Let's Take Pictures All Day Long

If you're my friend on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, you probably think all I did today was take pictures of our two youngest daughters.  You may or may not be correct.  It's been an emotional time for me with our cousin (more like our brother) getting married to his beautiful bride, lots of quality time with family from all over the continent, and the anticipation of (and preparation for) Jesus's birthday next week.  With this year coming to an end in a few, short weeks - I'm starting to get all sentimental (once again) about our girls. Time just won't slow down for me - no matter how adamantly I insist that she does.

Those of you who have met Isabella know that she has quite the demeanor.

I like to say that she has a sparkling personality.

One might also call her loud, exuberant, and sassy.

Isabella spent nearly an hour cooking and doing a fashion show for me while I attempted to catch up on e-mails, etc. and fold our never-ending loads of laundry.  Since I had my phone (Happy Birthday to me from The Husband) by my side, I freely took a bazillion pictures:

Her little sister immediately followed suit.  Evangeline turned two last month, and it's not making me excited - at all.  She has now discovered the words mine and no and uses them freely much to my dismay.  I'm always amazed when our girls learn to talk and start to communicate - not so much when they do so in defiance or disobedience.  

Here's a fun little tidbit for you to look back on Miss Evangeline:

We made an impromptu visit to Lolo and Lola's house tonight while your daddy took Espy and Gianna to a youth event.  You decided it was a good idea to snatch a chip out of your sister's bowl.  When I told you to give it back, you thought you should smack that bowl and every chip out of it.  You were reprimanded and had to sit in my lap until you apologized to Isabella.  Your Lola tried to rescue you, but you wouldn't have it.  At the same time, you struggled between apologizing to your sister and standing your ground with the bowl-smacking.  Eventually (after many tears and "No, Mommy!"s) you said, "Sorry, Bella," and she forgave you in her sassy way.  Don't you worry, I corrected her  phrasing and tone - and everyone was happy at the end of the 12-minute ordeal.

To my 2 and 4 year olds, you may slow down with the growing up thing any time you'd like.

I Corinthians 13 - a Christmas Version

Photo by: D Sharon Pruitt

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls - but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime - but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity - but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata - but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.  Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.  Love is kind, though harried and tired.  Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.  Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.  Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails.  Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust - but giving the gift of love will endure.

(source unknown)

The Original

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Photo by: D. Sharon Pruitt

Thankful to the one who gives me all that I love the most.

Thankful for the unconditional gift of His love -

continually praying that I don't misrepresent it to others.

Thankful to the one who loves me in spite of me - always.

Forever thankful for my God.

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It seems like we waited forever for this child when in reality she came three days before she was due.  Espy, Gianna, and Isabella each spoiled us by arriving around two weeks early.

  

I've told her story before, but that's ok:

Evangeline made her own way right from the start.  I was nauseous for several weeks - nothing like I had experienced before.  I was sure Evangeline was going to be a little boy when the whole family (minus Isabella) went to her 20 week ultrasound.  Instead, we found out we were going to have a sweet baby girl.  We also thought that Evangeline would arrive about two weeks early, just like her sisters.  We were wrong!  Evangeline's due date was December 2nd.  We went to the hospital November 26th and got sent home because I was only dilated 3cm and wasn't in active labor.

Boo.

Early monday morning, November 29th - I started having STRONG contractions around 4:15am.

I was in the front room, and PaPa could hear me crying from the bedroom
where he and NeNe were sleeping.

  They were definitely stronger than any of the contractions I had when I went into active labor with our first three daughters.  They got stronger and came closer together more quickly than with Espy, Gianna, and Isabella.  Bill and I both showered, got our things together, and headed to the hospital around 6:30am.  I was 5cm in triage, and they transferred us to a room.  At that point, things continued to progress quickly.  I was ready to push around 11:30am.  My water broke, and they called the doctor.  One strong contraction and one strong push later, Evangeline was here at 12:04pm.  This pregnancy was by far the most difficult for me physically, emotionally, and mentally - but when it came to labor and delivery, it was the quickest and easiest of all four (with my trusty, ever-present epidural!). Bill and I were so thankful for such an awesome delivery.  All the waiting and false labor was worth it once we saw Evangeline!

In Greek, Evangeline means, "like an angel."  McRae is a name that Bill discovered and liked.  Bill and I knew it was the one when we found out it means "son of grace" from the Scottish name MacRae.

 

 

Extremely thankful for our Evangeline McRae.

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Photo by: D. Sharon Pruitt
I realize the perfect morning does not exist.  However, if things go according to plan - it's almost like witnessing the tooth fairy or Santa or the Easter Bunny in real life.

If I do simple things the night before like:
set out the girls' outfits
make everyone's lunches
have all bookbags packed and ready to go
set the breakfast table
go to bed at a decent hour
I can certainly set the stage for a great start.

When (and if) I wake up before the girls, if I can manage to grab a shower and get dressed (and put makeup on!) - I might just be en route to the "perfect" morning.

Spending time talking to God and reading Scripture make any morning better than when I haven't.

If I can squeeze in a workout before the shower:
bonus points.

If there's no yelling by me or crying by the girls:
icing on the cake.

Cup of coffee?
Yes, please!

While our mornings here hardly turn out as I dream or picture them to be,
I'm happy when they come even remotely close.

Thankful for smooth mornings with the girls.

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You already know how much I love this show.

Photo Source

Thankful for my emotional release every Tuesday night.

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God's been working a lot on my heart -

helping me be more aware of how our family spends our money.

His money.

I'm falling in love with companies like this:

Sseko Designs

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Sseko Designs is a sandal company based in Uganda.  We make beautiful leather sandals with interchangeable fabric straps that can be styled in hundreds of ways.
Sseko began as a way to generate income for high potential, talented young women to continue on to university.  Sseko has graduated three classes of women.  Every woman who has graduated from Sseko is currently pursuing her college degree.
In addition to our university-bound team, Sseko also employs a full-time team of women from all walks of life.  By creating an environment of dignity, honor, creativity and dedication, Sseko Designs provides the opportunity for women in East Africa to end they cycle of poverty and create a more equitable society.
We believe that every woman has a dream.  When she is given the opportunity to pursue those dreams, we are collectively walking towards a brighter and more just and beautiful world.
We believe that our stuff has a story and that every dollar you spend is a vote for the way you think the world should work.
Every Sseko has a story.
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and like this:

31 Bits

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 Kallie Dovel, traveled to Uganda in the summer of 2007, getting a first-hand look at life in Northern Uganda. While she was there, she met women making paper beads but who lacked a plan

to market and sell them.

After spending time in their homes and hearing their stories, Kallie knew there had to be a way to give opportunities to her new friends. She brought a box of jewelry back to the U.S., and spent the next year finishing her degree and dreaming up the concept of a development organization. She brought a few friends on board and her ideas quickly evolved into 31 Bits.

The girls traveled back to Uganda in August 2008, and selected six women to begin buying jewelry from on a monthly basis. Since then, we have grown to 108 women; each with a unique story of suffering that has been overcome with joy and liberation.
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 Thankful for companies that encourage me to be a more thoughtful consumer.