Greg and I made a huge decision. We bought a house! At first it was scary but with lots of looking and praying we finally found one that is perfect for us. Getting settled in takes a lot though but we are almost done.
One of our cats Lucy got herself stuck in a tree. Not just a small tree other. A pine. Not a huge pine but even this smaller one is big. I know she can get down but just wont. She sits up there and meows and meows. What good will this do? I always say she isnt the brightest cat ever. It's been 2 days. Hoping she realizes how easy it is to get down.
Cant think of anything else to blog at the moment. More to come!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Potty Training
So this week I had decided it was time to potty train! I was doubting myself over and over again before we actually begun. I did some serious praying for my sanity and patience and that Sam would be receptive.
We are on day 4 and he is doing really well. The first day I said to myself "what were you thinking!?" but I pushed through it. When Sam has to go he says "mommy pee!" As soon as I hear those words it makes me so proud of my little boy. When he is finished we end with hugs and praise. He is so excited to get that hug after he goes potty.
This led me to thinking of how we love praise, big or little. We feed off praise. My Son will purposely go try and squeeze something out so that he can get that praise and hug. I want him to know that I will gladly give him a hug anytime. He doesnt have to go potty to get one. I think sometimes we do that with God and people. Go out of our way to make sure people praise us for things we did. We want them to know we gave them that present, we are the ones who baked the cookies. I find myself doing this a lot for presents. I got so bummed one time because I forgot a present for a shower. I soon realized it was because I wanted everyone to see what I did and how awesome it was. Everyone was getting praise for all the hand made items they did and well I didnt bring mine. I prayed that God would change my heart. I dont need a thank you card. I dont need praise. I am not here to please man but to please God and he knows that I found joy in making something, doing something, praying for someone or something and not in their reaction or others. I need to be humble. Thank you Lord for doing that.
We are on day 4 and he is doing really well. The first day I said to myself "what were you thinking!?" but I pushed through it. When Sam has to go he says "mommy pee!" As soon as I hear those words it makes me so proud of my little boy. When he is finished we end with hugs and praise. He is so excited to get that hug after he goes potty.
This led me to thinking of how we love praise, big or little. We feed off praise. My Son will purposely go try and squeeze something out so that he can get that praise and hug. I want him to know that I will gladly give him a hug anytime. He doesnt have to go potty to get one. I think sometimes we do that with God and people. Go out of our way to make sure people praise us for things we did. We want them to know we gave them that present, we are the ones who baked the cookies. I find myself doing this a lot for presents. I got so bummed one time because I forgot a present for a shower. I soon realized it was because I wanted everyone to see what I did and how awesome it was. Everyone was getting praise for all the hand made items they did and well I didnt bring mine. I prayed that God would change my heart. I dont need a thank you card. I dont need praise. I am not here to please man but to please God and he knows that I found joy in making something, doing something, praying for someone or something and not in their reaction or others. I need to be humble. Thank you Lord for doing that.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
It's Late
Its Late. My kids will be waking up in about 6 1/2 hours. So why am I up? We had a few rounds of lets see who can cry the most between the kids. Just a rough night I guess for the kids to get to sleep. I love my children but its truly a test of patience on nights like these. This always seems to happen when Greg is out of town for work. Its a reminder of how much I need to rely on the Lord and not myself.
I recently finished reading a book called Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin. Very good book and also convicting. Even though its a fictional book its written by a christian author who not only is amazing with her history but with her scripture and love of the Lord. Tonight as I started to become overwhelmed I thought about something said in this book. "I think you have gotten everything turned around, dear. You're supposed to work with God, not for Him. Let Him change you first, and then He'll give you the strength and motivation you need for each task."
I always thought I am doing this for the Lord and yes I am but I cant do it without him. I need his help ever step of the way if I want my kids to know him someday.
I also went to Psalm 61
1 Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
I am so very blessed. My children need me to be close with the Lord. He will teach me patience and love. This gives me hope. I can do this. I can raise 2 kids and someday more. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to be a mother. I am grateful!
I recently finished reading a book called Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin. Very good book and also convicting. Even though its a fictional book its written by a christian author who not only is amazing with her history but with her scripture and love of the Lord. Tonight as I started to become overwhelmed I thought about something said in this book. "I think you have gotten everything turned around, dear. You're supposed to work with God, not for Him. Let Him change you first, and then He'll give you the strength and motivation you need for each task."
I always thought I am doing this for the Lord and yes I am but I cant do it without him. I need his help ever step of the way if I want my kids to know him someday.
I also went to Psalm 61
1 Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
I am so very blessed. My children need me to be close with the Lord. He will teach me patience and love. This gives me hope. I can do this. I can raise 2 kids and someday more. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to be a mother. I am grateful!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
A good feeling
Today was a good day. I put on a pair of shorts I have not been able to wear since before Sam was born. This was a great feeling and motivation to keep going.
