Mathew 18:1-4
1 At the same time came a disciple of Jesus, saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
A while ago someone posted this question on Facebook: "If you could possess one quality your child possesses what would it be?"
As soon as I finished reading the question I immediately thought of forgiveness. How many times throughout the day do my kids forgive me? the answer is every time I make a mistake--every time I raise my voice, when I'm in a bad mood for a reason that doesn't involve them, when I tell them "just a minute" for the hundredth time, when I am too busy or too tired to play with them or take them outside, when I just want to do what I want to do for a change, when I don't share my chocolate with them, when I get angry that they won't stop crying or whining, when I lose my patients when I have to put them to bed for the third time that night. My kids forgive at every opportunity given to them, and that is when I make a mistake. little children are the most pure form of innocence on this earth. If only we could remind ourselves to be as a little child, to be a little more attentive, loving, patient, kind, charitable, friendly, forgiving, trusting, the list goes on.
I love my boys more than anything. I love to just watch them play and interact with each other and the things around them, using their imaginations. The most tender moments are when we have our talks after being put in timeout. I say sorry for yelling or getting upset, and then he holds my face in his little hands and says "I'm sorry mommy, I love you". There is a reason we are to become as a little child as Christ commands us. I am so grateful for the opportunity and great blessing it is to be called Mom.
Becoming a mother elevated life for me. When Zander was born I felt things I had no idea I could feel. All my emotions became heightened and they run deeper than they ever have before. There is more meaning to life than just myself. It was like my eyes were opened and I now understand and connect with people and my Father in Heaven better than before.
Monday, April 25, 2016
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Working Together
A family that works together, stays together. We got to spend time outside picking up rocks today. The boys had fun playing in the dirt. We are taking the tree ring out and filling it in with sod. then the octagon flowerbed will be replaced with a circle tree ring, and new flowers! I bought the boys new sun hats today. Lucas wanted nothing to do with his, and Zander loved it although he couldn't see with it on. We are going to be finishing up the all the yard work this summer so it'll look pretty enough to sell next spring.
Update
Stephen is finally done with his big court case! Hallelujah! I'm not going to lie, that was hard on both of us. For the past five months Stephen would be getting home anywhere from 7:00 to 10:00 at night and usually it was later, at least after the kids were put to bed. It felt like I was a single parent for a while. The only time the boys got to see their dad was Saturday and Sunday, and sometimes not even then. But it's all over now, and Stephen's boss gave him a whole week off work the week after I got back from Twin Falls. It was nice until everyone started getting sick.
Stephen and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary last week. Stephen got us a room at the Grand America downtown Salt Lake. Rachel and Christian were kind enough to watch the boys for us overnight even though Zander had just started potty training, and Lucas was teething. We were extremely grateful for them doing that for us so we could have a night alone in peace, and sleep in.
I am still as in love with Stephen today as the night we first kissed in college. (I can't believe it's been five years already since we graduated). Stephen does so much for our family--he cooks and cleans, and works outside. He is an amazing father to Zander and Lucas who adore him and want to spend all their time with him. (Ok, Lucas is still kind of a mama's boy at this point, but he still likes to play with dad). Stephen will do just about anything I ask him, and is very forgiving, and patient, hardworking, and still the kindest person I know. I love you Stephen. It's been a great seven years!
ZANDER
Zander had a blast during his time in Idaho a few weeks ago. He now asks me "where's Becky? Where's grandpa? Where'd grandma go?" About every ten minutes throughout the day. This is no exaggeration. Any time he sees a toupe colored car he gets excited and says, " Becky's car!" He'll call to kids and say hi as he calls them kimball or Cora, and any old people he encounters he exclaims, "grandpa!"
Zander's biggest news is that he is now potty training! He started two weeks ago, and has been doing quite well. It's still hit and miss sometimes, but he's erring on the hit side. He just needs to work on telling me when he needs to go.
He loves being outside playing in the yard.
Whenever we have prayer he always has to be the one to say it first, then mom or dad can say one.
He knows his colors, shapes, and can count to ten all by himself.
He loves to "wake up" Lucas when Lucas wakes up in the morning or after a nap. Whenever Zander hears Lucas is awake he runs in his room and jumps in the crib with Lucas and plays with him. They both get excited when they see each other.
Zander does not like wearing pants.
He is very independent and likes to do everything himself after he has seen it done once.
He likes to play with and tease his little brother.
He does not like to touch bugs. I think Stephen has instilled a fear/hate for them, but I'm working on trying to change all that especially when working outside in the garden.
Lucas is 10 months old, and has three teeth coming in on top.
