I've noticed something lately. We are a finicky, complaining people. Just step outside and you'll be sure to hear people complain that it's to hot, it's to cold, there's to much snow, it's not sunny enough, it's to windy. We're never quite satisfied. We're always longing for better and more. So I've decided something. Today, I will be grateful for the air conditioning and the pools and the ice in my drink and the sunscreen to protect me and the home that shelters me. Today I will choose to rejoice! Will you join me?
Psalm 118:24
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us REJOICE and be glad in it."
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
my child's eyes
I wish I could see life through their eyes.
Every day an adventure to be had.
Picking wildflowers.
Swimming with friends.
Eating ice cream.
I love the wonder in their eyes when they discover a robin's egg. Turquoise with spots.
The joy of finding a toad, chasing it down the street, happy screams all the way.
Riding bikes.
Playing at the park, sand in the toes, sand on their arms, in their hair, sticking to their sweaty, sun-screened little bodies.
Doing flips on the rings.
Picnics with their mommy.
Firefly in a jar.
Forts on a rainy day.
Books read in the shade.
Racing up the stairs.
Giggles. Lots of giggles.
Jumping off the diving board.
Licking the beater with chocolate chip cookie dough.
Kisses. And hugs. Lots of them. All the time.
Laying heads on pillows at night exhausted from the adventures of the day. But still the energy for sweet songs to sing.
They drink every ounce of nectar out of life. Every ounce.
They live everyday FULL.
And I pray that God renews my eyes to see life the way they do. To live every moment FULL. Full of wonder and awe and marvel.
Job 37:14
"stop and consider God's wonders."
Every day an adventure to be had.
Picking wildflowers.
Swimming with friends.
Eating ice cream.
I love the wonder in their eyes when they discover a robin's egg. Turquoise with spots.
The joy of finding a toad, chasing it down the street, happy screams all the way.
Riding bikes.
Playing at the park, sand in the toes, sand on their arms, in their hair, sticking to their sweaty, sun-screened little bodies.
Doing flips on the rings.
Picnics with their mommy.
Firefly in a jar.
Forts on a rainy day.
Books read in the shade.
Racing up the stairs.
Giggles. Lots of giggles.
Jumping off the diving board.
Licking the beater with chocolate chip cookie dough.
Kisses. And hugs. Lots of them. All the time.
Laying heads on pillows at night exhausted from the adventures of the day. But still the energy for sweet songs to sing.
They drink every ounce of nectar out of life. Every ounce.
They live everyday FULL.
And I pray that God renews my eyes to see life the way they do. To live every moment FULL. Full of wonder and awe and marvel.
Job 37:14
"stop and consider God's wonders."
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Lake McConaughy
We met up with Jill and Derek this weekend at Lake McConaughy. The kids LOVE camping and it was so fun for them to get time with their aunt and uncle. Apparently it was SUPER hot the entire weekend but I didn't notice it at all. We spent most of the time in the water or in the shade back at camp. The one disappointment was the beach, or lack there of.
Here's what it looked like two years ago when we camped.
And here's what it looked like this time.
With all the flooding there's not much beach left, but that's didn't stop us from having a great time.
I LOVE Hannah's adventuresomness!
Here's what it looked like two years ago when we camped.
And here's what it looked like this time.
With all the flooding there's not much beach left, but that's didn't stop us from having a great time.
I LOVE Hannah's adventuresomness!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Easter dress
Do you ever have those times when you're shopping in certain stores and you just feel out of place. I'm pretty much a Target, Kohls, Old Navy kind of girl and I just feel a little out of place when I'm at nice stores. I feel like they're looking at me like "what are you doing here." Anyway, all that to say, when Chris and I were in Clearwater I was having one of those days where I wasn't feeling overly confident about myself and I just kinda felt a little out place. We were shopping at all the little beach shops by our hotel and it wasn't that they were upscale by any means but I just didn't feel I fit in with the culture. Get what I mean?
So, we were at a surf store and Chris and I had been looking around and we walk to the back. Apparently one of the female workers thought I have left and started talking about what I was wearing. "Did you see that girls dress! It looked like an Easter basket with pastel pink and blue stripes."
OK--so I know I'm not totally hip with all the styles, but if I'm honest I think I dress fairly well... like a 30 year old...not like a 16 year old beach shop girl. Anyway, I was CRUSHED! I just couldn't believe that someone would be so mean. Plus, I was so embarrassed and I still had to walk out of the shop for all her co workers to see.
Chris and I walked down to another store and I grabbed his hand and started BAWLING! Now I actually find it kind of funny but at the time it was NOT! Thankfully Chris just held me and told me that he loved me. Then he said "I hope this doesn't mean that you'll never wear that dress again." You know what? There was a time not that long ago where I probably would have thrown that dress away and NEVER worn it again! But not now. It's not that peoples words don't hurt me anymore, they obviously still do. But what I remembered that day was what CHRIST says about me. I don't have to live for the approval of others because I already have the approval of the ONE who matters. Not my husbands approval (although he does love me), but CHRIST'S approval.
