Daddy comfort

Poor Jack has been working on getting some teeth in. This has made him slightly irritable but waaaay more snugly. Here's Mark enjoying the loves from the little munchkin.

Naptime

The other day when we went to get the kids up from their naps, this is what we found...

Sleeping beauty

He's so relaxed. Preparing himself for when he's older and falls asleep in his armchair.

Have you ever...

...gotten up out of bed in the morning and then realized that you have no idea what day it is?

Have you?

Thankful Thursday

This thankful Thursday post has to be short, sweet and to the point. My day is jam-packed! Who knew homeschooling could take up so much free time? :) JK...but seriously it does...

Anywho...

I am thankful...

...that so far, Kale has enjoyed school...3 days into it...I know...but still. He's had fun for 3 days. Well, today he got a little tired of writing the letter F...but still!...I'm thankful that he did it!

...for the ability to homeschool. I love that we live in a country where I can choose how my child will be brought up!

...for coffee. I'm usually thankful for this at least once a month. I am going [sometimes non-stop] from morning to night and I love my java to help me through.

...for my new (to me) sewing machine. So thankful for a machine that works!

...that the church is almost done being painted. There's been a lot of love and paint and sweat and tears (mostly my children's) that have gone into that place.

...for support. I don't always need to be agreed with, just supported by family and friends. I'm thankful for their support (and no this is not a political commercial -- just an honest thankful heart for those who have support me and my many decisions!)

Kale's artwork

I love it when Kale draws. He's got such an awesome imagination. Here's some of his latest creations.

This is an anthill. On the left side there are red termites. {I didn't know he even knew about termites} There's also a baby ant. The letters "spell" baby ant. Close...

This is the ocean. There is an island with a palm tree. There is a tsunami wave that has taken out a surf board. The green spots are pieces of the surf board. Also there is a barracuda under the water waiting to eat the surf board. {Where does he come up with this stuff?}
This is a picture of an octopus, and a shark eating a squid.
Mr. Potato HeadAnother shark with dinner inside him already.He displayed his softer side in this one. It's a picture of him and one of his friends. There are hearts all around {don't ask..I don't know why}. The green person with the giant heart on his head is Kale.This is an alligator.This one I had to take two pictures of. So you could see all the creatures right side up.
This first one - the animals right side up - are scorpions.And these are ants.Entertaining isn't it?

Do I want God's best?

If I were to define my life I would say something like a friend and follower of Jesus, a wife, and a stay at home mom. Nothing too flashy but it's me.

I try everyday to submit my will to Christ's. I know that He is worthy to be praised. He's faithful, wise, and in control. He's omniscient {knows everything}, omnipresent {is everywhere at the same time}, and omnipotent {all-powerful}. He has never let me down. He is above and beyond worthy of my trust and my life.

Yet sometimes I'm not so sure I want to turn everything over to Him. And it makes me sad to realize that I haven't.

I have heard many sermons, sung many songs and read many books about submitting myself, my life, my dreams and plans, all to God. And everytime I hear, sing or read these encouragements I think "I have! I will! I am!" And then I realize "I haven't! I'm not so sure I will. And am I really?"

Obviously it's pride that makes me think I've got the submission thing down. I feel like I've submitted big things to Him. I pray about lots of things asking for Him to guide me, direct me, show me what I need. And usually I'm eager to hear His answer. Mostly because it's something I'm desperately wanting Him to answer...my way...

He doesn't always answer my way. Duh! I'm not omni-anything. What do I know? And I trust that. Then I realize that there are still areas that I'm afraid of His answers. So I don't ask. I'm afraid that I won't be able to do what He asks, that I won't like what He answers, that I'm not really hearing the right thing anyway. And then, of course {because my crazy mind works this way} I go on and on thinking, again, how trustworthy He is. How much He loves me and wants the best for me.

But do I really want God's best?

