Back Up, Mama:)

So we are having rest time, and I can hear Bryce just chatting away in his room. I can't exactly make out what he is saying, but he typically goes to sleep pretty fast, so I decide to go and tell him to stop talkin' and start sleepin':) I peek in and see him sitting up on his bed looking towards his closet area. I say "hey buddy, let's go ahead and lay down and get some sleep, okay?" Then, he gently responds, "mom, I'm talking to God. Can I sleep when we are finished?" I quickly excused myself and apologized to the Lord for my rude interruption! HA!

Talk away, little warrior, talk away.
There is much to be discussed and much to be heard about the mighty call on your life!

Seriously?!!....

.....who came up with push-up pops!! It's been a while since we've had them and once these little puppies hit my kids hands, they totally reverted to eating like a 6 month old:) As soon as I realized that we were going to add these frozen friends to our attire, my OCD nerve was hit, and we finished those bad boys over the sink:)

DAY 1:

DAY 2: (smarter mama!)

Just had to throw in a little bit of my dumplin' for your viewing pleasure;) Playing patty cake with sissy just about sends him over the happy edge! We belly laugh, get the hiccups and spit up everywhere....it's good times.

Let's not pretend....

....that life is always easy, or remotely close to it. Lately, when I go to pray for those close to me, my heart is swollen with pain, and there are truly only "groans and moans" from the Spirit being expressed. Words don't seem to touch it...my words, that is. "And then....God." His Spirit swarms in, as if He were a bee and the situation were honey. He moves on our behalf in a way that is indescribable, and He executes a plan that is incomparable...and we are forever changed. Day by day, minute by minute, second by second, He offers these life changing scenarios if we will just ask. The beauty of His design is that we play such a massive role....you might say, we connect the Beekeeper, via the Queen bee, with the hive.

Dutch Sheets explains it this way: "We, through prayers of intercession, meet the powers of darkness, enforcing the victory Christ accomplished when He met them in His work of intercession."

Christ created, captured and confirmed all the power we ever need and He simply asks us to believe and open our mouth. Believe and open our mouth....He then calls the meeting into order and takes care of business!

What's my heart for today?.....that your prayers may be a little different than they were yesterday. That there will be a stirring deep within you to go beyond the circumstance and seek the Source. For truly "we are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor. 5: 20-21)

Catching Up!

Here's what's been going on at the Durham Casa over the last few weeks:)

OH HAPPY DAY:

Here are just a few pictures of our mornings!! It's a little bit of madness and a whole lotta' happy combined into one! HA!

SURPRISE VISIT:
My Uncle Ronnie, Aunt Frances, and cousins Katelyn and Carson, from Odessa, made a surprise visit for the day :) It had been awhile since we saw them, so the kids really enjoyed each other!

SUPER BOWL SWEETS:
The kids will use ANY occasion to make a cupcake, and the Super Bowl was certainly no exception:)

KRESS TRIP:
We also took a wonderful trip to Kress and had ourselves a little V-Day party:) Thanks Meme!


Mayce and her twin (Aunt Jamie)

The King and Queen in their Royal Bath:) Thanks Nanny!

Ok, your eyes are not deceiving you.....Cousin Drew is 7 1/2 months and Blake is 2 1/2 months. Put him on the line, coach!!

CRASH COURSE IN CREATION:

Last week we had "Creation Week" at home and learned a new day of God's great creation each day of the week. We got to color a creation picture, read our story and do a craft:) We decorated some creation cookies, but they didn't stick around long enough to get a picture:)

Heart To Heart

At bedtime, the other night, Mayce and I were laying in her bed visiting. Mayce and I have many deep conversations throughout the day, because she is definitely a deep thinker. She rarely takes information at face value, but tries to dissect it and figure out every detail. We have recently had many discussions about how we hear God, and I have walked away from most of them thinking, "Ok Lord, please make that one clear, because I know I have thoroughly confused her!" HA! Well, this particular night, we were contemplating hearing God in our heart, but not always hearing a "voice." I was explaining that we often hear him in our heart and we, then, know what we should or should not do. After a very long moment of silence, she sat up and proceeded to fling her body on my face, with her chest smashing my nose. Completely muffled, I said, "Honey, what exactly are you doing?" She, then, replied with a very disappointed tone

"Mama, I just can't hear Him, so could you please listen to my heart and tell me what He says!"

