Things To Remember

My oldest sweetie pie has been playing tee ball for the last couple weeks. He is having fun and is improving each time he hits the field. I am not particularly blessed with athletic prowess so we are doing what we can.
As I sit in the bleachers with the other parents, grandparents and other random family members of the kids, I have been overhearing some interesting comments. Most of them are complaining about having to sit and watch little kids play ball. I realize that some of the these families may be on their 3 or 4th child and that they may have all of them playing sports and that watching all of the games that implies takes a great deal of time. But I hope and pray that I do not turn into one of those parents, especially actually voicing those "inside thoughts" to the world, within earshot of my children.
So I have decided to make a list of things that I encounter in my own life everyday that seem ordinary or even annoying that I know I will miss when they are no longer a part of my day.

1. Hearing "mommy" said, whispered, yelled, giggled and repeated over 1,000 times a day even when the boys have no reason for needing to get my attention. I think they just like to see my face get red.

2. Cooking dinner only to have the boys inform me that they want something else. (tough for them, by the way....once momma cooks something that is what is for dinner...period)

3. Making beds. Doesn't take alot of time and I know that when they grow up and move out I will miss it.

4. Washing clothes, especially their little clothes. The number of loads will only increase as they and their clothes get bigger.

5. Giving them baths. I have to admit this is NOT my favorite activity, never has been. If that makes me a bad mom......well then alright. But one day they will want to take a big boy shower all by themselves and I will have to stress about whether they washed every area of their bodies if you know what I mean....

6. Cleaning up after them.....all day long. And I might miss cleaning up spilled water or milk or whatever else my youngest was drinking. The record is 3 times in one day. Hoping that stays the record.

7. Watching or listening to PBS, and any number of kids movies that they have. The funniest thing is that my boys inherited my and hubbys talent for talking in movie quotes. There are afternoons when they are playing together and the only conversation between them are scenes from certain movies and cartoons, complete with voice inflection and acting out.

8. Sweeping the floors to get rid of the sand and dirt that they tracked in from playing outside digging in the dirt. They love it!!!I love watching them.

9. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will miss seeing them learn something new, mastering a new skill and my most favorite, reading to them. They love to sit on either side and have me read books. Reading is my all-time favorite past-time so I am hoping to pass it down.

10. And the most precious of all the "ordinary" day to day items is saying our prayers as a family each night and hearing our sweet boys pray to the Lord and knowing that they understand what they are saying and that they love the Lord. It melts my hear everytime. Oh how I will miss that when they are grown and living on their own.

I know that I will have many more years of enjoying them but I thought that I needed to remind myself to not take the days I have with them now for granted. I urge you to do the same. I don't want to look back on this time in our lives together and regret anything. Time and life is too precious.

Be blessed and have a great weekend!!!

The Bathroom

****Update- when I reference "we" in the posts about the renovation I mean me, hubby and my mom. She is so talented and we couldn't have done it all without her help.***


Here are some pics of the bathroom before. I am terrible about remembering to photograph projects so these don't really show the magnitude of how weird it was.

When you walked into the bathroom the toilet was right inside the door to the left. Right next to the toilet was a tiny pedestal stink. And then there was a wall right next to it that was the end of the shower. It was all crowded onto one wall. There were some built in shelves as you came into the door on the right. Not the best layout at all.







We ripped everything out all the way back to the studs. We even took the floor out down to the joists. When my hubby ripped the tub out (which was an ancient fiberglass unit) we found that they had covered up a window. Yippee!!

We redesigned the entire layout of the room. Moved plumbing, added electric, put up and finished sheetrock, painted, put in the bathtub and vanity and toilet. We are very pleased with ourselves. Especially the part where we saved a ton of money by doing most of it ourselves. We hired out the electric and some of the plumbing. But everything else we did. It isn't decorated yet and the shower curtain isn't up. But you can get the idea.



The view from the doorway.




Okay I am having some issues uploading the pics. I will try again tomorrow with more pics.

All Dressed Up With No Place To Go

This afternoon a flurry of activity took over my house. My sweet little man ran around looking for, then found his baseball pants, baseball shirt, cleats, baseball hat and glove. He put them all on and was soooooooooo excited to go to his first T-ball game. And wouldn't you know it? It was totally rained out (after we got there, of course). The kids were all so dissapointed that it was pitiful. We will try again in a couple days.

In other news....... Plans for the Anniversary/Vow Renewal has begun. And I am in a confused state about it. It is not going to be a big affair. Just friends and family. And while I want them all to come I am wanting to serve cake, mints, nuts and beverages. Is that wrong of me? I don't really think it is neccessary to serve a meal or finger food if it is going to be evening (7:00pm) What do you guys think?

I have been inspired lately to do alot of little projects in the house. Some are getting done while others aren't.

I am so ready to be back on a schedule. This bathroom/ vehicle drama has had me all disorganized.

I need to stop this post before it gets any more boring than it is already....yawn

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Things are coming together. I only have a few more things to finish in the bathroom.
The appliance man came this afternoon and installed my new dishwasher.
I was able to pick up my car today. It is now running without any problems.
I found cleats for my little sweetie on sale.
I am teaching Kids Church this month. Always a ton of fun!!
It is always amazing how quickly things can change.

I was reading a scripture and devotion today that really spoke to me.

2 Corinthians 12:10 - That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It seems like the theme of my life these past few months. There have been so many tests, trials and difficulties that the Lord has been using to teach me and to purge me of some "stuff" that I just don't need in my life. I have been learning to stand up for myself, to rely totally on God and so much more. The thing that struck me about the verse is the word "delight". I wouldn't say that I have been delighting in what has been going on but as I look back I can absolutely see Gods hand of providence, protection, provision and purpose.

Here is an exerpt from the devotion. I thought someone else might need to it today as well.

*The literal translation of this verse adds a startling emphasis to it, allowing it to speak for itself with power we have probably never realized. It is as follows: "Therefore I take pleasure in being without strength, being insulted, experiencing emergencies, and being chased and forced into a corner for Christ's sake; for when I am without strength, I am dynamite."
The secret of knowing God's complete sufficiency is in coming to the end of everything in ourselves and our circumstances. Once we reach this point, we will stop seeking sympathy for our difficult situation or ill treatment, because we will recognize these things as the necessary conditions for blessings. We will then turn from our circumstances to God, realizing they are the evidence of Him working in our lives. (A.B. Simpson) (Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman)*

SO much to think about!! I am walking in the blessings of God even if I can't see them yet. SO thankful to the Lord for all that He is doing in me and in my family.