His biggest news is that he started really crawling a few weeks ago when we were in Idaho, and has now started pulling himself up on his feet. The only problem is he's too scared of falling when he gets up, so he cries and whines until someone comes to his rescue to either sit him down or pick him up. He takes things slowly and is very hesitant when trying new things.
He is really starting to develop his personality. He'll let me know if he doesn't like something by taking it and throwing it on the floor, and when I am holding him and he wants something he'll make a nosedive straight for the floor and wriggle around until you let go of him.
Lucas likes to feed himself.
He likes to explore his surroundings, and feel things in his hands for a while before putting it in his mouth, but he does put a lot of things in his mouth like most babies; rocks have become a favorite of his when we're outside.
He hates getting his diaper changed now and getting dressed. I guess it's not as funny as it used to be when he was a smaller infant.
He follows me around everywhere I go and pulls up on my pant leg. It was cute the first few times he did it, but now it feels like someone has tied my shoelaces together whenever I stop walking, so I have to bend down and take Lucas off so I can move freely.
he is still a cuddler, and I love it!
Lucas is becoming more independent as he learns to move around more and up on his feet. Once he has a good feel for it, he takes off and has a strong confidence about him.
Stephen and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary last week. Stephen got us a room at the Grand America downtown Salt Lake. Rachel and Christian were kind enough to watch the boys for us overnight even though Zander had just started potty training, and Lucas was teething. We were extremely grateful for them doing that for us so we could have a night alone in peace, and sleep in.
I am still as in love with Stephen today as the night we first kissed in college. (I can't believe it's been five years already since we graduated). Stephen does so much for our family--he cooks and cleans, and works outside. He is an amazing father to Zander and Lucas who adore him and want to spend all their time with him. (Ok, Lucas is still kind of a mama's boy at this point, but he still likes to play with dad). Stephen will do just about anything I ask him, and is very forgiving, and patient, hardworking, and still the kindest person I know. I love you Stephen. It's been a great seven years!
(I'm not sure why my face looks so fat, but this is the only picture we got on our night out)
ZANDER
Zander had a blast during his time in Idaho a few weeks ago. He now asks me "where's Becky? Where's grandpa? Where'd grandma go?" About every ten minutes throughout the day. This is no exaggeration. Any time he sees a toupe colored car he gets excited and says, " Becky's car!" He'll call to kids and say hi as he calls them kimball or Cora, and any old people he encounters he exclaims, "grandpa!"
Zander's biggest news is that he is now potty training! He started two weeks ago, and has been doing quite well. It's still hit and miss sometimes, but he's erring on the hit side. He just needs to work on telling me when he needs to go.
He loves being outside playing in the yard.
Whenever we have prayer he always has to be the one to say it first, then mom or dad can say one.
He knows his colors, shapes, and can count to ten all by himself.
He loves to "wake up" Lucas when Lucas wakes up in the morning or after a nap. Whenever Zander hears Lucas is awake he runs in his room and jumps in the crib with Lucas and plays with him. They both get excited when they see each other.
Zander does not like wearing pants.
He is very independent and likes to do everything himself after he has seen it done once.
He likes to play with and tease his little brother.
He does not like to touch bugs. I think Stephen has instilled a fear/hate for them, but I'm working on trying to change all that especially when working outside in the garden.
I love this bathtub picture because Zander has so much personality in his facial expressions.
Best buds. I love them.
LUCASLucas is 10 months old, and has three teeth coming in on top.
His biggest news is that he started really crawling a few weeks ago when we were in Idaho, and has now started pulling himself up on his feet. The only problem is he's too scared of falling when he gets up, so he cries and whines until someone comes to his rescue to either sit him down or pick him up. He takes things slowly and is very hesitant when trying new things.
He is really starting to develop his personality. He'll let me know if he doesn't like something by taking it and throwing it on the floor, and when I am holding him and he wants something he'll make a nosedive straight for the floor and wriggle around until you let go of him.
Lucas likes to feed himself.
He likes to explore his surroundings, and feel things in his hands for a while before putting it in his mouth, but he does put a lot of things in his mouth like most babies; rocks have become a favorite of his when we're outside.
He hates getting his diaper changed now and getting dressed. I guess it's not as funny as it used to be when he was a smaller infant.
He follows me around everywhere I go and pulls up on my pant leg. It was cute the first few times he did it, but now it feels like someone has tied my shoelaces together whenever I stop walking, so I have to bend down and take Lucas off so I can move freely.
he is still a cuddler, and I love it!
Lucas is becoming more independent as he learns to move around more and up on his feet. Once he has a good feel for it, he takes off and has a strong confidence about him.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Surprise!