HE says I'm beautiful!
Zeph 3:17
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take GREAT DELIGHT in you, he will quiet you with his LOVE, he will REJOICE over you with singing!"
Ephesians 2:10a
"For you are God's WORKMANSHIP"
Psalm 139:14
"I praise you because I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
And the other cool part of that story is that the day I got back to Orlando to see my sweet Hannah I told her all about the Easter dress. I told her that even mommy's get made fun of and it really hurts, I don't think that part will ever go away. It's what we do with those feelings of worthlessness and rejection and comparing ourselves to others. We have to take it to Christ and remember that he created us and he LOVES us just the way we are!
And, because I know you all are just DIEING to see the dress, here I am in all my Easter basket glory!
So, we were at a surf store and Chris and I had been looking around and we walk to the back. Apparently one of the female workers thought I have left and started talking about what I was wearing. "Did you see that girls dress! It looked like an Easter basket with pastel pink and blue stripes."
OK--so I know I'm not totally hip with all the styles, but if I'm honest I think I dress fairly well... like a 30 year old...not like a 16 year old beach shop girl. Anyway, I was CRUSHED! I just couldn't believe that someone would be so mean. Plus, I was so embarrassed and I still had to walk out of the shop for all her co workers to see.
Chris and I walked down to another store and I grabbed his hand and started BAWLING! Now I actually find it kind of funny but at the time it was NOT! Thankfully Chris just held me and told me that he loved me. Then he said "I hope this doesn't mean that you'll never wear that dress again." You know what? There was a time not that long ago where I probably would have thrown that dress away and NEVER worn it again! But not now. It's not that peoples words don't hurt me anymore, they obviously still do. But what I remembered that day was what CHRIST says about me. I don't have to live for the approval of others because I already have the approval of the ONE who matters. Not my husbands approval (although he does love me), but CHRIST'S approval.
HE says I'm beautiful!
Zeph 3:17
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take GREAT DELIGHT in you, he will quiet you with his LOVE, he will REJOICE over you with singing!"
Ephesians 2:10a
"For you are God's WORKMANSHIP"
Psalm 139:14
"I praise you because I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
And the other cool part of that story is that the day I got back to Orlando to see my sweet Hannah I told her all about the Easter dress. I told her that even mommy's get made fun of and it really hurts, I don't think that part will ever go away. It's what we do with those feelings of worthlessness and rejection and comparing ourselves to others. We have to take it to Christ and remember that he created us and he LOVES us just the way we are!
And, because I know you all are just DIEING to see the dress, here I am in all my Easter basket glory!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
my latest accomplishment
So this morning I went to put away laundry, and naturally being a women I got distracted by my closet. I'm so sick of all the junk in there, especially those pictures that I'm NEVER gonna use anywhere, don't ask me why I've kept them so long. Anyhow, all of a sudden I got the great idea that maybe Hannah's snowman picture (the one she made in art class that got entered into the art fair) would fit in one of those frames. I tried it, had to crop it a little, but it fit and it looked great.
Caden and I went trompsing all around the house trying to figure out where to hang this picture. We finally found the perfect spot right by Hannah's door. So I go drag out the hammer and nails. And then... I realized that this is that super annoying frame from our old house that you have to use screws for and of course it takes two, and of course they have to be PERFECTLY spaced apart. So I get the drill and the screws and the level (because I'm picky like that) and I set to work. I actually am sweating HOT (even though it's like 30 degrees outside) because I am so nervous that I'm gonna put some huge hole in our wall that we'll have to fix and then it never will get fixed because we never fix anything like that...even though we always think we will someday. So, I actually figured out how to get the bit to stay in the drill and I successfully drilled the screws in the wall (there may or may not be several dents around the screw). Then I try to hang the picture. Not good. I don't know how it happened since I triple checked my measurements, but somehow the screws aren't a lined with the holes in the back of the picture. So, after several failed attempts to hammer the screws in the right direction, I gave up and took out the screws and rescrewed them an inch above. I actually figured out how to make the drill take out screws!
Hannah's picture is now proudly displayed right next to her door! It looks so good! And I feel like I could conquer the world!... so look out house, momma is in the zone!
