I Am...

I am...

...teaching my 4 year old to read in 100 easy lessons,

...teaching my 10 month old to drink from a cup,

...teaching my 9 year old geography,

...and geometry.

I am...

...making breakfasts, lunches, and dinners,

...and snacks, lots and lots of snacks.

I am...

...cleaning,
and then cleaning again.

I am researching, reading and choosing curriculum.
I am writing curriculum.
I am doing a Bible study and writing a Bible study.

I am washing, drying, folding, and sometimes I even put away laundry.

I am blogging and scrubbing and vacuuming and nursing, and I even do windows.

I am facebooking, pinning and sometimes crafting.

I am refereeing, entertaining, enforcing and training.

I am snuggling, rocking, kissing boo-boos, singing songs, and telling jokes.

I am counseling, coaching, and encouraging.

I am wiping hands, and noses, and bottoms.

I am praying.

I am tired.

I am taking a nap.

The end.

For Those with Human Mothers

Maybe it's because my third baby was born 9 years after my first...almost a decade...but mothering Anna has had me thinking a lot about those first few months mothering Aidan.  Maybe it's because I've grown up so much since then, learned so much that I didn't know then...about myself, about God, about mothering.  Maybe it's because she reminds me of him.  I don't know why, but I find myself hoping...hoping that I loved on him enough, that I cherished those fleeting baby months enough.  Hoping that I was patient enough, that I kissed his cheeks enough, rocked him enough.  How I'd love to hold him as a baby just one more time.  I was single then and spent most of my days terrified, wondering how we were going to make it from one month to the next.  My faith was small then.  As usual, God was still faithful.  I just wish I'd realized it more.  Hindsight.  I worried a lot.  About bills, and diapers and groceries and who would teach him to be a man...a good man.  I hope I didn't rush him too much in my fear.  I hope I loved him well.  Why God chose to bless me with Aidan, when I was such a mess of fear and dysfunction, and insecurity I'll never know.  Maybe it's because I have something unique to offer Aidan on his journey.  Maybe it was for all the things Aidan would teach me...about forgiveness, about God's love, about grace. 

Mothering is hard.  But not for the reasons we all think of...the endless dishes, and laundry, the sleepless nights...it's hard work for sure, but it's also just hard.  There's no help, no way to know if you're getting it right.  You don't know if you've gotten it right until it's too late to change it if you didn't.  If you're reading this, then your mother is human, and if your mother is human, she made mistakes.  Just like I'll make mistakes...and have already.  And, as much as I'd like to take them back...to go back and do a few things differently...to react differently, to have more patience, to enjoy it more, I can't.  So much of this is just a shot in the dark.  What if I'm doing this all wrong?  What if they resent that we sacrificed so much for me to be home with them?  What if they can't forgive me for not letting them participate in most of the culture that surrounds us?  What if I haven't taught them enough responsibility or self-discipline?  What if they wish I had let them play more sports?  Or less?  Have I equipped them for the marriages they'll some day have?  Have I taught them how to use money?  How to love people?  It's hard and scary, and we only get one shot at it, and there are no do overs. 

When I said, “My foot is slipping, ”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
 When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:18-19

Thankfully, when the anxiety rises, that still, small voice breaks through.  I am not alone in this.  There is ONE who knows.  The one who created my children-the one who died for them-the one who in His wisdom, saw fit to give them to me--he speaks to me.  He helps me navigate all this.  And, if I'm listening, what he's telling me is to teach them grace.  To teach them how fallen we all are...even the "best" of us.  To teach them how desperate we are for a savior, and to teach them that this savior has come.  Not only for me...their very human, very inept mother...but for them...for all of us.  Above all else, I am to teach them this gospel story that we are all a part of...while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  And while I was still human, and still a sinner, God called me to participate in the divine...to pass this gospel down to these 3 little souls that live in my home and call me mommy. 

It is my greatest calling.  And it shakes me to my very core to think I may not do it right.  So, I cling to Him.  I hold on for dear life.  I need Him...his grace, his forgiveness.  I am so desperate for Him.  I need thee every hour second.

Be encouraged moms!  God is with you.  HE gave you these children.  He called you to this great purpose.  And he will equip you.  And, if you are the child of a very human mother, maybe this year, for Mother's Day, you could show her a little grace.  Because so much grace has been extended to all  of us.  We have ALL been forgiven so much.  And God draws us to repentance with his kindness, his love and his grace.  So, if you know a mom that could use a little of that this weekend, maybe it's your own mother, extend it to her.  Spread a little heaven on earth for a mom this weekend.  We could all use it, for while this is a beautiful and rewarding calling, it's not always an easy one.

Today

Today, I am thankful.

Today, I am thankful that Anna's extra long nap threw off our schedule, so that Ella and I ended up eating our lunch in the car, while parked at the grocery store.  She loved sitting in the front seat with me to share our lunch.  And she chattered away...and for once there was nothing to distract me so I chattered away with her.

I am thankful that I had the time this morning to take Aidan's hands in mine and pray with him before he went to school...that he would have a good day, and be a light in the darkness, and point others to Jesus.

I am thankful that every time Anna sees me from across the room, not only does she smile, but she kicks her feet and waves her arms, and if I start coming towards her, she starts laughing.  Pure joy.

I am thankful that Ella pretends my book light is a cell phone...

...and she used it to call God...

...and told Him she really likes his dancing.

I am thankful that Ella helped unload and put away the groceries today...without being asked.

I am thankful that Ella was a perfect angel in the grocery store...that was never the case just a year ago...hey, this parenting stuff really works...if you keep at it, and never give up.

I am thankful that while we were waiting in the LONG line at the grocery store, Ella said, "I am frustrated that we have to wait!  I'm going to tell God." 

I am thankful that after telling God she was frustrated, Ella sang, "I told God I'm frustrated and he said, 'be happy,' so now I'm Haaaaaaaaaaaapppppppppppppppy!!"

I am thankful that Ella loves to find new ways to make her baby sister laugh...and always makes me laugh in the process.

Mostly, I am thankful that I get to be here for all of this...and not somewhere else...hearing about all this from someone else.  I'm thankful that we're making this one income thing work...even though insurance is going up (again), and groceries are going up, and gas is going up and the paycheck is staying the same (again)...I'll leave all that up to God...I'll just call him, tell him it's frustrating, and then, I'll be happy...happy to be here, raising my kids and filling them with good things.  Today, I am very thankful.

