Time With My Man

This last weekend was so wonderful. My husband took me to my favorite Resort, here in Tucson. It was just a couple of nights, but it was AWESOME. It definitely refreshed me and excited me to dig in deep in my roles as Wife, Mom and Keeper of my home. But, it also left me wanting more...more sunshine, more quiet moments, more clean, white towels...and more of my man. Sometimes he gets lost beneath the little tower of snotty noses, piercing screams and potty dances.

I love those little crazies and I missed them, tons, just being away for such a short time...but I'm on a mission now...I want to steal some of those moments from them...and give them back to him.

Have You Ever Seen a Cuter Ice Cream-Eater?

Let Us Not Overlook the Plain and Obvious

Gwendolyn and I are busy getting ready for Christmas in July with a Birthday Party for Jesus, this Friday (not because we are such a super-spiritual and event-clever family, but because we happen to be a little birthday/Christmas CRAZY in this house).

In our preparation, this morning we were reading the nativity story in her Bible. As we stared at a picture of Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus in the stable, I began pointing out the various characters. Like a good mother, I spoke of Joseph being Jesus' earthly Father and God also being Jesus' Father and the baby, pictured, being Jesus, etc...etc. As I finished imparting spiritual wisdom and went on to continue reading, Gwendolyn points her finger to the only remaining figure on the page and says, "...and that's a cow."

It's true. That was a cow.

In the tired and, often, unpredictable moments of mothering small children, It's the simple and true things that are of most encouragement to me. Somehow, amidst the hours of readable Facebook statuses, googled coupon codes, interesting DIY projects and on-line shopping sales, it can be hard to notice the very real cow in the picture.

Jesus is my cow. And, I need to spend my time looking at, and listening to, those who can point Him out to me and say, "and that's a cow." That is Jesus. He's your only source of real and lasting Joy and plain-old, regular happiness. Look at Him, and you vision for all your life-roles and daily activities will be clear, fresh and...dare I say it...Exciting!

Here area few of my personal favorite Joy-reminder resources:
Femina
Desiring God Blog
Passionate Homemaking

What are some of yours???

Motherhood as a Mission Field

Awesome Article from guest blogger at Desiring God.

Liz Jankovic is the Author of Loving the Little Years. This book is changing my mothering!

Check it out:
Motherhood as a Mission Field Blog Post

About Sums Up Our Days at Home

Source: elementsofstyleblog.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

My Awesomes

Life Is NOT Like a Box of Crayons

Don't you just love a big, brand new box of Crayons? All those sharpened points of beautiful color, standing straight up...all in a line. You know, the really good brand...you know the one I'm talking about.

I Do. I love them.

I love pottery barn magazine pictures of playrooms I've only half been able to imagine in my mind...but knew they existed somewhere.

I love wooden toys that are shiny and new, and also look like they've been around forever.

This is our collection of crayons. All different kinds and brands (only a few left of the good ones)...most of them stubby and void of wrapping (you can find the wrapping torn up into many little pieces, under the little table...or in the baby's mouth. Oh, and some random washable colored pencils that I absolutely hate and will never buy again. But, best of all...those little, dirty hands, eager to be a part of whatever mommy is doing with the crayons.

This is our playroom. Plastic garage sale bins have bullied out the romantic idea of cloth and woven baskets. And, that poor, poor baby doll...one foot, hanging on for dear life. One Crazy princess and one Baby Dude...conquering the world, one Walmart block at a time.

THIS...this is just what happens when you turn your back to take pictures for the blog.

Thank you, Lord, for my beautiful blessings!

Give Me Poetry!

This morning, as my husband left for work, I said to him,"I'm reading Galations...and I'm bored."

He smiled...because, Galations may be many things...but it is not boring.

But, even as I continue reading in the book, I am still a little bored. I realized that I need a little poetry in my life...some beautiful passion to cling to all morning. The kind of words that linger well into the afternoon and come back to remind you, at evening's close.

I went to the Psalms and there I read this:

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."
- Psalm 4:8

It took my breath away...an actual breath-stopping gasp. Beautiful!

FEMINA Blog

I can feel myself being more encouraged by the minute.

