Thankful Thursday (in Pictures)

Bike Riding At Gammy and Papa's house.

Warm Days and Blue Skies!

This sweet face...waiting for Chocolate Cake.

Adam excited about cake too! 

New Buds on the Trees!! C'mon Spring!

This sweet little guy in a sweet little shirt.

Playdates at the park.

Alone time with this little one...

 Not much Playing....

 But lots of snuggling. :)

James getting all dressed up for Preschool.

Never thought i would have 2 boys...but i am so very glad we did! They know how to drive me crazy and they also know how to make a crazy day seem sweeter.

Preschool Tea Party...was so beautiful!

James being exposed to a delicate world. haha! So sweet.

And....Surprise Flowers from a Handsome Gentleman. :)

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for...

James' Preschool.  They had Pajama Day at school.  He wore his daddy's old robe....so sweet!

My little snowman.

Inexpensive outings to Rempke Cafe.  We let the boys pick out a treat and we sit at a table by the fire.  nothing fancy, but the boy's think it's awesome.  I just love any time i can get with all 3 of my men.

I was able to get a much needed haircut last week.  It's a time where i feel so pampered and refreshed. I got 5 1/2 inches taken off my locks.

BEFORE

AFTER

Even though overalls are not in style anymore, i still love to see my boys in them just once.  I think they are cute. :)

Celebrating my niece's 6th Birthday.  I am so thankful that my brother and sister in law moved up here to KY - it's so neat to see our kids play together.

Birthday Present for Abbi - my brother painted this!! From Tangled.

And Adam has come up with his own...i guess....signature silly walk. it's so funny!  I have no idea where he got it from either.

"BE JOYFUL ALWAYS, PRAY CONTINUALLY, GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES."

Pictures on blogs can be very deceiving.  Just like my posted pictures above, they capture the great moments.  The moments that we want to be shown - the fun, happy, and wonderful moments.  It would be funny and eye opening to see what really goes on behind and around the camera during those moments.  Most pictures of my boys are either after or right before a tantrum or a blow up diaper. haha! The reason why i share pictures and words about what i am thankful for is to dwell on the goodness of the Lord.  Despite hard circumstances.  Despite things that i can't control or change.  Despite uncertainty of the future.  I want to notice the good things in my life.  Though they may seem small or insignificant, there is great power in thankfulness.  With a thankful heart and mindset...your view changes.  Not circumstances or trials, but simply you. 
That is what i want to choose today...thankfulness. 
What are you thankful for today?

Unconditional

After over a week of James not going to Preschool (sickness and snow), the sun was finally out and our home was at last germ free.  Our boys are typically early birds....like their parents (unfortunately), so we were all up and dressed by 830am ready for school.  James was excited to go and see his favorite teachers and friends.  As soon as we walked into the school doors, he held my hand a little tighter.  In my head i was thinking, 'oh no.' As i was attempting to drop him off in his classroom, he would not step foot into the room. I negotiated.  I even pleaded a little bit.  He didn't budge.  His awesome teacher offered to help.  From experience of working as a teacher and nursery worker - it's best for the parents to leave and leave quick.  That is what i did.  He threw a fit, calling for me.  I picked up Adam and headed for the hallway, not making eye contact with any parent who gracefully and easily dropped their kids off. 
As i got Adam settled into his car seat, i sat in the car for a moment before pulling out of the parking lot.  I was actually embarrassed.  Now, i mind you this was not the first public fit thrown by my boys, nor was it the loudest.  But for some reason i thought about my reaction more than his fit.
Why was i embarrassed?  What am i showing my kids with this kind of reaction?
I always thought that if my kids threw tantrums that it was a reflection of my bad parenting.  Sometimes kids throw fits because they are tired, hungry, scared, etc. 
Even if i instill every ounce of wisdom and leading into their lives, they are still their own person.  I am not saying that a fit should be rewarded or ignored.  They should be a addressed privately.  But don't wrap so much of your security in how your kids behave. 
Instead of acting embarrassed toward my kid's mistakes, tantrums, or accidents....i still want to show unconditional love.  I think we have forgotten what that word in titles. 

