Never leave a mom behind!!

Something recently has been brought to my attention... there are moms all around that are hurting and feeling lonely!  Its not just me!!  I am so comforted to know that I am not the only mom out there that is struggling to find her way.  The life of a mom is so isolating sometimes.  There are someday, more so lately, that I stay in  my pj's and never leave the house!  That can, at times, be a nice change of pace, but more than one of those days can be very lonely.  I know with the winter months fast approaching, there will be a lot of inside days, and a lot of stir crazy children.  My goal is to find ways to combat the crazies before they happen.  

One thing that I feel will make this winter different and fun, is to have lots of mommy-dates, or you could call them play dates.  We all know what play dates are really for the mommies, right!?  I think if I can implement a  routine of weekly or biweekly play dates, that would really help, not just me but other moms as well.  What a great way to get through the tough winter ahead!!  

Back to the lonely and hurting mommies out there...I was brought aware that even the happiest of women could be totally dyeing inside!  I personally do not want that to be any of my friends, because I have been there!  I have been in the place where you are so discouraged and feel like no one cares.  If I can be that one person to come along side another mom and be their encourager what a blessing that could be!  I have been sitting at my house and just waiting for the phone to ring, wishing someone would call and invite me over to visit!  Well I have recently just thought, why am I not that person to call someone up and ask them to come over!  I tend to fall into the rut of just waiting for someone else to do the inviting, I need to be the one to invite and encourage!  

My prayer now is that I could just be that person to encourage another mom, or even a young married woman.  How much I would have loved to have had someone take that interest in me and come along side me when I was newly married, or a new mom.  

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Romans 1:12

...that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith

2 months old!

To save a little bit of money this time around, we opted to do our own photo shoot at home! This is our little Z man
at months old! He is growing so much and we are so happy to have him as part of our family! I can now say that I think our family is complete! I can't wait to see where God takes him in his life.

How I am learning to grow grateful kids...

This semester in my Tuesday morning bible study we are going through the book Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson.  What an eye opening book!!  This weeks reading came from chapter 7 and 8, I was so moved by what I read in chapter 7 that I feel compelled to write a little about it.

Chapter 7 begins with this quote from St. Augustine of Hippo "It was pride that changed the angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels."  What a powerful statement!

The title of this chapter is "Live Humbly : God is Great"  I feel so strongly about this statement that I am so excited to start teaching this to my children.  Growing up I do not feel that it is something that was taught very well to me! 

She gives the example of Joseph from the Old Testament in the Bible.  Joseph was the youngest brother of 12, he was the favorite of his father.  His brothers sold him to slavery when he was young.  Joseph was bought by a guard who worked for Pharaoh the King of Egypt.  With all that Joseph went through he could have been bitter or angry at God.  Instead he humbled himself under the mighty had of God and was lifted up and blessed by Him for the whole world to see!  Joseph is the perfect example of being humble.  Samson, another Old Testament man, is an example of someone who trusted in himself and didn't listen to the plans God had for him. Samson was gifted and called by God but instead of listening to his parents he was bullheaded and spoiled.   Samson decided to take matters into his own hands and neglect his vow to God!  The lesson I get from the life of Samson is to earnestly seek God's wisdom and direction, I must also humbly submit to the cleansing seasons of my life that God allows me to endure. 

For this next section I am going to copy this text from the book Growing Grateful Kids.  I have taken this from pages 110 to 112:

What consistent lessons on pride and humility do your kids pick up by watching you?

If our kids see: us shaking our fists at people more than they see us praying for them

They'll learn:  that people shouldn't get in the way of what we want.  That's pride.

If your kids see:  us responding humbly to the rude person in line at the grocery store

They'll learn:  that we are alive to reflect the character of Christ.  That's humility.

If our kids see:  us dissecting others' flaws more than they hear us honoring them in their absence

They'll acquire:  and exaggerated view of their own importance and the idea that it's okay to gossip.  That's pride.

If our kids see:  us speaking well of others, giving people the benefit of the doubt, and believing the best about others' motives.

They'll learn:  not to be quick to judge or to assign motives; they'll learn to believe and hope for the best in others.  That's humility.

If our kids see:  us striving and straining in our own strength and neglecting to give Jesus the credit He deserves

They'll learn:  that more rests on our shoulders than on His.  They'll come to believe that they are stronger than they really are (and that God is weak in some way).  That's pride.

If our kids see:  us humbly committing each new day to Jesus

They'll learn:  that He truly loves and cares about every detail of our lives.  That's humility.

If our kids see:  us disrespecting authority, criticizing our pastor, nitpicking our neighbor

They'll learn:  that it doesn't matter if Jesus told us to respect authority and to love our neighbor, because our opinions matter more than they things He has asked of us.  And that's pride.