One thing that has been hard with being a stay at home mom is motivation. With not making money I would feel useless. Now I know raising kids is a full time job and we are very blessed to be able to have me stay home. Seeing myself lose weight AND how happy and amazing my kids are is motivation in itself.
What is my weight loss secret you say? Well I was on weight watchers for 3 months. That was really helpful but I decided to do it on my own. Work out at least 2 or 3 times a week which is hard with kids! Small portions. EAT BREAKFAST. Drink lots of water. Dont eat past 7. If you do make sure its a small snack. And have confidence that you can do this. Seriously it helps.
I am no expert but this is what has worked for me. I am feeling good!
One thing that has been hard with being a stay at home mom is motivation. With not making money I would feel useless. Now I know raising kids is a full time job and we are very blessed to be able to have me stay home. Seeing myself lose weight AND how happy and amazing my kids are is motivation in itself.
What is my weight loss secret you say? Well I was on weight watchers for 3 months. That was really helpful but I decided to do it on my own. Work out at least 2 or 3 times a week which is hard with kids! Small portions. EAT BREAKFAST. Drink lots of water. Dont eat past 7. If you do make sure its a small snack. And have confidence that you can do this. Seriously it helps.
I am no expert but this is what has worked for me. I am feeling good!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Lessons in Life
I was thinking this morning as I was strategically planning to take a shower. Avery went down for her first nap and put a movie in for Sam. Sweet! SHOWER TIME.
This got me thinking, WOW, I will make time for a shower or other things but I cant seem to remember to make time for God. Yes showers are great and I probably needed one. Some know what its like to have little ones and trying to take a shower. I need to make the time for God. I know this will help me get through my day.
I also need to make some time for a work out! How do I pull out extra energy to get some exercise? I mean I do it but by the end of the day I am one wiped out mom. Nothing left in me. I just have to remember these kids are a blessing and I may be tired but I am healthy and blessed. I am trying to lose another 40 pounds. I know I can do this. It will take time but I will do it one day at a time.
This got me thinking, WOW, I will make time for a shower or other things but I cant seem to remember to make time for God. Yes showers are great and I probably needed one. Some know what its like to have little ones and trying to take a shower. I need to make the time for God. I know this will help me get through my day.
I also need to make some time for a work out! How do I pull out extra energy to get some exercise? I mean I do it but by the end of the day I am one wiped out mom. Nothing left in me. I just have to remember these kids are a blessing and I may be tired but I am healthy and blessed. I am trying to lose another 40 pounds. I know I can do this. It will take time but I will do it one day at a time.
Friday, March 25, 2011
A reason
Sometimes I think what Sam will do when he is older, how he will serve the Lord, or just occupation. Today while we were at JoAnn's Fabric I realized it doesnt matter right now, the Lord knows. Right now I think he is here to make others smile. To make everyone he meets feel extra special. Which he does perfectly. He loves saying "hi!" right now. If someone responds back he continues to talk in jibberish with a few animal noises. It can put a smile on even the grumpiest looking person in the store. It warms my heart. Nothing can make a stranger open up like a child with a smile can. Avery got a few smiles too.
My children are amazing to me. Not only do they love me unconditionally but they love others as well. Why cant I do the same? Why cant I say hi to people in the store and make them smile? Thats cuz I would rather keep to myself but I know I need to not do this. I decided to engage in conversation with this lady today at the store when she smiled at Avery. We stood in line waiting for our turn to get our fabric cut. She continued to tell me she was making costumes for Easter pageant for kids. She just started talking and I just stood there smiling and listening. Sometimes people just want someone to talk to. So why not the next time you are in line just say hi. You never know what you will do for someone or find out.
This makes me think of a man I knew in my old church who recently passed away. He would walk into a store and just ask if he could pray for someone. He shared the love of christ EVERYWHERE he went. Just even shared friendship. We as people just are too comfortable and would rather just do our own thing rather than meet new people even if its for 5 minutes. Time for change!
My children are amazing to me. Not only do they love me unconditionally but they love others as well. Why cant I do the same? Why cant I say hi to people in the store and make them smile? Thats cuz I would rather keep to myself but I know I need to not do this. I decided to engage in conversation with this lady today at the store when she smiled at Avery. We stood in line waiting for our turn to get our fabric cut. She continued to tell me she was making costumes for Easter pageant for kids. She just started talking and I just stood there smiling and listening. Sometimes people just want someone to talk to. So why not the next time you are in line just say hi. You never know what you will do for someone or find out.
This makes me think of a man I knew in my old church who recently passed away. He would walk into a store and just ask if he could pray for someone. He shared the love of christ EVERYWHERE he went. Just even shared friendship. We as people just are too comfortable and would rather just do our own thing rather than meet new people even if its for 5 minutes. Time for change!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Observation
Its amazing the stuff you learn as you have children. Its even more amazing the stuff the Lord teaches you when you have children. I have been humbled many times and convicted. I am forever grateful for it though. When the Lord teaches me this stuff I cant help but praise Him and say DUH to myself.
