Just a couple of pics

Just a couple of pics of Kaitlyn and her friends!
Here is my sweet friend Jessica reading all the kids a story.

 And Kaitlyn pushing her BFF Ellery in the swing.

(Think Kailtyn is going to make a great big sister one day)

Andy my little on in her cute ponytail!

And me and my sweet girl..all smiles!

Tuesday's Treasure: Teachable Moments

In my quiet time this week I came across a challenge that was too good not to share word-for-word. "As mothers, you and I have countless daily opportunities in our homes to plant God's Word deeply in the minds and souls of our children. We just need to take advantage of those opportunities. and we have the blessed privilege of tending their hearts and bringing them up in the training and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:4). But first, we must comprehend that the little hearts God has placed in our care as children are treasures indeed. Then we must nurture a heart of passion for His word so that our passion will overflow into the lives of those we love."


According to God's word, my speech is to be seasoned with salt (Col 4:6) and this wonderful mothering verse give me -and you- instruction, permission, responsibility, and encouragement to salt our children continually with God's wisdom. Out of our mouths at every opportunity must come salt-God's truth.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says this to parents "These words which I command to you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Lord, today I make the decision to be that ever-waiting, ever-watching mom, prepared to teach my daughter about You through the course of everyday life. Help me to see those Teachable Moments to point every tiny detail of our day to Your love and heart.

$2 = 2 Hours of Fun

Rolled out the parchment paper and had fun with the

$1 playdough set and $1 cookie cutters I got at Dollar Tree.

I'm not sure who had more fun...Kaitlyn or Chris & I!

Tuesday's Treasure: Prayers for Our Children

I found this awesome prayer and have spent the last week looking each scripture up and personalizing my prayer over Kaitlyn. My little one is finally getting old enough for us to start teaching her right and wrong, and most importantly the ways of the Lord.
I got convicted this week about how much time I let her watch Barney videos-that honestly she has learned so much from!

How much more can I invest in the heart of my precious one, to teach her about how to become a child of faith. I would to someday have this memorized and pray over her each night.
Prayer For My Sweet Baby K

Acts 19:20.........I thank you Father that Your Word prevails over Kaitlyn,

Isa 54:13...........that she is taught of the Lord and will continue to be

Prov 13:1.......... the fruit of godly instruction and correction.

Prov 2:6............ Father, give Chris and I counsel and wisdom in bringing up Kaitlyn.

1Pet 1:14.......... I pray that she is obedient, not conforming to the things of the flesh,

1Pet 1:15.......... but holy, in all conduct.

1Pet 2:2........... desiring the pure milk of the Word that she may grow.

Jas 1:19............That she is swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

Heb 13:5.......... That her conduct is without covetousness,

Heb 13:5.......... and she is content with what she has.

Heb 13:16......... May she not forget to do what is right and to share.

2Pet 3:18.......... I pray that Kaitlyn grows in the grace and knowledge of our Lord,

1Thes 4:1......... and abound more and more in how she should walk and please You.

1Pet 5:5........... That she may submit to her elders, and to one another,

1Pet 5:5........... being clothed with humility.

1Pet 5:7........... That she will cast her cares upon You, Father, for You care for her.

Jas 1:22............I pray that she becomes a doer of the Word, and not hearer only,

Ph'm 1:6...........effectively sharing her faith.

2Tim 1:7 ..........not having a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

2Tim 1:9...........Father, You have saved Kailtyn and called her with a holy calling,

2Tim 1:9 ..........not according to works, but according to Your own purpose.

2Tim 4:18.........Deliver her from every evil work and preserve her.

1Jn 5:18 ..........Because Your protection keeps her safe, I pray that the wicked one does not touch her.

Ps 91:11..........Give Your angels special charge to accompany, defend, preserve

Ps 4:8.............and provide safety for Kaitlyn, day and night.

1Jn 2:5 ...........Because she will keep Your Word, Your love is being perfected in her.

1Jn 2:15 .........I pray that she does not love the world or the things in the world,

3Jn 1:11..........and that she does not imitate what is evil, but what is good.

1Jn 1:7 ...........I pray that she walks in the light as You are in the Light,

Jas 4:8 ...........cleansing her hands and purifying her heart,

2Tim 2:22 .......May Kaitlyn follow after righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

Heb 13:18........May she have a good conscience and desire to live honorably,

Prov 3:4 ..........having favor and high esteem with God and man.

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give her to you Lord. For her whole life she will be given over to You." (1 Samuel 1:27-28)

Fredricksburg...

Just a couple of pics of our sweet family in Fredricksburg this weekend.

Tuesday's Treasure: A Wife Far Above Rubies

Proverbs 18:22 says that "He who finds a wife, finds a good thing."

Proverbs 31:10 says that her worth is "far above rubies."

There is nothing like God's Word to stir within the heart the desire to be a gracious, good wife, virtuous and far above rubies. I want to be a blessing to my husband, but I wonder if the way I speak to my husband "makes his heart glad" (Proverbs 12:25)

Have you ever been around a woman who doesn't respect her husband? Who nags, picks, disagrees, corrects, and battles with him in public? Have you ever wanted to say...hey, cut it out?" Well I was that woman this week and I just hated it. I thought...who is this person??

Proverbs 18:21 says that there is life and death in the power of the tongue. I have the ability to tear down, devour, hurt and weaken my husband..just with my words. And sometimes it’s 1 or 2 words that do the trick! Ouch!

In response, I made myself a couple of promises.

1. I will never speak critically or negatively about my husband to anyone. I am on assignment from God to be his biggest fan and cheerleader in life.

