Blessings Baby Shower!

From the fullness of His grace 

we have received one blessing after another. 

John 1:16

Blessing was the perfect theme my sweet friends, Jenna, Ginger, Nikki & Erica, chose for a baby shower to help me get ready for our new baby girl. 

And I couldn't agree more...I feel that the Lord has indeed blessed me over & over again...with a wonderful & godly husband, with 4 precious children, with a fantastic extended family, with an uplifting & generous church family, and many wonderful friends...and now with a new baby girl due in the next few weeks! My heart is overflowing...

I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart;

I will tell of all Your marvelous works.

I will be glad and rejoice in You;

I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. 

Psalm 9:1-3

After a cold & dreary week, it was such a sweet afternoon yesterday and so fun to be greeted by Spring in a table scape! This gorgeous table greeted guests & set a very festive & cheerful atmosphere! Beautiful pink lilies were in abundance everywhere. 

There were envelopes for guests to address so I can send them a thank you note...I love this because it really helps make the thank you note writing process much more organized! 

At the center of the table were cards where friends could fill out a little card with a little note of encouragement to me or memory of some way that I had been a blessing to them...can I just say WOW! 

I read all of the cards in my "Blessing Box" when I got home after the shower...how humbling, how encouraging, how amazing...everyone needs a Blessing Box!! Thank you ladies for this awesome idea!

 These adorable pink flower pots were hand painted with the word "Blessing." They were filled with little sachets of flower seeds & topped with the cutest paper pinwheels you have ever seen! (I think these girls understand my obsession with pretty scrapbook paper, lol!) At the end of the shower, each guest got to take a flower pot home as the favor! 

The cake was an amazing work of art, almost too beautiful to eat...almost, but that would be a terrible shame because this cake was not only gorgeous, but it tasted out-of-this-world delicious, too! (Oh & did you notice the monogram...we have decided on our baby girl's name! We are not keeping it a secret, but before I reveal it here, any guesses?)

 A beautiful & yummy pink punch...punch is my favorite! If I didn't enjoy going to showers & such already, I would probably go just for the punch! 

I don't know how in the world I didn't get a photo of the food :-( but it was fabulous & beautifully displayed, as well. There was a delicious potato soup, home-made by Ginger...it is also one of my favorite things! There were beautiful Caesar salad bites on individual pieces of romaine lettuce; yummy chicken salad sandwiches, chips & salsa, veggies & dip, Nikki's famous Devonshire Tidbits (maybe she'll share the recipe so I can post it!), warm spinach dip, and a lovely warm chocolate dip with strawberries, pineapple, marshmallows, cake, & more to dip! My girls were particularly fond of the chocolate dip & marshmallows! (Hmmmm, now I'm remembering why I didn't get any photos of the food...once the girls saw the food it was kind of non-stop action for a little while!)

Darcy enjoying her first plate full! 

 Sophie's first round...

 Two very lovely & special ladies, my mother-in-law & my mom! 

Opening the presents with my two sweet & eager helpers! 

 Ever needed diapers!!

 What amazing & generous friends! 

 Me & my girls, can't wait to add another!

 Precious hat & flower booties made by the wonderfully talented Mary Ann!

 Beautiful pillow!

 This was a precious moment, one of the cards played the song My Girl when you opened it. Darcy happened to open that card & was mesmerized by the sweet music!

 Adorable ruffle-bum onesies made by Jenna...

 ...she says it was her first attempt at sewing & I'd say she's off to a great start!!

 Whoo-hooo diapers & wipes, those are always a blessing!

 My mom & I 

The Hostesses with the Mostesses...Erica, Nikki, me, Ginger, & Jenna

The pretty Blessing banner that was hanging over the patio doors...sweet Jenna is going to embroider the baby's name & the John 1:16 Scripture verse on this for me to hang in the nursery...how awesome is that! 

Have I mentioned how totally blessed I was by every aspect of this shower? And the gifts were no exception, I was overwhelmed by everyone's kindness! It's one thing to have a big shower for your first baby, but when it is your 5th, well that is an extra special blessing. I totally love that our Sunday school class recognizes each precious baby the Lord blesses us with & showers the mom regardless if it is her 1st or 10th! (Okay, we don't have anyone with 10...yet!) I think this is a little picture of the way that God desires to bless us...

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Ephesians 3:20-21

While I was unpacking the gifts this afternoon, I took a few photos to show you all of the wonderful blessings for our new baby girl to use & enjoy...

 Wow! Blessing on top of blessing!

 It is always so nice to have some new wash cloths, towels, onesies, etc. with a new baby...those things that get used so often get dingy looking after a while.

 Ginger always puts together the most amazing themed gift baskets!! I'm thinking this bow will look pretty on the front door when baby girl arrives!!

 Here are some more pics of those adorable ruffle-bum onesies that Jenna made. And the beautiful pillow from sweet Erica!

 I think this adorable little outfit from my mother-in-law will make the perfect coming home outfit!

 Sweet smocked romper, also from my MIL

 Super soft blankets, onesies & ruffle-bum leggings!

 Sweet outfit from my mom! I can't wait to put her in this one, too!

 The ever sweet & uber talented Jenny made these gorgeous burp cloths!

 Lots of goodies from my mom! I love the sweet sleep sacks!

Aw, this sweet romper just makes me long for warmer temps! We are all looking forward to lazy summer days with our new little one!

Thanks to everyone who helped make the shower yesterday so special! 

I enjoyed just spending time visiting with so many dear friends...and now I feel much more prepared, armed with all the essentials for baby's arrival! I'm also starting to feel like we are getting things organized at home (just don't judge by the state of the house at this moment!)  Jeff made lots of progress this weekend in Drew's new room...all of the stuff is cleared out & he patched the holes in the walls. He is waiting for the patches to dry & then will sand & paint! He picked-up some paint chips this weekend & I chose a color today. Things are coming together and I hope the progress will continue this week...slow & steady & I'm thrilled with that!

Please pray for us though, as our sweet Sophie came down with something late Saturday & has been laid-out ever since...fever, headache, sore throat, no energy...we will go to the Dr. today to see if it is Strep or the flu which seems to be everywhere right now or something else...pray that we will stay healthy! Thanks & many blessings for your week ahead!