Right Now

Right now, both of my girls are asleep.  The back door is open and the birds are singing.  And I am just sitting here, writing this.  I should be making the bed or picking up toys or wiping down the bathroom sinks and potties...or washing/drying/folding/hanging/ironing laundry...or working on dinner/dessert for tonight or vacuuming or any one of the zillion other things that need to get done today.  But, both girls are asleep.  That means, no one is climbing/crawling/nursing on me.  No one is asking me questions...or needing me to get them anything...there are no cartoons on...it is quiet and peaceful, and I haven't had quiet or peaceful in far too many days.  I am sitting here looking at my peach trees, listening to the birds, and I don't want to move.  I know that at any moment, one of the girls could wake up...and then it will take me 3 times as long to do any one item on my list than it would if I got up and did it right now.  But, it's quiet, and I'm tired, and I need just a minute to sit here...at least for right now.  Maybe in a minute I'll get up and tackle my list, but for right now, I am staying right here.

 ...stand still and consider the wonders God works.

Job 37:14

Thankful

Lately, I've been feeling very thankful for all the blessings in my life.  I've had several periods of being overwhelmed by God's blessings for me.  It's a good place to be. 

Here are just a few of the things I have been feeling especially grateful for recently:
Last night, Mark and I took the kids out to eat in honor of the anniversary of our first date.  As we sat there with our 3 beautiful children, I felt in awe of it all.  It all started with that first date, and now we have this sweet little family.  My heart is filled to overflowing just thinking of it. 

After eating, we went to Lowe's just to look around.  If I had known when I was younger that I would one day think going to Lowe's was a fun night out, I would have cried!  But we enjoy going and looking and planning projects for our house (that may or may not get completed!).  Last night we bought another bird feeder and looked at fruit trees.  We looked at materials for building a fire pit, and the kids and I looked at vegetable seeds and contemplated having a garden.  It was a really sweet family time and I felt very grateful the whole time we were there.  I loved that my husband just had to get the last platform feeder that was there...it looks like a porch swing, and Mark hung it in our tree as soon as he got home.  I am thankful to be married to a man that loves what I love.

I remember when I was little, every time I spent the night with my grandmother, she would get into bed at night and say, "I'm so thankful for my bed.  Lots of people don't have a bed to sleep in tonight."  I thought of her last night when I finally went to bed...aching and tired, I was very grateful for my bed last night, and grateful that my grandmother set an example of being thankful for what we have.

In the middle of the night, Anna woke up to eat.  I was so tired.  I could hardly keep my eyes open.  But, when I reached into her bed to pick her up, she gave me a big gummy smile, and I melted.  It was all worth it for that smile.  I held her long after she finished eating, with her little head against my cheek, breathing in her sweet baby goodness.  I thought about how fortunate I was to have her, even at 4:00 in the morning.  How many  people out there are longing to hold a baby of their own in their arms.  God is good.

In the morning, Aidan was up and dressed long before I even got up.  He was excited because he was riding his new bike to school by himself.  I could tell he felt older...he was carrying himself differently.  And, as I watched him ride down the street on his bike without ever looking back, my heart filled with pride and gratefulness for this boy.

After I went inside, I sat at the table drinking my coffee and watching the birds at our feeders, and thought about how good this life is that we've built together, God has lavished upon us.

And later, Ella and I sat snuggled up together in blankets on the couch watching cartoons.  She wasn't feeling well, so she was particularly snuggly.  I loved having her there by my side, safe and warm.  I thought about how abundantly God has poured out his love on our family.
God has been teaching me about contentment lately.  I am so glad I have been able to step back and see what I have and enjoy it all.  I have a good life.  I don't have everything I'd like to have, but I have everything that matters, and for that, I am grateful beyond words.

Straight from my Brain

A few random things:

-I tried the Shatter nail polish that I've heard so much about.  Everyone seems to love it.  Even the woman that cut Ella's hair was raving about it.  So I tried it.  I used silver shatter over bright pink polish.  It looks like somebody messed up my nail polish.  Is this the look we're going for now?  I don't get it.   Did I do something wrong?  Ella loves it, so maybe I'm just too old mature for shatter nail polish.  Thanks anyway, Santa.

-Ella and I were watching Wild Kratts this morning.  It was about elephants.  Did you know that elephants only sleep 4 hours a night?  And, they are not consecutive hours.  I think Anna is part elephant.

-I just began a sentence with "and."  My 5th grade teacher would be appalled.

-I've lost 3 pounds since Mark went back to work on Monday.  I think he is a bad influence on me.

-I told Ella to turn the TV down the other day and she refused.  So, I said, "turn it down, or I am going to turn it off."  She sighed, rolled her eyes and said, "You have SO many rules."  Is she 3 or 13??

-We haven't taken our Christmas decorations down yet.  I just can't seem to find the time, or the energy or the motivation.  I've seriously considered throwing them all away and starting again next year. 

-Ella wants to have a dinosaur party for her 4th birthday.  I would love for her to have a more girly party...like fairies or Alice in Wonderland...but, she wants dinosaurs.  Sigh. 

-I can't believe Ella is going to be 4 soon.  Wow.  That just astounds me...where has my baby gone?

-I went to the doctor the other day for my follow-up appointment.  She asked if I had felt sad or blue since the baby was born.  I honestly don't know.  With 3 kids, who has time to feel sad?  Or think about if they're feeling sad?  You know what I feel?  Tired.  That's about it.

-Since I've been writing this, Ella has colored her face and her tummy with lip liner.  Awesome.
I think that means this post is over.

**Oh, one more thing...see that gyro-bowl in this picture?  We got one for Christmas.  They are supposed to be "unspillable."  My kids spilled it twice in the first 15 minutes.  Where do we sign up for those gifted classes??

A Few Things

Just sharing some randomness today...too tired for much else!

I am almost 36 weeks pregnant.  In fact, the baby is due exactly 1 month from today.  It seems so far away...until I start thinking about all that I need to do, and then it seems really close.

