Special Day

My blog title is Trusting in the Lord. Today, the Lord proved himself so faithful. Our house is on the market, and I received a phone call that they were wanting to show our house in an hour. It was a morning where I was clearly busted. I was washing sheets, the kitchen needed cleaning and other things were in disarray. Well, I started feeling that panic in my stomach and immediately said, "Lord you know what I can handle." You know it was like a test, and 5 minutes later my phone rang again. It was my neighbor calling to ask if Stone could come over to play. I was so blessed. The Lord knew I needed a helping hand to get everything in order in 45 min.

After all was presentable, my neighbor, the kids and I went to McDonald's for lunch. We had our food, and Stone wanted to go down the slide. I said, "One time and then you need to come eat." He said, "Slide first then eat.", and I said, "yes." He was trying to climb and needed help b/c he was too short. I said to go another way, but he needed to come down. To get down, Stone had to go backwards and reach the step with his feet, and since he couldn't feel the step, he started swinging his feet with fear that there would be nothing there to step on. I said, "Son, you need to trust Mommy. I am right here just reach a little further. You are almost on the step." He made it and was off on to the slide. As I walked to our table, trusting the Lord flashed in my mind. Trusting him can be scary b/c that step isn't right where we feel it should be, yet it is. We just have to place our feet in his hands and he will make our feet like hinds feet.

As I allow the Lord to be a part of my day, I realize the many blessings he has in store for me, my boys, Tyler and all we come in contact with. Lacy and I just were talking yesterday about the blessing of being a mom and wife. This a role the Lord has given to me, and it is my responsibility to manage and respect all that it entails. The best part is that God is walking through this journey with me. There is a song that is our favorite. It goes like this.

No, no you never let go. Through the calm and through the storm.

No, no you never let go. Every high and every low.

No, no you never let go. Lord, you never let go of me.

I pray this touches someone today in a special way. Psalm 23 is a powerful scripture. Be encouraged and strengthened in the Lord today.

Figuring it out

So I have been working on improving our blog and with that comes pictures. Enjoy!

Yes, Grant does exist.

Stone has turned 2.

Tyler and I did go to Chicago.

Summer is Winding Down

Can you believe that it is football season!? I know all my Volunteer friends are excited for the football season. My cousin plays for Clemson, and their season is in full swing. I still can't believe it.

Well, our summer was and still remains very full. Tyler and I did get a chance to go to Chicago just the 2 of us for 3 nights and 4 days. It was wonderful. The boys survived without just beautifully. Thanks to Aunt Trina, Aunt Kelly and Grandma Debby. It was such a great trip for us to enjoy one another and get to play. I laughed at our definition of play. Jeremy and Lacy go indoor surfing and a wakeboard park, while Tyler and Adrianne go to the floor of the commodity exchange and a river archtectural tour. You might think ours wasn't as eventful, but it is absolutely hilarious how heated it gets when the brokers on the commodity floor start bidding of feeder cattle or live hogs. You think I am kidding? And definitely don't miss the river tour of Chicago, just beautiful and lots of great history.

Home front news is that our house is for sale. We loved Chicago so much we are moving there. Just kidding. We told that to my aunt while we were in Chicago and she was home with Grant. The other end of the phone was speachless. Quite comical. Our house is on the market. We have an opportunity to potentially make a move into a family development project, so we are going to see what happens. If nothings goes, then neither do we. The best part of having your house on the market is you learn the habit of keeping everything clean and picked up. The downer is you never know when you have to get out for a showing. With 2 little guys not an easy task to just get out.

The little guys are great. Stone is learing about Jonah at church. He comes home so excited and telling everything the teachers have taught him. The funniest part was he put his little hand up to the side of his mouth, made his voice deep and loud and yelled, "Jonah. Go to Ninevah." Brought his voice back to normal and said, "God told Jonah and Jonah say, "no way, no way, no way." His memory verse is Deuteronomy 5:27. Hilarious when he says Deuteronomy. Grant is adorable. Trying to walk, but not there yet. He is crawling everywhere and pulling up without a hitch. He likes to just yell and wait for you to do it back to him and can repeat this for however long you would like to play. Quite funny! He also go Oh, oh! a lot. Just precious. 2 boys and 2 different presonalities. Next summer is going to be fun!

Well, 1 boy is up from his nap and the other to be up soon. Love to all my friend and family. By the way pictures will be coming. We have this great archival system of our digitals the worst part is my laptop isn't always connected to the storage hard drive. How inconvenient is that...not along take time to type, but now i have to find a usb cord. Being a mommy is hard. :)

A Hello is in Order

Wow! I looked at the date of my last post and could not believe it has been over a year since I have written anything. Thank you to Lacy and Loren I am taking time to write. Here are a few things that have taken place in the last year.

1. Celebrated Thanksgiving
2. I had a baby, Stephen Grant Kruse, on November 28, 2007. He goes by Grant.
3. My dad flew in to surprise us after Grant's arrival.
4. Celebrated Christmas
5. Went back to work for 2 days a week - Stone went to a kids day out program and Grant stayed with Grandma Debby.
6. Got through tax season.
7. Month of April - Mother of 2 began to get noticablly easier
8. Month of May - Started potty training Stone, and Grant started crawling.
9. Month of June - Tyler took his level 2 CFA exam. Stone had hernia surgery, and Grant is the most precious little guy.
10. Month of July - We are enjoying our summer!!!

