It's Right Here

Recently I've been wondering what my niche is here.

Where should I be serving, leading, learning?

And I came to a dramatic conclusion.

For now?  Nowhere.

It's gonna be here....easy as pie.

Or maybe not.

Because serving somewhere else is a bit easier and has more visible rewards.

Someone usually sees you.  Someone sometimes says thanks.

And it makes me feel more valuable.

The day to day grind can wear out the most ambitious mama.

Casual backtalk, sharp words, ungrateful, unkindness from the kids hurts.

To be firm, unwavering, encouraging...that is my goal:)

So here.  My hubby.  Our family.

That is my love, my calling, my life.

And in that realization everything has shifted.

I know I am praying more for my kids and Kevin and reading the Word more.

I trust that He is using me to be a good mom and that makes all the difference.

He uses me to teach my kids life skills, coping, discipline, self-control....how to love well.

So for years and even most recently, loudly to myself...what does He care about most?

The answer is people.  Over and over again, it's people.

So for me, my focus will stay right here at home.

And that my friends is the challenge laid ahead of me.

There is great beauty in just simplifying.

In resting in What He has for me.

So I am putting on my game face every morning and laughing, giggling, 

tickling, wrestling, jumping, tackling, asking, crafting,

learning, talking, cleaning, reminding,

....all the while, knowing that He is here and He loves me right here.

Ephesians 3:16-21

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.

 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

End of the School....finally:)

You can read my blog or just go read hers....she's a better writer and pretty much sums is up:)

super cool writer/blogger

I realized it about a month ago.  I'm tired.  I'm tired of waking early and motivating two cuties to get dressed, eat something, and put on those darn shoes.  Why do kids have to wear shoes to school? Can't they just go barefoot til noon?  I mean reallly, aren't they just reading anyways.

The school projects, volunteer 'opportunities', signing randomness, reading time, homework, new friends, fundraiser....not a fan, and so on.  Going to school seemed so much simpler when I went.  But then again, I should ask my mom that ?.

For example, T missed the video about puberty last month.  I researched, watched the power point online, got advice from our children's pastor and checked the box for OK...let him watch it. 

However, he left it at home that Monday am.  So I ran it up to the office.

Secretary said she'd get it to the nurse.

Well, apparently, that never happened.   Because T and 4...yes, 4, students sat in another room and watched a Bill Nye video.  The whole thing is laughable.   After all that...he didn't even watch it.

YES, we have already talked about it all...when he was 8, but still.  

So when B said last week to T...'you have hair in your armpit'...I almost screamed.  

I didn't, but I was so close to holding him down to see for myself:))

I waited all the way til bedtime and asked him.

He calmly said, no, mom, I don't yet.

So cute.

Ramblings from this mama just never cease.  There is always something going on over here:))

B likes Baseball

This is where the action is at the games....the bars.  They are positioned over a patch of grass and then a 4 foot drop off.  Needless to say, it makes me nervous, but they have figured it out and all is well.

E always seems to find a friend....I like that about her:)

A whole blog for this cool kid....

He is growing up.  I think some kids do it without you realizing it....and then some are like B...who you can see it happening.  And is so sweet and yet painful too.

He's learning to listen.  And be a good friend.

And laugh when it's the right time:)

He's learning that we like him.

He doesn't have to earn anything or compete with T...all the time.

And for that I am thankful.

 This game was short...like 25 minutes short.  

I ran, who are we kidding...I walked, to the bathroom and came back to this....we got run ruled...bad:((

 Baseball kind of suits him....lookin darn handsome!!

Things I Remember

Recently I was reminded that I have forgotten a few things.

I suppose mothers block out certain stages of the notsofun parts of mothering.

So it's time to blog what I do remember...in no particular order:)

*changing lots of diapers, including cloth ones for a period of time

*going to the store for just diapers, wipes and milk

*making baby food

*never liked doing the baby cereal...took so long!!

*nursing on a schedule for the most part.  timing, writing down, making sure.

*listening to a bit of crying here and there for sleep training

*upon the delivery of each child, wondering if I could do one more

*overwhelmed at the motherhood role

*teaching them about Christ and what He has for us

*nervous once bc I was dizzy and none of the kids were old enough to be of any help

*wondering if I would have all girls

*wiping faces, hands, and bottoms

*packing the diaper bag, again.

*meeting the neatest gals in the nursing room at church

*falling asleep while nursing

*wondering if any of my children would ever go to school

*needing time alone

*wanting to get away

*going to Target to get away...that hasn't changed:)

*missing Kevin

*happy faces

*fabulous giggles, tickles, fun

*forever bathtimes

*holding them after baths....my favorite.

*not being able to get much done due to busy hands

*talking about character issues early on...self control for sure:)

*teaching the boys to do laundry, trash, respect

*putting down a nursing baby to spank an older child making trouble

*Kevin sleeping through alot of the baby nights.  I woke him a few times.

*Wishing I could go to work.

*Finding the best friends of my life.

*Watching kids grow and learn and make good choices.

*Going to Target with a baby and hoping no one woke them.

*Being pregnant and not wanting anyone to touch my belly.

*Not sleeping due to prego belly.

*Contractions that seemed like the real deal, for 2-3 hours, then gone.  

I cried once after an episode of that.

*Thankful for really great babysitters.

*Loving craft time with kids.

*Long summer nights on the trampoline.

*Watching them crawl, walk, talk, laugh, all of it for the first time.

*Buckling them in their seats, again.

*Praying for strength, wisdom, kindness, grace to my kids

*SO thankful Kevin came home.

*hard watching them get hurt

I'm sure I'll think of more, plenty more...but that's a start.