This is just part of our prayer time with Beau when we lay him down. I asked him last night, "Beau do you know what a blessing is?" He said, "tell me again?" I told him blessings are special things that happen throughout the day straight from the Lord that let us know He loves us and is watching over us (that's my definition, anyway). I asked him if he could think of a blessing. He said, "Oh yes, I got to chew some gum today; I got to see my Papa and Andrew's soccer game and Andrew too; I got to play rocks and dirt with those boys at the soccer game; and hmmm well that's what I know."
I know that I am totally in love with that little boy and I love watching him grow in the Lord. Before I had my babies, I saw a youtube video of a four year old little girl reciting the Lord's Prayer. She stumbled only twice and to my surprise and tears, knew it a little better than me. At that point I made a decision to have the same priorities for my own children: that they would grow to know the Lord at a very young age. Now that I have my own, I'm assessing my progress and while I'm happy to report the Lord gets a celebratory AMEN! from baby Lauren at the mealtime prayers, I could be doing so much more.
I want to weave scripture into our daily life, introduce reading the Bible everyday. Simple concepts but not too easy in my crazy-chasing-chaos-small-children world. But I want to and I will.
Here is a list of a few of my blessing;
Living so close to be able to go to soccer games
Listening to Beau and Lauren laugh when Papa tickles them
Lauren blowing goodbye kisses to Ma when we leave
Beau spending the week with Grandma and coming home with a pipe cleaner butterfly
Coach Reed renting our home
Making whoopie pies with Jenny
Spending the weekend with some the most wonderful people in the atmosphere, the Party Barge
Meeting sweet, sweet friends for lunch dates
The Chiropractor
Stacey's Sweets cupcakes
Finding my keys inside the unlocked car
Laundry and dirty dishes (they mean we have clothes to wear and food to eat)
Free fitness classes
Cousins
Answered Prayer.
It does a heart good to list blessings. I could go on and on.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
An evening with Us, the Eagles and a Camera phone
Mike is getting really good at playing the guitar. We turn on some classics using the laptop, Daddy plays along and me and kids break it down DJ Jazzy MC style. This is just a peek at our bliss.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Baker's Beauty Barn
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| Before |
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| Auntie Jenny workin' her magic |
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| Audience Members Who let's their kids sit on the kitchen table? Sheesh. Someone should tell their mom. |
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| "Just even out the back and trim the top, thanks Doll." |
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| "I've got to hit the bathtub after this, but Yes I did see the Christmas line at Gymboree! To die for gorgeous." |
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| "Ugh, so many messages." |
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| "Listen, I'm trying to get my hair did. Let me call you later." |
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| Ta-Da! The finished, polished product! |
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| Just one pretty "thank you" picture with Aunt Jenny... |
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| just one |
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| THANK YOU AUNT JENNY FOR MY 1ST HAIRCUT! Love, Lauren ox |
Beauisms
"Hey Mommy what's train start with?" T "What's cloud start with?" C "What does poop start with?" P "I know that but what letter does it start with?!"
"Hey Mommy, what do butterfly's eat?"
"Where do skunks live?"
"Why do the clouds rain when they are full?"
"When I grow up, I wanna be a tractor helper. I wanna help tractors build."
"I love you a bushel and a heck and hug around the neck!"
"Daddy, when you jump your truck (going fast over hills), it makes my bottom tickle."
"I love my Will, he's my brother."
"Mommy, I'm sorry I broke your feelings."
"Oh Mommy, this is my fravorite!"
When I ask him a question, his reply, "Oh, of course."
"Mommy, thank you for making these delicious Fruit Loops!"
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
In all seriousness
The Good Lord is trying to teach me a lesson these days... unfortunately I'm not sure what is entailed within that lesson. I've picked up a few tips along the way but let me preface these tips with a bit of background.
Mike and I found an amazing church to attend. The church is currently preaching a series entitled, "One Month to Live". The concept is simple yet, profound. What if you were given One Month to Live? List in your head 5 things right now you would change immediately. Five things. We are involved in a small group Bible study which discusses these topics in greater detail. Many tears have been shed contemplating priorities, attitudes and relationships with others and with God. I am learning so much... about myself.
As God is revealing to me ways that I can become a better person in His lesson plan, I am realizing the importance of my priorities. Where are yours? Since the beginning of this One Month to Live program, in one week I heard the news of four cancer diagnosis. Four. One of them, a young mother of three was given 6 months to live. I know of a 27 year old mother of a 2mo old baby who died suddenly of heart failure. The only link was over-the-counter diet pills she was taking correctly. Yesterday we nearly lost my step-sister Jessica in childbirth! I type this with tears as a big dose of reality is beating on my heart.
