Surprise Baby Shower

I am in a home school group. I'm not sure exactly why since Jackson is only 3. :) But I love the moms and have come to just enjoy the friendship that comes with it. So, I have been on lots of activities, saved Box Tops, and participated in fund raisers to enjoy that friendship. Last week, we had a Moms' Night. We're always trying to talk with a million kids running around, spilling drinks, needing to go potty, etc. So we try to have a night just for us every once in a while. I hosted it in my home this time and it was so much fun! The moms gave me a surprise shower! I was so excited. It really made me feel special! A few favorites:

Jamin and the boys had escaped to the preacher's house to hide out. :) When they got home, Jackson almost immediately fell asleep on our bed. It was just so adorable, I had to take a picture. :)

Love his mouth hanging open. :)

What to Do on a Rainy Day

Head for the tub!!!!

My Heart

I was recently given the privilege of teaching in our monthly ladies' meeting. A subject immediately came to mind since it has been my focus all of this year. The Lord kept confirming the direction.

I have been saved since I was very young and raised in a Christian home. I was home schooled, then attended a Bible college. I married before graduation so I was always very sheltered. I did all the "right" things, made all the "right" decisions. And that is the way God means for it to be.

But because my "outside" was formed very young, some decisions I never had to make. Not once in my life have I got up on a Sunday morning and wondered if I would go to church or not, or a Wednesday. I never questioned if I should join the choir, or attend special events. But in all the hustle and bustle of ministry, sometimes I would just go through the motions and leave my heart out. I mean, I'm the assistant pastor's wife, people expect things of me. But that is the wrong attitude.

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 says, "Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee."

When I don't serve the Lord from my heart, I experience hunger, thirst, nakedness and want of all things… in a spiritual way. When I am not happy, I know I'm not serving the Lord, I'm serving something else because His yoke is easy and His burden light.

It's so easy to just go through the motions because it's your "job" to teach a Sunday School class, or go on visitation, or come to choir practice. And there will be many days when we don't feel like doing it, but we should anyway. That just shouldn't be the norm. "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men." It should be for the Lord and nothing else. Isn't He worth it? Don't I owe Him?

It's been said that this is a basic of life, and it is. It's very basic. But even more, it is essential. If I can't learn to serve God from the heart, keeping my eyes on Him, then I'll always fail. If I have my eyes on others, I will always be miserable because I cannot please everybody. But I can please Him. He says in Psalm 147:11, "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him…" I can't please people, but I can please God. I think that's amazing!

You would think that with my childhood days, this would come naturally for me, but I'm in the thick of learning right now. I'm having to learn it because I get discouraged so easily, feeling jealous over others' talents, worrying about what people expect of me, trying to be the best and be noticed. It's simpler just to look to the Lord and serve Him with all my heart. His yoke is easy and His burden is light!

Time for a Trim

Just because haircut day can be hilarious!!

Many hands...

"Many hands make light work"

... so they say...

I've often wondered who "they" are.

Almost there...

It must be a man-thing... sometimes the dirty clothes are touching the clothes hamper... just a little farther and it would be there.

The books get piled in many places in the bedroom, instead of in the neat little pile beside the bed.

The new roll of toilet paper gets neatly perched on top of the holder.

I made a neat little fabric basket on our dresser for Jamin's pocket knife, wallet and change to go... but those items are usually on the piano, buffet or shelf.

So, I said to Jackson, "Take these toys to your room."

He comes by it honestly.

Jackson the Builder & Co.

Cover It!

I've always wondered about slipcovers... they use them in decorating magazines all the time. We needed one. Someone gave us a terrific couch and recliner, but the colors were a little too much for the look I wanted...

soooo....

we bought slipcovers! Tada!! I think they look fabulous!

My Daughter-to-Come

Friday was a wonderful day for me... the BIG ultrasound! Having two precious boys already, I really wanted a girl. It's not that I didn't want a boy, it was just a deep desire to have a girl, ever since I was very young.