Priceless!

I think we've just moved into a whole new topic of discussion.....intercessory prayer:)

Springuary Weekend!

It could not be more beautiful here! Yesterday and today have been in the 70's and gorgeous! It feels like Spring in January, so it seems like I have not seen Mayce and Bryce for like 24 hours:) They head outside first thing in the morning, and I have to drag them in the afternoon. Yesterday, I told them it was time to eat, I faced some opposition with that statement, and ended up giving them their plates in their tent....outside, of course!

Monty and I have also quickly discovered that our youngest little husky is most willing to give all his smiles and cooing to his bubba and sissy. He is just now 7 weeks, so I am pretty impressed that they can bring out his little personality better than anyone:) Here's a little shot of him talking to his sissy, aka, his princess:) All she has to say is "Blake, what are you doing!" and he lights up!

Lastly, I would like to pay tribute to our dear Longhorns. We love us some Colt McCoy around here, and just had to get Blake involved as soon as possible:) I think he wears the horns well:)

First Time For Everything:)

So, I was having some precious bonding time with my "not so little" little man yesterday, when I experienced a mothering first. I was just jabbering away with my most annoying baby talk, when I decide that I had to just lay a big kiss on him. I lean down, pucker up, and instead of feeling sweet little lips, I get a huge dose of spit up in my mouth!!! Of course, my other two precious, VERY observant, angels were there to witness the entire event, so the questions flowed like water for the remainder of the day. "What did it taste like, mama?" "Why did you make him do that?" "Did you swallow it?" Oh, the endless adventures of motherhood! Nothing else could bring so much joy and, yet, make you want to puke all at the same time! HA!

One Grateful Mama!

"When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel."

(Is. 29:23)

(Thank you, Krista, for being able to capture the heart of my children in a picture. You are so gifted!)

What's Been Goin' On!

Well, here are a few pictures from our week:) Blake is quite the healthy boy, weighing well over his birth weight already! He has already nestled his little self right into our hearts, and we can't get enough of him! Bryce just goes around all day saying "mom, he's so cute!" and Mayce just wants to kiss him, hold him and put him in her little stroller:) I love it. We also had two special guests this week that we were thrilled to see! Thank you, Melissa and Isaac Terry, for hanging out with us and bringing your beautiful joy into our home! I love you, dearly, and can't tell you how much your visit meant to me:) So, here are some random pictures from our current "never a dull moment" life:) What beautiful gifts our Father lavishes upon us!!

Okay, so Blake wasn't too thrilled about this pose, but the kids sure looked cute;)

She would prefer to do this all day long...and yes, this big man is ONLY 2 weeks old!

I nibble those cheeks OFTEN!

Playing with precious Isaac
I would like to eat him up!!
Just had to throw this one in here. This was a "daddy/bryce time" creation! I was impressed.

Family of Five!!

Hi friends! Here are a few more pictures from our exciting weekend of meeting little Blake:) Wanted to share a quick story from the weekend that involves...you guessed it...Bryce and his beautiful way of thinking:)

He and Monty went to run an errand while we were in the hospital, and Monty asked Bryce, "what should I call Blake, since you are my little champion?"

Bryce quickly responded with "well, little man of God!"

Then Monty asked "what does that make you then, Buddy?"

Bryce then said "Big man of God, dad!"

So, here I am....living with THREE wonderful "Men of God" that come in all sizes;) Be Blessed!

Waiting for Blake to arrive!

3:42 pm

The kids were super concerned for their "baby"

Pops and Nana

Grammy and Gramps

Uncle Shane

Big sister Mayce

Big Brother Bryce



Going home!!!

Meet ~ Blake Michael Durham

Here are a few quick pictures from Dad. Many more are coming from Mommy later today!

Born: November 21, 2008 - 3:40pm
Weighing in at 8.1 lbs and 20.5 inches long

After 6+ plus hours of waiting they finally meet brother BLAKE.