Patience?..Really Lord??:)

Eliza has been my challenge lately. She is almost 3 and everyday I'm reminded just exactly why 3 year old's can be frustrating. I try not to think of her constant asking and whining for things as annoying. It's just persistence right?! That quality will come in handy later in life!
Just when I think she doesn't understand the instructions she proves to me she knows exactly what I am saying!
I have been trying to be consistent with only giving her an instruction once and if she doesn't obey the 1st time she receives a consequence.

For instance, we went to pick up Adrianna today and got there about 10 minutes early. Eliza asked me if she could unbuckle. I told her no and also told her to stay in her seat. For the next 10 minutes, I am not kidding you, she asked over and over and over and over and over if she could unbuckle. I ignored her because I had already told her the answer. It was VERY difficult! I tried distracting her with books and with the music that was on but NOTHING worked.
I got out of the car to get Adrianna and being that I parked close and I could see my van, I locked it and walked up to get her. When I came back Eliza was unbuckled!!! I told her she was getting a spank when we got home. I gave her one and then I asked her why she got a spank.
She looked right at me and said "Because I unbuckled in the car". Thus proving that she knows!
She is going to be the epitome of developing the character trait of patience and consistency!

Caleb on the other hand has recently decided that jars of baby food are so 2 months ago!
He just has to see it and he starts flapping his arms and fussing because he does not want to eat it! I actually have to shove it in his mouth and sometimes he will want more but most of the time he spits it out! He LOVES diced ham and chicken. He really just wants to pick up his food and I'm having a hard time finding things he can pick up and not choke on!
He is still not crawling yet. I guess there are good things and bad things to that. I'm supposed to call the doctor about it but what are they going to do??!! At least I can just put him somewhere and know he will be there when I get back!

No Training Wheels!

There comes a time in every child's life when they need to learn how to ride a bike without training wheels! Shawn was so excited to help Adrianna. I LOVE the look on her face when he is trying to tell her what she should do. It's just in complete awe of daddy! He taught her how to fall first. She did that quite well!:)
She rode up and down the sidewalk in front of our house a few times and was still leaning towards the side that Shawn was walking on.
It was a good start!

A Journey of Discovery

The weekend messages at KCC continually challenge me to keep growing in my relationship with Christ. I love how God has been speaking to me through many different ways.
I guess this journey started back when I took the SHAPE class at KCC. This class is designed to help you find your spiritual gifts and help you figure out what your passion is. Then you can be led towards a ministry that would fit how God designed you. After taking the class I did not have a ministry clearly layed out to me. I guess I was kind of hoping for that! I did learn that my top 3 spiritual gifts are Administration, Mercy, and Discernment. A few ministry opportunities were suggested to me but those doors kept getting closed.
I took a step back for a while even though throughout that time of rest I was pondering and seeking where God wanted to use me.
I had been involved in the Worship Arts Team for a few years but I had taken some time off from it after I had Caleb. I began evaluating if I should be involved in that. I had a lot of unsettling in my spirit, but I could not pinpoint what it was exactly. Part of the SHAPE class taught that the things you are involved with should bring you excitement. You should have a godly passion for them and they should make you happy. If not, then maybe you should try and find another ministry. I also was feeling frustrated that I could not find that peace about what exactly I should be doing as far as serving in the church.

I have been growing daily in my walk with Christ. He has been molding me, teaching me, and showing me so many things! He has used music, other people, my quiet times, my kids, and pretty much everything else in my life to begin leading me where He wants me.
This brings me to the message on Sunday. The question that was asked is "Is God Boxing you In?". Well, yes He is! He is shutting doors and opening others and clearly pointing a great big arrow in the direction I should go. I love when God does that! The passage we were studying was Acts 16:6-10. Paul was being led by the Holy Spirit by God telling him no. Paul tried to go one way and God shut that door. He tried to go another way and God shut that door also. Pretty soon he was boxed in so much he just had to go to Macedonia! Sometimes when we are boxed in, it is to lead us, not to limit us. Sometimes God has to make it ABUNDANTLY clear where he wants us so we will go that way. We have to be in tune to His universal will before He can show us His unique will. Paul didn't even ask questions. He went at once!
It is also possible that the "why" of where God is leading may not be immediately apparent. We just have to be willing to do "at once" what God wants us to do.
This leads me to where God is taking me right now. It is to a place I NEVER thought I would be! Notice how Leadership did not rank very high on my Spiritual gifts survey, and being an extrovert are not how God designed me! But that is exactly where I am going. Maybe not to lead over a bunch of people, but to lead with the gifts He has given me. And maybe contribute to others who He has called to lead.
I am finding that I have a passion for community. I never thought little old introverted me would say that! It excites me! I think about it constantly. It amazes me when I think back on my growing up years how much of the wall flower I was. I was the one standing in the corner at Band dances PRAYING that no one would ask me to dance. Maybe that's why I never had any dates!
Anyway, I was scared to death of communicating with people. I was so insecure about who God made me to be that I hid behind my fear. I always thought I had nothing profound or intelligent to contribute to other people's conversations. I am still breaking free from that! I never thought then that God would someday use my experience of trying to fit in, of trying to be accepted to help me realize how He designed me. Not to hide behind my insecurities, but to rise above it and allow God to use me despite myself. I think we sometimes have to go through those painful experiences so we can have a clearer picture of how we can best serve when we find the ministry that fits us.
So I'm taking some leaps of faith lately. I am SO EXCITED to see how God will show me the "why" of the things He is leading me to. I am excited to see God show me the next step in my journey. I am going to try not to stand in His way!

