We have had a nice Sunday. It was good to be back in church after missing a few weeks. Our pastor preached a wonderful sermon on faith and so much was going through my mind as he was preaching. He preached out of Ephesians and Hebrews and he said so many things that really stuck with me. I was thinking of the journey we have been on the last few years and wondering what lies ahead for us. I would have never dreamed this time last year of how much our lives would be changed in an instant after the birth of Harper. I never dreamed how our faith would be tested and how much it would grow.
Our pastor shared that spriritual growth happens when you don't question what happens in your life. When you allow God to be unreasonable. I think we make the mistake of trying to know the mind of God instead of accepting that He has a plan that we may never understand this side of Heaven. Faith is being certain of things we cannot see. He also said that we often miss God's best for our lives when WE try to make happen what WE think is a better plan for us. Isn't that so true?
I was thinking of things that have happened recently with a lot of my friends. SOOOOOO many friends that I have prayed urgently to get pregnant and God has blessed them. I was thinking (with a smile on my face) of a blog friend Julie who I have met several times who had two ectopic pregnancies and was unable to get pregnant and they decided to start the process of foster/adoption and early last week she was frustrated because the paperwork wasn't going through and tonight she is sitting at the hospital with a DAUGHTER! I have so many friends who have had miracles through adoption like that (Catherine, Mandi........). I guess I just want you to know if you are struggling, if you are waiting......don't give up hope. Something AMAZING may be just around the corner!Open up your Bible and read Hebrews 11.
After church we went to Laurie and Steve's to eat lunch. Both sets of their parents were here and we love being with them also. We feel like we are part of their family. Sarah Kate and Emily had on the CUTEST dresses today! (These pictures are TERRIBLE because all I had with me was my phone. )(And P.S. ya'll are always asking me - we have a Canon 5D. I think I've told some of you 4D because I can't ever get it straight but I'm looking at the camera right now so it's a 5D).
Laurie and Steve picked up KFC! Really - what can be better than church followed by some Kentucky Fried Chicken and mashed potatos and biscuits? (well - probably a lot of things but it sure was good).
My sweet girl had on the cutest smocked dress with snowmen on it (borrowed from my friend Jamie). I thought it was fitting since we still have snow on the ground. There were so many babies in the nursery today - I'm a little sad because I'm pretty sure she is about to graduate up to the "big kids" room soon since she is about to walk. I just can't believe she won't be in the "baby" nursery much longer. How does time go by so fast?
And this has nothing to do with this post but I took this picture yesterday and it made me laugh. HOW MANY ANIMAL PRINTS CAN I PUT ON THIS CHILD?????? HA!
After church we went to Laurie and Steve's to eat lunch. Both sets of their parents were here and we love being with them also. We feel like we are part of their family. Sarah Kate and Emily had on the CUTEST dresses today! (These pictures are TERRIBLE because all I had with me was my phone. )(And P.S. ya'll are always asking me - we have a Canon 5D. I think I've told some of you 4D because I can't ever get it straight but I'm looking at the camera right now so it's a 5D).
Laurie and Steve picked up KFC! Really - what can be better than church followed by some Kentucky Fried Chicken and mashed potatos and biscuits? (well - probably a lot of things but it sure was good).
My sweet girl had on the cutest smocked dress with snowmen on it (borrowed from my friend Jamie). I thought it was fitting since we still have snow on the ground. There were so many babies in the nursery today - I'm a little sad because I'm pretty sure she is about to graduate up to the "big kids" room soon since she is about to walk. I just can't believe she won't be in the "baby" nursery much longer. How does time go by so fast?
And this has nothing to do with this post but I took this picture yesterday and it made me laugh. HOW MANY ANIMAL PRINTS CAN I PUT ON THIS CHILD?????? HA! Oh and my dress from last night was from Ann Taylor Loft - they were having an AMAZING sale last week! (Yeay!) It's kind of pink/purpleish so it's as close to pink as I owned. Harper owns all the pink in this family! ha!
92 comments:
I love all the animal prints...too cute!
Oh my gosh! I Love that coat she has on!! Precious!
