When Adde was born, I wanted to start some traditions for our little family. One tradition that we decided to start was going to the pumpkin patch! Every year we join up with another family, who happens to be some of our closest friends and go to the pumpkin patch in Flower Mound, TX.

The first year, it was so easy! They had 2 kids, an almost 2-year-old and a young baby about the same age as Adde (about 2 months old). And we only had Adde who was about 6-8 weeks old.! Family photos were easy, we weren't worried about losing sight of a child, or sweating due to chasing after kids! This year was slightly different!

Now with 5 kids in the picture ranging from 4 (almost 5) to 2.5 months old, we were constantly on the run and family photos were a little more difficult to get! So what used to be an afternoon adventure turned into an hour of fun and then let's go eat some dinner! haha!

Kate (19 months), Adde (3 years old), Preston (2.5 months old), Emma (4 years old), Grayson (3 years old)

Even in all the chaos, it was a lot of fun! I am so grateful for friends that help us with our #minicircus! They are so willing to help us keep an eye on all our kids, even helping to carry them, or push the stroller... Really we could not have done it without their help! I honestly believe that to be true in our lives as a whole! Often times, people are like I don't know how you do it, and I simply tell them "We have a lot of help!" and it is so true!

So here are some of my favorite photos from our day (and by day, I mean hour) at the Pumpkin patch!

Adde found it fun to kick the pumkins and watch them go rolling down the hill! It was fun to watch her laugh at the pumpkin rolling but I was nervous the whole time it was going to hit someone! haha!

For those of you who are curious- Here are the outfit details for the girls!

Dress- Old Navy, Shoes- Carter's

Kate's favorite cut outs were Doc McStuffins and Olaf!

Adde loved the wagon! That's actually why she is pouting in the earlier family photo because we took it away for one second to get a family photo! (I know we are mean parents!) She loved having her daddy pull her all around the pumpkin patch and when he wasn't pulling her, she would jump out and just pull it herself!

Preston was so chill and just enjoyed looking around and watching all the madness happen! He seriously is an easy baby for the most part!

I love my guys! To be honest- when we found out we were having a boy, I wasn't sure if I would make a good boy mom (even though I had prayed for a little boy since I was young- I was still super nervous about having a boy!) but God has showed me already how much fun it is to have a little boy! He is smiling and starting to laugh! He knows his momma's voice and follows me... seriously, this little boy has my heart! And Ethan- well he is the rock in this relationship! God was showing off when He gave me Ethan! I am one lucky gal to have him!

Preston's Outfit Details: Bandana Bib- Amazon (Seriously, one of my favorite baby products!), Polo- Carter's, Shorts- Baby Gap, Shoes- Carters

Here are the outfit details for my outfit! But first, the back story is when I was in Arizona for a women's conference, I got connected to the girl who owns a boutique called MERAV (www.shopmerav.com)! I fell in love with her and all of her stuff! It is stylish, fits great and is super comfortable! Oh, and it's all affordable! Plus proceeds go to a good cause! Seriously, go now and check it out! You will love her shop!

Shirt- MERAV, Jeans- Nordstom Rack, Boots- Nordstrom

Well that is a glimpse into our time at the pumpkin patch! Did you and your family make it to a pumpkin patch this year? What are some of you fall traditions that you do with your family? Also- since we are heading into the holidays- I would love to hear any holiday traditions you have!

Currently, one of my favorite worship songs is King of My Heart by Sarah McMillan. The other morning, I was getting ready for the day when this song came on. While I was lost in singing along, I felt the Lord ask me "Am I the king of your heart?" I immediately thought "well of course you are!" ... but as the day went on, I couldn’t get this question out of my head… I realized that often times I say He is king of my heart and want him to be king of my heart but I don't always allow him to rule in my heart.

I have feelings and emotions that come from my heart that show me that he, in fact, is not ruling in my heart. For instance, my husband walks into the bathroom where I am getting ready for our date night and he walks right back out without saying anything. Immediately, my heart due to insecurity feeds my thoughts to think he doesn't like what I'm wearing. He hasn't attracted to me anymore. I knew this extra weight I have put on bothered him. I better start working out. And so forth... and by the time I walk out to go on our date, I have lost my excitement and maybe even my desire to go.

So after beating myself up, I walk out feeling ugly and unwanted. The truth of the moment was he just wanted to get back out to the living room to finish watching the football game. Can I say that God was the king of my heart and ruling in that moment? Or did my insecurity take precedence? Because I didn't allow God to rule in my heart in that moment, I ruined my date night with my husband because I fed myself lies and created tension that never should have been there.

I believe that sometimes we feed ourselves lies that steal from our opportunities.

So today as I worship, I am reminded that letting God be the King of my heart is not just a one-time decision but a daily decision and maybe even an in the moment decision. And by allowing him to be king of my heart, I am allowing him full access to rule. If there is a place in my heart that has started to get cobwebs and dusty and He wants to work there, well He has that authority because I have chosen to give it to him.

I truly believe one of the most loving things God did for us was give us a free will. He is not a forceful God. He is a loving, gentle, patient God. And he only wants to clean those places in our heart to bring us freedom and healing!

I don't know about you but a freshly cleaned home makes me want to do somersaults and invite everyone over to see my clean house. Now I might want to invite everyone over because my house is rarely that clean and I feel it should be acknowledged and enjoyed. Also, it might be because I am fully aware that it will be destroyed as soon as my #minicircus wakes up!

I think the same will happen when we allow God to clean our heart! It will feel so good. We will want to tell the world about it, so they can experience the freedom and life that we have found.

Another worship song that I have been listening to along the same lines as this one is called “With Us” by Hillsong. A part of the song says “You reign in our hearts, You reign above all, Be lifted on High.” This has become my prayer that God would be King of my heart and reign in my heart! I have come to learn in all the junk going on in our world and even all that happens in my #minicircus I need Him to be King of my heart and to reign completely in order for me to make it through each and every day. So my daily and sometimes several times a day is “Lord, will you be King of my heart? Would you have full reign and rule over what comes in and goes out? Clean where needs to be cleaned. Heals what needs to be healed. Have your way in my heart. Amen”

Today, would you allow God to rule and reign in your heart? Is He King of your heart?