A tree and its fruits

As a mother of two young children, the Lord has placed many scriptures in my heart and mind regarding parenting but two specific ones come to mind in this current season of mothering.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

I also like to remind myself of Luke 6:43-49 about the tree and its fruits and the wise and foolish builders. Within days of bringing each baby home from the hospital, the true reality of my role as their parent hit home...hard. I felt an overwhelming desire to protect them, love them, and do right by them when it comes to instilling the Word in their hearts early on. Mark and I both want to do our best to help Ian and Anna build their life foundation on the Rock. Because with such a solid foundation, we have faith they will always have the Lord in their hearts no matter what the enemy throws in their path.

This school year I started a new tradition with the kids now that Ian understands more about God and prayer. I figured the car was the best place for us to start our day in prayer because there are no distractions. And God so graciously grants us a red light at a particular intersection almost daily so we can safely pause to pray together. So this past week we were running a bit late and the light was green instead of red. As I passed through the intersection Ian calls out from the backseat, "Mama, wait. We didn't do our morning prayer yet." I beamed with joy that he had not only realized where we usually do our prayer but that he had accepted prayer time as part of his daily routine.

Today we had planned to only go to Sunday School hour of church because Ian was a bit stuffed up from allergies and didn't seem to be feeling completely well. As Mark got Anna up from her morning nap, she popped out of bed, grabbed her shoes and happily headed for the car! She knew where we were going. As we entered the church parking lot she began to squeal and kick her legs with delight. And Ian announced proudly that this was "his church". We were so happy to see both kids so excited about church. And, again, that church and time of worship has become part of their weekly routine...a part they look forward to.

So after we picked Ian up from his Sunday School class and began heading for the nursery to get Anna, Ian told us that we were going the wrong way - that he goes to two classes and his second class was the other way. We asked him if he was feeling well enough to go to church hour and he told us that he did. Mark and I just smiled at each other. I checked with the nursery staff to make sure Anna was doing well and we headed to Ian's second classroom. It makes me so overcome with joy to realize that both kids genuinely enjoy attending church - having their own special time for worship with other children, stories, songs, activities, etc.

Ian's first memory verse for Sunday School is a simplified version of Psalm 139:14.
["I praise you because you made me."] He has really impressed me with his memorization of it and understanding of what it means and who we are praising.

Something else cute is that Ian caught on to us ending our prayers with the phrase, "In Jesus' name we pray, Amen." He has added this to the end of his nightly prayers but he says it, "In Jesus we name, Amen." He's too cute.

I can only pray that the kids' thirst for the Word continues to grow as they continue to grow.

Day Out with Thomas The Tank Engine



On Friday afternoon we ventured out to the Railway Museum to attend the Day Out With Thomas event (it was free!). As we got ready to leave the house Ian kept saying, "I'm going to see the real Thomas. I hardly wait!" (Yes, he omits the "can" in that phrase.) The crowd was minimal and the excitement was high. Both kids were so hyped to do all the stations. They played with wooden and electric train sets, did putt-putt golf, got temporary Thomas tattoos, jumped in a bounce house, and got on the retired train cars. They even got their picture taken in front of THE Thomas the Tank and Ian got his picture with Sir Topham Hatt. But the highlight of the day was the magic show. The Marty the Magician show (or "Smarty" as Ian thought he was called) was a HUGE hit. Ian was so into the show that he was having a hard time catching his breath because he was laughing so hard. And then Marty called Ian up on stage to help him with part of the act. Ian was reluctant at first but quickly smiled and enjoyed it once he was up there. The magician placed one foam ball into Ian's hand and made it turn into two foam balls. That blew Ian's mind! He was so excited after that show that he insisted on doing a magic show for us when we got home. I think I heard "Abracadabra" a dozen times on the way home.


It was a fun afternoon and one Ian won't soon forget.

Forever young...but still growing up with each new day

Post Created On: 8/30/10

I just celebrated my thirty-third birthday and it was quite memorable. Mark and I had a truly enjoyable evening out where we had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants out on Lake Hefner - gorgeous views! Mark gave me a really touching birthday card and a beautiful silver bracelet from James Avery. He also ordered a custom engraved heart crosslet charm for the bracelet that has the kids' birth dates on the back. Ian and Gram (what the kids call my mom) made a birthday card for me and Ian wrote his own name (for the first time) on a card Mark got for me, from Ian. Ian did an awesome job - he clearly wrote each letter and did it really well. Ian got me a new necklace that he calls my "jewels" for my birthday. Gram helped pick it out and Ian was so excited to present it to me. He knows I often wear my diamond (or "star" as Ian calls it) necklace that Mark gave me for our wedding and how much it means to me. So Ian was so excited to give me a necklace, too. He has the sweetest heart!