In my mind I scream "YES! Of course I do!". But then I look again at my actions and realize that I am not always asking for God's best.

I read a book recently, Believing God by Beth Moore, and she described a scene that has literally haunted me since I read it. She shares about going on a walk and coming upon some ducks playing in a muddy pond next to the sidewalk. They were splashing around having a great old time in this small, muddy pond. As she walked up a small hill she saw a beautiful, clear, big pond. Those poor ducks were settling for this little, yucky dirty pond when, if they would just get out and go up the hill, they would have a beautiful, clean pond with more room to play.

How often have I desperately tried to be content in my small, yucky, muddy pond, instead of going up over the hill to experience and see what God's best is for me? Am I afraid of the big pond? Am I afraid of the hill I may have to climb to get there? Am I scared of leaving the comfortable - even if it's not great - just because it's familiar? Am I truly afraid of what God's best is?

I have no logical reason to feel this way. God has proven Himself to me many times over. When I prayed about Children's Ministry {a ministry that I was terrified to do} God changed my heart and gave me an excitement and passion for kids that I didn't know was in me {and it probably wasn't until I allowed God to move me}. When I prayed about homeschooling {something else I was terrified of} God challenged me, changed my heart, and gave me the desire to teach my kids at home.

There are still areas that I am being very challenged to wholeheartedly submit to Jesus. And I desperately want to. I know that His pond that He has for me is sooooo much greater than the mud puddle I've been settling for. I think it will be an everyday, for the rest of my life, challenge. But I know that His plans for me are greater than I can think or imagine.

What an adventure being a Christian is! Amen?!

Work Day - Church @ the Park

This weekend was a most busy one.

On Friday night, Mark and I went on a real live date. We drove to New Mexico {sounds funny to say that} and saw a Christian comedian. She was hysterical! We laughed and had a good ole time. So thankful for a night out!

Saturday our church had a work day. I spent most of the day either painting or taking care of Jack. He was teething, mucho, this weekend. So he was a bit of a crank. He took wonderful naps though and that allowed me to paint.

Near the end of the day, Saturday, Kate came and found me and wanted to help. She was the stinkin' cutest painter I'd seen that day! I just love her hair in pig tails. She actually did a great job. Only a few drops of paint ended up on her shirt and the tile floor. Neither of which I cared too much about. She was loving it!



Then on Sunday we had our annual church at the park. It was somewhat overcast and slightly cool this morning but it turned out to be a perfect day. The rain held off and it wasn't miserably hot like it has been in the past. So wonderful!

We had our service, something like 25 people or more were baptized, and then had a great picnic. It was really fun.

Here's my darling Kate again with two of her good buddies
Abi Dendy and Madison Bleger
Maddie's mom texted me this pic. Love it!

And here's poor poor Jack-a-bo
Wiped out from teething and no nap.
I love him

I'm. Trying. To. Get. There.

While cleaning out the garage last weekend, we ran across our push toys. I knew they were here somewhere lost in the chaos. So glad we found them. Jack loves to push them. He's pretty funny though because he gets frustrated quickly if he drive it into a chair or wall. He wants to keep moving and catch up with Bubba and Sister.

Why yes, I am having fun pushing this back and forth, back and forth...

Sure I can pose. How's this?Oh you liked that? Well here's another grin for ya. My gift to you mama!Okay now I really need to concentrate on what I'm trying to do here.

Peace out mama!

Are you following me? What are you? The paparazzi?

You just try and catch me woman...

Have you ever...

...been so tired that you do strange things at night when you're supposed to be sleeping?

The other day I was exhausted {I've also noticed that this has happened more right after each kid was born} and during the night I would randomly startle. Like if the cat jumped on the bed I'd sit straight up and say "oh my!" thinking that one of my kids rolled off the bed. I realize I'm doing it. I know it's not rational. I am also still sleeping...sort of.

