Bunker Gear Portfolio

I thought I would collect some images of a lot of the bunker gear items I have made. It's so fun to create things!

Custom Guitar Straps

She Reads Truth - Joshua 1:8-9

 

Today I'm linking up with She Reads Truth. We have finished Jonah and now are working on meditation and confession. Today's passage is Joshua 1:8-9.

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:8, 9 NIV)

A few commands here, not merely suggestions but actual words from God telling us what to do. 

1. Talk about this Book, always

2. Meditate on this Book, always

3. Be careful to do everything in it

4. Be prosperous and successful

5. Be strong

6. Be courageous

7. Don't be afraid

8. Don't be discouraged

9. God will be with you wherever you go

I'll take that to mean always as well!

Wow! Isn't God great. He has given us his word, it is living and active. We are to meditate on it (day and night) and He will take care of the rest. 

I really needed the reminder to be strong and courageous and to not be afraid or discouraged. This parenting business can be downright hard some days. I really need to keep His word on my lips, I find that my day goes so much better when I have Truth coming out instead of selfish words. And best of all The LORD, MY God will be with me wherever I go. 

He's Always with me, wherever I go!

Joy Dare - April 2

We are attempting the Joy Dare this month from Ann Voskamp's blog. We are cultivating joy and thankfulness. Have you read her book, One Thousand Gifts? It's a great read. 

Today's prompt is for 3 gifts white. So we do three for each of us. 

1. Josh's truck

2. Vanilla ice cream 

3. Dining table

4. White rabbits

5. White eggs from chickens

6. White birds (doves)

7. White clouds on blue sky

8. Shower

9. White dining table full of memories

10. White cup

11. Chips that are white

12. Ranch that is white 

What are some things that you are thankful for? White of course!

She Reads Truth - Jonah 3 & 4

 

Today I'm linking up with She Reads Truth for She Shares Truth. We have been studying Jonah and I'm going to share my thoughts on Jonah 3 & 4.

So many people think that Jonah's story ends when he was spewed out of a whale but I think that is just a minor part of the story. After that, God gave Jonah a second chance. This time when God told Jonah to go to Nineveh he obeyed. I probably would too!

Jonah obeyed God immediately this second time and delivered his message. The Ninevites immediately believed God and responded immediately. It doesn't matter that it took Jonah two tries to obey God's command, the Ninevites still receive the message. It doesn't take them two tries to hear and obey though. They obey immediately.

When the king of Nineveh heard God's message he told everyone to turn from their ways and to fast and wear sackcloth-to mourn-to pray-to cry out to God. Why? Who knows?! Maybe God will save us from death! Why not obey God and leave our old life behind? You never know, He might save you from death! God's compassion never fails.

Jonah 3:8-9 (NIV) "But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."

Sure enough, "When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened."(Jonah 3:10)

When we obey God and turn to him instead of ourselves He will save us. That is a promise!

Unfortunately Jonah still had some things he needed to learn. Just like me! Those Ninevites should not be saved! Why should, why would God save those people? Doesn't he know what they have done? Why would God bless that person and not me? 

But the Lord replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" Jonah 4:4

Do we have any right to be angry about God's grace? Especially if we have seen and received his grace firsthand, we should want everyone to experience His grace. His grace is for all who want it.

God reminds Jonah, these people mourned their sinful ways and set out to change immediately after hearing that they would die if they continued living their way. Without any questions or fighting or (gasp!) running away, they mourned their ways, and immediately begged God to save them. 
God saved Jonah too when he prayed inside the fish. God saved me when I prayed in my time of need. God longs to save each and every person he created. Even if we think we don't deserve to be saved, God does.

Psalm 103:8  
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 145:8-9
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.

Lamentations 3:21-23
Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.    

Annie Makes It.

Some great new items in my etsy shop this month! Click on the picture to purchase or visit my shop to see more!