"Mothers: As you keep feeding your children, behold, they do grow! Keep your homes, build your homes. All your washing and shopping and planning and cooking and cleaning and swatting is used by God to make faithful homes and faithful children."

Check out the whole Blog Post HERE over at Femina.

Let Her Eat Cake!

photo credit

After watching a Sesame Street episode where they made a cake, Gwendolyn was dead-set on making one of her own. I was actually feeling pretty sick that day, but when the girl gets something in her head...well, it's just easier to let her make a cake.

But, if she was going to make a cake at 7am and eat it all day...it was going to be a "healthier" cake and it was going to be easy to make.

This recipe from Heavenly Homemakers was PERFECT! I used Kefir instead of buttermilk and I DID use the Sucanat and coconut oil. I didn't even frost the thing! It was delicious and, honestly, next time I will try even cutting the sugar way down.

Letters to Friends On Stuff That Matters

My Dear Friend, Cara, and I decided to join in on this beautiful study at A Holy Experience, on loving Jesus and others with our words. Perhaps you would also enjoy this!

*********
This letter, I just LOVE. I Love CARA, for being real...for being poetic while she's being real...I love her for being tired, like me.

*********

Hey Jenn,

The babies haven’t been sleeping. They come, looking for comfort between our sheets, our full size sheets. As the clock ticks through the wee night hours and the chimes ring downstairs, I try to roll over on my stomach and pull the covers that have been kicked off of both the baby and me just a little bit farther over onto my stomach so I’m not really really cold. And then, in between kicks to the head, I realize the sunrays have begun to filter in through the wooden blinds and I lay there, cold…eyes shut…mind wide open…heart seething frustration and understanding at the same time.

I. Am. So. Tired.

Tonight at a stoplight, my eyes glazed over and all the cars turned into small fuzzy golden orbs of light. The orbs moved closer and my head drifted back to watch the light show progress on past me, slowly, easily.

I so want to let life just pass by. To glaze over the intentions and lean back, eyes half closed, letting the exhaustion win. It could envelope my mind and my heart. I could slowly lose the wild dreams. Those wild and crazy longings to be more. Different. Purposeful.

I could close…my…eyes

But then, I know I would miss it. The wild. The longing. I would hunger for the could-have-been and the yesterdays. And I never want to look back like that.

Only look ahead. Eyes wide and seeing. Thoughtful and Dreaming.

Tonight I will sleep. Because it is necessary…

Start by doing what’s necessary;

Next do what’s possible;

And suddenly you are doing the impossible

~St. Francis of Assisi

But tomorrow, tomorrow I wake early, eyes open, ready to let the wild heart lead.

One step at a time.

CARA

We're Proud of our Harvest!

The Lettuce...Not the fish : ).

Next up: tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, basil and Sunflowers!

Letters to Friends On Stuff That Matters

My Dear Friend, Cara, and I decided to join in on this beautiful study at A Holy Experience, on loving Jesus and others with our words. Perhaps you would also enjoy this!

*********

Jenn,

This letter is totally for those of us who change poopy diapers daily. Otherwise, I think it could be categorized underneath “no one really needs to talk about these things, guys”. Just a disclaimer to everyone else, since I know you’re knee deep in poop like me J

Anyways, just a few minutes ago, as I was changing Clair’s diaper, I found myself saying,

“That’s right, I’ll wipe it all clean” and it reminded me of wooden pews and hot muggy mornings, when we would wave fans and sit next to my Grandma and Grandpa in their small country church singing, “Jesus paid it all! All to Him I owe…Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed them white snow”

Coming out of that memory I saw Clair, knowingly hold her legs and lift up, saying “wipe, wipe!” She waved her hand in front of her face and exclaimed “shew!”

How wonderful if we could recognize sin as matter of fact and embrace forgiveness as easily. Like, “oh yes, Jesus! Shew! I’m stinky…wipe? Wipe?” No left over guilt. No reminiscent shame. Just understanding that I once was shewy-stinky…but now I’m clean because He is there, of course, to wipe it all away!

Whew, time to dance naked around the living room in joy, right?

CARA