Build-A-Bear

If I went to the Build-A-Bear workshop, I would want to build a Jonah Bear.

More Prayer. More Power.

Since we moved to our new house in September, my devotional time has been quite choppy. I'll have spurts of diligence and then they will be drowned out by the busy-ness of life. When I was still working,the one advantage to a 45 minute commute each morning was the literal QUIET time. (This is now one of the rare luxuries for me in life.) During those times I was able to turn off the music and talk to God. It was during those times that the Holy Spirit would speak so much truth to me through the way He would lead my thoughts during my monologue to God. It was the epitome of a therapeutic release of emotion. It was my journey to peace in that moment of confusion. Through those times of prayer, Jesus assumed His rightful place as my Lord before whom I was humbled, my mentor, my confidante, my closest friend. And I saw the blessings of answered prayer because I was actually praying those prayers myself.

But with the sheer collapse of LIFE on me, I have lost that and am struggling to regain it. It's one of those things I know I need to do, but I don't take advantage of the time I can use to do it. But today, I did it. I prayed for the usual folks on my prayer list....and I especially prayed for my kids.

My parenting devotion today was centered around a reminder that we need to believe in the power of prayer and model faith in God as we face the challenges of parenting. I was reminded not to try to overcome these challenges with my own strength, but to trust God to help me. (And trust me, I have many of those "Lord, HELP ME!" moments...)

Seven months ago I found myself overwhelmed by the burden of guilt rooted in my lack of presence and involvement in the lives of my little loves. And now, more than ever, I feel an even greater burden - but not one of guilt... but rather, one of obligation and responsibility. There is so much I've realized in the last two and a half months of being home full time that I want to and need to do and be for my kids. And that's the overwhelming part. And many times I feel either inadequate, ill-equipped or just too darn tired to be my very best at it all.

So thank God for reminding me to continually commit myself and my children to Him, especially in prayer... asking Him to empower me in my efforts to be a godly and effective mother, and trusting that, despite my failures, He will reward my faithfulness in those efforts by caring for my children better than my best ever could.

Focus.

The theme of my Parenting by Design devotion for today was to keep our focus on Jesus and His truths, in spite of the pressures of today's culture.This struck a chord with me because I'm typically conscious of other people's parenting styles and I often compare myself with other parents. One thing that usually comes up as I meet other parents is the amount of enrichment activities, or lack thereof, that parents provide or create for their children. And what I often find with other parents (which sometimes makes me feel guilty and/or inadequate as a parent) is their priority on and ability to integrate into their schedule multiple extracurricular activities and other outside the home enrichment activities (library trips, park visits, museum excursions, etc.). It's kind of amazing to me because I feel as though I don't have time to do everything I need to do at home and be able to spend hours out of my day outside the home helping my kids to be more well-rounded and cultured. Granted, I hardly know these type of parents personally... I've never seen the inside of their houses, I've never looked at their day planners, I don't know their household income... I just don't know.

So, maybe they have maids that do most of their cleaning and cooking. Maybe they are pretty well-off and can afford to put their kids in a sports program every season and pay for music lessons and art classes. Maybe they have a regular nanny or live-in grandparent that helps watch the kids while they do the housekeeping or take time away from the home to relieve the stresses that brings. Or maybe... these are just my own pitiful rationalizations for why I don't do those things for my kids.

But I feel that today, the Holy Spirit was speaking to my heart, my Mommy heart, and reminding me that today's culture puts such significance on molding our kids into people who will be "successful" in the world's eyes. But that's not what God has called us to do as parents. At the end of the day, at the end of this age... our kids will stand before the presence of a holy God. But He will not ask how many sports they played. He will not ask to see their transcripts. He will not ask what instruments they played, how many countries they visited or how greatly they were admired by their peers. 

Instead, He will remember their depth of faithfulness to His kingdom.
He will recall how much they trusted in Jesus.
He will recount the extent to which the Holy Spirit was able to release new life in them because of their willingness to choose Christ over the flesh.


