Happiness

My sister, Amanda, just read The Happiness Project (I haven't read it but I like her insights). She says, "It's an encouraging little book with practical tips that really do work. One of the things I see myself constantly failing at is her practice of 'act the way you want to feel.' Apparently, if you feel irritated and then you express that irritation, it doesn't relieve your irritated-ness. Looking back over motherhood, I see how true that is. But, oh the strength one must have to push that irritated feeling down into yourself, just absorb it, and gush out some sweetness and exercise patience and love. The outcome is that you will feel more patience and love and your irritation will lessen. So that's my happiness project for the week. Not so much for the purpose of me being happier, but I see the gospel in it, and my goodness gracious, it would just be really nice of me to be Christ to my kids, absorb their stuff, swallow my angry words, and decide to act gently and graciously towards them. But the motivation of, "so I can feel happier" isn't the best motivation, but happiness is nice." :)

Well, I just love my sister and her precious, crazy girls. I relate so well to her experience with my own children. Amanda and I took turns having babies. We shared maternity clothes and after-pregnancy clothes and, between the two of us, my parents have eight grandchildren under the age of 7! We love and discipline and train our children, but every mother knows there are those moments. They usually happen when dinner is on the stove, I'm on the phone, Adelle is climbing on the table, Hudson is trying to get her down while she screams, Pierce is kung-fooing Alayna while she's trying to twirl and sing. I hang up the phone, scream for everyone to just stop, and turn on a movie. (But Amanda's kids play "cooking" and mix cereal with dominoes and beads. Ah, such creativity!). There are those moments.

I don't think this is a fake-it-til-you-make-it mentality. I think it's grace, self-control, living TRUTH, and being Christ for my kids. Don't worry, be happy :) Here's some happy things ...

Little bitty piggy-tails! She looks like such a big girl, and her cheeks look extra chubby with her hair back. What mommy doesn't love smoochin' on some chubby baby cheeks?!

A little sister love. Adelle calls Alayna, "Nuh," just the end of her name. It's cute.

Guitar banana, singing the states and capitals song as loud as possible. I believe this shot was, "Baton Rouge, LouisianAAAAAAAH!"

Hudson was drumming, Pierce was strumming - Homeschooling at it's best!

Let me tell you a story. I get up every morning at 4:30 to have a cup of coffee and do my Bible study before I go train at 5:15. This morning I was extra tired. I got the coffee maker ready and started. Got dressed and tied my shoes and came back in the kitchen to coffee grounds and brown water dripping off the counter and running everywhere. I didn't get the pot pushed back in all the way. So I cleaned up the mess and went out the door without any coffee. When I came back in at 6:20 I made a fresh pot and now I have a smile on my face - happy things. :)

One more happy thing. One of my other sisters, Amanda's twin - Angela, got engaged to Bob this week! We're so excited for her! I'm corny and love saying, Bob's your uncle. Anyway, Yea Ange!!!

Fabulous Fort Fun and a recipe

Cushion forts are fabulous Saturday morning fun. If we did these every day I might go crazy because my front room would be a complete and disastrously noisy mess. I'm in constant pick-up mode as it is, without complete destruction. Anyway, they have a blast and I get the kitchen clean ... at least for a little while. :)

She rules the roost.

Alayna is doing "school" in her newly fashioned t-shirt sleeve head band.

Here's me in mine and, drum roll please ....... I made homemade graham crackers this week! We've been trying to stick with the 100 days of real food plan. Check out THIS LINK for some great recipes! Anyway, kid snacks were my hardest thing. Goldfish and other processed food snacks don't qualify as edible under this plan. We'd been snacking on fruit and nuts and cheese sticks, etc., but we were missing the cracker variety. :) When I found the graham cracker recipe I had to give it a shot.

Graham Crackers

3 c whole grain white flour (I bought Hogson Mill brand)

1/2 t salt

1/2 t baking powder

1/4 t cinnamon

8 T butter

1/2 cup raw honey (or agave nectar)

1 egg (my addition)

1. Stir together first 4 ingredients in bowl.

2. Melt the honey and butter together and pour over dry ingredients, adding enough extra butter to make the dough workable (I added 2 more T of butter and 1 egg at this point).

3. Lightly grease your cookie sheet and roll out dough to 1/8" thickness. Cut rectangles with a knife and prick with a fork. (You could sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar at this point too) :)

4. Bake 10 minutes at 375.

They are a little bit fluffier and grainier than the packaged variety, and I may be partial, but I thought they were wonderful and the kids think so too!

Your muscles get bigger while you're sleeping.

Three years ago, Hudson was 3 1/2 and Pierce was almost 2; Alayna was on the way and we needed to make room in the crib, so we put them in a queen size bed together. This summer we were able to get bunk beds for them, yet they still manage to sleep together some nights. Every day they're getting bigger, smarter, stronger. I love watching my babies become toddlers, then big boys. I love teaching them and seeing the fruit of it. I love marking the notch on the door frame that shows they've grown another two inches and seeing the excitement on their faces. Yet, something sweet hurts inside.

