LOVING WHERE YOU'RE AT MONDAY

My son stayed the night over his Grandma and Grandpa's house last night. I know that this morning he woke up and was loving where he was at. I miss him like crazy when he is gone....Like CRAZY! As we drove off I imagined his delight when he woke up to find that He was still at Grandma and Grandpa's house. No, It's not a dream son, live it up, because soon the day will be over and Mommy will be back to collect you and cover you with kisses and clobber you in hugs, whether you like it or not!

Friends, do you wake up loving where you're at? I'll admit I don't always, sometimes I wake up and already feel the weight of the day or the aftermath of yesterday on my shoulders. I think about the time that is already spoken for, wake up kids, feed everyone, clean, get kids dressed, get myself dressed, naps, play time, cooking, grocery shopping, and so on and so on. Sometimes it feels like pulling the blankets over my head would just be easier. Every month Steve and I tithe, we give joyfully and faithfully and God has never let us down and he has always taken care of us financially. We understand that there is nothing that we have that God has not given us or graced us with. He gives to us in ways we could never imagine. So then I imagine, since he is such a faithful God, then when I give my time to him, will he not give that back to me faithfully? Will he not take care of me and help me to accomplish everything else needed in the day? What if I woke up each morning like my son does when he stays at grandma and grandpa's? With joy and excitement.  Good Morning Lord! What will we do today Lord?

Unfortunately I don't start my morning out like this, instead I try to somehow weave time into my day for God. I feel this pulling, this tugging, this need for change. I need to stop treating God like he is just another thing on the 'To-Do' list. I need to put him first and let him prioritize my day. I need to wake up each morning 'loving where I'm at' because I know that I am in his presence seeking him and being rejuvenated my him.

Today's Reflection:
I know this is sometimes easier said than done, but Lord I am committing my time to you. I am taking you off of the 'To-Do' List, you will be a priority in my days.

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."
-Psalm 27:4

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."
-Matthew 6:33-34

6 MONTHS

Okay Lucia, so here we are, 6 months! I want you to know that we celebrate every day you are here. Some days the celebrations aren't as grand and mommy has a pony tail and sweats and her I give-up slippers and the couch has a perfect dent of her butt, but every morning I get you out of your crib the party starts! You are still the sweetest thing and your little eyes when you smile melt my heart. I won't even get started on your dad, let's just say if there is ever anything you need, sugar, a pony, tuition to Harvard to get an art degree, just ask your dad! He is completely yours!

Here are some things I wanted to share with you about this month. First, and this is very new, as of yesterday, you can sit up! Of course we all still hover around you in case you fall, but look at you! Taking care of business!

Second, your brother cannot get enough of you! He cries for you when you're not around. He is always kissing you and wanting to help you sit up and get your toys. He would easily give you his favorite choo choo train if it would make you happy. He tells me "She's happy to see me," and he's right, because you always have a smile for your big brother!

Next, you've started eating solids, carrots, sweet potatoes and rice cereal. I never felt more connected to you then when I see you eat. The way you demand the spoon and pretty much try to feed yourself, mommy is a "let me do it" type of girl too! 

You love to talk and growl at us and you've begun to put together the word "Da-da" which I think if your daddy could cartwheel he would!

Lucia, I want you to know that I am not perfect, I might as well get that out there because soon enough you'll start to suspect. Every day I have to make choices and I am accountable for those choices. Some days I get it wrong, I mean some days I really get it wrong. Despite that, you still reach for me (me, your imperfect mommy!). You still cry when you think I've left and you smile the moment you know I see you. This is a wonderful gift and I think a glimpse into God's heart. There will be days when you may get it wrong, but God is still reaching out his arms to you. He doesn't want you to leave his sight and when you get a glimpse of him, I think he smiles!

Thank you, for everything you teach your imperfect mommy, you are a blessing to me and I love you beyond the moon and the stars and the heavens!

"His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love"
-Psalm 147: 10-11

RAIN RAIN, WON'T YOU STAY?

If you live in Sacramento, then you know we have had a bit of rain the last couple of days. I know a lot of people by now are ready for Spring, after all it is just around the corner. I am quite fond of all four seasons, so I really don't mind another week of cold, wet weather. Today, the rain was my friend, it pitter pattered on the windows and hid the sun, making it perfect for my little loves to take some naps...

It gave my son and I the perfect excuse to wear our beloved rain boots!

and best of all, it kept a couple of little rascals busy and in complete bliss jumping in every puddle they could find!

 

 

 

Today's Reflection:

I'll admit, I've complained about the rain before, I have fallen victim to the gloominess. When I was a child I use to love the rain, I always imagined it would flood and I would have to then float everywhere on my umbrella. When it would flood, my best friend and I would throw messages in bottles to each other from across the street. I never complained, never worried about the rain, I instead chose to focus on the "bright" side and the things I could enjoy in the rain.

