The Macs » Blog

How did the weekend come so fast? This summer is just flying by. We are gearing up for a 4th of July party this week, I’m working on a fun baby shower, we get to pick Joel’s brother up from the airport tomorrow (he’s coming home from China!), my two sweet boys are forcing me to clean my house more than ever (little boys are messy!) I’m plugging away at my thirty day challenge and excited about what God is teaching me, there are some changes to the blog coming soon (I hope…if I can ever finish!), and our hearts are breaking as we have watched several friends go through some really hard things this week. Life can be so full of joy and so full of heartache all at the same time. A constant reminder to cling to God, my Rock. He promises that we will never be apart from His sustaining, loving presence. I am so thankful for the HOPE that we have in Him no matter what our days look like.
So…I don’t really have anything to post today. How about a little update on what has been going on around here the past few weeks via instagram. Here is a little insta-update:
 Just like a baby bird.  /  First french fry devoured. This boy loves his food.
 Good morning sunshine.  /  I love mornings at home with my boys.
 Two little monkeys. All the time.  /  Getting into things. All the time.
 It is HOT. Levi has spent lots of timing filling up the pool.  /  The boys love the water.
 He loves to be outside.  /  And he really loves the water. A lot.
 I got to spend an evening with the craft weekend girls. So fun.  /  Meeting new friends is the best.
 Stuck.  /  He is going to be stuck if he gets much bigger. I love my big babies.

 Spending the day with my sis (and mom) is my fave. /  I can’t wait to be an auntie again!
He sure loves his daddy.  /  Daddy’s hat.
 Learning about corn tasseling. He calls it “wrestling”.  /  Gardening with mama.
More “coffee” please mom.  /  Happy little brother.
And one of my most favorite instagram pics. I sure love those two sweet boys.
I am @jessmcclenahan on instagram if you want to follow.
Hope you have a good weekend!
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  • Micah - Super cuteness!!! Happy weekend!!ReplyCancel

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  • Kimberley - you have such handsome boys! :)))ReplyCancel

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  • The Richardson's - Did I catch a glimpse of Levi with “The Jesus Storybook Bible”? Isn’t that the most awesome bible EVER?! We just love it even though our girls are still a bit young to understand it all. Love your posts, as always!ReplyCancel

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  • Auntie EM - Sweeeeeeet!!! I love summer fun. Yes life is full of joy AND heartache…..but we know if we stay close to the Lord he will never forsake us. I pray your joyful moments are many and your heartaches are few in the future. Your boys are so cute.ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah Crosby - I love how the one with the sun coming thru looks like it is literally pouring over them. so sweet!ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah - That last one is my favorite too! Your boys are so adorable.ReplyCancel

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  • Nancy - I can’t get over Levi’s blondeness! So cute.
    You have beautiful babies, that’s for sure!!ReplyCancel

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  • My name is Amee - I found you on Instagram! Yay!

    I’m loving your Instapics. Your boys are just sooooo handsome! They are growing way too fast.
    Talking about making new friends..I had a dream that we met!!! I had some big party for all our blog friends. It was awesome and I was in awe of you. 🙂 Maybe one day that can come true!ReplyCancel

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  • Tanya Self - The last one is my favorite also! You are such great parents and people! I joined your 30 day challenge and it is a great way to start the day!ReplyCancel

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  • Nichole Duenke - I really love this post. So fun to see these cutie boys! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • The Boys* and other stuff - Griffin looks so much like his big sister!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Queenie - So this is random…I’ve been following you for about 2 years and I’m way down here in a super small part of Alabama and I think u posted a pic with a teacher and pastors wife from my area. Is that you with Jessica Wheeler??? Wow. Small world!!!ReplyCancel

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Thank you for all the encouragement last week. I had so much fun reading through all the comments. I told Joel that this is one of the first times in my life that I have actually felt “funny”. I’m a pretty serious person. He usually is the one that is making everyone laugh. So thank you for the boost in my self-esteem. 🙂 And sorry for the misleading post title. There are no babies to announce around here. I think I will enjoy my sleep just a little bit longer…I have nine months to catch up on! 🙂 But all joking aside I really do consider it a privilege to hold my babies…even in the middle of the night.