Summer is here!

Swimming days are taking over and wearing us all out and we love it! Everybody's hair is getting a little blonder and we're adding to our freckle collection. The heat is officially here. 90 to 100 degrees all week long, so we're playing outside in the morning and swimming or summer schooling in the afternoons.

Yesterday we went to Aldi to grab some snacks before heading to the pool. "Are those all yours?" Her voice wafted loudly down the aisle and I knew it was meant for me because I hear it EVERY time we go out. I smile and nod, "They sure are." She gawks, "Two boys, two girls?" Mmmhmm. "I'm sure glad having children is for the young." I smile again, "We have lots of fun, I drop into bed and sleep great every night ... from all that fun (wink, smile)." She grunts a little. Lovely. Well, here's some shots of all our fun :)

Grilled everything - Hooray for grilling!

Look out - she's a wild woman!

Chillin' on the backyard swing.

Whoa! My little American Woman playing on the playground set.

Watering the flowers.

Making monster dolls!

We love them!

Swimming, of course.

Caught the top of his head before he disappeared.

I didn't get a picture of her, but miss fearless swimming diaper will jump in anywhere. She wears me out.

Getting a little reading in - man, they're cute.

We're trying to get a little more sleep too - Ha!

Daddy is finishing the day with the boys and the cowgirl playing angry birds. Yeah, it's exhausting and so much fun!

Procrastination is the Thief of Dreams

"The assumption of time is one of humanity's greatest follies. We tell ourselves that there's always tomorrow, when we can no more predict tomorrow than we can the weather. Procrastination is the thief of dreams."

--The Walk by Richard Paul Evans.

One of my dear friends lost her mother yesterday. Her mother, of course, was my mother's age. Young, vibrant, loving her grandkids and the life she had been blessed with. Then she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer - "like the kind of event that blindsides you on a Friday afternoon when you're trying to plan your weekend."

Her journey through this battle is incredible. You can read about it here.

I have many vivid memories of Vicki Dees. She was my bible study teacher through middle school and highschool. She made a huge impact on my spiritual walk and my understanding of God. She was a the happiest, sweetest person I've probably ever met. All of that is a direct result of her love for Jesus.

I spent many days playing at her house with her daughter, Rissa, as a child. I grew up with their family as an almost daily part of my life. But my strongest and fondest memory of Vicki was one summer day when I was over at their house "helping" with a garage sale. I was probably 9 or 10. Vicki had us pricing things. She would strike up a conversation with every person who came to her garage sale. Most of the conversations ended up with this question, "Do you know Jesus?" Her boldness wasn't overbearing or judgmental. It was the sweetest thing I had ever witnessed. Like she truly loved and cared for every person who walked in that day.

If you read her blog you'll see her faith and you'll see one of her last profound statements, "I was created to be eternal." Her faith is now sight and mine is the stronger for it.

Thankful Thursday

I'm still looking at this ...

1. The good news is, the worst news I've heard all day is, "You're still 2 cm." I should know better than to get my hopes up. I seriously woke up this morning and put our bags in the car. I finished up the laundry and dishes, swept and mopped the floor, made sure the house was spotless, and didn't thaw anything out for dinner. I was SO SURE my doctor would say, "Oh my, you're dilated to a 9. Go on over to the hospital." I was not prepared for "2 cm." But, really, what's one more week? I know her birthday is already set and I have very little to do with it and I will not be drinking any castor oil!

2. I get 2 of these very soon! Someone is ready for her little sister to get here. :)

3. Daddy found a new Veggie Tales double feature on sale for $5 that we don't already own. The kids are into VT again and I love it!

4. Aunt Angela got to come over for dinner this week and my kids were THRILLED. Love all my sisters.

Exciting times for us ahead.

Christmas Grace

Lots of things on my brain this morning: Menu planning, what to get my dad for Christmas (the man who has everything or buys it himself on the internet Dec 15 - thanks dad), projects to finish before Christmas, must mail those Christmas cards today! grocery shopping by 9 or it won't happen, am I really only half way through this pregnancy?! I feel huge, probably baking some goodies this afternoon for friends and neighbors, and that little diaper bottom in pink sweatpants that just walked by sure is cute ...

I finally wrapped the presents yesterday during nap time. When Pierce woke up he said, "We really ARE getting presents!" Someone asked Hudson last night if Santa was coming to his house. He looked at them with this do-you-think-I'm-a-dumb-little-kid look and said, "Santa Clause is already in heaven and his real name is Saint Nick." We did supply the history of St, Nicholas, but not the attitude! Good grief! Pierce is a little scared of "Santa Claw" so it's just as well that we don't "do" Santa. When Hudson was about 3, he kept telling me these crazy things about Satan. It was several days before I realized he was trying to say Santa - much to my relief!

