Our Family Mission Statement

At our house, we have a "worship table" in our main living area that holds our Family Mission Statement, our Family Vision Statement, our CD player for worship, a copy of the 10 Commandments and a "prayer board" that hold pictures of those we pray for throughout the week.

 

Our Family Vision Statement and Verse:

The Wheeler Family is set apart unto the Lord by bravely and faithfully believing God's Word; conforming to it alone and never to the world around us.

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, 

to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, 

holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.   

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, 

that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, 

what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Our Family Mission Statement:

To glorify God by teaching others to believe, obey and treasure God's Word through preaching, teaching, writing and hospitality. 

John 1:1-2

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
 He was in the beginning with God."

Romans 10:14-15

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? 

And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? 

And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  

And how are they to preach unless they are sent? 

As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

My friend Amy over at RaisingArrows, is doing a "Family Mission Statement Link Up" so hop over there, link your family mission statement up and just be blessed!!!

VBS...and A Lack Of Blogging...

VBS 2010 is just around the corner! 

This year, the theme is "The King And His Kingdom".  This wasn't just a random pick, the Lord specifically gave this idea to my friend Jill, who is in charge of children's ministry at our church.

So far, everything has been falling together beautifully and we're really excited to see what the Lord does with all these little prince and princesses who come to learn about Him, His Kingdom, and His desire to know them as His own!

Brahm is super excited because he's 4 this year, which means he will be able to go to VBS for the first time!

For Trusten, this coming week is special, because it was VBS last year that led him and his dad into a life-changing conversation!  And on June 25th that he decided to ask Jesus to come start a work in his heart!

So we've been praying for this week as it approaches, inviting friends and helping with preperations...

I've been busy working on the VBS signs and penents...

It's been fun for me...I've been getting in touch with my crafty/artsy side!

So, please pray for the children in our community June 28th-July 2nd!  And I'll try to update my blog ASAP with pictures from VBS 2010 once the week gets started! 

And speaking of "updating my blog"...I know I haven't been doing much of that lately.  It hasn't been on purpose...and honestly, that's been a blessing.  I've "accidently" been neglecting my blog because my time has been taken up by enjoying the summer, my boys, my almost-walking Liberty Joy and my hubby's half-days!

Plus this has just been a busy, fun-packed summer so far...So, instead of "purposing" to sit down and blog, I've been wisked away by life and love :)

So if you notice me not returning your e-mails as quickly, just know that my computer time overall has been being "neglected" lately...

And if you don't see me commenting as much on your blog, know that I am staying caught up with you because I check my "reader" 1-2 times a week...but for the summer I've turned into more of a blog "stalker" than blog commenter :) ! 

And in the mean-time, know that I'm loving my busy, but care-free, summer!!!

Friends Blogs!!!

Okay, I usually don't do this sort of thing, but I'm making an exception today!

I want to "send" you over to two of my friends blogs!

The first one, is my best friend Kathryn.  She's new to blogging and has a hilarious/all-to-familiar/real-life post today that's a must read!  So head on over there and be sure to "follow" her for more insightful posts!  She is an amazing woman!!!

(My) Brahm and (Kathryn's) Eli~

They are exactly one month apart in age!

(My) Trusten and (Kathyn's) Grace~

I tease that maybe someday she'll be "Grace Wheeler" too!

Me and (Kathryn's) Sarah~

She's 6 months older than my Liberty!  Isn't she cute?

Kathryn's husband, Victor~

Throwing knives in our backyard, a favorite past-time of the husbands!

Jill (left~holding my Liberty) and Kathryn (right~holding her Sarah)~

I'm pretty sure they don't want their picture taken :)

And also, my sweet friend Gwen (we met in blog-world), has a terrific giveaway that I'm REALLY excited about!  Plus, it's just overall a great post about reading Missionary Biographies to our kiddos!

You'll be SO blessed by her blog!  I know I have been!  She's not only inspiring, she's just a great woman to follow!!!

Be sure, if you head over to either blog, please comment and tell them I sent you (that'll get me another entry in Gwen's giveaway and it will just bless Kathryn!)

Have fun visiting some new friends!!!

Remembering...The Day My Third Son Was Born-Samuel's birth story!

 

I've shared two of my birth stories so far, and today it's time to talk about my favorite birth yet, Samuel!

Well, I guess each birth has been a "favorite" in different ways...Trusten was our first, so that was a favorite because it was all so new and mysterious!  Brahm was a favorite because of the Lord's timing and the fact that it was my shortest birth and easiest with pushing!

Samuel's story is a favorite because it was FUN!...Ya'll are going to think I'm nuts, but I experienced VERY LITTLE pain with Samuels birth and I loved how I got to enjoy the process!

And yes, just like the other two, I had no drugs, no induction, NO interventions with Samuel's birth!

These pictures were all taken of me when I was dilated to a 9...I was laughing, having a good time and just ENJOYING my birth experience without any medication!

~I was excited about not being in pain, I couldn't stop giggling!  How crazy is that?

~This is a little tradition my mom and I have...

she always french braids my hair when I'm in labor...

~Me with my big sisters...

This was the first birth I had them in the room with me...it was SO special for all of us!  

One of my sisters (who has to have C-sections) kept telling me I was making it look easy :)  

So I tried to fake a little pain, which made us all laugh harder!

~Getting ready to push!  Yes, that's still a smile on my face!

~Yep, still smiling!

It was shortly after this, that pushing did get a little more challanging.  My doctor had a critical patient in another hospital across town, who he needed to get to, so he rushed me a bit.  That made things PAINFUL.  But, the end result was all that mattered...

