Tuesday

(These images are courtesy of Aunt Lindsey Keith Photography...Thanks!)
Well, yesterday afternoon before Eli woke up my friend Kristin came on her way back to New Orleans from Kingsport. It was great to get to catch up and hang out for a little bit. She left before 11 today...so it was a short trip, but it was really nice to have some good conversations. She is a true encouragement to me and is someone I am blessed to have had a friendship with for more years than I can even remember! Oh how I treasure friendship!
Anyhow, I have had so much going through my head, which is why I will probably wait a few days and blog about these thoughts as I formulate them more. It just has to do with the way Jesus loved and served throughout His life on earth. I have enjoyed just reading about the stuff He did while He was on earth without trying to put myself in the middle of it all.....scripture definitely speaks for itself without trying to make it "self-centered" (as I am guilty of doing too often).
So, on that note I am going to do some reading and picking up. This is my week long quest to blog a little each day...we'll see if we can make it an entire week.
2 Timothy 3:15-17
15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16A ll Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Monday

It's a catch up, clean up, laundry day at the Keith household....so, nothing too exciting has occured thus far, which is good I guess.
This weekend was pretty productive...at least for Chris who was able to repaint the playroom/office and get all his outside stuff done. Eli and I stayed out of the way on Saturday and we spent some time with "Mimi and PaPa". He managed to not have a meltdown at all on Saturday but I can not say the same for Sunday morning...but overall he did pretty well this weekend. We are still trying to get him to speak more, which can be frustrating at times. He knows a lot of words, he just doesn't choose to say them often so this has been our greatest struggle as of recently. Pray that we can remain patient!
Well, I think that is it for today. I have finished reading John and I am now in Luke and Genesis...I know strange combo, but it has worked for me recently. It's all great stuff!

Play date

Just got in from a playdate at the Johnson's! Eli loves going there to play this is for sure. He is still under the impression that he needs to play by himself, which I am hoping will change the more he does it. He does love going other places and being around other people. Harper was really (and still is) his first friend, and he gets excited when we tell him we're going there. Anyhow, playdates are such a wonderful thing for mommy's and kids!
I wanted to share a few favorite websites right now...
There was a girl on staff at the church we attend that is now on a year long journey across the world just loving people like Jesus. Her story makes me smile and excites me. I wanted to share her site while I was thinking of it.
http://tarabruce.theworldrace.org/?filename=offend-people-with-love
There are recent posts and her story on the website. She has such a heart for the things of Christ. Her husband is also there and together they are just sharing the love and compassion of Jesus Christ! We ask that you join us in praying for their time there.
I think that's it for now....Just wanted to share that while I was thinking about it.

Getting Out

Well, I have decided that if you are a "stay at home mom" that by the end of a lot of days there is one thing that probably crosses your mind..."I need to get out of the house for just a few hours". However, by the time you get everything together either it's going to storm, your too tired, or your list of places you want to go exceeds the little time you have before everywhere is closed. At least this is what normally happens with me. My husband has wanted me to go the past couple of days...but for some reason I haven't gone for different reasons.
Taking into account that I have been planning to get out for a little bit...it was in the back of my mind that my parents were going to be coming through before heading home from their vacation. They offered to watch Eli so I could do whatever I needed. With that said my mom and I were able to get to the mall for a little bit while Eli napped and/or my dad watched him. My favorite store had an incredible sale, which if you know me well enough...I love finding a great deal! Let me just say the things you can look at while you don't have a child with you is really unbelievable. It was such a good time to get away and spend some quality time with my mom, which is always a good thing. So, I was refreshed and apparently it was obvious when Chris and I went to dinner last night. It was a wonderful time to get away and just have some fun with adults! Don't get me wrong I have a lot of fun with Eli, but sometimes you just need a little time away to be a better mommy!
So today has been a good day overall. We look forward to what lies ahead for the rest of the week (we might get to see a movie...which is also very exciting b/c we haven't gone to see one in a long time...it's hard for us to justify the prices these days).
Well, I am off to go read some more in the old testament...but I leave you with a verse from the new testament....something to think about that I've been thinking over the past few weeks....
12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13

Love and what goes with it

I don't really know what the title is about other than the fact that I am writing this to my new Sugarland cd (just released today I might ad). It is a beautiful cd balanced with some fun song and some thinking songs....I love this type of cd b/c I believe you need both!
I have also thought alot lately about all that is going on in the world and where Jesus would be amongst the craziness and uncertainty of it all. I am pretty confident that He would just be loving people and meeting them where they are. I am pretty sure He would have no political agenda, and that would not drive His actions but that the very look at the face of God would be what drove His every move. This comforts me during this time. I am proud to know a Jesus like this. I am humbled by His desire to use me somehow in His plans.
I have been reading a lot in the old testament lately, and there is a lot of tradition and the people God uses are richly flawed. I read their journeys and realize that God used deeply flawed human beings but at the same time used those people to do great things. This comforts and encourages me, because I feel so useless at times, but I come to Him in my flaws and He graciously and undeservingly forgives me. What a great God we serve. With all of this said, I see Jesus in the New Testament and I feel like the very love of God is what He poured out on the flawed people He continued to call and use for His glory.
So, these are the thoughts of my heart right now and I am encouraged to just love people like Jesus would and not get caught up in the craziness of the other stuff. I just want people around me to see Jesus.
As for the past few days....we have had some pretty good days and laid a little on the low side. It has been very hot recently so it is trying in the afternoon keeping Eli inside a little longer than normal. Overall though we are just blessed to be healthy.

