The Wonderful Cross

Sorry for the long break, no excuses...just haven't got around to posting! I will try to be more consistent - but no promises!

I read recently that "most Christians tend to rush right past the cross because they are in such a hurry to get to the resurrection. But you can't have the resurrection without first tasting death." Those words have really been on my heart these past couple of days.

I have been in a very dry spell when it comes to my time alone with God, this Lenten season has came and almost passed without any real time spent in the Word or in prayer. I didn't give anything up for Lent, although I rarely do but I appreciate the practice when done with the right spirit and attitude. Yet I don't want Easter Sunday to pass just like any other Sunday.

Easter - 2008
(Curious to see his reaction this year!)

It is hard to focus on the true meaning of any holiday in this day and age. There are Easter baskets being sold everywhere, even on the side of the road!, huge Easter egg hunts with the eggs being dropped from helicopters, and no emphasis whatsoever on why we even celebrate Easter. So even though, I am going to take Nathan to his first egg hunt tomorrow morning and try to get a picture of him with the Easter bunny, I am going to quiet my heart and focus on the true meaning of this weekend and what it means to me as a Christian.

As a fan of both hymns and worship music, here are two of my all-time favorites:
(pause the music player on the right to hear only the music video in this post)

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Wordless Wednesday

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Things I Don't Want to Forget

Time flies. Nathan turns two next month and it just doesn't seem possible, I can still clearly remember being pregnant with him and checking off the days till my due date - and the days after the due date! These first couple of years are full of constant change - learning, discovering, developing, etc. I don't want to forget these days, so here is a list of what I want to remember from this past week!

I predict lots of scrapes and bruises on those knees this summer!

- One day this week Nathan was doing something he should not have been and I said no and then spelled it out "N-O" and he replies "P", it was so cute and I laughed about it all day long. (It took Mark awhile to figure this one out)

- He is now able to reach the light switches, but only when they are in the down position. Which means lights are getting turned on all the time now, but not off!

Nathan's determined look.

- Around Christmas time he learned how to say Jesus and began to recognize him in books and pictures. And now for some reason whenever he sees a statue or figurine of a man he thinks it is Jesus. Our neighbor has a concrete statue of some Saint and the other day Nathan ran up to his flower bed and was so excited to point out "Jesus" to me.

- He is very sensitive to situations on the TV when someone is yelling or getting hurt. Every time he watches "Cars" he comes to me during the crash scene with a worried look on his face, he does the same with Curious George when George gets in trouble. It melts my heart that he already has a sense of compassion at such an early age.

- Blowing kisses! Finally Nathan has broke down and started giving kisses and hugs when asked...usually we would settle for high fives. This week he started making the kissing sound by sucking in his lower lip, it is very cute and I love to hear it when I am closing his door for naps and bedtime.

He decided it was fun to shoot himself with the water gun.

So even though the "terrible twos" are right around the corner and the tantrums are coming more often than in the past, these are the things I don't want to forget!

Wordless Wednesday

We have our orders!

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Conversations with a (almost ) 2 year old

One of the few times Nathan has fallen asleep on the couch.
(Daddy was in charge this day - just wanted to justify the clothing choices!)

I just put Nathan (decided to just use his real name) to bed for the second time tonight. I know most kids have been asleep for hours but we tend to have later bedtimes and consequently later wake up times around here. The first time Mark put him down while I listened over the monitor as they read a quick book and said their prayers. Shortly after Nathan started talking up a storm, saying his letters, repeating his best friend's name over and over, and finally calling for mommy until I could not take it anymore.

Ever since we let Nathan cry it out at 8 months he hardly ever falls asleep anyplace besides his bed or carseat. He doesn't want to be rocked or cuddled, which is unfortunate for me but at the same time it makes bed time very easy! So tonight I brought him into our bedroom (Mark is watching an action movie...not what Nathan needs to fall asleep watching) and we laid down and started talking.

