Mother's Day

Just for fun, 

I took a little walk down memory lane this morning and 

browsed through some old photos that are special Mama moments. 

From finding out that Ryder would be joining our family...

to bringing him home from the hospital.

Our first hike together up Chuckanut 

and our first trip to the top of the Space Needle.

 Being a Mama kept me busy during a long 9 month deployment

and this little fella helped me welcome Daddy home at the end of it all.

 A new house and a new state later, 

Lynden became the second sweetie to make me a Mama.

 Big brother met Lynden for the first time when 

we picked him up on our way home from the hospital.

From Lake Tahoe... 

 to Sacramento...

to our very own backyard - these boys give me my favourite job title:

Mama <3

These Are The Days

These are the days we love.

Sunshine, watermelon, and playtime in the backyard.

Do you see that shiner?

Ryder took a tumble from the van to the gravel parking lot at church last weekend.

He is one tough cookie!

These are the days with the boys we love.

Birthday balloons

 and birthday money to put in the piggy bank.

All from Oma. 

We can't wait to see Oma again soon!

These are the days we cherish.

Ryder running with Dixie:

Keens on the wrong feet

A tumble and scraped knees didn't phase him.

Helping Daddy with yard work.

And these days won't last long.

Lynden is pulling himself up to his feet finally.

He will be walking before long...

These are the boys we love so much. 

We are so thankful for the privilege of parenting!

Making Time For Quiet

It's SO Important!

As a Follower of Jesus.

As a Mama.

As a Wife.

Life can get so chaotic around us. 

Busy, busy busy with no end in sight!

I always have multiple projects on the go: piano lessons to prepare, Etsy orders to complete, 

dinners to cook, people to keep in touch with, errands to run... 

But making quiet time with a priority keeps me fuelled for everything else I do.

So it tops my list.

Earlier in Spring I shared my first devotional of the year by

She Reads Truth

I love She Reads Truth studies because the focus is on God's word, and not someone's interpretation or feeling about it. 

Lets be honest, my quiet time is limited, so I need to get the goods without a lot of other distractions.

Hebrews was my first study of the year. 

Yes, those are scribbles from my toddler.
After all this is real life!

So much focus on Jesus as my advocate - better than all others before and since.

So much encouragement on the power of faith in the example of others.

I finished Hebrews a few weeks back and began a new study.

It's a Journible.

I had been given this beautiful journal by a sweet friend in 

Washington and somewhere in our move it got lost in the shuffle of books.

I recently came across it and decided to make it my next quiet time Bible study.

Once again, the focus is scripture - Romans.

Writing the words out for better retention.

Studying and then journaling through the text.

So, let me encourage you...

We're always going to have things to keep us busy.

Making time for quiet and study is rewarding beyond the few minutes it takes. 

Fill your soul with truth and be encouraged in every aspect of your life.

It's so worth it!

A New Year & New Goals

A lot has changed in the last year - for better of for worse!

One of those changes is my perspective on the year ahead. 

For the first time that I can remember, 

I really feel excited about making and tracking goals for myself. 

Not the typical losing weight, spending less, or exercising more - 

but in a few key relational areas.

It's always important to be growing and improving, right?

1. Spiritual - I'm excited to start a new Bible Study program put out by She Reads Truth. I've used the app previously and have been really encouraged by the devotionals and scripture reading plans. I can't wait to study Hebrews this January with my new study guide and journal. I'll be sure to share my experience with it as I go. 

2. Marriage - Even the best marriages can always improve, right?! Braden and I love the little family that God has blessed us with, but all of the business of kids can be a distraction sometimes. This year my goal is to write more love letters to Braden - I did this every week during our first year of marriage and sent them all on deployment with him. We don't have an impending deployment this year, but here's just another avenue to encourage and support my partner.

3. Parenting - Our two boys are SO much work, but bring SO much joy! I love to see how quickly Ryder picks up and remembers things. This year I really want to work on memorizing Bible verses with him. And in general, I want to be less distracted for my kiddos - to look in their eyes when I speak with them, make one-on-one time a priority, and not be too busy for developing their imaginations and sitting down to read stories. 

Well, that's my list.

What's on yours?

10 Things I'm Grateful For This Friday

Most people anticipate Friday with an eye toward the upcoming weekend. This Friday, as I enjoy my morning coffee with a baby on my lap, I can't help but be thankful for what this last week held. 

Would you care to join me in my journal of gratitude?

1. Fresh eggs from our very own chickens sitting on the window sill.

2. Hand me down clothes for Ryder.

A fellow military Mama who lives in town was cleaning house in preparation for a move. She took her boxes of boys clothes to Goodwill, but they were already closed - and I'm so thankful, because instead she passed along over 25 great quality items and 2 pairs of shoes sizes 3-5 for Ryder. Wow!

