Catch Up

Here I am again having to catch up on my blog. As I have gone through my pictures on my camera, they go back all the way to Halloween time that I never blogged. So the following is an overview of our lives in the last couple of months...

First I have to introduce our new addition to the Shrewsberry family, our new kitten PumpkinOur visit to the pumpkin patchHalloween...Jake as Buzz Lightyear (again) and Ben as an elephantMy niece and nephews...The NatelborgsCousinsChurch boys being silly at our Harvest CelebrationThanksgiving Day...Here are some pics of the familyBenjamin turned 3 years old on Friday, December 3rd. We had a birthday party for him last weekend...A Lightning McQueen birthday, of course:)
I can't leave without mentioning that two weeks ago, Nov. 20th & 21st, we remembered a year ago our precious baby boy Seth Taylor that went home to be with the Lord. I thank the Lord for carrying us through this past very difficult year of our lives. It seems like yesterday that it happened so I can't believe it has been a year already. As we looked back at what the Lord has done in our lives this last year we can't help but praise Him and give Him all glory and honor. He is so faithful and loves us so much! This past year we also experienced a loss of another baby as in June I had a miscarriage. Our hearts long for heaven and being able to be with our other two babies. On top of that some events that have taken place in our lives that at the time were heartbreaking, but now we can see that it was for the best and God is doing an amazing work now. So what a year we've had, but I can only tell you that this life here on earth is all about Jesus and living for Him. I just want to be in His perfect plan for me because no matter what happens, I know that He will carry me through and His ways are only good for me! Thank you again for all those who have kept us in your prayers this past year...we love you all and appreciate those prayers more than you'll ever know!

Disneyland Vacation

A few months ago Matthew and I decided that we needed to have some fun and have something to look forward to, so we splurged and planned a Disneyland vacation. We went a couple weeks ago now, but of course, it's taken this long for me to post it on my blog:) Matthew worked very hard and spoiled us with being able to stay at the Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland.It was very nice and so convienent for us to come and go to the parks as we wanted. We were there 5 days and nights and had a blast!! Here are the views we had of California Adventure Park from our room...Benjamin wanted to hug every character we saw, but as you can see, Jake took one picture with Winnie the Pooh and that was it for him...Jake's Favorite Things...Rock climbing at California AdventureAnd of course the Train (Jake loves trains!) We were so proud of Jake as he conquered some of his fears and went on Splash Mountain with Daddy and Big Thunder Mountain with Mommy, but that was the last of the big rides all week for him:)Ben's Favorite Things...McQueen & MaterPouting because he had to wait in line to see Lightning McQueenHe loved the Carousel and Circus Train too. Our fearless one wanted to go on everything, but was so frustrated when he was too short to. We will have to go back in a couple years so he can go on everything:)We didn't get to see many friends or family on this trip as we were busy at Disneyland, but we did get some precious time with our good friends, the Vogels. I like to call them our "kindred spirits". We love them and miss them so much and so thankful we were able to spend some time with them. Crystal also took our family pictures while we were down there. You can see that I've put a few of them on my blog design...she is amazing!:)www.crystalvogelphotography.comIt was so hot that day we had to take a break and cool off in It's a Small WorldSomething cool that happened was while we were waiting on the Steamboat, the Captain came to us and asked if the boys wanted to steer the boat. So both of them took turns steering the big steamboat around Tom Sawyer's Island and pulling the horn and bell. The boys loved it!We had a great time as a family creating special memories and so thankful to the Lord for allowing us to get away and have some fun together!

Soccer Mom

I am officially a "Soccer Mom". I think since the day Jake could throw or kick a ball, he has been waiting for this day:) He definitely has his father's athletic abilities. He just started playing soccer and had his first game this past Saturday. It was so much fun for him and for us:) Although he is one of the littlest ones on his team and still a bit lost in the game, he is out there running back and forth the entire time with the biggest smile on his face. It was kind of weird for me to see him out there and know that he is big enough now to play sports...makes me kind of sad that he is growing up so fast! I know it sounds silly, but it's the truth:)He made sure to wave at us a couple times during the gameBenjamin wants to be out there playing so bad. This was at Jake's first practice and Ben had to put on Jake's new uniform during practice and playEthan our nephew is on Jake's team this year, so that makes it even more fun for them and us

Sharing My Heart

As I look at the date of my last post, it has been 4 months since I have blogged!! I guess I'm not a very good blogger:) Truth is so much has gone on in our lives these last 4 months, but a lot of things I just didn't feel led to share on my blog. My life just in this past year has gone through more difficult things than I think in all my 30 years of life. The Lord is continuing to show Himself faithful to us as He always does and is carrying us through, stretching us and in the end we will be made stronger than ever:) As He is the potter and I am the clay, I feel like He has spun me around and around and I am just waiting for this season in my life to finally stop spinning and become a beautiful vessel. The Lord has just reminded me this morning in Isaiah 45:22...

"Look to Me, and be saved,
All you ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other."

Oswald Chambers says on this verse, "Rouse yourself up and look unto God. Build your hope on Him, no matter if there are a hundred and one things that press, resolutely exclude them all and look to Him. 'Look unto Me,' and salvation is, the moment you look."

That is exactly what I have had to do everyday lately, even several times a day...look unto Him. That moment that I look to Him, my problems and trials are no longer in front of me, but I am saved!

God is so faithful! Today Matthew and I are celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary!! I am so thankful for Matthew and for the Lord blessing me with the perfect man for me. They say that going through difficult things in your life as you are married can either make you or break you. I couldn't imagine having those things break us as those difficulties in both our lives this year have only drawn us closer than ever and closer to the Lord through them. He is my best friend and I love him with all my heart! Thank you Lord for being so faithful to us these last 8 years!!