"Snarky Mom"

Oh the library... how I have come to LOATHE that place. I only go maybe once a month because it is such an ordeal! I can never just take my two big kids, I always have at least 5 kids with me, 3 of which are under the age of 3. So I do it, because dangit, my kids need to read! Ironically, last Friday I was praising my kids for their awesome behavior all day, and so were others. But today, my two youngest were just having one of those days. We all have them, when we are extra irritable and ornery. We get away with it because we know how to verbally make light out of the emotions we feel. (well, some of us do...) children however, have not developed this technique yet so they just turn into big fat royal BRATS. So here's the story for the day:

First thing that happens when we get out of the car is Landon opening the side door of the van next to us. It was one of those automatic doors that opened itself once you pulled the handle. So I scolded him and tried to shut it...it wouldn't shut...i pulled from the outside, then the inside and it was stuck. Dang these new fancy vans with all their high tech features! So I was forced to leave it open.

I have 5 kids, my 4 and Gabriel who is in his carrier. I am lugging him, holding two bags and grabbing the hood of Hayden's jacket as we make our way across the parking lot. My kids love pressing the handicap buttons to open the doors, so they did...about 6 times. The door closed on me before I got to it, so I had to figure out a way to press it again since my big kids were long gone. Meanwhile, Hayden is looking everywhere but in front of her, so the second door knocks her in the face as it closes. The librarians got a good laugh out of that. The kids immediately go to the computers, of course, but there are only 2 available. Ugh. So Landon starts complaining "I want a tuuuuurn!! Mama, I want a tuuuuurn!" Praise the Lord, a computer opened up and he grabbed it. I set Gabriel down and he starts crying...loudly. I try rocking him because he is exhausted at this point and fighting sleep. So I kneel by his car seat and attempt to rock him to sleep. I was daydreaming apparently because my subconscious heard Landon saying "Mommy, I can't do it! Mommmmmmy, I can't do it!!!" But I didn't respond. The lady across from me,we will call her "perfect mom", meets my eyes and says with a smile, "is he yours?" in other words, get off your tail and go help your kid. But I just replied, "yep." and kept rocking the baby. Lady, clearly I am ignoring my child, leave me to my daydreams and focus on your perfect parenting please. 

Finally Gabriel is quiet, so I then walk over to Landon. You want to know why I was in no rush to help him? Because I have told him the past 5 trips to the Library that he isn't ready to play those games, he can't quite figure them out... so rather than play them he does what he did today. He yells, gets ticked off, has me try another game, gets ticked off again, moves to another computer, tries another game there, gets ticked off again, and so on. With each attempt Hayden is behind me bullying this little boy. Yes, she was bullying, because she is the baby sister of 3 other siblings who beat the crap out of her daily and a daycare kiddo that continually antagonizes her. Also because, GASP! SHE IS A BABY! I know, that's a shocker isn't it? So I am trying to referee her and this little boy, and Landon is behind me beating the keyboard with the computer mouse. I leave Hayden and discipline him, in which time Hayden managed to pull the seat out from the little boy, causing him to fall to the ground. Told you my kids were in some kind of mood today.

At this point, Gabriel was crying again, of course! So after Hayden finished her time out (because HEAVEN FORBID I spank my children in public!) I made her go apologize to the little boy and "perfect mom" was all nice and forgiving, because that's how perfect mom's are. THIS mom is not perfect, and I was done with the library. So I rounded up my herd...all but my disobedient 3 year old who refused to leave the computer, and we went to pick out books/movies and leave. while looking for books Hayden starts pulling them all of the shelves. As Kyleigh and I keep trying to put them back and get her to stop, I hear yelling, which turned in to screaming and then some banging and a small crash. Yes, we all know it was MY child. So I went over to see what world ending catastrophe had occurred, and see the keyboard and mouse were on the ground. ("Quiet Mom" just blankly stared at me and then back at Landon.... good job quiet mom, hide those judgmental thoughts from your face, today is not the day to mess with me).  I then smack his butt, and tell him to come with me. He walks in the other direction. I leave him there. Hey, it wasn't near the doors, he had no means of escape. I grab the other kids, and our books and take them to get their movies. Hayden again starts pulling them off the shelves, and I attempt to clean it up. A librarian comes over and says "just put them on the shelf over there so I can put them away." No, she did not say this nicely other wise I would have appreciated it. She said it in the annoyed, "You suck as a parent" tone. We get our movies and head to the check out counter, but I can't seem to find Landon. I search and search and lo and behold, he is hiding behind a pole playing with the baskets. "Let's go Landon." He stares and stomps his feet in defiance. I repeat, he throws himself to the ground and yells. I go to pick him up, and he starts screaming. So, i picked him up, picked up the 300 lb carrier (because that's how those dang things feel!) and make my way with 5 kids, 2 bags, and a basket of books, to the bathroom for a spanking...at that point I didn't care if they called social services. And wouldn't you know, the spanking worked. Well... for a little while.

