six...

our first date was the summer before i started 9th grade. 

i had just turned 13. 

that was 18 years ago. 

and i've loved you every day since. 

through all of life's ups and downs, 

the good times, 

the bad, 

one thing remains true: 

you are my answered prayer and

i still choose you. 

happy six years to the one my heart loves.

here's to many (many!) more! 

this is day 13 of the 31 day series, "31 days of honest effort"

 click HERE to see the series in it's entirety.

winner...

the winner of the wildblumen custom stationery giveaway is....

Lynsey!!

look for an email from me, lynsey!

and thank you to everyone that entered. 

don't forget to check out wildblumen on Facebook or 

email megan for a custom design at:

mtjohnson31@gmail.com

thanks, megan for sharing your talent with us! :-)

this is day 12 in the 31 day series, "31 days of honest effort"

 click HERE to see the series in it's entirety.

trying for the weekend...

five on friday, full force ahead....

in the spirit of my 31 days of honest effort, today's five on friday is all about ways we're going to dig in and do life this weekend! no matter how little sleep i've had, how "busy" we think we are, or how fussy  a certain two year old may be, i'm determined to make this weekend a good one...full of family, fun, and lots of memories! :) 

 **********************

1. the girls and i spent today at my parents' house. libbi and laney just love being outside at their house and swinging on the "playground" (as libbi calls it). those girls could stay outside all day. and for the most part, we did. it's such a beautiful time of year and we just had the best time swinging and playing and enjoying the fall weather. we topped our evening off with dinner at the mexican restaurant. pretty much the best day ever as far as my girls were concerned: grandparents, swinging, and cheese dip. what more could they ask for? 

2. tomorrow we're celebrating my niece's first birthday! we can't wait to celebrate sweet little mattie and her first year of life. there's just something so precious about first birthdays. i love the promise of the year ahead and the celebration of the year behind. plus, any time there is cake involved, i'm in. :)

3. after the party, the girls and i are going to a festival at the local park tomorrow. it's always an adventure taking all three out by myself, but we're making memories and that's what counts. and again, there will be cake (and other food) at the festival, so all of us tippins girls are up for the challenge. 

4. jeffrey and i are celebrating our anniversary this weekend! it's been a crazy, busy, wonderful six years. i'm so thankful for his friendship and his love. we're going out on sunday, so once again, there will be food-ha! i'm starting to detect a theme here....and possibly a good reason for why i've still got baby weight hanging around. 

5. finally, we're in the process of moving the big girls in together. and when i say, "in the process" i mean i'm basically prepping libbi for sharing a room with her sister - ha! but, seriously - i'm in the beginning stages of planning out their room (if you follow me on pinterest, i'm sorry for blowing up your feed with shared bedroom pins). i have to keep reminding myself it is a work in progress. i don't know why i feel like there's going to be this grand "reveal" and all will have to be complete before they can move in. obviously that's not the case. and i'd also like to know if it's possible for me to become one of those people that has a ridiculously low budget, and stays under it. you know they type - they write posts like - "how i designed susie's room for less than $200!"? yet they still have all these fancy looking pieces and somehow just got really "lucky" with their thrift shop finds. 
do those people really exist? and if so, how can i become one? all tips (and cheap thrift store finds) welcome ;-)

happy friday, friends! can't wait to see what the weekend brings!

"Taste and see that the Lord is good. 

Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" 

Psalm 34:8

this is day eleven in the series "31 days of honest effort" 

(click the link to read all posts in the series) 

one big truth....

i used to be a teacher. it seems like it was in a completely different lifetime, but in reality, less than four years ago, i was spending my days teaching kindergarten. there were many things i loved about teaching, but one of the components i enjoyed most was being able to help a child learn something new and actually "see the lightbulb" go on for them. it was a feeling like none other knowing that i played a part in teaching a child how to read, how to count, how to add and subtract and then witnessing them excitedly put their new knowledge to use. 

after i had libbi, i went back to work for about eight months. i still enjoyed teaching, but more than anything, i desired to be home with my baby. it was hard going to work each day knowing that my heart was somewhere else. after the school year ended, we made the decision for me to stay home with libbi and i couldn't have been happier. it was honestly my dream come true. a few months later, i was pregnant with laney, sick as a dog, and thanking my lucky stars that i didn't have to go to work each day. who am i kidding? i was thanking God i didn't have to get out of bed each day. it was rough. ;)

after having laney, life seemed to settle down a little and then we found out we were pregnant with liza.  every now and then, in the midst of pregnancy sickness, toddler tantrums, and four-year-old attitudes i would think about how much my life had changed in such a short time. i went from writing lesson plans, teaching reading and writing, and doing parent-teacher conferences to rocking babies, changing diapers, and learning how to discipline my own children. and yet, it was what i had always dreamed of doing. 

but somehow, in the midst of living my "dream" i can let the doubts start to creep in. and these doubts turn into lies that i start to believe. once i let these untruths break the surface, they can invade my thoughts like a small crack in a sheet of glass. and before i know it, they have splintered out into my life and there's a spiderweb of lies covering what i know to be true and threatening to shatter. 

