Yesterday Ellie turned 3 months old. After a really good morning I decided, why not?! Let's try to get some 3 month pictures taken. (Yay for a $7.99 coupon!) I was able to get a same day appointment for 4:00 which would allow us plenty of time to get there after her afternoon nap. I fed her, loaded up and even got there EARLY (amazing!)

And then the baby REFUSED to smile. The calm, happy, almost always content baby pulled out the sad lip and cried. I could get her to stop crying, but I had a hard time getting her to put away the sad lip. And I could not get even one itty bitty smile out of her.

Needless to say, we didn't order any pictures. I didn't have my heart set on them, so it's fine, but I may end up going back and ordering the sad lip picture.... just wait til you see it...

We took a few pictures at home last night, but still no smiles. I guess it was just the day the baby refused to smile.

Just so you know, this isn't the "sad lip" I'm referring to.. although she does look pretty sad! sad, sad, sad!

"Happy"  3 Months Ellie Marie.

We love you

God provides.

We all say that, but do you really know that? Do you really believe that? Do you really live as if you believe it??

I was talking with Noah a week or so ago and I said, "What would we do if we REALLY trusted that God will provide for us?! How would we live differently? Would we give more? Live off less? If we really trusted His provision, how would our life change??"

For the past 5 years God has provided for all of our needs as we live entirely off of faith based support. We have many stories of times when God just did the impossible and provided for our needs day, after day, after day. Incredible stuff really!

But in this season of life I have come to understand God's provision at an entirely new level. After finding out we were expecting a baby, we started thinking about a whole lot of things as all expecting parents do. Insurance co-pays, crib, changing table, car seat, stroller, diapers, clothes, medical bills, maternity clothes,  just to name a few. It all seemed so impossible. The "needs" and expenses too high, our resources too small. We didn't doubt God's ability to provide, but I sometimes doubted His desire to do so.

Without going into detail, I just want to take the time to say WOW! I have pages and pages typed up of the way God has provided for our needs and wants. Little stories that remind me over and over again that God is our provider! He knows exactly what we need and He delights in providing those things for us!! I realize He has used many of you- our family and friends- to provide for our needs. But I also know, that each and every gift truly comes from above. The Lord our God is our PROVIDER! We can trust Him!!

I urge you to trust Him as your provider. I don't know your circumstances, your needs or your desires, but I do know that God provides! He takes care of us. We don't need to store up for ourselves, we can give freely trusting that He will take care of us. And he does!

He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?  --Romans 8:32

It's kind of like someone asking you "How's married life?" shortly after you get married. How are you supposed to answer such a question?! I don't know!! Instead of answering, I wanted to share five things I've learned since becoming a mom.

-I've learned to be flexible. With all of the craziness of our life, schedule, etc I really have to be on my toes! In the last week Ellie has been in the car 15 hours (or more) and nursed at 10 or more different places. YIKES! But its okay. It's not impossible, it just takes some thought!

-I've learned to let some things go... I love having my house in order... but I've given up on sweeping the floor and cleaning the bathroom before anyone comes over. You'll find things needing to be picked up and you'll even find my bed left unmade (gasp!) I don't necessarily like it, but it's just not as important...

-I've learned how to guard my time better and focus on important things (not just urgent things.) For now, since we have so many people over/activities in the evenings... my mornings are precious to me.  I don't have people over nor do I plan to go anywhere in the morning because if I stick to this.. by noon Ellie will have eaten twice, taken a long morning nap and I will have had a shower, time with the Lord,  and some time to check my email and pick up my house a bit.

-I'm learning about God's provision. I have literally countless stories about His provision in these last months. He has shown his care and concern for me/us over and over. We are so humbled, awed, and grateful!

-I'm learning to ENJOY! I love my to-do lists and crossing things off, but parenting is not about accomplishing, its' about enjoying. My biggest challenge is the tension between enjoying Ellie and training Ellie. My tendency is to focus on the training, so I'm doing my best to put my energy towards ENJOYING her!


What are you learning?! :) Please share with me!