On my actual birthday, my mom and the kids and I went to the Science Museum for the day and had a blast. We ventured into the planetarium show for the first time and it was a huge hit with Ian. He impressed us by knowing many of the answers to questions posed during the show. Anna decided the dark room was a good place to catch a nap on my lap so I enjoyed the snuggle time.

The kids and I rode the two-story twisty slide in the tree house play area - keeping hold of those babies on the way down was quite a challenge. Anna liked it so much she tried to climb back up the slide to try it again. Ian enjoyed the new robotic arm exhibit, climbing in the airplane cockpit (one of his usual stops), playing in the kidzone area - including the John Deere life-size farm tractor, the child size fire station, and the squirt gun and bubble wand station. We enjoyed a packed lunch in the cafe and some energetic tumbling time in the gymnastics exhibit of the museum, before heading home for naps.

I get such joy watching how wide-eyed both kids get when they try something new, learn something new, or accomplish something new on their own. Watching them grow and live a life of pure joy is a remarkable blessing.

A Reflection....

Our wedding day

On the way to dinner with Mark over the weekend one of my most favorite songs from my childhood came on the radio - "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart. That song reminds me of growing up and of my Dad - he played Rod Stewart a lot when I was a kid. And growing up there was always music around me - on the house stereo and in the car. Music isn't just entertainment for me - it's deeper than that. Music touches my soul. Some of my current favorites are "Sweetly Broken", "By Your Side", and "At The Foot Of The Cross". Their message is so powerful! These songs (and so many others) make me think of raising my own children, the amazing influence those around them have, and how I pray they have a true relationship with the Lord and follow His guidance from a young age.

 

Our first anniversary

In my early twenties I always felt like ages 29-31 would be great years for me. Those where the years I looked forward to - not sure why at the time, but I do now. Little did I know those would be the years in which I would give birth to my precious babies. These years were also the authentic start to a deep relationship with my Lord and Savior. I grew up in the church but wasn't what you'd call a "church kid". I was baptized while in college but never truly opened my heart to Jesus until many years later. It wasn't until Mark was brought into my life that I sincerely asked the Lord into my heart and prayed for His will in my life. A decade ago I was a very different woman. I still marvel at how He worked to mold, teach, and "love" me into the woman Mark would choose to marry and raise a family with. As my walk with Christ matures each day and each year, I see more clearly how He has been with me my entire life, through so many lows, even when I didn't know He was....or didn't want to acknowledge His presence. He made it possible for me to not only make it through a few very dark times, but to come out stronger. His glory and His grace abound.

End of summer

Post Created On: 8/29/10
Well, the summer is coming to an end (at least we hope the summer heat is). School starts in just a week and a half and both kids will attend Mother's Day Out this year. Anna will attend on Wednesday and Ian will go Tuesday through Thursday. I think we're all ready for the structure each school year brings. And I know Ian is so starved for interaction with children his own age.

Ian starts his first season of Tiny Tot soccer through our local YMCA next weekend. He was so excited to get a set of shin guards, cleats and a small blue soccer ball. He and I have spent several hours already practicing in the front yard with his small goal. He is so funny. If he knows we're going outside to play, he chooses soccer or golf as his primary activity. He still loves his "green jeep", an automatic Arctic Cat ride-on toy, and does countless laps around the backyard every few days. I'm anxious to see what he thinks of the real game of soccer when he's on a team, has to take turns being on the field or on the bench, etc.

The women's Bible study I take part in starts up this week and I look forward to getting back with that circle of friends and fellowship. We have several new members this year so I am excited to get to know them all.

We raised Ian's bed up off the floor and onto the rails, adding the headboard that was part of the guest room decor before the kids were born. He was so excited to have his bed up high. He told us a while ago that he wanted it done and I'm sure part of his desire for a "tall" bed is so Anna can't get up there - a place of his own where she can't bother him.

I turn 33 years old tomorrow and I'm looking forward to the coming year. We're quickly putting the days of having "babies" in the house behind us and daydream about how much easier it will be to take upcoming family vacations, do weekend day trips, etc.

Lots of change on the horizon.