This is what the Lord reminded me of today. And it's a reminder this overachiever truly needed. My kids may not always be the best at everything. I may not always be capable of providing for them the experiences I think they should have. We may not always be able to have the material things that this culture asserts as signs of success. But we have a richness in the Lord that we can always count on. We can be enriched by the Holy Spirit working in our lives and in our home. Our earthly lives may not be picture perfect; but living faithfully for the Lord will bring us fulfillment beyond our imagination... a fulfillment that only a life lived for the Lord can truly bring.

Still a Dream Come True.

It's 1:05pm on a Wednesday and I'm sitting in my minivan with my "posse" (2 toddlers) waiting for the rest of our posse to get out of school.

When we get home I'm gonna put the little ones down for a nap and help my 7 year old do his homework and get some housework done.

Life doesn't get much better than this...

Count Your Blessings... Aloud to Your Children!

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."

_________________

Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV

Encouragement for the Young.

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, 

but set an example for the believers

in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity...

Watch your life and doctrine closely.

Persevere in them, because if you do,

you will save both yourself and your hearers. 

(1 Timothy 4:12, 16 NIV)

God's plan.

An excerpt from a parenting devotional I read today through my Bible app, entitled "God's Eternal Plan", based on one of the many lessons we can take from the story of Jacob in the book of Genesis.

Through all the disappointments (and the victories), Joseph remained confident that God was in control.

The Bible encourages us to adopt this perspective with our children. They are certain to experience trials and disappointments -- injuries, sickness, rejection by friends, failed tests and dropped balls. At times we may wonder if God truly has a plan. Joseph's story reminds us that God is bigger than our circumstances. Although we may not be able to grasp His overallplan now; one day we will be able to see the beautiful tapestry that has been woven out of the events of our lives and the lives of our children.

And we know that inall things God works for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28 NIV, emphasis added). 

Look past trials and wait for God's response.

Daily Devotional by Parenting by Design

www.parentingbydesign.com

Dreams Come True.

 

 It's been one month since I became an official SAHM 

(Stay At Home Mom -- something new I learned!)

and when I've been asked how it feels...

I've often replied, "It's a dream come true."

It may seem cheesy, but it's totally true.

I feel as though I am where I need to be. 

I feel like I am fulfilling this calling 

to be a mother in every possible way. 

It's been everything I've expected it to be - 

challenging, yet completely fulfilling.

And I thank God for bringing me here because it's an amazing blessing. I hope I never take it for granted.

When I Grow Up...

My 7 year old wants to be an inventor and a world traveler when he grows up.

So cool.

Why Not?

It is becoming apparent to me that people in my general sphere of influence view stay-at-home moms in varying degrees of negative light.

My reaction to this is: WHY?!?

I'm on the other side of that spectrum right now. I work 40+ hours a week, away from home and my kids all week long. I commute at least 1.5 hrs a day on top of those 40 hours. I see my kids for maybe 3-4 hours each week night. Weekends are almost always crazy with social events to attend... And when I finally get some downtime, I'm so tired sometimes that I'm hardly conscious, despite being physically awake. Yet I love my job, the company I work for, I've got a great boss and I have some very cool colleagues... So it's kind of a hard place to be. Some people may look at this kind of life and think that it's actually pretty ideal, right? Good job, great family... I've got a good gig... Right?

Well... it all depends on the angle at which you're examining it... What do you consider most important? People on the outside looking in, who have minimal background on my life and my values, are at this time weighing in on the other side of the scale.

People on the outskirts of my personal life have either reacted in a very skeptical way or with mixed emotions. It's been "Do you really think that's a good idea?" or "Yeah, It'll be good for you to be home with the kids... for a little while.,,"
And I'm thinking in my head, "Uh, because you happen to know anything about where my fulfillment and joy come from?"