UNCONDITIONAL - not subject to any conditions.

"If your initial response to your children reflects your personal embarrassment at their actions, you are communicating conditional, works-oriented acceptance."

I want to instill in my kids, that my love comes freely.  I do delight and love it when they are on their best behavior, help out, or do something kind....but i can't base my love for them on those things.  If i acknowledge them or tell them how much i love them only after they DO something good...what is that enforcing?  That they need to work for my love.
So despite, my red mother face from this morning, i sat James down after school and talked with him about his fit at school.  You can tell from his face that he was embarrassed too and knew what he did wrong.  Then he said, "do you still love me...even when i do bad things?"  Wow!  It hurt to know he even thought this, but i was grateful for an awesome opportunity to love on him all the more.  Discipline followed by hugs, kisses and i love yous....is one of the best things we can do for our kiddos. 
I am realizing that just saying "i love you" is not enough....it has to be through our actions as well.

 

 

1 John 3:18

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁸ Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

I want to give my kids grace and unconditional love, just like my heavenly Father does to me. :)

 

Am I Willing To Submit?

Now, i am no pro in the marriage category by any stretch of the imagination.  I am still, after 6 1/2 years of marriage, a wife in the making.  So this question does intimidate me....a lot.
I don't want to walk on my tip toes around my husband and make him think that i have it all together all the time...that is not realistic. We are indeed human.  Despite our sinful natures, God has still called us to be great wives for our husbands. 
God really loves to bring the topic of marriage up quite a bit in the Bible.  Not only that, but our "duties" as a wife and husband.

Colossians 3:18

Instructions for Christian Households

^{18 "}Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord."

Ephesians 5:22

²² For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:24

²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

1 Peter 3

Wives

3 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over ² by observing your pure and reverent lives.

³ Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. ⁴ You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. ⁵ This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. ⁶ For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.


 Yes, you are probably thinking after reading those verses, 'this seems very one sided.'  I am a wife, so i am focusing on the WIFE.  There are many things that the husband is called to do.......

I wonder if there is a reason why God addresses the wives 1st in each of these verses?  He addresses the husbands after the wives.  Does this mean that we are better?  No.  I, however, believe that the husbands will have an extremely hard time submitting to the Lord and their calling if we, as wives, do not.  
A husband is called to be the head of the home.  The leader.  The earthly provider.  I have asked multiple times, "This seems unfair to the wife...we are just to simply submit?" Yes. Among other things. 
A lot of women have a hard time with submission.  I have.  We tend to think that when we submit to our husbands that we are giving up our rights, our voice, and our opinions.  So it is a challenge!

The reason why i am posting about this topic, is because this has been going on in our home.  My husband and i have never had any real fights or really been in serious situations that really required me to "submit."  I am a very indecisive girl, so i love that i am married to a man that knows what he wants. haha!  We have always been in agreement, really about everything....until we had kids.
We were both raised very differently, and came out all right. haha.  So we are bringing into our family two totally different ways about raising our children.  Both are not wrong.  Both will bring good to our kids....they are just different.  
Even though we are both seeking the Lord and what is best for them, we have been left not in agreement.  I don't know what your home is like when you are not in unity with your spouse, but ours is tense.  I think the devil loves to take something so simple as a disagreement and turn it into bitterness and ultimately use it to pull you apart.  

 

While i was seeking God in the matter of our boys and schooling, i was praying that God would soften my husband's heart.  Little did i know that my heart was the one that needed softening. 

 

For some reasons those scriptures up above kept jumping out at me and convicting me.  My opinion was not wrong.  My way of parenting was not wrong.  I was seeking the Lord for unity in our marriage, but He had a different way of making that happen.  I needed to submit.

