Long gone are the days where I was bored and wondered what I was going to do that day. Our lazy summers are over and our school schedule is back in full swing....as you can tell. I have been MIA when it comes to blogging.
Here's a recap of what's happened since the last post:
-Grayson turned four
-Joey turned twenty seven
-We have been to a lot of parties...
-The kids both got shots at the same appointment and Joey and I promised each other we won't do that again
-Joey and I are going to be an aunt and uncle for the third time....we are SO excited!
-Ella enjoyed her first trip to the lake!
-We have had tons of fun at the park!
-Fall is here and I am loving every.minute.of it.
We have had a busy couple of weeks but I must admit that I really like being busy. Since I have been married to Joey, I have always been either pregnant, in grad school, working, or doing something new. This is the first year that I don't feel super busy burning on both ends but we have kept busy with work, family, and friends! I am not going to lie I have thought of getting my doctoral degree but then I remember how amazing it is to be able to have so much time with my sweet kids and also how much it costs..haha!
Grayson's birthday went well and I got so much on sale which was exciting. Joey and I are doing Dave Ramsey for those of you who don't know so we try to live as if we have half the money we do have so that we can save more and pay things off faster. It is really hard and I can see why most people don't do it but we are seeing wonderful results already. We are doing it so we can live as close to a debt free life as possible (we have things like cars, house to pay) and we really want to be able to give more and help others more. It is something God has really put on my heart! Now, I won't lie...I do still love shopping but I am just smarter than I used to be. Before I didn't really look at the price of things as much but now it's exciting to find sales!
It has been a blessing and I am thankful that God led our family to do that! Well, I am going to go get my things ready for school tomorrow...we are going to make applesauce in my class...how exciting! I love this time of year!
I will leave you with some pictures....of course....that's what you came here for....right? :)
My sis, mom, and me
Daddy and Ella at church
On his real b-day
Acker Family Birthdays
The parents to be of our new niece/nephew...I think niece!!
This will be simple and sweet. My first baby will be 4 tomorrow. Where did the time go? It feels like it has only been months...not years. We are so proud of the little boy he is becoming and we pray he has a wonderful year!
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And today he will enjoy his Robot & Lego party for the big 4th Birthday!! Pics to come! :)
In honor of Grayson's fourth birthday we will be collecting shoes for orphans through Buckner. This is a cause we believe in and have worked with for the past three years. Imagine how much we give to our own children but how much other children are in need. If you would like to donate a new pair, please e-mail me at: melroseacker@yahoo.com
(Please excuse the quality, I just used my camera and poor Grayson has a boo-boo that looks like a goatee...haha)
Today felt like the most super fast day ever!! I think it also helps that my class is so wonderful and I am extremely happy most of the day! I had a student bring me a Starbucks pink cake pop! How exciting is that??
Well, it was such a nice labor day weekend.
Friday night, we relaxed and drove out to Mesquite and did some shopping. Saturday, the kiddos had some pictures taken which turned out really cute for $20 and we enjoyed spending time with my family. I went out with my sister and brother's fiancee for her 20th birthday and we had a blast! Then we spent Sunday at Northpark and visiting Joey's family. And Monday...we cleaned the house and opened the windows and enjoyed the AMAZING weather! Needless to say, this time was a blessing. I will leave you with some pictures and I hope you all have a week full of joy!
Jessica, Vann, and my sister...she made the cake!!
Grayson and Great Grandma
Ella and Nana
Clean house...this is how it usually looks but now it has cleaner floors
Don't you love the cars chair on top of the big chair? Oh and we are the only people in the world that have a regular tv....we rarely watch it in our house....just the kiddos!
Wow, I can't believe it is already the second week of school, it is already flying by!! I have a pretty wonderful class and this year is off to a great start! This past weekend, I was thinking I would get a lot of rest & relaxation but it ended up being jam packed....but oh so fun.
My parents called me Friday night, wanting to meet up at Chuck E Cheese with all of the grandkids. Grayson was sooo excited! We had a blast and it was so neat to see all of the Clark Side grandkids altogether...my parents just LOVED it. Needless to say, the kids were spoiled but I am starting to become okay with a little spoiling from the grandparents sometimes.
Then we got to see Lala (Joey's sister) and spend time over at his family's house which is always fun and a nice little break for Joey and I! Then Sunday, we celebrated our church's 125th birthday celebration. It was so neat to see how God has used the church to touch so many people's lives, it was such a blessing!
The kiddos at church!
Well, I am headed to bed, I am as exhausted as can be! Hope y'all have a wonderful week!!
