Friday, February 25, 2011

Mommy's Little Helper


Such a big helper!


Working hard to make a cake for Bubba.


I added the ingredients, and she stirred...


She concentrated SO hard!


And every time Mommy added something to the bowl, she cheered, 


"Good Job, Momma!!"

She's such an encourager!! :)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Boy, Did I Need to Hear This

Being home with three kids who refuse naps, all day...

Not being able to find my purse when I am trying to walk out the door to go to church...

Arguing with the internet people for the millionth time over a problem that is apparently no one's fault...

Fighting a very strong willed two year old who has decided she absolutely will NOT get in her car seat...

Walking out of Wal-Mart empty handed because I cannot find anything because the layout of the store is so completely different from any I have ever been to...

Dealing with the woman working at Sonic who got mad at me because the credit card machine wasn't working...

Hearing a woman speaking hateful gossip in the bathroom at church...

There are so many times in my life that I get upset or frustrated, whether with my kids or people I meet or interact with, and I am just OVER IT.  I get angry and frustrated.  I reach a point where any and all semblance of patience is gone, and I really think I am going to LOSE IT.

Then I read this post, Profound Typos, from The Preacher's Wife.

She was explaining how her phone auto corrects words when it thinks there is a typo.  In the midst of her frustration, she tried to type this on Twitter, "About to lose my religion with these cable people!"

Her phone, smart phone that it is, corrected her "typo" and changed it to, "About to LIVE my religion with these cable people!"

Here is what she had to say about how this "correction" affected her, and again, this was just something that I really needed to hear:

"What if, in those moments we are about to lose our religion we live it instead?  That we would get to that point of explosion and rather than vomit rage we would be a geyser of grace?  That we would lay down our pride and get over ourselves for just a minute?  Luke has been preaching a series on revival and it’s eating my lunch.  One of the big issues I have faced this year is how to guard against bitterness when my family is maligned by those who have absolutely no clue what they are talking about.  My flesh tempts me to respond in kind because I’m so over it.  OVER IT.  But Jesus has reminded me so many times in my spirit, “Forgive them, for they no not what they do.”   I have to remember that the majority of people who lash out are doing it out of their own issues and that those have nothing to do with me at all. Hurt people hurt people.  So do I hurt them back?  No.  I reach out.  I entreat.  I apologize for any real or perceived offense.  If there is no response and they continue their angry tirade?  Well, then I love them with the cross in between us.  The end."


I don't know if this resonates with anyone else, or just me, but I just had to share.  And I intend to continue to work harder at responding in GRACE and not in anger or bitterness.  To try to LIVE my faith in my frustration, rather than LOSING it.  

Friday, February 18, 2011

Already Three Months...

My baby doll is already three months old.  And these are the words I want to say to her:


"Be strong in the Lord, and
never give up hope,


You're going to do GREAT things,
I already know.


God's got His hand on you so,
don't live life in fear,


Forgive and forget but,
don't forget why you're here,


Take your time and pray.
These are the words I would say."

Lyrics from The Words I Would Say, by Sidewalk Prophets

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

What a Day!

Today is a BIG day.  A day to celebrate!  At least in our home, anyway.  One year ago today, after 97 agonizingly long days, three medications, one heart surgery, and countless MRI's, ultrasounds and blood tests later, our son came HOME.

Home to his family, where he belonged.




It was a very long two days before he was finally home, because I had to stay with him and spend the night in the hospital to make sure I was comfortable taking care of him on my own.  (So that is how I spent Valentine's Day last year).  I enjoyed the time alone with my sweet boy, but my heart ached being away from my daughter for so long.  Originally, the doctors said I would have to stay for two nights and go home on the 16th, but thankfully, we were able to leave early.  I don't think I could have handled another day away from home.

On the 15th, his doctor came by, gave my son a good report and officially said that we could be discharged.  We were elated!  But, if any of you have spent any time in the hospital at all, you know that everything takes longer than expected.  We thought we would get all our things together and be home by lunchtime.  But it was one thing after another.  Multiple doctors and nurses had to see him before we left.  Follow up appointments had to be made.  Prescriptions had to be filled.  We had a problem with our insurance that had to be cleared up.  And on top of all that, it was a holiday, so we had trouble getting in touch with some of the people that we needed to reach.

Eventually, however, all was resolved, and our sweet nurse loaded all our stuff (it looked like we had stayed for a week) and wheeled us to the car.  We got home between 5 and 5:30 (I think), and our strong little man FINALLY got to meet his sister.


