I’ve been down and out lately, whether it’s been with sickness, mold in our home, feeling like a failure with child training…  Poor me, is what I’ve been feeling.  Then, today happened.  I played with my children.  We laughed, we ran, we had a picnic, we played with our Minnie Mouse family.  Today, God spoke to me while my listening ears were off in a different way.  He spoke to my heart through my children.

My kids asked to have a picnic for lunch today and even though my heart started out not into it, I am so thankful that I chose to spend that time with them.

After lunch, I thought, what could be more fun than having a wagon race.  So, my 2-year-old thought she’d give it a try and even though she could pull her sister, we thought the race would be better the other way around.This was much more even.  I pulled my son and the race was off.  I of course lost, but the air was filled with laughter.Then, we played freeze tag.  It was so much fun running in the yard, chasing each other, laughing.  Nap-time couldn’t come soon enough.  Mommy was worn out

Then, my oldest girl brought out her Minnie Mouses and asked if I would play with her.  I wasn’t sure what we would do since I’m a little out of practice with pretending.  Well, my other kids joined in and we each picked our mouse.  I was Homemaker Mommy Minnie, my son was Sister Skating Minnie, my 2-year-old was Sister Hawaiian Minnie, and my oldest girl was Sister Ballerina Minnie.  We had a great time pretending with our little family.

My son just kept laughing at me while I was pretending.  It was great seeing how much they were enjoying this time.What a perfect ending to our Minnie moment, a group hug.This has got to be the best photo that we’ve had in a while.  It speaks volumes on their personalities!She loved having the Hawaiian Minnie.She’s had this Minnie since she was a baby.  How special to watch her still enjoying her.Of course, he had to have a Minnie as well.  He picked Ice Skating Minnie because her dress is blue (his favorite color).  I am so thankful for these joyful moments amidst all of the turmoil that is going on right now.  My baby girl brought me joy as well.  She just happened to be sleeping when the camera came out.  Her smile warms my heart and I love the hugs that she shares with me.

My husband has been so great during this time.  He’s my rock and I am so thankful that God brought us together.  He puts up with me even during my down times and helps lift me up.

So, when life seems like it’s upside down and nothing is going right, put on those listening ears and hear God speak to you.  Look around you at the blessings He’s given you.  He will give you the joy and hope you need to endure!

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Silly people that we are, we only cleared out half of the room thinking that the other half was okay.  Sadly, this is not the case.  As I was sorting and putting things away tonight, I found more mold (on the big dresser that we were hoping not to move).  So, we are in the process of clearing everything out of our room and thoroughly cleaning it.  What a chore!  I still feel awful and being in my room aggravates my coughing.  My husband is a lifesaver as he is attacking the mold as we speak (or write ).

So, my blog might be quiet for a few more days as we start to get things under control.  These are messy times, but because of Jesus, I have comfort and joy in the midst of them.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
    
(Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)

So, what is love?  How do we express it?  For my oldest, love is spending time with her, admiring her craftiness and art, snapping green beans together, reading, talking, shopping, cooking…  For my son, love is praising him for a job well done, making him something special just for him, hugging and snuggling with him, telling him a story, reading to him…  For my 2-year-old, love is smiling at her, helping her, playing with her, reading to her…  For my 1-year-old, love is taking care of her, feeding her, holding her, playing with her…  For my husband, love is touch, affirmation, respect, praise…  So, love changes, but it is a choice.  It’s being purposeful to give it in a way specific for each person.  It’s focusing on showing them Jesus in how you respond to them.

I’ve had to learn through the years that it’s received differently for every person and that it is a choice to be made.  I don’t love because I feel loved.  I love because my Savior loved me and calls me to love others.

