things I just may not handle very well

If this is hard now, I can't fathom how much harder I know it will get.

We went to the park this morning and the kiddos began running around, doing their thing.  There was a group of little kids playing and I watched as Madeline ran over to introduce herself.  In my unbiased opinion, she is unbelievably precious and sweet.  My mama radar heightens as I watch and worry (so hard not to do) and see what will happen.  Most of the time all goes well.  Sadly, today was not that day.  She came walking toward me with her head down and tears in her eyes and I knew what had happened.  The kids told her she couldn't play with them and called her an ugly name.  I hold her and hug her and tell her she is special and wonderful and made by God and He loves her more than anything.  I tell her she is sweet, kind, and fun.  We talk about being a good friend and loving others well.  We pray and forgive and start our own game of hide & seek.  Meanwhile, I am holding back my mama tears and thinking many many wrong thoughts towards these children who dared to be mean to my baby and doing my own forgiveness work.

Please, somebody tell me how in the world I will make it through the harder things to come!

On a sweet high note, Madeline was having some rest time in her room and asked me to bring her some crayons.  When I did she said this (seriously, no prompting!):

Thanks, Mom!  You're the best!

Love that girl!  She is currently in her room making cards for all her friends and family.

embrace the camera: oldies

So I didn't embrace this week :(  My bad, folks.  See previous post about iphone for more details.  Instead, here are a few oldies that I love.  Our family has changed so much in just 9 years of marriage, 5 years since being pregnant with our first daughter, and in the last year and a half since these photos were taken.  Within months we will add Cyrenthia's baby boy, Elijah, and hopefully within a fewish more months we will bring home our sweet daughter!  Happy Thursday, ya'll!  Also, a very happy birthday shout out to my bestie, Anita!  Love ya, friend!

linking up with emily,enjoy!

words of life: God's divine power

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3

Called by His own glory & goodness, given everything I need for a godly life through my knowledge of Him--all made possible by His divine power.

Where am I in all this?  Provided by God with all I need through His word to know, follow, and live in the goodness of Christ and for His glory.  

Where am I in my knowledge of Him?  In my knowledge of His word?  I have all access and my knowledge, desire, and discipline for His word is low compared to  the goodness and abundance that is found within it.  My prayer is for increased discipline to turn to, memorize, and love the words of God, that give me life.

happy monday ya'll...i wish i had an iphone

There is about one reason, and one reason only, that I wish I had an iphone.  Instant picture taking.  We have been on our staycation for several days now and my camera only came out once.  Boo, sad.  I try...but then mostly end with pictures of my kiddos far away or really close or me with my arm awkwardly holding out the camera and snapping a quick funny looking photo.  Anyway.  Happy Monday, ya'll!  Thankful for these lovelies coming up in my week:
Graduation family night for Ren at Chuck E Cheese-yes, she loves it!
Gram day for kiddos so Andrew & I can get some much needed housework done.
Double date night with the Schwartzmans-seriously been forever!

Enjoy your week my friends!  What lovelies make you thankful?

embrace the camera: staycation!

A few years ago, with 2 kiddos, Andrew & I were brainstorming what family vacations would look like with young kids.  We didn't have much money and didn't really want all the work of packing up all the stuff required when you have toddlers.  Plus, what we really wanted was some quality down time.  Not to mention they are too young to remember much of our vacationing right now anyway.  Thus, staycation was born.  We take about a week off, say no to everything (in general) and stay home!  It is fabulous.  We make sure to plan ahead of time some money we can spend, activities for each day such as hikes, crafts, museums, swimming, and so on.  The kids love it and we get the pleasures of time off with just us as well as our beds and no packing.  Big yeas!  Today is day one of staycation this year and we headed out to Withrow Springs State Park for some hiking and creek playing.  It was a blast!  

linking up with emily today, enjoy!

funnies

Simeon: Why is bird poop white?
Madeline: Yeah and people poop is black.
*Or in our world, if your children eat a lot of All Berries cereal, it's green.

Madeline's version of this song:
Oh be careful little mouth what you chew
Oh be careful little mouth what you chew
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little mouth what you chew
*Not sure the spiritual implications here but we will go with it!

Madeline:  Let's sing Jesus loves me really loud so the whole world hears.  Well, just the mean people so they can learn to be good.
*Hmm...

Lastly, not something that was said, more like some things that are being done.

Cute, sweet little Anna is becoming a bit of a mess!  In addition to her little mess the other day, this week I have found her coloring the kitchen floor & bringing in & dumping a bucket of sand in the house.  Great fun.  Thank goodness for magic eraser and brooms!

words of life: chosen

^"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession,that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-10

Which of these is most difficult to believe about yourself?  
I am chosen.  
I am a member of the royal kingdom and family of God.  
I am clothed in the righteousness of Christ and made holy.  
I am special.  
I am God's special possession.  
I am made to and able to declare the praises of God.
I am called from darkness to light.  
I belong to Him.  
I have been given mercy.


Hands down for me is that I am God's special possession.  Often in my walk and relationship with the Lord I feel like a constant failure.  But the beauty is that I am but that is beyond mattering to God because He has redeemed me through Christ and calls me His. Special. Possession.  I can't express the beauty of that to me.  


I was talking with a friend a few nights ago and we were saying how we struggle with frustration over sins and really frustration over the fact that we can't make them go away.  I do think it is good and necessary to see our sins and desire them to go away of course but I also think that the means by which we overcome them may not look like great victories that we achieve to put to bed our sin and frustration.  


Instead, the means may look more like quick and quiet awareness of my sin, my need, and walking in humility and dependence on my Savior and realizing that, in itself, is victory.  Seeing it, pointing it out, and submitting it to the Lord each and every time.  


And when I believe more and more that I am His chosen, special possession I find so much freedom and joy in humility and weakness because where else would I rather be?