The pregnancy seems to have hit especially hard this week.  I've felt a major slow down.  My back and my hips hurt, I have constant heartburn, and I can't sleep.  I'm short of breath most of the time.  Two little feet poking into your lungs will do that to you.  I hate that I feel so bad at this time of year.  The weather is so pretty, and there are so many fun fall things to do, but I'm having trouble finding the energy.  We haven't decorated for Halloween, and I never got around to planning our annual pumpkin carving party, so I guess those are things we're going to skip this year.  I didn't mean to skip them, it just kind of happened by default.  I'm glad I have understanding kids. 

Speaking of my kids, I am watching them play with hot wheels in the kitchen floor right now.  We let Aidan stay home from school today.  Mark had already taken the day off because he had some things he needed to do today.  We let Aidan stay up to watch the Rangers try to win the World Series last night.  We had no idea it would go into the 11th inning and last until midnight.  He was so tired.  Many times I looked over and thought the responsible thing would be to make him go to bed.  But he was wrapped in a blanket, snuggled up next to his daddy and they were high-fiving and cheering and groaning together...and I thought, some things are more important.  So, we all slept in this morning.  Aidan and Mark went to get donuts together this morning.  I noticed that Aidan just walks differently when he's with his daddy.  He carries himself differently.  I am so glad they have each other.  Boys need their dads, no doubt about it.  I said a little prayer this morning for all the boys growing up without one...there are far too many.

So, right now Aidan and Ella are playing hot wheels together on the floor, and Ella has been laughing big belly laughs all morning.  Though I feel a little twinge of guilt about not making Aidan go to school today, as I'm watching this scene I have to think again, some things are more important.  Sometimes, you just need a day to reconnect, to rest, to just play.  I know I was very grateful to sleep in this morning and have my husband bring me donuts and coffee.  He is such a good man, and I'm so thankful for him.

Ella is cracking me up (as usual) this morning.  She is wearing the new black dress shoes that my mom bought her with her play clothes.  As much as she hates all things girly...dresses, skirts, etc....the girl has inherited her mother's serious love of shoes.  She clapped her hands and jumped up and down when I showed her the 2 new pairs of shoes from Nana.  She's been wearing them ever since.  She wore them with her pajamas last night.  I had to talk her into taking them off to get into bed.  So, she carefully took them off, buckled them and put them right beside her bed.  Then, she put them on first thing this morning.  Aidan tried to get her to put on socks and slide around the kitchen floor with him earlier, but she refused to take off her shoes.  She said, "but I love my shoes."

I love that both of the kids are excited about their new sister.  They both love to talk to my belly.  Aidan discovered that if he put his face next to my belly and made a high pitched squeaking noise the baby would kick his hand.  Ella can't wait to read her a story and give her a bottle (that'll be a little tricky at first since I'll be nursing, but I'm sure we can work something out!).

We are all really bummed about missing our Arkansas Thanksgiving this year.  In fact, I need to find the energy in the next few days to make Frozen Salad for the boys.  They both love it, and I don't think Aidan will accept that it is Thanksgiving without it.  I'm planning to make it and freeze it until Thanksgiving.  It should be an interesting holiday this year with my sister in-law and I both due to have our babies that week.  We may be having Hospital Turkey this year (oh I hope not!!). 

Well, I guess that's all for now...if you think of us this week, pray for rest and energy!  One month to go!!

Rambling from the Pregnant Cat Lady

I'm writing this from the only comfortable spot I can find anymore...my arm chair in my living room.  I can put my feet up, and it has 2 arms that I can use to propel myself into a standing position should the need arise.  I am almost 34 weeks pregnant.  I have 6 weeks and 2 days to go...not that I am keeping track.  I am thinking my next blog post could be titled, "1001 Ways to Get Things off the Floor without Bending Over."  I've had to get quite creative in the last couple of weeks.  I haven't gained much weight with this pregnancy.  I really haven't had much of an appetite.  The baby has grown just fine, which is good.  But over the past week, that all changed.  All the sudden, I am ravenous all the time.  Not just a little hungry, but STARVING.  I eat, and 5 minutes later my stomach is growling again. I wake up hungry in the middle of the night.  I have a feeling I'm going to start packing on the pounds.

This morning, at 7:30, three of Aidan's friends from school showed up at our house unexpectedly.  They decided to hang out here until it was time to go to school.  They also decided to raid our refrigerator.  I realized that in the not too distant future, these boys will all be teenagers with EVEN bigger appetites.  I'm going to have to keep a LOT more food on hand.  Our little eating machine, has grown 4 inches so far this year!  Yikes.  That growth was fueld by many bowls of cereal, many tubes of yogurt and about a million peanut butter sandwiches.  He'll also eat as much taco casserole and salmon patties as you'll give him.  He's 8.  Heaven help us when he's a teenager. 

While Aidan's friends were here this morning, one of them asked me if I had a job.  When I said no he said, "so what do you do, just stay here and take care of that cat all day?"  Yep, that's what I do...take care of the cat...all day, every day.  It's a full time job.

I think the baby's name is probably Anna Kate.  But, I haven't decided that to the point that I'm ready to do anything permanent...like put it on her registry, or put it in her room anywhere. 

In other random news, Mark and I have been doing some serious talking about becoming goat farmers.  I'll give you a minute to stop laughing.


Better?  Seriously though...wouldn't it be cool to move your family to the country, buy some goats and chickens and live a simpler life.  I know it would be hard work, but hard physical labor makes you feel so much better than hard mental/emotional labor.  We're thinking about it...you only live once, right?  We've also talked about having a farm and hosting summer camps for kids that would like to experience life on a farm for a while in the summer.  We found out after we were already married that we both had a dream to run a camp for kids.  We don't even know where to begin, but we're talking about it...looking into it, talking to some people that have done it.  You never know where God might lead.

Well, that's all I have for today.  Thanks for stopping by to read this...I don't have much to say lately.  I've been pretty preoccupied with baby stuff, house selling stuff, etc.  But, I'm glad I got to check in and say hi.

Love,
The Pregnant Cat Lady

34 Things I Know:

1.  A little appreciation goes a long way.  We're all trying to figure out what in the world we're doing and if we're doing it right, so when someone notices, it makes a huge difference.  It works for everyone...bosses, friends, family, children and especially husbands.

2.  Take grumpy children and place them in water...any kind of water...bathtubs, swimming pools, sprinklers.  Works every time.  (Don't hold them under or anything, just let them play and relax.)

3.  If my kids are in a stage of being grumpy, whiny, clingy, or just down right mean, it usually means I am not spending enough one on one time with them...schedule a date immediately.

