The Good Part of a Really Hard Day

Today was one of those really hard mommy days. Ethan is getting over a cold, AND teething. It's not a fun combo for a 15 month old, or for anyone else in the house. He was fussy all day, and would not take a nap. He cried a lot and was very clingy. And Jaden is dealing with a cold as well, but not as bad. So, of course we were stuck in the house all day. I was about to go insane by the middle of the afternoon.

So then the husband comes home from work. But then he leaves again after dinner for his softball game. So no relief there, either. AAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!

Where is the good part in this day? Yesterday, I began teaching Jaden a memory verse in addition to reading the Bible story during our "Circle Time." With the beginning of the new school year, I began a new study at the beginning of the Bible in Genesis, with the creation story. Tonight I again asked Jaden to say his memory verse. He said it, really well, I might add! I was so excited!! Even in the midst of my no good, horrible, very long day, God provided a really bright burst of joy as my 4 year remembered God's word! How sweet is that.

"Then God saw everything He made, and it was very good."
Genesis 1:31

Staycation 2009 - Day at the Beach

For Friday of our Staycation, we split up. I took Jaden to the beach in Galveston and Ethan stayed with Daddy at home. Daddy is not a big beach person, so this worked out good for everyone. Maybe one day I can change his way of thinking??? Anyway, it turned out to be one of the BEST days of my summer--definitely one I will remember for a long time, as it was just such a great day!

So that morning, Jaden and I packed the car and headed out. It was great having only one child, and to only have to pack for a 4 year old, and myself. I was a little worried about a few gray clouds in the sky, but it turned out to be a GREAT day to be at the beach - sunny and beautiful!

We got there and were both so excited to be there, that we went swimming first. I taught Jaden how to jump the waves and enjoy the ocean! Then, after we had our fill of swimming, I let Jaden play in the sand, and I ate a snack. He was too excited about sand castles to eat. Then I joined him and we made our awesome sand castle town (see pix below). Then I convinced Jaden we must eat lunch. We sat in our beach chairs, eating our sandwiches, looking at the ocean spread out before us. Jaden made the comment, "Mommy, this is God's Beach." I said, "Yes, Jaden, it sure is." The boy never ceases to amaze me. " :0)

Then we went swimming again, jumping more waves, having a blast and enjoying the feel of the ocean. We really could've swam all day, but I could feel the hot sun getting hotter, and thought maybe we should head back soon. So I forced myself to get us out of the water, and load up to go home.

What an awesome day it was at the Beach!! Yea Beach!

Staycation 2009 - Family Day at Herman Park

So Wednesday of our summer staycation took our family to Hermann Park. Yes, it was August and it was hot! But it was still fun. We rode the train and stopped and had a picnic lunch at the park. We even got to see some homeless people. Then we got back on the train and headed back.

Then, after the train ride, we fed the ducks with some bread and chips left over from lunch. Jaden was afraid of them, but after I let the ducks eat out of my hand and he saw that I didn't lose any fingers, he gradually warmed up to them.

It was a wonderful family day of being together! Then we all went home and took naps! Beautiful! :0)

Staycation for Summer 2009 - Tues and Thurs - Painting!

This summer really didn't allow for us to go away for a vacation for a number of reasons, the biggest being that we really didn't want to travel with our 1 year old son. So we opted to enjoy the time at home while Erick was off for a whole week!! I have to admit I was bummed that we didn't go anywhere, but then as we were in the midst of it, I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. No packing! (I really despise packing.) And I got to enjoy being with each person in my family! And did I mention I didn't have to pack anything for anyone! :0)

So the first couple of days we took it easy and let Erick get into "vacation mode." His life is jammed packed with busyness, so we just enjoyed being at home, catching up on stuff and resting.

Then on Tuesday and Thursday, when our boys were away at "summer school," Erick and I painted some of the walls of our house. This might not sound like fun, but it really was. I had been wanting to paint some of our house for a long time, and this was a good time to do it. A wall in our bedroom got painted a deep red color, and the walls in our entry way got sponge painted a faded green with white sponging. I'm so excited with the change! And it was fun to paint with my husband, minus children. Now I'm on this decorating bug, looking for ideas on how to change more decor in my house. Yea for HGTV!