I do like the philosophy of giving gifts to my children because I love them and want to bless them rather than gifts magically appearing if they're good vs. bad. We're really celebrating the birth of Christ who came to us, not because we're good and deserving, but because He first loved us. His ultimate gift to us required the greatest sacrificial gift of all time - His life for ours. I have been blessed with grace and mercy and love having the opportunity to share that beautiful picture of grace with my children.

My Baby

"Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;

Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,

Your justice like the oceans depths...

How precious is Your unfailing love, O God!  

All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.

You feed them from the abundance of Your own house,

Letting them drink from the rivers of Your delight.

For You are the fountain of life, 

the Light by which we see."  Psalm 36:5-9

Isn't it incredible that when we see clouds, God's faithfulness reaches beyond them?  Isn't it amazing that when I don't know where I'm going to put another child or how we're going to feed another mouth or what in the world God was thinking when, through all our efforts to keep from this, the Fountain of Life granted us yet another life and gives us shelter in the shadow of His wings, and feeds us from the abundance of His own house, and lets us drink from the rivers of His delight?!  I am in awe of the unfailing love of my God.

I must say, I was initially in shock.  Not devastated, at the deepest level, but definitely reeling.  Another baby?  Are you serious?  Long ago, I thought it was a great plan to have all of my children before I turned 30 (I'll be 29 the end of this month).  Now, I realize, not only does that require extreme amounts of energy and who knows how many pots of coffee, but it will also require us to do something permanent after this baby comes to avoid our own reality TV show when I'm 42 and pregnant with our 19th child!  That's another big decision - not really thinking about that yet.  However, Suzanna Wesley and Mrs. Duggar are in a category of their own.  Not planning on joining them. :)  Beyond that crazy stream of thought, God is so good to grant us this baby, whom my sons are determined to name Deuteronomy, aka Dude.

In other news, Alayna is 15 months  old and so much fun.  She says new words every day, loves shoes and wants all 7 of her blankeys at the same time.  She loves talking on the phone and playing with her babies, and building spaceships and playing cars - we call that well-balanced.

She loves sitting in this chair.  She usually gets as many toys as she can hold in her arms and then sits down.  She's a hoarder.  :)  Now that she's walking she likes to kick the ball.  Hudson is playing soccer this year, so she's learning a lot from her big brother.  

The poor thing has been blessed with my cheeks, but we love them.  She may not love them so much when she's 14.  ;)

And this is the little guy we found playing on our playground in the back yard.  He makes a great science lesson/craft for this week!  We watched him for a really long time.  One of our favorite babysitters gave the boys bug-eye masks.  As soon as we saw the praying mantis outside they went and got their masks on.  More pictures to come!

There's a Bucket of Cars on top of my Fridge

This is only blog worthy because someday I'll print this out and Hudson will read it and smile because he'll be teaching his kids the very same things.

So, this morning while I was nursing Alayna (because everything punishable happens while you're nursing or on the phone) Hudson punched Pierce in the stomach because he wasn't helping pick up the play room.  (Thought process: "So maybe if I punch him he'll want to help me?!")  After I sent Hudson to his bed, comforted Pierce, and administered the necessary punishment, I loaded up the big ice cream bucket full of cars and said, "These are gone."  (They're on top of the fridge, but don't tell Hudson!)  You would have thought I pulled out the cat of nine tails for the bellowing that followed.  Honestly, can't we all just get along?

Yesterday was a rough day for me.  Poor Alayna has been on antibiotics that cause diarrhea.  Yesterday she pooped in the middle of every nap, only wanted to be held all day and that was after an up-four-times night, so mommy was exhausted.  David has had a particularly stressful week and I always absorb his stress.  Feeling down, I pulled out a little prayer booklet my friend Steph Whitley made for me.  I prayed through several prayers for my family that she had written for herself and her family.  Thank you Steph!!!

Sweet hour of prayer...that calls me from a world of care and bids me at my Father's throne make all my wants and wishes known!  Sweet hour of prayer...thy wings shall my petition bear to Him whose truth and faithfulness engage the waiting soul to bless: And since He bids me seek His face, Believe His Word and trust His grace, I'll cast on Him my every care, and wait for thee, Sweet hour of prayer. --William Walford 1772-1850

Truly, we are a blessed people who can always turn to a gracious and loving heavenly Father who will take our burdens away.  Sigh.  Smile.  Peace.

Forget not All HIS Benefits

 Well, I went to bed way too late last night.  Alayna was up from 1-2am (I still don't know what her deal was, unless she didn't like my pizza).  Then everyone woke up at 6:45.  But it's Thursday which means PLAY GROUP!!!  So instead of slugging through my day hanging on by my fingernails until nap time, we went to Miss Lisette's house and drank strong coffee with homemade cinnamon rolls.  My kids got to play and wear themselves out before nap time and I got some SWEET fellowship with my girlfriends.  I am so blessed to have other moms who are my close friends.  We're all in the same stage of life and we can be real about it.  We each identify with the other's frustrations and challenges and every one of them is able to encourage me and lift me up.  I love Thursdays!  Thank you girls!!