A year in photos

On Monday Michael will be one year old. 

My, how the time flies.

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(mama flaked on month eight - this will bug me forever)

On acceptance

I read this passage a few days ago and it was just what I needed to hear. It's been on my mind ever since, so I thought I would share it here - plain words about acceptance and minding our own business. 

Don't we all need that reminder from time to time?

¹ Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.


 ^2-4For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.


 ⁵Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.


 ^6-9What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It's God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.


 ^10-12So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture:

   "As I live and breathe," God says,
      "every knee will bow before me;
   Every tongue will tell the honest truth
      that I and only I am God."

So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.


 ^13-14Forget about deciding what's right for each other. Here's what you need to be concerned about: that you don't get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I'm convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.

Romans 14:1-14

Homes I love

I'm really more of a house person, but this loft makes city living look so good. 

A baby in the bluebonnets

InstaFriday

It's InstaFriday, friends! Here's a little peek at my week. It's been full to the brim with blessings, and I'm thankful for every single one. Click over to Life Rearranged to play along!

1 - My baby eating tortillas and beans and loving it.
2 - Wide open skies. It's good to see the horizon again.
3 - My love affair with Sweet's coconut cupcakes continues. They. Are. Heaven.
4 - A quiet little country road outside of Brenham. It smelled so sweet and there were butterflies everywhere!
5 - Michael's first taste of sauerkraut ice cream. I guess the cold took him by surprise?
6 - A day at the zoo with friends. Aren't these three precious?
7 - This poor goat gets petted by rowdy little hooligans all day, every day. Can you see the weariness in his eyes?
8 - My own little hooligan, going in for a pat on the head.
9 - Playing some drums at the zoo. (Thanks for the picture, Jill!)
10 - Hand twins. Oh, how I love these hands!
11 - A gorgeous night and a trip to the park. Starting the holiday weekend off right.
12 - This little monkey would rather climb up the slide.

Have a beautiful weekend! xoxo

via

There are a whole lot of cute, creative Easter projects out there at the moment, but I think this one is my favorite. It's simple, fresh, and just right for the Easter table. I cant' wait to put my own together! I think I'll skip the decoupage patterns and work with clean, white eggs and lots of yellow blooms and green leaves. 

Click here for the full tutorial, and happy crafting! 

...that have already made this week fantastic - and it's only Wednesday!!

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Michael and I met my Mom in Brenham yesterday. Michael lit up when he saw her - we've been talking on Face Time and he seemed excited to have the real Gigi in front of him :) We shopped, we had lunch, we went to Bluebell and had ice cream. And it was the perfect time of the year for a drive through the country - I've never seen Texas looking so pretty (see above). 

It was a really special day!

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We spent part of our Sunday with some very dear, old friends and their sweet girls. 

Have you ever moved to a place where you don't know anyone? I have. 

And it is so much more fun when you move to the same city as friends you love!

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Michael is more obsessed with Ella than ever before. He totters around after her trying to land a good pat on her head. 

He has also taken to scolding her and sharing his toys with her. I think it is precious. Ella just wants to nap in peace.

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I hope your week is off to a great start, friends! xoxo