A Life of Gratitude

We rarely allow our children to sleep in the bed with us but if Evan wakes up an hour or so early, I'll put him in the bed with me (Bryan is usually gone to work by this time). This morning was one of those mornings. So, when Dylan climbed into the bed at 7:08, I had two little snuggle buddies in the bed with me. It was so sweet. We laid there for a while, talking and playing with Evan. I absolutely love snuggling with my precious boys. Today I am thankful for those moments snuggling under the covers. One day my boys will be too "big" to snuggle with their Mommy so, I better enjoy it while it lasts.

KLove Radio often shares stories of people who have heard the perfect song during a specific time in their lives. Its almost as if the song was played just for them, right when they needed it. That happens to me all the time!  I've been a little stressed out the past couple of days and it seems as if I hear "Carry me to the Cross" by Kutless every time I get into the car. I've actually heard it other places as well. We've heard it so much that Dylan and I both know almost every word and we sing along very loudly! I feel like this song is meant for me during this season of my life. My favorite part of the song says "When the path is daunting and every step exhausting, I'm not alone, I'm not alone, no, no. I feel You draw me closer. All these burdens on my shoulder. I'm not alone, I'm not alone. You pull my from this place. Hallelujah. You carry me to the cross. You carry me all the way." Right now, this song is exactly what I need to be ...

Dylan has never been camping so a few days ago he asked if he could sleep in his sleeping bag soon. So, tonight we decided to build a "tent" and sleep in the living room. We have an enormous mess, blankets everywhere and we're enjoying watching Aladdin together. Its great fun! Today I am thankful for fun times together as a family (even though Evan is in his crib). We're making memories and loving every minute of it! Fun times under the "tent" Can you tell how excited he is? He has sleeping bag under the big blanket. (He is pretending to sleep here)

Have you ever had those horrible white watermarks on your wooden furniture? Last week, when I was baking a cake, I put the cake pan on a rack on the kitchen table to cool. When I took the cake off the table and lifted the towel, there were horrible water marks. I really don't know how they got there. I scrubbed them and used furniture polish but I couldn't get those marks out. So, I went online and searched for an old fashioned home remedy. Guess what? I found one! I used my iron with the steam on high. I just hovered it over the spots and they disappeared! I was so excited that those ugly spots came out! Today I am thankful for old fashioned home remedies. It it so nice to see that my table isn't ruined and it didn't cost me anything to fix it! 

Although I am fully confident that God's ways are perfect even when we don't understand them, I am also human. So, last night, in the middle of the night, my mind starting whirling about the possibility of having to have spinal fusion surgery again. You've probably had similar midnight mind-racing sessions. This is what the dialogue in my mind sounded like: "I don't know if I can go through that again. What if it doesn't work again? Will I have to have one of those Grandma toilets again? I got rid of the last one, will worker's comp pay for another one? I am NOT buying a granny toilet! How will I take care of my sweet baby, Evan? I don't want Bryan to be stuck doing everything for me and our boys. (The tears are flowing at this point) I hope he doesn't start to regret marrying me. Why does this stuff always happen to me? etc, etc, etc" (Wow, I can't believe I just let you into my mind!) So, this morning, during my quiet time, I asked God...

This has been a pretty rough week for me because I've been really sick. I've spent the past 4 days at home and my sweet family has taken really good care of me. I also found out today (after my doctor noticed a large crack in my fusion on an x-ray) that the spinal fusion surgery I had in 2010 may have failed. This would explain all the pain I've been in. Once I have another scan done, my spinal surgeon and I will discuss having another spinal fusion surgery. This is not at all what I was expecting to hear. Have you ever heard the expression, "when it rains, it pours?" That's the way I feel this week!  Its a good thing that I have faith in the One who can walk on water, heal the blind, and turn water into wine! This week has been a lot to handle but God has given me peace. I know He is sovereign and has my best interest in mind. When I ponder the what-ifs, the questions, and the future...God is already there. He is not shaken or thrown off guard. Thank goodne...

I can't believe my sweet baby boy is 4 months old! Evan had his 4 month appointment today and he his growing like a weed! He is 24 inches long and 15 pounds, 4 ounces. He is doing well in every way! He had to have a few vaccinations today but didn't seem too bothered by them. This afternoon we got to start stage 1 baby foods. It was so much fun to watch him experience green beans for the first time! He made a few faces but I think he liked them. Dylan had fun helping feed him too. First time eating green beans! He's not sure he likes them... and some apple juice too =)  Today I am thankful for all the fun "firsts" we get to experience with our precious boys. Its so much fun to introduce them to new things and see their reactions.  

I read an article today that discussed having a healthy marriage even when one person suffers from chronic pa in. The article said that t he divorce rate in couples with a disability or chronic pain sufferer in the family hovers around 90%. That totally shocked me! As many of you know, I deal with chronic pain. Although living in constant pain isn't easy, I am so thankful for the life God has given me.  Bryan has been such a great support system with everything that has come along with my back injury and he has helped me in so many ways as I have dealt with the pain. I would never even dream of him divorcing me because of my pain even though he puts up with a lot at times.    The closing line of the article I was reading said,  " And for those suffering, look deeply into the eyes of the weary soul who looks after you, quietly hold hands together, and bask in the love you both share; a love that is defying the odds."  Today I am thankful for a love that is "d...

A brother is a friend given by God! As Evan gets older and more active, he and Dylan are becoming the best of friends! Evan watches Dylan wherever he goes. When Evan is crying, Dylan can usually get him to stop just by talking or singing to him. Dylan loves to talk to Evan and play with him. It is so precious to watch them together! Today I am thankful for these amazing little boys and the relationship they are already building. Dylan was a little jealous when we first brought Evan home so it is just wonderful to see that they love each other SOOOO much now!

