Things I don't want to forget....

My friend Victoria @ Creative Homekeeper is so good about writing her kiddos letters and keeping a memory journal... let's just say I am not good at either of those things! I have good intentions... I bought a journal when I was pregnant with my first that I wrote in throughout both pregnancies and I have tried to add to it as they get bigger but often life just gets in the way. 

I was looking through some really old blog posts and came across some reflections on motherhood when my oldest was two months old.  I realized I need to make it a priority to reflect on the good gifts God has given me in my children and I do not want to forget or take for granted the ordinary moments that so quickly pass. 

about my son...

• Your big blue eyes, curly blonde hair and sweet pink lips melt my momma heart daily!
• When you want to be held you say "I want to hold you!"
• You don't have a shy bone in your body but lately you like to hug my leg when something is new and you are uncertain, secretly I love it! 
• You are passionate, my goodness, zealous for life is more like it! 
• You love music!!! Very few things cause you to slow down but an instrument stops you in your tracks!
• You can recite Genesis 1:1 and you answer every catechism question "glorify God!"
• You take your little Elmo guitar to church weekly and "play" along. Your stack of picks is growing because people know you love them! Just today "Mr. Thomas" gave you a capo and you came running to me with guitar and capo in hand saying "mommy look a capo!"
• You hate having boogers and ask for a napkin to wipe them.
• You often call me and dad, momma and dada and we love it!! 
• You are sooooooo demanding!! I often think of you as a two foot tyrant but you are doing a good job of letting momma teach you to say please and thank you and ask kindly! 
• The most exciting part of your day is when you hear the garage door open and you greet daddy with a double leg hug!!
• When you wake up in the morning or from a nap you are usually happy. Our normal routine is for you to jump on your bed a few times then into my arms and momma squeezes you tight and kisses your sweet cheeks! 
• All you have to dress up in is your sisters dress up clothes so you can be seen sporting a Supergirl costume around the house regularly. 
• Your sweet little voice and ever expanding vocabulary cause me to laugh at least daily! 
• My prayer for you is that you will come to know the Lord and follow Him with your whole heart! That you will be zealous for the Lord and the Truth!

about my daughter....

• You are the one that made me a mommy, therefore you are my guinea pig! You are so patient with me as I navigate the waters of motherhood and so willing to forgive me for my many blunders! 
• I love to hear you speak because your learning how to pronounce things again since your teeth are reappearing in your mouth!!
•  God is really working in your life. Your daddy and I see a heart that loves God. 
• You love to sing! You sing around the house all the time. You make up your own music and listening to your lyrics makes my heart happy. 
• You always think you are right. Our prayer is that you will stand that firm on the Truth, always! 
• You are the BEST big sister ever! Seriously, I pray brother knows how blessed he is because daddy and I see how much you love him. 
• You love to create! If I let you have glitter everyday you would find something to make sparkle!  I believe God gave you this gift and we desire so very much to cultivate a love of beautiful things in your life. 
• There are moments when my eyes get a little wet when I think how quickly time is passing with you! That curly hair and those big brown eyes get me all the time! 
• I love that you love to go on dates with daddy and me! It is one of your favorite things! 
• You always want to cuddle before bed and I often try to make that happen! 
• You too are a passionate individual and I am thankful for your zeal for life. 
• Lately you have shown interest in figuring things out, you are mechanically minded and like to see it for yourself. 
• You are reading things left and right and starting to enjoy the task of reading things. 
• You are my helper and want to be where I am doing what I am! You love to cook, cleaning is not your favorite thing to do but you are always willing to help!
• My prayer for you is that you will know God and keep following after Him. That you will trust Him explicitly and not get sidetracked by the world and it's empty promises.

"children are a heritage from the Lord" - Psalm 127:3

I am thankful for my heritage!

 

linking up with Better Mom's Link Up

 

Creating a Motherhood Mission Statement: Roles

I started by reading the blog posts I posted about here & this eBook

The first step is to identify your roles. This is my working draft:

 Anyone else written a mission statement for motherhood? What did yours look like? I would love to hear about your mission state or the many hats you wear. 