All 3 girls' dresses are adorable. And I love your thoughts on faith and hope. Life is hard enough sometimes with them; wouldn't want to try it without them! Hope you have a happy week :)
Great post, just what I needed. As a military wife, it seems that I spend a lot of my time trying to figure out plans. I forget that I have no control and I need to trust in Him. I needed the reminder right now. Harper's dress is so cute! I just love smocked outfits!!
My 2 year old is addicted to Chicken bowls from KFC. He calls them "chich - hen bowls" and tries to order one every time we are at any drive thru - even the bank. He eats the snack size and I have accepted the fact that I can't make something that good for $2.15 - as soon as we pull out of the Church parking lot he starts asking for one and cries if we turn the other direction.
I can't believe the pic of you with Harper was taken on your PHONE! It's a great one!!
I checked your blog this morning in the middle of getting ready to go to a dance show and I'd already laid out my cute little dress and cardigan to wear when I saw the photo of you wearing my exact same dress last night at the gender reveal party!! Great minds think alike on buying the cute dresses :) Loved your paired with your turtleneck and I also liked it how I wore it today with a cardigan!!
Happy SUNDAY ;)
I started reading your blog nearly a year ago when I read about it from someone who was asking for prayers when Harper was born. It is so nice to see her smiling face (and yours)!! God is good!
I'm so guilty of not letting God be unreasonable in my life...it is so easy to get wrapped up in worldly things...what you said is so true...just having faith in Him and the unknown.
Thanks so much for the encouragement. I've been having vivid dreams of being married and it's hard to wake up. Makes me just want to stay in bed and keep dreaming. But my God is good and has a plan.
At her age, she can wear as many prints as her little heart desires!! All she needs is a giraffe print bow!!
I read your blog daily but never comment on anything but I think you should know that you have the cutest little girl! I love seeing pictures of her and watching her grow, she truly is precious! Keep writing your blog and I will continue to read. You inspire me as a mother and a Christian and for that I want to say THANK YOU!!
GOD BLESS!
Sorry I posted that under my daughter's blog. Brandy
Great pictures, especially Harper in her animal prints. Warm wishes!
Kelly, thank you for sharing this. It is so easy so many times to question why God does things the way He does. I am so thankful that that He is a big God and can handle my whys? and forgives me for my unfaithfulness. We are to consider it pure joy to go through hard times for when our faith is tested our endurance has a chance to grow. (James)
So glad you had a great Sunday!
Life is so much better when I let God take control.
and.....I love her coat.
Wendy
Did you have the shopping cart cover made?? It is so cute and zebra is my favorite print! I may need one once my new baby arrives in August!
Lindsey Rowland
http://timlinzrowland.wordpress.com/
Loved this post! Thank you for praying for all of us, I know it meant a lot to me these past couple of years!! Have a great week!
HELLO Mrs. Kelly u r a mom after my own little girl dressing heart.................. adore all the animal print..... and church is good it feeds the soul!
The snowman dress is so cute!
I love Loft. Most of my clothes are from there and I have my eye on a cute spring jacket
Thanks for the reminder to have (better) faith...needed to hear that this week. :) The look on Harper's face in the animal print pic is so sweet. :) SIX DAYS till Miss Thing turns 1!!! WOW. :)
It is so wonderful to see how far you and your family have come. This afternoon I had some time and went back to read some of your old posts when Harper was born and was amazed so see how much she has overcome. You are truly blessed! Thank you for sharing with us!
Great post on FAITH Kelly! I am so glad that I have a friend like you to hold me accountable. That is what we all need out of life!
Girl, I am loving the smocked dress, but even better the mixed animal print pic. It's presh & totally something I would do! AND, we have the same cart cover, how funny is that!
See you at lunch tomorrow! ;)
XO!
This post spoke directly to my heart - you have no idea. I do not know how much time you have to read blogs, but if you get a chance and go to my blog, you can read what God is doing in our life right now. (Taking us out of one ministry prior to having another ministry in place - SCARY). I loved what you said about spiritual growth happens when you don't question what happens in your life, but when you allow God to be unreasonable. Oh, how I want to be right there. It's so hard, though. And I was hit between my eyes with how we often miss God's best for our lives when we try to make happen what we think is a better plan. WOW. Thank you, Kelly. God used you to encourage my troubled, heavy heart so much tonight!