 

Reusable Coffee Sleeves- $5

 

Cash Organizer Wallets- $22

 

Bunker Gear Book Bag- $40

 

Zip Pouches- $12

Faith in Your Children

We have always talked with our children about God. We have prayed over them multiple times a day, we have prayed with them, we have asked them to pray. We have told them that God always hears them, that God is always with them. And most of all we have told them that God loves them even more than we love them. We have talked about Jesus giving his life on the cross so that we can go to Heaven. We have talked about how Jesus lived again and went to Heaven with God. We have even talked about how you can have God in your heart and how he wants us to be obedient and loving. Sometimes it is hard, sometimes it is simple, but I am still amazed at the questions they ask and how much they actually do understand during these conversations.

We have just recently started working through a great little preschool curriculum with Avalyn and Harper. They both enjoy the directed activity time but it has opened up some great conversations already with Avalyn and me. We were talking about the letter a this week and the story of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit. As we were learning about the consequences of them eating the fruit we talked about sin and how Adam and Eve tried to hide from God when he came to them because they knew they had been disobedient. We started talking about how God is always with us and knows what we do so we don't need to hide from him. He is always there, nothing is hidden from him.

At that moment I saw a little light click on in Avalyn's eyes and she realized, "But I can't see God." The pleading in her eyes and voice to understand this.

I know you can't see Him and I can't see Him either but we know he is with us. I know he is always with me, helping me when I need help. Giving me what I need. Showing me the way. When we ask him to be in our heart he is there. With us. Always. Forever. 

A slight smile starts and she pats her chest, "I know he is always with me."


And now how to explain happy tears to your kid...

Harper - 12 months!

Happy Birthday, Harper! I can't believe a year has already went by!

This is so crazy to me but you already have quite a vocabulary. Some of the words that we have heard you say: doggie, puppy, daddy/dada, mama, yummy, cracker, Bible, banana, Harper, thank you, amen, and hi.

You just finally started crawling on your hands and knees (2/19/12). I am so happy that your clothes will stay a little cleaner now that you are no longer sliding around on your belly everywhere.
You love bath time and bubbles and you have so much fun when you try to tickle your sister. You have been going to story time and you are such an observer when we are there.

We will celebrate your birthday this Saturday with some family and close friends. Sometime before I forget I should write down your birth story some of the details are still so vivid to me and it was such an amazing day!

We love you sweetie!

 

 

Love!

My Utmost for His Highest, February 11-
Remember Whose you are and Whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.
                                                                                                               
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

John 15:9-14 
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
                                                                                                               

On this day of love, may you remember Who it is that loves you so much He created you and gave His son to save you. May you find your joy in that love and share it with others.

Love is enough!

Currently...

On The Needles: A Birthday Party dress for Harper!

Cooking: Chili, Cornbread, Artisan Bread, Spaghetti, Creamy Salsa Chicken (recipe below), Homemade Peanut Butter Cups for my sweetie for Valentine's Day!

Reading: Driven by Eternity (small group), Crunch Time (Diane Mott Davidson is probably one of my favorite mystery writers), Killing Lincoln (just getting into this one, loaned to me by my Father-in-law).

Listening: Adele station on Pandora.

Enjoying: This post about a replacement for picnik since it is closing down! :(
Encouraging post about marriage.

I really need to get planning Harper's first birthday party! It is only 10 days away and I haven't done a thing other than make a pin board on Pinterest!

And battling a cold, no fun! There was a day when I was the person who never got sick...now that I have kids I feel like I am always coming down with something!

Creamy Salsa Chicken in the Crockpot
6 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 jar of salsa, whatever temperature you prefer
1 8oz container of cream cheese, cubed

Spray the inside of the crock pot bowl with cooking spray and place chicken breasts in bottom. Top with cream cheese cubes and pour the jar of salsa on top of that. Cook on low for 6ish hours. Shred the chicken and cook another 30 minutes to let all the sauce soak into the chicken. Serve in tacos, over rice and beans, or in homemade taquitos! Yum!

Not ready for this!

