Baby's been proud of herself with all that's she learning to do!

Tonight and every night...

As I give each of the kids sweet kisses and hugs, and rock the baby as she cuddles close...I cannot help but feel overwhelmed with the blessing of each of these little lives. How sweet and precious they are to me and how incredibly grateful I am to the Father for entrusting us as parents to each of them.
Cassidy melts my heart as she whispers, "I love Jesus," while she softly closes her eyes to fall asleep. And when asked about her favorite part of the day, she responds with, "being with you Mommy." Yeah, it's those kind of moments that bring an overwhelming amount of sweet emotions and small tears to my eyes.

It's been bittersweet weaning Dakota. As I rocked her tonight I could not help but think at how fast the year has flown by. She loves to cuddle and I cherish that time with her before I lay her in bed, knowing that in only a relatively short amount of time it will pass. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time. If I could, I think I would keep tonight as a frozen page to return to whenever I could.
Since I can't, I thought I would at least put in on paper.

Quotes for the day...

Micah: "If bees make honey do wasps make peanut butter?"

Cassidy: "I really don't want to obey, but I try to obey."
At least she is honest!

It feels like a Monday...

That's because yesterday, we spent the day on "vacation." Thanks to Uncle Jeff and Aunt Di, we got to spend our anniversary day together by ourselves! It's been at least a year since we had some good solid quality time together like that. It was a blast and a huge blessing to have family to take care of our kiddos.
It's been 7 years but we've known each other for a little over 11 years. It's amazing how time has flown and how we have changed...and how our family has grown! I don't think I could have imagined where the Lord has chosen to take us as husband and wife. We are incredibly blessed. I am blessed beyond measure by my husband and the father of our kids. We spent part of the day reminiscing about times past and thinking a little bit about the future...where the Lord is taking us. One thing comes to mind above all and that is HIS GRACE that is constantly being poured out on us both. Undeserving grace. Amazing grace.
There is no doubt in my mind that Greg was made for me. The Lord uses him day after day to sharpen me and make me more of who the Lord intends me to be.
We obviously both make mistakes but I am so thankful to know that we are both striving to learn through those mistakes. We briefly talked about the first years of marriage. Those years that are usually labeled by others as difficult. Thankfully, there is not a single year that stands out as difficult, but we both agreed that as the years go by they are getting better and better. Only by His grace...that's what it all comes down to.

I am so thankful for the husband and the father that the Lord has given to me. He is a strong, quiet leader...but he is bold. He is faithful, wise, caring and very funny at times, usually giving me a much needed laugh. (even if he is just laughing at me!)
I love and respect him more than any other man and I will always be thankful to the Lord for blessing me with such a man.
One day together was not enough...it leaves me wanting more. Hopefully some time soon we will be able to plan a little get away for a weekend...or a week. until then, I will be thankful for the moments I spend with him...even if they are in the midst of a little chaos around here. After all, it is in those moments that I often fall more in love with him. He is genuine and real, and I sure will always love that about him. Thank you Greg for 7 wonderful years of marriage!

Quotes for the day...

Caitlyn: "Hey Mom, why did the mailman give you trash?"

And another great one...
Micah:"Do people that don't go to Heaven go to jell?" "I mean, jell where there's fire?" (I think he was confusing jail with "jell"...so funny!

Some Moms get flowers...

I, however, have something far better than flowers:) I have a five year old who has such a fun imagination.Yesterday, we came inside to wash up and prepare dinner and I found this beautiful weed...root side up...in a cup full of water. It was sitting on the counter top. I asked everyone about it and Caitlyn informed me that she wanted to pretend it was flowers for the table. She even tied a red ribbon around her bouquet. Yeah, I'll take this kind of fun over flowers any day;)

Hey! Look at me!

She looks so cute and innocent...

Tonight, however she proved my point from the last post once again.

I dropped her off at the nursery tonight (thank goodness for Saturday service!).

I enjoyed some worship for only a short time before I saw her number pop up.

I couldn't help but smile as I made my way into the childcare building, listening to the screams of a perfectly mad little girl. I could hear them all the way down the hallway.

She was making quite the scene.

I thanked the lady for doing everything in her power to calm her down.

