HOME WITH DADDY

I love my fellas! Sometimes I forget that, just like I am learning how to be a mom, Steve is learning how to be a dad. His time with the kids is more limited than mine, so we always enjoy having daddy home! Some things are just more fun with daddy and lets face it, although I enjoy an epic battle, Steve enjoys it even more... I think we may have a few rebel spies amongst us!

 

A girl after her daddy's heart!

Today's Reflection:

Sometimes being a parent can be terrifying, I'd say 99% of the time i'm only 50% positive that I'm not completely ruining my children with my lack of parenting skills! I think I'm not terrified all the time because, well first I've got a God that fills whatever I am lacking, second I've got a partner to hold my hand during those 'scary' moments and lastly I love love love being a mom to my kids!

I thought this scripture was very fitting for my little warriors...

"Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents,     with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep."

-Psalm 127:3-5 (The Message) 

LIFE AND SEGUNDA STYLE

Originally I was going to write about my son's new fascination with the game of LIFE. I'm not speaking metaphorically, he really likes the game of LIFE! It's currently his new favorite thing. He likes the red car. As I was writing I had a bit of a brain..fart..(I think that's how Hemingway would put it) and from that I suddenly had a tugging on my heart to write about something else. Sometimes when that happens you need to just go with it. Sometimes it's something you need, sometimes it's something someone else needs, but either way I try to trust that tugging.

I'm doing this feature, called 'Segunda Style' to share with other women, that you don't have to break the bank to look stylish. I don't pretend to be an expert on style and I know some of the things I wear, some won't like or wouldn't ever wear. The purpose of it is to show, that if you buy a dress for $200 or a dress for $2 at a thrift store, it's the women wearing the dress that matters. It's the women that puts it on that has the real value. We are far more valuable than the clothes or jewelry we put on. So, I try not to spend too much time or money on my clothes (this is my conviction, I don't expect everyone else to share it). I try to be resourceful and still keep a bit of my style without letting what I wear define who I am. Instead of building up a beautiful wardrobe I am trying to build up the character of a good woman, a good mom, and a good wife. I did not always think like this, and there still are days when I revert back into my old way of thinking that I need to look beautiful to be beautiful, but slowly my heart is changing and I'm learning that I was 'wonderfully made' (Psalm 139:14) 

 So here is this weeks 'Segunda Style'...a vintage green dress thrifted for about $3. It went to my ankles when I got it, so I shortened it and added some of my favorite accessories, my little black jacket, black tights, elf shoes, and the hunger games...

Today's Reflection:

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."

-1 Peter 3: 3-4

Thank you daddy for reminding me of this scripture!



DATE NIGHT - MARCH!!

Photo Cred to Marvin Maldonado! Thx Bro!

When Steve and I were first married we use to wake up saturday mornings together and just sit in bed. Eventually one of us would go downstairs and make coffee then bring it up so we could enjoy a cup of jo in bed together. We would let saturday morning linger and just enjoy not having to rush off anywhere. I think we took that time forgranted. Now, our saturday mornings usually start off with Henry yelling "I have to go Pee Pee!" which wakes his sister up and which starts our day. Our days of feeding the kids, playing with the kids, changing the kids...pretty much the whole day is focused on family time. I know this is only a season we are in and one day our Saturday mornings will be completely different, we probably won't have the Saturdays like we had before kids for a long time now, but at least we still have Saturdays together.

Finding time for each other, just him and I can be tough, it's crazy how time flies and how busy we can get, before we know it the month is already over and we realize that we haven't stopped to reconnect with each other. I love spending time with my husband. He's funny and he laughs at all my jokes, he's very sweet and always a gentleman and when we are together I feel special...so I'm glad we take the time to go on a date at least once a month...

 Even dressed my hair up a bit with a pretty braid (he liked it)...

Althought we said we would try to do something other than dinner and a movie, ' The Hunger Games' was out and I was dying to see what all the fuss was about. I knew if there was ever a time to see it,, Date Night would be it. So we stood in line and waited for our turn to find a seat in the packed theatre and all I can say...

'The Hunger Games' was worth the hype! So much that I went out the next day and bought the book!  

March 2012, Date Night is in the books! or should I say book! (a har har!)

Today's Reflection:

Lord, thank you for the little moments you allow me to have with my husband. I don't always show it in the best way, but I love him and love the man he is. I know that he's a man after your heart and I thank you for that. When I was a little girl I prayed for him and you were faithful. Forgive me for the moments I forget how good I have it and the moments I let the silly little things outweigh the things that do matter! 

FABRIC, PHO AND FRIDAY

We spent the afternoon with our entourage today. Our entourage being my sister, both nephews and my mom. It used to be that afternoons like this there were just three of us (my mom, sister and me), but now we make a hefty seven! We made our annual trip to the Quilt show in town...

 

Little boys are not to keen on quilt shows, probably for the same reason their daddy's don't join us. They don't understand how you can look at a piece of fabric for 30 minutes just trying to figure out what to do with it only to not buy it an then move on to the next piece...

