Sunday, June 17, 2012

TOP TEN REASONS WE LOVE DADDY (by Luke)



TOP TEN REASONS WE LOVE DADDY (by Luke) Judah kept saying, “Daddy play”

 

1. He tells me stories about elephants and scary stories

 

2. He has funny hair



3. He dresses up like a tiger that roars

4. He plays animals with me like lions, tigers, cats, elephants and cheetahs

5. He plays zoo keepers

 

6. He brushes and flosses my teeth

7. I wish Daddy were my brother and someone else could be the Dad so Daddy could play all the time and the other Dad could go to work. I wish I still have 
   Judah also. 

 

8. He wrestles with me, Mommy and Judah. Eden is too little.

 

9. Daddy teaches me about Jesus.

 

10.                        He loves me. 

 

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

What happened to my blog?

I got all excited to start a blog and then kinda fell of the bandwagon. Why? The main reason- TIME! Yikes! I don't know how some of these professional looking bloggers do it with  little ones at home. You can't give 100% to everything- something has to give- for me, it was SLEEP! I was staying up way too late working on blogs. With three little ones, sleep is very precious to me. The second reason I haven't blogged is because we have been going through the fire over here. I know the Lord is teaching us many things and I am so thankful. I have my family and we are all healthy but we have had trial after trial. I know those are things that others need to hear and I will share them but for now I am just trying to lean on my Saviour and hold on tight. The last reason I haven't blogged is because since I've started blogging, I've also started reading other blogs and honestly there are so many out there that are way more advanced than mine. Anything I can say, 100 other bloggers are saying the same thing-only fancier. But for all 9 of my followers out there- rest assured- I will be back..just not as frequently.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Rejoice in Him

Lately I have been having a poor attitude due to our circumstances. I feel like we are at rough point in our lives and even seem to be suffering a little. I even said to  my husband last night that we seem to be struggling in every area of life. Physically, neither of us has not been feeling well.  I wonder if I am equipped to be the mother and wife I am suppose to be. I've been feeling uglier than ever.  I am embarrassed about our home, frustrated with our vehicles, physically exhausted and worried about finances. We want to be missionaries but seem to be at a holding point for some time now. I have been even tempted to wonder if God wants to use us at all or if He is even still there. I tell myself that I have so much to be thankful for but have not been truly surrendering my ungratefulness to God. SHAME ON ME! This morning I woke up and asked God to show me form His Word what He would have me to learn and focus on today. I read in my regular Bible reading Acts 5 and 6. At the end of Acts 5, Peter and his men were beaten and thrown into prison because they were preaching the name of Jesus and repentance through Him. I tried to imagine the physical pain and horrible circumstances they went through. Did they wonder if God was there? Did they stop because they wanted a better situation? Nicer things? Social status? No!

Acts 5:41-42 says, " And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

They were actually rejoicing to be suffering for the sake of Jesus! My daily struggles pale in comparison to those around the world and in all History of time. It's amazing to me that God does care about my daily life. He cares enough to want to conform me to His image. He cares enough to allow me to "suffer" so I will not stay complacent and lean on Him. I need to REJOICE in Him no matter what the trial. I have failed the test big time lately but Praise Him for not giving up on me!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Adoniram Judson to His Future Father in Law.

When  Joey asked for my dad's permission to marry me, he told him that it was his desire to be on the mission field one day, possibly to China. My dad said yes to the marriage and NO to China. Ultimately my dad knows that we will go wherever God leads us but the thought of his little girl moving around the world was not a pleasant one. Here is the letter that Adoniram Judson (first real, American foreign missionary) wrote, to his prospective father-in-law asking Ann Hasseltine’s hand in marriage


Letter to Mr. Hasseltine Asking for His Daughter’s Hand in Marriage

“I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world ? Whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life? Whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall resound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?”

 Wow!!! What do you say to that? I am utterly amazed at the commitment to Jesus Christ and the dedication of these founding missionaries no matter what the cost. I pray for faith like that. Mr. Hasseltine gave his consent which also took a great deal of faith. Ann Judson died on the mission field in Burma but had an eternal impact alongside her husband. 100 churches in Burma and 8,000 Burmese believers are accounted for today and Burma (Myanmar) has the 3rd largest number of Baptists worldwide. 

Think of what God can do when we get our eyes off of ourselves and  totally surrender to HIM.




Monday, April 16, 2012

How I survived at the end of my pregnancy


I just wanted to share some things I have done that helped  me entertain my 4 year old and 20 month old and get things done at home while I was pregnant. I was exhausted all of the time. As far as house work; it's never going to be perfect. Even though they are so young, I had them "help" me with housework. They LOVED it. We still do many of these things but now I have more energy and it's actually way easier to care for three little ones than to be pregnant and have to care for two little ones.

 Here are some things we did ( and still do sometimes)



Laundry- they loved putting stuff in the washer and dryer I even had both help me take it from the floor to my bed, which was great so I didn't have to bend down. They jumped on my bed while I  folded and knew they were not allowed to touch what I've already folded.

  Look at those guilty faces!

Dishes- I would bring a chair to the sink and they both had a washcloth and would  "wash" the dishes with me. ( we don't have a dishwasher) My 4 year old handed me the dish and I really washed it. We sang songs while doing it. If they spilled water out of the sink on purpose or drank the water, they got down immediately .Even J knew and didn't want to get down. They made a mess and it took me much longer but at least it got done. They had fun and we've spent time together.