A few weeks ago Becky and I were able to meet in Twin to surprise mom since she wasn't able to get away from work to go to Washington. Becky and I were really bummed, to say the least, so she came up with the idea to make the nine hour drive herself to surprise mom and say for a few weeks. We couldn't wait! Finally the day came; we planned on driving up at the same time, so we tried to time our drives so it'd work out, but that's when things started to fall apart. My drive is only three hours to Twin versus Becky's nine, so I was sitting around the house waiting for her to let me know when she was about three hours outside Twin. I was getting the car packed and ready to wake the boys up from their naps to get in the car when Becky called and said she was stuck in Baker City, OR there was a semi crash and the interstate had closed down. Becky ended up having to stay the night and make the rest of the trip in the morning. My car was already packed, so I left by myself to see mom.
I was really disappointed that the surprise didn't work out like we had planned for it to, but mom was surprised nonetheless. I pulled in the driveway and was walking up to the house with the boys in tow when mom drove up and caught us before we even got in the house. She was surprised all right! It was my birthday that day so she thought I'd be at home celebrating, but I brought my birthday cake and balloons with me!
The next day we planned to go out to lunch and meet Becky there to surprise mom at the restaurant. Mom and Dad were waiting inside while Becky waited outside for me to get there. I walked in first followed by Becky and her kids. We snuck up on mom--Cora was right behind me then Kimball, and then Becky. I greeted them and it took mom a few seconds to realize who Cora was and then went into shock. I loved the look on her face when she realized Becky had come to visit! Dad had been in on the surprise the whole time too. It was a lot of fun.
I stayed for two weeks. I cannot even say how much I love being with my sister. Our kids played and got along a lot better than the last time we were together. Being away from home was not something little Lucas liked, apparently, because he clung to me like a magnet. He'd be fine with someone else as long as I was not in the room or he couldn't see me. He did not sleep well the whole time we were there. There were only three nights that he slept through until morning. Zander even woke up early and climbed into bed with grandma and Grandpa. It wasn't until the second week that Becky noticed that Lucas was teething. No wonder he was cranky!
It was SO GOOD to see Becky and the kids! She and mom were extremely helpful with Lucas putting him down for naps and bed, changing diapers, and taking him when I needed a break from the crying. I don't usually have that much trouble with him, but he is a homebody for sure. I am so grateful to have them in my life. Grandpa and the boys roughhoused with Zander who just had a ball. I was so glad he would have people to play rough with since that's how he likes to play.
I got my quiet book all sewn together while I was home, we did some shopping, lots of eating, and visiting with family near and far; what a great trip!
I was really disappointed that the surprise didn't work out like we had planned for it to, but mom was surprised nonetheless. I pulled in the driveway and was walking up to the house with the boys in tow when mom drove up and caught us before we even got in the house. She was surprised all right! It was my birthday that day so she thought I'd be at home celebrating, but I brought my birthday cake and balloons with me!
The next day we planned to go out to lunch and meet Becky there to surprise mom at the restaurant. Mom and Dad were waiting inside while Becky waited outside for me to get there. I walked in first followed by Becky and her kids. We snuck up on mom--Cora was right behind me then Kimball, and then Becky. I greeted them and it took mom a few seconds to realize who Cora was and then went into shock. I loved the look on her face when she realized Becky had come to visit! Dad had been in on the surprise the whole time too. It was a lot of fun.
I stayed for two weeks. I cannot even say how much I love being with my sister. Our kids played and got along a lot better than the last time we were together. Being away from home was not something little Lucas liked, apparently, because he clung to me like a magnet. He'd be fine with someone else as long as I was not in the room or he couldn't see me. He did not sleep well the whole time we were there. There were only three nights that he slept through until morning. Zander even woke up early and climbed into bed with grandma and Grandpa. It wasn't until the second week that Becky noticed that Lucas was teething. No wonder he was cranky!
It was SO GOOD to see Becky and the kids! She and mom were extremely helpful with Lucas putting him down for naps and bed, changing diapers, and taking him when I needed a break from the crying. I don't usually have that much trouble with him, but he is a homebody for sure. I am so grateful to have them in my life. Grandpa and the boys roughhoused with Zander who just had a ball. I was so glad he would have people to play rough with since that's how he likes to play.
I got my quiet book all sewn together while I was home, we did some shopping, lots of eating, and visiting with family near and far; what a great trip!
I took Zander and Kimball to the CSI Easter egg hunt. They had tons of fun!
The annual Gerties dinner party
Becky and I did an egg hunt for the kids!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)