* * * * * * * * *
My boys are starting to play together more and it is so fun to watch them. 
Levi is all boy and not very gentle when he plays so I have been trying to teach him how he can sit and roll the ball to Griffin. You know, instead of throwing it right in his face. It usually works for a few glorious minutes and then he is back to saying “Catch this, Griffers!”. Oh my.

Anyway, as I have watched that ball roll out of my boys’ hands I have been reminded of a verse that was shared at a woman’s retreat I attended a few months ago.

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight and understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (Amplified Bible)

The speaker said that the word commit (in the original translation) means “roll”. She said in essence we are rolling our way to the Lord. We have to first do everything in our power and then we have to let go and trust Him. Just like you would do as you let go of a ball to roll it. I liked that analogy.

I don’t like the “rolling” part. It is hard to let go. I like to feel like I am in control. And I don’t like when I can’t see the big picture and it doesn’t make sense with my understanding or what I had planned. But as we roll our way to the Lord, may we know, recognize, and acknowledge Him. He promises to direct and make straight and plain our paths. What an awesome promise.

How do we learn of God’s sufficiency in our lives? We trust in the Lord’s ways.
What are you holding on to today?
Will you roll your way to the Lord?
Trust Him.

* * * * * * * * *
We are on Day 23 of the 30 Day Challenge. I struggled a little bit to find that quiet time over the weekend as we were out of town for a wedding…but I am pressing on. My time with the Lord has been a huge blessing as I make Him the priority of my days. How are you doing?
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  • Tina - Great analogy! It is not that easy to just trust and leave the ‘control freakness’ to God 🙂 But somehow we can do it!ReplyCancel

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  • TH - You really are such a gift. I love to read your genuine, kind, gentle posts. You really just make my day and I enjoy your blog so very much. Thank you.ReplyCancel

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  • Krista Hutton - Awesome post! Spoke right to me…..I also have a hard time letting it roll. I want so badly to think I am in control of all things in my life. I think life would be even more enjoyable and relaxing if I could truly accept that God has it all under control for me:) Even if I don’t understand it!ReplyCancel

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  • Lyssa at Living Simple in the South - I am clinging to the Lord today because we are moving, AGAIN 🙁 This time it is really hard and oh so stressful. It is our fourth move in five years with my husbands company and this time it is the hardest. Maybe because of our two littles 🙂
    Either way, I am so so so blessed and I know that God has a plan, so I am clinging to that and holding of for deer life 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Sara Huber - Thanks, just spent some time making a fun frame from scrapbook paper and printed this verse in the Amplified version and your questions at the end of the post on the window above my sink. Needed this today…ReplyCancel

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  • Miss G - Thank you for this post, Jess. We too were out of town for a wedding this weekend, in Mexico City! I had a little bit of trouble as well although I persevered better than I do on most trips and I was proud that I jumped back in when we got home.

    We are in the middle of a scary time in Colorado Springs with wildfires raging so time with the Lord is extra important! KellyReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - What about Griffins monthly picture on his quilt?! 😉ReplyCancel

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  • Rich and Carolyn Dewey - Proverbs 3:5-6 – my favorite verse and this amplified translation is wonderful. It was the verse that was the foundation of my little home business 1999-2006. Love the “rolling” analogy! Thanks!!ReplyCancel

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  • stewsie.stoll - I know this had nothing to do with this post but I thought of you instantly when I saw it. Been reading your block for a while and this is my first comment, this was too good not to share 🙂

    Susan in Texas

    “I’m farming and I grow it!”