4.  If I am in a stage of being grumpy, whiny, clingy or just down right mean, it usually means I am not spending enough time with my Father...schedule a date immediately.

5. You should not buy off-brand graham crackers, Grape Nuts, or dishwashing detergent.

6. Bad boys are overrated.  You know that "mysterious" quality that makes a boy seem so "bad" to begin with??  It's selfishness.  There, mystery solved.  Move on to someone more deserving of you.

7.  Oxi-Clean will get out old milk stains that you didn't know were in your baby's clothes, until after you have stored them in the attic for 4 years.  Yep, it gets out 4 year old milk stains.  Love that stuff.

8.  Kids like cartoons with obnoxious songs.  Accept it.

9.  One of the best things you can do to help your kids in school?  Read to them...a lot...from the time they are old enough to sit in your lap.  Trust me...it works.

10.  Comparing what you have with what others have is a sure way to be miserable.

11.  Being thankful for every blessing you have been given is a sure way to find joy.

12. Use things, love people...not the other way around.

13.  If your mother says something that infuriates you, she's probably right, and you probably already know that.

14. Being rebellious is not always a bad thing.  Jesus was rebellious.  Rebel against injustice and low standards.

15. Honesty is amazingly refreshing.

16. The world measures success by how much money or attention something gains.  But, real success is measured by how many people something affects in a positive way.

17. Kids like toys that allow them to use their imagination.  These are usually the most inexpensive toys.  If a toy does everything for the child (you know, the expensive ones) they will play with it exactly 3 times, become bored with it and bury it in their closet...but then swear it is their most favorite toy ever in the whole world if you try to get rid of it.  Save your money...and your closet space.

18. Kids just want to make you happy.  If they find that nothing makes you happy, when they are teenagers they will switch to just trying to make you miserable.  Hey, some emotion is better than no emotion, right?

19.  As bad as it sounds, it is good for people to experience some disappointment and pain.  It is good for people to struggle.  Anyone that tries to always protect you from all negative experience and emotion does so to your detriment.

20.  The world could use more people of real courage.

21.  I am blessed with lots of people that love me and that I love in return.  My parents, my husband, my kids...but as much as I love them, there is only ONE that has been there, every moment...seen every tear cried in secret, laughed along with me, protected me when I didn't even know I needed it, blessed me beyond measure, had a plan for me...a plan to give me abundant life, heard every thought (even the bad ones), known every insecurity and where it came from...and loved me with an everlasting love in spite of all of it...and THAT is the person that has my whole heart and all of my devotion.

22.  I am responsible for my own happiness.  Whenever I start looking to someone else or something else to make me happy (or blaming them for my unhappiness), I'm the one with a problem, not them.

23.  God is good.  All the time.  I can never be more fair or loving than He is.  If I start to think I am, I need to get a new perspective.

24.  We take ourselves too seriously.

25.  We don't take God seriously enough.

26.  If your kids aren't paying enough attention to you, act like you're trying to talk on the phone.  You will become the center of their world.

27.  Be predictable when disciplining your children and unpredictable while having fun with them.

28. It takes two to argue.  If you're right, you'll still be right even if you don't argue.

29.  You can live on a lot less money than you think you can.

30.  Not having everything you want leads to a lot of self-reliance and ingenuity.  If I had a lot of money, I never would have known that Mark can fix a water heater and leaky pipes, and I can fix an ice maker and get 4 year old stains out of baby clothes.

31.  Always pay cash up front.  Always.  Debt is bad.  I'll say it again, debt is bad.  If God hasn't provided the means for you to buy it without going into debt, you probably don't need it.

32. Your day will go better if you make your bed as soon as you wake up.  It just does.

33. One load of laundry each day...no more, no less.  Wash it, dry it, put it away...resist the urge to do more.  It will change your life.

34. The last 34 years have been full of God's blessings and provision.  He has never let me down...not once.  It's always been an adventure, and I can't wait to see what's next!  Happy birthday to me.  :)

Me, 34 years ago!

I Hope:

Dear Aidan, Ella and New Lovely Baby that is yet to be named,

I hope that you grow up to be very happy...and not the "I have a great career/family/clothes/toys/house" kind of happy that you see on TV.  But the kind of happy that is not dependent on circumstances, and certainly not dependent on material things.  I hope you have that deep, peaceful joy that you sense in some people...a quiet spirit that draws people to you and to Christ.  I hope you have the kind of happiness that comes from knowing, without doubt, that no matter what hand life deals, you are resting in the arms of your creator.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:12-13


I hope that you love people.  Really, really love people.  Nothing would make me more proud of you than to see you devote your lives to loving each other, and to loving other people.  It is why we are here.  As you get older you will see that people spend their lives searching for happiness and fulfillment.  They are constantly running to and fro trying to make themselves feel good.  It is all in vain.  I will tell you a secret, my sweet babies, you will never, ever feel as fulfilled as you will when you are showing love to others.

"A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  Luke 13:34-35


I hope that you will be totally sold out for Christ.  I hope you follow hard after him.  What adventures you will have!  He is never boring!  When following Him, there is always a miracle, or a surprise just around the corner.  Everything else you work to obtain in this life will pass away.  It will wind up in a dump some day or a garage sale.  What you do for Christ will last for an eternity.  There is nothing sweeter than to know God and to be known by Him.  Sometimes, he will ask you to do hard things...things the world won't understand...things you won't understand.  Follow Him.  You will be so glad you did.  Don't live the way our culture tells you to live.  Choose the path less taken!  You won't be sorry.

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."  Philippians 3:7-9


I hope that you won't believe the lies the world tells you...the ones that say you have to look a certain way or be a certain way, or have certain things to be acceptable.  I pray that you live for an audience of one.  God is the only person you have to please...not your friends, not me, not your dad...only Him.  Be men and women after God's heart.  That is how I hope you measure your success.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  1 Samuel 16:7


Finally, I hope that some day you will be listening to a sermon, or singing a worship song, or reading your Bible and you will come across a loving attribute of God that speaks to your heart.  And I hope that you will think to yourselves, "yeah, I get that.  I understand that kind of love because that is how my mom and dad loved us."  I hope we have been good examples to you of loving parents, so that you will always be able to grasp the character of God.  I know we haven't been perfect, like God, but I hope we've given you a good start into knowing your Heavenly Father who loves you.

