One More Marissa Post :)

I can't get over the fact that my little 6lb 15oz, 19 1/2 inches long baby is 7!  I grabbed a TON of pictures off the computer to put a picture post together to show Marissa over the last 7 years.   I wanted to put all these pictures in order, but it proved to be way to hard!!!

Here we go!

I hope you enjoyed!

Marissa's Birthday in the Evening :)

Daddy came home and we did gifts, birthday dinner and cake.  

This gift was from Aunt Amanda, Junior, Jennifer, and Joyanna

Reading her card.  It was so neat to listen to her read her own cards this year!

Gift from Mommy and Daddy.  It's a veterinarian lego set :)

Gift from Grandma and Grandpa Benedict

Her Venus Fly Trap Plant from Aunt Laurie :)

He really is pretty neat.  We tried feeding him yesterday and he closed up, but a second too late.  But we got to see him move at least.  

We have a tough time pulling her away from her gift from Aunt Amanda!  She LOVES it!

Marissa wanted Poke and Pour Jello cake with Lemon jello and blueberries on top.  So that is what she got!  It was really good actually!  Great combination and I would have never thought to try it!

Marissa's Birthday Morning :)

Marissa's birthday morning started with our regular tradition; hot chocolate in the tea set.  Aunt Katie and Zoe came over, and Lucas was here as well.  

1st it was present time!

Then it was "tea" time!  So cute!

Zoe's first time at a tea party

And she couldn't figure out what to do with it!

I had to get pictures of everyone enjoying their warm beverage :)

Little Mommy

Marissa has really matured lately it seems.  She has become a little Mommy, especially to Zoe.  When I have her, Marissa is always trying to steal her from me.  Zoe loves her and you can tell she looks up to her and wants to do whatever Marissa is doing.  I love it.  It's so cute to watch!  

The other day Katie and Zoe were at the house and the kids got into the stuffed animals.  They were so cute in the playroom, swimming in stuffies!

God is Good!

If you are believe like I do, you know God answers prayer.  But if you are like me, you struggle with believing that He will answer trivial prayers.  By trivial I mean things that there is no way He cares about.  But I'm wrong in my thinking.  The other day proved that.  We have been praying that we would be able to find a home for my 90 year old Grandfather's pitt bull.  He can't get around very well anymore and people need to be able to get into the house to do things for him.  She needs better care than he is able to give her right now.  I had heard all these stories about her, and although I refused to believe that she was vicious I was concerned that she might not be a good candidate for adoption.  I found a volunteer from a Pitt Bull rescue that was at least willing to go meet her.  So Tuesday morning 4 adults and a two year old piled in my car and we made our way to Grandpa's.  When we arrived, she was in the window barking, but her tail was going a mile a minute.  Her eyes were soft and inviting.  We waited for Grandpa to make his way to the door but when he was struggling we entered.  Thumper was definitely uncertain and nervous, but was submissive.  She was very excited to have someone there to see her.  The volunteer fell in love and said she would take her.  God does care about the "trivial" things.  Anyone that knows these dogs knows that a 7 year old pitt bull without any socialization, SHOULD be aggressive towards people entering the house.  However she was the direct opposite.  I just kept thinking how thankful I was that I have an older Lab/Coonhound that wouldn't stand for it and a home owners policy that wouldn't renew us, because otherwise I would have brought her home with me.  I'm so grateful that God answers prayers.  I serve a great God! :)

Traveling

I love their imagination.  Lately they have had this thing with Disney Land.  They want to go so bad!  So they went! :)  

I walked in the living room and started talking to them and they both announced they couldn't hear me because they were in a car driving.  LOL  

I'm fairly certain that Madalyn is going to crash seeing as she isn't watching the road at all!

I love my kids!

Never Alone

Psalms13 (KJV)

1.  How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

 2.  How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

 3.  Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

 4.  Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

 5.  But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

 6.  I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

In this psalm, the writer found himself feeling so alone, so seemingly abandoned by God.  He was plunged into a deep depression and despair that took him so far down. He was wrestling with his thoughts. His sorrow was overwhelming.

I know I can relate to these feelings and I'm sure you can as well. Perhaps you know what it's like when your thoughts are whirling around in aching confusion. You may know what it's like to plead with God for light, for peace, for an alternative to the spiritual death you think is right around the next corner.

Then comes the "but." The psalmist, even as he was suffering terribly, stopped himself with that little word. David chose to trust in God's goodness even when his heart was failing and grieving.  Because he knew God, he chose to trust in God's unfailing love and rejoice even in the midst of sorrow.

Did you get that? He said, "But . . . I will" (verses 5-6). The psalmist made a choice. He made a conscious decision to trust in God's love even when the dark clouds of fear, hurt and depression seemed to hide God's face.

David knew this as a fact. And you know it too: You are never alone. God is always nearby . . . even when you can't see his face or feel his presence. When you feel alone, call out to him. No matter how you feel, the fact remains: He is here. He is everywhere. And He hears your cries.

As life gets harder and the daily pains and stresses overwhelm us, we need to cling to the fact that God remains the same.  He is still here.  Take some time to spend with Him and reconnect.  The best way to start your day is with Him.  He is the only one who can carry you through the day :)

Startin' the Day Out Right

Marissa is getting a lot more confident in her reading.  She is a great reader, but sometimes she doesn't *think* she can read a certain book and deems it "Too Hard".   That's why she shocked me Sunday night when she picked up her King James Bible and started reading.  :)

She proceeded to pick it up again Monday morning and read 4 verses.  

No better way to start the morning off!  I'm so happy she is wanting to read her Bible so young!  

This morning I'm dropping the girls off at my friend Katie's house.  My mother in law and I are headed out to her father's house to meet a Pitt Bull Rescue volunteer.  He is in his 90's and it's time for the dog to go somewhere else.  Praying that this is our shot.  I have realized over the past couple weeks that rehoming a Pitt is NOT an easy task!  I'll update you tomorrow! 

 I hope you all have a great day!