In her future?...

Carly was watching one of her favorite movies "Space Buddies" last week in the car. She told me they were going in space and I said, "It would be cool to go to space." And her reply..."I think it would be neat to walk on the moon." Just like that, matter of fact. And I ridiculously got teary-eyed for two reasons: One-What an intelligent thing to say. and Two- If that statement ever becomes a reality, I hope I can be supportive because I would be terrified to send my baby to the moon!

So Amazing!

We're reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan in our Sunday School class right now. Every week has been a different chapter and I especially loved this past week's. The chapter was named the same as the title of the book and described how much God loves, so much that we can't even imagine it and can only describe it as "crazy". Part of our lesson used one of my favorite verses:

Jeremiah 1:5- "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..."

This verse applies to so much in life. If you feel insignificant, if you are discouraged about your future (or even your present), if you are facing a hard decision about having a baby, etc.

When Carly was a cheerleader at the beginning of the year, she was very shy. She loved practicing at home but was afraid of standing with the other girls. Every week someone was given a Spirit Stick for showing the most spirit. The coach gave it to Carly, wanting to encourage her, and it worked! She had so much confidence after that.

Someone in our class compared the coach giving the Spirit Stick to Carly to God giving us the Bible. It has all the encouragement we need for whatever we face, so study it and go to it when you need a pick-me-up.

The last thing I wanted to share is a quote a friend sent me:
"When a person can come to the place in life where they can say with absolute unwavering conviction, "yes, but my God is in control", there is an awesome sense of strength and assurance that will fill the heart to overflow with an indescribable joy and peace. No matter what the challenges we face in life, this peace can remain."

This too shall pass...

Teething, tantrums, sleepless nights, crying all the time in the car, fighting about brushing teeth, picking out clothes,etc. I'm laying it all out there because I feel like my patience is about as thin as it can be. I'm trying to find the good in every day but am in one of those black holes of parenting ruts where it doesn't seem to be there. I've been told before and am telling myself constantly now, "This too shall pass." (and when it does, I'll look back and wonder where the time went.)

Much needed...

I came across this tonight, as I think about going to bed soon and the fact that tonight, as every other night for months, I will not sleep. This too shall pass. :) Not sleeping has been rough on all four of us, putting us on edge, and setting us up for more timeouts and frustrating days than we can handle. I especially like the part about "good days and bad."

A Parent's Prayer

Help Me give my children the best... not of trappings or toys,

but of myself, cherishing them on good days and bad, theirs and mine.

Teach Me to accept them for who they are, not for what they do;

to listen to what they say, if only so they will listen to me; to encourage

their goals, not mine; and please, let me laugh with them and be silly.

Let Me give them a home where respect is the cornerstone,

integrity the foundation, and there is enough happiness to raise the roof.

May I give them the courage to be true to themselves;

the independence to take care of themselves

and the faith to believe in a power much greater than their own.

See That I discipline my children without demeaning them,

demand good manners without forgetting my own

and let them know they have limitless love, no matter what they do.

Let Me feed them properly, clothe them adequately and have enough to give

them small allowances... not for the work they do but the pleasure they

bring...

and let me be moderate in all these things,

so the joy of getting will help them discover the joy of giving.

See That their responsibilities are real but not burdensome,

that my expectations are high but not overwhelming

and that my thanks and praise are thoughtful and given when they're due.

Help Me teach them that excellence is work's real reward,

and not the glory it brings. But when it comes.. and it will.. let me

revel in each honor, however small, without once pretending

that it's mine; my children are glories enough.

Above all, let me ground these children so well that I can

dare to let them go.

And may they be so blessed.



by Marguerite Kelly

Isn't it strange...

how eating a certain food or drinking a certain drink can take you back to another time in your life?

(I hope this isn't just something crazy that happens to me. :) )

Andrew bought a box of Little Debbie S'mores yesterday and they taste like a Moon Pie. It reminded me of spending the summer with my grandparents and going to the lake with them. It happens when I drink apple juice too. :) I loved spending the summers with them.

Things I love...

It's been a rough week for various reasons, so I want to just list a few things that I love about my family so I won't be focusing on the bad.:)


I love that Taylor tries to keep up with Carly. She will try to chase her around and race her to get a toy.

I love that Carly can make Taylor laugh like no one else can. Even the smallest things between them crack each other up. When stress of having two kids settles in, I just remember to stop and watch them play together and I know that it doesn't get any better than that.

I love that Carly has made up a crazy nickname for me- "Mama Lama Hooza" and that she always hugs me tight when she says it.

I love that Andrew is such an involved dad. He takes the girls grocery shopping, he does bath time and puts Carly to bed,and even when they are over-tired and crying (all three of them :) ) he plays and really enjoys his time with them.

Not a Hermit!!

I enjoy time to myself, when the kids are sleeping or when the house is empty. After long days of being "on" all the time, entertaining, playing, talking ALL day, I enjoy the quiet. It's hard for other people to understand that. For someone that's very social and thrives on attention or just the company of others, they see being alone by choice as being anti-social or rude. I just call it much needed mental health time. :)