And one last thought:

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."  Philippians 4:4-9


Love,
Mommy

For Your Amusement

Do you ever read people's facebook posts or blogs and think, "wow, what a great mom."  Or, "they really have it all together."  Or, "where do they find the time?"  That will not be how you feel after you read this post.  Please feel free to laugh at me about what I'm going to tell you...I've been laughing about it since it happened!  This is real life from the trenches!  Ha!

Last week I offered to help Aidan's teacher put together some folders for her class.  She said she would leave all the materials for me in her rolling cart in the office.  So, Friday morning, I picked up the rolling cart from Aidan's school, brought it home and assembled all the folders.  That afternoon, I was ready to take the cart and the folders back to school, but the kids were exhausted, and were quietly watching a movie on the couch.  Plus, it was 150 degrees outside, roughly.  Since the school is at the end of our street and all I had to do was drop the cart off in the office, I told the kids they could stay here.  It was going to be less than 5 minutes.  So, I gave Aidan my cell phone number and cautioned him to not answer the phone or the door, NO MATTER WHAT.  So, I locked all the doors, rolled the cart out to the van and prepared to put it in the back.  Then, I realized I had left my keys inside.  Locked my keys inside.  So, I went to the door and started knocking.  No one answered.  I tried calling on my cell phone.  Again, no answer.  What obedient children I have!  I kept knocking, and was about to give up and go around to the back door so they could see me (if they weren't hiding!), when I hear this little voice say, "who is it?"  Aidan had looked out the window and realized our van was still in the driveway.  He was so scared when he opened the door.  He had tried to call me on my cell phone but couldn't get through, because I was trying to call him at the same time.  I felt really bad for him, and frustrated with myself.  But, it gets better.

So, I got my keys, and told the kids to REALLY not go to the door this time.  I was flustered and in a hurry, and I think it was now 175 degrees outside.  I quickly jumped in my car, trying not to fry my legs on the hot seat, threw it into reverse and backed up.  Then my heart fell into my stomach as I heard, "Bam!" followed by "Crunch."  I had left the rolling cart behind the van.  I had flattened the rolling cart...the rolling cart that belongs to Aidan's teacher!  It was completely flat in the driveway and one of the wheels was broken off.  Ugh.  I tried to fix it, but it was beyond repair.  All of my aspirations to be Room Mom of the Year died with that rolling cart.

So, my quick 5 minute trip to the school turned into quite the fiasco.  It seems to be a talent of mine!  Can anyone else relate?

Power Not Fear

School is back in session!  I miss my boys.  :(  I feel so blessed that our whole family gets to be together for the summer.  I know most families don't have that luxury.  It is such a great time for our family.  I especially love how Aidan and Ella get to bond more with their daddy, and how closely bonded they became over the summer.  They were thick as thieves, playing in their bedrooms every day.  Some days they were campers and hikers, some days they were orphans (living in a closet), some days Ella was the mommy and Aidan was the baby...they built a fort almost every day.  I love that they are making sweet memories that will bind them together throughout their lives.  I got really sad last week thinking about Aidan going back to school.  It just seems so odd for him to be somewhere else all day long.  He's my helper, and I miss him when he's not here.  Ella misses him too.  She cried when we dropped him off yesterday.  And for most of the day she kept saying, "I want him back."  Me too!  I know we'll get used to it, but it seems pretty awful to get used to someone not being here.  I'm missing Mark too.  I am so blessed to have the kind of husband that takes great care of me.  He kept things running smoothly at the house and helped me keep it "show ready" all summer...not an easy task when we're all here ALL day.  Mostly, I just miss having a grown up to talk to!

As I was processing all of these "going back to school" emotions last week, God laid something on my heart that has really changed the way I think about sending Aidan back to school.  I wanted to share it with you, maybe it will give you some insight too.  See, we had trouble with Aidan at the beginning of summer. He was getting a little bit of a smart mouth on him, and not always obeying the first time.  It was nothing terrible, but more than we were willing to accept from an 8 year old for sure!  But, as the summer progressed, he matured so much.  He turned back into the sweet, loving boy we adore.  He started helping out more without being asked.  He started treating his sister kindly and really having fun with her.  I feared that when school started again, we would lose all the progress we made over the summer.  I've also been discouraged lately about all the influences in the world that we have to protect him from...tv, movies, music...they all seem geared at making kids grow up too fast.  I was really struggling with this and fearful about it.  I was feeling overwhelmed.

Then God started speaking.  Isn't it funny how when God starts speaking all those feelings of being overwhelmed and afraid, just fade?  It started when I read a quote online somewhere (I will try to find who said it...but it escapes me at the moment).  It said, "I don't want my kids to just survive the world.  I want them to change it."  God whispered to my heart when I read that quote.  I spend a lot of time thinking about how to help my kids survive this world...watch out for this, don't do this, do this...and not nearly enough time teaching them how to change it.  And when I really started thinking about it, I realized that most Christians are not aware of the power we have available to us.  Why would we ever be worried about anything?  God really started dealing with me on this idea.  Protecting our kids and warning them about potential pitfalls is important.  After all, we have an enemy that prowls around like a lion, seeking someone to devour(1 Peter 5:8).  They need to realize that.  But we need to also teach them that this shouldn't make them feel afraid.  Because while the Bible does talk about what we need to watch out for, it spends a lot more time talking about what we should be doing...how we should be using God's power that lives inside us to change this world.  When I read my Bible, there are warnings there about what to be careful about, but there are also verses like this:

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Cor. 10:3-5


and this one:
"Pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of his mighty strength."  Ephesians 1:18-19


and one of my favorites:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7


I don't know a lot of Christians that live like they have a spirit of power.  I think the world has beat it out of us sometimes.  I want my kids to be different.  Because the other thing that God revealed to me was that if I teach them about that power...teach them how to tap into it...they'll be hooked.  And all that other stuff...the inappropriate music, the tv shows, the friends that try to lead them astray...they won't want anything to do with it.  Once you've felt just a little bit of that power...the power of really loving someone, the power of making a difference for someone, the power of overcoming fear and insecurity...you don't ever want to walk away from it.  I want my kids to be so busy doing what God has for them, that they have no time for anything this world may have to offer.  Then, they will be fulfilled.  Then, they will change the world.