Mooo...

Well, we have had a Keith family morning. It all started all to early for a Saturday. We managed to put in Baby Noah for a few minutes of down time before really starting the morning. Our wonderful Saturday breakfast tradition continues with Chris making breakfast! The menu today included grits, peaches, and omlets! It was wonderful and very filling. After that we hit Cagle's Dairy to go on the tour of the farm! It was good. Eli had a few melt-downs, partly due to the lack of water which I left in the car. However, he managed to stay content with his snack trap with cherios! Hints the addition in almost all the pictures of him from the morning. Overall though he seemed to like it, especially the baby calves which we got to feed! It was quite the morning. We were worn out by the time we got home as well. We are taking a break while he is napping. Anyhow, wanted to post some pictures from the tour!

Tired

Wow...I am really tired today...at least it's Friday! We just got back from playing at the Shirley's! It was a fun morning and Eli loves "new toys"! It was good to get out of the house. Apparently I am not allowed to mention anything about Eli throwing up, b/c it seems like everytime I post that he is well he throws up the very next morning...however, in typing this I will say that he has had one and a half really good days!
We are thinking of taking Eli to the farm tomorrow to see some "moo cows"..which seem to be his favorite right now. We'll see if we end up getting there.
Overall, we have had a pretty low key week which has been pretty good overall. Sometimes the days can be long. Hopefully, we will be able to relax yet go do some things this weekend!
I have been reading up on the story and history of Noah after watching a very discouraging documentery of the story on the Discovery Channel. Anyhow, The story has amazed me, because His faithfulness is so great to start building a boat larger than anything any human could have fathomed. I am left in amazement and wonder if I would have the same type of faith if He called me to something that big without complete explanation. Anyhow, it is a story that reminds me of the faithfulness, holiness, and bigness of God. It reminds me of how much sin breaks His heart, and yet He chose to redeem us. It reminds me that evilness can take over generations and yet He has offered a different way. I am reminded of how holy He is and how much I fail. However, I am reminded of how good He is and how He sent Jesus...and in the story how He sent the flood yet provided a boat and eventually allowed land to be seen again. His promises and provision in our lives are great. Sometimes we just need to stop long enough to see them.

A few more looks back

Walk down memory lane

Oh how far he has come....

Nothing really wise

I am not thinking of too much right now...but my wonderful sister reminds me that I don't update this enough...so before I hit the sack...note that the time is 10:30 which for those of you that know me should know that this is late for me to be using my brain. After the last post Eli had a relapse but we are proud to report he has been doing very well for the past three days! Praise the Lord. It looks as if he has gotten his appetite back as well, which is such a blessing for us to see. We went to the park today after I worked out for a few minutes and he continues to become more fearless and independent by the day. He wants things done his way or no way already which can test your nerves at times. However, in the same breath I say that I want to say that he is eating with his spoon and fork finally!! This is huge news for us...I mean he still uses his hands for some things, but for a lot of the stuff we would always feed him he is doing himself first...such a big accomplishment for the little guy though. We are grateful for these things.
I keep thinking and praying for my sister who is about to finish school....what an incredible accomplishment...you make me smile and inspire me with the heart you have put into your passion! With that said, I will end on a happy note..less than three weeks....we'll have to celebrate!

Rest

Rest to the Weary
25At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
27"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

This passage makes me smile and take heart in the fact that He is in control and is the giver of all good things.....rest being at the top of that list for me! Let's just say the past three weeks have been trying and some days incredibly long. However, the Lord has shown us grace, mercy, strength, and healing which is something we praise Him for this day. Eli was sick for about two and a half weeks, but is on his third great day and seems to be back to normal for the most part. I also battled some of the same "stomach flu" but again I have been well for a week now and am very grateful to not be dealing with it anymore. As always, we take for granted our health when we have it...but, it is even more precious when you have it back after you struggled for a little while. It was the hardest thing to see Eli in this type of state just not knowing what exactly hurt. We wondered the cause and were frustrated when tests showed no real answers, but we look back and are grateful that it didn't get worse and that he is now a healthy 19 month little boy!
We were able to spend some much needed time at the beach and are truly grateful for the time we got to spend with our family. It was beautiful and we loved being able to enjoy the beach with all the wonderful weather we had! Yet another blessing in this whole thing.
I was trying to think of one highlight but I can't just pick one so here are a few off the top of my head.
A few highlights (besides the recovery):
Ocean
Reading on the beach one afternoon
Bike Ride
Stroller Rides
Baby pool for Eli
Great Food
Game nights
Jon and Kate Plus 8 Marathon (this precious family encourages us)
Family to share all of this with

So we towards another week and look forward to what is ahead. We are praying that we can stay well this week and just enjoy the rest of the weekend!