Spruced up the backyard/pool area

One of the desires of our hearts is to use our home to be a blessing to others. We love to entertain and living in south Texas it is especially nice having a pool. So with this years tax return we decided to spruce up our favorite place to entertain - the backyard/pool area!  We had a great space with lots of potential, it just needed a little TLC. I had some ideas but then had a friend aid me with a few decisions on details. We already had a patio table/chairs and grill. So we added a conversation seating, sunscreen fabric over the pergola, fun decorative lighting, trash can, cooler, pool toy storage, pots & plants and a really cool DIY fold up serving table. 

Here's a few pics to show our progress!

The before

Putting up the sunscreen fabric

Building the fold out serving table

Boys painting the table

Table finished!

Trash can, cooler, grill and pool storage

Sunscreen fabric done and paper lanterns

New conversation seating 

The final project

Love how it all turned out! Looking forward to the hours of entertaining this summer and the blessing this area will be!

Greater Glory Together

Micah and I have spent 10 Valentine's together and this year was by far the greatest! Not because we showered each other with chocolate, jewelry, expensive gifts or out-bragged anyone on social media  - today was the greatest because we got to do something out of the ordinary that topped any date we could have planned... We got to share our own story at church to the Thrive College & Career group. 

Micah and I have very different stories of our upbringing and it's a beautiful thing to be able to share how what the enemy intended for bad for my life, God has turned and used for good. About a year before Micah and I even started dating/courting I felt like God specifically told me He would bring Micah and I together because we would bring greater glory to Him together than we would separately. Those words are fulfilled on a daily basis and tonight was a special occasion as we got to minister together to the Thrive College & Career. "You will end up just like...unless you purpose is your heart to change. It starts with you, you can rewrite the legacy you will leave." 

God thank you for using us to be a blessing to others. 

Best part of my day

There are days when it seems like night time can not come quick enough - there were moments in my day today that I felt like that. It was just one of those days. To be honest, I was busy... busy "working" on stuff for the ministry I lead for our moms & tots group. I didn't have patience for interruptions and the needs of my little ones. Even when my youngest said, "mommy, I working too."  It was cute but I was irritated. I wasn't full of grace today. 

Then it came time to get the boys ready for bed. We did our normal routine - read a bible story, pray, potty, brush teeth and tuck in to bed. Mack, my 4 year old, always asks, "mommy, can you spend a couple minutes with me - I didn't get enough time with you today."  And this is my favorite time of day because regardless of the events of the day, it is one on one time where Mack gets to choose whatever we talk about. Tonight he was really excited to tell me about an episode of Super Why that he had watched about a little girl who didn't obey her parents. He says, "mommy, that's not good, we should always obey our parents."  It allowed me to help us both reflect on our day. We ended our time each taking turns praying - it was beautiful. Here is what he prayed, "Jesus please help me to not make bad choices and please forgive me of my sins. And Lord Jesus I pray that you would help our family to be good. Amen." And that is what makes this the best part of my day! So simple, yet so deep and powerful. 

Fun Family Day

Had a really fun family day today! Micah's dad joined us and we met up with some friends at the Zoo to celebrate their son, Chevlin's 2nd Birthday! Boys had so much fun!

Petting sting Rey's 

Parker just loves our friends' baby, Solon!

The ride home - they were pooped!

Mack got some new shoes! Adidas had an outlet tent set up nearby - great deals!

Then we went to a birthday party of a friend from church. More fun!

Loved the conversations with my father-in-law in the car, watching the boys have fun, and spending time together as a family making memories with friends! That's what I call a full and fun family day!

In need of grace

I have 2 precious little mighty men of God. Precious they are... When they're polite, well behaved, kind, caring quiet (okay they're never quiet except when they're sleeping). But my boys are human; flawed, born sinners and in need of grace. Grace from momma when they just can't seem to get control of themselves because they are only 4 and 2 years old. They don't even know what self-control is yet. They need grace when they're being too loud and we adults just want them to use their "inside voices" (my boys don't posses inside voices, they have one volume and it's LOUD!). They need grace when I've told them umpteen times not to do the very thing they just forgot and did again anyway. Attention span - what's that again?!?  

As a momma, I know all about giving grace to my boys. I don't get it right everytime, nor on the first try... I too am human; flawed, born a sinner, in need of grace. What's sad though is it seems it never fails when I'm in public (be that the grocery store, church or even amongst a group of family or friends) and my strong-willed 2 year old decides to throw a fit the first act of compassion or grace extends first to that out-of-control child. For once I'd love to be shown a little grace from others when my response in that moment isn't full of composure and eloquently scripted with the Word of God. How about "how can I help?" or a sympathetic "I've been there, this too shall pass."  Instead, I've been glared at with disapproving eyes, corrected and even had my comments cursed in Jesus name. All I want is a little grace. 

So momma may you be extended an extra measure of grace instead of looked upon in a moment of your day with judgement and criticism. You momma, are a child of the most high God and He loves you, even when you don't get it right. He knows you are In need of grace. 

