{Happy Birthday Caleb!}

Twelve years ago you made a frightened nineteen year old a Mommy.  You made me want to fiercely protect you while molding you into a young man ready to tackle the world.

You made your Daddy and I work harder at loving each other and Jesus.  Our love for you made us face every hurdle with courage. 

Bubba I love how you love with your whole heart and are sensitive, just like Daddy!  I love that you wait for me to get dressed every day just so you can say I look pretty (no matter what I'm wearing or look like!).

I love that you have talked about serving your country as a soldier since you were a little boy.  And when you aren't mesmerized with that you would be content to spread the gospel and remind me we need to every chance you can get.

I love that you are inquisitive and ask more questions than humanly possible.  I love that you are ALL boy.  I love that you are silly and make me laugh every day.

I love that you are confident and protective. I love that you are creative and passionate.

Most of all my sweet boy, I love that you are mine!

{source}

You Are My Sunshine, will always be our song.  I will never forget those tender moments we shared when I rocked and sang, you cooed and gripped my finger, and we said goodnight with our signature kiss of my lips to the sweet little bridge of your nose.

And because you love Jesus and a mean beat, here is one of your favorite tunes and one of your favorite toys:

Happy Birthday Caleb Wayne, Daddy, Mommy and Sissy love you so!

{Happy Birthday Bella!}

I cannot explain the joy it is to be this girl's mother.  She challenges me in ways that I could never fathom.  She loves passionately and gives freely.  She has a permanent twinkle in her eye and grin on her face.  She is a beauty to behold.

Ten years ago I stared down at her willing my face to show the love in my heart.  I'm a bit of an impatient one and knew months before that she would be a precious baby girl, but when her big brown eyes gazed back at me I was overwhelmed that she was...just as more perfect than I imagined.

I love that our family cherishes her.  

I love that she is a mini me, the constant mother, the rough and tumble girl her Daddy always hoped for.

I love that it was her big brother who led her in the Salvation Prayer at four and her Daddy who baptized her.

I love that she is content to be herself, secure, content, grounded in the Holy Spirit.

I often tell her

{source}

...of course instead of person, I tell her she is my favorite daughter.  She giggles and tells me she's my only one and I nuzzle her nose and tell her she's still my favorite.

This is one of Bella's very favorite songs and I love it's message!

Happy happy birthday Bella Boo, we love you so very much!

{Life Made Lovely with my Sissy}

My sweet friend, Heather hosts a weekly link up to showcase the lovely in our life.  I love that!  An intentional reminder to enjoy your day, your week, your life.  To embrace and document the sweet moments big and little.

28 years ago God blessed me with one of my very best friends, my sister Jackie!

Being the only girls in what seemed like a sea of boys we were buds growing up.  It wasn't until we both got married and became Mamas that our true friendship blossomed!

We have weathered many storms together and have never left each other's side.  We are completely ridiculous together and laugh harder together than with anyone else, with the exception of our hubby's.  We love each other's kids like they are our own and pray for a day when our little girls that look just like us, will be besties, too!

When we were little Jackie couldn't say sister and ever since we have affectionately called one another Titters.  It sounds funny, but the weight of that word makes me tear up.  It's a reminder of the love only we share for one another and the promise that we will always be there...through thick and thin.

Titters I am so proud to be your sister!  So thankful for every laugh, tear, hug, kiss, memory, boob pinch (sorry TMI, just keeping it real), memory, and even the fights.  Each one has shaped us and our relationship and I am a better person because of it.  I pray this year you run even faster after Jesus with a desire to earnestly serve him.  I pray your marriage continues to build and grow and weather any storm it encounters and come out stronger.  I pray your babes rise up and call you blessed and honor you the way you deserve because of the incredible Mom you are.  And I pray we don't waste one moment in this last year we have together before you move. I love you most and always will!

And here's a little shot of some crafting I was able to accomplish this weekend....by the way huge shout out of thanks to my amazing hubs who left Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon with the babes so I could refresh and have some time to myself.  It was amazing and I highly recommend it!

This is the shirt I made for Jackie's bday gift.

Here's a close up on the flowers.

Hope you enjoyed my lovely and remember to embrace and enjoy yours!

XOXO

Jenni

Thirty for Thirty

I turned THIRTY on Monday.  Whoa!  Not that thirty is this huge number...it's just that, this particular birthday crept up on me.  The past few years have been littered, sprinkled with a lot of maybes, eventually's & sometime soon's. So this will be THAT year.  That year that I stretch, grow & preserve because I will have a plan.  A thirty for thirty.  So here it is with all it's accountability glory!

1.  Read the entire Bible in 90 days, 

starting January 1...today!

2.  Sky dive with the Hubs.

3.  Lose at least 30 pounds.

4. Write the little girl we sponsor through 

World Vision, once a month.

5. Take one solo overnight or day trip 

each with Caleb, Bella, 

my Mom & sister, Jackie 

& all by myself.

6. OPEN my Etsy shop & sale 

MORE than 30 items!

7. Study Spanish & Guitar, weekly from the 

selection of How To CD's I own. 

8. Blog daily, even if it's a snippet 

(or scheduled post).

9. Monthly SCHEDULED date nights 

with the Hubs and the kiddos.

10. Memorize one scripture a week.

11.  Volunteer with the kids once a month.

12. Establish traditions like: Family game night, 

Family movie night, etc.

13. Make (as much as possible) all gifts 

I give for any occasion this year.

14. Treat others the way I want to be treated.  

Prefer my spouse.  Speak Kindly.  Love wholly.  

Mark others with the peace of the 

Holy Spirit living in me.

15. Write my pen pal bi-monthly, 

and add friends & family.

16. Ride on the back of my husband's motorcycle

for at least a 20 minute trip.  Eeek!

17. Save & purchase a Canon Rebel!

18. Reupholster the chair in my living room!

19. Hospitality...playdates, luncheons, 

dinners, Girls Night out, the works!

20. Remember Romans 12:12, 

" Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, 

faithful in prayer." on the hard days.

21. Exercise for thirty minutes, every day.

22.  Do SOMETHING (other than getting in the car) 

outside EVERYDAY...

preferably with the kiddos!

23. Be consistent with evening devotionals with Randy.

24. Learn to knit.

25. Run a mile, without stopping!

26.  Donate my hair to Locks of Love.

27. Take a family vacation, by car, that requires 

traveling through more than one state.

28. Intentionally become Randy's helpmate with 

every opportunity & with joy in my heart.  

Especially in the garden.

29. Take really cool family photos (after losing 30+ lbs.) 

in a pasture or wooded area.

30. Give each day to the Lord to design , plan, 

orchestrate & fill with peace that 

He has my best in mind!

With Love at THIRTY!