~HE'S HERE!!!  I cried so many tears of joy!!!!!

~My BIG boy...8 lbs, 2 oz and 21 inches!
 

~Trusten meeting his new little brother...

  

~Talking to momma...

  

~Holding my newest treasure...

~Brahm meeting Samuel...

 

~Time with mommy and daddy... 

 

~Home at last!!!  (Trusten and Samuel)

Just like all my birth experiences, God's timing worked perfectly here too.  We lived 2 hours away from our OB/GYN, so I moved in with my parents (with my 2 other kids!) for about a month before Samuel was born, in order to be closer to the hospital.

Ryan would make weekend trips up too see us, so need-less-to-say, after Samuel was born, we were THRILLED to be a family again!

I called Ryan the morning I was going into labor, and he ended up making it to the hospital before my parents and I!  (City traffic...go figure!)

There's soooo much more I could say about Samuel's birth, but in short, I learned so much about waiting upon the Lord!  (I was 2 weeks past my due date...AGAIN!)

This post is linked to Wednesday's Walk Down Memory Lane at my friend Jenilee's blog!  Her hubby and her are home from Turkey!  Thank you Lord for bringing them back safely!  Read more about their trip on her blog!

Thrilled!

Growing up, and still today, my mom and I have always had a knack for accidentally showing up somewhere, wearing the same colors as the other one, on any given day.

People used to comment that we must have planned it--but we never had. When I lived with my parents, and after I moved out, it just always happened that we would end up wearing matching colors and/or clothes!

Well, back in March this happened with Liberty and I for the first time (well, on accident, that is)!

And it may sound silly, but I was so thrilled!

We were getting ready to bike to the park, so while I was getting the boys' shoes on, Ryan got Liberty up and dressed. But it wasn't until we were at the park, I was noticed that she and I were matching and I was so excited!!!

Blue tops, brown pants!


I was so giggly about it! I had to have Ryan take a picture!!!

I still don't really think Ryan "gets it"...but I just love that I have a little girl that I can match with now--on accident or on purpose!

This post was created to be linked to Mom and Me Monday on my friend, Julie's blog, but I just found out she's taking a summer break from her meme :( !

But, this post IS linked to Momentous Monday on another friends blog, Tiffany!

Matron Of Honor

In 11 days one of my favorite girls is getting married, and I will be her Matron Of Honor. Actually, she's more than just one of my favorite girls, she's my daughter of the heart...
Mallory Gail McMillin.

My husband (Ryan) and I met Mallory when she was entering her first year of Junior High School and we "adopted" her immediately. In lots of ways (personality being a huge one) she was a spitting image of me! So I took her under my wing and began a mentoring relationship that has blessed my life so very much!

And over the past 11 years, we've been through a lot together! She means more to my husband and I than words can say!

She has become my "Mal Mal", my "Teeny Tiny Baby Girl", my "#2 Pookers", my "Minnie Me", my "Tiny Tiny"... and "Mallerina" to my boys.

Many memories of my life in Lees Summit involve Mallory and most of those memories were pivotal points in my life...

~She was the first person that Ryan told that he was going to propose to me! (That's a whole nother story...let's just say when you tell ANY 13 year old girl that her mentors will soon be marrying each other, but not to tell, she will not be able to control tears, giggles and sighs every time she sees the unsuspecting, clueless girlfriend!)

~She and Klarissa Lash were always the first students to find out when we were pregnant. And they were also the first students to find out what we'd be naming our babies (we always kept it a secret).

~Mallory was also at each of my boys' births. Every. single. one. I always called her when I was in labor, so the second they were born, she was there. (She would have been there for Liberty's birth, but that story is a bit more complicated!)

We've always said, she's "the big sister"...

Mal with Trusten...

Mal with Brahm...

Mal with Samuel...

And now my husband and I are on the other end. The tables have turned...and it's a wonderful (but emotional!) experience!

~Getting that first phone call from her at college saying there was a guy she really wanted us to meet!

~Then the day Camden called to meet with Ryan and get his blessing to propose to Mallory was so surreal! That whole day I just kept saying, "I can't believe she going to be a wife!!!"

~Seeing her try on her wedding dress, I could hardly speak!

In lots of ways, I still see her as the little girl in braces!

...But the truth is, my husband and I have seen her grow from a carefree, spunky girl into a God-fearing, poised young woman.

Over the years, I can recall countless times that I (and sometimes my husband) sat up with her late at night crying, counseling, consoling, directing...oh yeah, and threatening :)

And now in just a few days, Ryan will be officiating her wedding and I'll be standing right at her side. She'll be starting her new life as a help mate to sweet and wonderful Camden Pulliam... the perfect leader for Mallory!

I feel like most of my investments of time, tears, late night talks, lectures and yes, even the threats, have been leading up to this...her wedding day...The beginning of her life as Mrs Camden Pulliam.

I love her so much and I couldn't be more proud of the woman she is and the man who chose her to be his helper.

Though she has an amazing (real-life!) momma, she really, truly is like a daughter to me...and she is most certainly one of my bestest friends!

I love you, Tiny Tiny!
It's been an honor watching you grow and mature into the Godly woman you are!
I have no doubts that you will be a wonderful help mate to Camden!
He is blessed to call you his beloved!
I am so VERY thankful for you...
and so VERY proud of you!!!
Love~~Your Mama Girl

This post is linked to Wednesday's Walk Down Memory Lane at The Goodwin Family blog!