The fact of the matter is this: As a woman, I applaud the stay-at-home moms who hold it all together for their families, who raise good kids, and support their husbands and children in ways only a good mother can. We need more women like that. And when I'm finally settled in that role, I want to be that kind of a woman, wife and mother. And of course, you don't have to be a stay-at-home mom to be a good mom. Not all moms and families can make it work such that mom can be at home, and that's a different story in itself. We have to be faithful on the paths the Lord has led us to and is leading us on, whatever that may be. And for me, I feel that I can be most effective as a mom if I'm at home with my little ones. The main motivation for my wanting to stay home full time with my kids as long as possible is found in Proverbs 31:10-31. 

Her husband has full confidence in her

and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax

and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night;

she provides food for her family

and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously;

her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff

and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor

and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate,

where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (Proverbs 31:11-31 NIV)

I want to be that woman. And I truly feel that I cannot fulfill that calling at this time in my life if I can't have a more influential and ever present role in my kids' life and in my home. And because of my faith in Jesus, I know that if I strive to be the woman He wants me to be, He will bless me. And that includes providing for my family's needs even if I don't have a 9-5 job.

My trust is in the Lord and my hope lies in His promises.

So, WHY NOT? 

Why not follow Him down the path He has set before me?

the best day

This is such a sweet song by the talented Taylor Swift. This rendition isn't actually Taylor singing, but it fits pretty perfectly with a little girl singing given that it's a song she wrote for her mom about her childhood. Every time I listen to this song, it always evokes an emotional response - as a daughter and as a mom.. I either get choked up or I'm full blown crying by the end of it... funny how music has that affect on us.

As I've grown as a mother, I've had some strong realizations that have changed my perspective and approach to motherhood and my children. I would say that the underlying theme to my motherhood would be "Cherish the Fleeting Moments". We only have our children for a short while, and we should be careful not to take for granted the time we have with them. One day they'll be too big to hold snugly in our arms. One day they'll be too grown to crawl into our laps or cuddle in our beds. One day they'll be too busy to spend time with us. And we'll look back and find sadness in our souls for letting those chances pass us by too easily. And when they're all grown up and independent, our ability as parents to influence their decision-making and to teach them values and important lessons will have greatly diminished. And with those convictions, I'm consistently reminded of the importance of connectedness and involvement in our children's lives.

In the second verse, Taylor sings about her experience as a thirteen-year-old girl... an experience all too common among girls of that age. I remember being there too. And it always make me sad and anxious to think about my baby girl going through that. I pray that she doesn't, but there's a good chance she may find herself there, given the nature of girl relationships at that age. And I want to lay the foundation now with her so that I can be the mom she needs me to be during those painful times in her life.

I'm thankful for God having put these things on my heart... and for the way He reassures me that the choices I have made, am making, and will make for the benefit of my children are for the best. I've recently sacrificed a great career with a company I love to have a full-time and actively involved role in raising the greater loves of my life. This season of our family's life will pass all too quickly and I'm so blessed to have this opportunity with my kids. Being a mom is such a tremendous blessing... it is truly one of God's most unique and amazing gifts to us as women.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Best Day"
By Taylor Swift

I'm five years old
It's getting cold
I've got my big coat on

I hear your laugh
And look up smiling at you
I run and run

Past the pumpkin patch
And the tractor rides
Look now -- the sky is gold
I hug your legs and fall asleep
On the way home

I don't know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you're not scared of anything at all

Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away
But I know I had the best day
With you today

I'm thirteen now
And don't know how my friends
Could be so mean

I come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys

And we drive and drive
Until we've found a town
Far enough away

And we talk and window-shop
Until I've forgotten all their names

I don't know who I'm gonna talk to
Now at school
I know I'm laughing on the car ride home with you
Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel okay
But I know I had the best day
With you today

I have an excellent father
His strength is making me stronger
God smiles on my little brother
Inside and out
He's better than I am

I grew up in a pretty house
And I had space to run
And I had the best days with you

There is a video
I found from back when I was three
You set up a paint set in the kitchen
And you're talking to me

It's the age of princesses and pirate ships
And the seven dwarfs
Daddy's smart
And you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world

Now I know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side
Even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
Staying back and watching me shine

And I didn't know if you knew
So I'm taking this chance to say
That I had the best day
With you today 

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/taylorswift/thebestday.html

A Born Performer

Best video ever. Check out my kid, fourth one from the left in the front row.