Still Lovin it!

I have been trying to listen intently for things Adrianna says about her day at Kindergarten.
She will tell me a little bit when I pick her up from school but usually little tidbits come out when she is playing or we are sitting down to dinner. She is still loving it so much! She has made a new friend whose name is Rebecca. She also says there are 3 boys and 1 other girl at her table. She remembered the boys names but not the girl's...hmm...:)
She has already memorized which special's class she gets to go to on each day. Monday is Library, Tuesday is Music, Wednesday is Computer Lab, Thursday is Gym, and Friday is Art.
She really enjoys snack time and the fact that she gets to bring her own. It is a highlight of our evening to pick it out for the next day!

It was even harder for me to drop her off the second day because I didn't walk her in. She just lined up outside the door and her teacher walked them in. Oh boy, is it hard to let go!
Her teacher is so great! I continually thank God for her! She is very personable and calm, and that is something Adrianna needs.
She is growing up right before my eyes!

First Day

Adrianna was up quite early this morning getting her new dress on and ready to start her day! I made eggs & bacon for breakfast and we were actually ready at 8:10 twiddling our thumbs until we needed to leave at 8:30!
We got to the school and there were so many people there! I guess that didn't click with me that ALL the mommy's would want to walk their kid in on the 1st day. There were NO parking spots, not places to park on the road, and hardly any places in the aisles! It was a madhouse! I decided to park in an aisle behind some cars....dumb idea! I'll get to that in a minute.
Caleb thought this would be a great time to poop and boy did it stink. So I walked Adrianna into her first day with a waft of poop following us!
She was so excited to find her locker and her table. She heard the teacher say they would be having a snack in a while and that made her very excited! She didn't cry or anything and did quite well when I left. I got out to the parking lot and a very upset pregnant lady was standing by her car glaring at me because I blocked her in. I apologized and was getting the kids in the car when another lady stormed toward me and said that I should get to school earlier, and find a parking space, and now she was going to be late for work. I politely informed her that there were no parking spaces and I did get there 15 minutes early! I think there should be breaks all around for new mommy's that don't know what they are doing!












Adrianna had a great day! She learned a new song called "Tootie Ta". I remember teaching my students that song! She had music today and couldn't seem to remember what she did..:)
She is very excited to go back tomorrow!






Her teacher sent this poem home which i think is very appropriate!

THE FIRST DAY
I gave you a little wink and smile
As you came in my room that day.
For I know how hard to leave
And know your child must stay.
You've been with her for five years now
And have been a loving guide.
But now, alas, the time has come
To leave her at my side.
For as a parent I too know
How quickly the years do pass
And one day it was my turn
to take my child to class.
Just know that as you drive away
And tears down your cheeks may flow
I'll love her as I do my own
And help him learn and grow.
So please put your mind at ease
And cry those tears no more.
For I will love her and take her in
When you leave her at my door.
By: Jamie Solley

Letting Go....

"Where does the time go?"! I have asked myself this question many times in the last few months!
Adrianna is very excited about Kindergarten. She said her favorite thing she is looking forward to is her own locker and that she might get to make a craft!
I had a little kick in the pants when we went to her open house because I was reminded that God takes care of us even when we don't ask! I wasn't praying much for her teacher before we knew who she was. When we met her, Shawn recognized her from Cornerstone! He had a few classes with her and I vaguely remember her. Her classroom is just the right thing Adrianna needs. Not too many distractions and everything has it's own spot. Adrianna gets distracted very easily and I think a room with a lot of decorations and "things" would make it hard for her to concentrate. Plus that fact that we "know" her teacher and that there is a strong possibility that she shares our love for Christ is a huge encouragement!
I was reminded that even when we don't ask, God is still looking out for us. He knew exactly what Adrianna needed and I am so excited to see how she will develop and grow this year.

I have many bittersweet feelings tonight. It is so true that if you blink, the time you have with them disappears! We have had 5 1/2 years together with her in our family. In an environment that we can somewhat control. Now I have to just drop her off in a building I am not familiar with, and with people I don't know! It it a whole lot different being on the parent side of things rather than being the teacher. It is time....I can't hold on to her forever. I can't keep her home with me forever. Even though this mama's heart really wants her to! I can't fathom what mom's feel like when their child goes off to college!

My prayer is that she will be a light for Christ. I pray that Shawn and I can teach her how to be a strong, confident, courageous girl that stands up for what she believes in. I pray that God will protect her and keep her safe. I pray that she will look to Christ for her acceptance and that she will continually choose to follow after Him.

The song "Daddy's Little Girl" that you hear playing has some family history to it! My mom used to sing it to us when we were little. I have sung it to all my kids beginning with Adrianna. I was so excited to actually find the music to it!

So tomorrow, I will try not to babble like a baby...I will try to take that next step of letting her go with confidence that the Lord has her in His hands and He is watching over her. I will try not to hold on a little longer to my sweet girl who is the evidence of God's grace and faithfulness.
I will remember to pray for her daily as we begin this new adventure!

Pretty Princesses

We wanted to say a big thank you to our friend Rose for getting us all these fun dress up clothes! We especially like the feather boas and gloves. Don't we look glamorous?!!!
You are always so thoughtful and know exactly what we like!
Thank you! Thank you!