The Boring Stuff

Today, you woke from your nap earlier than normal (Wiley, you're battling a cold, so I think this woke you and you woke Ryan). So when I got home from work, you were both up. After playing for a bit you both wandered back towards the stairs, pointed up and said, "Stairs. Up. Nap." Well, I wasn't about to argue with that.

So, back upstairs we went for another nap. Ryan, after I put you into your crib, I picked Wiley up. As I walked you over to your crib, you both started crying. "Nooo! Wy-ee nap!" you were telling me Ryan, pointing to your bed. Wiley you agreed, "Noooo! Ry-ry nap!" pointing to his crib. As I walked you back over to Ryan's side of the bed, you reached to get in with him.

You both just wanted to rest and read a bit in bed and together! I think my heart may have exploded.

Yes, you two fuss at each other sometimes. Yes, you fight over the same toy. But the majority of the time, you two truly love each other, always looking out for one another, helping each other, and wanting to be together.

In one of my favorite movies, Up, Russell (wise beyond his years) says, "That might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most." This post might sound boring, but these are the moments that fill my heart and I hope to remember the most. I so love our "boring" everyday moments; they are far from boring and they make my life richer than I could have ever imagined. I pray for many more "boring" moments together and hope you remember and cherish these moments too.

 

 

 

Walkin on Sunshine

Today I am thankful for the sunshine and answered prayers. It was a beautiful day - physically and spiritually. I am thankful that the boys got some natural vitamin D and could play outside and get muddy, and that I had a healing in my own life. I am just amazed at how quickly and fully God has been answering my prayers since going to war for Him. I am so thankful for the peace and joy in my life.

We have had such an interesting winter, going from temps as crazy as 70* on the weekends to frigid snowfalls during the week and back to warm again. The snow is a blast and I love winter, but we sure love living outdoors in the spring and summer too; we are so looking forward to our long days outside again. But until then, we will take these sprinkles of sunshine and warm weather! They sure have been good for all of our souls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

War Room

I know how Satan works.

I know his tactics.

I know the low blows he likes to take.

I know how he attacks as we are getting stronger.

So, why, on the day I vowed to start over, refresh my relationship with God, to go to my war room and start fighting for Him, was I surprised when Satan attacked all that I prayed for?

I had such a peaceful morning before the boys woke up, journaling verses to focus on in prayer and writing down things most dear to my heart that I would take to the Lord in prayer. And so, during naptime, I went to war. I went to war for the Lord. I went to war for our family. I went to war for our mission.

Monday has always been our day to pray for our extended family. We pray for each other, the relationships of our family, and for our significant others and their extended families. It is a great day to feel connected and united as a family, but today it had more weight to it, as I realized I was going to war for these people. It was up to me to lift their names up to the Lord and pray for them and their families.

So, what does Satan do? He attacks just what we're praying for.

Today, I felt a hurt unlike any other I have felt in a long time when other's truths were revealed to me. My initial reaction (after shock) was to throw in the towel. Why care for a relationship if they don't care for me? Then came the deep cut and pain of this revelation.

But Satan will not rob me of my success in my war room today. Am I still hurt? Of course. But if he attacked me so quickly, I must have done something right today. So tomorrow I go back to war - I go to war for myself and a healing of this pain. I go to war to find the words to say and respectfully address this hurt because I can't just ignore what happened.

Sometimes boys, it's the people we love most in this life that hurt us the deepest - and that is because we love them so. One day, I will hurt you. And one day, you will hurt me. But we are family. We will work to make these hurts few and far between and when they happen we will try to forgive quickly. Colossians 3:13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." This is a difficult lesson to learn, but what a more peaceful life when we can quickly forgive. How many times have I asked the Lord to forgive me? Never does He say, but I forgave you for that yesterday! Every time he welcomes me back and forgets my sins.

As I was driving home, Lord I Need You, was the first song that came on. I threw my hands up and sang at the top of my lungs, asking the Lord to rescue me today.

So teach my song to rise to You                             
When temptation comes my way                        
 And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You              
Jesus You're my hope and stay                             
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You               
Jesus You're my hope and stay 

Lord, I need You, oh I need You 
Lord, I need You, oh I need You  Every hour I need You 
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

So, today I pray for the Lord to calm my soul and heal my hurt. I ask that He help me forgive. And I ask that He help me peaceably confront this issue that needs to be solved.

Happy Valentine's Day

As a self-proclaimed hater of Valentine's Day, I must say, you boys have changed me. I always thought it was silly to have a day to proclaim our love for someone. So I've always protested this silly holiday, refusing to celebrate a made-up holiday.

This year, I looked at it a little differently and wanted to celebrate those I love so dearly. So, we kicked off Valentine's at the start of February, making Valentine's for our whole family, celebrating a different family member each day. Then, we spent yesterday up at the Newport Aquarium. While it was a little too crowded, it was fun watching you boys take in all the fish around you. I look forward to taking you back on a week day, when it's a little less overwhelming with people so you can get the full experience. Wiley, you were so brave and wanted to get up as close as possible to the glass (as far as licking some of it -- gross!). You even touched a starfish and attempted to touch a shark, but couldn't reach. Ryan, you were a little more timid, especially of the bigger sharks, but you warmed up as the day went on.