Bad moments don't make bad mamas

Loved this mornings devotional from "No more unglued momma mornings" by Lysa Terkeurst

BRING IT! 

Just in case you aren't feeling like mother of the year today, let me make you feel better. While I was packing lunches recently my daughter said with great urgency, "Mom, just make sure none of the food you are packing in my lunch is rotten." 

Alrighty then. A statement like that will just build your mom confidence ALL DAY LONG! 

Do you ever have these little zingers that fly into your morning and sting your heart? I suspect you do. And it's these kinds of things that can catch us off guard and start ratcheting up the tension that leads to coming unglued. 

We don't want to be unglued mamas. We don't want to have mornings filled with unglued moments. So, today let's think about what we do want our mornings to be filled with ... love, peace, joy, sanity, kind words, and interactions with our kids that won't be retold years later on some therapist's couch. 

Yes, that's what we want. 

But here's the tricky part: I can't control the unpredictable attitudes my kids are going to bring into each morning. 

I can't set my hope for a good morning on what my kids might or might not do. I must bring the attitude with which I want the morning to be filled. Just like our key verse says, I have to set my mind on things from above ... things from God. 

A few years ago my friend Angela Thomas challenged me with this "bring it" idea. We were talking about how sometimes when we show up to speak the audience seems a little lacking in energy. As a speaker, it's really hard to step in front of an audience with very low energy. So, Angela decides what kind of energy the room needs to be filled with and she brings it as she steps on stage. 

She focuses her energy on what she has control over. 

She can't control the mood of an audience any more than we can control the moods of our kids. But we can determine if a good mood is what we want as we pack lunches, sign last minute permission slips, and pile backpacks into the car, then we can make the choice to bring it. 

Here are three reminders that will help us bring it: 

1. Feelings are indicators not dictators.
 
I'm not always going to have blissful, happy feelings. I'm just not. But while my feelings may indicate I have some things to address, they don't have to dictate a bad mood. It's time for me to be the boss of my feelings and determine to bring the joy I want my home to be filled with today. 

2. Bad moments don't make bad mamas.
 
Have you ever caught yourself labeling the kind of mother you are in light of a few bad moments with your kids? "I'm not patient." "I lose it all the time." "I'm the most disorganized mother on the planet." 

Me too. 

But these labels won't help us bring more joy into our mornings—they'll just bog us down. Here's the reality ... just because I have an impatient moment doesn't mean I'm an impatient mother. We need to stop the self-condemning labels by matching each negative moment with a positive reality. Maybe I had an impatient moment when I helped with homework last night but this morning I'm bringing patience in the way I helped my daughter find something to wear. 

3. Find the joy treasure.
 
There will be a treasure hidden in the moments you experience this morning. Look for it. 
Look for the way she tucks her curls behind her ears and ties the ribbon in her hair. Look for the way he fiddles with his hat trying to look cool. Take a snapshot this morning of this joy treasure. Don't miss it. When you find it, tuck it in your heart and let it sink deep. These are the moments that form that wellspring of joy and help us keep bringing it. 
Peace, love, joy, patience, kindness—these are the things with which we want to fill our mornings. Despite the circumstances we face and the attitudes of others, it is possible to have this wonderful atmosphere—if we decide to bring it. 

MAKING IT A REALITY: 

Make the choice to bring the atmosphere you want by writing out the words that describe what you want your morning to be like. Try using a dry erase marker on your bathroom mirror. You can also write these 3 statements for "bringing it" on other windows and mirrors throughout your home:
 
* "Feelings are indicators not dictators."
 
* "Bad moments don't make bad mamas."
 
* "Find the joy treasure." 

When your family asks you about these statements you've written, just smile and proudly proclaim, "They help me bring it." 

I've had a few of those "bad moments" but I have to continually remind myself that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ and His grace is enough for ME! Christ's sacrifice on the cross was enough for God so it should be enough for me too. I don't need to keep condemning myself and hanging my head - I need to walk in His grace and forgiveness!

Homemade play dough

Today we made homemade play dough. Here's a link with a few different recipes: http://lilyrose.hubpages.com/hub/basic-craft-recipes-homemade-diy-playdough-glue-paste

Adding color

Making "cookies"

Stained hands - the things I do for my boys! 

And here are a few of our creations:

Waffles with butter and strawberry

Mother-Son Date

Last night Chili's was hosting a Mother-Son date night so Micah and I decided to split the boys up and have some one on one time. I took Mack and Micah took Parker. We both had fun and made memories. 

We ate, decorated an airplane, watched hockey, shared a dessert, took pictures and even went to a book store afterwards and got a new toy for him and his brother. 

Parker and Micah went to Freebirds (kids eat free on Tuesdays FYI) then the pet store and last but not least Academy. 

