I am sitting at the computer going cross eyed as I do my homework for my online course on Faith Community Nursing. I am zoning out, anxiously trying to finish when the door from the back yard opens and my little girl comes in.

Ava: Excuse me, mom.
Me: What's up, babe.
Ava: I have something I need to tell you.
Me: Is it important, sweetie, cuz I am trying to finish my homework so I can play with you guys.
Ava: It is really serious.
Me: Ok- go ahead
Ava: Um...when i was in rest time and you told me to sleep. I stole a piece of candy and I ate it.
Me: Where did you steal it from?
Ava: It was in my back pack so I sneaked down the stairs and got it when you weren't looking. I wanted to say I am sorry, cuz I shouldn't have sneaked and I shouldn't have eaten candy when I was supposed to be resting.
Me: Okay, baby girl. Thanks for telling me. I forgive you.
Ava(flashing her big partially toothless grin): GREAT! Thanks mom. Papa did too. Man do I feel better;)


My heart is gushing. God is at work in my precious little girl. I am so proud of her. I would NEVER have know this. I didn't even know there was candy in her back pack. I don't really care that she had candy. I am THRILLED that her heart is soft to a seemingly "little" thing. Wow, what a precious, precious moment! These are the times you just thank God for letting your participate in raising children...to witness his work in their little hearts. Priceless.

TGIF

I actually don't really like acronyms, but I find myself saying, "TGIF" alot on Fridays. So much so, that I find it annoying to even myself.

Still any other mamas out there find themselves LIVING for Fridays;)

As a kid, you count down the days to the weekend. It means sleeping in, extra time with friends, freedom from the constraints of a school day.

As a working woman, it sort of meant the same....freedom from responsibilities and was EVEN BETTER than Fridays as a kid cuz I never had homework hanging over my head.

As a mom, it never means freedom from responsibilities, but it does mean help. It means I have a partner for the day, someone to tag team with. If I am cranky or losin' it, he can take over. On the weekends, I can actually take a shower or use the bathroom all by myself. No trying to go potty while an 18mo. old tries to climb on my lap or help me wipe. On the weekends, I get to sleep in one day (Marc gets the other). On the weekends, I get help with dishes and laundry and such. When the day goes awry and the kids suddenly act like hoodlums, I get to meet someone's eye who also thinks, "WHOSE KIDS ARE THESE AND WHERE ARE MINE?" and we can laugh together. Yep, on the weekend my best friend is home...

As a wife, it means my husband is around full time for 48 hours. It means random kisses on my cheek, just because. It mean when I am melting down, an arm holds me up. It means when the kids go to bed....okay that is none of your business.

Annoying acronym or not, I am VERY thankful it's Friday. T minus three hours until my best friend and husband walks through the door...I am giddy with excitement.

An opportunity to help the Lost get Found

A couple weeks ago my friend Carla sent me a link to a give away for an American girl doll.  The give away is a fundraiser put on by a young lady who has a heart for orphan's she is currently fundraising for two "waiting" children so when their families find them there are funds already available towards their adoption.  I read through this girls blog and I was struck by how much one person can do; a young person at that.  I read the stories of these children and I wept.  Heath especially caused my heart to ache.  Can you imagine spending 10 years with no parent, no one to hug you, no one to tuck you in at night.  I wish wish wish we were in a place to take him into our home- his needs are significant.  The physical needs would be the least of them.  His attachment issues would be great and I know unless God tells us he wants us to do this, we probably can't care for him properly with three little ones underfoot.  What I do know is that God has laid him on my heart and I've begun to pray for him every moment he crosses my mind, which is often.  I am praying for a couple to see him and fall in love, to offer him arms that will hold him for the next 10x10 years.

The fundraiser has SOOO many items up for "winning".  The grand prize is an American girl doll, but there is a ton of other stuff that is super cool.  At the very least, take a minute to just check out the girls blog.  It is very, very cool.  You'll be blessed and you just might find yourself putting $10 toward a little girl or boy who needs a forever family.

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Thankful Thursday

I am so weepy this week.  I am so in awe of God's hand in my life.  He is such a Good Shepherd.  I just feel like his rod and staff have been guiding and comforting me all week long.  It BLOWS my mind again and again that the God who created the ENTIRE universe somehow is personal.  He comes after his sheep, he meets our needs and some of our wants, he leads and guides each of us.  I can barely shepherd three children.  I mean seriously- He is so beyond Awesome.  My mind can't comprehend it!  "Who am I that [He] is mindful of me?"

As he gently convicted me of discontentment, as he showed me that he was stripping away distractions, taking me out of my comfort zone- bringing me into a deeper relationship with him, he is also showing me many many reason to offer thanks.  It's amazing when you start counting your blessings, you start to realize there isn't enough paper in the world to record all the deeds he has done.  Still, today I wanted to record a few of the things I've been pondering with a grateful heart:

1) A friend who stopped by with cupcakes and chocolate, just so I would know "I was loved in Sheboygan"
2) A women's bible study that is reading Satisfy My Thirsty Soul along with me and Rejoiced with me as I shared how God spoke to me through it
3) playdates for my children
4) Kari Jobe's new CD
5) music
6) Chloe's laugh
7) Ava sense of humor
8) Phin's zest for life
9) Knowing without a shadow of a doubt that my husband loves me
10) my sisters
11) phone calls that come just when you need it
12) moms group
13) the sunsets out my window
14) a fireplace
15) a garage
16) my parrish nursing course and the women in my church taking it with me
17) Sheboygan Christian School
18) Just Dance Kids 2 for the Wii
19) my eyes- the ability to read
20) Dove Dark chocolate with raspberry
21) cards and emails from friends
22) a certain someone who has offered to bring me McD's coke on numerous occasions, embracing my ridiculous addiction
23) really cool neighbors
24) wild turkeys and deer in my very own back yard
25)  hot water

Should I stop there?  I could list another million things.  God has blessed me through people here and away this week in ways I couldn't have anticipated.  He has blessed me through his word, through music, through my family, through nature....I can only bow down and say, "thank you, thank you, thank you"

My Wise Owl

Ava's classroom has an owl theme this year.  One week each student gets a turn to the "The Wise Owl" (ie. student of the week).  Ava has been waiting on pins and needles but her week is finally here!

The week went over the top for her, when she lots her upper right tooth on Monday morning before she went to school.  She is over the moon with this gap in her smile.  She is constantly making funny faces;)

Today, we brought a special snack, Owl S'mores.  I've seen them in numerous places online and I've been waiting since October to make them;)  As you can imagine, she is brimming with excitment; she can't wait for snack time.