Thank you for laundry

Thank you Lord for laundry - piles of dirty laundry, piles of clean laundry, laundry scattered throughout the house - where there is laundry there is life and little adventures that get clothes dirty.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Proverbs 14:4

Day 6

Today I am thankful for

1.) our wood stove!

2.) the way Evie pumps her arm when she runs.

3.) jasmine green tea and beet root sugar - yum!

Day 5

I am thankful for

1.) a hubby who can cut wood

2.) the ability to play music for kiddos nap

3.) the return of our vocal, blustery, fall wind.

Day 4

Today I am thankful

1.) that I have had the ability and privilege to breastfeed all of our babies for so long, such a blessing.

2.) for my cozy sweatshirt and actually needing it today!

3.) for my fantastic spider killing husband.

Day 3

Missed my thankful yesterday -

1.) the sweet soothing sound of a steady rain during nap.

2.) the brave people exposing PP

3.) Breathe essential oil! My kiddos received relief and the ability to sleep.

Day 2

Today I am thankful

1.) that my husband has a job, and that even though it's hard I am able to stay home with our children.

2.) that although our parental rights are often in danger they are not gone - I still have the freedom to homeschool my children and vaccinate them as I see best.

3.) for baby raspberries.

Day 1

The sermon this weekend was about reaping what you sow and being conscious about the little things you sow - which then become big things later in life.  We were challenged to pick a few things we needed to be conscious about sowing and practice them daily for the next 52 days.  I want to be more grateful - and y'all can help me be accountable.  I hope to post 3 things I'm thankful for daily (or at least the days I'm on FB).

1. I am thankful I am not a Syrian refugee.

2. I am thankful my children are whole and well.

3. I am thankful there are cows in my backyard.

Oh what a privilege

I don't always feel this way - sometimes I am too tired or distracted to see the bigger picture.  But then, God gives me a glimpse of what exactly it is that I do day in and day out - and I feel so privileged and under qualified all at the same time.

Day in and day out I have the privilege and responsibility of shaping my children's hearts and minds, nourishing their bodies and souls.  Interpreting the world and events around them into language and imagery they will understand.  Limiting exposure to harmful inputs and lifting them up is the constant theme of my days.  Realizing that this tiny hand belongs to an infinitely valuable heart and an eternal soul, that holding her hand impacts her for eternity.  I am humbled and awed at the trust God placed in me when he made me a mommy.  And I desire to daily fall at His feet begging for grace, wisdom and strength I do not possess on my own to complete this all important task.

Jesus, draw me to yourself, draw me deeper and show me your unending favor so that I might show my children what it means to passionately pursue you and find all our worth and strength in your unmerited favor.

Breakfast discoveries

Yesterday Evie discover toe jams - during breakfast - and they were so distracting!

Today she decided apples should be eaten like oranges.

I love this girl! She cracks me up and keeps me on my toes!

Pulling Up!

She just a few days shy of 6 months and crawling really well - and pulling up like a champ! Not cruising yet, but super proud of what she does!

Evie is 2!!!

IOh y'all, two years I've been blessed to be this little girl's Momma.  Evelyn Hope - my Evie Bear- has stretched me as a momma, challenged me and won me over heart and soul. My adventurous, loud, strong, sweet, sticky, 'hold me', growing up in a hurry, rough and tumble, loving big sister, passionate little girl - I cannot imagine my life without you. Here's Evie's first two years in 25 pictures....

Thankful in the middle...

As I sit here with a slightly aching back and head from a full day of managing our home, keeping the peace, training and feeding our babies and feeling like I didn't quite get it all right, I become more aware of the small body in my arms.  This completely trusting, dependent and beautiful child the Lord has entrusted to us.  I am amazed at how a brand new eternal soul is here against me - how much God loves and trusts me to give me such influence over this little one's life.

Thankful seems too small a word for the emotions that realization brings.  But thankful is the only word I have.  I am so thankful for the lives of each of our children, I can no longer imagine my life without them and my heart quails at the thought of losing one of them.  

I am so thankful for chubby cheeks, dimpled hands and dreamy smiles.  I am so thankful for the perfect weight, tiny diapered bottom and sleepy head resting in my arms.  I am so thankful for dark eylashes, downy soft hair and a tiny nose.  So thankful that in spite of my sin, shortcomings and fears, God has blessed us again with a new life and promised that He will provide.  He will provide grace when my patience has run dry, He will provide peace when direction is unclear, and above all He will call their hearts when my life is an imperfect example.

Thankful just isn't a big enough word tonight for the security that we are not alone in the parenting journey.  That we serve a God who knows the future and holds our babes in His hands.  That I don't have to rely on my strength alone to raise and bring my children to salvation.

But thankful is the only word I have.  So in the middle - when I can't see how the story ends - I content myself with a heart full of thanks.

Ya Wanna Sandwich?

I love seeing Eb and Evie's imaginations developing in their play!  Today they were pretending the fan was the counter of their sandwich stand (or restaurant?).  They would take turns coming to the counter and the one making the sandwich would say 'Do ya wanna sandwich?' A quick yes please, some pretend slapping sandwiches together and the happy customer would walk away munching air!  So fun!