Now that's true commitment to a performance!

Church of the Open Door's 2011 Vacation Bible Adventure

1st and 2nd graders perform "Stories"

He's Gonna Be Just Like You.

I found this perfectly appropriate for Father's Day.

Our children will follow in so many of our footsteps... so parents, tread carefully!

And most importantly, led the Lord Jesus lead your way.

Happy Father's Day to the most important men in our children's lives.

Cats in the Cradle

by Harry Chapin

My child arrived just the other day

He came to the world in the usual way

But there were planes to catch and bills to pay

He learned to walk while I was away

And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew

He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad

You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon

Little boy blue and the man on the moon

When you comin' home dad?

I don't know when, but we'll get together then son

You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day

He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play

Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today

I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"

And he walked away but his smile never dimmed

And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah

You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon

Little boy blue and the man on the moon

When you comin' home son?

I don't know when, but we'll get together then son

You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day

So much like a man I just had to say

"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"

He shook his head and said with a smile

"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys

See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon

Little boy blue and the man on the moon

When you comin' home son?

I don't know when, but we'll get together then son

You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away

I called him up just the other day

I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"

He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time

You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu

But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad

It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me

He'd grown up just like me

My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon

Little boy blue and the man on the moon

When you comin' home son?

I don't know when, but we'll get together then son

You know we'll have a good time then

http://www.lyricsdepot.com/harry-chapin/cats-in-the-cradle.html

school's out.

my oldest is officially a second grader.

on the last day of school, he brought home a couple of booklets they compiled of his writing assignments over the year, complete with illustrations, and it was... amazing.

as i looked through the pages and reviewed his work, i thought to myself, "i'm gonna keep this forever!" (total mom reaction! and i fully intend to!) it is probably the closest thing to being able to hold in my hands the growing up of my very first child. his thoughts, emotions and perspectives will never be quite the same as what is reflected in his writings.

some of my faves: 

Love is when my Mom lets me play the Wii. Love is when my sister and brother give me XOs.

On Thanksgiving I go to my uncle Justins. I eat squishy turkey, shmoot pumpkin pie, gravy mashed potatoes. I play soccer and bascit ball also football. I feel full like a fat fat turkey that can bloew up! I like Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving because I like my famaly. I am thanks for Jayden and club penguin.

If I were president it would be swel. I would go to the Philipines. I would have body guard and a oval office. I would be patriotic. I would help animals. I would like to be president. And I would go to San fricisco a live in a hotel.

Once upon a time in a Japanese village lived a prince named Josiah. One day a dastardly dragon was going to blow up the town with his blue fire! Handsome price Josiah is going to run at him with a sword but he blows blue fire at me! But I blasked it with my sword. I handcuft the red dragon and put him in the castle dungeon. They lived hapily ever after. The End.

simply priceless.

i love you si guy. mommy's so proud of you.

A Beautiful Challenge.

This week I had the fine luxury of being home. My parents are visiting and staying with me, so I decided to take a week off from work and enjoy a little "stay-cation" to spend time with them.

We're pretty low maintenance people... we don't require extravagance to make our lives feel full. So, we didn't do anything extravagant... in fact, it was low key and it felt like life as it should be: days spent with family, doing the daily things that need to be done, but taking time to spend it with the people we love. That's one of the most important approaches to life.

Being at home also gave me the blessing and opportunity of really "being" a mother to my children. Don't get me wrong -- once a mother, always a mother -- but you don't always have the blessing of acting in the full capacity of "mother" for your children. When I'm at work 9 hours a day, 5 days a week... I'm still their mother, but I'm not acting in that capacity. It is always who I am, but not always what I do. So, when I'm with them, it's both a blessing and a challenge because I have to put the "Mama" hat on and be what they need me to be.