She replied with, "I am so sorry. We'll try next week. Maybe she won't be so mad."

Yes, she was mad. It was that simple.

I picked her up and cradled her in my arms while she calmed herself down.

With a few rapid breaths in pursuit of trying to calm herself, she looked up at me and smiled.

I knew that smile.

It was, "I got my way!"

I have one little girl who loves her Mommy dearly.

11 months~

This past month has been a little difficult. The best way I feel to describe this sweet little girl is "very determined." Something that can be excellent at times when raising a little one and then there are all those other times when, well...it's a battle of the will. Those battles are never fun, especially when you are dealing with an 11 month old. I remember the first time I sat and read a parenting book when Caitlyn was about this age. Everything in the book said a child at this age "would not understand discipline." I remember thinking how well Caitlyn understood and was dumbfounded at what the book was teaching to do at this age and that was basically to ignore bad behavior and re-direct. Well, with those sweet but strong personalities it is very complicated in almost every case to ignore, or re-direct for that matter. They see what they want, they know what they want...and well they will scream or do whatever it takes to get it! Needless to say there has been a lot of screaming these days. Some I believe due to the fact that there is a new tooth coming through. However, I also believe that this sweet little girl is learning how to verbally communicate her desires and her will. Yes, always very fun. It makes for very few dull moments around here. Today has proven to have been a little easier and I believe it is because of the fact that her father and I have been working on nice little phrases such as, "No, Dakota, do not scream." Or, "That's enough." "Your OK." "Not for Dakota."

It is hard to believe that with a sweet little face like hers there is a fireball inside:)

Even when I go to kiss her on the cheek without just the right timing of desire on her part she will quickly and boldly push me away.

Thankfully she reminds me of another sweet 5-year old girl in our family who I believe is doing very well with the matters presented above. And thankfull she has grown out of that "me..Me...ME!" mindset.

She still has a will but it seems to be aimed in the right direction during the present time.



May His grace continue to abound as we continue to lead her in His truth and to walk in His ways. A fireball can turn out to be a nice light in this dark world.
That is my prayer for her anyways;)

Someone stated recently how blessed I was to have "easy children."

I laughed.
Is there any such thing as an "easy child?"
Yes, some are easier than others.
I have 4 and I have learned that much.
But I have also learned that I do not think there is such a thing as an "easy child."
Every child has different strengths and weaknesses, different points that need sharpening.
Different battles to fight.

I think the person who said that only saw how my children act in the moments they choose to see.
They do not fathom the battles we face in our home.
They are not there for the spankings, the discussions, the boundaries we draw and re-draw.
The times we face yet another gentle, quiet reminder.
The constant, sometimes very overwhelming battles we face moment by moment, day by day.

I have read numerous books on parenting and there is one thing that I have concluded from them all.
Parenting is not about ME.
It is about our Heavenly Father.
It is about relying on The Spirit, day by day, moment by moment.
Trusting that He will lead you in your actions, the words you choose and the love you give.

There is never a day that passes without the need to discipline each of my children.
I am not talking about spankings...I am talking about correcting in love.

I am always in the process of drawing boundaries, giving direction, correcting of some sort.
I have a husband who has taught me more about being a parent than any other human being in the world and I have a Heavenly Father who arms me with more than enough grace and love for each of my kiddos.

It's a daily battle.
It's not an easy battle.
But it is He who "arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."

I am blessed beyond words with each of these kiddos and it is my prayer that together, Greg and I lay a solid foundation of truth and grace for each of our kids. That day after day we hold them with open hands before a Heavenly Father who loves them far beyond we can comprehend.

May we continue in this season of laying a solid foundation for each of them with thanksgiving
and may we never face an "easy day" or an "easy child."
Because if we do I fear that we may be doing something wrong.

Thankful for the rain~

I have been so thankful for the rain that we have had. I know that our yard has needed it in abundance and in abundance it came yesterday. I am learning to be thankful for those little storms in life as well...the struggles that come without expectation. Thankfully I follow the One who is in charge of every storm and nothing passes by Him in surprise... Sometimes a little rain in our life is exactly what we need to draw us closer to His side. And by His side is exactly where I want to be.

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to seek Him in His temple."

Psalm 27:4

...Come rain or shine~