So...this past month has been a time of reflection over the enormous blessing of my little family of three. It has been just the three of us for over three years now and we have had some good times together! The first year was such a roller-coaster of emotions- amazement, exhaustion, stress, joy... The second year brought upon the year of firsts- walking, swimming, school, spankings.. The third year was in its own league- watching our daughter become a little girl. It has been within the last month that I can truly say that she is no longer a little toddler but she is a girl. These last few weeks with her have been some of the best of my life. She brings so much joy to our lives and is constantly surprising us with her compassion & love towards others. Now it is almost time to add a new addition to our family- James Abram. Of course, I am more than excited to meet him & introduce him to Bella Grace. But, part of me is also sad because this ends a chapter in our lives as just the three of us. Bella Grace has shaped me so much more than I could have ever imagined. She has made me so much less selfish and so much more patient. She has given me laughter beyond comprehension. And, she has shown me that the little things in life are so magnificent. I will miss our time alone together throughout the day. She has become my little friend and I will look back at these days with gratitude, and just smile.
But, I also know that this baby boy who is about to come bursting into our lives will bring us even more shared joy. I cannot imagine loving a child as much as I love Bella Grace, but I know that I will, and in some ways already do. He, I am sure, will teach me different things in life. And, I can't wait to see what is in store as I share my life with this son of mine. So, my hands are open and I am letting her fly... and, am preparing to embrace a little baby boy that will capture my heart just as this baby girl did over 3 years ago.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Soon to be... Big Sister!
Hi Friends,
Sorry for the lack of posts lately. There are many reasons- mostly, just that I don't make time for it. I usually update facebook much more than I update my blog. So, if you are NOT on facebook, then join now & become my friend! Even my mom, dad, & momma t are on the facebook train. No excuses! Hopefully when this baby comes, then I will find the time (or just creative energy) to blog more often. I always have hoped for this to be a sort of photo journal for our family in the years to come. It is crazy though to look back at the very beginning- over 3 years ago- when we started this blog. I had never heard of a blog before and had no idea where it would lead us. Now I cannot imagine life w/out blogs! I would have no idea what was going on with some of my old friends- you know who you are! But, I still feel somewhat connected even though we never see each other and for that, I am thankful.
The main thing that is happening in our household right now is preparing for Abram's arrival. He should be here sometime in the next month. James is convinced it will be sooner than later but I am not so sure. Bella Grace is MORE than ready to be a big sister. She prays for him every night and kisses my tummy about 6 times a day! She said that the first thing she will say to him is that, "bella loves you." I am most excited about sharing him with her. I really do think she will be such an amazing big sister! Can't wait to share with you all the photos and stories when the time comes...
For now, here are some amazingly cute photos of my precious girl. She is going through such a fun stage and I am eating up every second I am able to spend with her! I LOVE THIS GIRL!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
A Date w/ Daddy
waiting w/ her eyes closed for the flowers...
James has had a tradition of taking Bella Grace out on a date every other week or so since she turned three. Bella Grace watches me get ready for my weekly date w/ James and thinks she should do the same. So, it is always a dress & a little "make-up" for the date night. Well, last night it was an extra special date night. They planned to meet up with one of her favorite friends, Gabbie, and her Daddy, Samuel for a fun night on the town! James stopped by the flower shop on the way home and bought both girls a small bouquet of flowers. I got a few photos as he handed her the flowers before getting in the car. It was so sweet- she kept saying "thank you, Daddy." Priceless! And, yes- she picked out the cowboy boots w/ the princess dress. I just love her style!
James has had a tradition of taking Bella Grace out on a date every other week or so since she turned three. Bella Grace watches me get ready for my weekly date w/ James and thinks she should do the same. So, it is always a dress & a little "make-up" for the date night. Well, last night it was an extra special date night. They planned to meet up with one of her favorite friends, Gabbie, and her Daddy, Samuel for a fun night on the town! James stopped by the flower shop on the way home and bought both girls a small bouquet of flowers. I got a few photos as he handed her the flowers before getting in the car. It was so sweet- she kept saying "thank you, Daddy." Priceless! And, yes- she picked out the cowboy boots w/ the princess dress. I just love her style!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Blessing your children
This past Sunday, a visiting pastor spoke on the subject of fatherhood, as typical on a Fathers Day morning. His main challenge to our congregation of young parents was to "call forth each of your children's destiny's." My first inclination was to think, "oh no, hear comes someone else telling us to tell our children who & what to become." But, this was not what he was saying at all. He told us to look within our children and find their unique strengths & talents and to name them out loud to each child. The verse in Proverbs 22:6 which says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he gets old he will not depart from it" supports this claim. The phrase "in the way he should go" signifies in the way that this particular child of yours is bent. In short, the way God has uniquely made your child. Not the way you want your child to go, but the way God wants your child to go in life.
We, as parents, have a profound impact on our children's lives. I was reminded of this when reading a story just a few minutes ago in a great book by Brennan Manning, "The Furious Longing of God." Brennan tells a story of a young college student named Larry who was unattractive and had a very low self esteem. He said that Larry would spit in the mirror every morning when he would look at himself. While on Christmas vacation, he was riding on a bus with his father who worked at a factory- with whom he did not have a very close relationship with at the time. Some of his father's friends at the factory were standing at the bus stop and started saying mean remarks about Larry being a fat pig and a slob. Brennan goes on to write about his Father's response to these mens mean remarks...