First we said letters to each other, he would say one and I would say a new one until we ran out of letters. Then he started naming tv characters (I think because he wanted to watch them) so I just answered back with another character until we exhausted that list as well. Next we did some colors and numbers. Every once in awhile he would get the giggles and we would make each other laugh by just smiling. It was a wonderful 20-30 minute conversation with my boy, I can't wait to see them progress in the coming months and years.

Now for some more pics (which probably what you would rather see than read my rambling story!)

Getting some energy out after church and before nap time on Sunday.

Sandals! So excited to find some that fit his feet without leaving marks,
he is wearing a size 7 now, don't know if that is on par for his age or not.

Thankful on Friday

This one is devoted to my silly little boy....

Who decided that this is the only way he will eat fruit...

and likes to wear stickers on his head, one on each side...




and makes me laugh everyday, for which I am so very thankful!

PS - The Etsy Cora Playground Sale raised almost $16,000!

Wordless Wednesday

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Thankful on Friday

The birthday boys of February...

Thankful...for my dad. For so many reasons but especially for his unwavering support and love. He is always there when I have a question (this week it was about tires). I appreciate his advice and admire his work ethic and the way he treats others.

Thankful...for my brother. Growing up I never wished for a sister and I think that is because my brother and I are so close. He has a huge heart and is an amazing husband and father. I can't wait to see how his little girl gets him wrapped around her finger in the next couple of years! Wish we could have been there to help him celebrate the big 3-0.

Wordless Wednesday

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Thankful on Friday

So since I am new at this I am going to use some prompts to get the posts going, this one is borrowed from this blog of a fellow SC grad.

Of course I am thankful for many things, these are just a few that caught my eye this week:

Pensacola Beach - January 09

THANKFUL....for living in Florida. Someday we will return to the land of snowy winters, but until then I am grateful that I get to wear flip flops and t-shirts in February almost every day.

February 2007 - baby shower given by church friends

THANKFUL....for my two circles of friends I have made here - my Oakleaf girls and the ladies from my church. They are completely different sets of people but I feel so comfortable with all of them. These women all respect and love one another, it is so nice to have them in my life.

THANKFUL.....that N.* decided to break this DVD this week. Don't get me wrong, I like Elmo just as much as the next mom but this one was getting old...we won't be replacing this one.



THANKFUL....for such a wonderful husband who never comments on the state of our house, when it looks terrible - like it does this week. I have been busy with sewing projects, etc. that the cleaning has been pushed aside, luckily he is on call Saturday so I have a whole day to get it done without any other plans.


* - I haven't decided if I am going to use N's real name or make up a blog name for him. Any suggestions on what to call him besides N.?

Wordless Wednesday

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Please Join Us...

We could never have imagined how this little girl could have affected our lives. When we complain "times are so tough," Cora helps remind us what truly matters.

We could never have guessed so many could come together, many who have never even met the McClenahans, in an amazing movement to honor Cora's memory.

And now, we- a group of over fifty
talented, generous artisans- request that you
please join us here to help support the building of
The Cora Playground.

Spread the word. Let this be bigger than
anything from our wildest dreams!

For Cora Paige.

For a complete list of shops click here.

Here Goes Nothing...

So I finally decided to make the leap and join the blogging world. I have been following blogs for awhile now. I enjoy keeping up with far away friends, crafty moms whom I have never met, and military wives from which I gain wisdom, all from the comfort of the little corner office in our bedroom.

I am not sure how often I will post here, but I hope to share family updates, crafty things, and anything else that I find amusing. The first order of business is to announce that I have opened an Etsy store The Purple Elephant in order to be a part of a big event that starts Monday Feb. 16th!

About 2 weeks ago I received an email from a family member asking everyone to pray for a little girl name Cora who was diagnosed with cancer. A couple of days later I found that family's blog and read every post with tears streaming down my face. I didn't even know them (though I did some research and I played HS basketball against the mom and my grandpa lives in their neck of the woods) but my heart broke as I followed their journey, one a parent should never have to walk.

Cora's story has touched many people across the blogging community, a blogger that I follow was so touched that she decided to put her talents to good use and it snowballed from there. I am excited to be part of a huge Etsy sale benefiting Cora Paige, more details to come in the next post!