The next part of writing a mission statement is putting action statements to these words. Hoping to carve out some time this week to get that done!

Priceless!

Daddy went to check and see if she was asleep last night and this is what we found. She doesn't know how to read yet but she often wants to take her Bible to bed with her to "read" before bed! Yes, it is upside down! No, that is not a big deal! :) I am praying God will give her a love for His Word that runs so deep in her soul she will feast on it always! 

Here is a great read: Homeschool Blindspots by Reb Bradley. It is really a great parental read regardless of your schooling preference. 

To whet your appetite, here is an excerpt from the conclusion. 

"I am convinced that the most contagious parenting is living a heartfelt faith before your children. Fruitful interaction is not about what you do to your young people, but who you are with them. It's about having a real faith in God, and expressing it in a real relationship with a real person--not about methods and self-working principles. God intends that the side-effect of loving Jesus and enjoying the grace of the gospel will be that all people--including our children--will be touched by the Savior in us."

If you are visiting, say hi so I can visit you! 

I would love to hear if you read the article and your thoughts :)

Happy Tuesday!

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Big News!

Today I am home from church sick! It has been a long time since I have stayed home from church sick. I think whatever I have Kyla may be getting, all she is doing is sleeping and laying around too. So both girls are home today. Sundays are not the same without Church. I am bummed I had to miss today, Justin is going to share some exciting news with our church family... and I am going to miss it! 

So, I am going to share the exciting news with you... 

WE ARE EXPECTING A NEW LITTLE GUFFEY! 

We got to see an awesome little heart beat last week and Kyla is excited to be a big sister... of course she insists I have a baby sister in my belly! :) 

Biblical Love for Your Children

Yesterday was a great and hard day all in one!! 

Yesterday morning was wonderful, Kyla and I cuddled lots and played and enjoyed one another! Do to waking up late I knew a nap would not happen because we have to be at the church by 3:30 for our after school program. It usually presents problems but we deal!! After 3 hours of 15 Kindergardeners (bless them) and one toddler I was one frazzled lady!! On Wednesday's I also watch our associate pastors daughter so that her mommy can minister beside her husband, and besides she and Kyla are good friends! On our way home from the church to our house where I was about to babysit I asked Kyla to pray with me. We prayed for calmness of mind and grace to parent the rest of the evening. 

What I failed to pray for was listening ears and a loving heart for my little girl. After a short amount of time with her friend Kyla found herself in her bed due to hitting her friend! Needless to say what stared as a good day ended with a very tired two year-old and cranky momma! We both went to bed early! 

Knowing I had failed in many ways as a parent cause me to cling more to the truth of the gospel and rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. 

Today I read this article What is Biblical Love for Your Children, part two

I was exhorted, encouraged and challenge to take the great commandment seriously! 

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Reflections on Motherhood @ 2 Months

Here Are some reflections on being a mom:
~ I never thought I would care so much about poop. The color, the consistency, the amount of... who knew!
~ When my daughter has spit up and the side of her head smells like milk I cannot help but smile because it makes her hair curly!
~ I love to look at her!
~ Even if it is just to watch her breathe
~ I love to see my husband with her and how happy she makes him!
~ My love for her is immense.. God is so perfect showing His love for us through our love for our children.
~ I am not near as anal as I thought I would be!
~ It is fun to see her do new things all the time!
~ I could be very sad but holding her in my arms makes me smile!
~ When she smiles the world gets much brighter!
~ My prayer life has grown leaps and bounds!
~ What a humbling thought that God loves and cares for her more than I do.
~ I love mornings! We sleep in together... sometimes I wake up with her staring at me, when I open my eyes she smiles!
~ I am beginning to understand the difference between being married and being a family.
~ The world doesn't revolve around me, nor does it revolve around her!
~ It is hard to believe my heart is this big!
~ Being a mommy is hard work...
~ but I love it!!!