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."  1 John 4:4

A Popsicle and A Hug

There is a little girl that lives in my neighborhood.  I don't know her name.  I don't know how old she is.  She is not very big...much smaller than Aidan.  But, she has a way about her that makes you think she's older.  I'm not even sure where she lives.  I just know that she walks down my street every afternoon after school.  I've been watching her and wondering about her for two years.  She always wears pants that are much too short.  Not just a little too short, but WAY too short.  Her shoes are always worn out and never the right size...usually a couple of sizes too big, so they flop around when she walks.  She always wears a jacket or a sweater, no matter how hot it is outside, like she's trying to cover up a secret hurt.  I don't know her story.  I know nothing about her home life.  But, my heart aches for her just the same.  She never says much.  Once, she told me that she really liked all of my pretty flowers.  Sometimes she smiles, but she always watches me carefully as she walks by my house.  I make sure to always smile at her.  Just in case no one else does.

I stand out in front of my house every afternoon so I can watch Aidan walk home.  I greet him each day with a hug.  Or I'll tousle his hair and ask him how his day was.  I'm glad I get to be here to greet him when he comes home.  It seems like a trivial thing.  But, sometimes the trivial things mean the most.  This little girl made me realize what a gift I've been given to be here with my kids during the day.  One day she was walking just a little in front of Aidan.  I smiled at her, as usual.  Then I hugged Aidan and said, "hey buddy.  How was your day?"  Before Aidan could answer, this quiet little girl said, "there's nothing better in the world than to have someone waiting for you at home to give you a hug and a popsicle."  I looked at her.  She just said it as she walked.  She didn't stop or slow down.  "Do you have anyone at home to give you a hug?" I asked.  "No, there's no one at home," she said, at almost a whisper as she kept walking.

My heart hurt for her.  Maybe her family is neglectful.  Or maybe they are just doing what they have to in order to get by.  I don't know.  I wish that I could invite her into my home.  Give her a hug...and a popsicle.  Ask her how her day was.  Look at the papers in her backpack and make a big deal over the good grades...and help her fix the bad ones.  I want to let her know that I see her, and that I care about her...and that God sees her, and He cares about her too.  I know it's not appropriate to do those things for a girl I don't even know.  But, I'll keep praying for her, and maybe God will open some doors for me to talk to her more.

In the meantime, I will remember what a blessing it is that I get to be here when my own child comes home.  Sometimes my job is so monotonous that I forget what a blessing and honor it is.  May I never take for granted the gift...no, the many gifts...I've been given:  my husband, who values my being at home with our kids, and supports me in that role, my beautiful healthy children, my comfortable home, financial provision that allows me to be here, and my sweet relationship with my Savior, everything good about me as a woman and a mother comes from Him.  I have to agree with that precious little girl.  There is NOTHING better than having someone waiting for you at home.  We all need a safe place to land at the end of the day.  I am so grateful that I can be that for my family.

Warms My Heart

Every once in a while, your kids do something that makes you think, "maybe I'm not totally messing them up."  Last week, we had one of those moments.  Ella was sitting on the floor watching cartoons when Aidan got home from school.  He plopped down in the chair and entered his cartoon-induced stupor.  Ella crawled up beside him and said, "I missed you bubba.  Did you miss me?"  Aidan smiled and said, "yes."  Ella snuggled up to him and said, "I love you bubba."  I just about choked on the lump in my throat.  Usually, they are typical siblings...they know which buttons to push and they push them over and over, the only toys they want to play with are the ones the other one has...that kind of thing...so when they have a moment like this, it really warms my heart.  When I was pregnant with Ella, I feared they wouldn't be close, being 5 years apart in age and different genders.  But, they are thick as thieves most of the time, a fact I am most grateful for, except when they team up against me!  There is something indescribably precious about seeing two people you love so desperately loving each other.

Ella adores Aidan.  And Aidan pretends like he hates that...but I know he secretly loves it.  Sometimes during the day, at completely random times, Ella will say to me, "Aidan's my brother.  I love him." (sometimes she gets confused and says "sister"...Aidan says that's because his hair is getting so long). Whenever she does something that she thinks is particularly funny, she says, "I'm funny, just like Aidan."  Of course, she also calls him a "stinky boy."

 Aidan is a little too cool for all this mushiness, but sometimes when I catch him doing something nice for her, he'll shrug and say, "well, she is my sister."  I fear for Ella's dating possibilities, since she will have a large, over-protective big brother.  No one is allowed to say or do anything mean to Ella when Aidan's around.  More than once, I've over heard him saying, "hey, that's my sister!"  Aidan also takes it upon himself to make sure I am fair to Ella.  He almost came unglued when he mistakenly thought I wasn't going to allow Ella to go to a friend's birthday party.  Apparently, he reserves the sole right to drive his sister crazy.  No one else is allowed.  I am so glad they have each other (except when Aidan is annoying his sister in the back seat of the car and Ella is screaming, "NO!!" so shrilly that I worry the windows will shatter).  Even though they invest great amounts of time and energy into driving each other crazy, when they have a moment like the one last week, I know they will be such a blessing to each others' lives.  I pray that they will always be close.

Monday Motivation:

It's Monday.  Monday is always a catch up day for me.  After having the whole family at home all weekend, I need a day to put the house back in order, get caught up on some laundry, plan out our meals for the week, etc.  It's my day to get back into the swing of things, and sometimes it's a little hard to get going.  Being a mom is just so constant...and sometimes repetitive.  Sometimes I think if I have to empty and reload the dishwasher one more time I'm going to lose my mind.  So, if you, like me, need a little extra coffee, and move just a little bit slower on Monday mornings, here is some motivation for you:

"Do not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  Galatians 6:9


As a mom, I love this verse, because it speaks such promise.  Sometimes, the "good" I'm doing is not very glamorous.  Sometimes, it's washing dishes and underwear and cleaning toothpaste off the vanity for the umpteenth time.  And, here's the kicker: being cheerful and loving while I do it.  Maybe this isn't the "good" that Paul had in mind when he wrote Galatians.  The "good" we do doesn't have to be glamorous or newsworthy to be good.  A big focus of my life right now is to make my home a peaceful place where my family feels cared for and cherished.  I know, this will help my children grow into loving, happy adults.  And, it is my heart's desire, that they will see the love I have comes from the Father, and they will grow to love Him also...and reap a harvest.  So, this week, as you do the dishes and the laundry, cook meals, shop for groceries, and do the dishes and the laundry AGAIN, remember that no act of love is ever in vain.