If our kids see:  us refusing to forgive, stiffening up in the face of correction, or refusing to admit when we're wrong

They'll have:  a front row seat to watch pride in action; they'll fear correction (rather than embrace it); they'll learn to defend their "right" not to grow into everything God intended them to be.  That's pride.

If our kids see:  us admitting when we're wrong, asking forgiveness, and applying ourselves to the pursuit of holiness

They'll learn: to follow in our footsteps, to admit when they're wrong, to ask for forgiveness, and to apply themselves to the pursuit of holiness.  That's humility.

James 4:6 

...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Lord may I be more humble in my life.  May I look after others before myself and respect those that are in authority over me!  Thank you for all of the examples for me to follow through your Holy Word!  Amen!!

If you are interested in reading Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson, click this link to find it at Christian Book Distributors.

Failure....

Websters definition of failure is this: nonperformance of something due, required, or expected,  lack of success, deterioration or decay, especially of vigor, strength.  Man does that describe me today!  Here is a series of events that took place at my home just about 2 hours ago.

I awake after being able to sleep in a little, my husband had gotten up with the baby at about 5:30, so I could rest.  That was so sweet, and I was so grateful for the extra hour and a half to sleep in!  So I walk out of our bedroom to my little sweet N telling me he needed some milk!  My husband was busy with the baby, he had just finished his bottle and needed to be changed.  So with some asking my little sweet N, how he was supposed to ask for his milk, he finally said "please, may I have some milk".  Sure sweet little N, I would be happy to get it for you!  THEN.... while pouring him a cup of milk, into the cup that he had gotten out, I realized there was still a cup of milk in the refrigerator  so I get that cup out and discover that it just had a little bit left in it.  I decided that rather than waste the milk that was already in the refrigerator I would pour that remaining milk into his cup.  Well that did not sit well with him and he began throwing a fit.   Now here is where the failure on my part took place.  Instead of reacting calmly and rationally to the fit throwing, now hanging on my leg, sweet little N, I blew up!  I was so upset with the attitude he has been having lately, that I lost it!  I threw his milk into the refrigerator, grabbed him up and spanked his little bottom.  You would think that would have been enough for his sweet little heart.  BUT I continued to lose it and I took him down the hall and tossed him onto his bed, and went storming from his room slamming his door (which by the way, they get time outs for!).  Then I proceeded to my bedroom and slammed my door!  Oh boy is this really me!!!  

After spending 5 minutes cooling off in my room, leaving my poor husband (who was changing the baby and had no idea what was going on), to deal with this situation, I emerged!  Still not too calm but feeling like I needed to go and talk to my sweet little N.  Going into his room, where he was now standing in the middle of it, looking a little unsure of what just happened.  I walk up to him and get down to his level and have to apologize for yelling at him and getting upset like I did. Now if you have never had to apologize to your kids, then you have no idea how humble it makes you!  After apologizing and grab him onto my lap and cuddle his little heart out.  BUT I can tell that he is still not sure what to think of this whole situation.  After holding him for a few minutes he decided he's done and gets up to join his brother watching Saturday morning cartoons in the living room.  All this to say that I feel like a total failure today, and I now that only by the grace of my loving Heavenly Father will I be forgiven!!  

This message of a loving Heavenly Father is so important to me that I always feel terrible when I lose my temper with my children, because I am supposed to be the example for them to go by!!  I am supposed to be who they can trust in this world!!  BUT I also know that my Heavenly Father is a powerful, forgiving, and loving God who is more wonderful that I can ever express to my children.  I lay them into his hands daily, for their protection and their faith!!  I am so blessed to know that nothing I can do will bring them to His loving Hands its only by His divine power that any of us are called to HIM!!  Thank you Jesus for bridging that gap for us, so that we can come to God's loving hand and sit with Him in Heaven one day!!  

2 Thessalonians 1:11, 12

...that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then came number three!

Baby Z

Baby Z has arrived!!  He decided to greet us 10 days early!  We are all adjusting well and the older boys are so excited about their new baby brother.  These past 7 weeks have been crazy!!  Baby Z was born, then 12 days later E started school (first grade this year!!), then Tuesday after Labor Day N started preschool!  Then E decided he would like to do Cub Scouts this year, so we are letting him try it for a year and if he likes it he can continue next year.  So far he is really enjoying Cub Scouts, they were able to walk and throw out candy in our towns Homecoming parade, that was a blast!!

In between all of this other activity, E had a birthday, the big number 7 for him!  He has also lost his first tooth, with the second one just about to fall out!  This has certainly been a big month for our oldest child!

Our big Cub Scout!

First day of preschool for N

Our 3 little men!

As a family we are adjusting to this new life we are leading being a family of 5.  This is such a great time in our lives!  Baby Z is fitting really nicely into the new schedule and sleeping really well, despite the wrestling matches that are constant!