Oh, but first, I better get that laundry put away! :)
Caden and I went trompsing all around the house trying to figure out where to hang this picture. We finally found the perfect spot right by Hannah's door. So I go drag out the hammer and nails. And then... I realized that this is that super annoying frame from our old house that you have to use screws for and of course it takes two, and of course they have to be PERFECTLY spaced apart. So I get the drill and the screws and the level (because I'm picky like that) and I set to work. I actually am sweating HOT (even though it's like 30 degrees outside) because I am so nervous that I'm gonna put some huge hole in our wall that we'll have to fix and then it never will get fixed because we never fix anything like that...even though we always think we will someday. So, I actually figured out how to get the bit to stay in the drill and I successfully drilled the screws in the wall (there may or may not be several dents around the screw). Then I try to hang the picture. Not good. I don't know how it happened since I triple checked my measurements, but somehow the screws aren't a lined with the holes in the back of the picture. So, after several failed attempts to hammer the screws in the right direction, I gave up and took out the screws and rescrewed them an inch above. I actually figured out how to make the drill take out screws!
Hannah's picture is now proudly displayed right next to her door! It looks so good! And I feel like I could conquer the world!... so look out house, momma is in the zone!
Oh, but first, I better get that laundry put away! :)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
I'm feeling like a super mom. My kids are sitting in church quietly coloring away while I listen to the sermon with a smile on my face. If one of my kids raises their voices slightly, I gently lean over and remind them to whisper, then tell them that I love them. I'm sure that other mothers are looking at me and thinking what a wonderful mom I am, I speak gently to my kids, no anger in my tone, my kids respond immediately and joyfully to my every request!
OK--so I'm being brutally honest, but haven't we all had those moments where we feel in complete control, our kids are doing exactly what we want, we are remaining composed at all times! Unfortunately that is not the norm for this momma. But as I sat in church that Sunday giving my self a pat on the back I realized something. I realized that all those Sunday's that I'm not being the super mom, the Sunday's I'm giving my kids stern looks, pinching their arms, taking them out of church and feeling the judgement of the entire congregation, my standing with God has not changed AT ALL!
God's not up there in heaven looking down and saying "Rachel, you terrible mother, you screwed it up again, when will you ever learn." NO!!! He's up there looking at me and saying "My dear Rachel, how I LOVE you! You're a sinner, yes, that's why I sent my only son to die for YOU. But when I look at you I don't see an imperfect mom, I see the righteousness of Christ!" WOW! Do you know that? Or do you beat yourself up over your imperfections. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have Godly sorrow over our sin, we should. But what I am saying is that when we come to Christ and confess our sin, then it's done. We don't need to live with constant guilt. It is not about what we do, it's about what Christ has already done! Rest in HIM today! You are LOVED!
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 Cor 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
OK--so I'm being brutally honest, but haven't we all had those moments where we feel in complete control, our kids are doing exactly what we want, we are remaining composed at all times! Unfortunately that is not the norm for this momma. But as I sat in church that Sunday giving my self a pat on the back I realized something. I realized that all those Sunday's that I'm not being the super mom, the Sunday's I'm giving my kids stern looks, pinching their arms, taking them out of church and feeling the judgement of the entire congregation, my standing with God has not changed AT ALL!
God's not up there in heaven looking down and saying "Rachel, you terrible mother, you screwed it up again, when will you ever learn." NO!!! He's up there looking at me and saying "My dear Rachel, how I LOVE you! You're a sinner, yes, that's why I sent my only son to die for YOU. But when I look at you I don't see an imperfect mom, I see the righteousness of Christ!" WOW! Do you know that? Or do you beat yourself up over your imperfections. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have Godly sorrow over our sin, we should. But what I am saying is that when we come to Christ and confess our sin, then it's done. We don't need to live with constant guilt. It is not about what we do, it's about what Christ has already done! Rest in HIM today! You are LOVED!
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 Cor 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Smunderwear
Caden is having fun mixing up words lately. He is constantly talking about smuder, bunder, munderwear. Apparently it's quite normal in kids development for them to go through this phase. And while it may be cute at first let me tell you it gets a little old when you hear it 52 times a day.
Tonight's dinner wasn't going to smoothly. It started with tears, a burned hand, spilled milk, more tears, potty breaks. You get the picture. Basically a typical dinner with kids! So Chris and I are trying to have a serious conversation with Hannah about lies, meanwhile she's balling (for the third time in 10 minutes) and then out of the blue Caden says, "I'm talking about Smunderwear." I just looked at Chris and we both just BURST out laughing! If you can't beat 'em join 'em right??
I never thought I'd say it, but tonight smuderwear is just what this family needed.
Tonight's dinner wasn't going to smoothly. It started with tears, a burned hand, spilled milk, more tears, potty breaks. You get the picture. Basically a typical dinner with kids! So Chris and I are trying to have a serious conversation with Hannah about lies, meanwhile she's balling (for the third time in 10 minutes) and then out of the blue Caden says, "I'm talking about Smunderwear." I just looked at Chris and we both just BURST out laughing! If you can't beat 'em join 'em right??
I never thought I'd say it, but tonight smuderwear is just what this family needed.
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