So, don't grow weary...in your work...in being patient and loving, in restraining negative thoughts and words...in loving discipline...in encouraging...in helping with homework...in being a soft place to land for your family...even though you may not see it now...you are sowing seeds that will some day turn into a beautiful harvest...if you do not give up.  And when you're very tired and you feel like you just can't wash one more dish or read one more story...when every time you sit down, someone needs you to get up...remember you are not alone:

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. 

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; 

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Have a beautiful week!

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday...I won't tell you her age, you wouldn't believe me anyway, because she looks beautiful for her age.
In honor of my mom's birthday, I'd like to share a few of my favorite memories of her.  I'm betting she doesn't even remember some of these!  :)

One of my earliest memories is of my mom rocking me in a 70's gold rocking chair. She would sing "You are my Sunshine" and "Clementine."  I still sing these songs to my kids.  Thank you mom...you taught me the power of touch and affection and closeness.  Now, I cherish these moments with my own children.

Another time, I was home alone and scared, so I called my mom at work.  She told me to read the 23rd Psalm.  I read that familiar passage that night and let the words sink in and wash over me.  It was soothing to my soul.  She taught me that God's word is powerful and applies to our daily life.  Thank you for teaching me to turn to God's word in times of fear or loneliness or anxiety.  I still turn to it for comfort and guidance today.

My mom really knew how to celebrate holidays.
For Valentine's day, she would help me decorate a shoe box.  Mine was always the most beautiful one at school.

For Halloween, she decorated the house with spooky green light bulbs and fake spider webs.  Our house was always the scariest house on our street.  Once she planned a Halloween party for our friends and put witch's fingers and dry ice in the sink.

At Christmas, she went all out.  She decorated and put beautifully wrapped presents under the tree.  She would write us letters from Santa and once even had someone to pretend to be Santa and call us.  (my brother the skeptic answered the phone and declared it a fraud)

Once, she got me a cabbage patch preemie for my birthday and arranged for someone to deliver it to our front door.  (my brother got to the door first and then slammed the door in the person's face)
Mom still makes holidays and birthdays special.
Thanks for letting us experience a little magic in our childhood...and for teaching us to take time to celebrate.

My mom has always loved plants and being outdoors.  One time, she let me help her plant daffodil bulbs.  I was so excited when they bloomed in the spring that I got my camera and took dozens of pictures of them.  I now plant daffodils in my own yard.  Thanks for teaching us to appreciate nature and the beauty of God's creation.  I have learned so many lessons from a garden.


As a child, I was notorious for bringing home every stray animal I could find.  There's no telling how many homeless animals I rescued.  She always let me keep them.  I think deep down...under the "who's going to feed it, walk it, bathe it, clean up after it??" speech, she felt as sorry for them as I did.  (Oh, and she was always the one to feed it, walk it, bathe it, etc...no matter how much I promised otherwise--she's paid me back by sending a stray cat my way recently).  Thank you for teaching me the value of life and compassion for the less fortunate.


On cold mornings, mom always had a mug of hot chocolate and windmill cookies waiting for us before school.  Sometimes, she would warm our clothes by the fire so they would be nice and toasty when we slipped into them.  Now, I love making hot chocolate and windmill cookies for my little ones...I want them to feel as warm and snuggly as I did.  Mom, thanks for teaching me warmth.


Every year for Christmas, mom would buy us an art kit, or a craft kit, or something to encourage our creativity.  I still find joy in being creative.  My brother is a gifted and creative person too.  We owe this to our mom's encouragement.  Thanks for teaching us to express ourselves with creativity.  It is a source of much joy for me now.


There are many more cherished memories of my precious mom. She has been my constant cheerleader in this life.
I love you dearly mom.  You are so precious to me.  Thanks for all you've sown into my life.  I hope you have a very blessed and happy birthday.  

Aidan

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about this little boy:

There's not much of this little boy left.  A little boy who used to wake up in the morning and say, "mommy, I want to play all day in the world."  When did he stop saying that?  A little boy who used to ask me a thousand questions a day.  Like, "Is God faster than a rocket?"  "Is God bigger than a giant pickle?"  and "How many people are in the world?  Can you tell me their names?"  "Did God make bad guys?"

A little boy who called his milk, "moo," and said, "lasterday" instead of yesterday.  When did he stop playing with toy trains all day?  When did he stop watching Thomas the Tank Engine?  We got those trains out the other day, he couldn't even remember their names.  He used to know every single one.  

When did he stop needing my help with getting a drink or a snack or taking a bath or getting dressed?  

I miss this little boy.  I wish we could go back in time for a day.  I would kiss those chubby cheeks again and rock him until he fell asleep in my lap.  I would snuggle on the couch with him and his teddy bear, Jackson.  I would give him a big sippy cup full of "moo."  And, we would watch Thomas.  I would answer every single question he could come up with, and love doing it.

I love the young man Aidan is becoming.  He loves to read, and play video games, and go to water parks.  He can swim and ride a bike and a scooter.  He is protective of his sister and loves to play with his friends.  He has traded in his toy guitar for an electric guitar, and he's learning to play.  I love the boy that he is now, but sometimes I miss this little boy.

Mothers

 
  In honor of Mother's Day, my post today is a tribute to mothers.  Maybe it's a little self-serving, since I am a mother--I should probably leave it to all the non-mothers out there to write the tributes, but you really cannot fully understand motherhood until you become a part of it.  Everyone agrees that mothers are selfless and hard working.  Everyone holds the role of motherhood in high esteem.  But, I don't think that those that haven't experienced it TRULY know and understand the sacrifice and the joy that comes with motherhood.

    Fathers love and sacrifice for their children.  But, it's different.  It's not politically correct anymore to say it's different, but it is.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying mothers are better, or more important...but it's different.  Motherhood comes with scars.  There are the physical scars...the stretch marks, the c-section scars, the dark circles under your eyes, the gray hairs, those little wrinkles between your eyes.   There are also emotional scars...when you're a mother, it's never just you again.  There is an emotional connection with your child (whether they want it or not) that you can feel...it's almost tangible.  You can cut the cord physically, but never emotionally.  It is like there is a part of you walking around in the world and you want so badly to protect it, love it, make everything okay for it.  You hurt with them, rejoice with them, worry with them (and for them).    You dream for them, and hope and pray.  You fully invest yourself in the well-being of someone else.  That is what is so beautiful about motherhood.  It is a picture of God's love.  It is a glimpse of how God wants us to be.

