Fourth Anniversary!

WOWZAS! It's been 2 months since I posted!! However our lives have been jam-packed with great blessings! 

The biggest blessing that we've celebrated was our FOURTH ANNIVERSARY! We didn't have anything extravagant planned, especially because Samuel became sick a couple days before our anniversary. Knowing that we really wanted to celebrate, we enlisted a couple sweet friends to come over and hang out at our house while the boys slept so that we could go out for a little celebrating!

So Jessica and Mark Stucky gladly came over for pizza and alone time while we ventured to my very favorite restaurant of all time: STONEFIRE GRILL!!!!

We didn't actually get a picture together, but we took some of each other :) Love him.

This is to represent our child-free anniversary date ;) What's funny is that by the end of the date, we were both missing our awesome boys! We truly are so blessed by God.

Again, my FAVORITE! We both weren't STARVING so we just got a small salad and breadsticks to share! We left stuffed and satisfied. 

One of the best things about Stonefire is their BBQ sauce! We love it on everything :) This picture was Joshua's idea! I LOVE IT. I love the food, I love the sauce, I love the # of years God has faithfully blessed us, and I LOVE the hands and wedding band :)

After dinner, we were going to go to BJ's for a Pazookie but we just got so tired after roaming the mall a bit and decided to go home. It was great because then we got to fellowship with our dear friends for a while!

Thankful for four years married to the best husband in the world!

Here's the song that I walked down the aisle to. We still listen to it and marvel at God's faithfulness to us! 

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Benjamin - 5 Months Old!

Our sweet baby Benjamin is 5 months old today! Where in the world has time gone? They say that the days are long and the years are short, but I honestly feel like every day is too short to enjoy this bundle of awesomeness! No, really. I wish I could press the pause button on life with my two amazing little boys. They are both growing up way too fast!

Benjamin continues to impress us with his mild-manored ways. Of course, we do know that he is yet to become mobile and that changes everything in an instant. But we are thoroughly enjoying this stage of cuddles and giggles! It is so very precious to us!

With two teeth and a track-record of great eating, this little {big} guy is just about ready to start solid foods. I have introduced tastes to him {carrots, pears, cereal, etc.} but solids are not a regular part of his diet yet. I know he's going to LOVE eating more and more {like his big brother}!

Benjamin smiles all the time! Even when he may be having a hard day {TEETHING}, he can't help but smile when he gets a glimpse of his momma, abba, or brother! It is so tender & sweet!

We thank God for the blessing of Benjamin Henry and can't wait to see how he continues to grow!

Lovin' rice cereal!!

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Kind to the Ungrateful

This morning as I was reading a chapter in the Gospel of Luke, I was overwhelmed meditating on how God loves the ungrateful and works in me to do the same: 

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:35-36

In recent days, I've noticed my son doing much more whining and pouting than he ever has. Some say, "oh, it's just the terrible twos and he'll get over it." I say it's part an inadequacy to properly communicate his needs and wants, and partly an ungratefulness for what he already has. In response to the abundance of whining going on around this little apartment, it is far too easy to become impatient, harsh, and unkind. I find myself being sharp with my words and quick with my actions. Oftentimes, I feel like the whining has brought me to the end of my rope. And THEN, God opens my eyes, yet again, to the wonderous things in His law...

Unlike me and my tendency to get up-tight and short-tempered, God, my perfect Heavenly Father is kind to the ungrateful and evil. In all my silent complaints against God's providence and goodness, I am doing nothing less than being a big whiner and yet God in His perfect love and compassion, graciously reminds me that He is kind, gentle, patient, and forgiving of the whining that so grieves Him. He is good and only seeks good for those who love Him and here I am restless in the face of His sovereignty. 

As a momma, my life is characterized by giving without return and spending without instant reward. In my selfishness, I can get "overwhelmed" by how much I am exerting and how little I'm getting in return. However, this little gem of Scripture reminds me that I am called to give without receiving because my Father in Heaven has given the ultimate Gift without any price that I could ever pay! He has loved His enemies, done good to those who rebel against Him, and given expecting nothing in return by sending His Son to atone for my sins - ungratefulness being one of them. 

During the times that I am tempted to snap because I've said "no" more than I've blinked and have heard "nah nah nah" for the umpteenth time, I will seek to remember the gracious kindness of my Father toward a whiny, ungrateful, unkind, yet forgiven sinner like me.

May my words be gentle and kind and may I reflect the character of my perfect, kind, patient, and loving Father to my precious children every moment of their lives...

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Thanksgiving & Tree trimming {in Photos}

In recent days, I have picked up our Canon Rebel T3i to start capturing some of the memories we are making in our little family! It has been so fun to experiment with different settings and to watch our little boys {especially Samuel} enjoy the world around him, discovering all the beauty! 

Benjamin is 2.5 months old and growing like a WEED! He is over 16 lbs and we are falling more in love with him every day! He just started sleeping about 10-11 hours a night which has helped momma get back into the swing of "normal" life {whatever that is!}. 