 

 

 

Sunday, we celebrated Valentine's Day at church for a PJ / movie day party! Together we watched War Room. I found myself wanting to frantically take notes during the movie, to get up during the movie and go begin building my War Room. It was such a reflective movie. I don't know if I've ever seen a movie that has more powerfully impacted me than this one. A movie that lit a fire in me to cause change instantly in my life.

As Miss Clara ended the movie with her final prayer, I could have sobbed. I wanted to pump my fist into the air and shout, "Amen!!" She urged the Lord as she prayed, " Guide me to who you want me to help, raise up more that will call upon your name. Raise up those that love you and seek you and trust you. Raise them up Lord raise them up. Lord we need a generation of believers who are not ashamed of the gospel. We need an army of believers, Lord that hate to be lukewarm and will stand on your word above all else. Raise them up, Lord Raise them up. I pray for unity among those that love you. I pray that you open their eyes so that they can see your truth Lord. I pray for your hand of protection and guidance. Raise up a generation Lord that will take light into this world... That will not compromise when under pressure... That will not cower Lord when others fall away. Raise them up Lord that they will proclaim that there is Salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. Raise up Warriors Lord who will fight on their knees...Who will worship you with their whole hearts, Lord. Lord call us to battle that we may proclaim you King of Kings and Lord of Lords! I pray these things with all my heart! Raise them up Lord! Raise them up! AMEN."

We didn't have time for testimony today, but I so thank God for our day in church today. I thank Him for the discernment my dad used to know that our mission needed this movie today.  I thank Him for shaking my soul today. I think Miss Clara used some form of the phrase, "Raise them up," ten times in her prayer. Today I shout, "Raise me up, Lord! I no longer want to be lukewarm for your service. I want to go to war for you Lord. I want to fight for you Lord." It's so easy to slip into the routine of our day to day lives. It's so easy to get caught up in the things that "have to be done." But how much of my time do I spend watching TV? Reading my books? Playing games on my gadgets? It's time I focus on what this life is all about. I truly felt like my life was changing during that two hour movie, and for that I am thankful! It's time to go to war!

Valentine's Day may be a "made-up" holiday, but I sure did love celebrating so many different types of love this weekend: a deep love for my family, a love for your Daddy that just continues to grow stronger, a love for this life we have created, and a love for Christ that I refuse to let remain lukewarm. Raise us up, Lord, raise us up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potty Trained?!

Dare I say it...are we potty trained?!

We introduced the potty to you boys last August (at about 20 months), not expecting to potty train you right away, but just to get you used to it. We talked about the potty. We tried it out (and had a lot of successes). But we didn't want to push it - just giving you exposure to warm you up to the idea of it. Wiley, you always seemed to go when we would put you on the potty, but you had lots of accidents and didn't grasp the idea of trying to wait for the potty. Ryan, you knew not to have accidents and could hold it all day, but were terrified some days to go on the potty.

So, between August and now, we would spend a day naked or in big boys undies. And when there were too many accidents and you didn't seem ready, we would just stop for awhile and not push it. Again, our focus was just the exposure and idea of the potty.

Well, last Monday after changing your morning diapers, I went to put new diapers on you. You both fussed, "No! Undies! Undies!" So, into the undies it was. It seems like something has just clicked in your brains and you guys are ready!

Since last Monday, Wiley you have only had about five "accidents" (two of which were while out in public and you were in your pull-ups). Ryan, you have stayed dry, accident free every since switching to big boy undies!! Today in church, you came up to me and said, "Poop!" so all three of us rushed to the potty. Even using the big potty at church, you both went on the potty at two different times!

Every milestone we have celebrated (and I always mourned a teensy bit - because it meant you were growing up)...this may be one milestone that isn't faced with any mourning! Way to go big boys!!

Valentine's Day

For the past two weeks, we have been making a valentine a day for a loved one. Each day we would focus on that person and what we love about them. I was so excited that I could hold up a different Valentine each day and you knew exactly who it was for.

This was a great way to spend our afternoons focusing on those we love, while working on some important fine motor and early reading skills (gluing, ripping paper, writing your name, and learning the letters in your name -- again, sorry boys, I'm a teacher, I can't help look for the educational tie in to everything we do)

(Daddy's side of the family all got fish themed valentines, since we would be spending the day before together at the Newport Aquariuam.).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Felt Board Fun

One of our favorite times of the week is Toddler Time at the library. You both love singing the songs, playing the fun games, and listening to the books read aloud. One thing Ms. Shannon always does is tell some stories and play games with her felt board.

We've been doing more preschool like activities at home during the afternoon to help break up the monotony of these winter months. So, I decided we definitely needed our own felt board. After reading online, I found a much easier way to cut shapes out of felt (instead of trying to freehand it like I had been doing for other projects). So, during two naptime periods, I was able to create eight starter stories / activities for our felt board. So far, playing hide and seek with the snowball behind the mittens and the five speckled frogs are your favorites.

I love watching you both learn, so this is going to be another fun way to help grow your love for learning.

1. I have a new found love for freezer paper - trace the designs onto the paper and cut out (printed out the designs from online, since drawing is not my forte)

2. Iron designs onto felt paper 

 3. Easily cut out (with a good pair of sharp scissors) and you're done!