I know, I know....if you are reading this, you are amazingly impressed that I am blogging 2 days in a row during a school week! I must say I am rather impressed, too! Joey is actually not here and Ella went to bed early with a fever (daycare is already having it's effect...boo)....and my independent little boy wanted some t.v. time while he eats his snack so I jumped at the chance to get on!
Have you ever had a moment that you just want to savor? There are so many times I have thought, "I don't want to forget this memory, I want to put it in my pocket!" I can recall just last Saturday....Joey, me, and the kids were in the car early in the morning driving with the windows down and music playing. I remember looking in the back at the kids and seeing Grayson smiling and Ella waving her arms and laughing and just the best feeling came over me. I remember the first time I met Joey at church when I was 20 and he just turned 19 (ohmiword...I know I am older) and I called my friend and told her that he was too cute and I wanted to marry him one day! I remember the feeling when I finally finished my master's degree. I remember the births of my sweet babies and the precious moments with my family growing up.
Having these memories and experiencing these moments amazes me but it doesn't even compare to the day that I was saved. I want to take this time to share my testimony and hope that it could help someone and glorify God in someway.
This is me.....a little girl who loved girly things from the start. My parents say I would "priss" around as soon as I was mobile. I always had accessories and cried to have my hair fixed and jewelry on in Kindergarten. This may sound horrible but I promise I have a point to make....when I was 5, I told the neighbor next door...."You're pretty, pretty ugly.....this just shows how we already have a sinful nature at a young age. We don't have to be taught to act mean or selfish, it is just within us. By the way, my parents were appalled by this!
Now, let's skip ahead to being a kid and a teenager. I tried to do what society says is "right." I always prayed and tried to be a good student and kid. I remember praying to God when I wanted something or when I was upset. I remember as a teenager thinking I was a Christian and even talking to people about God. I thought I was better than some people at times because I thought I was doing things right. Yet, I was so completely lost!
Let's fast forward to when I met Joey. When I met Joey, I thought he was the most amazing guy ever (he still is). He had wonderful morals and we spent a lot of our time together at church. We fell in love and had a fairytale relationship, everything fell into place.
We graduated college, got married, got a house, jobs, had kids....and did everything in order but something was missing. One January, Joey just changed. I remember it all like yesterday, I think it was around January 2009. Joey started reading his bible more and he just started changing. He started wanting to censor what we watched and what we did. I, at the time, was upset. My thinking was....what is wrong with him? He is SO extreme and radical. For the upcoming months, I disagreed with a lot of what Joey said. We did not really argue but I just didn't want to hear about God and theology and the bible ALL.THE.TIME and his new way of life. Little did I know that the thing to be most radical about should be GOD!
Looking back, I now see that God was using Joey as a tool in my life. I started seeking God more and praying. I was in a bit of denial. I thought I was a Christian this whole time. I put cute bible quotes on things and went to church....doesn't that mean I am a Christian? I helped people and did good works...wouldn't that get me to heaven? Then one day, all of a sudden my heart just changed. I know that sounds funny but it really just changed. I realized that I am nothing without God. I realized that I am a sinner that needs his grace but so does not deserve it. There wasn't a rough patch in my life or an all time low for me to come to this realization.... God just got a hold of me and changed everything. He made it clear to me that He is the only way.
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
I also realized that, although, I thought I was a pretty good person....I wasn't.
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
Romans 3:23
I was a sinner....I am a sinner...this is not to judge or point out people's faults but to show everyone how much we need a Saviour. We can't make it through life alone. People will come and go even family will come and go but God is the only one that will always be there through the good times and through the bad times. I still struggle now, I am human. But the thing that God has given me is conviction through the Holy Spirit. No longer, am I jumping into sin with a knowledge of what I am going to do (am I going to covet, am I going make God into someone I am comfortable with and ignore who He really is). Now I have repented from sin and trust in Christ alone.
I know this isn't my usual blog about a cake I made or a family update. I am also not shoving this on anyone...just sharing in hopes that God will touch your heart or use this to help someone realize there is a great, just, and holy God.
Here is a great video that I would like to share with you, enjoy and have a blessed week!
Today was the first day of school! Last night, I was so excited and anxious that I just couldn't sleep...it felt like Christmas Eve. Well, today I am just exhausted. It felt like a really long day because I am not used to the new schedule and the day is usually not jam packed with stuff to make you feel busy. I have a very sweet....energetic...class. I am excited to see what the year will be like. Joey had a great day too! He said the morning is really full but the afternoon is nice and a bit spread out.
We picked up the kiddos and came home and I whipped up some cheeseburgers and then some ice cream sundaes. It was a wonderful ending to a crazy but blessed first day.
Well I am off to put up my feet and relax....this is keeping the kids busy for awhile...