By me holding onto my will, i was not allowing my husband to step into his role as head of our home.  

 

IT IS HARD FOR A HUSBAND TO LEAD WHEN THE WIFE IS NOT WILLING TO FOLLOW.

In my own way, i was emasculating my husband.  It would be a totally different story if he was not seeking the Lord or the best for our family.  He was and is.  I found it hard to not submit to that.  

 

There is peace in our home once again. :)  It is a daily challenge for me to submit to God's will for me as a wife....but it is worth it.

 I challenge you, sweet wives, to really step into your calling as wives.  This will help pave the way for your husband to really reach his full potential as a man, as a husband, and as a father. 

Praying for unity and peace and lots of love in our homes!

Thankful Thursday...in Pictures and Words

 I'm so thankful for these two faces that i get to see everyday! I went into motherhood thinking that i would be teaching my children so much, but i really feel like i have learned so much from them.  They have shown me just how selfish i am with my time, energy. 
I have had a wake up call about spending time on the Internet with them around.  The Internet has become a means of an escape or even a connection to the "outside" world that is beyond our house walls.  While i was "connected," i have been losing connection with my boys.  I found myself getting irritated from them following every step i would take.  For them barging in on "my" time.  Yelling and deep sighs were all my boys had been getting from me all week. Almost every night i would lie my head down in guilt over how i acted that day.
Yet, despite my yelling and easily angered attitude....they still desired to be around me.  They have so much grace and love.  James would ask me to "snuggle" with him.  Adam would bring his favorite book over and motion to sit on my lap.  It just hit me....how loved am i. 
Most (i) look for outside approval or recognition to feel good about themselves.  The fact that my kids have and will see me at my worst....and still have so much love for me....is just completely mind boggling. 
I am thankful for my kid's love.  I am also so thankful for God's mercy....and that it is new every morning!










I am so  so so so thankful for 7 Hills Church Motherhood Group.  Every time i leave so refreshed and desiring to get into the Word and focus on who God created me to be.  Every single mommy in there are so awesome, accepting, and encouraging. 
Last night we had an awesome speaker come and give her testimony and encouragement.  I wish i would have recorded everything she said.
But the thing that stood out to me was - "it is not your circumstances that matter, but your reaction."  Our reaction to our obstacles/circumstances are what really matter more than the obstacles/circumstances themselves.  There were so many awesome things she said.  She talked on perfectionism as a mom....lose it!  I have found that i am a perfectionist....i am learning to let that go especially with my kids.  I thought if i messed up or failed than that meant i am a horrible mom...no it just means i am human and that there is room for God to come in and do His mighty work through me.



I am thankful for house projects that don't cost much money...and that i get to do them with my hubby.

Our Stairs Before

AND AFTER (We also painted the gold walls on the stairs yay!

And our Dresser turned entertainment stand. The one we had before we had bought at Big Lots right after James was born.  Well, when i was pregnant with Adam i would do my workouts using it - triceps dips and just to sit down.  Well, sadly i will admit, it bowed in the middle where i would sit and exercise on it. haha! Hence, why we decided to do this.

BEFORE

AFTER

I am continually thankful for having my family here from NC.

Sam

 Abbi

 Such a special family.

And lastly, i am thankful for sweet little surprises from my husband....and date nights!