Samuel is also growing like a weed, but more in personality and disposition. It is EXCITING to see how inquisitive, adventurous, and sweet he is becoming! He loves giving hugs {especially to baby brother} and playing in the dirt. He is definitely boy boy boy!!! We absolutely love it. I'm just having to get used to all the rough-housing going on in this little apartment :) 

Here are a couple pictures documenting our simple little life here in Louisville, KY {and some from our trip to FL for Thanksgiving}. Some are from the handy iPhone, while others are taken on the SLR :) Enjoy.

{yummm...cinnamon rolls!}

Samuel and Paxton hanging out on Thanksgiving morning while momma and aunt Jen watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while eating cinnamon rolls - tradition for as long as we can remember!

Aunt Jen LOVES her nephews!

It was such a glorious feast! I can't wait until next year!

Grandpa and Grandma can't get enough of their guys! {Benjamin, Paxton, & Samuel}

We had a little fellowship while we were home, at the Harsh's! Autumn does such a great job with the little ones. She takes after her momma! :)

The outfit that Summer got Benjamin! He's definitely not little, but he is my "little man"

Melissa joined us to pick out our Christmas tree. What a fun time!

Samuel had the job of holding down the tree on the drive home ;)

Joshua hanging the lights! {LOVE Christmas!}

The finished product!

Our little guy decorating cookies at the Bush's :)

We're going to miss Mel when she goes back to FL, but we're thankful for the time we had with her here :)

{yummm}

{Brotherly love}

Samuel enjoying the beautiful weather

{chalk, leaves, and basketball!}

He is so sweet to his momma!

Learning about Jesus through the Jesus Story Book Bible advent calendar! 

May I continue to seek the face of God as I seek to live a life reflecting my redemption!

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Happy Birthday, Samuel

My heart leaps for {joy} yet sinks at the same time when I think on how fast this year has gone by and how much our sweet Samuel has grown and developed! It was one year ago that Joshua and I went into the hospital (almost exactly as I write this post at 6:45am) to welcome our first son into this world. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! WHAT A JOY!!!

 I never really knew all the precious and tender moments we would experience in a year's time, but let me tell you: It has not only been the sweetest year in our marriage, but probably one of the sweetest years of our lives. God has blessed us beyond what we could have EVER imagined or hoped for by giving us Samuel Norton Clutterham. He brings so much joy, enthusiasm, laughter, and like I said PRECIOUS moments into our lives and we are so grateful that God has made us stewards over this little life.

As I scroll through the many pictures that have been taken of this awesome little guy (trying to give you all just a taste of joy that we get on a daily basis :),  my eyes fill with tears as I am humbled by God's favor that He has bestowed on us! Here are just a few from Sam Sam's first year!

Soundly sleeping his first day in this world :)

Go Gators!

Our lil Monkey!

LOVES his monkey!

Silly guy!

 

Thank you so much for letting me share our joy with you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAMUEL!

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She has been with Jesus!

 

Today, as I was reading my Bible (I'm working through Dr. Horner's Bible Reading Plan), I came across a passage that I've read many times but was truly amazed by for the first time. I was reading Acts 4, where Peter and John are before the council after being put into prison for preaching "in Jesus the resurrection from the dead." The next section of this account is what truly amazed me this morning:

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:8-13

First off, being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter was so bold! He spoke God's truth with clarity and conviction. It was this boldness that allowed him to say what I always desire to say but often allow my sin to keep me from saying:

"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

I began to think, "I AM filled with the Holy Spirit and because of that, I can proclaim this message to people who need to hear it!" It was just astonishing to me that this same Spirit who gave Peter this boldness is the same Spirit living within me!

The next thing that really got me thinking, was the people's responses to this message that they were hearing from Peter and John. Just as I was astonished, so were these men overhearing this message. Not only were they astonished, they "recognized that they had been with Jesus." What made these people recognize that these men had been with Jesus? Was it the miracles? The fact that they were uneducated and common? Or was it because these men were filled with the Spirit boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ, though they had no worldly education? I dare say it was the latter. God had given them boldness - a light - that was undeniably from above. 

I began thinking, "well, my goodness, if people heard me speak would they recognize that I am a child of God? Would they decipher that I spend time alone with God, learning His heart so that I might be more like Him? Would it be unmistakable that I have been with Jesus?? This was a convicting thought that reminded me of my need to daily check my life to be sure that I am being a light in this world!

I was also reminded of something else, however. That we are called to be bold, but at the same time, we are called to be gentle. It is FAR too easy to be bold without the element of gentleness. I know too many people, including myself, who have royally messed up the opportunity to give the gospel, a rebuke, or even an encouragement because the way they presented it was much too harsh. When reading this passage about Peter's boldness given by the Spirit, I could not help but think of this passage:

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15

Here is the same man who was filled with the Holy Spirit and with boldness in the book of Acts. He must have learned his lesson, just as I am continually learning, that the message preached must be preached with respect and gentleness or it will be futile. I love that Jesus is our perfect example of being bold, yet gentle. I love that, because of the Holy Spirit, we can be like Him!

Those were just a few thoughts from my reading today. May I be the type of woman that when people interact with me, they recognize that I have been with Jesus! 

PS: Today is the first day of February. Second month of the Joy Dare!

I'm also starting this today!

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