Missouri Girls

Gracie laid out her clothes for school tomorrow, insisting on her Missouri Girls Rule t-shirt because it coordinated with some clothes she received for Christmas.  She had me at Missouri. Heart.

Hopeful New Year

It's a new year, but I'm holding on to this timeless promise. I believe He has great things in store! 

The Father's Love

Source: Uploaded by user via Melissa on Pinterest

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  

Absolute Love

Tonight as we got you in your jammies, you asked me if I was absolutely 978, 763, 679 bazillion percent sure that I love you. ABSOLUTELY! I wonder sometimes how you can doubt it or maybe you just like throwing around those BIG numbers. =) Even if you ask me 978, 763, 679 bazillion times, I will always say yes. The answer is always yes.

Here it is a few hours later and you are sweetly sleeping after some really cozy snuggles, hugs, and kisses. I love the smell of your hair and how ticklish you are on your neck, sweet girl. You are my sunshine and so much more.

I love your giggles and your sense of humor - your use of humor. Oh, how you try to make me laugh in every situation (they are not all laughing matters, but you don't need to know that right now).  I love how you are so helpful to others, in little things and big things. You are so quick to offer up your piggy bank for every need noticed or perceived (like when I wanted to go to Uncle Tommy's funeral - oh, my heart hurts) or how you wrote those sweet notes to Abbi & Grandma Contino. You think of others and that's just how God wants us to be. God reminds me through you that He is a creative, loving, gracious, and generous God. You are surely precious in His sight because He loves you even more than I do and that's quite alot of love.

I know you can't stop growing. Like you say, "God made me to grow, Mama." I wish time would just move a bit more slowly so I can soak in these sweet moments. I love you, Gracie Cakes. I found this little heartfelt saying a bit ago. It really captures what my heart is singing tonight. Here's to you - from my heart to yours~

To My Sweet Daughter:


Your wee little life has changed me. The day you were born was a new beginning for me, too; a change that will forever lay soft on my heart. Everything in my life is sweeter because of you.  The days and fleeting moments with you are only a breath in time.  They linger briefly and fly away on the wings of tomorrow. You are precious in every way; the sunshine of my day. You are the joy in my soul and the love of my life.
Love you forever and more,
Mama

by Patsy Gaut - though the love you forever and more part is all mine =)

On The Radio

We love Shine 89 radio. It gets us going in the morning and keeps us singing until we say our best, worst, and prayers at bedtime. Truth is, Shine is usually always playing. I just love that our home is bathed with good stuff; stuff that makes heaven smile and let's the enemy know he is on fighting ground. We are to create a place for Christ to dwell and our worship invites Him to abide. Then there is the part how we just love Christian music. Shine keeps us covered in more ways than one.

Now that the alarm wakes us up before the sun, we are loving the Early Morning Show with Kurt Wallace

(Go CARDS).  The Gracie girl LOVES that Birthday game. We called in this morning and Grace made her radio debut. Sweet...my goodness, that girl sounded so sweet over the airwaves; but I digress.

You can play the birthday game if a family member is born in the designated month. She has a papa in the month they called out and was invited to tell why she loved her papa. It made my heart all melty when she talked about why she loved her papa.  I think Kurt (Go CARDS!) was more bummed than Grace when the birthday wheel landed two days away from papa's birthday. He said he almost moved the wheel back just so she could win just because she was too cute. That guy is full of integrity so no cheating, but we did win a cool Matthew West CD AND there may even be an extra something else in that Shine package for Gracie. That is just cool, I tell you.

Shine 89, WE LOVE YOU!
AND big news for mom. I submitted my application for graduation! YEAH me!! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Aug 5th! Long road, but worth it. That's my faith talking. =) It's well past the best, worst & prayer time. Got to go to BED! Night folks.

PS - I recorded Gracie's radio shout out, but it didn't take. Wonder if I can get a hold of that clip somehow?? Would be a sweet addition to the Grace FULL Days blog, don't you think?

Down on Papa's Farm

Momenti-di-Cattura with Merideth Powers

Momenti-di-Cattura with Merideth Powers

Momenti-di-Cattura with Merideth Powers

Gracie takes control of the wheel - photo by Merideth Powers, Momenti di Cattura

Photo by Merideth Powers, Momenti-di-Cattura

Photo by Merideth Powers, Momenti-di-Cattura

Photo by Merideth Powers, Momenti-di-Cattura

Photo by Merideth Powers, Momenti-di-Cattura

Photo credits to Merideth Powers, Momenti-di-Cattura

Grace

Grace - this is for you; just so you know how much you mean to me: 

Hokey Pokey - That's What It's All About!

From the first day I brought Grace home from the hospital, I sang the Hokey Pokey song when I changed her diaper or clothes.  She learned her body parts early.  Just think how many times she heard the song by the time she was one year old? Quite the motivating song, we sang it as she learned to dress herself. It's so endearing song. When mother's have little one who aren't yet talking, I encourage them to sing songs with repetitive lines -- a song easily incorporated into their daily routine. Guess what song fits the bit perfectly? YES, it's the Hokey Pokey! I giggled this morning when I saw this Hokey Pokey button on Facebook. Giggled out loud. =) This belongs on Pinterest for sure! 