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  • waiting - My friend was recently diagnosed with cancer. I sent these words to her. Great analogy. Thanks for the encouraging words!ReplyCancel

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  • melanie - This was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing. What a great analogy. Will be thinking on this tonight. Adorable little boys:)ReplyCancel

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  • Paige @ Kids and The Good Stuff - I needed this post so much today. I am struggling so much with where I am in life at the moment and for what reason. I feel like I’m spinning wheels in a thankless job when I want to be making a difference preferably at home with my boys! But I’m doing all I can and then rolling it to God and trusting him with the situation. Trying to give up straining to see that big picture and just trust that he has it. Thanks so much.ReplyCancel

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  • Bernice - Cute post!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Super special post. Keep up the good work Griffin. ps Who is more excited you or Mum!! LouiseReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Yay! I feel for you. My 7 1/2 month old has finally turned the corner and is almost sleeping through the night now. Her brothers each didn’t at 10 weeks old. Now get some much deserved sleep! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • L ~ S - I LOVE this post!ReplyCancel

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  • Jody - hello,

    cute post and cute baby. I just found your blog. It’s really lovely. My son is 2 days younger then your Griffin. He slept the whole night from the 1st week.

    Keep up the good work Griffin.ReplyCancel

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  • Mum2twopreciousgifts - Gorgeous! Love it!!!

    Michelle xReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Cute 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • HilaryFarris - Way to go Griffin!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Krista Hutton - This post is so cute! If it makes you feel any better, my 10 month old still doesn’t sleep thorough the night. His older brother and sister were definitely sleeping all night by now! So I can relate to how you were feeling. Hope he keep up the good work!!ReplyCancel

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  • Emily - I thought it was going to be another baby announcement 😉ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - That was by far one of the cutest posts ever!!! Thank you for making my Friday start off in a smiling and chuckling way! God bless your sweet family. ~Toni :O)ReplyCancel

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  • Leatha - BEST BLOG POST EVER!!! So cute!! Yeah for sleep for a mama!ReplyCancel

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  • The Sweet Life - Yay! maybe there is hope for me. My little Levi is still waking up and he’s 7 months old. P.S. Obviously I love the name Levi. I first heard it from you! Thanks for giving me the idea to name my second son Levi!ReplyCancel

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  • Katy Clouds - This is the cutest post I have seen this week, how funny! He’s a sweetie for sure x

    http://katyclouds.blogspot.comReplyCancel

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  • Valerie - This is too cute!!! You must feel so much more rested now.ReplyCancel

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  • Kelly - Best post!!! I never comment but your blog is an absolute fav of mine. G man is sooo cute! I about died when I saw “put your hands up”.ReplyCancel

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  • Beth - Good job, Griffin! I saw your boys on a Pinterest posting. Getting famous!ReplyCancel

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  • Amber - This made me LOL for real. So cute! I feel your pain, my daughter (now almost 3) didn’t sleep through the night till she was nine months. Unfortunately, she still isn’t a great sleeper! : / Enjoy the sleep!!! : )ReplyCancel

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  • Melissa - So adorable! Now that is something to celebrate!ReplyCancel

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  • Beth Ann - Hilarious and so cute! Hope he keeps it up!

    Your witty captions made me think of something: Have you ever read te Honest Toddler twitter feed or blog? SO FUNNY! You must look it up!ReplyCancel

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  • Disney Freak - Hey Griffin…..Can you teach Liam to sleep through the night? He’s 9 months old too and is up several times a night still. He could use some of your wisdom about enjoying sleep!ReplyCancel

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  • Catie - Griffin is so adorable! Yay for sleep!!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Yay for Griffin and Momma! My 4 year old has decided for the last 6 months to wake up nightly 🙁 ugh.Thanks for making me smile today!

    KimReplyCancel

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  • Melanie Martini (Minnesota) - SO CUTE!!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Rockin Baby Ryan - Love it!ReplyCancel

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  • Lisa - Super cute although I thought you were pregnant!ReplyCancel

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  • Beki - TheRustedChain - Jess, that’s hilarious! (and pretty spunky for you! Ha!)