2. In every opportunity, I will bless my husband in public. Chris needs to be number one in my life (after God) and not only does he need to know it, but everyone needs to know it. I want my speech concerning my family to be "seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6)

3. My prayer is that I am walking so closely with the Lord that His fragrance permeates all of my life and is refreshing to my husband.

Lord, I want to be a wife who spoils her husband rotten! Help me to choose words wisely and be a source of encouragement and love to my husband. Love on Chris through me! May my lips of praise encourage him to conquer the world!

E-Mealz Update

Just wanted to update you on E-Mealz. A couple of weeks I ago I told you I was taking the plunge. http://sommer-mypreciousfamily.blogspot.com/2009/09/cooking-101uh-oh.html

For $5 bucks a month, I highly recommend it! Every week, you get 5 new recipes AND it even prints out your shopping list!! I love it because it has shaken up the rut I have been in cooking the same dishes over and over. Plus, it helps me only buy what we use. Before, I bought random things at the store without a plan of how I was going to use them.
The recipes are super easy! I actually just made the yummiest dish for lunch!

Creamy Bacon Tortellini 

Ingredients:
9oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
6 bacon slices
1/3 c shredded parmesan
1/4 c whipping cream
1 T minced garlic, 1 t dried parsley, 1/8 t pepper

In large saucepan, boil tortellini as pkg directs. Drain and remove from pan. Cook bacon in same pain, reserving 1 1/2 T drippings in pan. Return tortellini, crumble bacon and add remaining ingredients to pan. Toss gently

My hubbie said this dish reminded him of his favorite at Carinos. Now that's a compliment :)

Last minute, exactly what I needed, getaway

Friday we packed up the Tahoe and took a short drive to "good ole times". Our best friends Jeff and Cori and their two adorable kiddos CheyLee and Brady moved to San Angelo right about this time last year. I just can't type enough to explain what a blessing from God this sweet family has been to our lives.

Sadly, I forgot the camera and didn't get to catch the kids building sand castles while we ate dinner under twinkle lights and a sun set, breakfast and coffee in our pj's, lunch with 2 two year olds at a Mexican restaurant (can you see the rice flying everywhere), the boys with their golf clubs, the kids in their strollers with ice-cream all over...I mean all over their shirts, Cori and I talking about life and all its joys and troubles amidst shoe shopping, dinner for 4 while the kiddos stayed with Cici, waving goodbye to the last minute, exactly what I needed getaway. Love you Stewarts! Miss you sweet friend Cori!

Where Has The Time Gone??

THEN

NOW

Tuesday's Treasure: My Supply

Father, I pray that those reading today will understand that my perspective on life and the trials it brings,  is forever changed by where you have brought me from.

Friday night I had the most needed Girls Night Out to celebrate my friend Allison's birthday!! Here is Wynne cutting Alli's cake. Allison is just the cutest thing! She is glowing...and for a reason!! She is finally showing a baby bump and Baby Zachry will be coming to see us in January :)

Girls Night Out started with dinner for 15 at Jorge's followed by a chick flick! The movie theatre is not a place I have seen very much since Baby K arrived. I think this is only my 3rd time to the movies in almost 2 years.

I was like a giddy little girl getting all dressed up for gab time with my girlfriends. Dinner was such a blast! Conversations about baby's and shopping and clothes and husbands...I think we talked it all out.

We headed over to the movies to see Love Happens, the new Jennifer Aniston movie.

I must admit, this was not the fun chick flick movie I had anticipated. It was quite sad actually! I think our whole row sniffled at one point or another. Not to ruin the show for you, but the movie got me to thinking about the what if's of life.

I tend to think of it often and sometimes mentally prepare myself for....what if. What if Chris doesn't come home...it's happen to my family before.....what if something happens and I am left to try to pick up the pieces and live life without him. I know what you are thinking "seriously Sommer...this is a Tuesday Treasure" :)

Well it is, because I know what would happen-God would happen! My treasure lies in the fact that God is the supply of my every need and that He is enough.

Now don't get me wrong. Losing my precious family is the last thing I want; been there and done that. I am not sure I could be this strong when in the midst of losing someone I love. ( I would definitly need to be reminded of this post!!) But can I be honest and tell you that when your world is shaken, you quickly learn Who your true supply is. When somewhere you felt so safe and secure and loved is ripped from your life..when all you held most precious is taken..it is then that God's love for you is most precious.

My quite time this week led me to the story of the woman at the well, a Samaritan woman  who had tried to get her needs met through a string of failed relationships. "With both her life and water bucket empty, she had come to a place of brokenness and in need. But in Christ she found what he called 'living water' (John 4:10) - a supply that wasn’t just for quenching temporary thirst. What He offered her was a drink of soul satisfaction that never quits giving and refreshing." And that my friends is my treasure...a supply that is available to me each morning at sunrise and each evening as I kiss my family good night.

My E-Teen lesson of Daniel led me to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. What courage and faith! Here are 3 men that took a stand for God and were willing to give up their lives rather than put anyone or anything on the throne of their hearts but the one true God. And their answer when faced with news of a blazing furnace was, "If I perish...well then,  I perish." I have to ask myself if despite all my faith and efforts to live for God, tragedy overtakes me, will I still serve God with all of my heart?

Lord, thank you for reminding me that You are my supply, You are my everything. You are my reward Lord, You are what this life is worth living for. Father, an indescribable tragedy was brought to my life, and yet I am stronger in You because of it. Father I pray for all the broken hearts from the loss of a loved one. Father, I don't know how they make it without You.
Help me to learn that all of You is more than enough for all of me. For every thirst Lord, You satisfy me with Your love. Lord all I have in You, is more than enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHEm-b4IRYk