And given life in its current state, I only wear that hat from 6pm-7am Monday through Thursday (excluding most federal holidays) and weekends (in general, excluding weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, the rare date night, or any other recreational or social activity that may limit my time spent with my kids). So, this week, I got to experience Mommyhood continuously. And it was fun. Especially priceless was the forging of a very special bond with my two-year-old, affectionately nicknamed Jones. He is so amazingly "Type A" (just like his mama) and really has a unique spirit and sense of humor. He's independent and strongly particular about how things should be done. He's determined (a.k.a. strong-willed) and strong-minded. I'd swear he was the two-year-old male version of me. Things have to be done his way... and if they're not, then they have to be re-done the right way. We're kindred spirits, he and I, so I can't get mad at his nature because to do so would be self-condemnation. He's me - wrapped up in a smaller, cuter and definitely funnier package. And that realization has enabled me to be a better mom to him. Sometimes it feels like I'm a psychologist parading around as a mom because you really have to understand how your kids' minds and emotions work in order to effectively manipulate, I mean maneuver - actually, manipulate is what I really mean - their behavior.

The strong-willed and independent child doesn't want to feel as though they're being forced to do something against their will. They desire the freedom to make their own decisions and do things their own way. The challenge as parents is to give them that space, but to provide the boundaries and support that they need. And the beauty of a working balance that I personally experienced with my determined to buckle himself in his own car seat two-year-old is that if you give them those opportunities to do the little things their way - for example, buckling himself in his own car seat or putting on his own socks and shoes - they will not only gain self-assurance and confidence in their abilities, but they will also see that you respect and acknowledge their own individual desires and abilities. This is the beautiful challenge: giving your children an appropriate amount of freedom to make their own decisions ("do you want to buckle yourself, or do you want me to do it?"), reminding them that you are always standing by to help if it gets too hard, and rejoicing in their accomplishments ("Yay!! You did it!!"), while firmly and lovingly keeping them within the boundaries you set.

Kids like my Jones will most of the time tell you that they want to do things their way. The other day, he and I were debating about which shoes he would wear. Now, I am a firm believer that as long as you live under my roof (this includes age 2), I get the final say on what you wear. Jones is very picky with his shoes. Once he likes a pair of shoes, he insists on wearing them all day, every day. Sometimes I don't care, but this day, the gray slip-on shoes were a much better option than his all-time fave white Polo shoes (nothing to do with the fact that gray is pretty much the end-all be-all of my favorite colors). So, we went back and forth for a while: "Jones, I want you to wear the gray shoes." "No, Mommy, these ones." "No, Jones. You're gonna wear the gray shoes." "No, Mommy, no want to." "I don't care, Jones... Go put on the gray ones. Mommy said so." "No, Mommy, no want to!" "Jonah Bear, go put them on." He starts to walk to his room "Yah... fine." And he put on the gray shoes. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself... and when he came back I gave him a big hug and said, "Thank you, Bear! Good boy, I love you." And he tarried on like no debate ever transpired.

In the past, this wouldn't have happened. And usually if you just get frustrated and take off the Polo shoes and put the gray ones on, he will have a fit and take off the gray shoes anyway. But this week, it was as if I had the opportunity to prime him for that moment... to show him in other circumstances that I cared about the fact that he wanted to do something his way... whether it was letting him pick where he sat at the table, or asking him which T-shirt he wanted to wear, or taking the extra 5 minutes so he could buckle himself into his car seat with minimal help from me. I quickly learned that he needed to feel heard and respected for who he was and what he thought. And once he and I were on that page where he knew that I cared about what he had to say... then he was much more responsive to what I had to say, even if it wasn't what he wanted to hear or do at that moment. And it was all wrapped up in love. I thanked him for his obedience each time, even if it took a few minutes of firm debate to get him to obey. At the end of the day, I want my kids to know that I love them... but they also need to understand that Mommy and Daddy have the final say, and that what we say, goes. Effectively communicating those two facts of life is a delicate beam to balance.