Kelly, thank you for that post. It was just what I needed. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the animal print. That cracks me up!
I have the exact same dress and wore it today to church! :)
beautiful post!
as someone who WAS always trying to control God... I FINALLY figured out that He is in charge and i am just along for a beautiful ride!
when I finally let go and let God... my life has been amazing!!
God bless you!
I was wondering where you found those leopard leggings? One of my great friends is about to have a little girl and I think that they are adorable!!
You are just a doll....and so is Miss Harper. I love reading your blog. Have a great week!!!
Kheli :-)
Great lunch--one of my favorites, too! Babies, especially little girls, are cute no matter what they wear, because we LOVE THEM!! Mine will be 29 on Wednesday and she was a miracle, too! My placenta tore very early and we were fearful of losing her. God is good and we will meet and celebrate her birthday half-way between here and where she lives in Denver.
I'm off to read Hebrews. Thank you for sharing!
one of my favorite bible passages is jeremiah 29:11 because I often forget that He is in charge and I need to step back from my plans and just follow His :)
love all the animal prints on precious H!
Love the post! Harper looks so cute standing holding that boot.
I LOVE your dress from last night!!!!
Kelly- You always look so adorable!! Just wanted to let you know!
Thanks for sharing the thoughts on faith. I always need to be reminded! I LOVE Laurie's girls' dresses and of course Harper's too. Glad you had a fun day!
I enjoyed your post on FAITH. Such a great sermon for the beginning of the year. Ours today was entitled "Lean Times" and I have thought a hundred times that it deserves a post...such a great sermon topic...something that is so prevalant to today's times, both physically and spiritually!
I did love your dress that you wore last night, and the black & white one today with the sweater is super cute too!
Harper's boot is too cute...I don't know if it is hers and Laurie's girls, though? If Harper doesn't have a pair, they are too cute on little girls...and beware...she will probably never want to take them off. I have put 2 little girls to bed in their cowgirl boots many a night =)
Have a happy week!
LOL about the animal prints! I sooo love animal prints and I always put tons on Kelcee :0)
Her room is in the process of being redecorated into a big girl room and we are going all out Zebra Patch pink, turquoise, yellow, you name it.... so a girl can't have to much animal print in my book.... Ha! Ha!
Summer :0)
My daughter had that exact dress when she was about Harper's age and we loved it! Alise also owns those pink boots...in a bigger size now, of course!
Kelly - Thank you for this post. I just returned home from Wisconsin for a funeral for my cousin, who was 36 years old. He died from cancer, diagnosed two years ago with bladder cancer. It has been so difficult, and the words about God's plan for our lives and to have the faith to help us be sure of what we don't understand is what our family needs to remember right now. I know I am so trying to figure out why this happened and I need to stop doing that. Thank you for taking the time everyday to say such wonderful things :) ~ Dana
Thank you for this post. You have no idea how much I needed to hear what you just said at the top about faith. Seriously no idea. Thank you so much, Kelly.
Also, I love Harper's bishops dress. That is my favorite style of dress - I love smocking and that style is just SO darling! She looks beautiful as always.
Speaking of faith, my friend had a baby on Thursday morning with Trisomy 18. She was only supposed to live about 2 hours if she made it through childbirth. It's been three days and counting and Sydney Grace is thriving! Praise God! If you get a chance, Kelly, check out her blog. www.amazingsydneygrace.blogspot.com
What a great post. Harper is so cute. Have a great week!
Great post!! It was of in need of those words!!
I love ATLoft--I wonder if the sale is over? Maybe I'll check tomorrow--love your dress!
It's so fun for me to see H in those little dresses. She looks so cute! I have some spring/summer dresses that I want to get to you if you'd like to borrow them. I will try to think to take them to your Mom next time I go home. I cannot believe how fast Alexee has grown--it's fun to think back to her wearing those dresses her first winter season. Time does go SO fast! I bought her a little Christmas dress on sale the other day in a SIZE 5--oh my! She's so tall, she's really starting to wear 4s already, so I hope I bought the right size for next Christmas.
