No More Diapers!!!

2 1/2 weeks ago Davis decided that he wanted to wear big boy underwear. Everyday I was giving him the choice of underwear or pull ups, and he kept choosing pull ups. I didn't push the issue and one day he said underwear and he hasn't gone back (except when he sleeps). I am so proud of him!!!

Out with the diapers!!!

In with the Cars underwear (thanks to Nana)!!!

A tip for Mothers: Don't push the potty training. Wait until they are ready and watch as they go from diapers to underwear within days. I made the mistake this summer in trying to push before Davis was ready and it just made all parties stressed out. The second attempt was so much easier.

Faith!!!

Mark 5: 25 - 34:

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. ²⁵And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. ²⁷When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." ²⁹Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

³⁰At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

³¹"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "

³²But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. ³³Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. ³⁴He said to her, "Daughter, your FAITH has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

This woman had BIG faith. If only she could touch his clothes, she would be healed. Then Jesus wanted to know who touched him. Doesn't he already know? Of course, but it takes great faith to speak out sometimes. The woman spoke up and then Jesus said your FAITH has healed you.

He calls us to have faith in him and only him. Later it says in Mark 5:36..."Don't be afraid, just believe." Just believe is another way of saying have faith.

So that said, we need to put our faith in Jesus and believe that he will

• heal
• change lives
• provide
• answer prayers
• always be

In my journal I wrote this prayer:

"Lord, heal my anxiety. I believe you can and will in your time. Lord, heal my womb so Noah and I can conceive another child. I have faith you will in your time. I trust you and know you love me and will do what is best. Keep my heart pure towards you."

What is your faith prayer?

A Big Day!!!

Noah wrote a blogpost about our big day. He wrote it so well that I decided to link it here, instead of writing my own reflection.

click here

I am so thankful that we were able to be there when Rich walked out and embace him with love.

Pumpkin Time!!!

This weekend Davis and I painted our pumpkins.

Here are our masterpieces...

Ode to Potty Training!!!

The other day Davis and I were with some friends playing at the playground. My friend and I were chatting and working really hard to ignore the boys as they played. I decided to turn and check on the boys and this is what I saw...

This isn't Davis but you get the idea!!!

Davis decided that he had to go potty and took it upon his self to pull his pants down and pee on the grass. My friend and I started laughing and Davis said with a big smile on his face, "I went pee Mommy!"

I am so glad we were the only ones on the playground. Kids!!!!

Amazing Talent!!

I was on Facebook last night and one of my friends posted this youtube video. I watched it in awe. What amazing talent these kids have!!! I spent the next 30 minutes listening to their songs on youtube.

This is a must see video:

A Word!!

This verse spoke to me today:

James 4:8a "Come close to God, and God will come close to you."

I love this verse because it reminds me that God wants to spend time with me, not just at church, but everywhere. Spending time with God through prayer and reading our Bibles are both ways that we can get closer to God.

Are you daily reading your Bible and praying? It will change your life. It has for me!!!

Tumble Time!!!

The past 8 weeks Davis has been taking a tumbling class on Tuesday mornings. We have had a great time playing together and with other kids. Next week is the last week and we can't wait until the next class is offered.

Here are some picture of today's class...

Davis and Bella on the merry-go-round

Davis loves playing in the school bus!!

Parachute time!!!

Miss Stacy helping Davis with his tumbling moves!!

Circle time!!

Stamp time!!!

Cookie Time!!!

This week Davis and I went to visit my friend Tracy. We got rained in so we decided to bake Harvest cookies. The boys had fun making a mess and we loved cleaning it up. Best of all the cookies were yummy in our tummies!!!

Here is the proof...

Using the cookie cutters!!!

He did it all by himself!!!

Joshua did it too with help from his mommy!!

Decorating time!!!

Joshua is a big boy. He did it all by himself!!!

First Lady Confession!!!

So I have to tell on myself because it had me and Noah laughing after it happened. Yesterday when I came home from speaking at Berwyn Christian School, Noah wanted to know how I did. I told him that I didn't want to brag but I felt I did a really good job and the students seemed very open to what I had to say.

Here is the confession:

As I was telling Noah about chapel I was pulling down a can of pepsi max to drink with my lunch. I told Noah that I think I may have more of an "Anointing" on me and that is why I did such a good job and as I said that I dropped the pepsi max. As it fell to the ground my "anointing" left really quickly as I yelled OH *%$#. I looked down at the mess and up at Noah and we just started laughing. I think that God forgave me but look how quick we can get into the flesh.