"for the first time in his (larry's) life, his father reached out and embraced him, kissed him on the lips, and said, 'Larry, if your mother and I live to be two-hundred years old, that wouldn't be long enough to thank God for the gift He gave to us in you. I'm so proud that you're my son!'
Brennan then explains the transformation that takes place in Larry when he arrives back to college after Christmas break..
"he remained a hippie, but cleaned up the best he could..began dating a girl..and became president of one of the fraternities. He became the first student in the history of the university to graduate with a 4.2 grade point average."
Larry's father called forth the destiny in his child. It wasn't too late but could you imagine if he would have been doing this since Larry was young? His words were healing balm on his son's life. Larry needed to know who he was in his father's eyes. How are we calling forth the beautiful strengths in our children? Many times, we, as parents, are so focused on disciplining that we forget to encourage our children's little hearts toward their destinies. Not that we need to stop the discipline- we just need to balance it against looking at their unique bent in life. May we choose the road of blessing as we steer our children further out into the world more & more everyday.
We, as parents, have a profound impact on our children's lives. I was reminded of this when reading a story just a few minutes ago in a great book by Brennan Manning, "The Furious Longing of God." Brennan tells a story of a young college student named Larry who was unattractive and had a very low self esteem. He said that Larry would spit in the mirror every morning when he would look at himself. While on Christmas vacation, he was riding on a bus with his father who worked at a factory- with whom he did not have a very close relationship with at the time. Some of his father's friends at the factory were standing at the bus stop and started saying mean remarks about Larry being a fat pig and a slob. Brennan goes on to write about his Father's response to these mens mean remarks...
"for the first time in his (larry's) life, his father reached out and embraced him, kissed him on the lips, and said, 'Larry, if your mother and I live to be two-hundred years old, that wouldn't be long enough to thank God for the gift He gave to us in you. I'm so proud that you're my son!'
Brennan then explains the transformation that takes place in Larry when he arrives back to college after Christmas break..
"he remained a hippie, but cleaned up the best he could..began dating a girl..and became president of one of the fraternities. He became the first student in the history of the university to graduate with a 4.2 grade point average."
Larry's father called forth the destiny in his child. It wasn't too late but could you imagine if he would have been doing this since Larry was young? His words were healing balm on his son's life. Larry needed to know who he was in his father's eyes. How are we calling forth the beautiful strengths in our children? Many times, we, as parents, are so focused on disciplining that we forget to encourage our children's little hearts toward their destinies. Not that we need to stop the discipline- we just need to balance it against looking at their unique bent in life. May we choose the road of blessing as we steer our children further out into the world more & more everyday.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Fun with Make-Up
Round One... (when I had no idea how hard this would be to get out..)
Round Two (sneaky girl...)
This morning I let Bella Grace have a little too much fun with her make-up... We had a rough morning and I just didn't feel like fighting with something else. So, I gave in and let her do whatever she wanted- knowing that it was made for children. Since it was made for children, I really believed, deep in my heart, that it would come out very easily. Well, I was wrong. We had a birthday party that started at 11:00 and I had just a few minutes to give her a bath and wash her hair. On the way to the party I just thought her hair was still a little damp. I was wrong again. It was just grease. She looked like her head was full of oil and glitter. Oh well, there goes looking like we have everything together... So, tonight James finally spent a while over the sink scrubbing her hair until most of it came out. Within 10 minutes, she had found some more make-up and was again scrubbing it in hair. Lovely. When James caught her, he was not too happy. But, I could not help but laugh which gave Bella Grace much joy in the fact that I was laughing. Her consequence of leaning over the sink for 10 minutes did not make her joyful. I am sure she has not learned her lesson. Or at least, that is what I am learning about a 3 year old. I am not sure if she will ever learn her lesson with the way things are going around our house lately. But, I am trying to remember these moments will be funny in 10 years and to try to make the most of them now.
Round Two (sneaky girl...)
This morning I let Bella Grace have a little too much fun with her make-up... We had a rough morning and I just didn't feel like fighting with something else. So, I gave in and let her do whatever she wanted- knowing that it was made for children. Since it was made for children, I really believed, deep in my heart, that it would come out very easily. Well, I was wrong. We had a birthday party that started at 11:00 and I had just a few minutes to give her a bath and wash her hair. On the way to the party I just thought her hair was still a little damp. I was wrong again. It was just grease. She looked like her head was full of oil and glitter. Oh well, there goes looking like we have everything together... So, tonight James finally spent a while over the sink scrubbing her hair until most of it came out. Within 10 minutes, she had found some more make-up and was again scrubbing it in hair. Lovely. When James caught her, he was not too happy. But, I could not help but laugh which gave Bella Grace much joy in the fact that I was laughing. Her consequence of leaning over the sink for 10 minutes did not make her joyful. I am sure she has not learned her lesson. Or at least, that is what I am learning about a 3 year old. I am not sure if she will ever learn her lesson with the way things are going around our house lately. But, I am trying to remember these moments will be funny in 10 years and to try to make the most of them now.
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