Vaseline Hair Do's

In the amount of time it took me to put on clean clothes, Judah perfectly styled both his and his brothers hair with almost a half a jar of Vaseline. It was one of those mixture of laughing and crying mommy moments. Needless to say, Vaseline is much more difficult to remove from hair than I had imagined. After lots of scrubbing with dawn dish soap, they still looked like slick car salesmen. A quick Google search revealed that Vaseline is one of the HARDEST substances to remove from hair. Thankfully, I found something that actually worked-- cornstarch. Forty-five minutes, two cups of cornstarch, and a half a bottle of dawn and they were as clean as a whistle. When I look back on some of the most trying moments of motherhood, I want to remember how real and full God's grace was for the moment. 

"They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away." 

Isaiah 35:10

Jonah's First Birthday

 Jonah entered this world showing God's power and throughout this year, he has continued to turn our hearts to God. During my pregnancy, we prayed that he would be a peaceful child. In my mind I thought this meant that he would be a very content baby, but now I know that God had a better plan. While I wouldn't describe him as content, he exudes peace because he is easily consoled and when I stop to console him, peace always wafts over me. What a gift to a mommy who could easily never stop moving and doing!

I love the close bond that has been formed between Jonah and I throughout a year of constant contact and responsive nursing. He's been my ultimate buddy, wherever I go, he goes (does anyone else remember that song?). I love how well he fits in with our household of boys. From the time he could crawl, he wanted to be outside with the boys. He also loves to wrestle and get "ruffed up". He's everyone's favorite playmate. I have never seen Judah display any jealousy towards Jonah, only love. Their being so close in age has been PURE JOY! We thank God for His perfect timing, peace, and provision.

May God's perfect will is done in his life! 

Worth It

Judah, MarMar, and Jonah April 2012

The world tends to say that this life of caring for these sweet boys and loving my husband isn't enough. At times it is a temptation to think I should be doing more-- something more significant. I run to the Lord and He speaks truth to me. He says it is more than ENOUGH. 

“Oh that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is place in her bosom to be nursed and trained! Could she have but one glimpse in to the future of that life as it reaches on into eternity; could she look into its soul to see its possibilities; could she be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of this child, for the development of its life, and for its destiny,--she would see that in all God's world there is no other work so noble and so worthy of her best powers, and she would commit to no others hands the sacred and holy trust given to her.” 

― J.R. Miller

Our First Garden

This past weekend, my mom came to visit and helped us plant our very first garden. We were so grateful for her knowledge of gardening and her extra set of hands. This project and others have also made me very thankful for marrying a man who knows his way around the internet. I may not have married a "handy-man", but I married a man who can find a detailed  "how-to" video on almost anything and follow it to a tee.

The garden was a hard days work (and I'm sure there is much more to come), but once every seed and plant was in the ground, we were giddy! We all looked at each other and then prayed that God would allow our garden to grow. Planting this garden has made me think a lot lately about how we must submit ourselves to the Lord, pray, and wait on Him to work.

Nathan lined the boxes with chicken wire to protect against moles.

When our big helpers weren't scooping dirt, they were swinging. 

This picture makes me look like I did a lot of hard work with Jonah on my back, but I assure you it was my husband and my mother who did most of the hard labor.

Hauling the dirt from the driveway to the boxes proved to be one of the hardest tasks.

We put a light layer of rock at the bottom to help with moisture control.

"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."

James 5:7-8

Hard Work

I pray Judah keeps his enthusiasm for the great outdoors and yard work! He is eager to "help" with any outdoor project and loves to watch MarMar cut the grass.

Today I pray that we raise men who work for the glory of God!

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31

Easter at Granna's

1,000 Gifts in 2012

This year I am taking the challenge to foster a heart of gratitude by naming 1,000 gifts in 2012. Read more about the challenge here. I want to make new habits this year.

A habit of not complaining, but the habit of giving thanks; the habit of not worrying, but a habit worshipping. The habit of repeatedly giving God praise that our lives might become a prayer. Small is always the leverage of large. It’s one moment after the other, the small moments that turn a life. It’s the small actions that can change a life.

It’s habits that can imprison you and it’s habits that can free you and when thanks to God becomes a habit, so joy in God becomes your life.

I know I can't do this alone. I need the Father's grace-- I need it every minute of every day. Help me Father!

I may not be able to share all 1,000 gifts with all of you, but I thought I would try to share as time allows. Let us encourage one another to consider the many gifts the Lord bestows on us each day.

12. A roof over my head, worn-out slippers, coffee.

13. A suckling baby, "mommy, mommy", praise music.

14. Jonah's birth, the way he saved my marriage before it started, how he cared for the Linc.

15. My wedding ring, my timing, a delicious meal.

16. Judah's squeal when a friend opened the door, Jonah smiling and laughing at the sight of MarMar, Nathan chasing Judah and Logan around the kitchen.

17. Judah washing his face with a tissue he dipped in the toilet, open conversations with friends, my husbands embrace.

18. He will never leave me, His grace IS POWER, He gently leads those with young.

"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High." Psalm 7:17