"what you're doing doesn't matter." or "that's not good enough." are lies that i can easily start to believe. for a long time, i struggled with feeling like i wasn't doing great things for God. don't get me wrong, i wholeheartedly believe motherhood is a calling and i am 110% thankful every day that the Lord has given us three beautiful girls. but motherhood is not always a "job" where you can see the immediate fruits of your labor. when i was teaching, we would work on phonics skills and the end result would (hopefully) be a successful reader. and i would feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that the hard work had paid off and i had taught a child skills they would use for the rest of their life! being home with three small children is a bit different than being in a classroom. the "end result" is not as black and white or often as revered as other accomplishments. 

how many times have you seen the quote, "if you can read this, thank a teacher."??? i've seen it posted countless times. but have you ever seen anything reading, "if you can potty on your own, thank your mother."???  

nope? me either.

and so i can start to believe that i'm not doing enough. that my "job" isn't big enough. or that i'm not doing anything worthwhile. but then God reminds me of one big truth: i'm not called to do big things for God, i'm called to do things for a Big God.

i don't have to worry about my worth or if i'm doing enough, because if i'm following His will for my life, then i am absolutely doing what's worthy...and it will always be enough. He doesn't call me to do great things on my own. He calls me to follow Him - and He is a Great God that will work through me to accomplish great things. parenting my children may not be a "job" in the eyes of the world. loving on my babies may not win me any awards. but if the only thing i do in this life is raise my girls to know Him, then i will feel like the most accomplished person in the world. if my girls love Jesus and love others, then that will be my greatest reward. and i will continue to pray that He daily reminds me of my #ONEBIGTRUTH: 

i am not called to do big things for God, i am called to do things for a Big God! 

"For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God."

Psalm 86:10

click here to see other posts about #onebigtruth

this is day(s) 9-10 of the 31 day series. click HERE to see the series in it's entirety.

honest thank you's....

this is day seven and eight in the series "31 days of honest effort" 

(click the link to read all posts in the series) 

 one of the things i've been trying to put more effort into is telling people how much i appreciate them. i want to make sure others know how grateful i am for their presence in my life and the life of my family.   an easy way to do this is by sending "thank you" notes or even "just because" notes. in this day and age it's so easy to send a text, email, or even a facebook message, but i personally believe that nothing compares to a handwritten note. it's a lost art these days, but i'm trying my best to make sure my girls know the importance of writing handwritten notes.

that's why i'm so excited about today's post and giveaway! wildblumen (meaning wildflower in german) specializes in custom watercolor, art, design, and invitations. 

 megan is the creative artist behind wildblumen and her talent is out of this world!

y'all....i can't get over the fact that she PAINTS these! my watercolor knowledge does not extend past the little paint trays that flip open and make me crazy because i spend more time trying to get the colors not to mix and cleaning up water spills than actually painting anything. but i'm pretty postivite megan's watercolors are a bit more intricate. ;)

not only does wildblumen specialize in custom watercolor stationery and invitations, but also other art prints as well. send them a picture of your first home and have a watercolor portrait made of it.

how great would this be as a christmas gift for the grandparents?! or as a gift for a couple in their first home! such a precious keepsake!

if you're planning a  party or shower, have wildblumen make a custom design for you. you can use it as part of the decor (including invites, cupcake toppers, banners, prints, etc!) and after the event is over it becomes part of the decor of your home! win: win!

megan made these darling notecards for my girls and for one of our sweet little friends, bennett.  i sent megan a link to bennett's nursery and asked her to come up with something that reflected the theme of his room. i couldn't have been happier with her designs!

the possibilities are endless... send wildblumen a picture of your child's special "lovey" and have a watercolored keepsake of it for all time. a favorite outfit, a wedding portrait, a special place, anything!

there's nothing more meaningful than a personalized one of a kind gift!

megan, the talented artist behind wildblumen, has so generously offered to gift one of y'all with a custom set of stationery!! to be eligible to win, simply follow the steps below.

Entry-Form

so, if you're like me and trying to make an honest effort to let others know how much you love and appreciate them - contact megan at wildblumen today to order some stationery or watercolor designs of your own! thanks again, megan for your generosity and for sharing your talents! :) 

contact wildblumen:

wildblumen on TWITTER

wildblumen on FACEBOOK

email: mtjohnson31@gmail.com

"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

1 Peter 3:4

a walk to remember...

this is day five and six in the series "31 days of honest effort" 

(click the link to read all posts in the series) 

yes, i'm aware that today is october 7TH so i should technically have my seventh post up for the 31 days series. although i'm just now posting days 5 and 6.... but it's monday, we had a busy weekend, and i'm trying my best to catch up. the plan is to post days 7 and 8 tomorrow and then i'll be back on track (at least until the next time i fall behind) ;-)

this weekend we participated in the alzheimer's walk to remember. we walked in memory of grandad who went home to be with Jesus last june. we wore our "walking for wallace" shirts as we proudly walked to help find a cure for this disease that effects so many.

we walked with a promise of hope - knowing that we will see grandad again. and praise God, when that day comes - he will be healed and healthy. 

even though alzheimer's may have taken over his mind and his body, we find joy in knowing that it could not overtake his heart. a heart that was so full of the love of Jesus there was no way it could be overshadowed by this disease. 

for the second year in a row, we joined together with our family and friends to honor grandad. 

it's amazing how much can change in just one short year....

