Sporadic Gifts

21. soft blanket
22. chocolate covered faces
23. sunlit trees
24. birthdays
25. brothers who kiss each other boo-boos

Sporadic Gifts

Nothing can melt you heart faster then when you look out your window and there is big brother kissing little brother's hand.

We have giant windows at the back of our house that look out into our yard. I can see everything and sometimes hear things too. This is what I overheard yesterday:

Kellan - "I hurt my hand Logan."
Logan - "Well, let me see it."
Kellan - "See, right there. Its bleeding."
Logan - "Here, let me kiss it. (kisses the outstretched hand.) There, all better."
Kellan - "Thanks!"

and Kellan runs off. These are the moments that I really have to stop, thank God and take that mental picture. Unfortunately they are few and far between, but when they happen, they are worth a thousand frustrating moments. This is the genius of our Lord. He places these little gifts sporadically to renew us and remind us what all our toils are for.

5 Years as a Mom

My oldest turned 5 years old Tuesday. I cannot believe I have been a mother for 5 years!  Its been a wonderful journey. I have made many mistakes, cried many tears and suffered many sleepless nights but I know it is still only the beginning. There are many more mistakes to make, tears to cry and nights to toss and turn.  Logan is a happy, sweet, silly and very creative boy. No matter what I have done right or wrong, I have loved him with all my being, that and nothing else, is what matters. 

Thank you, God, for making me a mom, for giving me Logan.

Happy Birthday, Logan!

2012 Goals - April Update

I started this post on May 1. Right on schedule but then life happened and I am really struggling with the format of this post. I copy so I don't have to type so much each time but the bad formatting lingers. I try to make changes but its not working. Can anyone help?

Last month I felt like I accomplished a lot, but then when I looked back I felt that my quality time with family may have suffered. It's such a hard balance each day.  All I know is that God wants me to put Him first, family second and all else after that and I hope next month I can juggle it a bit better. Here is my update:

1. Start and maintain a blog.
2. Eliminate caffeine from my diet. It has definitely been reduced. I do not have a 9 AM chai or coffee everyday anymore. I have switched mainly to caffeine free when I do grab a coffee on the run and caffeinated pop is not even in the house.  I have been feeling better but I am making a lot of Real Food changes to my diet too so who knows.
3. Teach my oldest to tie his shoes.  First few tries have been a bit frustrating.
4. Switch to natural cleaners.  Hope to blog on this soon.
5. Spend $300 less each month. (could be a tall order) I am not sure we have saved $300 exactly, I probably should have better records but we are definitely not spending as much.  I also can tell my buying decisions are changing.
6. Maintain my current weight (at least not gain more). So far so good.
7. Eat more fruit and vegetables each day.  Hope to blog on this soon.
8. Teach my youngest his colors.
9. Go on a weekend trip with just my husband.
10. Reduce the sugar consumed by my family. I feel like I could mark this off. I am definitely happy with how much sugar we get as I feel its more natural. Its mainly homemade except for the occasional Easter treat.  
11. Begin biking again.
12. Finish the first two years of each of my boys scrapbooks.
13. Read, read and read some more. Ongoing but doing great.
14. Expand my garden.
15. Help my husband finish the trim work in the house. We are working on doors right now.
16. Make homemade marshmallows.
17. Incorporate lentils into our diet.
18. Go to Adoration. Need to go again, it was so refreshing.
19. Set up a more regular learning time with my oldest. We are doing so much more than we used to. I try to work with him 3 afternoons a week but its been tricky. Its getting better though.
20. Try brussel sprouts. Loved them!  My family did not.
21. Establish a regular prayer time with my husband. We pray each night together in a coversation style prayer. Its been wonderful for us!
22. Get out of bed when my husband does. Baby steps here.
23. Switch to natural, chemical free sunscreen.
24. Learn to make beans in crockpot and freeze.
25. Learn more about what oils to use in cooking. I pretty much just use coconut and olive right now. Still experimenting on when and how.
26. Journey back to full-fat dairy. I think I am where I want us to be. The boys drink 2%, the little guy and I drink soy and almond.  I don't buy fat free anything when it comes to dairy. I am trying to keep it natural.
27. Find out about Essential oils and try them.
28. Eliminate my chemical hair products.
29. Go paper towel-less.
30. Try to make my own gluten free pizza crust and chicken nuggets. 
31. Plan a more regular faith-building schedule for my children.
32. Teach my oldest to tell time.

You can really tell my list is being affected by all that I am learning about chemicals and processing of products and food. Its been an eye-opening and headache inducing experience but it is good.  I feel so much better about things in our house and how we are eating. We still have a long way to go.  I hope to have some posts this month about my experiences with some of these goals. Hopefully you can see the progress I am making. 

How are your goals going?

Count my Blessings Wednesday

16. Backyard baseball games
17. freshly mowed grass (the smell especially)
18. friends
19. squirells playing tag in our trees
20. free stuff

I can see a glimpse of God's love for me everytime I look at my husband.  Part of that is because its the closest thing I have to His love here on earth but the main reason is that my husband has to be a gift from God.

He is helpful around the house, great with our kids and always has time for his family. He is kind, considerate and rarely says a bad word about anyone. He is so funny and has a good heart. When I met my husband, he was not a Christian. He was raised Catholic but his immediate family had stopped going when he was still in high school. That was a challenge during our dating years, but his values and morals were so strong that I knew someday he would be a Christian. Also he respected my faith and our family's future faith.  I have seen his faith grow everyday and it amazes me.

Right now as I watch him play baseball with our boys in the backyard, my heart overflows and I know God loves me.  Thank you!