Day Out With Thomas!

We had the best time at a Day Out With Thomas, and James had so much fun with his cousins. And it was fun for me to watch them interact so much this weekend. There were so many fun activities in addition to a train ride on the biggest Thomas any of us had ever seen. James loved it all, but said the animals at the petting zoo were his favorite part of the day. Thank you Nana and Grandpa for the special day! Be forewarned, this is a picture-filled post! :)

Theology of a Two Year Old!

 I wanted to share some spiritual truths from the mouth of our little two year old on his third Easter. Stephen and I were remembering that Easter Sunday was his second "anniversary" of attending church for the first time. That very first Easter he was almost 6 weeks old, and although some people probably didn't wait nearly as long as we did to get their newborns out and about, we were talking and reminiscing about his early weeks with so much crying (day and night) and so little sleep. We were in denial for a few weeks that our "perfect" baby needed medicine for his acid reflux (and with nothing to really compare the amount of spit up, or crying, or lack of sleep to), but a few days before Easter when he started spitting up what the doctor believed to be stomach bile we knew that we were not willing to 'wait it out' any longer.

It's hard to believe that the two year old little boy that I watched bow his head and close his eyes while we prayed for our lunch this Easter is the same baby that I held cooing and sleeping in my arms, dependent on me for everything, that first Easter Sunday. It's amazing that in just two years we've gone from wondering if we'd ever sleep again to listening in disbelief to our child speak in complete sentences. It's amazing that God can use James' two year old theology and knowledge of God, to draw me closer to Him and remind me of His truth.

From gazing...

to blowing bubbles.

From rocking...

to sliding. 

I wanted to take the time to record some of his most frequently used truths about God (before any more times passes):

1) "Jesus comes back!"
³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:3

2) "Jesus went to the cross."
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; 
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.Isaiah 53:5


3) "God is our friend."
¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15


4) "God makes my boo-boo better."
¹⁴ When He went ^[a]ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14


5) "Jesus rose from the grave!"
⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6


6) When we ask who loves him he says, "Mama, Daddy, God AND Jesus."
¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16


7) Airplane (or helicopter, truck, car, etc.) go to church too!
²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25


And then this afternoon after I had already typed most of this post, James and I had the sweetest conversation. He had just woken up from his nap and we were looking out the window as the rain began to fall. James noticed the tree right outside the window that was blowing in the wind, and looked at me and said "Mama, turn the tree off."  I explained to him that I couldn't do that, and only God had the power to do something like that. I told him briefly the story of when Jesus calmed the storm, and he looked at me as if he was taking it all in. He thought about it for a few seconds and then looked back out the window and said, "Turn the tree off, God." I am so very thankful for moments like these.

Great Site for Moms

I have enjoyed the wisdom and perspective from other mom bloggers on the newly launched Mom Heart Online blog over the last few weeks. There is so much that I want to read right now (and I have a stack of books I am waiting to dive into when the moment presents itself), but in this busy season of life I enjoy at least the opportunity to read short articles and/or blog posts each day with encouragement related to my current stage of life. I particularly enjoyed this post today called Journal on their Hearts which discusses the legacy of leaving behind written words for your children. Just thought I'd share this post and great site that has encouraged me. :)

Easter 2012

Another Fun First: Egg Decorating

Egg Drop!

This morning we attended an Egg Drop outreach hosted by several churches in the area at our favorite park. There were multiple egg drops for each age group by helicopter throughout the morning (much to the delight of our 2 year old transportation lover!), and James' age group was the very first drop. Unfortunately, the first drop was also the most chaotic and by the time we were able to get him through the crowd and out on the field, all the eggs were gone. There were lots of little children all around us crying because they didn't find a single egg. James, thankfully, didn't cry but kept saying, "I find an egg and put it in my basket?" over and over because we had been talking it up all week. The helicopter itself was the highlight for him but still we knew that we couldn't leave without at least one egg so we stuck around the for the next drop and a very determined Daddy helped him find four eggs the second time around. James was thrilled to find a few eggs and enjoyed the candy inside too! The pictures of James finding some eggs really make me laugh because Stephen basically had to lower him head first towards the eggs to find a couple in all of the crowded franticness. It was crazy but we all had a lot of fun!

We thought our egg hunting fun was over but decided to stay at the park for a while longer and enjoy the nice day before heading home, and about an hour later we were on the opposite side of the park looking for geese when James heard a final helicopter. He took off running in a full sprint after the helicopter. When I realized he wasn't going to stop, I took off after him. Much to our surprise he actually made it all the way back to the field as the final egg hunt was starting, and because we were coming from the opposite side of the park he was able to run right onto the field without a crowd and find lots of eggs in the last hunt. He was so proud and laughed and hopped back to Stephen with his basket full of eggs (who was waiting for us while capturing the whole "helicopter chase" on video camera.) It was a fun day!

A picnic in the park and lessons in parenting.

(I wanted to take a minute to reflect on my two most precious gifts this morning (my husband of 5 years and my sweetest little boy that is 26 months old today!) and remember a special day that we shared together as a family. The last few months we have felt God so near to us, although we have been in a bit of a holding pattern and God's direction and next step for our family has been unclear. I just want to express in the midst of waiting and seeking His direction for us, my gratitude for the family that he has given to me.) Here are some lessons that I have learned through them:

Parenting is a ride like no other.

There are moments that feel like a walk in the park. 

And there are those moments/days sprinkled in, too,
when you just want to hide your face and start again tomorrow...

leaving you wondering just exactly how you stack up as a parent 

to this little person that God has entrusted into your care.

I've learned there are many tasks you do over and over again.

Like fixing shoes, 

and fixing meals 

(oh, and some meals are more relaxed than others, for sure), 

and organizing and reorganizing. It's just part of it.

 But it's good and it's growing.

There are wild moments...

and testing of the waters. 

And there are some days that I feel like I'm running around 

like a chicken with my head cut off.

(i.e. mid-shopping trip melt down)

But I'm running after a little boy that is running full speed ahead

and every day for him is a new, exciting adventure to be had. 

And so I'll keep "running".

Because I don't want to miss even a single second of this crazy adventure.

I am Stephen's wife...

and James' Mama. 

And I am exactly what I always wanted to be. 

I may not have everything this world has to offer, 

but I am loved by the two that are 

everything to me in this world. 

I am rich. 

And I am thankful.