I Love My Job

Being a mom has been the best job I have ever had.  Each day brings its own surprises, challenges and delights.  Neal is always keeping my laughing and running around.   Sure, there are days that are tougher then others, there are even some days when nap time and bed time can't come soon enough.   However, for the most part I love spending my time playing hide & seek, fighting dragons, reading stories and having a helper with the house chores.   Plus no matter what the day is like, all is forgotten & forgiven when Neal walks over and gives me a hug and says "I love you mom".

Here are the different faces I get to see almost everyday from my sweet son:  happy, silly, sleepy, praying, and his scary/monster face.  (He likes to perform infront of a camera)

I am so blessed to have such a sweet little boy that I get to spend everyday with.  I think many days the Lord teaches me through Neal as much as I teach him.  It's amazing what a 2 1/2 year old can teach you and how much they can show you areas of selfishness and inconsistencies in your life.   God can use anyone to teach us what we need to learn and to shed light on areas where we need to repent and change.  Being a mom is a calling from God and I am so happy and blessed to have been given this calling.  I love my job! 

Today and Everyday

Each day at our house looks quite similar and at the same time very different.  We have a routine around here for our day which looks a bit like this:

1. Eat Breakfast and read our Bible Story
3.  Play with toys
4. Watch a morning cartoon
5. Play outside
6. Clean up and get ready for lunch
7. Eat Lunch
8. Story time
9. Nap
10. Etc...

and well, you get the idea.  Now that routine makes each day look fairly similar however with a toddler even in a routine each day turns out very different.  What toys and games we play changes each day, some days we have to go on errands  and some days require more snuggles and story times then other days.  But no day is complete without at least one ride outside on his bike.

Neal learned to ride his little tricycle about a month ago and now we can't go a day without him needing to "drive" it around outside...

He "goes" all sorts of place on his bike and always finds new "treasures" to carry around in the bucket on the back.  I love seeing his imagination work and hearing about all his "adventures".

A little fall flair

So after my last post I decided that I needed a little something to make our home feel like fall.  The weather is crisp and cool outside during the morning and evening and so I wanted a little something to make the inside remind me of this wonderful time of year as well.  So look what I found at the dollar store today - less then $5 can get you some fall decorations that look pretty good.

It's simple, which I like, and the cinnamon sticks make my living room smell great, and the scent reminds me of the coming holidays.  I think maybe some hot apple cider is going on the shopping list, and maybe a trip to Starbucks for a Pumpkin Spice Late on our way to the park later this week.

Welcoming Fall

In honor of today being the first day of Fall, Neal and I made our first batch of pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (I say first batch 'cause we will be making a lot of these over the next several months).

They have to be one of may favorite things to eat, especially a cup of coffee with Pumpkin spice creamer.  Neal thought they were quite tasty as well, he has already eaten two of them and managed to take a bite out of another one as he passed them in the kitchen.

The weather is starting to cool down which means more walks, runs and sipping coffee on the back porch while Neal plays.   I love this time of year.

Also, I realized that my fall decorations didn't make it in the move so I think I might be making this for our front door....

A moment away

Near the end of last week I got the chance to go on our churches Women's Retreat in Asheville, NC.    It really was a treat to be able to get away for a few days.  I got three days where I didn't have to cook, clean, or chase after a 2 year old.  I got to have three days to put aside the everyday distractions of life, fellowship with other laides and spend uninterrupted in the Word.

My time away on this retreat was more beneficial then I had anticipated.  With all the responsibilities that come with being an adult, wife and mother a few days away is hard to find and for me it was much needed.  I was challenged and reminded on this retreat to delight in the Word of God and in Christ.  So, I have spent a lot of time doing just that, reading the Word.   As I place my focus and thoughts on Christ the worries and things in my life that don't seem to be going right or as planned fall into place.  Not that my dreams, desires or trials in life are solved but my perspective changes.  Placing Christ first and delighting in His Word seems like a basic principal of the Christian life, but how easy I have found it to forget.  How easy to be consumed with dreams and desires and allow life to get so busy that I forget to "follow" Christ and delight in His Word.

I have been reading and meditating on Psalm 119 and would encourage you to read it as well.   You may not have a chance to get away from everyday life, but retreat for just a few minutes, drink your coffee, turn on a show to keep the kids occupied and read Psalm 119 - you won't be disappointed.

Outdoor time

It has finally cooled off here the last few days.  It has been in the high 70's low 80's the last few days and the humidity has disappeared, which has been AMAZING.   This also means that I should dig out my running shoes again and take advantage of this great weather.  

Because of this nice change we have spent the last few days soaking up the sun and enjoyable weather outside.  We have filled our days with playing at the park, weeding (not on my list of fun things to do, but necessary), riding bikes, and other fun outdoor activities.

I think I'm really going to like Fall here, if this cooler but still sunny weather is any indication of what it will be like.   The only thing we have had to deal with is a random thunder storm blowing through every now and then, but the last few days even the rain/thunder has stayed away.

7 Years

On Monday we celebrated our 7 year Anniversary!  It seems like the last 7 years have gone by so quickly.  I feel extremely blessed to have a husband who loves the Lord, works hard, cares for me, plays with his son, invests in the lives of his family and friends, and still makes me laugh.  It's hard to believer that 7 years ago we were just beginning our lives together.  Lots has changed.

The past 7 years have been filled with lots of different things for us.  We have had 9 different jobs between the 2 of us, moved 3 different times in Anchorage, had our first son (Neal), moved across the US to North Carolina,  and started into full time ministry.

Each year brings new surprises, some are happy surprises and some are hard, but together we have learned a lot and look forward to what the Lord has in store for us in the years to come.

We decided to celebrate this year by including the "new" things in our life/marriage in the celebration (this may also have been because we forgot to arrange for a babysitter ahead of time).  So, Neal came with us to the restaurant and we started the meal off with a plate of pickle chips, welcome to the south!

Happy Anniversary!  7 years and counting...