I usually don't post things until much after they have happened but last night as we were fixing dinner Harper was exploring. She likes to sit in front of the refrigerator when we are getting things out, just like Avalyn did when she was Harper's age. She has recently figured out how to get drawers open so she had opened the bottom drawer and was pulling things out. As she was pulling out blocks of cheese and butter (and sunk her teeth into a stick of butter) we laughed that it would be so funny if she stood for the first time in the refrigerator. It was maybe 1 minute later that Harper started to try and pull herself up! Thankfully I had the camera right on the counter so I was able to grab a few quick shots while Josh and Avalyn stood guard in case she fell over! :)

This morning she pulled herself up on the side of the bathtub when she was waiting for her bath and then today she pulled herself up on Avy's helper tower a few times. Wow! I am sure it won't be long until she is standing in her crib wanting us to get her out.  She could hardly straighten her legs all the way at first but even today after I saw her do it again a few times her legs are getting stronger and she is able to support herself on her legs much better.

And now, if you know our dog here is proof that she really is calm most of the time and the girls do crawl all over her and she just lays there! Apparently she makes a pretty good prop to pull yourself up with too.

 

P.S. I promise, Harper does have (and wear) pants. It is just easier for her to get traction to move around on the hard floors when she doesn't wear pants or socks! :)

Harper's Hair Style

Harper got her hair styled by daddy the other day! She got all sorts of compliments when we went to Costco. All it took was a bath and a tiny bit of pomade!

My Sister Lacey

Today I am linking up with Kelly's Korner again for Show Us Your Life. Today is Show Us Your Singles Day so I felt like I should write about my sister, Lacey! (Lacey, please forgive me for not asking permission first!)

Lacey is 30 years old and a wonderful, Godly person. She is my best friend and has been an amazing friend and sister for as long as I can remember! Lacey has a sweet and gentle spirit and is one of the smartest people I know. She likes to laugh, play games, read, knit, do yoga, hike, exercise, teach, and bake. She makes the most amazing oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Don't play against her in any type of word game because she will beat you every time.

Lacey loves to travel and I am trying to remember all of the places she has traveled to--Germany, Hungary, Kenya, China, Indonesia, Scotland, Ireland, Vietnam to name a few! Lacey is currently teaching at a university in China but trying to decide if she will renew her contract for another year or return to the US. She will be back in the US for summer break and possibly longer if she decides to not renew her contract. When she returns to the US she will be in Colorado and Michigan!

Lacey is a loving and gracious aunt to her nieces and nephews and they get so excited to see her on Skype. When you meet Lacey I think the first thing you would notice is her smile, it is the biggest, sweetest smile and it really seems to come from the inside out. Her smile immediately makes you feel like you have made a new friend.

Lacey loves God with her whole life and seeks to be more like Him each day. She has been an inspiration to me to seek God first and keep Him first in all that I do. She knows that God has someone special out there for her and she is waiting patiently to find him. I know he is out there for her somewhere and we are already praying for him, we just need a face/name to put in those prayers!

Some of my favorite photos of Lacey...

If you are interested in learning more about Lacey or contacting her, please email me (anniemakesit (at) gmail.com) or leave a comment on this post with your email or link! Good luck in your search too. Oh, and Lacey, I hope we are still friends after this! :)

Avalyn - 32 Months

32 months? Did I add that all up correctly?
Avy, you are growing up so quick! You love to sing and dance, especially trying ballet moves. You are a great helper with Harper and you are doing so well with sharing.

You have been working on good behavior and have made some great improvements! We are still working on potty training, I know you will get it eventually! At this point it feels like a battle of the wills so we try not to pressure you with it too much.
You have quite a few books that you can "read" to us and you really do know them word for word. The same with your songs that you like to sing before bed. We are amazed at what you can remember.
You really like to Skype with Aunt Lacey in China and Grandma and Grandpa Miller in Michigan. You will ask many times each day to see if they are home on the "peeka".
You like going to the park and to the library. Lately you have been asking to go to church every day so I think you enjoy going to church too!

Today you got to eat a Thin Mint cookie and I know I saw you take one bite but then the cookie was gone...smart girl! :) I hope you enjoyed it!

Harper - 11 months!

