Merry Christmas

Hi everyone. Sorry that I haven't updated my blog in awhile. I've been really busy getting ready for the holidays, and I've received a lot of interest for my wedding flower business. I just posted some fall family pics below this that Shelly took of us a couple of months ago. I have more pictures to post and more about our awesome parenting book that we are reading. Hopefully, things will calm down a little after the holidays.

Eric and I have our five year wedding anniversary coming up on the 27th. I can't believe how fast time goes. I'm very blessed to have such a wonderful husband and father to my children. With every year, I grow to love and appreciate him more and more. Happy Anniversary, babe. I love you!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you. We love you all very much!

Fall Family Pics

STUDMUFFINS

Shelly did another amazing job taking pictures of us a couple of months ago. It's always so much work taking family pictures when you have little ones. Shell is becoming a professional funny face maker, funny noise maker, and dancer :) Thanks again, Shell!!

Blake is a little over 19 months now and Layla is 3 1/2 months. Blake is really into cars, trains, and airplanes. Layla is smiling a lot at us now and even laughing a little. They are a lot of work, but such a blessing!

Glad You Made It

Glad you made it to our new family site. Feel free to check out my flower site also and leave me comments.

I'm kind of excited about starting this business. I just put an ad on craigslist, and I am getting about 2 or 3 contacts per day. I didn't really expect so many so quick, but it's great :) I'm looking at doing weddings up in Michigan and down here in Indy, so if you know anyone getting married, please pass on my information. You can give them my new email rebeccavalentine@live.com and my floral blog address www.rebeccavalentine.blogspot.com . Thanks. Love you all!

The Parent/Person You Want To Be

Becoming a parent has really made me reflect on who I am as a person and who I want to be. Ever since Blake was born, I have wanted to really sit down with Eric and get on the same page on our goals for parenting our kids. However, every time I thought about it, it was such an overwhelming task. There is so much to think about when it comes to parenting. Where do I start?

I wanted to find a book that dealt with parenting issues, so I went searching. A lot of parenting books are for parents of older children who are dealing more with discipline/teaching their children about God/etc. I'm starting to get to that point with Blake, but I'm not quite there yet.

Something God has taught both Eric and I by our parents and others is that who you are as a person has more of an impact on your kids than anything you verbally teach them (although that is important too). I ended up finding a great parenting book that has this message at the heart of it. It is called "The Parent You Want To Be," by Les and Leslie Parrott. I would add that it is really about the person I think everyone would want to be. The book has you look at your pasts individually and then has you and your spouse go through questions together. The authors' website has a link for you to do this activity in case any of you would like to. I thought I would include it. Hope you find this interesting :) We sure have :)

http://www.realrelationships1.com/downloads/parentingprofile.pdf

Happy Halloween

I love this picture. (eric took it)

What is this stuff?Oooo, candy is good :)

He was trying to fit his sucker and his binky in his mouth at the same time :)

We had fun trick or treating. We just went to a few houses around our neighborhood. Blake was still figuring this whole halloween thing out. He put all of his candy in his trunk instead of the halloween bucket I bought him. He sure liked eating a few pieces when he got home :)

The Big Hunt

These are a few pics of the bird hunting trip. Poor birdies :( We made pheasant casserole and it was good.

Night Before the Big Hunt

Jack, isn't he a cutie :)

Lilly and Layla. Lilly was being a little shy :) We got more really cute ones of them together with my mom's camera though.

Grandpa Perry and Layla

Like father like son :)

Jordan and JackGot the beanie at baby gap. I just love it :) We are practicing keeping it on :)

Eric and my brothers, Cory and Mike, went on a bird hunting trip to Pennslyvania. We all got together the night before. These are a few pics from that.

Cousins

Eric's cousin, Blake, his wife, Angie, and their two kids, Brooklyn and Riley, came down for a visit this past weekend. I didn't get very many pics, but here are a few. We went to the zoo. They had a halloween zoo boo this weekend. The kids were all dressed up in their costumes and they had trick or treating for them and other things too. Riley was a lady bug, and Brooklyn was the little mermaid. Their kids are so adorable. Blake is going to be a monkey this year. That's one of the animal noises he makes. He's so cute in his costume. I couldn't believe he stayed in it all day :)

Family

Here are a few more pics of family when we were home a few weeks ago. My grandpa perry and his wife, Donna, and also, my uncle Larry. Love you all!

Grandma and Grandpa Valentine

Grandma and Grandpa Valentine came over to visit when Layla was 2 weeks old. These are some pictures of our visit. Grandma made some beautiful things and one of them was a christening gown for Layla. Thanks again, grandma and grandpa :)

He's My Son

I'm going to try to start writing more on my blog about what's going on in my life/our family. I've enjoyed reading some of my friends entries on their blogs, and they've inspired me to start writing.

Today, I listened to the Christian song, "He's not just anyone, he's my son," on the radio, and it brought me to tears. The song is about a mom singing this to God in a prayer for her sick son.
Adjusting to having two kids these past six weeks has been hard, and I find myself just trying to make it through the day sometimes. But, I love when God gives me little reminders of all of the blessings in my life that I am so thankful for. Just to have two beautiful kids that are completely healthy is such a blessing from God.

Like the mom in the song, holding her son's hand as he slept and singing this prayer to God for God to let her take her son's place, I pictured myself ever having to be in that same situation with my son, Blake. Since having kids, I've realized how powerful a parent's love for their children truly is. It is beyond what anyone can ever describe. That realization has also allowed me to understand God's love for us so much better. It's hard for me to fathom that no matter what I've done or how unworthy I am, God loved me that much to send his son to die for me. But now I can see that a parent would do anything to save their child. They would gladly take their place if they could. Praise the Lord for His amazing love!

LYRICS: I'm down on my knees again tonight,I'm hoppin' this prayer will turn out right.See, there is a boy that needs Your help.I've done all that I can do myselfHis mother is tired,I'm sure You can understand.Each night as he sleepsShe goes in to hold his hand,And she triesNot to cryAs the tears fill her eyes.

Can You hear me?Am I getting through tonight?Can You see him?Can You make him feel all right?If You can hear meLet me take his place some how.See, he's not just anyone, he's my son.

Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep,I dream of the boy he'd like to be.I try to be strong and see him through,But God, who he needs right now is You.Let him grow old,Live life without this fear.What would I beLiving without him here?He's so tired,And he's scaredLet him know that You're there.

Can You hear me?Am I getting through tonight?Can You see him?Can You make him feel all right?If You can hear meLet me take his place some how.See, he's not just anyone, he's my son.Can You hear me?Am I getting through tonight?Can You see him?Can You make him feel all right?If You can hear meLet me take his place somehow.See, he's not just anyone.Can You hear me?Can You see him?Please don't leave him,He's my son.

More of the Kiddos

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