We go to check out and the librarian says, "your card has expired and you have a $5 charge for a book because of water damage." I wanted to throw my basket of books at her. The whole issue with the book is another story that I frankly don't care to share now, but lets just say I don't believe that was us but I wasn't going to start an argument over 5 dollars... I would sacrifice a Starbucks just to get out of this hell on earth. As I am paying, Landon starts screaming and crying because D.J. is "touching" him. they start running in circles fighting, until Landon finally goes out one of the doors and plops himself on the ground....right in front of the doorway, so everyone is stepping over him or staring at him as they try and get in. The lady at the desk was super sweet and just told me to go ahead and take care of it while she got the books ready. (the whole time we were up there she was comforting me with comments about how kids will be kids) I grab him, lecture him, and bring him back to the desk... with a line of old people staring at me... you guessed it...with those judgmental daggers they call eyes. We walked back to the van and that door was still open...I tried again but couldn't get it. I'm not gonna lie, I was hoping it was "perfect mom's" van, but she had left already...darn. We then leave and as I pulled into the driveway, I turned around and said. "Kyleigh and D.J. you two were awesome and I am super proud of you, but if any of you talk to me in the next 10 minutes, I will lock you in your rooms for the rest of the day. Go play, I'll make lunch, and I don't want to hear any questions, yes ma'am?" "YES MA'AM!" they replied in unison...Landon got sent to his room and I chugged a bottle of wine...jk jk...but I dreamed about it. 

Not MY right, but What IS right.

My mind has been racing all day as a result of all the "Red"(Marriage Equality) and its opposition flooding my Newsfeed. The one topic I really struggle with, not because I in anyway agree, but because I am so torn as to how we as Christians should be responding. At one time I firmly believed we were called to be BOLD and expressive about our views about homosexuality and all sin alike, not matter the cost. And to an extent this is true. I think the point we all need to start with is that we keep shouting "IT'S OUR RIGHT!"  But in saying this, we are missing the real point, and that has nothing to do with MY rights, but with what IS right.  For those who do not claim faith in Christ, what God's word says means nothing to you and you obviously live by a very different standard. But for those of us who do claim the name of Christ, we are also claiming that we believe in the Word of God and that it is our source of morality and truth. Most of us however, have a very skewed view of what that truth is. We pull the Scriptures that we like and build upon those, completely neglecting the Word as a whole. But in claiming one part as truth, you must claim it all. For "ALL Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," -2 Timothy 3:!6 With that said, lets take a look at what God's word says about the topic of Homosexuality.

Leviticus 18:22 : "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable."

1 Corinthians 6:9 : "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

Ok, so we have shown that God's word clearly states homosexuality is sin, correct? Let me address the main argument I hear most often against these two scriptures:

 "If the Old Testament still applies, then those who have sex or get pregnant outside of marriage, eat meat, work on the Sabbath, etc,,etc,,, are all just as guilty and deserving of death." (see the book of Leviticus) 

This is true, we are ALL guilty of breaking the laws of the Old Testament... and I mean ALL OF US. I myself, according to the laws of Leviticus, should have been stoned to death. What we are missing however, is that Christ died so that we would be free from the penalty of our sin, death. He paid the ultimate price, knowing we were unable to keep the law ourselves. So where we all deserve death, Christ died for us so that we may live. "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24

So what does this mean, that the law no longer applies since Christ fulfilled it? Paul says in Romans 3:19-31, 

"Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law."

So, the law is in place to show us our sin, to help guide us to live a holy life. YES, we will sin because we are by nature sinful, but we do not continue purposely in sin just because Christ has made us (Believers) blameless before God. We are still called to uphold the Law. 

