A healthy dose of cabin fever

 

Pierce decided to join Hudson for nap time.

Alayna hanging out in the lego box

Hudson's lego city creation

"Mom - look what we did all by ourselves!"  

Can you say cabin fever.  It's Wednesday(day 3) - I think we're there.  I'm not afraid to get out on the ice, but my hubby is driving the van (instead of his cute little convertible) to all his appointments today.  That's okay though.  I have coffee and a floor to mop and some laundry to fold and things to fill my day...and then I read this:

December 17

Come to Me with your gaping emptiness, knowing that in Me you are complete.  As you rest quietly in My Presence, My Light within you grows brighter and brighter.  Facing the emptiness inside you is simply the prelude to being filled with My fullness.  Therefore, rejoice on those days when you drag yourself out of bed, feeling sluggish and inadequate.  Tell yourself that this is a perfect day to depend on Me in childlike trust.  If you persevere in this dependence as you go through the day, you will discover at bedtime that Joy and Peace have become your companions.  You may not realize at what point they joined you on your journey, but you will feel the beneficial effects of their presence.  The perfect end to such a day is a doxology of gratitude.  I am He from whom ALL blessings flow!

--Sara Young, Jesus Calling

So, what is the Lord using to draw you to Himself?  For me, I guess it's the weather and a healthy dose of cabin fever :) 

"My Pleasure"

Hudson is four now, so he's big enough to get the ice and water out of the fridge himself.  And he can screw the lid on and off his cup without help.  He informed me of all this this morning.  So, this afternoon David handed him Pierce's cup and asked him to get Pierce a drink.  Hudson gladly followed directions (who knew this would be so exciting?!) and handed the cup to Pierce.  My good manner drilling is paying off.  Pierce said, "Fank you, Hudson," and Hudson responded, "My pleasure."  So proud of my future Chick-fil-A employee.  :)

You Can't Kiss Santa

This morning I was singing, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause."  Hudson looked at me with this disgusted expression, "Mom, you cannot kiss Santa, because he has a beard and it starts at his chin.  You would never want to kiss that!  Blah! ... but he does love you."

Pierce woke up and wanted to watch "Thooper Why" (Super Why).  "No, mom, you don't thay Thooper Why, you thay THOOPER Why."  :)

David has been dealing with some stressful issues in his business: difficult merchants, people questioning his integrity when he works so hard to establish relationship and trustworthiness with every client, and other corporate issues.  All of these things challenge our financial stability.  Not only do I pay the bills and watch the money leave every month, I, as the wife, am the sounding board for all of these issues. My husband is a communicator and needs to vent.  I don't mind.  I'm glad I know what's on his mind and heart at any given moment, but I tend to be the sponge instead of the sounding board.  I soak up all the stress and become a walking ball of stress and it plays out in everything I do.

All that to say, my Women's Ministry Leader gave me a devotional book that I LOVE called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  

December 10

Make me the focal point of your search for security.  In your private thoughts, you are still trying to order your world so that it is predictable and feels safe.  Not only is this an impossible goal, but it is also counterproductive to spiritual growth.  When your private world feels unsteady and you grip My hand for support, you are living in conscious dependence on Me.

Instead of yearning for problem-free life, rejoice that trouble can highlight your awareness of My Presence.  In the darkness of adversity, you are able to see more clearly the radiance of My Face.  Accept the value of problems in this life, considering them pure joy.  Remember that you have an eternity of trouble-free living awaiting you in heaven. 

Is 41:10; Ps 139:10; James 1:2

Conversations

We celebrated Hudson's birthday with my family Friday night.  Hudson had a great day.  My dad asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.  He gave his standard answer: an astronaut.  Dad posed the same question for Pierce, who said, "I not grow up."  That's fine with me, I love my squishy little boy.

Hudson came into our room later Friday night when he should have been asleep.  "Mom, I'm a little bit nervous about the dark in my room."  We talked about how he didn't need to be nervous.  God was always with him, etc.  He responded, "Yeah, but, you can't really see Jesus or God."  So we talked about the evidence of God and used the wind illustration, you can't see the wind, but you can feel it and you know it's there.  Then he said, "Well, my imagination just keeps telling my brain that robots and aliens and monsters are real."  I told him he knew what was real and what wasn't and he could tell that to his imagination.  Then I asked him if anything else was making him nervous.  He said, "Well, skunks always make me a little nervous because I think they might stink me."  Okay - go to bed!

Love the conversations I can have with my little/big boys now.

Happy 4th Birthday Hudson!!!

A photo tribute to my 4 year old in no certain order :)

 My good friend, Cherissa Roebuck (roebuckremote) took some great shots of the boys for Christmas a couple of years ago. 

Destin Florida, summer '07
 

Hud jumping off papa's picnic table

What a beautiful baby!

my brother Zach took all of these.  

Pierce was born the day after this family shot was taken (notice my belly).

Time really does fly!  I can't believe he's FOUR!!!.  We're partying at McDonalad's for lunch today and with family tonight Wall-e style.  Happy Birthday Hudson!  I love you!

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.

Where I am, there they will be also

This is how the Freddys do dishes... and laundry ... and everything else.  Who said kids are always under foot?!