His mercies are new every morning

It's amazing sometimes to think about God's mercies. At times it can be overwhelming, sometimes maybe even confusing or maybe even at times unbelievable. I think when doubt can sometimes creep into our hearts regarding God's mercy - this can be a great opportunity to go to Him and search His promises and truths and this can be a time for growth and to draw even closer to Him. His mercies are a bit foreign to our human hearts - I mean, why would God give two hoots about little ol' me who daily disregards His promises -- who is often forgetful and/or defiant to His direction. How is it the creator of Heaven and Earth is able to turn around the next morning and say, "Okay, Sami Jo - new start - let's try this again." ... ...

When I think about this, I think about my own life - - just to give myself some type of reference-point for comprehending this great love. Obviously I can no way even come close to comparing to God's love, but the love I have for my kids is probably the closest I can get to having some kind of understanding. 

As a parent, grandparent or guardian, I'm guessing you have sat outside your kids' doors either after a nap time or after a night's sleep - just wondering if you heard that little good morning peep. Are they actually awake or am I just hearing things? You miss them. Yes - yesterday they took a marker and drew all over themselves and your wood floor AND the walls, they got into things they shouldn't have, they might of talked nasty to you or you might of had one of THOSE days that when bedtime FINALLY came - you put them to bed and the second you closed that door you took in a huge sigh of relief. So thankful that this crazy day with that ornery child was finally over! Somehow, after all this, when morning comes often we are ready and excited to see them again. We are excited and happy and oh so thankful to have another day with them and go at it all again. 

Now again - this doesn't even remotely compare to God's unconditional love for us, to His understanding of our hearts, our brokenness and our weaknesses, our struggles and our shortcomings. God's mercies and forgiveness far surpasses what we could ever extend to others. The awesomeness about it all is that He has it available to each and everyone of us! I don't know about you but if I'm struggling really hardcore with one of my boys - it just takes that mama-look to my other boys if they are starting to give me trouble and they know - mama's gonna lose it if they don't behave themselves. It doesn't work that way with God. His patience doesn't run out with us. He doesn't get irritable and He doesn't have a level where if we just keep pushing and pushing that He just may lose it! 

It's pretty awesome to think how much grace and mercy - more than plenty to go around for all of us - all of His children. Not only that, but He knows our hearts. So He knows why we struggle the way we do. He knows the brokenness that is in our past that creates the anger and bitterness and defiance that we are dealing with today. He knows it all and he still has mercy for us and he still wants to start fresh with us each morning. 

He just so wants to have a relationship with all of us - so that when we are in doubt of understanding His mercies- we can go to Him and say, "Father? Why and how can you forgive me for all this and the next morning start fresh knowing that it is quite possible I am going to mess it all up again? ... How?" ... He longs to have this kind of relationships with all of us where He can gently take our sweet little hands in His hands and look deeply into our eyes and say, "You are mine and I am going to keep you. ... Your sins have been covered by my son's sacrifice and no matter what - I will always love you."

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  23  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 

Lamentations 3: 22-23 

first things first

The fun thing about having
a new baby is there are a lot
of "firsts" you get to capture.
First outing, first tub time,
first tooth that came in and
so on. Taking pictures and
keeping track of all the "firsts"

 

for all three of these boys is keeping this mama very busy!

Pauly's first time meeting Martin.

 

William's first time meeting Martin.
 

 

Here is the first outing for Martin to go outside and watch his brothers play.
I just adored this picture.

 

 

Pauly lost his first tooth days before I went in to have Martin. ...

Dad helped a little.

You can envision a string and a countdown... eeeeek!

 

AND Pauly learned how to ride his bike.

He taught himself!

Martin's first time meeting his Auntie Holly.

First funny t-shirt *wink*

First tub time!! He doesn't look too impressed but I think he really liked it.

Love that face.

First time going to eat at a restaurant as a family of five.

Thank goodness he slept the whole time.

The two big boys were awesome. Here is Pauly and Daddy.

William and Mama. William was just about to put his fork in his mouth.

First photo session with mama.

First nap in his big boy crib.