Before you jump down my throat, I also want to add a few more points. Immediately, when all of this started popping up on my page, I thought of the story of Jesus and the Adulterous woman. We are called to, "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus" - Philippians 2:5...look at his response to the woman who should have been stoned for her "crimes" in John 8:2-11
"At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap,in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,”Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Does He condemn her? No. But does He tell her to continue living in her sin? No, he says "Go and leave your life of sin." 

 Romans 12:17-19 says "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "it is mine to avenge: I will repay," says the Lord.

We are called to  "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." And we are to do this in Love, the love described in 1 Corinthians 13,

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

I know this is lengthy, but most people form their opinions and label them "beliefs", but if we believe in Christ then we need to know what we believe, and that can only be known by reading His Word. Something I have definitely learned the hard way is that we as Christians are called to share God's truth, but it is not on us to change people. We cannot force people to change, only God can bring about a change in someone's heart. 

Raising Tiny Comedians

So tonight was full of so many hilarious moments I had to blog about it...

We started off with Kyleigh's sweet request to take us all out to dinner. Dave and I were in the middle of praising her for her selfless spending and of course D.J. was jealous. He then ran to get his wallet and started giving out a portion of his 96 cents, a coin for each of us. (keep that in mind for later) We go to dinner, Chinese per Kyleigh's request, and no more than 10 minutes after being there we hear these loud obnoxious ripples coming from the rear end of the littlest Freyre child. I'm talking LOUD and LONG farts, a good minute and a half''s worth. The table behind her just stared trying to figure out if that really just came from a baby, in which Hayden quickly assured them that it did by yelling out, "I POOP!! I POOP!!" I laughed and D.J. yelled out, "EWWWW don't touch her!! she STINKS!" About 10 minutes after that, Landon pops out of his chair, starts bouncing up and down and yells, "MAMA!! I GOTTA POOP!" I said to hang on until Daddy got back to the table, but he continued bouncing around his chair and grunting as if he was pinching that sucker in with every ounce of his little being, and then yells "I GOTTA GO POTTY!!! I GOTTA POOP!!!" (yes, all were staring at this point) So I just rush him to the bathroom hoping we don't end up with a nice mess on the way. After this, Landon eats his bowl of ice cream .. and about 5 minutes later, he some how manages to con daddy into getting him another without either of us realizing it...until it was too late. Two bowls of ice cream in a 3 year old, can you guess what state he was in afterwards? He was literally running up and down the restaurant, running across all three chairs and then jumping off, grabbing salt shakers off other tables,  and so on. All the while I am yelling out "Landon, stop that! Don't run, sit down!" Thankfully the restaurant was pretty empty at this point. We finally pile up in the car and head home. All of a sudden D.J. says, "Daddy... where's your quarter?" Dave says "In my pocket, why?" D.J.: "I want it back." (remember that money he gave out earlier? LOL) So Dave gives him his quarter and D.J. then turns to me, "Mommy, can I have your quarter back?" Me:" you gave me a penny, not a quarter...I see who the favorite is. Here you go." D.J.: "Um, no you keep it. I thought it was a quarter." hahaha nice son. We get home and everyone is tucked in so Kyleigh and I sit on the couch to read before bed. She is reading one of my devotionals (her choice) and she comes to a line that says, "throwing your body" of which she READS, "Th-r-o-w-i-n-g...throwing your b-a-b-y....baby... wait, they were throwing their baby?!?!?" LOL I about died laughing. Needless to say, there were a lot of laughs tonight, and many more in between that I can't even remember at this point. Just thought it was a fun night to share! Until the next episode, goodnight all! :)

My Husband According to the Alphabet

So as I have said before, I am doing a study with my church that is all about our men. This past Tuesday, a woman shared a list she had made about her husband using every letter of the Alphabet. I thought it was such a neat idea! So, I decided to do that myself...I created a list that truly fit the man I married, not just picking any random words that fit, but honest words. Now, normally, I hate Valentines Day... mainly because I feel like so many people are hurt on this day because it is a reminder that they are alone... but, since this is Dave and I's 10th Valentine's day together... I thought it would be the perfect time to share my list. If there are two things we have learned so far in our study, it is that our men love respect and they love affirmation. The woman that shared also pointed out that we are called to publicly praise our men, so that is what I am doing today! I am such a lucky woman, I cannot say that enough. The fact that my amazing husband chose to spend his life with me is one of the most precious gifts God has given me. I cannot praise him enough! With that said, here is my husband...according to the alphabet :) (some of them I had to use two words because I couldn't settle on one...and don't judge me for X lol)

