Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Thankful Thursday
This week I am thankful for...
... my lovely friend who has come to help me get out for an afternoon walk twice this past week with all 4 kids (plus one of her own!).
... the fact that my house is small enough that I can make a good dent in the cleaning in an afternoon.
... Levi always being happy when I'm wearing him on my back.
... when Asher says "Hi Mama, I missed you!" when I pick him up from Roxy's school.
... Asher eating vegetables he won't normally eat if they're inside a quesadilla or a quiche.
... Levi getting to experience, and enjoy, Mother Goose class with me (I'm volunteer teaching again and loving it!)
... that even though my babies have colds that make their sleeping and eating difficult, they are healthy.
... my friend who agreed to pray for my children on a regular basis, and I for hers.
... coffee. Always coffee.
... Asher doing well at swimming lessons these past few weeks. Even though he hates the big pool, he is doing awesome in the small one.
... finding a local wine that I really like!
... that Seeds Family Worship, all 5 albums, are available on Napster.
... getting into a routine on the days when I care for Marek and Milah. There are crazy moments, but it's getting more predictable, and I'm figuring it out.
... celebrating my husbands 31st birthday!
... my lovely friend who has come to help me get out for an afternoon walk twice this past week with all 4 kids (plus one of her own!).
... the fact that my house is small enough that I can make a good dent in the cleaning in an afternoon.
... Levi always being happy when I'm wearing him on my back.
... when Asher says "Hi Mama, I missed you!" when I pick him up from Roxy's school.
... Asher eating vegetables he won't normally eat if they're inside a quesadilla or a quiche.
... Levi getting to experience, and enjoy, Mother Goose class with me (I'm volunteer teaching again and loving it!)
... that even though my babies have colds that make their sleeping and eating difficult, they are healthy.
... my friend who agreed to pray for my children on a regular basis, and I for hers.
... coffee. Always coffee.
... Asher doing well at swimming lessons these past few weeks. Even though he hates the big pool, he is doing awesome in the small one.
... finding a local wine that I really like!
... that Seeds Family Worship, all 5 albums, are available on Napster.
... getting into a routine on the days when I care for Marek and Milah. There are crazy moments, but it's getting more predictable, and I'm figuring it out.
... celebrating my husbands 31st birthday!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Happy Birthday to Greg!
Today is my wonderful husband's 31st birthday. Wow! Happy birthday to an amazing father, and to my love. I hope 31 is a terrific year for you, and let's make lots of fun memories together.
xo
PS - now Asher can finally stop talking about eating your birthday cake!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Thankful Thursday
A couple of weeks ago I had the extreme pleasure of sitting down with the women from my parents small group, and a few special guests. As our last small group meeting we decided to invite some mature Christian mothers in to share their experience and expertise. And it was amazing!
These 3 women all have adult children and raised them in a Christian home. They faithfully and honestly answered our questions and shared their wisdom about parenting. It wasn't all glamorous, and it wasn't all peaches. There were challenges, many of them; they had little sleep, they were wrought with worry, they were unsure, they were stretched, and they weren't perfect. But God took what they had to offer as parents, and through their prayers, used it to turn their children into beautiful and responsible people who know Christ.
Nothing they said was necessarily unknown to me, but it was so reassuring as a parent to hear. There are no magic answers, no unknown secret formulas in order to raise healthy, happy people. They all did it differently, with their own traditions and values. They all tried to respond to the unique needs of their children, and loved them for who they were. They all prayed for their children, and had other people pray too. It was complicated, yet simple. It was challenging, yet rewarding. And it was so unbelievably moving, touching, reassuring, and comforting to hear from women who have been there, and who are on the other side of this crazy ride. I can't tell you how much the experience meant to me; it was something my spirit needed.
From this meeting I was also reminded of something a friend once told me, "Love covers a multitude". I believe that if my children grow up knowing that I love them unconditionally, that this will make up the difference in all the ways I lack as a mother. I pray that my love for my boys will cover and clean up all the messes I make on this bumpy ride - do I have any other hope, really? I can't be perfect for them no matter how much I want to, and I can't get it all right, but I can love them. When I rise, sleepy-eyed and disappointed, in the middle of the night to feed my baby - I pray he knows I love him. When I look at my little boy, frustrated and furious over an unacceptable behavior - I pray he knows I love him. And I do pray that in their heart of hearts they will know, "I am worthy and loved" despite my short-comings. I pray that I can communicate that much.
I wish I could be a part of a regular group like this, older, wiser mothers mentoring to younger, still-in-the-trenches mothers. Wouldn't it be amazing if we had this kind of support and resources as parents?