3. A great first experience at the Honda dealership in Reno yesterday.

What I thought would just be an hour or two of waiting with the boys for a quick diagnosis of a noise the van was making turned into a 5 hour wait. But...since there was a recall on the airbag that they wanted to fix for us, we were given a great family size rental car to run errands while we waited. 

Plus, when we got back to the dealership we were told the brake rotors, wheel bearings, and alignment were all great, it was just worn tires with uneven tread making the racket. We already knew the tires were pretty worn and were anticipating replacing them already - probably not with the $725 Michelin's the dealer was suggesting though. ;)

4. A Christmas gift on clearance.

While waiting on our van yesterday I ran through TJ Maxx and Marshalls, something I normally don't have the time to do when I'm in Reno. While there I found Ryder's Christmas gift for more than half off, from a line of toys we've admired at a friends' home in WA - made in Germany - so they pass Braden's not-made-in-China policy. Shhhh....don't tell Ryder!

5. A 100% insurance covered breast pump.

I've exclusively breast fed both boys thus far, but in retrospect, I think having a pump would have helped with a lot of fussiness in those early weeks when I just couldn't be nursing baby 24/7. With that in mind, I called my doctor's office to just ask about insurance coverage and a few other questions. Within 3 days, I received an awesome quality electric pump. If God should send us another little blessing (no, I'm not pregnant ;) hopefully this will help!

6. The start of a new year of MOPS

This week we just met for registration and a play date at the park, but I'm certainly looking forward to some time spend encouraging and being encouraged by other Mamas!

Lynden enjoyed his park time too!

7. Health for the whole family.

Not a day goes by that Ryder doesn't ask me if he can help me make some 'smoothie juice.' I don't know if it's the thrill of using the Vitamix or being able to help add ingredients, but he loves to make and drink delicious smoothies. 

This morning's was banana, plain yogurt, pineapple, carrot, kale (from our garden!), flax seed, mango, fresh ginger (this is just a passing phase, but boy is it potent!), and milk.

8. My sweet boys.

I don't think I could make a list of things I am thankful for without including my busy two year old and happy almost six month old. Of course I'm thankful for their Daddy too, but he doesn't love the limelight. :)

9. Unexpected Generosity

Every once in a while I get in the mood to purge and just clean house. These last few weeks I've sold a few things laying around on our local FB swap/sell pages. One such sale was fabric I've had for ages that I no longer love and want to use my limited time sewing. I posted it for $5, but the sweet Grandma who bought the stack pressed a $20 bill into my hand and insisted I take it because it was worth more than that. All I can say is benefiting from the generosity of others has really encouraged me to be more generous as well. After all, nothing is really mine, just on loan, right?!

10. The ability to do what I love.

While I'm only self-taught and just have a basic machine, I love to sew for and sell some of my items on Etsy. I've been blown away by the amount of orders I have received and look forward to completing another order placed just this morning. I'm saving up for a new sewing machine!

Oops, I was planning on having just 10 but somewhere along the way I lost count.

11. Home days!

It's Friday, and while I can't say I have nothing to do (Haha!) I have nowhere to be but home. I love days like today when I get catch up on laundry, cleaning, one on one time with the boys, etc. in my most comfy clothes. Happy Friday!

Let's be real.

Not all days are like this. 

Some days the list doesn't overflow, it needs to be mulled over and sometimes I still come up short. But, the more I practice counting through my blessings, the more I see the little things as blessing from the hand of our good God.

What about you? 

What are you thankful for today? 

Share your list in the comments below...

What To Do When It Feels Like Your Kids Get In The Way Of Life:

Since getting back from our long weekend camping trip I've been feeling pretty sluggish and fighting to get up and get a lot accomplished in the mornings. On Friday I finally decided to go ahead and write down what I hoped to get done during my day.

What is it about a list that inspires and motivates to action? Must be a weird personality thing. Here's what I came up with: 

The list stuck to the counter in my kitchen so pardon all of the water marks. :)

While I did go ahead and plan out my day from early on - the baby was up at 5 and Ryder was up at 6 - somehow the kids didn't pick up on my get 'er done mentality. Haha! Just a few things to accomplish, seems pretty reasonable, right? Well, those things turned into many more...

1. Breakfast (nurse Lynden, change diaper, take Ryder to the potty, get everyone dressed)

2. Bike Ride (leave, return home to pump up tires, return home to leave Dixie who was terrorizing the neighborhood dogs, finally get home after our ride to find that Ryder has had an accident in the bike trailer - sigh..., another trip to the potty, laundry, get dressed)

3. Pull Weeds (nurse the baby, rescue Ryder's tricycle stuck on the rocks, coach Ryder on where and where NOT to throw rocks, hunt for lizards with Ryder and find a few other creatures instead)

Can you spy the camouflage creature?