Yes, as you can see from the pix below, I still need to hang pictures and curtains. But it's still a work in progress. For now, I'm enjoying the new colors.

Daddy's Softball Game

Erick has been playing on our church softball team for two seasons now. He plays pitcher, and outfield as well. Here are some pix of the boys watching Daddy play ball!

Dinosaurs Alive!

During one of our family days this summer, we went to an amazing exhibit at Moody Gardens, called Dinosaurs Alive. It was such a fun time! Jaden especially had a blast, seeing the dinosaurs move and roar. His favorite is the T Rex. We have been studying them at home with dinosaur books and dinosaur toys, so it was great to see life-like versions of them. Jaden, as well as the rest of us, looked up at the creatures and felt a touch of the fear and amazement at these massive, powerful animals.

Big Days for Both Boys!

We had some major milestones for both boys this week. So if you will, please allow me some time to boast for a little bit...

Ethan, who is 15 months, took two steps all on his own on Tuesday. He was holding onto the toy shopping cart and then stood unaided, which he has done off an on for a while now. He then decided he wanted to move to the coffee table (probably to get a different toy) and so he took two steps over there, all on his own. I was so excited, so I went and got him, hoping to get him to walk some more (and a video clip). But not with Ethan, not that day. He is very content to crawl most of the time. He is an extremely fast crawler, and is very efficient at getting where he wants to go. So I'm sure he will be in no hurry to master walking. That is fine by me. I know my job will get harder when he starts walking. But for now we will enjoy his cruising on furniture and fast crawling.

Then, Jaden read the word "CAT" on Wednesday. I've been working with him on the sounds of the alphabet, which he has down pretty well. So I thought I would try out some simple words with some flash cards that we have. After teaching him how to sound out the words, we managed to get through "CAT", "BAT", and "HAT". Needless to say, I was very proud of my 4 year old, as he is grasping these concepts. We are also working on some simple addition and counting to 20 with some fun little car toys that we have. Jaden really loves learning, and I'm excited to take advantage of it.

Yea for the fun times of two growing boys!

Dear Joshua David

Dear Joshua David,

We didn't get to meet you, or hear your little cry.

We didn't get to play with you, or see your sleepy sigh.

I would've loved to hold you, and kiss your little head.

I wonder what you looked like, or what you would've said.

You were here such a short time, living in your mommy's womb.

But now you are in heaven--did you have to leave so soon?

You must've known your mommy loved you; she misses you so.

She's not sure how to deal with the sadness, or how to let you go.

You precious little one, now we certainly need to know

That Jesus is holding you, helping you smile and grow.

So we daily trust in God, whose comfort overflows.

My Little Nephew - Joshua David

Last week, my family found out some devastating news. My sister's unborn baby had died. Jana and her husband went in for her sonogram at 18 1/2 weeks. They didn't hear a heart beat. They didn't see the baby move. Instead, they found out their precious little one had died around 15 weeks in the womb.

So my sister, being the compassionate mother that she is, could not bear to have anything happen to her baby other than to deliver and then bury her baby. So that is what she did. It was a little boy, Joshua David.

Over these last few days, as I've prayed over these circumstances, I've asked God to please show us how He can be glorified in this. And as I've talked with my sister, I know she is turning to God, asking the same thing, even in the midst of her grief. I'm so thankful for this. I have no idea how I would respond in this situation. But I respect my sister immensely for how she is turning to God. I pray God will honor that, and continue to heal the hurt and the brokeness that comes with this loss of life, especially in these circumstances. I pray God will shower her and her husband with his overflowing love and compassion, and heal their broken hearts. But I also pray that God will show my sister, and myself, and the rest of our family, how we can use this to serve Him.

LIFE -- it is so precious. Right now, I am in a season where many that I know are having babies, raising children. Now even moreso, I am so much more aware of how beautiful, how amazing, how wonderful, yet how fragile life can be. I realize I've taken life and breath for granted. God the author of life, who gives us each breath, has numbered each of our days. I pray I will remember this as I love on my children, and other children as well.

"Comfort us Lord, as we run to You, in the darkest hours, as well as in the joyest times, for You are our Creator, and Redeemer, so only You can heal us and fulfill us."

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5