Naming

This morning I couldn't sleep. I was wakened by the storm at 3:38 and laid there until 4:30. I decided to get up at that point because sleep wasn't coming at all.

I took advantage of the quiet house, a cup of coffee and my devotion. Here is the verse that was laid out in front of me.

He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 

Genesis 2:19-20

I picture the Garden of Eden. Green and luscious, with flowers and sweet smells everywhere. I see Adam standing in the middle of the Garden, smiling and patiently waiting as each living creature comes to him. (In my structured mind, I see the living creatures standing in a perfectly straight line, but that probably is just my personality.) I see him stop and ponder, and quietly say the name. A name that will last and be forever.

To name things is a big deal. Think about it - when you are naming a child, it isn't usually a quick decision. There is reasoning behind the name. The name you choose gives meaning to the child and it will be what he or she is known as for the rest of their life (unless they want to go through the           rig-a-ma-roll of changing their name). 

In my devotion One Thousand Gifts, it has a line that I love.

"God is in the details; God is in the moment. God is in all that blurs by in a life - even hurts in a life. GOD! How can I not name? Naming these moments may change the ugly names I call myself."

I have been challenged by this book and devotion to record 1000 gifts that I see and have in my life. I am recording the smallest of things to monumental occasions. I am naming the gifts that I have daily. I am putting a name and giving meaning to these gifts that surround me. Sometimes it is like a puzzle or solving a mystery - "What shall I name you?" Yet, once the pen has scrawled the name across the page - it comes alive with meaning. It makes me realize the gifts I am surrounded by and it shows me that God is in that moment - even the smallest of moments. He handles the details and when things are blurry - He helps me to name those times. He helps me see the drops of grace in my day so that ugly names don't appear on the page. 

What will I name today? 

I Am Loved, I Am Redeemed

A couple days ago, I was driving to Tan Tara for work. I had to drive there and back home in one day, so it was a lot of car time by myself. To me this is exciting....at first. But then my mind starts kicking in and I start thinking of all the things I could be doing instead of driving. I usually end up making a to-do list in my head that never gets done because I am too tired after driving all day. Since I drive a lot in my job, I have started listening to podcasts. I am in love with Rob Casts by Rob Bell and Serial (two totally different types of podcasts...but I love them both).

Anyway - I listened to a Rob Cast where Rob Bell is talking with Glennon Doyle Melton - whom I adore and love her books as well as her blog. You can check out the podcast here and the blog Momastery here . This Rob Cast totally inspired me. It was all about being honest and showing your true identity. I loved it and haven't stopped thinking about it. So much in fact that I wanted to share a journal entry that I wrote the other morning.

So here it goes...
I am loved.
I am redeemed.
Why are these 2 phrases so easy to say but oh so hard to believe? It's not that I am loved and redeemed by everyone - it is that I am loved and redeemed by God. His grace pours down on me moment by moment. Drips drop all through the day to show me His love. A reminder to say "I am with you, my love."
I often go to bed thinking about all the things I didn't accomplish that day. Thinking tomorrow will be better. I will have it more together tomorrow. Sometimes I wake up with the weight of of the world on my shoulders - already defeated because I woke up late so I won't get a run in or I won't be able to do a quiet time before the kids get up. Other times, I wake up refreshed and ready to take on the world. However, it always ends the same - what did I not accomplish today. What have I now added to my list tomorrow? Why can't those first two lines carry me through? What is it that is in me to push these lines away?
I long for a walk with God but then I stray. I long for God to take the wheel but then I start driving.

To trust - to give up control- is so hard.

I have no answer but to pray. Pray hard and pray fiercely. I can safely say that a calming comes around me and for a moment I feel it - a rest in His arms.

Then the world comes crashing in -
-the kids want breakfast
-the kids are fighting
-the husband wants a hug and to talk about how I slept
-a run needs to happen
-the dog needs out
-laundry is calling
-emails start dinging
-parents are calling to make plans
It all collides - nothing bad or disastrous- but it quickly whips my neck around to see where I am. I am needed.