Happy Valentine's Day! I had a very nice day with my sweet Valentines. We all had a lot of fun giving each other cards and gifts, going out for dinner, and making yummy Valentine cookies. Today I am thankful for my three Valentines. I am so grateful to have these precious boys in my life. I love you Bryan, Dylan and Evan!  My Three Valentines The "heart attack" we put on Dylan and Evan's doors. All the hearts say something we love about them. loved it! Making Valentine cookies Yum!

As a teacher, literacy is a very important issue to me. I recently read that the literacy rate was probably only 3% when the New Testament was being written. Today the literacy rate is approximately 86% in America. Most of us probably don't even know someone that is illiterate. This evening Bryan and I were reading books with Dylan. I was so proud as I listened to him call out some of the simple words he knows and point to the words as we read. Dylan is only 3 and 1/2 years old and is already learning to read! Its just the basics of course but its a start. The video below shows him reading his first leveled book.   Today I am thankful that we live in a time and place where literacy is important and education is available to all. I am also grateful or the education I have received. It definitely helps me as I am teaching my children.

Today I am thankful to live in America! There are few places around the world that you can break out in song and praise our Heavenly Father in a local mall. This flash mob is great representation of the freedom of religion that we have here. I absolutely love that these young people are singing praises to God while tons of mall-shoppers watched. To God be the glory!

Today at MOMS our speaker told us that one of her favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 4:7. Its says    "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."  As she was telling us the reasons she loved this verse, I couldn't help but fall in love with it also. The treasure that the verse refers to is Jesus Christ. The jars of clay represent our bodies. We, like clay, were made to be broken and molded and filled with the treasure. The Apostle Paul's life was a great illustration of this verse, of a jar of clay. He was completely broken and molded into a godly man. At one point in his life, Paul was about to be killed and he just said, that's ok, "To die is gain." So his enemy said, alright then, we will let you live so Paul said, "To live is Christ!" His enemy was angered and threatened to put him in prison but Paul just saw it as a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel and lead all t...

 Bryan has been telling me for several days now that Evan has been laughing. Its not that I didn't believe Bryan, its just that I am with this sweet boy all day long and I still had not heard him laugh, until today! Bryan spent several minutes tickling him and making faces at him but he couldn't get him to laugh. So I put my hand on his chest and barely tickled him and he laughed and laughed. It was absolutely adorable! The laughs don't happen very often yet but when they do it makes this Mommy fill up with joy!  Today I am thankful that I got to hear my 17 week old lil' monkey laugh. I know Bryan was telling me the truth but there is nothing like hearing it for yourself.

"... I will continue to rejoice,  for I know that through your prayers  and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ,  what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance." Philippians 1: 18b-19 Anguish is defined as suffering with the added element of mental distress. We've all dealt with  it  and when in wrapped up in anguish, its hard to see clearly. My bible study focused on this topic today and it shed some light on how to view anguish. John 16: 20-22 says that just like a mother forgets the pain of childbirth once she sees that precious baby, if we trust God with our anguish, it will birth something precious to us. God can cause our nightmares to bring us to our dreams. He can turn our pain into our passion. Today I am thankful for this truth. Philippians reminds us that with the Holy Spirit, the things that happen to us, regardless of what they are, can bring deliverance. Anguish can turn into joy! I know this is true, its happened to me. My ba...

We had a fun evening with Jordan, Shanna, Darcie and Stephen watching the Super Bowl commercials. Yes, I said commercials, ha! None of us really care about football so we talked and laughed through the game and then hushed to watch the commercials. A few of them were pretty funny too! Today I am thankful for an entire group of people that would rather watch the commercials over the actual game. I've been to lots of Super Bowl parties in the past where every one was hollering at the TV and talking during the commercials. It was nice to have a relaxed evening, eating pizza, watching commericials and talking with friends.

I heard this story in MOMS yesterday: One day a young lady was walking through a zoo. She leaned over a low fence to pet a lamb. The lamb reached up and licked her hand. "Ah," she thought, "that was sweet." She continued on along the pathway when she started to notice everyone around her pointing and screaming. Their faces were covered in fear and their voices screeched in terror. As she turned around she saw a ferocious lion racing towards her. She didn't know what to do so she cowered in horror. As the lion came closer he began to slow down and walk up to her. She looked up into the lion's eyes and he licked her hand. Imagine you were that young lady, which lick would mean the most to you?  Our Heavenly Father is loving, faithful and patient like a lamb but He is also powerful, courageous and unwavering like a lion. When I heard the story above, I pictured an enormous lion running toward me with the ability to rip my body into shreds. When the story t...

This morning while driving in the car, we were listening to "Let Go" by Matt Hammitt. Its one of Dylan's (and my) new favorite songs. Part of the chorus says "You know what I don't, so help me to let go. You're in control, so help me to let go. I wanna let go." So while we were enjoying the song Dylan suddenly screams out, "Mommy, that man is saying that we should let go because Jesus is in control. Its kind of like if I my hand got stuck on a chair. I might try and try but if I can't get my hand off, I can ask Jesus to help me let go!"  Comical? Yes. A bit of 3 year old wisdom? Yes.  Although he took the lyrics literally to a degree, in his own special way he is understanding that when things are difficult for us, when we need God's help, God is there for us. Whether it be simple (like getting our hand stuck on a chair, ha!) or a complex problem, we need to let go and trust God. Today I am grateful that God is in control, that we ca...