Although the day was long, and I was tired, and everything was kind of a blur, it will be a day that I never ever forget.  And as our son gets older, I want to make sure that he knows all about it, and that we continue to celebrate year after year the amazing MIRACLE that God did in his life.  God used those 97 days to grow me and mold me more into the image of His son, and to teach me to trust and rely solely on Him.  And as hard as it was, I am thankful for what God brought us through, and the testament it is to His amazing glory.  



He's the most beautiful little boy I have ever seen, and I am so blessed to be his mama!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Hearts, Hearts and More Hearts!

Happy Valentine's Day!!  I hope you had a wonderful day spending time with the ones you love.  :)  We had lots of fun today, and my daughter and I spent the morning making *heart* valentines.  It was a much more peaceful and relaxing day than last year (more on that tomorrow) and I am so thankful for my beautiful family.


I had planned on decorating more hearts than we actually did, but my lil' punkin lost interest much sooner than I anticipated.  Probably because I took away the glitter glue pens (yes, I gave glitter glue to a two year old).  But it was fun nonetheless!




I was going to let Bubba make one too, but he really had no interest.  At his age he is much more interested in eating the crayons.  But that wasn't really an option.  Oh well, maybe next year.


Along with our construction paper hearts, we looked at two scripture verses:

"Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart."  1 Samuel 16:7b

"A joyful heart makes a face cheerful." Proverbs 15:13a

God may be the only one who can truly see what lies in a person's heart, but isn't it so true that when someone has true JOY through Jesus Christ, it just absolutely shines through them?  You can just see it in their face, and hear it in their voice, and they are a blessing to be around.


Everyday it is my prayer that my children will grow to know and love the Lord with ALL of their heart, and to know His grace, love, and mercy.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

It's Finally Warm!

It is finally warming up here, and we were so excited, we took the kids to the park!  They had so much fun swinging on the swings, and I enjoyed just being out of the house! :)







I'm looking forward to many more days at the Park on the Pecos! :)

Monday, February 7, 2011

We're Getting Closer...

Well, friends, we have been trying to get my son to walk for quite some time now.  He is quickly approaching 15 months old, is a crawling maniac, cruises around the furniture and even climbs on some of the furniture.  But for whatever reason, he refuses to walk.  Today, however, we made some big progress!!  And thanks to my nifty new phone, I got some of it on video.  :)

So I am able to share with you!! Woohoo!!


I'm so proud.  He is getting so big, it blows my mind.  This morning when he woke up, he was in his room talking and playing, and I heard him say "Daddy."  It's so amazing to see his development and progress after his challenging start.  I am just SO PROUD!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

The View From Here

It was a cold day.  Probably the coldest I have experienced.  When I got up this morning it was only FOUR degrees outside.  I think the warmest it got was ten degrees.  So, I did not go outside.  :)  I stayed in, stayed warm, and played with babies.  And enjoyed the view from here.


It was a winter wonderland.  (These were taken a little later in the day.  There was more snow on the ground when we got up this morning).  Not exactly what I was expecting to experience here in New Mexico, but I always enjoy a beautiful snow.  Well, when I can stay in and be lazy and simply enjoy the view at least, and not have to be out driving in it!



Even though it was crazy cold, and the roads were slick as glass, it was nice to sit inside and watch the snow and stay cozy and warm.




But I have to be honest.  One day is quite enough for me, and I hope things start to melt tomorrow!  It can be a little claustrophobic being trapped in the house.  I don't know when things are going to clear up though, considering it is only nine degrees right now, and the high for tomorrow is twenty-two, but we'll see!  It might be another lazy day of warm blankets, staring out windows, and hot chocolate.  :)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Is it a Boy Thing...

...or just a my child thing??


I know that boys are typically more rough and tumble than girls.  I know that my son, even though he is only one year old, gets into more, and tends to get more bumps and bruises than his sister ever did.


He ends up with scrapes on his foot, or cheek, or nose.  Or a bump on his forehead.  


But there is still one thing I cannot for the life of me understand.  


More often than not, these scraps and bumps show up while he is IN HIS CRIB.  As in, when he is supposed to be napping.  I kid you not, I will go to get him up from his nap and discover a red bump on his forehead, a scrape on his nose or (on more than one occasion) a busted, bleeding lip. 


What in the WORLD is he doing in there??  So is this just a boy thing, this being more active and frequently getting hurt, or is it simply just MY CHILD??