So my prayer is to keep holding tightly to God's hand throughout the day. To cling to his hand, his robe, his finger or whatever I can so that I remember -
I am Loved
I am Redeemed
- even when I fail
- even when I fall
- even when I yell or get angry
- even when I am overwhelmed
- even when I don't accomplish
I am Loved
I am Redeemed


I wrote this yesterday and I probably should have read it this morning before my day got started. It was the first day of summer break and you could tell that we are used to some structure and not being in the house all day! Yet, this was a nice reminder to look back and see where God dripped his drops of grace throughout the day. (It was also nice when there were drips of cream going into my 1st and 2nd cups of iced coffee today too!) I am thankful we have a whole summer and we don't have to fit all the fun activities into one or two days. I am also thankful that God has given me this chance to learn how to accept his grace and love.

Have a great night.

Books, Books, Books!

These two books below are amazing. Every time I read a page or a chapter in these books, I am inspired and walk away feeling like "there is actually someone out there like me" and "I can do this!" 

Side note...

The above statements make me sound like I read all the time. This is not true. I dream of reading all the time. However, the book Carry On, Warrior, I think I have been reading it for about a year now and my Kindle says I am at 68%. I did start For the Love, and I am on chapter 3 now so I am gaining some ground. I find minutes to read if possible. For example, today while taking John to karate, Sophia fell asleep in the car. My heart leaped for joy because I knew that I would have to stay in the car and I guessed I would just have to read a few chapters. I also like to read in the car. Matt, my husband loves to listen to talk radio and I HATE it. I loath talk radio. So I don't feel pressure to talk to him because I would hate to interrupt him. My children are usually watching some type of movie so VOILA! I get to read!

Anyway, back to these books. They are amazing. Both of them equally amazing. You should also feel better that you can read either one of these for a while, lay it down during crazy seasons in your life, and then pick it back up and feel like you have just been reacquainted with an old friend. 

Carry On Warrior- an awesome book but beware, this lady speaks her mind and I love it. She just tells it how it is whether you agree or not. She has a great story about where she came from and how she loves Jesus with all her heart. Honestly, she says a lot of things I think in my head and don't necessarily say out loud. But once again, she loves Jesus and the particular chapter I read today was how we should treat everyone we come in contact like we were Jesus. God made these precious souls that we see either once in a life time or every single day. How sometimes we have to turn our cheek when someone says something hurtful, but when we turn our cheek, often times we turn our face to something that is beautiful. Oh...I love that. 

For the Love - If you have never read a Jen Hatmaker book...you have to read one. She also has an awesome devotional called Out of the Spin Cycle. One of the best devotionals I have ever done. This lady gets me and I think she will get you too. She brings this being a woman thing into a realistic view. She challenges you to find your place and be proud of your gifts. Ugh...I love this book so much. I could go on and on about it. 

I do hope you pick up one of these books and if not, that you would find a book that inspires you each time you pick it up. Have a great evening! 

The Night Before School

The night before school, the backpacks were packed and the kids were snuggled in their beds, dreaming of what a new school would be like...

Tomorrow marks a few new chapters in our lives. Sophia is starting Kindergarten, John is starting 1st grade at a different school, and I won't be at school with them. 

These are 3 huge things and they have impacted our lives the last couple months. There has been a lot of preparing, a lot of talks, a lot of tears, and A LOT of prayers that have went into these new chapters. And now it is here...the page is about to turn and the chapter will begin. 

Sophia is so excited for Kindergarten. She has her first 5 outfits picked out and ready to go. She has had her backpack hanging up and ready to go since she got it for her birthday in March. She is so excited to make friends and have homework. She is ready to learn! However, there are lots of questions, especially comparing Kindergarten to Pre K. She is so ready to go and this momma can't believe that it is about to happen. I have prayed daily that she will keep her spirit, her creativity, and her love for people as she starts school. 

John is not excited...or so he says. He is scared and nervous. He had me at school with him last year and he knew a lot of teachers and had a lot friends at that school. He loved everything about CME and hates change. This is the hard part about being a parent - pushing them towards what you know is best for them, even when they aren't sure. I have prayed daily for this kid and this upcoming school year.

This new chapter is hard for me too. I don't think I realized how much it would affect me in the ways that it has. I feel like I am a first time mom sending my kids to school. I got to see John at school last year throughout different parts of the day. I knew the people well that were taking care of him. This year, I will drop John and Sophia off and then be there to pick them up. For some, this is no big deal and I know at some point it won't be a big deal for me. But for tonight and tomorrow...it is. When I made the decision to resign my position, I was fully aware that this would be a part of my life I would lose. I knew that I would lose being "in the know" and being in the behind the scenes parts of school. Yet, I also knew that it was what I needed to do for my family. I knew that God had a different path for me to take and he showed me that path when I took the step of faith to resign. He provided another job for me within a week. A job that would be flexible and allow me to work at home. It would allow me to walk my kids to school and be there to pick them up - with my full attention. It allowed us to keep a 2nd income (smaller, but still more than nothing) and provided benefits for my family. He gave me an even bigger passion to help students with disabilities. God is good.

