A few thoughts on Parenting

I've been reading straight through the Bible for the past few months, and I came across a verse this morning that struck a cord with me as a mom. "As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. " I Samuel 10:9

As I parent my children and seek to raise them in a way that honors the Lord, I find myself on the treadmill of Godly discipline. You moms know what I mean. Disciplining our children in love is an ongoing process. It's constant and unending. It requires TONS of time and energy and patience. Sometimes we see great fruit and other times not so much. And sometimes we get down right discouraged. It's times like this that I have to take a look at my own heart. Whoa have I ever been a process myself!! I require so much grace and patience myself.

Anyway, as I read the above verse this morning, it was such a comfort. God is the one who changes hearts, not us. Yes, I am called to point my children to Lord daily, to teach them and show them grace, to give them consequences, to tell them the gospel every time they mess up, BUT ultimately, it's the Lord's job to give them faith and show them their sin and lead them to repentance. HE is the heart doctor, not me. What a relief! Sometimes I feel the burden of a huge responsibility that's not even mine...my children's hearts.

So I came away with what I already knew....my best parenting is going to be done through prayer. I can talk, teach, discipline, instruct, explain until I am blue in the face, but ultimately, prayer is where I will be the most effective because God works through our prayers, and oh how He loves our children and wants to operate on their hearts! And ours too of course.

So today may I lift up my babies' hearts to the Lord, and mine and Joel's as well, that the Lord would warm our hearts to Him and show us our need for more of Jesus everyday.

And as I continue on the treadmill of discipline, may He continue to remind me as he did this morning that He is in the business of changing hearts!

One year picture, Baby books, and a trip to St. Louis

I can't get over Emerson's one year picture. I am thrilled with how it turned out! I absolutely cannot wait to get it on my wall!!!!

Oh just munchin on a grammy crack (graham cracker). Coop started calling graham crackers, grammy cracks at about 18 months old, so now we all call them that. Ha!

Went to McDonalds and look who stole my Big Mac! I mean straight up stole it and ate it!

Coop loves to bury BB lately. BB is such a sport.

I finished my baby books!!!!!! Can I get a whoop whoop? I am sooo happy to have that duty DONE! I am not a scapbooking person, so I don't enjoy this type thing. I cherish the final product though! I know it's shocking this picture crazy mama doesn't like putting together baby books, but I just don't. So much information to gather. But now I have them and I absolutely adore them and hopefully my children and grandchildren will enjoy looking at them for years to come!

I have Joel's baby book...look at this gem I found in there. Ugggghhhhh! Is he the cutest thing or what? Don't you see a lot of Emerson in him? I see so much resemblance.

Emerson is dreaming of swimsuit weather :) And so is mama!

I spent last Saturday freezer cooking with some friends. We made 12 freezer meals a piece that will each feed our families twice, so I have 24 meals in the freezer! Phew. So much work but such a great reward. And the best part is the five hours of fellowship while stirring and chopping.

E's first bonfire

Batman is off to school! And let me tell you that his teachers probably think we are poor and don't give a rip about our child's appearance. He goes to school in all sorts of interesting garb that may or may not fit or match on any given day. Yikes. We are NOT going to win a fashion show on Coop's account, but you know what, I have one confident, cool kiddo walking into school each day! Love my strong, opinionated little dude. 

Is it just me or does Emerson look five feet long?! Haha!

Making a house for Molly who is he now calling "Girl." Yes, he is now walking around the house saying, "Hey, girl!" over and over and over. What a nut!

Everyone wants Dada! Woo hoo! Elbow room!!!

We went to St. Louis to meet our new nephew, Hewes, last weekend. He is the sweetest baby! We loved passing him around and squeezing him and feeding him. BB and Pawpaw so graciously kept all three of our kids, so we could get away just the two of us. What a treat! We had so much fun. Thank you, BB and Pawpaw! And thank you, Stephen and Kate, for having us!

There is something so sweet about a paci faced baby. Love this little pip squeak.