Sunshiny Friday

After at least a week of clouds, drizzle, ice, and even an hour or two of snowflakes the sun appeared.  We enjoyed breakfast at McDondon's with Daddy.  Then we kissed him goodbye for the day and departed for the mall. I had so much fun playing with the kids in Barnes and Noble, reading them Llama Llama and Curious George books, and playing choo choo trains.  Nina is interacting MUCH better with other children.  She talked to a little boy today and shared very nicely.  And to shower me with even more blessings, Nina pooped twice while we were there.  Too much information for some of you I am sure, but this is a personal journal for me more than anything and her struggle of withholding bodily functions has been one of the biggest challenges for me as a mother. I couldn't ask for any better present today then for her to make a diaper or two!  Thank you Lord for sunny happy moments. 

Opportunity for Kindness

Took the kids to the pond for a picnic lunch. We "hiked," fed stale Cheerios to the ducks, and sat down to our turkey jelly sandwiches when we saw a neighbors schnauzer wandering around chasing ducks. I've only seen Bella on a leash being walked by her beloved owner so I knew she didn't belong all the way over here. I put Nathan back in the pack, caught the little dog, Nina held onto my pants and we journeyed with Bella in my arms. This is the first time I've ever held a dog, thankfully this one was much lighter than my children so it was quite manageable. The neighbors were very grateful and relieved, they had been driving around looking for her.

It felt so good to be useful and to bless someone. Made my day. Now it's time to get these crazy babies I love so much in their beds so I can rest on the couch!

The Pursuit of Things

I feel as though it is my duty to provide things for my family at the most affordable rate possible.  Coupons, flyers, sales all haunt me.  Today I bought orange juice knowing that at home, in a pocket, I had a 50 cent coupon that could have been doubled! I beat myself up about it the whole drive home.  During naptime I sit on my computer and look at... things!  Christmas presents, deal sites, the latest facebook yard sale group post.  Since I quit teaching my full time job is babies and buying the food to feed them, the shirts to clothe them, and keeping up the supplies in the house they play and sleep in.  All of these have a place in life, but that place is not the forefront.  I deceive myself into thinking it's okay since I'm sinking all this effort into finding deals and thus being more "economical."  The truth is I focus on it entirely too much on earthly things.  Suddenly as I sit here some buried treasure painfully presents itself, "Do not worry about what you will eat, or what you will wear, for the pagans run after all these things."  Ouch.  That is literally what I do.  I literally run around all week looking for these things.  Thankfully, another golden tidbit also rises to my mind and ironically it also comes from Hebrews 12 (just like my last blog post).

My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him;

⁶ For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.

⁷ You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?

Dear Father, help me to pursue righteousness instead of earthly pleasures.  Help me not to be distracted by earthly necessities and wants. May wisdom, love, kindness, mercy, self control, gentleness, all these things be my pursuit. May you be my portion both now and forevermore.  Amen. 

Cloud of Witnesses

I'm sitting here during nap-time listening to Christmas carols by the tree and looking at pictures of my dear Sarah's Inman. It has been so humbling to watch God in their lives.  Over the past 7 years she has given so much to her students and young-lifers. She waited patiently for God to provide the right job for Drew.  She has loved my kids like her own.  I mean who really wants to talk to somebody else's kids on the phone, but I swear she actually asks to talk with my silly Nina.  She waited patiently for the time to have her own little bundle of fun.  She trusted that God would find somewhere for Inman to go during the day when she returned to work this November.  She went from sleeping in, snuggled with her baby boy, to getting up at 5:30 and I haven't heard her complain once.  And while she inspires me for all the previously mentioned reasons, when I look at her life what astounds me is God.  His profound provision, both in the times of waiting and in the times of harvesting.   

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Faith, I have found recently as I search myself, I lack.  Faith requires much heart, much passion.  It requires to let go of the reigns, and at times logic.  To trust, to hope, to believe.  I find myself asking God why he doesn't make himself clearer to people.  Why didn't he have Jesus appear to thousands publicly after the Resurrection.  And then one day as I was watching a movie about Santa Claus, I found myself wondering the same thing.  Why doesn't he just let people see him if he wants them to believe, I thought to myself.  Then I suddenly realized how little I understand faith.  The difference between knowing something and believing something.  Even in my own very small human life if I look back I can see traces of the beauty of someone believing in another.  Every person that played a significant role in my life be it a grandmother, a professor, a friend they all believed things in me I didn't know or have proof of.  And that is why their sentiments were never forgotten.  Because inexplicably (yet undeniably) faith seems to trump knowledge.  

Falling leaves

Took the kids to Red Clay State Park today. Even the drive was breathtaking. My favorite moment was standing by a natural spring creating a crystal clear creek with the red and yellow leaves falling down on us like snow. It was amazing.

enjoying the drive

Picnic time!

Nina wading in the water

Target Success!

I wanted to note that today we had a surprisingly successful Target experience!  Nina was good. Nathan was good.  The cashiers were so nice.  There was no line.  One cashier helped unpack and repack all my stuff, she played with the kids and even managed to get Nina to interact happily with her, they even accepted my expired coupons.  It was magical. :)

Nathan's Room

I had so much fun putting his room together. I have a few more ideas for it but for now it is complete. The best part of it is... he LOVES it. When he wakes up he points to everything making the cutest little faces of excitement. Nina is enjoying it too and we've started trading off which room we do the night prayers in.

Hung Daddy's hockey jersey up for some matching sports memorabilia.  This is also the jersey David was wearing when I met him, and then he wrapped my engagement ring up in it when he proposed.  

I also made the rugby striped pillow the giant teddy bear is resting on.

Not a clear picture, but it does capture them playing together upstairs in brother's room happily. =)