This concept I need to bring into my daily life, instead of complaining about what I can not do, can not have or what inconveniences I come across, I need to look at the bright side and start to focus on the things I can do and what blessings I already have in front of me. Instead of grumbling about the puddles, I should be jumping in them!
Lord, thank you for the 'puddles' in life. It is easy to take them for granted! Lord, forgive me if I complain and help me to look at the positives and the joy you have placed before me!

"All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast"

-Proverbs 15:15

BEST FRIENDS

My son and nephew Rome have recently learned the term "Best Friend." I'm not sure who taught them this term, but not only do they use it, they use it when talking about each other. Believe me, many times I have  tried to convince my son that Mommy is his best friend, in which he disgustingly looks at me and says "No, my Rome is my best friend, I need him!" Which brings up two very interesting points, first...What's so wrong with mommy? and second, what a lovely thought, that he needs his best friend.

My son and his best friend are made for each other, he is exactly what my son needs. Henry tends to be a little more reserved and normally likes to play quietly on his own, he likes to take strolls through the park. But, Rome is the exact opposite, he likes to run and jump through the park, he is a little louder and I imagine one day people will refer to him as 'the life of the party'.

These boys are pretty opposite, yet they both need a little of  what the other has. It's true what my son says, he needs his best friend. And if he's smart, which I believe he is, he'll learn a lot from Rome and in the mean time get a lot of joy and love and laughs out of it! 

Today's Reflection:

It's amazing the people God places in our lives. He knows exactly what we need. Sometimes I can be put off by people who are not like me, just because I don't understand them. When I look at them and appreciate the differences we have between us, I can see that God is giving me what I need, he knows the areas I lack and the areas I need to learn and he's, in a way giving me the friend I need.

^"The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”  On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,  and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

-1 Corinthians 12: 21-26 

LOVING WHERE YOU'RE AT MONDAY

Sometimes 'where you're at' can be at the bottom of a mountain. A challenge is in front of you and you are about to take it on! You've been to this mountain before, you've stared it in the face, but just were unable to climb it by yourself. Today...is your day!

So you start to climb, and don't you even worry about falling, you just look ahead to the top of that mountain.

 

Once you get started, you'll find that you can do it and the top of that mountain just got a little closer. So climb on little one! Climb on! Love that you were faced with a mountain, because I love the fact that you climbed it all by yourself. Not everyone gets the chance to climb those mountains they face and not everyone who faces a mountain chooses to climb it...but you...

 

you were fearless and I assure you, this will not be the last mountain you climb!

 

Today's Reflection:

Sometimes it's hard to love where you're at when you are standing in front of a challenge. How many times have I looked at a challenge head on and said to myself "I do not want to be here!" How wonderful that my son can inspire me to take a challenge head on. You know, he did fall at one point and a few tears were shed, but when mommy wanted to hold him and take him home, he just wanted to get back on that rock and climb to the top!

Lord, I know it will not always be easy and I know there will be days when I want to give-up, but help me to keep climbing. Help me to love those mountains I face and conquer them!

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

-1 Peter 5:10

SEGUNDA STYLE

Just trying something different, in addition to my normal daily post. This is a new feature I'm trying out, called 'Segunda Style'. Most of you know Steve and I make an effort to be wise with our money being a single income family. I'm sure other moms can identify with the financial changes having children can bring as well as the physical changes. 'Segunda Style' is a feature sharing my second hand finds and showing that you don't have to break the bank to still be girly and have a little style!

Today's Segunda Style is a little floral dress I found at the Goodwill! I hemmed it and added a little belt so that it would fit my 'body type' (short and curvy aka chunky) a little better.

 

The perfect little dress for hanging with your silly nephew!

 and to not let anything go to waste and stretch my resources, I used the scraps from the bottom of the dress to make a bow to accessorize another dress. 

So that's it! Our first 'Segunda Style' what did you think? Always nice to try something new...right?

PICKING FLOWERS

 

Happy Friday! It's been a good week, the weather here in Sacramento has been beautiful! This week I started a new goal to get the kids and myself out of the house everyday. We've been spending way too much time inside and Henry and I were beginning to become pale couch potatoes. Not really, but I'm sure if I hadn't intervened it was the down the road! I'm reading a book called '15 minutes outside' and it has an idea to get the kids out of the house for each day of the year.  Some are good, some are okay and some will never work, but I am enjoying the book nonetheless. Today we spent the afternoon with our besties (my sister and her two boys). Going to the Zoo, picking flowers and feeding the ducks, it was the perfect day to be outside...   

 

  

Today's Reflection:
I do love sitting on my couch relaxing, but nothing, and I mean nothing beats watching my little boy run around in the grass picking his mommy flowers.  If this were a t.v. show, then today would be one of the best episodes!

Lord, thank you for whatever you've been doing to me, you've put a little fire in me that wants to get up and out and roll around in the grass. I know that it's you, because I am not one to roll around in the grass! Thank you for days like today!