   Mothers have gone through morning sickness, pregnancy, swollen ankles, labor, delivery, all night feedings, and potty training.  We wake up in the middle of the night and pray for our kids.  Mothers must be experts on discipline, education, nutrition, illness, exercise, and matters of faith.  We rarely sleep, usually eat our toddler's left-overs while doing the dishes, we meet our friends for lunch at McDonald's, when we'd rather go to the sophisticated tea-room.  We go to t-ball games, guitar lessons, ballet recitals and boy scouts...when what we'd love to do more than anything is sit down somewhere quiet.  We teach our kids how to get along with friends and teachers and the grumpy cafeteria monitor. We often have to be the bad guy.  We take away toys and video games; we won't let them watch that movie or this tv show, even though "every other kid gets to do it."  We teach them to dress themselves, tie their shoes, brush their teeth.  We teach them their colors and how to manage money and keep things neat.  We teach them their letters and that God loves them.

     We hold them when they're scared, kiss them when they're hurt, snuggle with them when they're tired and spank them when they misbehave.  We do it all knowing that some day they will walk out our door for good to lead their own life.  All we can hope is that we've raised them well.  As hard as this job is, I know I'll be sad when it's over.  A friend of mine once told me that when you are a mother, the days are long, but the years are short.  It is very true.

   Finally, being a mother reveals to you life's greatest secret.  It is a secret that so few are truly able to understand.  True joy, true love comes when you stop doing what is good for yourself and start doing what is good for others.  That is the joy of motherhood...it is hard and tedious and painful, but it brings so much joy.

Sometimes, when I think about the scars being a mother has left...my stretch marks, my gray hair, the brain cells lost to sleepless nights, I ache for a younger version of myself.  But, if I get some perspective, I can see that they are badges of honor.   I should be proud, not ashamed.  They are reminders, that I have given of myself sacrificially for another human being, and that is the greatest thing we can do in this life.

Ella

A couple of weeks ago, Ella turned 2.  It's hard to believe that she is two already.  It has flown by incredibly fast.  I wish I could capture Ella's personality in a word.  But I'm not sure which word would be exactly right.  I frequently tell her that she is "something else," and a "mess."  Aidan likes to sing "you're a humdinger!" to her when she is being especially Ella-like!  Maybe "humdinger" is the right word.  She makes me laugh out loud every day.  She is either dancing or throwing a fit; there is not much in between with her.  Thankfully, most of the time she's dancing.  and smiling.  and laughing.  But, when she's not, it's ugly.  and loud.
I love that she thinks she can do anything.  If her 7 year old brother can do it, she thinks she can too.  She'll try anything.  It's exhausting at times, but I love how fearless she is, and totally lacking in insecurity!  She is very sweet.  She loves to cuddle.  She takes care of her baby dolls like they are her real babies. She feeds them, rocks them and takes them for walks in her stroller.  She can't stand to see her brother sad.  She will put her arm around him and say, "are you okay, bubba?"  She loves to hold his hand when they are walking together.  If she gets hurt, she wants a hug from Aidan.

Jumping on the trampoline is one of her favorite things to do.  She giggles uncontrollably as she jumps and falls and rolls around.
She loves to swing more than anything else.  When she wants me to push her on the swing she yells, "more power!"

Whenever she sees her daddy, she starts dancing and singing, "daddy, daddy, daddy!"  There was never a daddy that loved a little girl more than Mark loves Ella.

As soon as we all sit down to eat dinner, she grabs mine and Aidan's hands and says, "pray?"  Sometimes, she sneaks food off her plate while we're praying.  When the prayer is finished, she shouts, "Amen!"  (I think some of her Pentecostal genes are shining through!)
If she wants you to do something she repeats it relentlessly.  She says, "come on Mommy" at least 500 times a day.
She has a temper.  If something doesn't go her way, she will fall face first on the ground and cry.  Then, like someone flipped a switch, she will stand up, smile, and say, "I'm better now!"
She loves to watch Dora, Diego and Wonder Pets.  If she needs your help with something, she starts singing, "teamwork!"
She would be happy to eat only popsicles every day, but will also eat chicken, spaghetti and chicken noodle soup if you cut her off from popsicles.  I think she is going to love ice cream as much as her daddy. He's going to finally have to share his ice cream.
She sleeps with a wind up giraffe that Aidan gave her.  She calls him Raffy.  She also sleeps with a soft fleece blanket that her Aunt Alissa gave her. She will not sleep with any other blanket, and you can't trick her.  She would rather sleep with no blanket than an impostor.
 Whenever she sees me, she acts like it's the best thing that's happened to her all day.  The whole world is delightful to her.  She takes joy in the simple things, like flowers and bugs and airplanes.  I hope she never loses that quality.  My heart overflows with love and joy for Ella.
So how do I sum up Ella in one word?  She is joy and love and innocence, full of promise and potential. She is both feisty and nurturing.  Her smile lights up the room.  Her bright blue eyes dance and twinkle.  She has a whole mess of shiny blonde hair.  Her laugh is contagious.  She doesn't walk, she skips.  No, one word just won't do it.  I guess we'll just have to stick with "humdinger" for now.

Not ME Monday!

I'm very happy to report that I did NOT turn off my alarm before church and then end up sleeping until 8:20, leaving only 25 minutes to get Ella and myself ready for church.  

I definitely did not bribe my 2 year old with a Rice Krispy Treat to get her in the car for church on Sunday morning.  Nor, did I let her take that same Rice Krispy Treat with her into the sanctuary so she could finish it before going to Sunday school.  And, I never would have let her wash down her Rice Krispy breakfast with a big sippy cup full of chocolate milk!  NO, not me.  Nutrition is too important to me.  Kids need to eat a healthy breakfast, and should never eat sweets in the middle of church.  I am far too good of a parent to resort to bribery of any kind.  I'm certain that it wasn't me.

Oh, and that child shouting, "Daddy!  I found him!  He's playing drums!  Daddy, daddy, daddy, I see you!" in the middle of the prayer at church...that wasn't my child either.

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.