Silly Boy

(Taken when the kiddos were @ camp with Grammie & Grampa)

Intuition

God given intuition is a funny thing.  Not a "haha" funny thing though.  It can prepare you for the worst so you're not surprised when something comes up.  It's a blessing actually.  There have been several times in my life when I "knew" something.  Not something good either.  I knew when someone was lying to me, being dishonest and hiding something from me.

I can't say I was happy to be right because I would have given anything to be wrong.  The pain, hurt, frustration and disappointment was not something I wanted to feel.  However, I was so thankful to God for preparing me for this news.

I only wish that person would realize what their dishonesty and lying is doing to our relationship.  It makes you question everything they say.  It makes you doubt their words.  It can even make you resent them.  I'm trying very hard to not let any anger creep in.  I will be praying extra hard for God's peace, patience, love and forgiveness.  I will be praying to God every day to give me the strength to bite my tongue.  For Him to guard my speech.

I'm just thanking Him for the "heads up" so I was prepared when I found out the truth.  

Thank you God for your intuition.  You knew I couldn't handle "one more thing" or one more surprise.

Day of Worship

Mmmmmmm.....

Bring on the Fall weather :)

Father & Son

Toothless Corn on the Cob Eater

Afton comes up to me and say, "Hey Mom.  I think I can eat corn on the cob now.  I don't have any more wiggly teeth!"

I looked at her and giggled a little bit and then I said, "True, you don't have any more wiggly teeth, but you don't have any teeth in the front." *giggle* "How are you going to bite the corn without teeth?"

mckmama Inspired * I'm Gonna Miss This

(I know my post just a little bit ago will seem to contradict what I'm saying now, but each post is true and how I feel in the right context)

So many days it's easy to get caught up in what needs to be done around our house or are so tired at the end of the day that we forget about what is even more important. Our children. 

The pastor made this statement on Sunday morning, "Nothing is more important as parents then to BRING our children TO Christ." 

Then this morning I read this post.  My heart was broken.  I love my children.  With all my heart.  I would give my life, the very air I breathe for them.  So, why can't I give them all my patience during the day?

This pregnancy has been nothing like my other pregnancy's physically.  There is a lot of pain involved and the day to day chores that need to be done around the house are so difficult.  I want to cry most days, but can't.  I have to be strong.  I have to keep going.  The house won't clean itself, dinner won't get made on it's own and laundry won't fold itself.

Then I start thinking about all the things that I should do before the baby is born.  So I try to spend time weeding out and organizing.  Most days I'm left feeling exhausted, in pain, overwhelmed, tired, unable to sleep due to the pain and just plain done.  

By 5pm all I can think about is when I can crawl into bed, in silence, and relax for a few minutes before closing my eyes.

When I read the post this morning I just sat there and cried.  

I will miss these days when my children are all smiles, innocent, wanting to play and be with me. 

I will miss the days when they ask for "just one more hug" before bedtime.

I will miss the days of endless playing and laughter.

I will miss the funny, kid-isms that come out of their mouths.  The ones I vow to remember, but forget to write down.

I will miss all of it.  

These children are only on loan to us from God.  They are not ours.  They are His.  He blessed us with these children and it is my responsibility to raise them for Him.  To bring these children to Him daily.  To teach and train them to be godly, Christian adults one day.  To teach them by my example how we are to live, act, speak and behave.

I'm asking God to give me patience when I seem to have no more.  When the exhaustion has set in and threatens to bubble up and out.  I am praying for unconditional love when my kids do "that" again after they've been told a hundred times not to do that.  For strength to keep going when I don't think I can take one more step without crying... 

...And for the ability to see into the future...knowing that when my kids are grown I will want just a few more minutes with them in my lap, but won't be able to have it.

Today I will be more like Christ & cherish every moment with my kids.

 

 

 

Quiet Time Idea

The other night I was speaking with another mom after the evening church service and one of the things we were talking about was teaching our children to sit quietly and sit still during the service.  My kiddos like to be moving constantly so they struggle with just being still.  However, there are times when that is exactly what they need to do.

She ended up giving me a great piece of advice and something to try with the kiddos.

So, her advice was to start with 10 minutes (or whatever minute increments work for you.  We started with 15 minutes) a day.  Explain to the kiddos that for the certain amount of minutes they are to sit quietly and sit still with a book (or notepad) for that length of time.  Also explain that if they start being super squirmy or start talking then they will have another 10 minutes without a book.  Explain to them they have a choice.  Clearly state what will happen with either choice they make and follow through.  Gradually increase the time over a week, two weeks, month etc until they are able to sit quietly with a book or notebook and pen/pencil/crayons for an hour.

So, last night I asked Afton and Caleb to pick up the toys they had been using, choose two books they would like to read and go sit on the couch.  I explained the above and what I expected from them and asked if they understood.  I set the timer and continued making dinner.

Afton did extremely well and read the whole time and even a little beyond the timer.  Caleb did well also, however he wanted to get up after he was done reading his story.  I had to explain that he was to sit there without getting up, however he could re-read his story.  It took him a few tries, but he did great.

I have to tell you it was so nice to be able to have a 15 minute block of peace and quiet while making dinner!  Usually I'm listening to them laugh, yell, play, be loud, run, jump and play with noisy toys.  This was a very welcome break!