Reality is we don't know when we will be in a car accident or find a lump or have someone tell us we have One Month to Live. Our Grandpa says, "Our times are in His hands." It couldn't be further from the truth. I am an unashamed, sold out for Jesus, born again, Bible believing Christian, trying to be His light in this dark world. But do people see that in me? When I die I want people to think, I want to love my husband the way Carrie loved Mike and I want to love my children the way Carrie loved Beau and Lauren, but most importantly, she loved God even more.
In pondering my life and priorities these things stand out to me:
I listen more. My children are so very loud, all the time. I unintentionally began to tune them out, which is sad. Since I've been listening more intently, you know what I heard Beau say? "Mommy, am I a precious little boy?" and "Mommy, did you know Jesus died on a cross for me?" I heard Lauren begin to call me "Mam Me". I heard Mike tell me I'm pretty and I heard the Lord ministering to me in a song which said, "He knows my name." My God whom rules the universe knows that my name is Carrie and He loves me even when I don't always listen. The TV isn't on as much. I want to follow a budget with discipline. I laugh during the chaos of bath time. I have made my emotional and physical well being a priority. I checked into our life insurance policies (something I'd never thought to do otherwise). I search for patience and take a deep breath in frustration. I welcome the children when they want to crawl in our bed. I turn off the radio in the car and talk about airplanes and dump trucks.
These are things that have become important to me, I'm sure what I consider important will constantly evolve; however one thing remains, I want to live as though I have One Month to Live. I challenge you to do the same. Do you have your priorities in order according to God's will? Do you spend time with God? Do you have people in your life you need forgive? Do you need to forgive yourself? God's grace is sufficient. My prayer for you and for me is that we can live like we have One Month to Live.
Mike and I found an amazing church to attend. The church is currently preaching a series entitled, "One Month to Live". The concept is simple yet, profound. What if you were given One Month to Live? List in your head 5 things right now you would change immediately. Five things. We are involved in a small group Bible study which discusses these topics in greater detail. Many tears have been shed contemplating priorities, attitudes and relationships with others and with God. I am learning so much... about myself.
As God is revealing to me ways that I can become a better person in His lesson plan, I am realizing the importance of my priorities. Where are yours? Since the beginning of this One Month to Live program, in one week I heard the news of four cancer diagnosis. Four. One of them, a young mother of three was given 6 months to live. I know of a 27 year old mother of a 2mo old baby who died suddenly of heart failure. The only link was over-the-counter diet pills she was taking correctly. Yesterday we nearly lost my step-sister Jessica in childbirth! I type this with tears as a big dose of reality is beating on my heart.
Reality is we don't know when we will be in a car accident or find a lump or have someone tell us we have One Month to Live. Our Grandpa says, "Our times are in His hands." It couldn't be further from the truth. I am an unashamed, sold out for Jesus, born again, Bible believing Christian, trying to be His light in this dark world. But do people see that in me? When I die I want people to think, I want to love my husband the way Carrie loved Mike and I want to love my children the way Carrie loved Beau and Lauren, but most importantly, she loved God even more.
In pondering my life and priorities these things stand out to me:
I listen more. My children are so very loud, all the time. I unintentionally began to tune them out, which is sad. Since I've been listening more intently, you know what I heard Beau say? "Mommy, am I a precious little boy?" and "Mommy, did you know Jesus died on a cross for me?" I heard Lauren begin to call me "Mam Me". I heard Mike tell me I'm pretty and I heard the Lord ministering to me in a song which said, "He knows my name." My God whom rules the universe knows that my name is Carrie and He loves me even when I don't always listen. The TV isn't on as much. I want to follow a budget with discipline. I laugh during the chaos of bath time. I have made my emotional and physical well being a priority. I checked into our life insurance policies (something I'd never thought to do otherwise). I search for patience and take a deep breath in frustration. I welcome the children when they want to crawl in our bed. I turn off the radio in the car and talk about airplanes and dump trucks.
These are things that have become important to me, I'm sure what I consider important will constantly evolve; however one thing remains, I want to live as though I have One Month to Live. I challenge you to do the same. Do you have your priorities in order according to God's will? Do you spend time with God? Do you have people in your life you need forgive? Do you need to forgive yourself? God's grace is sufficient. My prayer for you and for me is that we can live like we have One Month to Live.
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