Smiling and Rejoicing

I had to post these pictures because this rarely happens.  1) the boys falling asleep at the same time in the same place and 2) i always make them sleep in their own beds....i need my time.
This is day 3 of being stranded inside from the freezing cold temp.  James has been off school all week, which i did not mind - i don't like going out in the cold. :)  So....you can imagine the cabin fever felt within our home.
All week i've been trying to busy myself and the boys to not go completely insane.  Cleaning, laundry, obstacle courses for the boys, TV....you name it.  In the midst of putting off the vibe that i was a superb mother and housewife, my attitude reflected stress.  I'll be honest, i cannot even count the number of times that i yelled at my poor boys.  I found myself losing it and hanging onto every minute that drew me closer to nap time.
We did manage to get out the house for a bit last night to the library.  We walked in like we were such a loving and united family, while not even an hour before was spent with a yelling 1 year old throwing food on the ground and trying to force feed a 4 year old his dinner all while trying to have an adult conversation with my husband. haha! 
So there we were, making our way into the library, greeting the librarians with very sweet smiles and nice conversation.  Then it hit me.  Wow....i was a nicer person to a random stranger than i was to my own kids. 
For some reason i feel like we (I), go out of our way to be nice to others outside of our home more than we do to those who we love more than the whole world........who we prayed for.  Who God blessed us with. 
This morning i woke up feeling very tired and not so well - i've had some issues going on physically the past month.  Instead of getting up an hour before the boys do, i drug myself out of bed about 15 minutes before they woke up. In my head i was thinking "great, this is going to be a great day." (Sarcastically) 
I had enough time to read a little devotional (thanks to my hubby who got the boy's breakfast ready for me before he left for work). 
The title of the Devotion was - "Rejoice Today." The devotion went on to say how important it is to start your day rejoicing and to be thankful to the Lord in the morning. 

Psalm 118:24

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁴ This is the day the Lord has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Instead of worrying, stressing, and wishing the day away......i want to be a woman who "rejoices" for each new day.  Even if it is spent being cooped up in my home with my wild boys.

Before i went up to get my boys, maybe it was fatigue, but i really felt the Holy Spirit saying to take it easy and enjoy my boys today.  To not busy myself and even them......to just simply be with them today.  

My boys are still napping right now as i am typing......the day seemed so much better than the others - not a lot got done, but i was not filled with stress or constantly yelling.  

The story behind the top pictures - before putting the boys to bed, i let them crawl into ours for books.  They always think it's a real treat to get in mommy and daddy's bed.......because it is usually off limits! haha!  With kids, the bedroom at night may be our only place and time for Ryan and i to be alone together.  

The boys fell asleep while i read books.......and that usually never happens.  

I think my boys knew i needed that.......it was very therapeutic for me.  To hold 2 of the people that i love the most........and just be still.  

While everyone is creating and attempting their new year resolutions, i have been thinking about what i would like to do.  There are so many things!  There are so many things that i am fasting and praying for this year.

Right now, i know that i want to be nicer.......smile more to those within my home and REJOICE everyday. 

James' Preschool Christmas Performance

Yes, i am that mother who cries at every milestone that her kids have.  I cried when both my boys first smiled.  I cried when they crawled, walked, talked, and when they had massive blow up pooh that somehow managed to always get everywhere except the diaper. haha. (there has to be some sort of emotion in a household full of boys, right?)  I cried when i took James to his first day of Preschool.  While i do LOVE having just 1 child to be responsible for...for a couple of hours, it still breaks my heart that i am not with him. 
james' Preschool put together a Christmas program for the families to come watch.  james' class sang a few songs.  When i saw him walk out on that stage...tears yet again welled up in my eyes.  Though it is so so so so hard teaching, loving, leading, guiding my babies sometimes......it is such a privelege to be able to watch them grow. 
James was such a cutie.....and a stinker - he pretended to yawn in between songs. haha!  He usually does that so he won't smile.  Once he saw us in the audience....he practically sang to us.  It was so sweet.

The classes did great.  I am really thankful for all the wonderful ladies that work in that Preschool!

We also had Adam with us.  He used to be my sit as still as a rock snuggler boy.  Since he figured out that his chubby legs could take him places.......he prefers to be on the go......ALL THE TIME.  He lasted for James' class, but was ready to go for the others.  We took him into the hallway to run it off, but he decided to dance instead.

I am so thankful for moments like that day......where i was able to sit back and really see our boys growing. 
I'll post about our Christmas soon!