There have been times I've grabbed Mark and told him to be quiet {ya know, at like 3 in the morning, when he's really loud....haha} Again, I know I'm asleep. I know nothing is wrong but it's like I can't control what my mind is thinking and therefore doing. It's the craziest thing. It's almost like I'm having night terrors. They are more frequent when I'm really tired and desperate for sleep.

I remember asking Mark one time if he remembered to put the baby {doesn't matter which one, I'm pretty sure I did it with all 3} back into the crib because I felt the cat jump off the bed and was terrified that I had fallen asleep nursing and had pushed the baby off. It's frightening sometimes?!

Have you ever experienced this?

Thankful Thursday

Today is Thursday. I'm so thankful that it is! My week has been, and is continuing to be, jam-packed. But I am thankful to slow down and remind myself of all I have to be thankful for!

I'm thankful...

...for my mother and father-in-law. They were a huge help and motivation this past weekend. Not to mention that we had a great visit with them. Shout out to Doug and Margie! Thank you!

...for simple fixes. Many times I think something is going to be too much to fix - either too expensive, too difficult, too time consuming etc... I'm glad that if you just go for it, chances are it's easier than you think.

...for the River church homeschooling moms. We had a meeting last night and it was wonderful. I can already tell that it's going to be an encouraging, uplifting, and way fun group to hang with every month! I can't wait!

...for coffee. I'm seriously needing some help moving myself this morning. I'm dragging!

...for Sacred Marriage. An amazing marriage book by Gary Thomas. I'm loving reading it and being challenged by it.

...for Kale's loft bed. For over a year we've been looking and praying about how to get one. They were expensive to buy and difficult to build. Then a friend said they didn't need theirs anymore and asked if we wanted it. An answer to prayer!

...for challenges. They build character and bring me closer to Jesus.

A few before and afters

I took a couple before pictures of my living room before just so you could see the amazing transformation. It may not look like much to you - especially if you've never seen the inside of my house - but it feels like a totally different place. I'm actually starting to feel like I live in an adult's house instead of a college-thrown-together place {no offense if you're still in college and throwing things together}. It's just different when you've been married 9 years and in the same house for almost 8 of those years and you are finally putting it together.

BeforeAfter: What is now our homeschooling area

Before: Clutter, video game stuff, broken chair rail...etc...After: Put up my shadow box, brought in a book shelf for our
thousand books + homeschooling books. Yikes! We love to read.
Before: Computer stuff, small book shelf, nothing really happening...After: A beautiful, wonderful place to sit and read books and more! {BTW, those are the pictures that I said yesterday were a bit of a challenge to put up - they turned out pretty awesome I think}I wish I had a before of this area. Basically the clock and picture weren't up. The TV sat on the top of our entertainment center because there were shelves inside the open area and it made the TV place too small. We removed the shelves, hid the clutter and now we have a grown up entertainment center.
Margie {my MIL} hung this picture up and decluttered my buffet.
It looks so nice now.Here are a couple cell phone pics of the kids' rooms. It was difficult to see because of the light coming through their windows so forgive the crazy lighting.
You get the idea though.

Kale got a loft bed. It's more like a ceiling bed. We need to build a ladder for it. Right now he looks like a monkey climbing up in it. He can't sit up or he'll get a face full of ceiling.Kate got a new bookshelf, a new picture and new curtains.
She was thrilled.And I really wish I had a before and after of the garage. That place...well you could barely walk around in there. After a winter and a summer of going through things in the house and just putting them in the garage to "deal with later" it was overwhelming. After 3 hours of organizing and arranging and sweeping and somewhat dusting and sneezing and listening to Sean Hannity we accomplished this monumental task. It was a job worth posting pictures!That's where we store our cow :) I mean steaks and ground beef and roasts and stuff.They even pyramid stacked our paint!

And our stuff to give away, fix or sell. We've got quite the pile!
So whether or not you wanted the full tour of our newly cleaned, painted and rearranged house, you got it. I hope you survived!