Reflections....

It is great to be back with the awesome group of women "reflecting" on the same topic. This week we were to reflect on a verse or verses from the bible that speak so deeply into our lives. When I read that we were doing this topic all I could think was....WOW my post is going to be RIDCULOUSLY long....however after some pondering and praying and talking to my husband and realizing what that/those verse/verses are...I realized I actually could narrow it down. The past few months have been so great as I have been adding scripture into my life ecspecially healing scriptures for Luke. But THEE scripture that I feel is so daily and deeply in me is....get ready....it's pretty typical...but true to me..... THE LORD IS MY SHEPARD from the 23rd Psalm. Ok yes...I know....even the non christians of this world know this scripture and it's not "so original" but narrowed down....it is my deepest scripture. It goes way back to my infancy of being a christian  to having to memorize it during confirmation classes and now to my current christian walk. It resinates in me and my husband so much and into our family. No matter what we may be going through we know that He is our shepard. What we are believing for He is leading and guiding us (a.k.a.His sheep) down His amazing path. No matter what we are afraid of He is protecting us, no matter what we are thankful for He has given us His grace and blessings as our Abba Father. We can put that scripture into everything in our lives. HE is our SHEPARD. It is just the way we feel for Lane and Luke....we keep a constant watch on our herd. We would never let anything happen to the 2 of them. We have a constant eye on them when they are awake and when they are asleep we are monitoring their every noise. Even more than that the Lord is watching our EVERY move and moment and is guiding, protecting, and blessing  us in every aspect. The 23rd Psalm continues to say " I shall not want" and that is something I have finally began to be content with. Do I sometimes see an amazing commercial with something on it and thing "I want that" yes of course I do.... Or do I look at a stain on a shirt or on my carpet and think "man it'd be nice to get new" yes of course I do. But that is not exactly what that means to me.... It's finding contentment in what HE wants for me in my life. And Trusting that He will bless me and carry me through and protect me all the way and wanting only what He wants for me.

~Psalms 23:1-6~

The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not  want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Amen.
 

Rain....

On Friday I took Luke to his doctor appointment in Clinton and on our way I was listening to Klove and they had everyone that was listening pray all together for rain due to the drought. I joined in and prayed for rain and it is raining today!!! ;) so neat to be apart of prayer things like that! Made me smile to see that rain this morning! Reminds me of the scripture we talked about last week in church....Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NIV). ;) Coming before him boldly and making our requests known is exactly what He wants to hear! Try it for yourself!!!;)