4. Wash Dishes, Clean & Clear Counters (shower, make lunch, feed everyone lunch, put Ryder down for a nap, wash one dish, feed a bite of food to Lynden - yes, he's started solids!, wash one dish, wipe that last whole bite that is dribbling down his chin, wash one dish, feed Lynden a bite, etc.)

5. Fold Laundry (change yet another dirty diaper, nurse the baby, pour a 5th cup of coffee, scrub crayon off of the floor, find a full episode of The Pioneer Woman to watch - yes, this is relaxed as I get these days. :)

6. Deep Clean Master Bath (Set Ryder up with water and a snack to 'watch the thumper go boom boom' instead of being scared of the thunderstorm, What?! It's 6 already! Time to make dinner...)

Sometimes at the end of days like these I look back and wonder what I did all day. If you have kids at home, I'm sure you can relate!

As you can see, not so streamline as originally planned. But, at the end of the day, all of the important things got done and these two were just as happy as could be. 

I need to remind myself of this often, but for today, my consolation is this:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Days like this are not a write-off. 

They aren't treading water. 

They don't keep us from really living life. 

They are real life!

So, are you a Mama? 

Glorify God.

Are you single?

Glorify God.

Wherever you are, 

whatever you're doing, 

there - glorify God. 

5 Ways to Honour Your Kids' Dad This Father's Day

On this special day, I've been mulling over some thoughts on fathers. So for what it's worth, here's what I've come up with for myself to pursue. May it encourage you as you consider the special Dads in your life. <3

5 Ways to Honour Your Kids' Dad This Father's Day:

1. Make Him the Most Important Man in Your Life

What? What does this have to do with being a Dad? Well, in this age of child-centered families, we've taken the emphasis from the life-long marriage relationship to the temporary parent-child relationship. So wives, to make him a better father to your children, make that permanent relationship the priority - not only does it give your children an environment in which to thrive but it also requires giving up some of the energy you would otherwise expend on your children, to building up your marriage.

2. Speak Well of Him in Your Home

Children, both young and old, are SO perceptive. They pick up both on what you say and the attitude with which you express it. When Daddy isn't home (as we military wives know so well) speak well of him. When Ryder asks where Daddy is during the day, my standard answer is, "Daddy's working. Daddy works so hard to take care of us." From an early age, build that expectation for and appreciation of hard work. One of the first things that comes to mind when I think of my Dad was just how hard I saw him work, sometimes in terrible weather and not feeling great, yet he was committed to working his hardest to provide for our family. And when I talk to our children about him, I'll be sure to speak well of his work ethic too.

With my Dad when I was in college.

It may not be work, it may be some other character quality you choose, whatever it is, speak well of your children's Daddy in the home.

3. Speak Well of Him in Public

Not only do your children hear and perceive how you honour their father, your family and friends are sure to pick up on how you speak of your husband. Do you casually participate in 'husband bashing' with your girlfriends? Maybe laughing about how he botched some household task - like loading the dishwasher or getting the kids ready for something. It may seem harmless enough, but every instance of seemingly harmless belittling chips at that foundation of your relationship - that relationship that provides stability and an example for your children in their future relationships.

4. Encourage Him Personally

What I've said above only goes so far if you don't let him know personally, daily that you're proud of him and you love him. What does he love to do? Tell him he's great at it! Spend time learning about his hobbies from him. Join him if you can. Sometimes encouragement is hard to give. Sometimes you're just not feeling it. Sometimes you really have to dig deep to find something to commend. Words of affirmation go so far though. They give hope. They inspire. Pray for him. Pray with him. Let him know how proud you are of him as a Dad to your children.

5. Let Him Lead

Oooh, isn't this one hard? It can be so easy to undermine Dad's authority. Well, Dad said no screen time, but if you're good, I'll give you 10 minutes. It can be so easy (especially in the home after he's been gone for a long day of work) to think that he just doesn't understand that way you operate things (and maybe he doesn't). But talk to him about that, not your kids. It sounds crazy in our culture, but the biblical home is one in which Dad leads and Mom functions in her role as helper. Be on the same page in your parenting, weigh in and discuss your ideas and goals together, but ultimately, let him lead the family.

My two boys are blessed to have a wonderful God fearing Daddy who loves and nurtures them. On this Fathers Day, I couldn't be more thankful for the Father Braden is to our boys.

Happy Father's Day!