Please forgive your First Lady!!!!

I miss BCS!!

Today I was given the opportunity to speak at chapel at my old school, Berwyn Christian School. It was so good to be back there and see all the students that I miss. They were happy to see me and I got hugs to at least last me a few months. I forgot how much I love getting hugs from my students.

Key verse today was:

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

There is so much we can learn from children. We need to have faith like them and not be afraid to go to Jesus like a child would.

Friendships!!!

I am struck by this passage of scripture in Mark 2:

"Jesus entered Capernaum again. The people heard that he had come home. So many people gathered that there was not room....Four of those who came were carrying a man who could not walk. But they could not get him close to Jesus because of the crowd. So they made a hole in the roof above Jesus. Then they lowered the man through in on a mat. Jesus saw their faith. so he said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." ...Then Jesus spoke to the man that could not walk. "I tell you," he said, "get up. Take your mat and go home."

Jesus saw the faith of the man's friends. Their faith is what healed that man that day. If Jesus did that then, then will He do that now? If the answer is yes, then shouldn't we put ourselves around friends that have like or better faith then us? I know that I need too!!! "Friendships" have really mattered to me lately and I am bless to have certain ones around me that are praying for and encouraging me to be the BEST Tricia I can possibly be. I know that they are praying for me for the things that I have requested and I am so thankful that their faith allows them to believe those prayers will be answered.

So ask yourself, Do you have a friend...

• Praying for you?
• Lifting you up?
• Challenging you on the hard stuff?
• Making you a better you?
• Whose faith is strong enough to heal you?

We all deserve friends like that. Pray that God will bring a friend like that into your life. You may have to help him out a bit by letting go of some friends that aren't helping you grow closer to the Lord. It may not be easy but it is better then becoming like them. Say "YES" to GREAT friendships!!!

Fall Fest!!!

Last weekend we went with friends and family to Homestead Garden's for their Fall Fest. The kids had a great time and so did we.

Here are some pictures...

Riding on the rocket!!!

Davis going through the corn maze.

He loves pony rides!!!

"Howdy Partner!!!"

My Handsome Cowboy!!!

Tracker Ride!!!

Barak and Izak!!!

My nephew Joshua!!!

My boys on a hayride!!!

What fall Activities do you like to do with your family?

Ten Things I love about my Pastor!!!!

This Month is Pastor Appreciation Month, so I wanted to take a moment and list 10 Things I Love About My Pastor....

1. He is HOT!!!
2. He loves God with all his heart.
3. He is a hard worker.
4. He is not afraid to do the tough things.
5. He makes sure his family comes first.
6. He is an Amazing Husband and Father!
7. He has a heart to reach lost souls!
8. He lives with high standards for himself.
9. He is loyal.
10. He is my favorite preacher in the world!!

This week Noah's parents and I took him out to dinner and presenting him with a special gift.

We were so excited to give him this gift because he really wanted one!!

He was so happy for his new coffee maker!!!

Now it is your turn...What do you love about your pastor?

Yummy Recipe!!!!

Poppy seed chicken

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• container of sour cream
• 2 cans of cream of chicken soup
• 1 pack of ritz crackers
• poppy seeds
• butter
• casserole dish

Cook chicken breasts until fully done. Mix sour cream and cream of chicken soup together into mixture. Crumble package of crackers into small pieces. Melt half a stick of butter in the microwave.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Chop chicken into large chunks into the casserole dish. Spread sour cream and soup mixuture over chicken, completely covering it. Sprinkle cracker pieces all over the top.

Pour melted butter evenly over crackers. Sprinkle poppy seeds all over.

Bake 30 minutes, until crackers are golden brown.

Airplane Museum!!!

Last week my friend Jessica and I took the boys to the College Park Aviation Museum. The boys had a lot of fun and the exciting part was that we had the whole place to ourselves.

Here are some pictures of our outing....

Davis flying a plane!!!

Davis having a blast with the air pressure and ball!!!

Jessica was fascinated by it too!!!

My little Pilot!!!

Davis and Barak flying to China!!!!

Now he is taking me!!!!

Feeding the Ducks!!!

A few weeks ago Noah and I took Davis to Allen's Pond to feed the ducks. Davis really enjoyed it and he loved throwing the bread in the pond.

We made friends with a big "Bird"!!!