6month picture of Luke that will make you smile

Kiddos....perfectly not perfect

Well Hello there blogland. The inspiration of this post was given to me by this snotty lady I saw today at Target (who shall remain nameless). First off the boys and I went to Target this morning and Luke slept on the way over and Lane watched a movie...the sun is shining, birds chirping, beautiful weather, coffee is in the cup holder, and weeerr'rreee off. It was a very pleasant ride over. We get to Target (I park next to the carts like I always do so I can grab a cart before I remove my children and the put it back easily after they are strapped in.) and head inside. Luke wakes up shortly after getting into the store and Lane is holding his little airplane and is excited to look all around. We first go to the clothes where I was looking for a pair of jeans for our tall 2 year old and a pair of comfy pants as I realized the other day that he has a current pant shortage. We bump into my dad's cousing Renae and talked for a minute...Lane was just quietly zooming his little plane and Luke was just chilling in the carseat( He's a great baby but extra chill right after waking up:). She was nice and said how big they were, how cute, how fast time goes, ect...we talked about her grandson starting school and then went merrily on our way. We got the pants(1pair of cargo type pants and 1 pair of "swishy pants"...all of targets jeans for toddlers seemed like "super skinny jeans" so I will have to look else where) and headed over to the pharmacy section. There is where we saw her...I was heading down an isle getting toothpaste and she passes me(I tried to pretend like I didn't see her because as my mom would call her....she is just "nosey"). Well she says "HI LAUREL" ....in this super surprised voice...and I responded with "Oh Hi___________".
I kept walking but she kind of stood there and I just said something like good to see you and kept it moving. Well we finished our shopping and the boys were angels (they are not always angels, ecspecially in stores, but today they were....good timing on Mom's part for Luke and prepared with snacks for Lane:) and when we were heading to the check out  there she is again walking towards me....now mind you Lane is sitting down eating fruit loops out of his baggie and Luke is just pulling his little carseat toy into his mouth...neither making a peep, and  yes the cart had some items in it, some by Lane and some under the cart on the bottom thing but only about 4 bags worth.....and for whatever reason she says in a super snotty voice " Well you look like you've got your hands full". AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Is literally what I was saying inside my head.....thankfully what came out of my mouth was "Not really this is pretty easy for me" and she says even snottier "Well good for your Laurel". UGH UGH UGH.
Now you may be thinking Im over reacting but let me tell you....I can completly understand if they were screaming or throwing a fit (like they were at the fair last Saturday when they were sick of being paitent, were tired, and ready to move on in the stroller and not sit still any more and a lady said "She looks like she has her hands full" to my mom.... still RUDE if you ask me but somewhat true in that moment. But today...oh no...NOT TODAY. Today it was all good in the hood, all gravey baby!! And I was so proud of them and proud to be at a store with my perfect(at the time) little boys....and for some reason she said that! Is it because one is 2(who is tall enough to look at least 3 or maybe even 4) and one is in a carseat (who is 6 months )?? Because it certainly can't be because of their behavior today. It's just irritating to me because alot of people I know have kids 2 years (well 22 months) apart. There is mom's out there with 4 kids 2 years apart or twins shopping in Target...man wonder what "snotty women" thinks of them. This is not me being over sensitive to her comment either because I have heard this more than once and it definatly irritates me regardless of the situation its just a RUDE comment that needs to be left unsaid. We intentionally had our children 22 months apart (in our late 20's mind you) and are sooo greatful and thankful every day for them  in every perfect and not perfect moment. And even if was a situation where someone had an "unexpected blessing" and had two really close in ages children or was a teen mom...then that is not ok to make that comment then either LADY!
WHEW....ok....all better. But you mommies out there can relate right?!?! ( I am sure your scared to make a comment after my venting fit...please don't be...I'm usually really nice LOL:)
Never the less....she could have been having a bad day(well I know this women and this is just how she is) or maybe she didn't "mean it that way" (but still...I know this women and that is how she is)....but it will hopefully be a lessoned learned for me to keep "comments" to myself. I have NEVER been that person to stare if a kid was melting down or look at a mom like "whoa she has her hands full" (even if she did)...not now as a mother and not even before I was a mother but I will DEFINATLY make sure not to make accusations about anyone and ecspecially not say them. Thank you for reading my post today and letting me vent here in blog land:) Look for a more "positive" post in the near future.

Luke is 6 MONTHS OLD!!

I can not believe that our precious little boy is 6 months old  today.
What a "filled" 6 months we've had. Filled with lots of tears, but even more smiles...filled with lots of "busy" moments, but even more precious moments, more doctors appointments than I think I have had my entire life, a major surgery, recovery, and all the other awesome things that go along with growing to be 6 months old!

Here are a few fun facts about Luke being 6 months old....
1. Luke went from being the youngest grandson to having a baby boy cousin on his mommy's side and a baby girl cousin on his daddy's side so he is no longer the "youngest" he is a "big cousin" at 6 months old:)
2. Luke can sit up now on his own and he loves to play on the floor with toys and not just baby toys, oh no, of course he prefers his big brother's toys (big brother is learning to "share" his trucks;)

 3. Luke can hold his own bottle(when he wants too) and loves to play with it.4. Luke has been eating baby oatmeal for a couple of months now
5. Luke has started in on eating some "baby food" his favorite is his Great Grandma Landheer's canned apple sauce! He has also had bananna's that his mommy made him in her new baby bullet!:) (I am going to "attempt" to make most of his baby food....I also attempted with Lane but it did not go well...but I only had a blender so I am hoping this is much easier:)
6. Luke LOVES to ride in the side by side jogging stroller with his big brother and is out of his carseat and sits directly in the stroller and just rides like a big boy!7. Luke loves to "talk" and hear himself (his little voice is absolutly adorable and he wakes up "singing" every morning)
8. Luke now sleeps in his crib (but not all through the night yet)
9. Luke loves to watch his big brother and his dog and is always laughing at them. (He has a sense of humor already)
10. Luke is seriously soooo happy. ALWAYS smiling, no work at all to make giggle, so content, plays by himself so well, but loves to be entertained and read or sang too. His name means "The bringer of Light" and that is truley what he does to our household and our lives. He has brought so much "light" into our family, marriage, and way of life. We are BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED BEYOND MESSURE by this amazing special little boy.

Here he is "happy boy" with his daddy

                                             Here are a few of him this morning on his "half birthday" playing on the floor with his brother and baby cousin Cohen...