Resolution

I resolve to...

• read something
• write something
• work something
• pause somewhere
• sing something
• call someone
• pray often
• and love constantly

every day


by Tony Hill

Wisdom

I've been posting pinning over on Pinterest about lots of things, among them- wisdom. Don't ask me how I got there, but I stumbled upon a blog post over at StickyJesus.com all about wisdom in a mere three words; an entire post of 3 bite bits of wisdom. I have to share the whole thing, because it is going to help me say more with less. I hope it is also helpful to Grace FULL readers now and later, down the road awhile. Here goes:
“. . . God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” ~Eccl. 5:2


by Toni Birdsong
In the abbreviated world of social networks, we attempt to share the depths and riches of God’s word in status updates, comment boxes, and 140 character tweets.

To get your creative muscle amped, we’d like to get you thinking in even shorter bursts of truth. Here’s a list of 100 Three-Word Power Posts. All express God’s word.

Remember, living out your faith online isn’t about how much scripture you can wallpaper onto the web. It’s about you being in such exciting fellowship with God that the notes from that conversation easily fall onto the pages of every other conversation you hold.

Feel free to cut and paste these posts for your own tweets or status updates.

You might be surprised how just three words can minister to others—when those three words are scriptural. Be sure to bless us with your own Three-Word Power Posts in the comment section—after all it is potluck Friday!

Share Christ
1. He. Turns. Tides.
2. God. Fills. Gaps.
3. His. Hands. Hold.
4. God. Is. Love.
5. Be. Still. Know.
6. God. Is. Bigger.
7. Therefore. Be. Holy.
8. He. Is. Able.
9. God. My. Portion
10. God. Whispers. Grace.
11. Fixed. On. Heaven.
12. Ransomed. By. Love.
13. God. Hears. You.
14. God. Patiently. Waits.
15. Make. Christ. Known.
16. Christ. My. Portion.
17. God. Of. Everything.
18. His. Love. Rescues.
19. Seek. Him. First.
20. Yes. God. Can.
21. God’s. Love. Pursues.
22. God. So. Loved.
23. In. His. Keeping.
24. Come. Follow. Me.
25. He. Fails. Not.

Share Grace
1. Allow. For. Imperfection.
2. Extend. Astonishing. Grace.
3. Drop. Your. Net.
4. Mercy. Never. Leaves.
5. Beauty. For. Ashes.
6. His. Anchor. Holds.
7. Be. Not. Afraid.
8. Prayer. Changes. Everything.
9. Forgive. The. Unforgivable.
10. Pray. Don’t. Pace.
11. Surrender. Your. Past.
12. I’m. His. Beloved.
13. Love. Children. Unconditionally.
14. Grace. Is. Enough.
15. Pursue. God’s. Heart.
16. Holy. Spirit. Come.
17. Relationship. Over. Religion.
18. One. Empty. Tomb.
19. Fear. No. Evil.
20. My. Cup. Overflows.
21. Jesus. Loves. Anyway.
22. God. Dwells. Here.
23. Christ. My. Rock.
24. Express. Joy. Fiercely.
25. Give. Yourself. Grace.

Share Hope
1. Live. With. Compassion.
2. Pray. Through. Doubt.
3. Out. Pray. Fear.
4. Advance. Through. Fear.
5. Trust. God. Infinitely.
6. Invest. Time. Generously.
7. Speak. God’s. Word.
8. Share. Christ. Abundantly.
9. Echo. Love. Loudly.
10. Enjoy. God. Forever.
11. War. Like. David.
12. Lazarus. Come. Out!
13. God. My. Fortress.
14. More. Than. Conquerors.
15. Anchored. To. Heaven.
16. Be. Not. Afraid.
17. Take. Thoughts. Captive.
18. Yet. I. Praise.
19. Pray. Down. Walls.
20. Shine. Your. Light.
21. Live. In. Peace.
22. Exalt. Him. Together.
23. Show. Yourself. Faithful.
24. Give. Honest. Answers.
25. Plant. Joy. Liberally.

Share Love
1. Love. Even. Though.
2. Love. Covers. Sin.
3. Unleash. Crazy. Love.
4. Love. Never. Fails.
5. Love. The. Unlovable.
6. Love. Is. Kind.
7. Love. One. Another.
8. Let. Love. Rule.
9. Love. Conquers. All.
10. Love. Your. Enemies.
11. Let. Striving. Cease.
12. Labor. In. Love.
13. Extend. Indestructible. Love.
14. Relieve. Your. Brother.
15. Feed. My. Sheep.
16. Wash. Their. Feet.
17. Salt. And. Light.
18. Love. Like. Crazy.
19. Surrender. To. Love.
20. Love. Heals. Deep.
21. Speak. Love. Always.
22. Love. Without. Condition.
23. Love. Breaks. Chains.
24. Forgive. Them. Anyway.
25. Love. Always. Wins.

What’s God stirring in your heart today? Share it in 3 words (as many as you’d like!) . . .