Just A Thought...

Recently I read...that by submitting everything about our lives, everything about our day to Him (each morning before the day begins)...we are making an enormous difference in our ability to enjoy our lives today ~ and everyday that lies ahead.  So...

"Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life."  ~ Psalm 25:1

Help me Jesus...to begin each day by submitting my life to You.  Help me never to forget ~ that each day is a gift.

What's On My Mind...

"For I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am." ~ Philippians 4:11

Today, I am making the decision to enjoy the journey. In my life...I often become preoccupied with the "planned destination", forgetting the consequence of a "fast-pace" day. All it takes to begin is ~ a choice...a deliberate decision. After all, what will matter at the end of this journey?
What will matter is not what I bought but what I built...not what I got but what I gave.
What will matter is not my success but my significance...not my competence but my character.
Enjoying the journey doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance...but of choice.
Today, I'm reminded to live each day as though God is constantly paying attention...
...because he is.
Yesterday morning…while I was getting ready for the day, Lilee was rambling on about, well…everything she could think of. About the time I think she’s about to wrap it up…she shifts her focus. She then begins to share a little wish (one that I’m choosing not to share…so I can keep it close to my heart). We both giggle.
Instead of taking the wheel of her little wish (which I often, as her mom, feel the need to direct the sails) something made me take a step back. So, I tell her…“Pray about it Lilee, and tell Jesus what your hoping for”, thinking she would simply include that in her prayer before bed tonight. I was wrong…
A few minutes went by and as I’m walking down the hall, I see her…kneeling at the foot of her bed…
…hands folded, eyes closed, head up…whispering her prayer.
I knew then…God was reminding me to step back and enjoy the moments…the journey…this life. By doing so, I allow Him to reveal His grace…uncovering moments that I'm normally too preoccupied to see.

Just because...

Some "funny's".
...because I've got so many reasons to smile.
  

Lilee's milk mustache...
got milk??

I was trying to take some pics of Hunter playing

B-Ball, and Lilee kept jumping infront of the camera with this rotten lil' smirk.

Pre-School Christmas lunch...

can you tell who the class clown is??

...again...being a goof ball.

She would eat cookies till they came out her ears!

Me and my Angel Face

Hunter-Bug acting goofy

Max getting some lovin' from Daddy

"Mom...enough with the pictures!"

Lilee Boo and Hunter Bug

Ummm...????

"What's a man gotta do to get

some privacy around here???

 

Rockin' the mohawk

 

Cheer time!

 In this house...

dress up NEVER ends!

Still handsome...even with those goofy glasses!

...again...

soooo over me taking pictures!

Uhhh...yep.  Lilee's reading to Baby E

while she's...well, you know.  

 

Another Weekend Full Of Flurries...

YOU MESS WITH THE BULL, YOU GET THE HORNS...

*(In this particular instance…
"The Bull" = Lilee….. "The Horns" = Mommy)*

Lilee came home from school yesterday telling me about a little boy that had pushed her down…again.
Keep in mind this has happened several times…and each time by the same little boy.
Throughout the first few instances, I’ve told her…

“Honey, I know it’s hard but don’t push back. Just let the teacher know about it. Remember, you want to treat others like you would want them to treat you.”

As it has continued to happen, (and as I have become increasingly heated) I started telling her…

“Well, push him back!”

Then I’m quickly corrected by my daughter…

“But Mommy, it’s not nice to push people.”

*(now, embarrassed that my 3 ½ year old has more insight into the situation that I do)*

After hearing yesterday that it happened again, I was fuming. So, as Lilee was getting into bed, she was telling her daddy all about it.   As I’m hearing the story for the 3rd time, I can feel my blood pressure go up…my jaw clenches…
and I begin to hear the theme song from the movie                                 

                                                    playing in my head.

I then found myself giving my little girl advice that was, well… not my best.

Lilee: “…he pushed me down again…and I hurt my butt again…and I cried, again.” 

Mommy to Lilee: “Alright! You point your finger in that kids face and tell him if he does it again, your gonna bust his butt!”

Daddy to Lilee: (very calmly) “Nooooo honey, that’s not how you handle it. I’ll go down to the school and take care of it.”

Mommy to Daddy: (now with a very loud tone) “No…she needs to learn how to stick up for herself!”

Daddy to Mommy: “Honey, you don’t want her doing that stuff…then she’ll get in trouble.”

*(Ok…‘Mr. Calm in ALL situations’! Geeeze, I thought I had toned it down. 
What I really wanted to do was show her how to ball up her little fists and tell this kid to...
‘say hello to my little friends’…                                   
                                           powwwww!)*
What is it about being a mom that makes us act like a wild animal protecting her young?
Well...Brian (aka…'Mr. Calm') got up this morning and was not as rational as last night.  In fact, I think
his exact words were...

“I hope I run into that kids parents…so I can tell ‘em to be ready. That kid is about to get whupped by a girl!”

Well, well, well…see, I’m not the only crazy one. 
Hmmm...turns out, my irrational advice last night wasn't so irrational after all.

*(stop music at bottom of blog before playing)*

                     .my angel face.

A MOM MOMENT

Red, yellow, blue, green...she doesn't care.  Any color that's bright will do.  Most-times I just glance, then continue with what I was doing.  But every once in a while, I stop.
I notice her in deep concentration...seemingly creating her own little 'Picasso' masterpiece.  Wonder if she knows how often these quiet little moments steal my heart?

JUST A THOUGHT