Lane is wanting a new Canon camera, and seeing Scott's camera when y'all visited at Thanksgiving didn't help! :) We have the older version, 20D maybe??, and I've used it so much and loved it.
Thanks for the reminder about faith :)
Too funny! My family stopped to pick up KFC after church today, too.
What an awesome sermon! Thanks for sharing Hebrews 11.
Have a great week!
I am craving KFC now :)
And I love all the animal print. It's so girly!
Love the snowman dress! Faith is all we have with so many things in life. I remember worrying about not enjoying having a baby and missing my old life. HA! I miss my old life sometimes but take me from Evie for a little bit and I miss her way more than shopping, pedicures and fun vacations.
Haha, I love all the animal print :)
I'm glad you had a wonderful day at church. I went back to church today for the first time in a long while and I felt as though he was preaching right to me. I'm so glad I went.
Kelly--I LOVE your black & white dress & cute ruffled cardigan. Where did they come from?? Harper is adorable in all of her animal prints! :o)
Kelly,
Julie, your friend with the ectopic pregnancies and now a new baby daughter, is my niece. Through her I began reading your blog over a year ago! I'm not sure if I've ever commented on your blog, but I read your's faithfully!
Judy
Great post on Faith - and so happy for Julie(I read her blog too)
LOVED the part about Faith, this morning our sermon was on tithing. I find it funny how no matter what sermon is taught, it always touches us in the right moments in life!
I loved the picture with Harper at the end, all the different prints, I cracked up! Her dress was beautiful too!
Katie
Thanks for that post... it really hit home for me I've been struggling with infertility for years and found out some news this week that has really shaken me and I'm having a really hard time understanding God's plan and having faith.
Great post, Kelly! Glad y'all had a great church service and great day. I LOVE harper's little dress!
Thank you so much for the encouraging words. It was just what I needed to reminded of!
You will never know how much I needed the words from this post tonight. You spoke right to my heart. I sit here weeping right now. We are struggling with infertility and I am in the process of going through our 2nd miscarriage. My body has not started trying to take care of it naturally but our last ultrasound a week ago showed no heartbeat. My heart hurts right now. Tonight, I just gave it all to the Lord. I can't carry this anymore. I can't control it and I'm tired of trying.
Thank you for helping me grow closer to the Lord Kelly. I will forever be grateful!
Amen, Kelly! My parents tried for 9 years to have a baby and then kind of out of the blue, they were able to adopt me. God always has the perfect plan!
I laughed about the animal prints. Adorable!
Loved your thoughts on faith. Sometimes it is hard to understand God's plan.
http://thelumberjackswife.wordpress.com
My little girly has those same little John Deere boots. So adorable!
I so wish I could have heard that sermon. Your pastor is one of my favorites :). As a recipient of an adoption miracle (two times, no less!) I can testify to God working on our behalf even when it doesn't seem to be so and even when we are hopeless. It is true that a miracle might be just around the corner and that He may have plans beyond our wildest imagination to richly bless us. Faith is such a mystery and yet such a powerful reality. Thanks for sharing this post!
It's so wonderful to be reminded of God's plan for each and every one of us. :) That little coat is so cute!!
You're just missing giraffe and dalmation, right?
What a great post. We had a grat sermon today too and we had been out couple of weeks so it was SO good to be back. I loved that dress from Ann Taylor you wore. So pretty and your hair looked really cute too!
This is a wonderful post. It spoke directly to my heart. I am trying so hard to not question why this miscarriage is not over yet, why this is happen to me.
Sometimes, my faith is weak and people like you inspire me.
Thanks
Thanks so much for this post today...I REALLY needed it. I opened my Bible immediately and started reading :)
You are a blessing!
Kelly, I liked how you encouraged people today in your post. You are right..."we never know what is just around the corner for us in our lives".
My oldest daughter and her husband tried for several years to have a baby and then found out they couldn't...but God had plans to give them an adorable baby girl through a private adoption and everything just fell into place. That was 17 years ago, and we all have never stopped thanking Him.
His mercies are new every morning...great is His faithfulness to us.