    My girl didn’t sleep through the night until 10 months old either, so I feel your pain.ReplyCancel

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  • jen christians - Haven’t commented in awhile… that was REALLY cute! But I thought he was going to tell us he was going to be a big brother 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - really cute post…your sons r adorableReplyCancel

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  • Caroline Hester - So cute! But I was totally expecting a big brother announcement 😉ReplyCancel

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  • Lori - Yay for Griffin! And a super big YAY for mom! Love the post…adorable!!ReplyCancel

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  • seaschell - Yay Griffin!ReplyCancel

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  • Nicole - Yay! Congratulations to both of you!! (I love that he was just shouting it to the world! Soooo cute!)ReplyCancel

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  • Amy - Yay Griffin!
    And yay for sleep!
    (but I’m with some of the others… totally thought this was a big brother post at first!) 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Alicia - That is so cute!ReplyCancel

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  • Faith - oh. be still my heart!
    what a stinkin’ cutie!!
    love this post.
    yay griffin for sleeping thru the night!!! in your own time buddy. 🙂 high-five!ReplyCancel

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  • Clare - I also thought Griffin was announcing a new baby but then I realised that if it was that kind of announcement both boys would be in the photo. Very good post Jess lol and well done Griffin for letting mummy get more sleep (“,)ReplyCancel

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  • esther - Oh my gosh, this is the most adorable post ever. I love seeing your family as always. hugs-ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Adorable post! And such great news! 🙂
    ~MelissaReplyCancel

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  • Micah - Jess, that was adorable. Seriously how do you come up with all this cuteness?? He beat my little man! All three of my girls slept through the night by 3 months… Little man not until A YEAR!!!!! Wore me OUT!! But he was worth it ;). And I’m finally feeling like myself again hahaReplyCancel

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  • Stephanie - Hurrah! Goooo Griffin!

    This post is ADORABLE! 😀ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Woohoo!!! Congrats to you and Griffin! He is such a cutie pie…maybe mama will miss seeing him in the middle of the night…:-)ReplyCancel

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  • Deborah - You, and your babies are adorable! Enjoy your sleep at least until one of them joins a rock band and travels around the country in a van. I speak from experience 🙂
    DeborahReplyCancel

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  • Suzanne - Yay Griffin, and yay mom!!!ReplyCancel

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  • meg - Cute! (And I totally thought you were going to announce that you were pregnant!!!)ReplyCancel

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  • Melliedew - Super cute! My 17 month old just started sleeping through the night! Let’s hope my 6 week old doesn’t take that long!ReplyCancel

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  • Our family - I thought this was a pregnancy announcement! As a fellow mom of 3 I think sleeping through the night excites me more than a 4th pregnancy would! 🙂 Congrats!ReplyCancel

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  • Jan - Haha -cutest post ever!ReplyCancel

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  • Tara - cutest post ever! and way to go griffin!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Lisa Kirkes - Dang, Jess! You are so creative. Loved that post. Made me smile, not just because of cute Griffin, but because you’ll get a good night’s sleep now. It’s amazing how much better you’ll feel through the day, not to mention getting up for your quiet time will be easier, too. So happy for you!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - adorrrrrrrrrrable post!!ReplyCancel

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  • Brianna - My daughter didn’t sleep through the night till she was 2! I finally get to sleep a little now 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Carolyn Martin - Love, love, love the post. I’m sure somewhere in there he said, “Thanks for your patience with me Mom, I really did love seeing you in the middle of the night.”ReplyCancel

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  • LisaC - Congrats!! …and that was hilarious to read!ReplyCancel

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  • LisaC - awesome! …and that was hilarious to read!ReplyCancel

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  • Michaela B. - Cute post and yay for sleep!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Maria - WOOT WOOTReplyCancel

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  • Maria - woot woot!ReplyCancel

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  • Krystal - OMGoodness!!!! That is the funniest post I have read in a while!! SOoooo stinking cute!!! That Griffin is precious! Yay for sleeping thru the night!!! Good job GriffReplyCancel

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  • Kara Janzen - Oh my goodness, Jess! Well, first I had to scroll through quickly to make sure you weren’t announcing that you were pregnant! But then I went back and looked at each picture and caption and absolutely laughed out loud and made Brad read it as well. That is too cute and priceless! Absolutely loved it! Hope you are all doing well!ReplyCancel

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  • Amber - So cute! And YAY! I am right there with you! My 9 month old has just started sleeping through the night this week too! It hasn’t been more than a couple nights in a row, so I’m not comfortable proclaiming it a done deal yet, but I think my little man has finally decided to let his mama get some sleep!ReplyCancel

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  • Ben - i thought for sure you were going to announce that you were having another baby!