Some things I have learned as a parent...
1. Kids soak up everything: Sam loves his Daddy. You can tell he wants to be like him because if Greg does something then most likely Sam will be right behind him doing it. Greg dances, Sam dances. He also soaks up my attitude. If I dont have a good attitude then he is more likely to not have a good one either. He thrives off of my good moods. I have decided I cant watch the news anymore in the morning. When I do I seem distant from my child and he just starts acting up. The mornings where I have just put on some good music(thank you Pandora for the Passion station) he is well behaved and so eager to learn and play. He entertains himself too sometimes so I can get some things done. When they go down for their nap around noon I then need to read my bible so that for the second half of the day I am revamped and ready to go! Sam gets to watch some cartoons in the morning but I recently have been sometimes cutting it out to see how he is. He seems to do better without. All he wants to do is run around and play. Maybe its the good music singing about the Lord that helps or just some time to be a kid! Who knows. But I do know that they soak up their environment good or bad. We have to set that mood and not only does it help their mood but it helps mine as a parent. The Lord convicted me about this last night as I was talking to Him.
2. Faith Like A Child: Reminds me of that awesome Jars of Clay song. Brings back memories. But it is so true. Our children have so much faith in us. The same that we should have in the Lord. They have faith we will always be there. That if they run off into a crowd we are right behind them. If they need anything we are there. And we usually always are. God is ALWAYS there and we need to have the kind of faith a child does.
3. Love: You learn as a parent a new kind of love. One that you have never experienced before that tiny baby started growing inside of you and then finally when you get to meet them face to face. Your heart aches so much because you love them so much. Its so hard to describe. God has that kind of love for us and even more. More than we love our own children which is hard to grasp but true. I am so thankful for the Love of my Lord. I know I need to work on my love for my family. I have been blessed!
Just some stuff I was thinking about. But most of all I must realize God comes first then my husband and then my kids. I want my kids to see a strong relationship I have with God and then with their Dad. I am not perfect so I have to work on this but with the Lord's help anything is possible.
Now to end with a favorite song:
Verse:
Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold
To see a revolution somehow.
Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold
To bring a revolution somehow
Pre- chorus
Now I'm lost in your freedom
This world I'll overcome.
Chorus:
My God is not dead
He's surely alive
He's living on the inside
Roaring like a lion
Verse 2:
Let hope arise and make the darkness hide
My faith is dead
I need a resurrection somehow
Bridge:
Let Heaven roar and fire fall
come shake the ground
with the sound of revival
Some things I have learned as a parent...
1. Kids soak up everything: Sam loves his Daddy. You can tell he wants to be like him because if Greg does something then most likely Sam will be right behind him doing it. Greg dances, Sam dances. He also soaks up my attitude. If I dont have a good attitude then he is more likely to not have a good one either. He thrives off of my good moods. I have decided I cant watch the news anymore in the morning. When I do I seem distant from my child and he just starts acting up. The mornings where I have just put on some good music(thank you Pandora for the Passion station) he is well behaved and so eager to learn and play. He entertains himself too sometimes so I can get some things done. When they go down for their nap around noon I then need to read my bible so that for the second half of the day I am revamped and ready to go! Sam gets to watch some cartoons in the morning but I recently have been sometimes cutting it out to see how he is. He seems to do better without. All he wants to do is run around and play. Maybe its the good music singing about the Lord that helps or just some time to be a kid! Who knows. But I do know that they soak up their environment good or bad. We have to set that mood and not only does it help their mood but it helps mine as a parent. The Lord convicted me about this last night as I was talking to Him.
2. Faith Like A Child: Reminds me of that awesome Jars of Clay song. Brings back memories. But it is so true. Our children have so much faith in us. The same that we should have in the Lord. They have faith we will always be there. That if they run off into a crowd we are right behind them. If they need anything we are there. And we usually always are. God is ALWAYS there and we need to have the kind of faith a child does.
3. Love: You learn as a parent a new kind of love. One that you have never experienced before that tiny baby started growing inside of you and then finally when you get to meet them face to face. Your heart aches so much because you love them so much. Its so hard to describe. God has that kind of love for us and even more. More than we love our own children which is hard to grasp but true. I am so thankful for the Love of my Lord. I know I need to work on my love for my family. I have been blessed!
Just some stuff I was thinking about. But most of all I must realize God comes first then my husband and then my kids. I want my kids to see a strong relationship I have with God and then with their Dad. I am not perfect so I have to work on this but with the Lord's help anything is possible.
Now to end with a favorite song:
Verse:
Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold
To see a revolution somehow.
Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold
To bring a revolution somehow
Pre- chorus
Now I'm lost in your freedom
This world I'll overcome.
Chorus:
My God is not dead
He's surely alive
He's living on the inside
Roaring like a lion
Verse 2:
Let hope arise and make the darkness hide
My faith is dead
I need a resurrection somehow
Bridge:
Let Heaven roar and fire fall
come shake the ground
with the sound of revival
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