Catching up and putting it all in perspective....

Wow! I guess I have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to update the blog (sorry to my 3 readers!). Christmas came and went, and here it is almost February. Maggie turns FOUR in a week, which means Elliott turns TWO in a little over a month. This week the winter sickies finally hit us. I came down with a stomach bug last Saturday and was out for a couple of days. Maggie woke up on Monday throwing up.

Needless to say, we spent a lot of time in the house, which I enjoy from time to time. I'm trying to be more present with the kids....spending time playing games and just loving on them!

I also realized this week that all the day to day things don't really matter that much. It really isn't important if the house is clean or if my menu is all planned or if I get that last sewing project done. It really IS important if I show my kids how much I love them! They can't hear it enough!!! I can't hug them enough!!!

I was reminded of this on Tuesday morning when I got the news that friends from church had a very complicated delivery of their second child. The baby was full term and because of complications was without oxygen for 10-15 minutes. It was a life or death situation for both mom and baby. My heart dropped with I read the email for emergency prayer for the family.

What else can you do but drop to your knees? I do know one thing, our God is a MIGHTY God who HEARS our prayers and gives us grace on a daily basis. He knows our hearts and just wants us close to Him. (He doesn't care if my bathroom is clean or if I filled my Etsy order!!)

So, I have been in constant prayer for this family as well as another friend who is on bed rest at 15 weeks of her pregnancy. Just that He would cover them with the blood of Jesus and protect them and fulfill His promises for them.

And I believe in miracles, because I believe in a God who has come through over and over again in my life and in the lives of so many others. And also because I am allowed to be a mother to two beautiful miracles in my life. I may not have had a complicated delivery or a difficult pregnancy, but this week I was reminded that they indeed are miracles too and were created for a purpose by God. They were given to me and to Greg for a reason, and I know God has wonderful things planned for them!

Join in prayer with me for baby Lincoln and his mom Lauren and for Holly and her baby boy in her belly! God does hear our prayers and listen to our needs if we trust in Him and follow Him!!!

**Baby Lincoln is doing well in the NICU. His initial tests are NOT showing the catastrophic brain injury that the doctors thought may have been there! He is breathing on his own with some oxygen. Praise God for little miracles day by day.**

My little miracles

Giveaway

So, I have this really super, super talented friend Greta! Her blog is awesome and gives me hope as a mother to two little ones (she has FOUR)! She is giving away a super cute headband. Get on her blog to get yourself entered. Here is the link:
http://gremadcha.blogspot.com/

Etsy

I'm not really sure at this point how many people even read this blog--maybe 2, maybe 3??!! Well, for those of you that don't already know, I started an Etsy shop a couple of months ago to sell the things I have created with my new found love of sewing. So, faithful reader(s), check out my shop!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MagPieandMeCreations?ref=pr_shop_more

AND, if you see anything you LOVE, my amazingly creative friend Greta is doing a Mag Pie and Me Creations giveaway on her blog. Go take a peek, and leave a comment, and post it on Facebook, and you will be entered to win 50% off one item in my shop:) While you are at it, scroll back to old posts and READ.HER.BLOG! She is a great writer and is a mom who keeps it real!!

http://gremadcha.blogspot.com/2011/12/giveaway.html

Halloween

We had such a fun time on Halloween. Since this was the first year in our new house, we were excited to see how this neighborhood enjoys the holiday. Let me just say, we were out of our giant Sam's Club bag of candy in the first 45 minutes! Our neighborhood is swimming with kids. Maggie and Elliott had a blast! Uncle Andrew and his friends Lisa and Cameron and their little lion Rylan joined us as well!

I worked tirelessly on Maggie's Rapunzel costume all the way down to the long braided wig. They looked pretty darn cute! On a side note, the day after I was in Old Navy and they had 2 costumes left on clearance. One was a girl costume in a 4T/5T (Maggie's size next year) and one was a boy costume in size 2T/3T (Elliott's size next year). I took this as an omen that I should buy these and not worry about making something for next year! At $3.00 a pop, I couldn't resist!!

Will I ever run another again??

On Sunday, I ran my first half marathon right next to my marathon man dad. It was hard, it was exciting, it made me proud, it made me set a goal and reach it, it gave me precious time with my dad, it has made me better. I know, how can running 13.1 miles make you better? Well, it made me realize that I can do anything! I kept reciting to myself when my legs wanted to quit..."I can do all things through him who give me strength."--Philippians 4:13. And I can and I did!

My training was time consuming. But I honestly feel like each day I ran, I had my quiet time with God. I listened to worship music, I listened to sermons. I felt His presence in each and every step. See, I was that overweight kid/teen/young adult. I didn't play sports past 8th grade. I had no motivation to exercise. I am not particularly athletic. Running this race has kind of been my sort of vindication. I have proved to myself that I can be healthy and I can accomplish a goal like this. More importantly I feel like I am setting a wonderful example for my children to be active.

Even when the doubt set it....around mile 9, but there was this little voice that kept saying, "yes, you can do this!" (and there was a big voice next to me (my dad) pushing me and encouraging me). Even with two stops to massage my left foot back to life (it got SOOOO numb), we finished in 2:16, which put me at an overall pace of 10:26 per mile.

I am not ready to hang up my running shoes quite yet. Three days later, still a bit sore, I am contemplating going down to the basement for a run on the treadmill. Perhaps, I have been hit by the running bug! Only time will tell:)

Let Your Hair Down

My new found love of sewing has taken me on an adventure--making a Halloween costume! Maggie LOVES the movie "Tangled" and all things Rapunzel, so naturally, she wanted to be Rapunzel for Halloween. I found a tutorial online and with some added help from my amazing sewing step-mom, I almost finished it last night. I found an awesome tutu at Target on clearance for the underskirt--one less thing to sew. I just have to finish the sleeves and we have a beautiful Rapunzel! Next project, making a long braided wig:)

Pumpkin Patch and Apple Picking

Last weekend, we ventured to Eckert's Fun Farm for apple picking and a visit to the pumpkin patch. The kids are finally getting old enough to "enjoy" this kind of thing. We had a really fun day....there were rides, a giant jumpy pillow thing, kettle corn, over-priced diet coke, golden delicious apples, a pumpkin canon, and two tired kiddos at the end of the day (and a tired mom who had run 10 miles at 6 a.m. on that day!!).

I convinced Maggie that she wanted the little tiny pumpkin that only cost $2.50 instead of the giant one she picked from the patch that would have taken a good chunk of her college fund. She was equally happy with this deal! All in all, it was a beautiful fall day, and we enjoyed just being a family:)