    Such a cute post! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • The Schilling's from Cimarron - Love this!!!!!!!!!! Sure miss you guys! Always love reading and seeing all the pics!
    Give all your boys a big squeeze from the Schilling’s 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Unknown - Just too, too cute! :] Sweet dreams!!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - So happy for you! Yay Griffin! I love the way he spread the news! ADORABLE! <3 Paula from NYReplyCancel

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  • The Moffats - SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!! GOOD BOY, GRIFFIN!!!! Now don’t you be pulling any funnies and reverting to old habits now that your mommy has announced this to the world! 🙂 So adorable.ReplyCancel

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  • Cassie - Cute post! Love it and glad you are getting some sleep now!ReplyCancel

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  • happy_wife - Hilariously adorable post!! And congrats…and my deepest apologies all at the same time. I don’t know how you’ve done it!! You MUST have super powers somewhere!!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Such a cute post! I was totally expecting it to be a big brother announcement though! 🙂 lolReplyCancel

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  • Maria - LOL! My second boy was the same…he woke up to eat until he was almost a year! My first son was sleeping through the night when he was 2 months! But still to this day, my younger son is the cuddler:)ReplyCancel

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  • Tricia - Adorable!!! Love this post, and a big congrats on getting some sleep. Sweet dreams! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Kelly Ford - WOOHOO!!! Congratulations to the WHOLE family 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Aby Gittings - Love it! Too cute!! And congrats!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Hooray!ReplyCancel

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  • The Hershberger Home - hilarious!!! So glad to hear the good news..such a cutie!ReplyCancel

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  • Alyssa Hollis - SO CUTE!!! Yay for sleep!ReplyCancel

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  • Auntie EM - Oh, my – that is so cute. He has such cute expressions on his face and you “nailed” what he is thinking for sure. Glad for the sleep – for both of you….well, for all of you. Your boys are adorable. I love your sense of humor and your zest for life. You have shown us how to move forward in life with grace, faith, love, and devotion to your family and to God. Good for you and for everyone you have touched with your life and your blog.ReplyCancel

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  • Unknown - Favorite post of all time! -SherriReplyCancel

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  • Lexie Loo, Lily Boo, and Dylan Too! - So cute!
    Happy 9 months, little man! Good for you and your mom!ReplyCancel

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  • MDflaming - YAY Griffin! And double YAY for your mama! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Mom of A and a - Hi, new reader here! That was an adorable announcement! Enjoy your much-needed sleep! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Christina - One of the funniest ever!! I love baby-talk!!ReplyCancel

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  • Darlene R. - Ok, I am so behind on my blog reading, but this one caught my eye for a quick Mac fix! How cute! So glad that you are able to sleep through the night now! What a blessing!ReplyCancel

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  • lifewiththebs - Those pictures are so cute. I can just picture him yelling while you were taking them! Uninterrupted sleep is awesome!ReplyCancel