25 ways to describe my husband:

Adamant

Brave

Creative

Devoted husband and father

Easy-going

Financially efficient

Gentle

Humble

Intelligent

Judicious

Kind

Logical

Motivated

Noble

Obliging

Patient

Quick to listen

Responsible/Resilient

Sexy

Thoughtful

Unconditionally loving

Virtuous

Wise

eXtremely hardworking

Yielding to the needs of others

Zealous for God 

Happy Valentine's Day to my sweet husband, I love you more than you know!! :) 

glitter, super heroes and a toilet water bath

So, the past few days we have been praying about and discussing what to do with the kids and school next year, considering the option of putting them in either private or public school for a little while. I'm really wrestling with this decision and have been praying for a CLEAR answer, so it's fair to assume today has to play some part in that. Let me share...

We started the day off well, beginning with a new, more structured schedule. We made it through the teeth, getting dressed, making beds, eating breakfast and all the way through family devotions. I then told them to give me a few minutes to eat my breakfast and we would get started with school. 15 minutes later we all head down stairs, I start setting up the school supplies, and walk into the other room to get a few more things. I come back and find Hayden standing on the bench literally pouring over half the bottle of glitter all over the table, chair and floor. I yell for her to stop, but by the time i was able to reach her, the damage was done.



After vacuuming up the mess, we proceed with school. What should have taken about an hour, took us 2 1/2... We dealt with Maxwell and Landon fighting/teasing/screaming etc, Hayden was climbing all over us, stealing our markers, writing on our worksheets, and quite frankly being a pain in the rear. After about 15 minutes, Maxwell says, "Corinna! I have to go potty!" So I break to take him upstairs, where we put the kiddie seat on the toilet, get his pants and underwear down, sit him on the potty, only to hear after a few seconds "I don't have to go." <sigh> So we get him all back together and head back downstairs. After another 20 minutes of fighting, screaming and crying, I tell both Maxwell and Landon to go play in Landon's room and stick Hayden in her room so we can finish. Kyleigh then says, " I have to go potty!!" ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? So she runs upstairs to go potty and comes back saying, "Mom! the boys are doing something really bad!" I then go upstairs and walk in to find both mattresses pulled off the beds onto the floor, and look over to the right and see Maxwell standing inside the dresser drawer trying to climb on top of the dresser, where Landon is standing and preparing to jump off onto the mattresses. If natural consequences didn't mean possible broken bones, I would have let them go.

We then ALL head back downstairs and as soon as we start to get back at our work, Gabriel starts crying and his nap time was then over. I go BACK upstairs and discover he had pooped...not just pooped, but blown out of his diaper all the way up his back. OF COURSE! what else would I expect today right? :)
I clean him up and bring him back downstairs with me. We get to our math lesson and I send Kyleigh upstairs to start hers while I finish up with D.J.. Once we are done, I head up to work with Kyleigh and am met in the kitchen by Landon who wants me to get his balloons from the ceiling in the laundry room. I get one, but the other one's out of my reach so I tell him to wait for Daddy to get home and get it. I then go sit with Kyleigh and begin her math problems. 5 minutes later, I hear a crash in the laundry room. I go over and find Landon and Maxwell standing on top of my washer and dryer trying to get the balloon, and all that was on top of both machines was thrown all over the floor. Holy cow, they must think they are super heroes or something! I get them down and decide its time to break for snack. I call everyone into the kitchen, and Hayden comes in with my camera, covered in slobber. AWESOME! They all sit down for a little while and eat... so I clean up the kitchen. They all then go back down and play, while Kyleigh and I finally sit and finish her work. I then send her to go play while I get lunch ready. 10 or 15 minutes go by and I hear a bunch of giggling going on, from what I think is Landon's room. I think, "YAY! they are playing!" Landon eventually shows up in the kitchen saying, "MOMMY!! I all wet!" I look over and he is soaked from head to toe. Holding my breath, I walk through the hall way...discovering then that someone had sneaked their frosted mini wheats out of the kitchen and there was a nice trail of them crushed all down my hallway rug. Then, I reach the bathroom, where I find Maxwell and Hayden, also covered head to toe in water, standing over the toilet dipping the kiddie seat in the toilet water and finding it just HILARIOUS! The floor was soaked, their clothes were soaked, and a whole roll of toilet paper was SOAKED. Apparently Maxwell had to go potty, but didn't want miss Corinna to help, however upon trying to put on the kiddie seat he realized there was a more fun way to put it to use, and his buddies agreed! In the midst of all the playing, he forgot he had to pee and ended up peeing his pants.