So, on today and every day, be purposeful.  Choose to love because even though we don’t ever deserve God’s love, He loves us abundantly, He loves us more than we could ever imagine!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV

   “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
    Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.“  1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV

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This weekend, I came down with a terrible cold.  It was so bad, my daughter commented that she had never seen me so miserable.  I really was miserable.  Then, due to a musty smell in our bedroom, my husband and I were determined to find the cause.  Since we lack proper ventilation in our attached bathroom, we found mold on our furniture and a little on the walls.  What a mess to clean up!  My wonderful husband got to work ridding our furniture and bedroom of this mold.  Finally, we found some large cracks around the room.  Feeling a little overwhelmed, I look back and wish at that moment I had abided in Christ.  Instead, I was laying down, wishing I would feel better.

Abide in Me, He says and my soul longs for those abiding moments.  As I look back to this week, I had some great moments, abiding in this beautiful family He’s given me!

232. My eight year old little girl enjoying photography (she takes pictures everyday).

233. Willing helpers with yard work (I turned my back and all 3 were either raking or picking up leaves).234. Relaxing after hard work.235. A little boy enjoying his nice new blue wooden sword (his words).236. Unexpected kisses.237. His willingness to protect his family ( I love his expression! ).238. Requests for blanket time and the sharing of blankets.239. My two-year old’s strength (as she pulls her weight and her brother’s).240. Silly lunchtime.241. His excitement of going to work with daddy (according to him, he is a boy and boys go to work to take care of their family).242. Coming across my little girl with her thinking cap on.243. Teamwork.244. Creative solutions for a lost voice.245. My husband’s effort in making family day special while mommy is sick (photos courtesy of daddy).246. Possibly our last cold day of this season (it was in the 50s).247. Her face shining as she smiles for her sissy’s picture.248. Flashlights for finding lost toys that have fallen from the top bunk.249. Soft brushing of my hair as I rested (all 3 kids).

250. Sweet caresses by little hands.

251. Soft kisses on my forehead.

Abide in Him and when life seems to be at it’s worst, you will find joy in the moments He surrounds you with!

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Then, daddy arrived from the buffet with syrup in hand and my son of course requesting his own little cup.  What daddy wouldn’t give in to those sweet little eyes and smiles!  Everything was going fine to start.  Waffle bites were being dipped in the syrup like usual.  Then out of the corner of my eye, the cup was lifted to his mouth.  With my look and my head shaking no, he promptly put it down and smiled a mischievous grin at me.

Then, I went back to the buffet.  Upon my return, a little boy was a little wound up.  Daddy leaned over and said, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t watching and when I saw him, he was eating the syrup like soup (mouthfuls of syrup on the spoon).”  I laughed and said something like, “Why weren’t you watching him?”  And he replied, “Who gave him the syrup?”  I then laughed some more and responded, “Uh, you did.”  We both laughed and thought, we’re in for it today!  I did say, “I bet you won’t do that again.”  He said, “No more syrup, that’s for sure (at least when we can’t watch him).”  Notice the spoon in the cup on his plate!  Well, the day went well.  He was wound up for the entire day and then we definitely noticed when the sugar high began to wear off.  Poor kid, he didn’t know what hit him.  So, the lesson we learned was, never give your child a cup of syrup and look away. 

He was a little wiggly for this picture!

My little boy is full of energy on a normal day, but the extra addition of the syrup made for a lot of laughter this past Saturday.  So, as the Syrup Nazi would say, No Syrup for You

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I remember dancing with her to Elvis (Lilo & Stitch Soundtrack), snuggling with her, reading to her, special lunches at Crispers, sleepovers in mommy & daddy’s room, her cute little phrases, the looks she likes to give, and many other moments.  I remember the greatest of all, the moment she accepted Jesus as her Savior. She truly lives up to the meaning of her name – little pearl and God’s daughter.  She truly is God’s little pearl!

Maybe this week I’ll have time to post more photos from the past, but for now, here are some photos from a fabulous weekend with my baby girl!

Little brother watching his big sister make her birthday pancakes (something she wanted to do).

Yummy chocolate chip pancakes!

Grandma's idea for making sure all of the ice cream is gone!