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Let me start by saying I am not a garage saler (is that a word?). I wish I was. I have been to a few garage sales but have never had much luck. And the few times I have planned on going to city wide garage sales, the next morning roles around and the thought of waking my kids up early and dragging them in and out of the car is enough to keep me home. It just doesn’t seem worth it.
Last week my sister asked me if I would help her with her baby registry. It just so happened that the day we were going there was also a city wide garage sale going on. So, she took off work and my sweet mother-in-law watched my kids for the day and we even left early to hit the garage sales. I didn’t have very high hopes. I was mostly just looking forward to spending the day with my sister. Little did I know it would be the best day of garage sale-ing ever.
We scored.
I was mostly looking for clothes for Levi and some furniture. I really didn’t find much on my list…but I came home with lots of fun treasures instead. And the best part was that everything was cheap!
 Cake stand (it even turns!)…….$2
Colorful books………$3.50
Chalkboard…….$2
File cabinet…….$20
I actually bought the file cabinet the day before at our local antique store. It wasn’t as cheap as the rest of my garage sale finds, but I loved it and it was in really good condition. I think it will be perfect for the boys to keep their legos in someday.
 Awesome red toolbox…….$3
This was my favorite find for sure. I love it. My sister loved it too. I was even feeling guilty like I should give it to her. But then I remembered how much I loved the red tool box and it came home with me. Selfish, I know. I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes missing one day after she visits! Or maybe we should share the toolbox and it can just travel back and forth between our houses.
 Chair…….$3
Glass bottle…….10 cents
And this doesn’t include my sister’s finds. She bought a gorgeous Jenny Lind crib for $15 and three huge vintage frames for $2. She also found a vintage pyrex and some cool mason jars. And I did find a few clothes for Levi too.
I’m sure every garage sale-ing adventure won’t be this successful but I am definitely game for going again sometime. You never know what you will find, right?

 I told the boys all about my finds as they watched me unload them from the van the next day. Levi shared in my excitement. He really liked the toolbox and he kept running over to the file cabinet and saying, “This is for my legos. Thanks, mom!” The funny thing is he doesn’t really have any legos yet! 🙂
I think Griffin felt about the same as my husband does when I bring a new vintage/antique find home. They just don’t understand. 🙂
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  • Suzanne - Yay for garage sale scores! Love the file cabinet! Have a great day!ReplyCancel

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  • Bethany - Garage sales are awesome! I haven’t been brave enough to take my four since my youngest started walking. She’s got so much energy and not much discretion. 😉ReplyCancel

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  • Faith - wow those are such great finds! i wish i could be patient enough to keep digging like that. the boys look adorable- griffin’s face is too cute on the last one!ReplyCancel

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  • Ruth - Your comment on the last picture cracked me up. My husband had the same enthusiasm for my finds.ReplyCancel

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  • Melanie Martini (Minnesota) - LOVE your finds! You are so good at thinking ‘beyond’ and coming up with awesome items for things like the filing cabinet. I would never have thought of it as a “Lego Keeper”. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Danielle H. - Awesome! I am not a very good garage-saler (totally a word in my book!) either. My babysitter is though and she finds the BEST stuff. I think the key is to actually go! I have the same feeling about getting my kiddo out and getting up early. I think that helps, too – getting up early and hitting them when they first open! Totally LOVE your finds! Inspires me to maybe go this weekened! 😉ReplyCancel

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  • Aja - Such great finds!! Love the file cabinet and tool box. I’m with you on garage sales.. with little kids in tow, it just seems like so much work, so I usually pass them by. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Creole Wisdom - What great finds! I love garage sales and have recently gotten into going to flea markets on Saturday mornings. So, so fun 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • HilaryFarris - Great finds! I’ve always felt the same way about garage sales.. I’m hoping one day I will have a good experience to make it worth getting up early!ReplyCancel

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  • Katie - I’m super jealous of your great finds!! I just found a steal of a deal on an old quilt at a thrift store, but never have any luck at garage sales. Must start trying again!ReplyCancel

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  • The Farmers Nest - Great Finds! I love the cake stand. I scored at a yard sale last week that was put on by a retired pre-k teacher. It reminded me to not pay full price for toys and educational items.ReplyCancel

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  • Stephen and Lacie - I love garage sales! I have found some great buys! I was redoing my daughter’s room when she was about 2 and she wanted a princess room. So I really wanted to put a neat canopy/tent thing over her bed. I found it VERY quickly! My most recent buys were a Melissa and Doug wooden memory game (we also use it for a car ride scavenger hunt) and Johnny Jump Up for my son (vintage and I have to really watch him as he weighs 20 lbs. and it can only hold 25!!!) You have to check quite a few to find things. I like your finds!ReplyCancel

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  • Leslie Veer - The last picture of Griffin reminds me of James back when he was little and had a round face. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Mum2twopreciousgifts - Loving the pics! Michelle xReplyCancel

