mama's face" stage.  Love it. 

Isn't purple her color?

Drew's first egg of the season.  He was a little backward at first.

Libby loves holidays.

Grace with her cousin

What a team.

While the kids were hunting for eggs, Myla was entertaining Daddy with her bubble act.

I think she likes Easter too.

Zeke being a dork.  Grandma made the older kids hunt for just one egg with their name on it.  If they found it, they received a cash gift.  Funny Stuff.

They searched

 high and low.

Grace even stopped long enough to pose for a pic while searching in a tree.

Our beauty-Hosanna
 

Myla wasn't sure about the wrapping on her basket. 

She took her time to discover this new material. 

How cute is she.

She even posed with her new headband. 

 

I just had to end our picture time with my dorky

but lovable guy.

 

Happy Easter

What a beautiful day it was today.  Our little Myla was able to see the great outdoors two days in a row.  She was so excited...she squealed with joy.  Fun stuff. 

 

 I love to take walks with my children.  One of our favorite things to do is walk to the bridge close by and throw rocks into the creek. I strapped Myla into her snuggly and off we went.

 

Today, when the little ones colored eggs, I didn't help.  I just let them have at it while I sat back and watched.  I usually hover over them and miss out on the joy of witnessing their creativity.  I didn't care if they spilled anything.  I didn't care if they cracked every egg.  I just wanted to have fun-and fun we had. 

 

March Memories

I have to admit that this month has been a blur-a complete and utter blur.  I struggled to feel well.  I can honestly say that the last two days are the first two days that I felt like myself in over three weeks. 

 

I didn't take as many pictures of my family due to the illness, but I do have memories that I long to remember.  I decided I would just put them on one post. 

 

I love it when I can kill two birds with one stone so to make things even easier, I decided I would just catch up on my digital scrapbook collages and present them to you all on my blog.  

 

 Here are my March Memories: 

 

We started off the month by playing in the snow much like we finished it. 

 

I love these pictures of Bryan and  two of my sweeties!!

 

 

Drew didn't care that it was cold.  He just wanted to ride his new bike somewhere else.  He was sick of the basement. Aren't we all ready for SPRING?

 What Mother wouldn't view moments like these as a true gift...blessing?  Oh, my heart. 

 

 Hosanna longs to be an athlete like her older siblings.  I can see the desire to play sports growing in her heart. 

 

Chore Time

In order to have our family life run smoothly, Bryan and I have assigned daily chores or tasks for each of our children to accomplish. 

The Elliott children who help run the ship by carry out their jobs

It is funny how during the chore times the children will often become distracted.  It could be the desire to go potty, the need to instruct someone younger, or selfish hearts who argue over who gets the sweeper first.  Regardless of the cause, the distraction prolongs the assignment and creates interruption in the vision we desire for our family to have. 

Isn’t it the same with the work the Lord has for us?

I am a child of the King!  He has given me a calling…chores…assignments for me to live out for I am a member of HIS family.

I am called to be a minister’s wife. 

The man I walk  through ministry with

I am called to be a mother of seven children.

I am called to homeschool the arrows he has placed in our quiver. 

It has become very apparent to me that I also get distracted in my “chore time”.  I allow Satan to grab my attention and persuade me to focus on things with little to no importance.

 Don’t get me wrong.  The items, events, and issues that rob me of accomplishing my assignments are real.  Some are even painful…aching the core of my heart, but they are not the works of the Lord so they shouldn’t have a hold on my life, heart, and mind. 

Why does Satan and his army work to distract?

Simple…we are powerful members in the army of Christ, but we are only powerful and affective when we are fueled by his word and ways...not Satan's!  If he can distract us, less will be done for the KINGDOM.  Less will come to know the saving power of grace given by the Savior, less will have a spiritually mature mother to guide them through life, and less will build up the body of Christ.

I am learning that I need to pray for the Spirit to help me ward off the attacks of distractions.  I need to be on my knees more as I live out my callings. 

Will you join me in prayer as you fight to live out yours? 

She Was So We Could

Earlier this month, our Miss Myla had the taste of her first foods.  It was such a grand event that the kiddos would have paid ticket money to watch.  I was threatened many times to not feed her for the first time unless everyone was home so they could witness the grand event. 

No one was disappointed!  She put on great performance.

It once again left me with the feeling of gratitude for our birthmother. 

She was the one to sacrifice her life, body, weight, and more so that we could love each moment with our Lovie.

She was the one to turn her face away from the thought of abortion so that we could cherish her milestones.

