Sweet Words

It seems somedays all that comes out of my two-year old is quotations from Dora the Explorer, the infamous "No!", or something else she has made up. Today was very special. Especially for me.

It all began two years ago when we would tell Natalie we loved her every night before she went to bed. We would also tell her we loved her at different times of the day. Here lately she has been telling us after we tell her as she is getting in her bed. But today...today was very special. She told me she loved me FIRST! It may not seem like a big deal, but she has always only told me she loved me after I tell her. My heart lept for joy! I immediately told her I loved her too, and I scooped her up and gave her big ol' hug. What joys these days of motherhood are bringing my way.

She has also been telling me to sing "The Garden Song". I couldn't think of what she was talking about because I don't remember singing a song about a garden. Anyhoo, she started singing it today. It was soooooooo sweet! She sings "I come to da garden awone, wher da dew is still on da roses. And da boice I hear fallin on my ear...". That's all she knew of the song, but it was the most beautiful words ever to this mamma's ears. I had her sing it to David when he came home. He loved it!

I cherish these days with my little ones. Somedays it seems the day will never end because the children have been crying, whining, and the like. But, that's all part of it. I'm so thankful God placed these children in my care. Somedays I forget that He chose ME to raise and care for these particular children. He knows that there is something in me that is exactly what they need to grow and to learn. And, also to point them to Him to use for His glory. I pray that God would grant me wisdom to care for and to teach these little ones for Him.

I hope you had a great weekend. Ours was great! Nothing planned that we had to go to, and those are my favorite weekends where we just "wing it". I had two migraines yesterday. One in the afternoon that finally went away, and just about 7:30 I had another one creep up on me. David was fantastic and helped out tremendously with the children. He does so much for me!

Until next time!

Something To Remember

As I sat rocking my little man to sweet slumber last night, I was going through how my day went earlier. It was one of "those" days. You know, where you have all these wonderful plans about getting so much accomplished, but it all goes south. Well, yesterday was one of those days. I was pretty much gone from my house all last week, and unfortunately, my home suffered tremendously. Laundry was neglected, dishes piled high...you get the picture. I don't normally do housework on Sundays, as I believe it is the Lord's day - for rest. Plus, both of my children were sick. Anyhoo, I had all the plans of waking up Monday with having my house spotless by the time David was home from work. Yeah right. Woke up feeling horrible. Like you had just ran over me, backed up, and tried again with a Mack truck. Add a 100 degree fever and it wasn't a pretty sight. Nor was I for that matter. My day consisted of lying on the couch and only getting up to fed my sweet babies or change a stinky which was happening a lot with Sawyer seeing how he is on antibiotic for an ear infection. We're potty training Natalie, but that just flew out the window as of yesterday. Oh well.

So, short story long, I got nothin' done and was rocking my sweet boy thinking how terrible it would be to have something happen to my child. It's not healthy to ponder those things, but as mothers, I think it's normal sometimes. I sat there cradling him, thanking God that he was healthy and safe and warm with a full belly. Then, my mind started wondering what would happen to him and Natalie if something happened to me and David. Who would take care of them? Would they remember me? All I could picture was Natalie asking whoever she was with "Where's Momma?", "Is Daddy at work?". I almost began to cry. On a side note: I normally don't think of these horrible things, but it was just one of those days that happened to be on that time of the month if you catch my drift. That thought really got me to thinking.

How do I want my children to remember me?

Do I want them to remember me as a mother who was too interested in keeping a clean house rather than keeping them? Playing with them. Praying with them. Praying over them.

Do I want them to remember me as a mother who, when they disobeyed, would react out of anger and frustration, rather than love? I'm 100% guilty of this and it breaks my heart when I look back at my faults as a mother. All I can do is pray that the Lord would help me and give me wisdom.

I want my children to remember me as a mother who spent time with them, teaching them the things of God, praying over them. I want my children to remember walking in on me praying beside the bed, praying to our Heavenly Father. I remember this with my own mother. What a nice memory to have and to cherish. That my mother loved the Lord. That's what I want my children to know and to remember. That I loved the Lord.

But, this is all wonderful. All these things I want them to remember me by. The list can go on and on. But, more importantly, am I doing these things?

I know this post was probably scattered, and I do apologize if so. So heavy my heart is. I hope you get the point I'm trying to convey. What do you want your children to remember you by? Are you doing those things?

WORD Wise Wednesday

This is a verse that really hit home this morning as I was reading my Bible:

Proverbs 10:3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

Wow! Are we as a nation traveling down that road or what?! For many, many years, our nation was founded on Biblical truths and most of our fore fathers were claimed Christians. Look how God blessed our nation! But just look at the way things are going now. I don't know much about politics, and I don't keep up with current affairs, but I do know that things have changed. Would you say that our nation has turned sour on God? It seems all I do hear are wicked people doing wicked things? How long will He "suffer" us, or is He "casteth away the substance of the wicked"? Just some food for thought!

Hope everyone has a blessed day! Thanks for stopping my nook on this world wide web!