 

 I guess quilt shows aren't really for baby girls either...puts them right to sleep...

 The boys made the best of the situation, highlight of the quilt show...the spider they found in the tree outside...

After we lapped the quilt show three or four times it was off to enjoy a nice bowl of Pho (mmmm!)...

 and gab while the kids once again made the best of it...

  

 

 

I know I had fun, and as for all my little loves, well I think despite it not being their ideal way to spend the afternoon they ran into a little fun themselves!

Today's Reflection:

I wish I could look at life like this! Finding the joy in everything, even the things that I don't think I could possibly enjoy! Giving things a try and making the best of every situation. I once heard a saying that I always think about "only boring people are bored" My kids are showing me everyday that they definitely aren't boring!

Lord, I will try to find the upside in things, find the joy where there seems to be none and try to never let myself get bored!

TAMING THE TONGUE

I want to share something I've been working on with you. Not a craft this time, but something in regards to my words. You see, for most of my life I have foolishly prided myself in having a quick wit, having a very crafty tongue, I thought that I was clever being able to have a comeback for most things people threw at me. Last week I read and meditated on this scripture:

"No one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?" - James 3:8-11

Many things about this struck me and I decided I would challenge myself to try with all my might to tame my tongue. I know there are some of you who are extremely good at this (my husband for one), but for me, this is not an easy task. Often times I speak before thinking and what comes out, especially in anger is not always nice. I asked a few loved ones to keep me accountable and to call me out when they heard me start to go down the path of an untamed tongue. I will not lie, I have already failed at this challenge, but I have not given up. Being the continual work in progress that I am I quickly wiped off the dust of defeat and started to try again. 

One of the things that really struck a cord with me is verse 9 "with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God" Immediate guilt came across me, how do I claim to love my God yet talk negatively or complain about others who are made in his likeness? When I begin to look at everyone else as the "likeness of God' I begin to hold back any negative word. Suddenly that other person becomes no different than me, suddenly that person is covered by the same grace I am. It is still a work in progress, after all some bad habits are hard to break...A women cut me off while I was on the freeway and my usual words begin to come up and out under my breathe and then...Grace...likeness of God...she is somebody's daughter, just like my daughter, just like me and I stopped, I had to clutch the steering wheel a little harder, but I stopped.

My apologies if this was a little too 'wordy' for you, perhaps not the post you were expecting, but I like to share my daily life with you on here and this has been a huge part of my daily life. Thanks for sticking around...and for those who prefer the pictures of my little loves...here you go...

(Mommy, that little girl in the window keeps making faces at me!)

 

Today's Reflection:

Lord, thank you for your grace and your patience with me. 

NAPTIME ART

I'd like to think I'm a creative soul. I get it from my Mom and Dad, they have never shied away from creating things for themselves. Lately I have had less and less time to create (because I've been so good at procreating!). I am a huge fan of having art on the walls. I have pieces that have been handed down... 

 

pieces that my Dad created...

 

and pieces that Steve and I bought together...

Needing some new art for my little love's room, I decided to try to whip some out myself. I am calling this 'Naptime Art' because it's easy art that can be made while your little bundle of joys are napping! Here are the materials...

 

I used an 'old school' method of Freezer Paper stenciling. Using a craft knife, I cut out the image I wanted on Freezer Paper creating a stencil...

 

Next, I ironed the paper (shiny side down) onto the fabric sealing the stencil down...

  

Using fabric paint, I then painted the fabric using the sealed stencil...

Once the paint dried I glued the painted fabric onto the canvas...

And voila! A little naptime art paying homage to our favorite Golden State! It's not perfect and was a bit rushed (that's just the price you pay when you're trying to whip something out during naptime) but I figure that's just a part of the creative proccess and next time I can tweak some things. But at least I got a little creative fix and I'm feeling even more inspired!

 

Today's Reflection:

Lord, some days I don't feel like I get much time for myself. Since becoming a mother I have learned to appreciate my free time more than ever. I appreciate when you give me opportunities like this, even if it's just an hour or two, I plan to make use of it! I will admit, I felt rejuvenated as I was doing it, bun in my hair, music blasting in the back ground, sun shining through my window, it was a good time! Lord, I give my time to you, I appreciate it, help me to use it wisely and to make the most of it!

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is."

-Ephesians 5:1517

HELLO SPRING

I love it when the bare trees begin to sprout leaves, it's like they're waving 'hello'. Did you take some time to welcome spring today? Today was another day that does not require many words...

Prayer...

art...

play...

 

  

  Sunsets...

  

And a happy heart while enjoying the first day of spring, the kids tucked into the stroller, while Steve and I stroll down the street having a heart to heart on life, love and whether or not he should grow a moustache...

If you're wondering I vote no! Either way, we're sure glad spring is here! Welcome Spring!

Today's Reflection:

Lord, my heart is happy. Thank you for these beautiful spring days that are and are to come.