Dear Heavenly Father, 

I praise you and I thank you for this new opportunity. I pray for the teachers, the administration and the staff as they open FSE doors tomorrow. I pray for the students that walk through the building. Please be with John and Sophia as they make new friends. Lord, let them shine your love into others. Help them in the choices they make throughout the day. 

Amen

A Girl and Her Shoes

Nora LOVES shoes. When I say love, I mean like both of her Nana's love shoes! As soon as she spots her shoes, she brings them to you so you can put them on her. She especially loves her sparkly tennis shoes. The first time we put them on her, she wasn't so sure. She would lift her knees really high, as if she were saying, "Hmmm...these are heavy on my feet and I am not sure how I should walk." The big kids loved watching her walk in them the first time. They thought it was a hoot! 

Now she is a pro and practically runs in any shoes that she has on. She thinks she is so big when she has her shoes on. Her love of shoes is quite cute now, but it could end up being an issue as she gets older :)

A Few Good Books

                                               
                                               

A few years ago, I posted about a great book called Sparkling Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle. If you haven't read it yet, I would highly recommend it. My sweet friend Sarah Beard told me about it. I read it on the plane as we headed to California and laughed out loud. (Like the kind of laugh that people look at you from across the aisle.)

Below is the book: 

                                                     

So since Melanie wrote the book above, she has written the two books below. The first one, The Antelope in the Living Room is about marriage. OH MY GOSH...her words are so true and so hilarious. I am not sure my husband found some of the stories as funny as I did. I would read parts of the book out loud and sometimes I got a chuckle from him, while others times, I got a blank stare. I told him he needed to read the whole book. He said he would pass and just trust me. 

                                                        

Then my sweet best friend Jessica sent me Melanie's lastest book about friendship. I am in the middle of reading it and it is precious. It has helped me realize how blessed I am to have such great friends in my life. 

                                                       

Melanie also has a blog that I love checking when I have a moment and am trying to avoid cleaning or doing laundry. Check it out here. It is called Big Momma Blog. 

The great thing about these books is that they are easy reads. If life gets crazy , just as you started one, you can go back to it later on where you left off and they are still just as good. 

I hope you get to enjoy! 

Nora Turns 1

 I look at these pictures above and it just seems like yesterday that this was Nora. Her first year of life has been a whirlwind. In some ways I am sad that it was such a whirlwind, but in others, I am so grateful of the events that took place this year. Nora has not only grown, but she has made me grow in very big ways.

 I remember being so ready to have her and meet her. I actually thought she was going to be a boy. I remember when Matt saw she was a girl, his first comment was "Oh boy..two weddings." I remember laughing and then looking at each other because we were so happy. 

Nora has been the best baby from day 1. She has had the "go with the flow" attitude since the beginning. She found her voice early and has been called Noisy Nora ever since.

Here is a glimpse of her 1st Birthday...

We selected the Hungry Caterpillar because she will eat anything!

She is so big!! Look at those sweet dimples.

She did not dig into the cake like I expected. She really wanted me to feed her. This is probably a bit of Matt and I's fault, since we didn't play by the rules with her and allowed her to taste sweets (a few times) before her first birthday. Oh being the 3rd!

           I absolutely love this picture. Words can't express how much I love this sweet baby!

What is happening at 12 Months...

- She is standing on her own and walks along things all over the house. 

-She actually took her first 3 steps today (May 29) at the Library. Needless to say, we broke the library's quiet rules when she took her steps!

-She loves food - especially Nana's meatballs and graham crackers. 

-She loves to get into things, especially drawers and cabinets. 

-She wants to be with her big sister and brother when they are playing.

-She loves swinging outside. 

-She is transitioning to whole milk from formula and all is well.

-She still has sensitive skin and needs natural diapers. 

-We haven't taken her to the doctor yet for her 12 month appointment so I don't know how much she weighs...but we will get to the doctor soon!

-She won't say "daddy", she says "Matt".

-She loves saying Momma. (LOVE IT!)

ADDED BONUS... 

This is Sophia in the same outfit on her first birthday! You can definitely tell they are sisters!