Harpsy, as Avalyn loves to call you. Or Harpery. How she comes up with these things we will never know!
Harper, you are getting to be quite the talker. You love to make noise, and loud noise at that! You are sliding all over the place on your belly and are pulling yourself up to your knees. You got another new tooth so you are now at 4 on top and 4 on the bottom. Some of your favorite foods are crackers, oatmeal, applesauce, crackers, cheese, avocado, crackers, cheerios, crackers, cheerios....and you also like shredded chicken and peas.
Yes, we are still trying to get you on a more balanced diet with table foods but you know how to tell us when you don't want/like something. You throw it off your tray for the dog to eat and shake your head "no"!
You are doing better with being comfortable around new people and you have stayed in the nursery at church with no problems the past 3 weeks! YEAH!
You also enjoy going to story time with Avalyn and riding in the stroller at the park.

We recently moved Avalyn and Harper into the same room and after a few days of listening to 2 little sisters chatting through the monitor at nap time I think you are finally used to sleeping in the same room and are both getting much more sleep now.

Just had to share...

I am reading this book and it is amazing. I wanted to share with you something I just read that pretty much had me jumping out of my seat. This is exactly what our pastor has been preaching about at church lately and my small group has been having some great discussions on this same topic.

Excerpt from Driven by Eternity written by John Bevere

From page 82

"It's an exchange; we must give our entire life, and in place of it we get His life (nature). Jesus repeatedly communicates this:

If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me].  Mark 8:34, AMP

We are to continually cleave steadfastly to Him. It's not just a one-time prayer and then life as usaul except that you are now in the "born-again" club and are heaven bound...It's a definitive exchange; we give up our rights as owners of our lives in order to follow His desires, and in return we receive His eternal life. With the gospel that is preached today, we've not emphasized this extremely important aspect of following Jesus; we've only told the benefits. In essence, we've preached the resurrection promises without preaching the impact and decision of the Cross. "

From page 91-92

"Grace empowers us to serve God acceptably. Why have we not proclaimed the entire Gospel, just half the story? Yes, salvation is a gift--it cannot be purchased, and it cannot be earned. This is all true. However, we forgot to tell people that the only way to obtain it is to forsake all, lay down our lives confessing His lordship, and in doing this we will be empowered to live in accordance to His nature."



Just wanted to share with you what I have been learning lately about God and what it truly means to serve and follow Him. Hope you have a blessed day today and think about what you can do to serve God with your whole life.

Raise your hand...

Raise your hand if you went to the grocery store today.


Now keep your hand up if you were halfway through the produce section before you realized the zipper on your pants was unzipped!

Oh, was I the only one that happened to? Cool! ;)

Have a good day!

Snow!

We got a nice amount of snow just after Christmas...or maybe it was before. Either way we got to play in the snow and we had a great time! The video is really cute of Harper. Josh was being goofy and wore my coat so don't worry, he really does have a winter coat that fits! :)

 

 

God is good!

Lots of prayer going on around here for so many different people and situations. Sometimes it is hard when we feel like there is nothing we can do but really, prayer is all that we can do and it is the best thing to do in those situations.

I have really been enjoying our sunrises lately! God is reminding me so much of his infinite greatness and his great love for us. I pray that nothing will keep me from loving and living for Him each day.

Taken this morning from our back door!

2 Corinthians 4:1-9 (NIV)

 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 

Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. 

On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Lamentations 3:21-23 (NIV)

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 

Christmas Photos

Have you ever tried to take Christmas photos at the last minute before you take down your Christmas tree?
Well, here are ours. We had to get something formal with Harper since it was her first Christmas!

Christmas in Michigan

We celebrated an early Christmas in Michigan and had a great time. One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Frankenmuth and going to Bronner's. If you are ever in Michigan, you need to go. It is Christmas all year long!

We have been pretty bad with using our camera lately, probably because we are too busy enjoying the moment and making memories and the camera isn't always part of the moment!

The best picture of 4! Notice, my [hot] babywearing husband!

Avalyn & Grace; Tucker; Jackson; Aunt Joyce & Avalyn