Purposeful Effort

I am sitting here drinking cold coffee, not understanding why it is cold since I have had no children interrupting me this morning. I realize it is because I have been deep in my thoughts and in God's Word for over an hour. As I realized the time I thought, "wow, that is awesome that I have spent that much time reading, well, that's it for the day!". But oh, so ignorant am I! I will be the first to admit that I am an inconstant bible reader. Some weeks I will be very diligent and read every day, however some of those days might be just reading and not taking it in. And I will also have weeks were I may not remember where I put my bible. I'm just trying to be transparent.

My point here is, is that Jesus wants to have an intimate relationship with us. That may sound weird to some, but how perfect and fulfilling that relationship can be! Prayer and spending time in the Bible is the best way to know God more and pursue that relationship. One huge aspect of knowing God is how can I teach my children about Jesus and doing what is right if I don't know God and His commands myself? Unfortunately, it has taken having kids to put a strong desire in my heart to know and abide in the Lord. It is a good thing and also too bad -because think of all the relational time I have wasted!

We are all so busy though! How do we get to know God with all that needs to get done! There are days where I have no obligations but somehow I go to bed without spending time in the Word, or just skimming it over the day. Just think...compare getting to know God, having an intimate relationship with Him, like your relationship with your husband! How do we get to know and love our husbands? Some ways are spending time together, listening, talking, sharing our thoughts, desires, fears, etc. God is a relational God and we can get to know Him the same way! Oh how He longs for a deep relationship full of love and trust!

So...by using a verse a day approach, a flip calendar, or little verse cards....is that enough?! Sure it is a great way to hear God speak to you that day, but what if we only got one line out of our husbands a day, or were able to share only one sentence with them. Would that create a thriving relationship?

How about a daily devotional? I use those! They can be great and very good tools to keep on hand! However, it is like having someone else talk to your husband, writing it down, and then giving it to you so you can get to know your spouse. Is that truly beneficial? And you don't get that intimate one on one time spent with your husband.

Bible studies? I LOVE those, I am a big fan of Beth Moore and truly feel that bible studies have been a big part of my walk and desire for the Lord. I am in the bible almost every day with the studies and it may feel like enough. However, it is like going to your husband with a clipboard and an agenda and only discovering bits and parts. Going on a mission to discover certain things can be a good thing when it comes to pursuing God and your spouse and we need to do that, but it won't be enough.

Group studies or reading the Bible with other people at church or home group? What kind of relationship would that be with your spouse...only talking when in a group of people? No one on one time, would you share your inmost secrets in a group of people to your husband? It can be good so others hold you accountable and you learn from others, but that too is not enough.

So you ask what is enough? This is something I am still discovering and learning. But the word Abide comes to heart. We need to spend intimate time with God, directly in His Word, listening, talking, and finding out what HE wants for and has for us. Not just what we have or what we can offer, because it is not about us! Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak through the scriptures and open your heart to verses. I know I can read one passage in Jan and read it again in June and it will speak to me in completely different ways! (works of the Holy Spirit!) Connecting with God can be a challenge because sometimes He isn't tangible, doesn't speak back to us right away, sometimes not for months or years! He can't have coffee with us, or go on playdates (although he has plenty of children to do that with!). Once we start pursuing God and getting to know Him, we will WANT to and look forward to spending time with Him! Drawing close to God will be the highlight of our day and we won't want to stop! That means stopping your busy day and reading the Bible, reading a book that emphasizes the Lord, praying by yourself or with your children. Sometimes praying can be done while doing dishes or laundry, driving in the car, etc. If the Lord is so important to us yet we don't find time to spend with Him daily, how can we expect to see His presence in our lives daily? Just like if we don't spend time with our spouses, how can we expect to know them and enjoy their presence every day? This is a challenge to have purposeful effort, something that I am guilty of not having most days. However, the days that I do purposefully spend time with God are the days that I don't forget, that don't wash on by, but that I cling to. Do you notice a difference in your days when God is more present and you pursue Him more? What are ways that you make sure you get that time spent with Him? Is is important to you?

Lots and lots of Easter type pictures!!!