They are all down now, or at least, I put them down, my three big kids have already been out of their rooms 4 times saying they don't want to nap today.... but after this morning, they are staying in those rooms so help me God. So full circle back to my first sentence about school and one can only assume that either A) God is REALLY making the choice clear or B) Satan is winning in his attempt to discourage me today!

Now, I am going to sit here and enjoy the Starbucks that my amazing mother brought me after hearing how this day went, and I am going to get lost in the lives of Desperate Housewives... hopefully this afternoon will be better!

Had to Share!

I am home alone right now, (WOO HOO! ) and as I’m walking through each room I am looking at all the broken items, the writing on the walls, and the empty shelves and containers (because we have to keep things up high). I went to the bathroom and what really got me goin was that we have a toothbrush holder, but we don’t keep our toothbrushes in it because we discovered that our children had been chewing on all of them, scrubbing the floor with them, dropping them in the trash can and best of all, dipping them in the toilet (yes we discovered this a good while AFTER the fact) The final straw was when one of my daycare kiddos flushed a toothbrush down the toilet recently, now we keep them all on the closet. I then look at the toilet paper roll and think how each on of my kids has profusely abused our toilet paper over the past few years, the young ones found joy in unwinding it completely and stuffing it all in the toilet, the older ones have a form of OCD where they just can’t seem to wipe their butts enough! This led me to look at the trash can, of which I remember little miss Hayden got into it and was chewing on an empty tampon container… yep, that’s right, go ahead and gag, I sure did! I turn to the bath, which I recall each one of my kids falling into it fully clothed on several occasions.

I then move onto the bedrooms, where each set of blinds is missing several rows because my kids all seem to go through the phase of ripping them off just for the heck of it. All three bedrooms have writing on the walls and on the hardwood floors, Kyleighs window is still broken from when she threw a book at it during a tantrum (brand new windows mind you).  I look up at Kyleigh’s pretty canopy bed where the bars are bent because my boys “mistook” it for a place to hang. Hayden’s crib has been through all four kids, and there are teeth marks all over the sides from teething babies. One of Kyleigh’s dresser drawers is missing the front piece because she pulled too hard and broke it off. My bed skirt is barely hanging on, completely ripped on the right side where my kids climb onto the bed and pull at it with their feet. I look up at the T.V. in my bedroom and think of the fact that we have been through two Wii remotes and are now on our third because our kids have butter fingers and tempers. Two VHS players have been broken and one DVD player. I go to the boys room, where there door has been missing a door knob for almost two months because the kids locked themselves in the room by slamming the door, thus busting the latch and we had to unscrew it to get them out. My boys mattresses are laying all over the floor because they believe they are meant for jumping rather than sleeping. I look at the fan and think about the fact that this is their third one because my boys treat them as step ladders and not fans.

Next is the living room, of which I have to walk through the hallway full of pen markings that I just can’t seem to get off, and chipped trimming along the walls. ( so hard to look at that when we spent DAYS painting this house before we moved in!) The pretty little collage of pictures I put together on the wall has a nice big empty space in the middle where my “Count your Blessings” picture used to be…Landon knocked it off the wall and shattered it. There is a whole in the wall where the door knob from the front door hits because one of my day care kids ripped the door stopper out of the wall (and broke the trim)  so the door knob gets smashed into the wall daily. My baby swing is sitting in the living room, and where some may look fondly at theirs thinking of the memories of their little ones sleeping so peacefully in it as babies, I recall that each one of my kids has climbed into it and sat on their infant sibling’s face and started swinging. I look at my rug where there are multiple burn holes from the fireplace and over to the lamp that is missing the ball topper that holds the lamp shade on.  My couch is the only thing that has with stood my kids so far…for now.