Children still have a lot to learn about life and how the world and relationships work... especially when it comes to dealing with authority. But one thing I've learned is that they still feel many of the same things we feel as adults. When we feel oppressed or controlled, we tend to rebel and act selfishly. But when we feel appreciated and acknowledged by someone, we feel more secure in that relationship, especially when we feel loved. It is then that we are more inclined to set aside our own desires and preferences when asked to do so. This is especially important between parents and children. Parents who effectively communicate love to and set appropriate boundaries for their children will raise children who feel loved and receive their parents' instruction as coming from a loving place, as opposed to a controlling or manipulative one.

This is the beautiful challenge I face with a stubborn two-year-old or a testy six-year-old. In the long run, it's more than just debates over shoes or cleaning their room the first time we ask. The goal is to raise children who will one day be secure, responsible, loving and respectful adults. We want to equip them to have healthy relationships - whether it be with friendships, in their career, or in their marriage. The ultimate question is: "How do I teach you to make the right decision and choose the best path?" I know won't always be around to tell them which way is right. But while my kids are still young, I can still guide them and teach them how to make wise decisions, instead of just forcing them onto the right path. These are the formative years that are so significant to their development as individuals. I refuse to let these opportunities slip through my fingers... my babies are too important for me to let every other responsibility get the best of me, giving them only second-rate efforts. My most crucial responsibility next to my relationship with God is raising my family. They are one of my life's greatest blessings and I wouldn't trade my "Mommy" hat for any other. Motherhood is an amazing thing... It has the power to consume a woman's identity for nearly two decades... and it's an identity by which no woman is left untransformed. It is indeed a beautiful challenge that rivals none.

Good Morning, Mommy!

This is how Bella greeted me this morning as I was getting ready for work.

It's the sweetest thing when babies wake up and they're not crying. This has happened a few times recently with Bella, typically when she's sleeping in our bed. She'll just wake up randomly and hang out happily, like the little splash of sunshine she is.

This morning, she was still sleeping when I got up. But the next time I came into the room, I saw these little arms stretched above the blanket holding a little green paci. And there she was... wide-eyed and fiddling with her pacifier. Now usually, when she sees me (oh fine, let's be honest - EVERYTIME she sees me... :P ) she lights up like fireworks on New Year's Eve in the Philippines. (We're best friends, what can I say? I light up just the same when I see her!) And depending on her mood, if she sees me and then I leave.... she cries. And a crying baby at 6am is not ideal, especially for Dada Joe, who's slept most of the night on a hard toddler bed with Jonah. 

So at first I just watched her fiddle around. And then she looked to her side where Daddy was sound asleep next to her. I thought she might have tried to roll over and wake him up, but she didn't. 

She was still as happy as a clam.

So I couldn't resist. I had to look over and catch her gaze... and there it was... 

the big beautiful smile that I come home to after each work day.

The smile that will melt hearts for the rest of her life.

What a way to start the day. Good Morning, Bella my little lovebug... Mommy loves you.

Intro to the Heart of a Mommy.

Receiving the title of "Mommy" --- or "Maaaaaaaammy" as my youngest son, Jonah (21 months), refers to me --- is one of the sweetest blessings and greatest challenges of my life. It is a title relinquished by none, sadly regretted by some and overused by many (under the age of 7... because that's all i can attest to from personal experience). 

Motherhood is not just a part of me... it defines my entire being. 

It permeates every aspect of my life. 

And I prefer it that way.

My kids... are the reason I haven't slept in in years.

My kids... are the reason I wake up in the morning. 

        (someone's always hungry, or bored, or needs their diaper changed...)

My kids... are the reason my heart breaks a little each time I walk out the door to go to work.

My kids... make me smile when they smile... make me laugh when they laugh...  

My kids... are the most important people in my life under five feet tall.

        (for the record, the hubby is over five feet tall.)

My kids... bring more joy to my life than I could have ever imagined.

My kids... could never be a mistake... only a blessed surprise.

My kids... will never be loved by anyone the same way.

My kids... are my inspiration and motivation to be the best Mommy and Lady I can be.

My kids... are God's precious gifts to me.

and nothing will ever change that.

So here's my little blog, devoted to a peek into the heart of this Mommy.

Follow along if you wish... there will be tears and laughter, I assure you. 

And I hope you will be blessed.