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  • Dina - I may choose the handy tool box and the drawer one, because a have a lot of mini things at home .. i want them to place properly..ReplyCancel

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  • Miss G - You found GREAT stuff! How fun! love that cake stand and the file cabinet and the books . . . are you going to paint the chair like your other colorful ones? I scored at an estate sale last week. A vintage fisher price car garage for $1! I could not believe it and my sweet boy hasn’t stopped playing with it. I got a few other fun things too. Fun to see your treasures! KellyReplyCancel

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  • Glenn - I like roller tool boxes so if i have a time to choose or to visit these garage sale i will choose the roller tool boxes..ReplyCancel

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  • Micah - Wow!!! So fun!!!! I’m the same way – always intend to go but decide its not worth it. And I never end up with cute stuff like this! That toolbox is fantastic!!ReplyCancel

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  • Lyssa at Living Simple in the South - OH jes you did do good! How exciting! Cant wait to see what you do with it all!ReplyCancel

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  • Jennifer - Is the jenny lind crib a drop side crib where the rail can be dropped down? if so, those have been banned and are illegal to sell. There have been too many injuries/deaths with those cribs and they are no longer sold or made at all. Very dangerous 🙁ReplyCancel

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  • TimandCeri - Sweet scores! That’s a great idea for lego storage too! We have a neighborhood one we are going to hit on saturuday. I am sure you will do awesome things with all that stuff. About the crib, there have been many many crib recalls. I wouldn’t be -so- concerned about it being a drop side. Those are only as dangerous as the people that do not put them together right. You can also perhaps get a kit from the manufacturer to make it non droppable. I did have the same style of crib made by Jardine that the wood cracked on that was recalled before the whole drop side crib ban… its just crazy how they don’t make stuff as nice as they used to. Of course the replacement one is now banned to but I am fine with reusing it. I think if they are put together right they are fine.ReplyCancel

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Halfway.

Today is day fifteen of my thirty day challenge. Every day has definitely not been an “ideal” time in the Word. Kids = unpredictability + interruptions. Can you relate? But I have committed to trying to get up before my kids and have spent time in the Word everyday. Everyday I am making an effort to make my time with the Lord the priority of my day.

A few weeks ago our pastor preached from 2 Timothy 3. He challenged us to let the Word of God make you complete. Complete. That is how I feel when I am in the Word. Not like I have arrived or my life is perfect or easy. But complete in that God’s Word satisfies my deepest needs. I am a work in progress for sure. But I am thankful that I serve a God who more than makes up for the countless ways I am deficient. And because of that I am compelled to look to Jesus each day and stand firm on His promises as I spend time in the Word. He makes me complete.

How about you?

Are you making your time with the Lord the priority of your days this summer?

Are you allowing God’s Word to satisfy your deepest needs?

Are you allowing Him alone to complete you?

I wrote these notes from the same sermon:
Hang onto God’s Word
Prayerfully feed on God’s Word.
It will equip us to make a dramatic difference in a perilous world.

I want to make a dramatic difference for the Lord…in my family and in this world. I know that the only way that is possible is by being connected to Him. And the only way to stay connected to the Lord is by prayerfully spending time in His Word everyday.

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another–showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (The Message)

A few of you asked what I am doing in my quiet time. This summer I am reading through the Psalms and I also started doing a topical study on prayer. It is an area I definitely need to grow in…more on that later.

I would love to hear how you are spending your quiet times too. Please share!