God has been so good to us. This past weekend Tyler and I got to attend a marriage conference here in town, and the one thing we came away with was to memorize and meditate (M&M) scripture. The speaker used M&M's to push this point home, so when you eat an M&M remember to memorize and meditate on some scripture. We all have beliefs in our hearts - deadly beliefs and Godly beliefs. To get rid of deadly beliefs, you have to use scripture to write the Godly belief on your heart.

Last evening, I got to go to my Wives Club meeting at a friend Georgia's house. Georgia had a beautiful meal prepared for us, and she shared the roles of a wife. One scripture that really stood out to me is Philippians 2:3-4 (my 1st memory verse). Tyler and I are arming ourselves to get Godly beliefs written on our heart. Out of the heart the mouth speaks, and how many times would my mouth benefit our family if my heart was full of Godly beliefs.

Here is an example: Stone and Grant were taking their evening bath before wives club, and Stone was not cooperating like I wanted. He wasn't thinking of being clean, rather so enjoying being in the tub with Grant. Anyway, I told Stone to stand up so I could wash him, and in 2 seconds Stone was sitting back down. This happened 3 times. I looked Stone in the eyes, and said, "Grrrrrr." He laughed so hard, and at that moment God softed my heart I laughed along with him. It was as if God was saying, "Take it easy and enjoy the moment with your boys. Don't be in such a hurry to race out the door. You can go without makeup. I have a purpose here for you as a Mommy, and don't miss the blessing I have for you - the joy of your 2 sons loving each other." Bath time ended with 2 clean boys and 3 happy, joyful hearts!!

Well, it feels good to have a post done, and thank you again to Loren and Lacy for getting me to write. I love you two girls, and am praying for your lives to be richly blessed and for God to help you through the struggles.

Hello all

I just checked blogs while Tyler watches The Company. Stone is sleeping. He is such a sweet boy! At 13 months, he is running everywhere. Sometime the wall jumps out and gets him. He just bounces off of it and keeps going. It is hilarious!



In November, Stone will be a big brother and until then i am totally enjoying the little guy! I am feeling great! You know how it is in the 2nd trimester. You have energy and the belly isn't too big. Tyler and i were talking tonight about how much busier it will be, but i know everything is going to be wonderful! The biggest trouble i have is knowing when to have my mom arrive. I just pray she is here for the delivery. With Stone, we had the perfect team in the delivery room and it will be my wish to have the same there again.



I will get some pictures out here soon! Hope all are doing well.

Father's Day 2007

Today was Stone's 1st father's day to spend with his daddy. We had a wonderful day, starting with church and ending with a walk. Tyler is the most wonderful dad to his son. I am very greatful for the blessing of my husband and our children's father. He is so loving and caring. I learn a lot from his character.

I do hope all had a wonderful Father's Day. I know many of my friends have had children in the past year and am just thrilled for each of them to have the experience of a deep love. God blesses us in many ways and desires us to experience His fullness everyday!

Enjoy your week and until next time, keep growing your walk with the Lord. You will not be disappointed.

Creator of ALL Good

As I started my day today I, in no way, felt like getting out of the bed, yet I knew tasks had to be accomplished. Stone was talking in his crib at the early hour of 6am. Like i have said before if you need someone there early just call on Stone, he is the early riser. Well as the day has progressed I am thankful to God for all his many blessing. Each day if you focus on your strength and who gives it to you, you will be amazed at how built up you feel and able to conquer any task in front of you.

This would be my favorite time of the year because the trees are blooming and the flowers are coming up. It is just exciting to see new life. Praise God! My God is the God of life. I look forward to the tempature getting a bit warmer and taking Stone to the pool. It is going to be a fun summer with the little guy.

Stone is crawling everywhere. He loves to sit in the bathroom while Daddy and Mommy get ready for the day. Turning on the tub faucet is his favorite. The funniest part is that he always turns the water off when he is done. Smart boy! We are blessed beyond measure. I remember praying for our baby when i was prego and God has answered every prayer. Please don't ever underestimate the power of prayer.

About prayer, last night Stone woke up at 2:30am. I am working to ween him off of the habit that started about a week ago. Well, I went into his room put his binker in his mouth and got back in bed. He continue to talk and I said Lord please help him to go back to sleep. God said trust me. I was like I do trust you didn't i just ask for you help. Then there was a switch inside that said no trust God let go of the fear that Stone won't go back to sleep. I said the prayer again and thanked God for helping him go back to sleep and placing His hand of peace on him. I didn't hear from Stone until 6am. Praise God! If I could explain the transition of trusting God, I would say in my heart I placed the issue in God's hands took a depth breath and walked away. If you have something big or small in your day today! Try what I did last night. Trust God with it and the walk away and allow God the space to work. This is what He desires and longs from us.

Be encouraged today and thank God for every blessing and joy that comes into your life! God is the creator of ALL good things!