Surprise overnight trip with Gramma & Grampa.

While waiting to be seated for breakfast, they put many stickers on their outfits.

All of us except for our 2-year-old who chose to stay in her seat.

Her favorite character!

The day after celebration with her Aunt & Bubbie!

Homemade vanilla chocolate chip cake...Yummy!

 Happy Birthday my sweet girl!  There are so many photos that I wanted to share, but this will do!  It was a great time celebrating her birth!  She still has 1 more set of grandparents to celebrate with.  She loves extending her birthday (just like her mommy:) ).

On Saturday, my oldest turned 8, but it didn’t hit me until last night.  Every year my dad makes a dvd for each child from that prior year’s photos.  It is such a special gift that we look forward to at each birthday!  As we watched a few, smiles were across our faces, but a part of me was sad as I wondered, have I shown them enough love?  Have I stopped and just played with them?  Have I fully embraced each moment with the people God places in my life?  I wonder, then I think that maybe I haven’t.  Those are years I can’t get back, moments gone.  Sad, yes, but sadness can awaken you to the path ahead.  I look on and aim for purpose.  I love my kids and everyday I have started something new.  I remind them that I delight in them, they are special, they were made by God for me and their daddy, and that I will love them unconditionally.  I am replacing negative comments with positive ones and even though my change has been recent, I see results.  I see the smiles, I feel the hugs, I hear the I love yous without me saying it first.

Oh, how I long to feel this tug on my heart everyday because it’s a reminder that life is precious.  If I don’t embrace the moments, I will miss out because they will be gone.

Heart-filled Moments:

225. Experiencing my daughter’s help today as her daddy was home sick (she stepped in any way she could and said I could wake her if I needed her in the middle of the night).

226. Watching the teamwork of my children.  I took a phone break while doing yard work, turned around and my children were all raking and filling the wagon with leaves.

227. The close flutter of a butterfly while picnicking with 4 of my favorite people (our baby was sound asleep).

228. Sharing of special birthday treats with her brother and sister.

229. Overhearing the excitement of my oldest exclaim how God really answered 2 of her prayers  today – daddy to feel better and her brother to stop crying (he was throwing a little tantrum).

230. Afternoon rain showers.

231. The creation of light.  Our bible study was in Genesis this morning and we all were appreciating the creation of light.  I don’t think I’ve ever thought to be thankful for it!

Hold onto those moments.  Let them seep into your heart.  They pass quickly and before you know it, they’ll be gone.  Fill your heart!

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I tell my kids not to whine or complain and do things cheerfully, but have I been a hypocrite? My thoughts are, why do I have to do everything? Can’t someone help? I’m going to leave this for them to do… Now, I’m all about helping out and responsibility, but my attitude has been horrible!

Here are my nightly changes for the week:

• Finish my chores before bedtime no matter how late I have to stay up.
• Clean the kitchen, wash and put away the dishes, and clean the sink (if you’ve ever heard of the flylady, she recommends this).
• Clean, fold, and put away the laundry.
• Look over school papers and write out the next day’s plan (my daughter likes having a list that she can check off every day).
• Straighten anything else.

Now for my morning routine. Since we school at home, so can’t it be PJ day every day? Well, my kids might like that, but I don’t think my hubby would! Not that I wear my PJs, but I don’t always try to dress nice either. So, I’ve started a morning routine of rising early, getting ready, and having my quiet time with my Savior and a cup of coffee. What a perfect start to the day!

Each day has been great! Of course there are still squabbles, but discipline has been less which I attribute to being purposeful, organized and ready for my little blessings when they make their way into my lap in the morning.  I think with God’s help, I can continue on my journey of being a purposeful homemaker!

Check out some sweet moments I captured from our week:Our baby girl ventured out of her area today and found a new toy, the kitchen.  Her sister enjoyed having someone to cook with!My little man has the gift of gab and loves talking with his grandparents.  His little sister enjoys copying her big brother.Try being purposeful this coming week.  Make the sacrifices and listen for the happiness that fills your home!