(sorry most of those are vertical I couldn't figre our how to flip them:)

                                                               And here he is the other day sitting on his
Poppy's tree stand.....

And playing on the deck in his walker(that he can move around in:)...

                                           
He is such an AMAZING and wonderful little baby! We are waiting to hear from our inssurance so we can get his helmet made and get it on him to get the fine tuning of that bump on the left side taken care of....beside that he is doing FABULOUS since his surgery. It seems that it didn't change him a bit and that he hasn't skipped a beat (I can't say the same for Matt and I but our change was better that's for sure). It was a CRAZY, HARD AND LIFE THREATING AND  LIFE CHANGING 6 months for Luke and for us. But we would do it all over again in a heartbeat!  Our lives are better because of him and we could not be more greatful for the gift of Luke (and of course his big brother Lane:)

Reflections...My mom, husband, mother in law, sister in law, and Michele Becker

Well this week my blog post could go ON and ON and ON over this topic. And I am extremely blessed for saying that. We are to write about people that "sharpen" our lives. In other words....help encourage us on our walk with Christ ect...
Before I begin on my couple of shout outs on the people that really encourage me in life I have to give a TREMENDOUS  mentioning to my friends Brittnay and Kim  who blog with me on Thursdays and have started this "reflections" group. They started this group with these exact intentions....to "sharpen" each other weakly to be better "pointed" towards Christ. I am so thankful for this weekly blog bible study group thingy I am in because it DEFINATLY helps keep me encouraged!! Thank you to those to wonderful women. They are AMAZING! If you haven't had a chance to view their blogs you totally should attwww.mauneyland.blogspot.com and at www.daughter...wife...mom...sis...blogspot.com.
Ok so here I go....when I first read Kim's challenge last week for this weeks reflections these people instantly popped into my head (although there is many more...) I feel as though I could not blog this topic without mentioning these people that have truley sharpened my life, some for a long time and some for just a short while but they have all been so invasive, I have been completly effected by them to the point of becoming a better version of myself.
First one DUUHHHH.... My MOM!!! Anyone who knows my mom knows that she is a great christian women. I could go on and on and on and on and on and on about the different christian ways she has encouraged me in the past 28 years but that would take forever. She (like most moms) brought us to church, sent us to bible school and church camp but it was more than that. The one thing that really sticks out with her is "hard times". Anytime I was going through a hard time i.e....junior high fights with friends, highschool boyfriend drama, knee surgeries, ect ect....she always turned my view towards God. She left the best notes, letters, emails, (and then later texts) that a mom could always encouraging me in whatever the situation to "give it to God". She always helped me see that HE has(and will always have) the best plan for me. And for that(and much MUCH more) I am forever greatful and feel "sharpened" by her in many ways and wish I could spend my entire time blogging talking about them...but we'll save that for a later post! Love my momma:)
Secondly....MY HUBBY <3 <3 <3!!!  I don't know if it is because he knows me so well or because the holy spirit is in him so much(probably both) but he is always helping me be a better version and a more "godly" version of myself. (This too since we have become parents has been a shared thing between each other...letting our children "see" Christ in us instead of just "telling" them about Him....and "living it out"(like Brittnay talked about in her last post) is our goal for our kids) When I start to lose my cool, or act away I shouldn't he always keeps me grounded, which I need and think we all do at some points, and I am so blessed by him. He is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO calm. (Isn't he?? If you know him you would agree ten fold....calmest most easy going relaxed guy in the world.) Thank you GOD for sending him to me!! Though I have calmed down, slowed down, and eased up since I've had kids I definatly am balanced out by my amazing husband. And when it comes to being the Christian I want to be, he is great at holding me accountable. He reminds me when I need to be reminded and encourages me when I need to be encouraged and is always there to help me take a deep breath. I feel the love of God through him(though I know God loves me much more...) and I am so "sharpened" by that love and need it like breathing is to life.
