The warm and fuzzies

It's days like today where I get the warm and fuzzies....you know that feeling inside where you feel at peace, calm and able to enjoy every moment breathed into your day! Today was that kind of day. Was it all perfect no but at the end of the day I have so much to rejoice about.

My kids and I had a wonderful day. Did I say they were well behaved all day...NO but...they made my day far more better even with their brief moments of not listening their best to me. A day doesn't have to be without mishaps to be a great day in fact it's what you make of those mishaps that can make your day better or much much worse than it has to be! We had a relaxing morning breakfast, cartoons, the girls playing in their new hangout the love seat opened up with a blanket on it...I have yet to figure out the excitement about it but it has kept them very entertained! One reason I think it is is because they got grounded from their room yesterday. Yes I said grounded from their room; they made it a complete and utter disaster! I decided it was time to take a break from their room and all the spoil of their toys. So that when they get their room back they will have an appreciation for it and the things they have in it. This was day two of full grounding from their room and it was a wonderful day. My husband might disagree but I already see a change in them and the fact that they are obeying and not touching their toys or attempting to go into their room is showing me they are learning obedience in a new light which to me is worth more than anything! This type of lesson is a long lesson in enduring boundaries and discipline. One I have yet to really try but I must say I am enjoying seeing the respect and obedience out of my children towards me. This has been a rewarding discipline method thus far. Tonight Faith knew she was not to go into her room and Scott was not enjoying having them so close and LOUD while he was trying to listen to the news so I printed pages for them to color and they were very well behaved after that and very grateful to have something productive to do. I forget how much their brain needs stimulated!

Anyway enough about that...that was a side note for my mom readers haha :) Alright back on to my day. So it started off relaxed and I let the girls stay in jammies for quite a while and then slowly worked them into getting ready for the day. I had them get dressed and then I did their hair. Then I said to them alright girls are you ready to go to the library?!!? YAY!!! They both jump up and down! I said ok shoes on! Then something twinged at my heart the thought of my husband...I said to the girls before we go let's make daddy a card! The girls love to do things for their daddy so we got out the construction paper and markers and started on our quick craft for daddy. Faith drew hearts and crosses and then the whole family on the card including the baby boy. Justice told me what to write and I guided her hand to do the writing but they were all her words! She was practicing her circles which was darling who knows I may have another artist on my hands! I also wrote Scott a note yes on construction paper and with markers! Telling him how blessed I am to have him in my life and just how much I cherish him. Then I printed out a recent 4x7 of  the girls: the one in my previous post and put it in a plastic frame for his desk at work. Then we were off, first: to see daddy and surprise him with our gifts made with love! Well when we arrived no one was there but then Scott's co-worker showed up and let us in to put it on the desk. One of the girls that stays at the home said is it his birthday or something? I said no we just like to show Scott he is loved she looked surprised like who does that kind of stuff! I pray that girl one day has an amazing husband and understands what it's like to just want to do something nice because you love him not because it's his birthday. I truly cherish my husband and want him to know that outside of the Lord I will love him most and show him that in my prayers, words, and actions. You can never cherish your mate too much!