Well, I hope this post doesn't bore you because there will be many pictures! I have been having lots of fun with my camera lately and I love most of the pictures it takes! Also, this is one of the easiest ways to get pictures to the long distance family! This Easter Season was especially fun for us since Mike was gone last year. One of the many Holidays gone during his deployment and without him, it just isn't the same when celebrated. So this year we had low-key easter baskets, a huge feast with some "family", egg hunt and lots of bible reading! Hope you enjoy all the pics!!

Daddy helping Austin color his eggs...

Logan and I dipping our eggs in the colors!

Austin looked like such a big boy sitting in Logan's chair at the table...I might put him in one sooner than later!

Logan coloring his eggs...he like the pink color

We gave Austin an egg to see what he would do and mostly just banged it on the table and tried to eat it:-)

Austin helping mom pull his egg out of the dye

The boys after coloring eggs

It was very fun this year to dress the boys in matching outfits, I might have to be that annoying mom and do that for the next couple of years I can get away with it! I do think it is adorable when siblings match! We spiked Logan's hair and just patted down Austins...

The boys together...at least this year Austin wasn't screaming his head off in the Easter pictures!

My little stud...it can be hard to catch a smile on him for some reason!

Playing after church...beautiful day!

We invited over our community group from Church because most of us don't have close family nearby. I provided the Ham and everyone else brought the delicious sides! These little rice crispy treats I made a few weeks ago for our MOPS group and thought I would try again and use some marshmallows also! They are DELICIOUS and soooo easy to make!

Yummy snacks!

These are a collage of pictures during the night...there was an Egg Hunt that the kids had a blast with! It turns out that mike is very competitive when it comes the egg hunts! Guess it was a childhood thing he is bringing to the family now! The other kids in the pictures are the wonderful kids from our group...so much fun!!!!

This last bit of pictures are a fun tradition that I would like to keep around. These are called Resurrection Rolls and I know there are many many different version of them and other food, but it is so neat! It basically represents Jesus and the empty tomb.You can just google the recipe and it is so easy! Basically you take a large marshmallow (Jesus) and roll it in melted butter, cinnamon and sugar (the spices he was anointed in) wrap the marshmallows up in the flaky crescent rolls (the tomb) and make sure all the sides are sealed and pinched shut, otherwise the marshmallow will leak out. Then put it in the oven for the time on the package, take them out and open them up after cooling and the marshmallow is gone (the empty tomb!!!) It was such a neat word picture for the kids to actually help, and see it all done! Plus they tasted GREAT!

The story through 3 year old Logan...

Over a month ago Logan joined the 3 year old classroom at church. The teachers suggested to move him up before he turned 3 due to his activity level (he was too much for them in other words). That was fine with me and after the first time there, Logan started repeating bible stories back to us after church. This is so fun to hear because it is interesting to hear what catches their interest and what they remember. Well, yesterday he was taught about Jesus's empty tomb and His resurrection. Hearing him tell us the story brought tears to my eyes. My son, has heard what Jesus has done for him, and even though he may not comprehend it all, there has been a seed planted. The story had a little extra bits in there like something about a plane crashing to the ground and whatnot, but he was very adamant about "the friends were sad, Jesus is gone, Jesus is alive and the friends are happy!" (told in a more fluent way). Many of the bible stories told to me I remember from Sunday School and God Bless those teachers for guiding our children, for caring enough to share Jesus with them.

It is so important to me that Logan and Austin know the scriptures and the stories in them. I encourage those out there that have a heart for the Lord to read the bible to your children, no matter the age. God's word is miraculous in what it can do even for the youngest of hearts. "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it" Luke 18:16-17 These precious little ones have been given to us from God and are our brothers and sisters in Christ, He has just chosen us to be His agents in raising them. I am always surprised at how much Logan takes in and understands, so don't underestimate your children! Give them the Word of God and Bless their little lives, who knows we might learn something in the mean time!!

Twirly Plates Craft...

I saw this creative craft (although it was very simple and I am sure you all know how to do it!) and thought Logan and I would have a blast making them! Just put swirls on the paper plates, color/decorate and then cut out! Hold the middle and pull up and viola!! I also had some fun taking pictures with my camera, so enjoy!