Thursday night, I barely slept. I was already feeling so guilty about being disappointed with another boy. Like I said, of course I would have been happy with a boy. But I knew there would be a little disappointment for a few days. So I couldn't sleep. I also woke up at about 6am, instead of 7:30 with the alarm.

We dropped off the boys with our deacon and his wife (the boys' OH grandparents), and went to the appointment.

It seemed to take forever in the waiting room. They were a little behind schedule. When we finally got back to the ultrasound room, I told the technician about my fears. I just felt like I needed to confess I guess. I was visibly upset. Part-way through the ultrasound, she said, "I feel your heart! You are nervous!"

We saw the little head, and she took a few measurements. Then she went to the legs. Jamin said, "Is that the legs?" She said, "Her legs."

I said, "It's a girl?!"

"It's a girl," she said.

I just had to ask her if she was sure, and she said they're not allowed to say 100%, but she could see what she needed to see. I started crying, I was so happy!! She finished the exam and took us back to the waiting room to wait for the doctor to see us.

I called Mom really fast to let her know. I said, "It's a girl!" She said, "It is?!" She was in Lowe's with Becky, and they both started crying. I started a fresh stream of tears. Like I said, I was in the waiting room and all the other pregnant ladies were staring at me. I told Mom I would call her later because neither of us could talk anyway.

After the appointment, we called and texted other people to let them know. For those of you who don't know, this is my mother's 8th grandchild, and the 1st girl. After almost 12 years, there will be a girl in the Snow family!

I had saved up some money so we could shop, and shop we did!!

When I called Mom back, Becky wanted to talk to me. She told me about a sermon her pastor had preached a few weeks ago, about faith. She told me how that she wanted a little girl, and Kristan had wanted one, and that I wanted one, too. She told me she was trying to live her faith, and she had prayed that God would give me the desires of "her" heart! That was so precious to me! God answered her prayer in my favor!

My fb announcement picture:


A special day together!! By the way, Jamin is just as excited as I am, but he didn't cry! ;)

Thrift store finds:
Once Upon a Child finds:

I bought some little bows at WalMart last night. Jackson wanted me to try it out on him and take a picture!

Bought at WalMart last night:

Other buys:

We have some "house" work to do. We are going to build a room on our carport and move Jamin's study in there, then the baby will have his old study. It is a cute, very small room, perfect for a baby girl.

We are going to name our daughter Eva Joy. Eva pronounced Eev-uh. I have loved the name "Eve" forever, but it's really hard to place it with a middle name, so we improvised. I love her name. I love to name them early. Then their little lives take shape, and find a quicker place in the family.

The day after the ultrasound, I made this quilt top for her room. I will make a matching bedskirt in the next couple of weeks. I have BIG PINK plans for this nursery!

These are the sheers for her window, and the paint swatch we will use!!

I did this quilt when I was pregnant with Jackson, just to pass the time. It was a kit, and I had it quilted last year. It's beautiful!! I'm sure it will match in Eva's room! I'm hoping to get a comfy chair for nursing, that I can drape this quilt over!

I'm so thankful for little Eva Joy. I feel like my greatest dreams have all come true. As a child, I dreamed of marrying a preacher and having several kids. I dreamed of a cute little house, the picket fence, shady trees to sip lemonade under. I think I always thought I wasn't good enough, that for some reason God would never be that good to me! But He uses ordinary people despite our failures. And now I'm realizing that those desires came from Him anyway! I'm living my dream!

Purse!

My spring bag!
I recently sold a purse, so I decided while I had the sewing machine out, I would just make one for myself. So, I did! I wanted a "spring"y one. :) I also made one for Alicia's wheelchair. She really can't carry a purse and "roll" at the same time. So I made a wheelchair purse for her. I haven't got a picture yet, but it's pretty cute... just take my word for it.