Floors- When I vacuumed, I chased them with it while they giggled and jumped on the couch cushions. When I swept,  they took a turn with the swiffer ( without the pad)

 
 

We have a regular bed time routine, after bath time, we pick up the living room. L  puts all DVDs and books under the TV ( where they belong) and J and I bring the toys back in their room. We have a race and they love it. L asks to do it. We brush teeth, pick up all toys in their room, read stories, sing a song and pray. This really helped while I was pregnant and still helps because I knew that no matter how hard the day was, at 7:30, we started the bed time process and at 8:30 they were in bed.

Games/Playtime- I honestly couldn't handle going for walks and to the playground at the end of my pregnancy. Even though it was in December, here in the south, it was WAY too hot. (Joey  took them plenty) but when it was just us, they played together and I told them that the baby in my belly took my energy, soon I will be able to play but for now they have to play without me. BUT..some things I have done and they loved that did not strain me was "snowball fights" we took a newspaper and made snowballs and had a good ol' fashion fight. It made a huge mess but at the end I gave us all a bag and we raced to see who can fill up their bag first.


 I would also just lay on the floor and play dinosaurs or pretend anything so I can just lay on the floor. Sometimes I would put on toddler music from Pandora and have a dance contest. I was always the judge and would sit on the couch while they danced and jumped around.





Please share any other ideas you have. There are plenty of days I felt like a bad mommy because I was soooo tired and didn't feel like I have the strength to do anything but small things helped and involving them helped even though I could get things done much quicker on my own.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Brownie Fib!

Ever get caught with egg on your face? Well....in this case it's brownies. 


Friday, April 13, 2012

Super Mom!

I was looking over some of the recent blogs I wrote and it made me smile that I will have such wonderful memories of our lives documented. Ever since I became a member of Pinterest, I have been reading a lot of blogs and getting wonderful ideas. However, I am tempted to feel inadequate as a mom compared to all these crafty, enthusiastic moms who have it all together.  If I didn't know any better, I might even seem like one of those moms at times. The problem is I DO know better! And honestly, I also know that no mom has it all together all of the time.



We do have many fun times but there are plenty of times when we are just sitting around the house and  I am trying not to cry because I have three screaming kids running around ( well E doesn't run but she definitely screams) and I have laundry, picking-up, home-school, dishes, dinner, and more laundry to do. Not to mention all the things I should be doing but never get to like dusting and organizing things.

 

I would love to be super mom who makes healthy meals shaped like palm trees and butterflies everyday.  I would love to be the most attentive wife who is always smiling and encouraging  while rubbing my husbands feet. I'd love to be a size 2 with a trendy fashion sense,who wears makeup everyday and even goes the extra mile and actually has dry hair! A gourmet chef, a successful career woman, an interior designer who can craft everything myself and only spend 10$ per project.

                                    ( Does anyone even know what this is?)

Most importantly I'd love to be a godly woman who never complains, has a consistent walk with God and honors my husband. The truth is I can be some of those things some times ( except the size 2 part, OK the whole fashion part)  but there is no way I can give 100% to everything in my life. If my house is sparkly clean when my husband comes home from work it's usually because the kids have watched TV and entertained themselves that day. If I've spent my time doing fun activities with the kids, my house looks like a bomb went off  ( usually a laundry bomb). There are also times when I've done both and times when I've done neither.  Some days I do feel like a great mommy and some days I cry in my bed at night because I wonder if I was too harsh or neglectful that day. Most days I don't think anything and am just happy to finally lay down and pray for uninterrupted sleep!


Here are some things that help keep me sane (when I remember them.)

1. Keep my priorities in line. For some people this looks different. For me, my top priorities are  my relationship with God, my husband, and my children. Recently we've had a lot of changes in our lives. It seems like every time I think of a plan, God has a different one. I've learned in the past year or so that if I can have a walk with God and a strong marriage, then I am successful. If  my husband and I can love each other and give our kids a stable home then we are blessed beyond measure and are happier than if we had won the lottery. Date night is a MUST!

2. Stop comparing myself to others. This is hard for me sometimes but Paul said in Phil 4:12 "I  know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want." basically it means to be content in whatever situation you are in. There will always be someone who has it better, some who seem to have it better and many who have it way worse.

3.Have a Routine. I would not consider myself an organized person but I actually have a written out family schedule. I have to or things would never get done. It helps me when I feel overwhelmed to have a guideline to go to so I know what we should be doing. It helps keep our days predictable ( but flexible) to minimize meltdowns ( mine and theirs). For me, it eliminates guilt because I have scheduled out a time for me to be on Facebook, Pinterest or my blog. It just helps our days to be a little less chaotic. You can find our family schedule here.

4. Have DevosIn my own strength, I fail every time. It seems impossible sometimes but time with God is a must! I feel defeated when I neglect His Word. We have a routine for the most part so after breakfast is cleaned up, Eden is usually asleep, Luke is at preschool and I sit on the porch with Judah and have devotions while he plays. We have family devotions with the kids before bed and Joey and I also try to read and pray together after the kids are in bed. The best way  is just to have a consistent time during the day. If you don't know where to start, it helps to have a bible study or devotional book. I really love Nancy Leigh DeMoss. If you click on her name there is a whole line of great resources. I have really benefited from A Place of Quiet Rest  and Lies Women Believe.  You can probably even Google those titles and find them cheaper some where else. Right now I am using guideline to read through the Bible and I am in Acts. It helps that I have my own personal theologian I like to call husband but there are many great resources we use. Matthew Henry's commentary on the Whole Bible is very helpful.

5. Keep Going! As a mom, I do not have the luxury to run away and give up. There are days I feel that way but I know that no matter what the struggle is that day, "This to shall pass." and we have a sovereign God to rely on. Take care of yourself too, do things you love, take pictures and just choose to be happy!


I try to remember to laugh out loud everyday with my kids and cherish every second. It goes too fast!!!