Lastly would be 3 amazing women.....MY MOTHER IN LAW(Donna Rubright), MY SISTER IN LAW (Danielle Decker), AND MY FRIEND (Michele Becker) (I could keep adding and adding on the friend list so those of you I didn't add please know how much you are loved and appriciated! It would take me 5 hours to give you all a shout out on this blog maybe sometime I will try that:). First my mother in law is always reminding us of what the bible says whenever she gets the chance and I love that and am greatful for her knowledge in that. She buys us devotionals, bibles, christian books for our kids, and baby books with scripture and anything she can think of with a godly encouragment for us and our family and I love that about her. Those things are so great to have around the house and use on a daily basis. She is great at giving us tools of advice or tools we can use to help keep us "right on point" with our walk with Christ. So greatful for an encouraging and godly mother in law. Love her so much!
My sister in law (a.k.a "SIL" (abbriviation for sister in law) as I call her) is another amazing encouragment to me. EVERYTHING and ANYTHING I have ever needed to hear ....she seems to say it. Even if it's against all odds of what I thought...she is usually right on target. She is so in tune with the holy spirit it is ridiculous! I am blessed by her rightous love for Christ and how in all things she is giving Him the praise. She is such an encouragment and always goes immediatly to Christ. Even if I say "I think I'm getting a sore throat" before I can get the sentence out she is casting it out and lifting me up right then and there in a prayer. She has layed her hands on me , my hubby, and my kids and said "you are healed in Jesus name" more times than I can think of....even if was just a headache or a major closure of a skull she ALWAYS looks towards HIM. I am teary eyed at my greatfulness for her and her love of Christ. One time I told her I pray for extra angels when I leave my kids to protect them as they are watched with someone else and she said "I prayed for extra angels before I came to watch them". I mean really??? How wonderful is that?!?!? She is just such a godly women with Him in between, before, behind, and all around her every day activities and I am so blessed just to be around her. (Love you sil!)
Last but not least MICHELE BECKER ROCKS!!! She is a friend of mine but started out as my best friends mom, then a client, and now a dear dear friend. I always tell my husband when I do her hair I should pay her because she ALWAYS makes me feel better!! She has opened my eyes to so many things( the first fast I ever did was because of her) and has helped me go from anger/sadness, to happiness in seconds about things. She finds the good in everything....and I mean EVERYTHING (don't you wish you were like that?? I sure do) And that is someone worth being around. She too knows soooo much about the bible and is constantly whipping out scripture off the top of her head and I love that. She prays with me everytime after her hair appointment...sometimes for me, sometimes for her, sometimes for people we know...but always prayer. She will do it right in front of the next client that is waiting and has even sang me a hymnn once in front of a complete stranger because she knew I needed to hear that joyful noise. She is BURSTING with God's goodness. She and her husband are such disciples of God. Claiming and spreading the good news every chance they get. They even came over and had a little jam session with us with her husband and my husband playing guitars and singing praise songs a few days before Luke's surgery. She lent me mulitple books, videos, and shared so many scriptures during my time of need. She is a walking Jesus Freak and she is absoultly infectious to be around. She makes me a better person and in many many ways and has increased my realationship with Christ over the years. I am so blessed by her and love her bunches!
I am overwhelmed with the amount of Christian people in my life that help encourage me all the time. I pray that I can be a blessing like that to people as well. I am soooo thankful for these people I mentioned and for the people I didn't. It wasn't until now that I really realized how blessed I am having the encouragement I do. I am making a commitment right here and now to try to be more like each and everyone of these people and to "live out" the gospel the way they have in my life!!