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Every year for the past few years, we have been unable to attend a nearby faire.  The weather is bad, someone is sick, I’m at the end of a pregnancy… When this year’s date approached, we found that we actually could go, so we packed up the bags, put everyone in the car and headed off to the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire.  As the only member of the family to ever go to a medieval faire, I looked forward to the day with what I could remember from long ago.

As we approached the grounds, we thought we were going to have to park far away and ride a bus in, but when my husband went to drop the kids and me off at the front (we each were praying for a closer spot), what did we see, but a parking spot right up front!The youngest 2 were asleep in the car when we arrived, so they were a little out of it when we headed into the faire.  When we arrived, we looked over the guide and were off on our adventure. I was the first to try on something as a lady guided me to her booth and said the queen deserves a crown.  Not my pick, but the kids liked it!“Sure, I’ll try it on,” he says, while dreaming of swords.Maybe a shield will do since he has many swords at home.  One was not picked to his liking so we are still searching.  With a birthday coming up, this knight might get one, yet!Our beautiful princess searched for a perfect headpiece and enjoyed trying a few on.Let the battles begin!Everyone liked the jousting and eagerly anticipated who would win.Hunger came quickly, so we had a little picnic in the field.Special kisses for daddy!Nose bumping seemed fun, so they kept on until…Someone got hurt and you can see it wasn’t her.  Maybe nose bumping wasn’t a good thing.Our baby girl had some free time while everyone else went on a walk.  She enjoyed her freedom and explored.How fun it is to watch others and learn trades from long ago!That was too boring for the younger ones.  Watching some sword fighting was much more interesting.One of the greatest moments was playing with the toys!  This man helped the kids and they had a blast!Finally, we ended with a trip through the maze.Uh, oh, a dead-end!Which way should we go?Well, we found our way out and decided to end our day.  Another prayer was answered as well.  My daughter’s camera was lost (not sure who had it last) and we didn’t know how we would find it, so we prayed and checked the lost and found on the way out.  When we approached the stand and asked about a camera, the lady asked the color and we knew it was God that gave it back to us.  It was amazing how we had just lost it and someone turned it in just before we left!

On the way home, we had kids that were tired and some that were being silly!I’m not sure if we’ll go back to a Medieval Faire.  It wasn’t quite like I remembered and, as a Christian parent, there were a lot of things we hurried the kids past or guided them away from.  It was a little pricey, too, and almost everything (except the viewing) cost money (even the maze which surprised us).  But, we wouldn’t change our day for anything.  What mattered to us was the time spent with each other!

This month 2 of my girls will celebrate their birthdays!  Time is flying by as I see my almost 1-year-old and my almost 8-year-old enjoying quiet time together.
But, when the other 2 wake up from their naps, their big sister welcomes their snuggles.Last night, barrettes were brought to me with little voices asking me to fix their hair.  So, I did.And they both loved it!Today, treats were made for my husband.  Christmas came and went without his favorite cookies being made – Peanut Butter Cup Cookies.  So, the kids gathered in the kitchen and my oldest daughter captured the baking moments.Cooler weather and a slight breeze welcomed a few happy children outside.Tummies were filled with snacks and the zip-line was calling us over.  With helmets on, the ladder up and the littlest one in position to catch her big brother and big sister, the fun began.Of course, the catching moment was shared by all.Blue eyes, tight hugs, sweet smiles – moments like this are what it’s all about!Finally, when prayers are answered, a little excitement is in store!  Some of us adults aren’t very expressive, so the kids decided to show us what excitement looks like.There’s my family!  Another week has come and gone.  Birthdays will be coming in the next few days which reminds me how time flies.  I grasp for each moment, to hang on to, to savor.  Thank you, God, for these beautiful creations and a wonderful husband!  You knew exactly what I need so many years ago when I thought I would’ve been content with only my husband and me.  I can’t imagine anything different!

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