First fun evening with the sprinkler under the new trampoline!!

First doctor's appointment. Marty was so brave. ... so was mama.

First cozy nap time with the best daddy.

 First time to Granny and Grandad's house.

 

First time to Aunt Cici, Uncle Brian and Carti's house.

 

First time being attacked by a dog.

 

First photo session of our 3 sons. 

 

...your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

Psalm 128:3b

blessed beyond measure

Our sweet little boy #3
was born June 18, 2013
at 12:47 pm. He weighed
7lbs 3 oz and was 20 inches
long. When he was born the
doctor peeked his little head
over the blue sheet so I could
see him. That's when I fell

in love all over again.

 

This is Martin Benjamin Melton.

Isn't it amazing how you can be so in love with and so in-tune with someone that you haven't even ever met?  It's amazing to me.

 

 



 Mimi and Papa were there right after Martin was born.

 

and then Granny came and got some snuggle time in too.

 

 

He had Uncle Brad and Anastasie come to visit him.

 

 Then brothers came to visit.

 and a lil sweet girl got to come too!

 

Then good friends came to visit!

 

 

This is our first family of five picture.

(My cheesy smile is so crazy. My mother kept cracking me up and I couldn't stop smiling like a big goob!)

 

 

Then we got to pack up our sweet boy and bring him home.

 

 Mimi and Aunt Cici with all the kids welcomed us home.

The picture below is Martin snuggling with his new cousin that will arrive in a couple of months.

 

Martin likes his new room.

 

 

You, my precious, are far more wonderful than we ever could have hoped for.

 

 

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely

more than we might ask or think.

Ephesians 3:20

(NLT)

it's a ......



We found out today that we are expecting number three baby boy! We are so excited and thankful that everything was checked out good. He's a big boy - nice & healthy! Thank you for your prayers and encouragement! .... now - to figure out one more little boy name.

 



take the poll!!

        Please, take a moment to tell us what you think our 3rd baby is going to be!

 

We will post the results late Monday evening after we get back from the doctor's appointment!

 

We are SO EXCITED!!!!

Boy or Girl?
	Girl
	Boy
= see results =



get caught up

T
he days got away from
me and I looked back at
the last time I blogged
and that was like TWO
weeks ago!

 

 

The last two weeks have been good. Baby is still growing away.

We still don't know what we are having. We are all getting a little anxious I think.

The other day William told me that having the baby sure makes him tired.

I couldn't help but burst out laughing!

 

I decided I would just do a fun little post on what we've been up to around here the last couple of weeks...

 

William discovered that if I won't give him a band-aid -

 

 

stickers do the same thing and his heart is happy and it makes his ouchies feel better too!

 

Here I am proudly displaying Pauly's artwork so he could take a picture of it. He is a really great drawer - he makes amazing little people and he has been working so hard on his letters lately so that he will be ready for school next fall.

And here is a picture he colored recently - he is getting so good at it!!!
 

Here the boys are attempting to help Daphnie smile for the camera!
 

Pauly taking more pictures by himself.
 

He does a pretty great job!
 

About a week ago we made cookies!! The boys love to help in the kitchen!
 

YUM!
 

They were really good!
 

We usually make a weekly trip to the Library for story time and to get some new books.

The boys are so good during story time. 

 

We have gone through many a training to sit nicely with their hands together, keep quiet and listen to the librarian.

It's pretty fun to watch them as they try their best to be good.
 

One of the new flick the boys have been watching lately is PussNBoots.
 

This is William dressing up like PussNBoots. He told us his underwear is his belt.
 

He came out dressed like this when Aunt Jojo was here and we all laughed till we were rollin'

on the floor!!

Such a character!
 

Then he challenged Aunt Jojo to the dance-off, like on the movie. You should of

seen them doing the 'Litter box' back and forth at each other.

The kids got in a lot of fun play time. They played hide and go seek and at one point we realized that Birch had been hiding for about a half hour in the vacuum closet - behind the vacuum!
 

 Casi Jean, Jodi Dawn, Sami Jo

I love these girls so much.