So the girls and I were off to get a bite to eat and then on to to library. A favorite for my kids is to eat in the back of the van and since we always have the back seat down for Scott's wheelchair it's like a picnic :) As we were climbing back today Faith says Mommy your belly is getting to big for you to do this. She is right it was difficult but it was worth it to see the smile on their face as Mom handed out their lunch and they felt special at their picnic with Mommy. Silly little things....who says you can't picnic in the winter! It was nice to see the snow fall around us as we sat in the back of our warm vehicle.  After we were finished we went on into library. I love our library it is so kid friendly! It is such a blessing to know we can go in and  be warm and have something fun to do outside of being at home. They have story time through out the week but we don't always go because we try to stay on a schedule with Faith's school. I am planning on taking them if they have it next week as I am sure it will be all about Thanksgiving and to me that is educational because it's a  holiday! The girls first picked out their movies; one of my purposes for going because it's suppose to be a very wintery weekend and I figured we may as well have plenty to keep us in if it's too bad to go out! Next we worked on two big puzzles all together. Justice loves puzzles and she is not intimidated by big ones which thrills me. I read tonight how great it is that children like puzzles it helps a lot with detailed learning in the future years?... I had no idea! I read it in my homeschooling magazine I pick up at the library every other month! What a great thing to have for encouragement and ideas! So after puzzles the girls watch a bit of a movie with other kids in the movie/game area while I picked out some books for the girls and I to read together! Which we did tonight....we read five books and Faith was pointing out words that she new from her reading in school :) So we had a great time at the library today and then I came home let them nap and I enjoyed a wonderful movie. "Tho none go with me" it's a great movie if you can watch it do it will be a blessing to you and your faith. Then I wrapped up some laundry and called a friend from MOPS and asked her about some Christmas books she had shared with us last year. These books are great and I intend on ordering them. The Adventure of Christmas: Helping Children Find Jesus in Our Holiday Traditions by Lisa Whelchel and Jeannie Mooney and also  Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration by James Dobson, Charles Swindoll, James Montgomery Boice and R. C. Sproul.
She also mentioned doing a Jesse tree. I might do this next year it's a lot of work and I am not sure if this year will be the year to do it!  You can google it...it seems really neat but probably something that will be more worth sharing when the kids are a little older and can be more involved and have more understanding. I want to make this year and each year from here on out more and more memorable for my kids. I intend on purchasing some advent calenders for the girls too. I remember my parents doing it one year when I was really little. I would like to make it a tradition to go over these books and to have a special treat each night in December before Christmas. I am looking forward to making this Christmas season all about Christ! I am hoping to find some online crafts and possibly games to do with the kids to show them all about the birth of Jesus.  Well this post is extremely long but hey I was inspired to share my blessed day with you! I will have you know I topped my day off with looking out the window in my baby's new room seeing the snow glisten, taking a deep breath and smelling that newborn smell from all the baby stuff in the room. Awh the peace and joy, then I went and put in a hot wassail scentsy warmer so tomorrow I can start off my day with thoughts of the holidays just around the corner! Love to all~Goodnight and God Bless

My thoughts on this Spring

I am soo excited for March!!! The first official day of spring is on it's way and I am just thrilled about it! March 20th is the official day if you were wondering. Yes I know we have 19 more days of this dreaded season called winter. On a good note we also have had 40 more inches of snow this winter season also compared to an average Wyoming winter. So what does that mean YAY a more green spring!!!

With all this thought of spring my mood has been lifted so much. I just imagine when the Lord said I will make different seasons He said; winter will be harsh and even weary at times so I will give them spring!
Spring is a season so full of life there is no escaping it! The birds will be chirping in the morning sun. The smell of freshness will fill the air each morning. The dew on the grass will glisten in the first sight of the sun rise. The baby animals will be full of new life and so adorable! The children will play after school and I will hear their laughter once again. Oh I am just thrilled to think of spring!

This is going to be the best spring yet for my family. At least that is what I am hoping for. As a mother I believe you grow into it. You progress each year; you get better at it. I know with myself I have had to grow into being the mother I am suppose to be. I have had to learn to spend more time with my children and not with my house work or my TV. Not to say that I just neglect my home but there is a time and season for everything. God has really been showing me a lot lately about my priorities. I am reading a book called "A Wife's Purpose". The amount of knowledge that can be absorbed from a book like this! I definitely think it will be life changing for me. It already has been. God is molding me into the wife and mother I need to be. I am not saying I will be perfect overnight but I do know that if I will allow Him to work in my life He will bring me to where He wants me to be in these roles of my life.

So anyway with this journey of spring 2011 I am setting goals for myself and my family. Who says you have to make changes the first of the year. I say go for it when you realize they need to be made! My first goal is to have a closer walk with the Lord! My second goal is to schedule my time more accordingly! This includes taking care of myself spiritually and physically for myself and my husband. Stay on top of my housework for my whole family. My third goal is my children lives. To stay scheduled with Faith's homeschooling. Also her and Justice's devotional/ prayer time morning and night. To involve the children in keeping of the home to show them responsibility. To get the children out to do more story time, play dates, parks, and activities. These are my main concerns right now in life and when I feel they are being progressed upon I may add more but for now this is my starting point. With the Lord's help I will succeed and we will be a more functional/happy family.