Then we move onto the kitchen, where my kitchen table is full of paint, hot glue, stickers and many, MANY nicks. The bench cushions are caked in Lord knows what, the walls are chipped and full of more drawings, juice and food. I look at my dishwasher and stove, both of which each child has opened and climbed onto and sat on the doors. I also discovered a plastic toy in the oven one day while heating it up…:P My laundry/computer room is next to the kitchen and my kids have all climbed into the dryer, Landon spilled almost an entire container of laundry detergent on the floor as well as bug spray, and I am staring at a computer screen full of highlighter markings.  And next to me sits a tower of books, half of which have been scribbled on or in, including my Bible.

I could write a book about the damage and craziness that have occurred since I became a mother! I was so unprepared for this part of parenthood, but I have learned to place no value on anything material and to put absolutely no money into our house until they are 10! LOL 

My 30 days of Thankfulness

I haven't been doing this all month, but I personally I have been writing things down as they come to me. I have so much to be thankful for, and I love taking the time to sit down and really think about all that God has blessed me with. I am so undeserving and yet He has and continues to provide abundantly! I thought I'd share like everyone else, sorry its so long!

(These are in no particular order!)

1.Thankful I have such a nurturing sweet-hearted little girl, who makes sure her sister is covered every night, hugs on her and loves her throughout the day, protects her siblings when others are being mean, kisses them and comforts them when they are sad or hurt, and is always ready to pray whenever there is a need.  Her heart breaks when someone is hurting, she is a fairy tale dreaming little mama and I am so blessed to be her mother.

2.Thankful for a natural born super hero for a son. His heart is gentle and his spirit is sweet, he is always ready to fight the bad guys and his little brain wheels are always turning and pouring out creative energy and ideas. He loves to figure out how things work and like his Pop Pop, is a natural Mr. fix it. He is a Mama’s boy and I am so thankful for my first born little boy, and the fact that he is clearly going to carry on his daddy’s good looks. ;)

3.Thankful for my fireball 2 year old. He is hard headed, strong- willed and incredibly intelligent… God has big plans for that boy. J He is full of energy and always analyzing and processing the world around him. Though my independent little man, he is my sweet cuddle bug in secret. I love watching his beautiful personality unfold!

4.Thankful for my sweet little bitty princess. She is such a fun, energetic and sassy little lady. She is my mini me, attached to my hip and yet an independent diva. She knows what she wants and she makes sure she gets it. I love that she, like her big sister, is so friendly and social, always flashing that big beautiful smile to everyone she sees.

5. Thankful for my incredible husband! I could not have asked God for a more perfect man to stand by my side for the rest of my life, to lead my family, to train my children, and to provide for us. He loves the Lord and is passionate, intelligent, strong, determined and above all, he is ready and willing to serve His Father wherever and whatever He leads. I fall more and more in love with him every day, I am so blessed! 

6. Thankful for my freedom! I am so incredibly grateful we live in a country where I am not only free to believe as I want but also free to share my faith openly. A country that allows us to work where and how we want, to purchase what we want, and to live as independent individuals.

7. thankful for God’s provision! Every day we wake up to a warm (or cool) home, with an ample amount of clothes for every season, and our cabinets and fridge are stocked with more than enough food to take care of my sweet family. Even more so, we are spiritually provided for in abundance, with free access to God’s word and any number of church families to fellowship and grow with in the Lord. God is so good!

8.So thankful we live in a country where there is an overflow of literature to help us grow in our faith and expand our knowledge and understanding of who the Lord is and what He expects from us.

9. Thankful that I serve a God who can turn all things into good for those who love him. Only a merciful God could take a situation that deserved nothing but his wrath and punishment, and bring so much GOOD out of it! We may struggle and yes we are facing the tough consequences of our disobedience towards the Lord, but He has blessed us beyond measure despite our sin.  I am reminded daily just how loving and merciful our Father is, and how incredibly undeserving I am!

