Have I Mentioned Lately...

That I absolutely LOVE how close my children are in age?

Or that I am so stinking proud of the way they play together and that they have an amazingly good grasp of the concept of sharing? (At least, for a two and three year old...)

Or that Baby Doll just decided one day that she was giving up crawling cold turkey, and is now walking like she owns the place?

Or that some days, having a full time job and being a full time mom is more than I can handle in my own strength?

Or that everyday before class starts, we pray for the persecuted church, one country at a time?

Or that, for a three year old, my lil' Punkin draws incredibly detailed pictures of people, flowers, clouds and the sun?

Or that some days I am tremendously humbled by something one of my students says, does or prays, and that I thank God for the influence they are having on my life?

Or that then there are days that I feel incredibly old because they can text, tweet, chacha, and update their status, all while playing Draw Something or Words with Friends, in the middle of a math lesson?

Or that I am so very much in love with my husband, and appreciate him all the more now that I am the one working?

Or that my students make me laugh every single day?

Or that Jesus Christ died to save and rescue His people, and that I am left speechless by the love and grace and mercy I have been shown?

Well, if I haven't mentioned it lately, now you know.  Praying you have a blessed weekend!!

A Post In Which I Brag a Little...or a Lot...

In the busyness of life, I have completely neglected to acknowledge the various little milestones my sweet baby doll has been reaching these last few months.  Which is truly a travesty, because she is SO stinkin' smart, and I hate that I have not kept a better account of her genius! Haha!

So now that she is 15months old, I will share with you what she has been doing for the past two months.   (Better late than never, right!?)

First, around 13 months, in her stubborn, refusing to be the "baby" way, she decided she was too big to be spoon fed by Mommy and Daddy.  And so she began feeding herself.  And I'm not just talking finger foods, people.  She began feeding herself with a spoon. Granted, we still end up with a mess, but to be so little, she's pretty darn good at it!  Actually, sometimes she makes less of a mess than her brother!!

Second, she said her first word ("Daddy") around 13 months too.  Since then she has been picking up words all over the place!  She can probably say 5-6 words now, but she repeats words and sounds that she hears ALL the time.  You may not find this all that impressive, but considering my other two did not utter a single word (no, not even "Mommy" or "Daddy") until at least 16 or 17 months, I am AMAZED to hear the things that come out of her mouth!  Some things she can say: "Daddy," "uh-oh," "ball," "hello," "baby."

Third, she loves to play with her toys.  If she is playing with a baby doll, she hugs it, rocks it, and feeds it a bottle.  If she has a toy phone (or anything she wants to pretend is a phone), she holds it to her ear and says, "Hello."  I don't know where this type of pretend play falls on the list of developmental milestones, but I'm definitely impressed! :-D

Fourth, about a month ago she started walking.  She has taken her time, much like her brother, in this.  Although she can walk and stand (and climb up and down on the sofa), she still chooses to crawl more often than not.  She can get around so much faster when she crawls, it's just too much trouble to bother wobbling unsteadily on her feet.  But one day she'll realize it's easier to walk, and before we know it, she'll be running after her siblings!

Her is a video of her first wobbly steps about a month ago.  She is walking much better now, but I haven't gotten anymore video.  This is not the best quality, but it's cute nonetheless!!

Well, I could seriously go on all day long, but I'll stop my bragging there.  :)  Happy Monday!!

Being Silly

I'm hoping to write a more elaborate post soon, like with actual thoughts and updates.  But for tonight, all I can muster is a few pictures of my precious love bugs just being their silly, goofy selves.

But I thought that might be ok with you, because they are just SO cute! ;)

Well, that's all for tonight.  Have a great weekend!!

Day by Day

It used to be difficult finding purpose in the day to day, mundane life of a stay at home mom.  There were so many days spent covered in spit up, picking up cheerios and cleaning dirty diapers, that it was easy to feel like I was "missing out" some how.  That I didn't have a "real" job or ministry, and therefore wasn't serving God's kingdom because, let's face it, I rarely even left the house!

But as I go through various seasons of my life I am learning (and re-learning) that it doesn't matter whether I am out working in the "real" world, or at home with the kids; out on the mission field or in the church nursery.  What God expects of me does not change.

God's word states, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31.


"...whatever you do..."  Whatever you do in your family, in your job, in your church, in the world, in public or in private, "do it ALL for the glory of God."  


All of God's actions end in HIS glory, whether it is His creation, His providence, His judgement or His mercy.  It is the same with His son, Jesus Christ.  All that Christ did and does has the glory of God as its end.  His life, His sacrifice, His suffering, death and resurrection all bring God glory.  Therefore, everything that we do, every word, every action, every deed, ought to be singularly focused.  To the glory of God alone.  


Now that I am teaching full time, I face new challenges.  New frustrations.  New discouragements.  But the reason I am there is to love my students and share Christ with them.  To honor and glorify God in how I prepare and how I teach, in how I speak and how I (try) to show patience.

No matter what situation I find myself in, or where I am working, or what I am doing, God still calls me to live and act in a way that brings Him glory.  I love the song "Do Everything" by Steven Curtis Chapman.  It is such a great reminder!  I hope you are blessed by the song and the truth of God's word today!

Three.

Merry Christmas Eve!  I hope you all had a wonderful day filled with joy!

Our day was filled with presents and CAKE.  Yup, we have celebrated yet another birthday at our house today.  My beautiful, sweet, smart, giving, precious first born turned THREE today.

She's growing up so fast.  I can hardly believe how smart she is, how caring she is, how much she loves her baby brother and sister, and how encouraging she can be. 

The other day, I was trying to open something for her and was having a hard time.  She said, "You can do it Mommy.  You're strong like Jesus!"  Sometimes I cry just because I love her so very much. 

She loves to cuddle on the sofa with me, and she LOVES to sing.  That's the only thing she ever tells me about pre-school-what songs they sang.  I love hearing her sweet voice as she sings all her favorites.  

I'm so blessed and thankful for this precious girl God has brought into my life, and although I am happy and thankful that she is growing big and strong, sometimes I wish time could stand still for just a little while.  That she would not grow up quite so fast.

But I guess since that is not possible I will just try to enjoy every single moment.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL GIRL!  WE LOVE YOU!  

My Baby Doll

November is a busy month at our house!  It's crazy hard to believe (at least for me, anyway...I was not really ready for this day yet...), but my sweet, easy going baby doll girl turned ONE yesterday.  

WHAT?!  I cannot even believe that an entire year has gone by...she used to be so tiny, and now it seems she is just moments away from running and chasing after her brother and sister.  

Ok, so she's not even walking yet, much less running, but she is a fantastic crawler, and cruises around the furniture.  

She is very vocal and loves to make fun sounds and imitate the noises that we make.  She also loves to clap her hands and wave "hi" and "bye."

She's still pretty petite as far as one year olds go, weighing between 19 and 20 pounds.  And she has just started to get her third tooth (first on the top).  

I still can't decide if her personality will be more like her brother or her sister, but one thing is for sure...

she's pretty much the cutest, sweetest, most precious one year old I know, and we love her SO VERY MUCH!!