Loving others more than yourself

If you are around us enough you will notice that dessert does not happen often in our home, so when we have sweets, well it's special.  Today was one of those days.  I felt the need to make sneaker doodles again since I got such high compliments from my crew the first attempt:)

Daniel happens to have a sweet tooth and if you put anything with sugar in front of him it disappears quickly.  So needless to say that cookie was gone before milk was served.  Once he saw there was milk to go with the cookie, well logically he needed to have another cookie to have with his milk...

So tension builds up and decisions are made and not eating his cookie slow enough has consequences.  When we determine he was not having another cookie I decided that I would share a piece of my cookie.  

That's when it happen...Elena beat me and before I cut my piece off she was already handing her brother a piece of hers followed by, "I did it!!!!  Did what you might ask.  She chose to love her brother more than herself and she knew it.  So we celebrated with her.  

The simple things in this life are sometimes just that, days when we overcome our sinful tendencies and are lead by His Holy Spirit. 

Painting with Toddlers

I love painting.  There is something relaxing about taking color and creating something.  I especially love abstract because you can do whatever and come up with something cool looking.  Projects that are micro-detailed are the best for me but now a days we just stick to large areas of the same color.  

So today for CC we learned about Grandma Moses who didn't even start her painting till she was in her 70's which she taught herself how to do.  I'm inspired and hopeful that in my old age I can still do things to leave as a legacy for our kiddos.  

Painting with 4 kiddos 5 and under well that's another story.  It's fast and furious with more paint on the furniture than the actual paper I give them.  You get a mix of good memories with caos and re-directing the kids to follow the initial directions.  

Something sweet about today's painting lesson was watching Elena copy my picture and try to make hers like mine :)  Daniel on the other hand has his own sense of style and went abstract on me.  He is all boy mixed with some sweetness in him.  Samuel, well he tried but mixing the paint in the water and transferring to other cups was more interesting than painting on the paper.

Mine and Elena's picture.

All of our paintings: starting from the top: Daniel/Elena/Mom/Samuel on bottom.

Sick Times

Sick times are not pleasant or pretty but as we go through them I have learned several things that make this time in our lives easier to go through.

1. My God and Savior is there with me, sustaining me, guiding me and refining me. 

2. I almost always see His perfect timing and work in my life.  It's beautiful even when it's my ugly sin plain and clear I have learned to be thankful that I see my weakness and rejoice that He is faithful and loving towards me in these times. 

3. I always learn something about Him and about my sinfulness in the mist of the sleepless nights.

Sick with the flu:(

Even when this guy is sick I can count on that sweet smile:)

Mya

Our newest family addition she was born May 22, 2014

More of Mya: here she is outside watching her siblings have fun :)

Getting some Big sister time :)

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Bradfords update

So a lot has happened since the last time I posted on here :). You could say we have added to our number by a whole lot and all the crazies and fun that come with having four kiddos 5 and under.

Crazy to think how much our Jesus has given and continues to give us.  In awe of His goodness toward us.   

Let me introduce you the kiddos :) 

 Elena is our oldest 5 years old, following is Daniel who will be 4 very soon(such a big boy) then there is Samuel who is 2 and sweet Mya who is 8 months old :)

Elena Grace Mendoza Bradford

Baby

Gaby Sonogram

The growing Belly

Here are some pictures of the Belly Growth.

Soon to be Mommy and Daddy

Here are some up-dated pictures of Jon and I.

2nd Sonogram

Here are more pictures of the baby, these were a bit harder to see the face the one below is probably the best one, you are able to see the hand by the face.

Baby Bradford

Baby Bradford is now 3lbs. and 1/2!!! Which is about 2 lbs. 1/2 more than his last sonogram. The stomach is definitely growing and it's hard to believe it has much more to go. He or she has been much more active especially at night or when music is played. He or she likes to put the hand over the face or around the face. We did get to see #1 put a hand close to the mouth. So amazing to see #1 move around in the sonogram. I am definitely getting excited about #1's coming. Love ya and pray that allis going well. Memaw thanks for the blanket, it will be great for him or her.

This is good

http://thelawmanchronicles.blogspot.com/2009/03/every-christian-should-aspire-to-be.html

Jonathon's 24th Birthday

Ok, so I am still trying to get use to this blog. As you can see. Here the pictures of Jonathon.

Thanks Mom! - Jonathon

Baby Bradford is growing!!

Here are some more pictures of Baby Bradford and mommy of course. He or she is growing and making its self know more by moving, kicking or simply changing positions. Praise the Lord it has been a very pleasant pregnancy. The only change has been the belly and body growth. I will try to keep ya updated a bit more. So as far as the pictures are concerned. If you all noticed they are in the same place and 

First Baby Pictures

1.	2.	3.
4.	5.	6.
7. Profile shot.	8. And another profile.	9. Hand over face.
10.	11.	12.
13. Profile shot.	14. This was really cute. Baby's little arms all snuggled up.	15. More profile.
16.

Pictures:

1. Baby's spine

2.He or she would not put their little hand down. Either the light was too bright or it's going to be a shy one.

3.This was really cool. His little feet.

4. Baby is looking at us. It was pretty cool to see baby move his head in our direction.

5. Another head shot.

6. His hand is still on his or her face.

7-9 on picture

10. Looking at us again.

11. Not sure here I can't seem to see anything familiar. :)

12.Not sure here either.

13-15 on picture

16. Baby's Spine again.

This was an amazing experience. To think that our little baby weights less than a pound and is not even 12 inches long and has all these details just blows my mind. Our Creator is SOOO amazing. His knitting just glorious. What a miracle, a priviledge to be able to carry a child uniquely designed and knitted by our Father in heaven.