2012

2013

this weekend was a wonderful reminder of how fleeting life is. and how important it is to make memories with those we love so that our legacy can carry on. 

"Even when you are old I will be the same. And even when your hair turns white, I will help you. I will take care of what I have made. I will carry you, and will save you."

Isaiah 46:4

library days...

this is day four in the series "31 days of honest effort" 

(click the link to read all posts in the series) 

today was one of those days that was lazy and yet busy all at the same time. do you ever have those? 
we had another long night (thankyouverymuchlaney) so morning came all too quickly. 
we were a little slow going this morning, but eventually made our way to the library. 

my girls LOVE going to the library. they take after their momma's bookworm heart. i have such fond memories of my mom taking me and my brother and sister to the library as kids. our library had a limit to how many books you could check out at once and i always seemed to find just one or two more than what the limit was. i remember bargaining with my sister to check out some books for me since she never seemed to fill her quota (i mean, really...there were only so many ninja turtle books she could find in one visit). 
i also have a *vague* memory of being in college and receiving a certified letter over some (long) overdue books. apparently they take library fines very seriously. who knew?! 

needless to say, i'm happy to pass on my love of books (not the overdue kind) to my girls. they enjoy going to the library and checking out books more than they enjoy the story time or special character days our library has. and i truly enjoy taking them, but i'm not going to lie - it's exhausting. libbi does pretty well with finding her books and playing quietly on the computers. but laney? not so much. she doesn't know the meaning of "inside voice".... in fact, i'm pretty sure she doesn't even HAVE an inside voice. and no matter how many times i say, "laney, i'm going to be right here by this shelf...." it never fails that two seconds later she's yelling, "MOMMA! WHERE ARE YOUUUUUUU?" and then she laughs every time she sees me and says "I FOUNNNNNNNND YOU!" like i've been hiding from her while playing a super fun library hide and seek game. um, no. 

today's trip was no different. libbi played and read quietly, laney tried to "find me" the whole time, and liza just chilled in the stroller. 

once we find our books. the girls help me check them out at the "Self Checkout" and then we're on our way. they're usually smiling and i'm usually sweating - ha! but we're all happy with our haul of books and excited to get home and read them together. i love seeing my girls start to enjoy literature and recognize titles and characters. it makes me happy that they have favorite books that they request to have read to them over and over until they can recite them by heart. hopefully one day, they too will have fond memories of library visits and more importantly a lifetime of reading! 

also...thanks, mom for all those library trips! :) 

"Keep these words of mine in your heart and in your soul. Tie them as something special to see upon your hand and on your forehead between your eyes. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up."
Deuteronomy 11:18-19

a good start....

this is day three in the series "31 days of honest effort" 

(click to read all posts in the series) 

one of my favorite parts of the day is our drive to school in the mornings. monday through thursday, at the same spot every day  - about 5 minutes from their school - we take turns praying for the day ahead. the girls know where this "spot" is and if i ever forget, they're sure to remind me.  libbi likes to pray first (who am i kidding, libbi likes to do everything first!) and luckily, laney is great at being second. 

Libbi begins her prayer the same way each day, "Father, we thank you for this wonderful day...." and she always prays for "libbi to have a wonderful day school. and laney to have a wonderful day at school. and momma and liza to have a wonderful day at home. and daddy to have a wonderful day at work." 

she really likes "wonderful" ;-)

sometimes she prays for the sun to shine so they can go on the playground, other timesshe prays that she'll be able to have a turn on the swings. she often prays for laney not to cry at school. and if there are times we have appointments or someone is sick, she always includes a request for them, too. 

and when libbi is done, laney will pipe up with "my turn!" and she begins to pray. we usually catch about every other sentence as she tends to think a little faster than she talks. but i always hear a few "wonderful's" in her prayers and she will pray for each sister, momma, and daddy. laney likes to end her prayers with "in jesus' name i pray, amen" only it sounds a lot like "injesusnameipray....AAAAAAAAAAmen!"

hearing their little voices praying from the backseat is one the purest forms of worship i know. 

and i can't help but feel so thankful each day as i listen to my children pray for their school day, their families, and their friends. it warms my heart to know that they even though they don't have a full understanding of the love of our God, they know that He's a caring Father. they know they can bring their requests before Him and that He cares to listen. after each little girl has finished praying, it's my turn. no matter what kind of morning we've had - whether it was stressful or completely seamless, i can't help but offer a prayer of thankfulness for the privilege of being a momma to the three little blessings in my backseat. 

"But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these children.”

Matthew 19:14