* * * * * * * * *

And just one picture of my boys from Father’s Day. 
The boys think their daddy is pretty great…and so do I!
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  • Lyssa at Living Simple in the South - I too try to get up before they do and I am amazed at how being “complete” as you put it completely changed the dynamic of my day. When I start my day with our Lord I am more of who I want to be and more heart is more at peace with who I am and who God is continuing to mold me into. Sometimes I feel a heavy weight from the responsibility of mothering my sweet babies and pouring into them in hopes that they would see the face of Jesus first in their momma and that weight always seems much lighter when my feet are firmly planted in the Lord. Our time with them is so short and I feel it is essential to seek as much godly counsel and instruction, first from our Almighty while raising them because before we know it they will be gone and above all I want to know that I did my best at directing them to the Lord, that is my biggest prayer for their life, that they may find Jesus at a young age and love and live for the Lord their whole life and I absolutely see how spending time everyday with the Lord is the only way this can be accomplished. It is a challenge like you say, but the fact that we are fighting through and doing it is so important I think! Sorry this is so long. Setting aside special time is something new to me this year and I am amazed at how much I need it and thankful at how it fills my heart. Thank you for doing the challenge Jes and encouraging other women to feel this way!
    Blessings,
    LyssReplyCancel

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  • Jody - I had to read a book called
    Prayer: The Timeless Secret of High-Impact Leaders by Dave Earley for a grad school course this summer. It was pretty good. If you’d like to borrow it I can send it to you.ReplyCancel

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  • Auntie EM - The best time for me to study my scriptures or read something uplifting is before I go to sleep. I get up very early each day to begin work at 7 am so I’m much too sleepy in the morning. But at night, I can reflect on my day and on His words to help strengthen me. Thanks for being a good example and always sharing your insight about God and how He impacts your life. It looks like your husband had a fun day with his boys, but I’m sure he took the time to remember his sweet Cora, too. Have a wonderful day and wonderful summer.ReplyCancel

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  • Meghan - Thanks for sharing this Jess. I am right there with ya on your 30 day challenge. My own personal goal is to continue for the whole summer. I am a teacher, so when school is out I have the opportunity to put God first when my son goes down for a nap. My quiet time consists of also reading a a psalm, then turning to the New Testament and reading a couple of chapters from any book I feel compelled to dive into. I am also trying to listen to sermons from my church online throughout the week. Sometimes hearing the same sermon from Sunday a second time helps me to either solidify something I had already heard, or I will hear a completely different point from the sermon that I may have been zoning on when I heard it the first time. I sure appreciate the accountability you provide on your blog. It’s nice to know we’re all in this together. The prayer piece is an area I’d like to grow in. Particularly, the LISTENING for what He has to say to me… instead of me rambling on and on to Him. 🙂 Thanks for sharing today. Love the scripture!ReplyCancel

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  • Christina - I think I needed to read this today. I know what I need to do. Thank you, Jess, for a timely post. I have been exercising for about six weeks, and have felt good physically, but…it can only help so much. I thought the other day,”If I spent the amount of time on my spiritual health as I do on my physical health, my life would look drastically different.” Anyway, again, thank you.ReplyCancel

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  • mommy26baybas - Hi !! I actually wanted your opinion on something .I actually started to buy The Message as I have a hard time understanding words in the bible and get frustrated.Anyways I went to purchase it on Amazon and read people’s comments on it and while most were good,a few said something about it not being the Bible at all and talked of it like it was false and evil.which scared me…what do you think ??? I wanted somebody’s opinion who I know to be a child of God’s and I just happened to read your post today and saw where you wrote a verse from The Message.Thanks so much for your help !!ReplyCancel

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  • Tara - I’m doing the Soul Detox plan on the youversion app w/ #shereadstruth. Love it so far! :]ReplyCancel

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  • Patricia - Cutest….Babies…..Ever !!!ReplyCancel

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  • Jess - so funny! levi’s little face was right in line with his baby picture on the side bar…and it is the same exact smile with more hair on his head! so cute with his expressions. you have a handsome brood of men in your life. : )(apologize my comment isn’t related to the 30 day challenge)ReplyCancel

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  • DianeTaylor - Hi Jess – I haven’t missed a day with my time in the word. Like I said – getting it on my phone makes it so easy for me. Lately there has been more tragic news in our house and I find that I cling to the word more then ever. I plan to keep this up after our 30 days is up as best as I can.

    Have a blessed day.

    ~dt~ReplyCancel

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  • Cathi - I would love to know what camera lens you use the most, your pictures are fantastic!!!!!!!!!!ReplyCancel

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