Happy Mother's Day 2011

I can't really remember what our life was like before kids. 
Ok, that is a lie.  I do remember it, but it wasn't all that great. 
Ok, that is a lie.  It was pretty great.  The spontaneity, the sleeping in, the daily showers.

But our life with kids, is so much better!!!!!  Being a mother is such a blessing, and no one tells you how tender the sweet parts are and how hairy the hard parts will be.

These two are my every day.

Stop obeying and slip me some cheerios, already!!!

I thank the Lord that he has trusted me to raise them! 









It gets hairy around here sometimes, well a lot of times.  But in the midst of all the crazy, there is love and laughter and growing!  I am definitely the one who grows the most!

Am I Charlie Brown's Mother? oh, and Family Worship

A few months ago, my hubby and I attended a Ted Tripp conference.  He is the author of
Shepherding A Child's Heart and Instructing A Child's Heart.

We visited the church of a friend before my first son was born and a gentleman gave us a copy of Shepherding A Child's Heart.  I tell you that  it was one of the best gifts I have ever received.  If you haven't read it, you must.  Then you need to read Ginger Plowman's take on Shepherding and read "Don't Make Me Count To Three".  And then you absolutely have to read Instructing A Child's Heart.

These books encourage and teach Heart Oriented Discipline, focusing on a child's heart, not just changing behavior!

Back to what I am supposed to be blogging about.

I left the conference so very encouraged and even more convicted about our responsibility in raising our boys. 

I felt convicted to pray for and with my boys each morning when they wake up.   We pray that God will help them to obey and be respectful (things we are focusing on) because we know that these glorify Him.  I can honestly tell you that doing this helps us all to start the day with "happy hearts". 

I felt encouraged to focus more on Formative Instruction.  In other words, teaching Micah what is expected before the problem, influencing him rather than exuding authority, explaining in ways that make sense to him.  Ted reminded me that I sound like Charlie Brown's mother "whah, whah, whah, whah" when I wait to try to explain/teach when I am disciplining Micah.  He doesn't care what I am saying, he just wants to know what his consequence is. Ah Hah!!!!  So that's what the glazed over eyes, looking through me, gone to your happy place face is!

My husband talked on the way home and the BIGGEST thing we BOTH felt convicted about...it was obvious that God was laying it on our hearts together...was our lack of Family Worship!

Let me just tell you that when Mr. Tripp was talking about this, I felt really silly when I thought about what it must look like.  I know that is terrible but I am being honest here.  It sounded a little hokey.  I admitted this to my hubby and instead of thinking bad of me he explained that it was probably going to feel weird at first.  Since it was something we had NEVER tried.  We vowed to make it work for us, we knew the benefits would outweigh the "feeling silly" and ultimately it would glorify God.

You see, one thing that really struck me.  One thing that pricked my heart. Made it heavy. Then turned it warm and content was my prayer over this:  "If you are not impressed with God, if you are not in His word....your children will not be!"  "Show your children life, through the lens of God's Word, and God's Ways!!!"

I know this is getting long so I will wrap it up.  This is what works for us.  It may not work for you, but I pray that you will find something that does.  It felt silly at first, but it is just part of our nightly routine now.  Some nights we don't do it, and that is ok.  We are trying.  I have seen my boy settle, be still, listen.  I see a love for singing and praying to the Lord.  It has changed my own heart.  I have learned.  I have been more focused on Him.
Our "ingredients"
1. Daddy opens us in prayer. We settle down.
2.  Micah's bible. We read a bible lesson.
3.  Seeds Family Worship CD  "Songs of Faith". We sing one of these, for a whole week. Micah plays his play guitar.
4.  Weekly church bulletin.  We sing the childrens song from this.  We sing the same song for a whole week.  Micah plays his play guitar some more.
5.  Prayer.  We take turns praying for what God has laid on our hearts.

Please leave a comment and tell me about your family worship.  It doesn't have to look like mine.  If you don't do a family worship, I encourage you to give it a try, even one night a week.  I never saw myself doing this, but I am so glad we tried it!

I Would Hug You But...

I am in a new "Season" of life right now.

My old season included keeping the same outfit on all day, popping in and out of stores to efficiently run errands, completing chores without stopping to do a variety of things, not worrying  about my breasts being exposed to friends or strangers.  Just to name a few.

I can't tell you how many of my friends have uttered the words "But this is just a season..." when I mention the mass amount of guilt I feel for any of the following:
                               my toddler watching Toy Story 3 (the entirety of it) every day
                               forgetting to return things, birthdays, names, my parents anniversary, call people back
                               not engaging my newborn NEAR as much as I did my firstborn
                               my house being a disaster zone...please don't call DFACS
The List goes on...and y'all know I like lists!

I am not complaining y'all!  Well maybe a little, but this is my space here, and I guess this is the place to do it.

I guess I should just say that there will be many some things I will miss about the newborn season.  I WILL NOT be sad when this season is over for the following reasons:

I will be getting more sleep and therefore be able to recognize friends, family, and neighbors again, and they will be able to recognize me!  This includes calling them by their actual names.

I will not have to worry about being pooped AND peed on every time I change Scut's diapers.  His many, many, many diapers.  You cloth diaper ladies should win week long trips every 6 months for what you go through!

I will not wash 2-3 loads of clothes a day for someone who weighs under 10lbs. 

I will get to drink an entire 8oz cup of coffee without microwaving it 3 times throughout the morning.

My idea of a date night will be childless...not just void of the one who can communicate with actual words.

I will not have to beg a 2 year old to please be satisfied with Toy Story 1 or 2, because I cannot bear to watch the train go off the tracks with all the "orphans" one more morning, or see Barbie complement Ken on his "as-cot", or watch college aged Andy roll his eyes at his loving mother who is obviously raising her two spoiled brats completely alone, because where is their Dad????

Oh, and P.S. my hubby asks frequently if we have watched Toy Story 3 in its entirety many afternoons, because he has yet to see the whole thing and would like to.
I am one viewing from popping him some popcorn, cranking it on, and heading to Starbucks for a couple hours...oh but wait I would still have a little cute someone attached to my sore cracked nipples while I sip my Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha.  Which they probably aren't serving any more!!!  DUH Jess, the Holidays are over!

But, I think the one thing I am really tired of is...Apologizing to my husband every afternoon when he returns home from work, for their being crusty, rank spit up in both sides of my hair.  At least he still wants to even touch me. 

With all this being said, I love my boys and I know that one day...way down the road... I will laugh, and look back and be thankful for this precious time with them.  And I will laugh my head off when their wives are going through it themselves...and maybe offer to help!  Bless their hearts.

French Fry Cooler System

The next time you begin to shop around for your next family vehicle be sure to keep in mind ALL the features you will need.
Especially this one:

How many french fries can you cool simultaniously in your vehicle's air conditioning system?

Our Toyota Sienna can cool five fries per vent!

I would like to thank Kristen at We are THAT Family for sharing this idea, long before my Wook was a french fry eater.  It nearly saved him from the screaming fits of starvation, this afternoon.  You can check out her geniusness HERE.