Glad you got such blessings from the sermon and passed them on to us. YOU are a blessing to us all.
Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
What a great post. Although we do not always practice our faith, God is so GOOD to us... Just as we were about to throw in the towel on our second domestic adoption, we were called and received the placement of our beautiful daughter. She came home almost to the day as her older brother... Talk about special dates.
Happy Monday.
Only a baby girl as cute as Harper could pull off all those prints. She's adorable!
God's blessings,
Sarah :D
So cute!!!
Such a great message on faith! My goal for the new year is to grow in my faith and truly trust in God and his plan. Your reminder couldn't have come at a better time.
Harper is adorable as always. I LOVE those giraffe print leggings!
I am sitting at work almost crying over your post. The last six months have been so hard. My husband and I have struggled with infertility for five years and now are struggling with whether to continue inferility treatments. I feel like God has said NO for the 100th time and I am just crushed. Your post struck a cord with me and reminded me to have faith when it seems like no hope is left. I am blessed beyond words with a little boy who is precious. And I just have to trust God that he will do what is best for me and my family. Thanks again Kelly. You have no idea how your words lifted my spirits this Monday morning.
I am definately going to have to read that scripture....also, I am wondering if Julie is the same one I know....the Julie I know had a baby girl on the 10th, just kind of ironic. Whoever it is, I am so happy for them-God is so good! Harper is too cute in her animal print!! I love watching her grow up-it is like I know her! I loved reading about the gender revealing party, I got on their blog about 20 times Saturday trying to see what the baby's gender was!! :) Looks like it was a great time!
Reading your blog always brightens my day, thanks for sharing!
Harper is so precious and I have those same boots that she is holding.
Thanks Kelly- just what I needed today. Have a great week!!
That boot Harper is holding is too cute!!!
Thank you I so needed to hear that today.
i love how God works through you and reaches all of us - this post really impacted me with Hebrews 11.
Love it! Grace has been sick all weekend with a bad cold so I've been so behind on blogs and just read your last 3. I loved them all!! You guys have such a precious family and glad you guys had a great weekend!!
Miss Harper is ROCKING all of those animal prints!!!
P.S - I can't believe she is going to be ONE on Saturday!! Where did the last year go?! Grace will be THREE next month and I just can't believe it!
She's rockin' those animal prints!
Great post. I love the last picture of Harper. You can never go wrong with animal print ;)
We talked about very similar things at church yesterday and this was even further confirmation of what God was telling me. Thank you so much for you prayers and encouragement!
I am so thrilled for Bryan and Julie...God is so great!!
I love, love this post. I found it *so* comforting and even passed it onto a friend. Thank you so much for blogging!
I miss dressing my girls up in sweet dresses! Work it while you can - they won't let you when they turn 10ish :}
My oldest turned 16 today and I would love to turn back time!!
Hey Kelly, a few months ago I asked you to put my friend Ruth on your prayer list. Her and her hubby have been battling fertility for years....Praise the Lord...they just found out she is pregnant!!!
Thank you for the reminder on having faith! I "know" it in my head, but sometimes just need to be reminded in my heart :)
That is going to be my future child, as well. So many animal prints that she doesn't know what to do with herself! :)
I love that quote from your pastor..."allowing God to be unreasonable."
Wow, this sums up my life right now. I have NO FRIGGIN' IDEA what God is doing right now. In fact, it is almost hard not to laugh. Lose my job and two days later I get a positive pregnancy test. Holy cow was I freaked! Still freaked, to be honest. Trying to trust in Him right now has been a test of my faith. Oftentimes I feel lost in my own feelings of what is happening. But I have since come to feel like losing my job (which was extremely stressful) was to protect me and my unborn baby. I feel certain that I am on the right path even though it was certainly not what we planned!
I love reading your blog. Harper is so cute. Today's post had special meaning for me since I have suffered two miscarriages in the last year. My husband and I are now trying again, hoping and praying for a sticky baby. We are doing our best to accept that HE might have a plan we don't understand. But boy do we wish HE would let us in on it but we know that it is not according to our will but HIS. Thank you again for such an uplifting post.
Such fun animal prints! She's adorable! Have fun getting ready for the first big birthday party!
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