She was the one to give her life so we could watch her live it.

Sickness, Anger, and War

My Dear Friends,

I have been silent due to the fact that the sickness  I had rocked my world.  I am still not 100%, but I am trying to get back my life.  The illness that plagued me brought forth pain that I can’t remember having before.  It took its toll on my everyday life.  If it wasn’t for my sweet, older children and my loving husband, I would have had to call in outside reinforcements.  As always, they pulled their weight and helped me keep from drowning. 

In my state of sickness, I also had a week of anger.  Yes, anger!  The enemy is real.  The lion is pacing back and forth waiting to devour the King’s children.  The king of lies has been working overtime to destroy churches, marriages, and friendships.  This reality makes me angry at times!  Why does it seem that Satan is winning so much?

We have had friends fired from their church positions out of the blue leaving a part of Christ's body in suffering.  I have witnessed the devastation that couples experience when one is swayed to look outside of the act of marriage to gain self-fulfillment.  My anger flared up as I saw more fingerprints of Satan; however, just when I think I am going to drown in the deep in the Lord shines through as I experience friendship strengthened when friends handle things as the Lord instructs. 

We all need to stand stronger on the Word of the Lord.  We all need to be prepared to do the right things even though they appear harder for in the end the Lord’s ways are the only ways to live a life of peace.  We can’t allow the fingerprints of Satan to be the only evidence of a battle. 

We need to sharpen our swords, shine our armor, and prepare our shields. 

We need to do our part!! 

It is time to turn my anger at satan into motivation to win the war. 

P.S.

In my time of recovery, I also missed sharing some sweet times in my children’s lives.  I will be posting them soon so that someday my kiddos can look back and remember their days of old.

My Shell Breaker

Our quiet, little Itsy is starting to break out of her shell! She has always been one who NEVER wants to be the focus of attention! Lately, a change has taken place.  She has been found doing funny things to make us laugh.

Just the other day, we had cookies with icing.  She announced that she wanted to push her own face into hers.  After she did so, she even allowed Isaiah to do it again putting even more icing on her face.

I would like to introduce the new Hosanna!

Sickness is once again traveling through my veins as I write this.  It has been a painful sickness, but looking at my little lovie with her smiling, silly face brings me the only medicine that can heal this weary heart!  I love my kids!  They make this hard life worth it all!

She Believed

I don’t know why, but I have found that I go through times of intense feelings for our birthmother.  I think of her each and every day.  We even pray for her during our family morning prayer time; however, some days are just plain intense. 

I wish I knew if she feels our love. 

I wish I knew if she feels the Lord wrapping his arms around her for he loves her more than anyone.

The only thing I do know is the Lord created me for such a time as this.  He made me to have feelings of love that I never dreamed I could have.  It is Him that works in my heart to love the women who gave Myla life and then lovingly chose me to be her Momma.

 

She believed that I was the one to love Myla and guide her in life.  And I am!

She believed I would love every moment of being her mom.  And I do!

She believed that the most important decision was for Myla to grow up knowing the Lord.  And it is!

Thanks, dear birth mom, for believing!!

Set an Example

 

Dear Isaiah and Caleb,

You know that the Lord instructs you to:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 

I Timothy 4:12



Drew trying to be like the BIG BOYS

Remember that even though you are still young at least one child who is younger is watching your every move.  Set an example for him as walk through life. 

You are what he dreams of becoming.   

Loving You,

Mom

Happy Birthday Grace

My Beautiful Grace,

Happy Birthday, my leap year babe! 

When most think about their daughters turning 13 years, they think of them entering their teen years!  I think of you as a woman...the  wonderful, young lady  I have watch you become.

My life is beautiful because you are in it.  From the moment you entered the world, individuals started telling  Daddy and I  how beautiful you are.  It is true, but what Dad and I see is the beauty of your heart.  Focus on that beauty.  It is the only beauty that matters.

My life is easier, because you are in it.  You make my days successful by the help you give.  When a little one needs help, you lend a hand.  When a dinner needs made, you can come through with flying colors.  At the times when the laundry is piled high, you start to conquer the clothing mountain.  If that isn't enough, you are the first to volunteer to assist me in doing our least favorite job…groceries.  The list goes on and on and on.

My life is brighter, because you are in it.  You have always loved to talk and laugh.  You are like a ray of sun bursting through a cloud.

Thanks for your heart.  I can’t wait to see what the Lord has for you.  I don't tell you enough that I appreciate you. 

I Love You,
Mom