10. Thankful for my amazing parents! I have two of the most godly examples that I get to call my parents. They are the perfect example of how a marriage should look, and how Christ’s love should be shown to the world. They are always willing to help others and serve the Lord, no matter their situation. I would be lost without them and am beyond grateful that I get to call them Mom and Dad! J

11. Thankful for such incredible in-laws! Along with having my own parents be such awesome examples I married into another set of parents who demonstrate the Love of Christ towards each other and towards those around them continually. They are such amazing people and I love them  dearly! My children  have such amazing role models in their lives!

12. Thankful that I have always been able to find work that lets me stay home! I could not imagine having to leave my babies all day, and God has always provided a way to let me be home with them and still manage to help out financially. And now I am able to homeschool them and personally instill the Lord’s truth in them while I watch them grow and develop each day. SO SO blessed!


13. Thankful for my husband’s job!!! Thankful that though he started off working 60 hours a week he has progressively cut those hours down to 40 in the past 6 years. Thankful that where he used to have to work all holidays, he now HAS to stay home on all holidays. Thankful that he can now take time off without stressing about the loss of money. Thankful that though he is working less hours, he has now doubled his income in 6 years. Thankful that for 5 years now he has worked in such a godly environment, where it is the norm to have a relationship with the Lord, and where his co-workers and boss meet weekly for a time of devotion and worship with the Lord. God has provided abundantly in this area, and my sweet husband has patiently waited and worked so hard to get here!

14. Thankful for HEALTH! We are all strong and healthy and though this may be temporary, I am thankful that we can currently enjoy it!!

15. Thankful for a free college education for my husband and myself! OH what a blessing this has been and will be for our future bank account!

16. I never thought I’d say it, but I am thankful for Lynchburg! We really are our own little bubble from the rest of the world. It’s such a conservative environment and though the relationships with God may not all be authentic, He is the “norm” here.  People are pleasant and the morals are still in tact for the most part. I have met some of the most amazing friends here and am so grateful for the testimony they have been to me! I am thankful this is where we are currently raising our children.

17. Thankful for my sister! I love that we have grown so close over the years, she and my mom are my absolute best friends, and I know I can always count on her for anything! She is such a generous, loving, sweet big sister and amazing Aunt to my children, I am so lucky!! J

18. Thankful for my dishwasher!! I don’t care how silly this one may seem, if you saw how many dishes we went through on a daily basis, you would be thankful too!! LOL we have moved 5 times and I have only had a dishwasher in two of the houses…I realize just how thankful I am for it! LOL

19. Thankful for shout, magic erasers, and super glue! My kids live to destroy and these are the things that have salvaged some of those items along the way!

20. Thankful for COFFEE!!!! Oh where would I be without my coffee?? I not only need it but I thoroughly enjoy every cup! It has also been the source of many special “girl times” with my mom and sister, my friends, and now my little girl! Love me some coffee

21. Thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God’s incredible mercy and grace, my life would be absolutely meaningless and empty without Him!!!!

22. Thankful for a woman’s ability to multi-task! Oh my word, where would we be without it??

23. Thankful my children get to grow up with both sets of their grandparents nearby, that is something I wished I could have had and we are so blessed to have our families right down the road!

24. Thankful for the internet! I love that I can stay connected with family and friends that are far away, I love the ample amount of resources available right at the click of a mouse, and I LOVE LOVE that whenever I am stumped on a scripture, I can just type in the key words and immediately find what I am looking for.  It is a luxury I am truly thankful for!

25. Thankful for restoration for both my mother and my father in law’s health! Both have fought cancer and both have won the battle thanks to God’s mercy! I am so grateful we are able to have them here with us even longer!

26. Thankful for the invention of glasses and contacts, I am so blind, I cannot imagine trying to get through life without being able to see clearly!

27. Thankful for cameras! I love that we can capture such precious moments throughout our lives and be able to vividly look back on all the years gone by, especially now that I am a parent. 

28. Thankful for all the times we are able to get together with our families. Being able to celebrate holidays and special occasions with everyone we love right there is such an incredible blessing, and I am so glad my kids get to experience it!

29. Thankful for the ability to read! I would be lost if I could not soak up all the information that is out there for us to know! 

30. Thankful for each and every day we are blessed with here on earth! Every day is a precious gift, we are not promised tomorrow and I am so grateful for every minute I have to spend here with my sweet family living and serving the Lord! GOD IS GOOD!