Reflections- MUCH BETTER!

Well another week went by so fast! It seems like I was just sitting down to write my reflection from last week and here we are again....crazy! I have to say though....I am glad it is this Thursday and not last Thursday. Last Thursday....I have to say was not a good post for me. It was an "OYE VEY" moment where I dreaded the whole thing. We were to talk to others about our "daily walk" with God. And that definatly convicted me because I had been "really busy" and not getting deep in my daily time with Him just skimming the surface to get by. What I realized though now looking back is how everything seemed very difficult while doing this. Like everything I picked up- I'd drop...or  unloading the dishwasher seemed to take about as much energy to build a small country. I just didn't have my "witts about me" lately and that is because my skimming by wasn't cutting it. I was FOCUSING on everything but the ONE who gives me EVERYTHING!!! After my major conviction I decided to go back to giving myself limits and only allowing myself to get on facebook, watch my DVR(which I currently have 6 shows I haven't watched and I am proud that they are sitting there...looking forward to getting to them but normally I'd watch them as soon as I could and now that is not that case), or do otherthings with out scheduleing my daily time with God. That has been incredibly helpful taking time to make the excuse that I can't do those things because I have an appointment with Him or my bible. Which leads me to my next transformation....Sunday at our church we had a guest pastor because ours was on vacation. His sermon was all about FOCUS on Him! Not on us, or what we need, or what we don't have, but simply and yes SIMPLY on JESUS! See it doesn't have to be difficult, or "churched" up to have your focus set on Him it's simple! I know it's a bit intimidating when you are friends with the one that created you and everything around you but it doesn't have to be. He loves us NO MATTER WHAT WE DO (or don't do). If we don't make the time for Him...that's ok He understands, loves us anyways and is paiently waiting until we do. During that sermon he spoke about how if you read the bible for 15 minutes a day you can read the whole thing in one year. (which I have always wanted to do and so has my husband) So we decided not to set a time frame but to set a goal...and that is every night before bed(when we would be watching our shows, looking on his Iphone at facebook ect...that we would read 15 minutes of the bible before we go to sleep.) My husband has been believing God for a new and better job(and I have been standing firm in that with him) for 5 years next month. I am so proud of his faith but as anyone could imagine....it gets a little wearing in our flesh. So even though we've said time and time again "God...we trust you" (and we do)....we've decided to be at REST so He can be at WORK...and in the mean time indulging ourselves in the word and just FOCUSING on Him, and not on us and what we want, need, have or don't have. Just simply and blatently on HIM. After the first night of reading my husband looks over at me and says "this is good stuff" :) And he is right ....it really is! I have read many scriptures, and even books of the bible but never just sat to read it like a book. We are starting with the new testement....we just felt as though it was relevent for the "season" we are in right now in our lives but we are fully commited to read the old testiment as well too. This "daily" routine has already in 4 nights of reading been such a blessing in our lives. I feel so much more energized(even though I have gotten very little sleep the past few nights with a teething baby) and even though my husband has been working very hard this week we are having a better week. Feeling stronger, and calmer, and more paitent and so much better! I am excited to see what God will do (as He is always doing in our lives even when we don't ask...He is meeting the desires of our hearts) in our lives as we redirect our FOCUS on Him. If I spent as much time on God as I did on other things....I think alot of things would be a lot better. Of course watching tv, facebooking, ect...is fine but there is a balance in life my life that needs to be met and that is CHRIST FIRST and then so on and so on. I am glad to say that I am currently back on track! Here is a few verses I found and am so passionate about because I read them and instantly felt like it was a little personal note from Him(maker of heaven and earth) to me!! (how cool is that)
Matthew 5:5
YOU'RE BLESSED WHEN YOU'RE CONTENT WITH JUST WHO  YOU ARE-NO MORE, NO LESS. THAT'S THE MOMENT YOU FIND YOURSELVES PROUD OWNERS OF EVERYTHING THAT CAN'T BE BOUGHT.

AMEN AMEN AMEN TO THAT! Thank You JESUS that in the midst of all my "wants" I am PROUD of what I have and that is nothing that could ever be bought....it is an eternal life with my savior! (and that I am married to an AMAZING man that is also going to spend eternity right there too!!)


Matthew 5:13
LET ME TELL YOU WHY YOU'RE HERE TO BE SALT-SEASONING THAT BRINGS OUT THE GOD-FLAVORS OF THIS EARTH. IF YOU LOSE YOUR SALTINESS, HOW WILL PEOPLE TASTE GODLINESS? YOU'VE LOST YOUR USEFULNESS AND WILL END UP GARBAGE.

Matthew 5:14
HERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO PUT IT: YOU'RE HERE TO BE LIGHT, BRING OUT THE GOD COLORS IN THE WORLD. GOD IS NOT A SECRET TO BE KEPT. WE'RE GOING PUBLIC WITH THIS, AS PUBLIC AS A CITY ON A HILL. IF I MAKE YOU LIGHT-BEARS, YOU DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO HIDE YOU UNDER A BUCKET, DO YOU? I'M PUTTING YOU ON A LIGHT STAND. NOW THAT I'VE PUT YOU THERE ON A HILLTOP, ON A LIGHT STAND- SHINE!!! KEEP OPEN HOUSE; BE GENEROUS WITH YOUR LIVES. BY OPENING UP TO OTHERS, YOU'LL PROMPT PEOPLE TO OPEN UP WITH GOD, THIS GENEROUS FATHER IN HEAVEN

Now that my friends is worth reading! I AM HERE TO BE A LIGHT(that is actually the meaning of our son Luke's name "the bringer of Light" and it is oh so fitting)
My daily walk has increased in one week and it will continue! I will keep you all posted on my daily reading and FOCUSING! I'd love to encourage you to take your eyes off of you(or anything else that may be consuming you more than Christ) and put your FOCUS on Him. He has the master plan...so I'm going to take my eyes off of "calendar" for a while and keep them focused where they should be....things will be a lot "lighter" in my busy life I just know it!!!