So Thankful

It's safe to say that this week so far has been MUCH better than last week. I poured my heart out to the Lord and my sweet husband the other night. Things were brighter. My husband graciously listen to my "problems" and just gave me a big 'ole hug and told me he loved me and that I was doing a great job at being his children's mother. Since that meltdown, I have undoubtedly seeked God for His wisdom and greater appreciation for my children. I needed a change of heart. The change is still is coming, but I can certainly tell it has arrived.

Sometimes, when the going gets rough and tough, it's easy(for me anyways) to view our children as a "job". Something that we have to "look after" until the next day, and start all over again. I found myself doing that a lot lately. I kept seeing my children, or their needs, as just something else I had to do. I was burned up and burned out. But, praise God, He's totally refreshed my soul and is slowly teaching me to ENJOY these days that my children are still babies. One day, in the not so distant future, they will be leaving my house, it will be quiet, and I will be sad. I will be longing to hear the pitter patter of little feet, see the crayon scribble all over the wall, and wipe a dirty mouth covered in cheese puffs. Yes... I will. I'm so thankful for the refreshed spirit sent by the Holy Spirit. I don't want to ever view my role as a mother as "just another task". I know I will have many days to come that I will feel weary.

Please don't take what I'm saying the wrong way. Every mother know exactly what I'm talking about when I say I was burned out. I'm so thankful though that I know and serve a God Who is so much bigger than me, and He is so faithful to supply my every need. I love my children dearly with all my heart and being. I want to continue in looking at them ALWAYS as our gift from God, that He has entrusted us with these little bodies and minds to look after and bring them up however He sees fit.

Oh Be Careful Little Eyes...

Today was definitely one of those days where I wanted to lock myself in the closet and scream to the top of my lungs. It was terrible...I'll be honest. And it was totally my. For the past two days, I have woke up in a terrible mood. Terrible. Why? No idea. Maybe hormones. Maybe the devil. Definitely because my relationship with Lord has slipped severely. I found myself with no fuse whatsoever, so every little thing Natalie would do, I would completely lose it. Totally. And like any other normal child would do, she picked up on MY bad attitude, and she had a bad attitude all day long. And so did I. Until...

"Oh be careful little eyes what you see...oh be careful little eyes what you see...for the Bible tell me so". That completely broke my spirit. I gave completely up right then and there. I fell into the dining room chair. Sobbing. Weeping. This entire day I had been yelling at her, being a horrid mother in my eyes. And here she starts singing this sweet song that I sing to her all the time. And for the first time I hear her sing it my herself. She added "Jesus Loves Me" in there, but it was perfect. At that moment I realized my foolish behavior, horrible attitude, and wretched human self-centeredness. Hearing my daughter's two-year old voice singing those sweet words was like Jesus Himself telling me to lean on Him. My day was not going to get better unless I looked to Him for peace in my heart, and to take away my feelings of self. All I could do was say "Lord, please help me". And you know what? Peace like a river flooded my soul.

Natalie came running into the dining room as she heard me crying saying, "What matter, Momma? Okay? Okay. I kiss it." And she leans over and kisses my knee. I sob even harder. After all MY foolishness today, she kisses me. My heart melts. And I kiss her back. I'm so glad the Lord speaks to us in even the smallest events. But He knew it was what I needed. As always...

WORD Wise Wednesday

Well, sorry this is day late. Things got kinda crazy around here yesterday evening. I had to work, and there were so many things around the house that needed to be done in preparation for the two parties we're hosting this week.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethen, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not vain in the Lord.

Now I know we can apply this to our daily walk with God, ministering to others, as we should, but lately I have been struggling with my domestic life. You know, the whole wife, mother, housewife, homemaker, keeper at home, etc. Somedays if feels as if everything I do is not getting a job done. Especially in the mother field. You see, we have reached the "Terrible Two's" here at the Black Shack, and it seems to be affecting me. More than it probably should. When I came across this verse while reading, I just saw it in a new light. I feel my child training is completely in vain. But I need to be "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord". Well, being a mother and all those other things is the work of the Lord. He has given me these special tasks to take care while here on the earth. So I need to lean on Him for strength and ask Him for wisdom. I'm so glad I saw this verse differently. It's just what I needed. Isn't God wonderful?!

Busy Talk

Not much has been going on today. I had to work. I work two days a week - Tuesdays and Wednesdays. My mother-in-law watches the kids on Tuesdays, and my mother watches them on Wednesdays. Other than the fact I do have to work outside the home, leaving my precious littles, paying for our unwise financial decisions, it really works out perfect. They get to spend time with "Nana". And, "Nana" loves it, too!

This evening is going to be a busy evening for us. David is going to be working outside most of the time, cleaning up the grounds in preparation for two parties that are going to be held at our house this week! My sister is having an Usborne Book Party, and Natalie's 2nd birthday party is Saturday, so we have lots going on this week!

I ordered Natalie's birthday cake today on my lunch hour. She LOVES Dora the Explorer so I got her a Dora Cupcake Cake in the shape of the number two! It is sooo cute. Last year for her first, I just had someone make her a cute little cake, no theme. So this year I thought I would do Dora. I don't think I will do other items like cups and plates and things like that in Dora. I'm not too big on character themed things. Anyways, I think it will turn out great!

Hope you have a great rest of the day! Coming up tomorrow will be "WORD Wise Wednesday", so be looking for that!