Birthday Celebration and outside fun!!!

As most of you already now, it was Logan's third birthday last week. Mike was unable to be home on the actual day so we celebrated when Mike was home this past weekend. I decided to make a monster truck cake and opening the rest of the presents would happen too. This cake was a lot easier because I bought a mold (that I know I will use again and maybe others) and I used chocolate donuts for the wheels. The car cake had to be propped up with other cake to make it "higher" for the monster truck effect. It was a lot of fun to make and Logan enjoyed seeing the creation come to life! Definitely was a lot of cake left over which Mike took back to training with him this week! Enjoy all the pictures!

HHe enjoyed us singing to him! He was singing to himself all day long!

Blowing out his candles! Happy Birthday love!

A little tribute to Austin. He is such a character and has been growing up so much! He is starting to have his own personality when it comes to playing with his brother. He always tries to kiss him and lay on Logan. It just ends up the other way around! Austin loves to slide down and climb up at the same time. Always has the biggest smile on his face! He enjoys sitting on the chair and can climb in it himself. Such a little man! Some updates for him is that his top molars have started to break through and now we can give him a whole new bunch of food! He signs more and milk with such pride and we are going to work on please and thank you now. He loves to bring me toys to play with and gets upset when I don't sit down to play. He will sit in my lap to make sure I stay there. He loves blocks right now and is actually getting pretty good and connecting them together (kinda like big legos). It is so nice that the weather has gotten better because I can't wait to go to the beach with two walking and playing little ones!

Logan got a cowboy outfit from Mike's Grandparents for his birthday. So cute! He loves to wear the hat so he looks like Woody from Toy Story.

Mike got him a t-ball set to start playing sports with him! It will take a little while for Logan to get the hang of it, but I love the Father - Son time it brings! I love how happy and excited Logan is in the pictures below!

Here Logan is saying "cheese" and I am trying to get a picture of him and his new watch...he is so proud of it!

I also bought a bubble gun (they are so cheap!) and he has had a blast with it! Otis loves to chase and eat the bubbles so we all get a kick out of it. So great he can do it all on his own!

Trying to get a family photo (not sure why this text is so big?)

One last picture of me and the love of my life!!!

Is thinking my thing....?

So life has been happening, just day by day. Mike training, Mike home, boys playing, boys sleeping, vacuuming upstairs, vacuuming downstairs...just going on and on. I love being and am so content being a SAHM and SAHW. The work and purpose of raising these boys is so great, hard, and will be so rewarding. But I know and have a purpose so much greater than me or anything that I could ever do. (emphasis on the "I") How often do I really get out of my comfort zone? How much do I reach out and do the nudges that God gives me? Sometimes I just sit in bed and wonder, what is going to go wrong. Life is sooo good right now, or seems to be so good, that I am just waiting for the time that I will need to rely on the Lord with every ounce and prayer that I have. As selfish as this may sound, when I was in elementary school, I used to wish that I would break my arm or leg, or have something tragic happen to me so that I would have a testimony or more of a "reason" for relying on God. Sometimes that haunting feeling creeps back to me late at night (although now I don't wish something bad would happen, I fear it). HOWEVER, I have seen God's work in my life and those around me, so I know that I have relied on Him and He has been faithful.

So I have decided that I am going to use this time, until God calls me to show His glory through hardships, to study His Word, to reach inward and be truly motivated to reach out. I have learned lately that I have some great purposes here on earth. I have also learned that I need to work on them! Please share with me your callings and purposes and how you have learned them or even achieved them. What do you want to work on? For me right now, it is going to be working on being an honest and emotion wearing person. To share what Jesus reveals to me and to not be ashamed to share with others. What do I have to loose?

Logan's Birthday Day...

Logan's day yesterday was pretty low key, but I kept the excitement up by singing frequently to him Happy Birthday to which he would tell me every time "mommy don't sing!". He tried to blow up his balloons, opened one gift from us (Toy Story 1) and Grandma and Papa got to watch him eat his cupcake over the internet. Thank God for technology! The cupcakes I made yesterday were for his school today to share with his friends. He was so excited to share, especially with his teachers. Got some left over if any one wants some!!!