These 3 women all have adult children and raised them in a Christian home. They faithfully and honestly answered our questions and shared their wisdom about parenting. It wasn't all glamorous, and it wasn't all peaches. There were challenges, many of them; they had little sleep, they were wrought with worry, they were unsure, they were stretched, and they weren't perfect. But God took what they had to offer as parents, and through their prayers, used it to turn their children into beautiful and responsible people who know Christ.
Nothing they said was necessarily unknown to me, but it was so reassuring as a parent to hear. There are no magic answers, no unknown secret formulas in order to raise healthy, happy people. They all did it differently, with their own traditions and values. They all tried to respond to the unique needs of their children, and loved them for who they were. They all prayed for their children, and had other people pray too. It was complicated, yet simple. It was challenging, yet rewarding. And it was so unbelievably moving, touching, reassuring, and comforting to hear from women who have been there, and who are on the other side of this crazy ride. I can't tell you how much the experience meant to me; it was something my spirit needed.
From this meeting I was also reminded of something a friend once told me, "Love covers a multitude". I believe that if my children grow up knowing that I love them unconditionally, that this will make up the difference in all the ways I lack as a mother. I pray that my love for my boys will cover and clean up all the messes I make on this bumpy ride - do I have any other hope, really? I can't be perfect for them no matter how much I want to, and I can't get it all right, but I can love them. When I rise, sleepy-eyed and disappointed, in the middle of the night to feed my baby - I pray he knows I love him. When I look at my little boy, frustrated and furious over an unacceptable behavior - I pray he knows I love him. And I do pray that in their heart of hearts they will know, "I am worthy and loved" despite my short-comings. I pray that I can communicate that much.
I wish I could be a part of a regular group like this, older, wiser mothers mentoring to younger, still-in-the-trenches mothers. Wouldn't it be amazing if we had this kind of support and resources as parents?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
24 hours...
... is exactly how long I was gone on my "vacation" for. During that time I...
... travelled through a brutal storm and did some slip-slidding in my car on a side street to get to my B&B.
... watched 2 chick flicks, You Again and Back-up Plan.
... had one embarrassing moment where other B&B guests overheard a sex scene in aforementioned chick flick and was rather mortified.
... laid around and didn't move.
... slept THROUGH the night, woke up in the morning, pumped, read, and WENT BACK to sleep.
... had a bubble bath in a double whirlpool tub.
... read, and NOT about potty training, sleep training, or child development.
... had room service.
... texted with my husband too much (it was hard to entirely disconnect). Thankfully he spared me the full details of all the challenges so I wouldn't worry.
... didn't have to change a diaper, clean up a pee accident, wipe any one's nose, pick up a toy, get up in the middle of the night, or answer any one's demands. DREAM!
... got my hair cut.
... felt relaxed.
... came home to 3 boys who were very happy to see me.
... upon returning home heard out of Asher's mouth "Mama you were on vacation and you came back!", and out of Greg's mouth "That was friggin' hard, I don't know how you do it!". Both of those comments were music to my ears!
... missed my family like crazy.
... was glad to have some much needed time to myself, and was reminded that this is important for my well-being as a person and as a mother.
... returned a happier, and more patient person.
Thank you to my family for giving me this amazing treat - so when can we book the next one? :)
... travelled through a brutal storm and did some slip-slidding in my car on a side street to get to my B&B.
... watched 2 chick flicks, You Again and Back-up Plan.
... had one embarrassing moment where other B&B guests overheard a sex scene in aforementioned chick flick and was rather mortified.
... laid around and didn't move.
... slept THROUGH the night, woke up in the morning, pumped, read, and WENT BACK to sleep.
... had a bubble bath in a double whirlpool tub.
... read, and NOT about potty training, sleep training, or child development.
... had room service.
... texted with my husband too much (it was hard to entirely disconnect). Thankfully he spared me the full details of all the challenges so I wouldn't worry.
... didn't have to change a diaper, clean up a pee accident, wipe any one's nose, pick up a toy, get up in the middle of the night, or answer any one's demands. DREAM!
... got my hair cut.
... felt relaxed.
... came home to 3 boys who were very happy to see me.
... upon returning home heard out of Asher's mouth "Mama you were on vacation and you came back!", and out of Greg's mouth "That was friggin' hard, I don't know how you do it!". Both of those comments were music to my ears!
... missed my family like crazy.
... was glad to have some much needed time to myself, and was reminded that this is important for my well-being as a person and as a mother.
... returned a happier, and more patient person.
Thank you to my family for giving me this amazing treat - so when can we book the next one? :)
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