So, I think we're gonna try this again tomorrow.  Perhaps we'll do 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon and keep on the "schedule" for a week or two.

This is also great training for being in quiet settings and being able to handle themselves without getting anxious, jittery and wiggly.

Don't get me wrong...I have no problem with kids running, jumping and being active.  I know my kids need that!  However, there is also nothing wrong with teaching and training them to be calm and quiet when it's appropriate or when they've been asked to.  Church being the perfect example.

So, I'm excited to see how it goes tomorrow because we have other things we're gonna need to be starting on for our routine.  Especially when we start schooling.  This quiet time will be very useful for both the kids and mama!

Second Chances

Last Wednesday night while tucking the kids into bed I reminded them they were not to fool around or get out of bed. (We've been having a very big issue with this over the past several months)

Because of that Afton has been starting the night out it Miya's room & then we move her to her bed after both she and Caleb have fallen asleep.

This evening was no different.  After tucking Caleb in I went in to see Afton & reminded her (again) that she needed to stay in bed.  She doesn't particularly care for having to start out in Miya's room, however I reminder her it was because of the choice she (and Caleb) decided to make to disobey.

I reminder her that we have gently spoke, reminded, disciplined, followed through with consequences and now we were back to separate bedrooms.  No more "chances".  Just obedience.

Her response was, "...but doesn't it say something in the Bible about giving second chances?"

(Smarty pants!)

I responded by saying, "Yes, but the Bible also tells children to obey their parents in the Lord because it's right, and it also talks about being disciplined if you don't obey."

So, today we'll be doing some reading from the Bible on obedience, how it works for children & adults and what the consequences are when we don't obey.

From Me...To Me

Beach Fun

Aches, Pains & No Sleep = Motherhood & Pregnancy

Some days I wonder how I am able to make it through the day.  As this day begins I'm wondering that very thing.  How am I able to get up & go on the little sleep I've had?  I would have to tell you that God gives me that strength.  Even when I don't ask for it.  I admit there are days I don't ask for it & I'm ashamed to say that.  However, even in our imperfectness He is still perfect and loving and gives us the strength we need when we need it.

While this pregnancy has been wonderful, both the baby & myself are healthy, it's also been physically exhausting & painful for me.  A lot of the aches & pains that normally show up in the third trimester decided to show up at 14 weeks, 20 weeks and so on.

I'm so happy to be pregnant and I try not to complain about the physical aches and pains, however they've been really, really painful.  Even during the night when I sleep.  It just doesn't end.  

I'm also a light sleeper (thanks to having kiddos) so even little noises wake me up.  The amount of sleep I need vs. the amount of sleep I get is way off.

So, I'm trying really hard to be thankful for who/what I have and not concentrate on the physical pains that threaten to take me out.  I know it sounds dramatic, but that's how bad they are sometimes.  I know it could be even worse though.

I've developed a pretty good morning/evening routine which helps.  I basically can run on autopilot as long as I just do the next thing.  This way I know the basics in my home are taken care of.  The bathroom is clean, the laundry is done, the kitchen is clean and so on.

What I'm having a difficult time getting to is our bedroom.  I have a corner & a dresser that has collected papers & binders and I need to organize it before the baby is born.  However, I can't sit for more than 10 minutes because my ankles and feet swell.  It gets pretty bad when I work so I have to put them up for at least 30 minutes just to make walking manageable.


I guess that is what frustrates me a lot too.  The physical pain prevents me from doing the little things around the house that need to be done before the baby is born.  So I keep praying for patience and I try to do a little here and there.

Friday I will be 30 weeks!  Only 10 more weeks to.  That is if I am on time...which I've never been.  However, this pregnancy has been nothing like my other two full term pregnancies so you never know.  I could go early!  Wouldn't that be a surprise!

Either way I can't wait to meet our newest little love bug.  I can't wait to see if it will be a boy or a girl.  Who they will look like.  How much they will weigh.  What their personality will be like.  I can't wait for our kiddos to meet their newest sibling.  I can't wait to hold he/she and cuddle with them.


You know what else I can't wait for?  My spa retreat hospital stay.  Crazy as it sounds a hospital stay for a stay at home mom sounds like an amazing vacation.  I'm not even joking.  If you were to tell any stay at home mom that we could stay in a private room, with our baby, a remote, a button to summon call the nurse, room service and no house work or cleaning to do we would be all over that in a heartbeat.  Who cares if it's in a hospital!!  I'm there.


So, I'm gonna soak up those 2 days and enjoy spending time with my baby and being waited on.


Before I know it I'll be back to my routine which won't be routine anymore with a new baby and I'll be busy trying to figure out our new normal!

View At 2am

After sending hubby off to work with a kiss & a coffee I couldn't sleep

This Is What I Felt Like Today

My Girl

29 Weeks

(Taken August 13, 2010)

I'm Sorry

(From my hubby...so sweet!)

Garden View

(Not a bad view when you have to spend three hours at the hospital for your glucose test)

The "not so kiddie" kiddie pool

Otherwise titled "I pumped this up by hand & it took forever"

"Simple" Math

(Click on the the picture to enlarge)
 

Sunday

Silly Girl

Grocery Store Carousels

I Remember Being 12 & This Was My Favorite Store Too!

We hit Starbucks & Target after Claire's :)

Please Excuse Me While I Lick My Spoon