September is the new January

So September is the new January... a time to start fresh and set goals.  Traditionally I usually set goals in January but it seems as though summer hits and everything is soon forgotten. So for me September is a great time to refocus.  Micah and I had the privilege to get away for a couple days without kids and refuel for the fall.  The calendar is full but we've got a plan in place with renewed vision.  Proverbs 28:19 says, "Where there is no vision the people perish." I've learned when I don't have a plan for the day I hit the ground running aimlessly feeling like I can't catch my breadth.  However, when there's a plan in place (even if the plan is deviated from) the days goes much smoother.  So I look forward to the fall with full calendar (by the way I just ordered one of Erin Condren's really cool Life Planners)! I'm a little obsessed with her products - it's a bit pricey but it's an early birthday present from my husband! I'll post pics later.

Well I just wanted to get this blog posted, I know it's well overdue since I haven't posted since January and I have much catching up to do...be on the look-out this fall because you will be hearing more from me :)

January 2013

Started the new year with a full plate! Micah and I joined a challenge where we are embarking on the Paleo diet in hopes of being more health conscience as well as to lose a bit of weight. Yeah, I know, "typical new year's goal"... But hey the way I look at it is I haven't given up, I've consistently been striving towards losing weight, just haven't found something I've wanted to commit to and stick with. All "diets" work for someone if they're willing to stick with it. I know my biggest hurdle is exercise, finding something I can enjoy, otherwise its not something I'll stick with. So far Micah has proven results as he has stuck with exercise for the past year and a half. He has slimmed down by over 50 pounds and built up muscle. He is eating healthier and feeling a lot better!

Also on our plate... We listed our house for sale mid-December and in a month and a half had 13 showings! Talk about keeping the house clean with 2 toddlers - it's been a chore to say the least! We've been thankful for the activity though. To give a bit of back story here it all began towards the end of August. I started feeling impressed, nudged to inquire about Rick and Teri's old house, currently owned by his brother in law Ryan but being rented out. I honestly was not sure why I was feeling this, we were completely content with our home and had no reason to want to move. However I could not get away from these feelings, it constantly bombarded my thoughts, dreams, prayer time... So several weeks later, maybe mid-September I shared this with Micah thinking maybe we should just ask if Ryan would even sell his house and for how much. It took Micah a couple weeks before he even felt comfortable. So in a very nonchalant way Micah inquired about the house with no further details. We learned the house was much more than we could afford. I quickly grew discouraged and thought well that settles that, must not be God. To which my husband replies, "Don't put God in a box, He can do anything." I kept that in mind and tried to still move on but it was still there. Why did we need to move anyway, it still was unclear to me. Now don't get me wrong, it's a nice house, still a 3 bedroom but with more square footage, a bonus room and a pool, not to mention location is great and it's just a few houses down from Micah's parents. I began circling the house in prayer believing that if we were supposed to be there, God would work out the details and bring clarity.
Then November 10th Micah's dad's retina detached in his only good eye. To make a very long story not so long it became apparent to both Micah and I that God wanted us closer to his parents to help take care of them as they get older. A couple weeks after Gary's eye surgery Micah was in a meeting with Rick and as they were discussing the current state of Gary's eye Rick asked what Micah was thinking. To which he replied, "I'd like to buy your old house." Rick thought a moment and said he liked the idea, it'd be a great fit and said let's make it happen. Without disclosing all the details we could only praise God for his guiding and provision. December 12th we officially had our house on the market. Being slow season for houses to sell we didn't anticipate much activity but I felt like God's timing would be perfect and we'd have an offer by the first week of February. The renters are in the other house till the end of February so we wouldn't be able to get in until March anyway.  With 13 showings, that was quite a bit of activity!

A few other tidbits on our plate besides, diet, selling a house, and Micah's dad currently being blind...Micah oversees 5th grade through college and career in addition to our Discovery program. He also took the Discovery students on a 2 day trip to New Braunfels, is planning a trip to the Czech Republic and is a great dad and husband!

For me besides cleaning, cleaning and cleaning I have enjoyed the beautiful January weather in south Texas and playing outside with the boys, packing boxes, going through a book called "Desperate, hope for the mom who needs to breath" by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson with a dear friend ~ Vanessa (we meet Tuesday evenings after kids are in bed). Our friendship has blossomed and truly been a blessing. I'm also working on memorizing 24 new verses this year, 2 a month, reading/praying through the Bible for Mack, recording prayers in a new Noteworthy Bible we got for the boys (Micah is doing the same for Parker). I'm also teaching a class on sexual purity to the Discovery girls. And helping with our moms & tots group at church.

The boys continue to grow and mature into little mighty men of God. I'm so blessed to be at home with them every day! They drive me a little crazy sometimes but there's no place I'd rather be. They are my ministry and my home is my mission field!

And here's a little photo journal for the month!

Parker and his friend Olivia Blauvelt holding hands at dinner.

Mack reading his Bible

Got my "Desperate" book in the mail!

The Bibles Micah and I are recording prayers in for the boys

The scripture journal I'm using to memorize my 24 verses for the year.

Parker's first basketball game - he loved it!

Eating dinner outside

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Mack loves to exercise with his daddy

Micah on a trip with his Discovery students