Each moment

I found myself welling up with tears today while cleaning the kitchen counter. Why, you ask? I was listening to some Christian music while going about my day to day mommy tasks and was struck by the lyric, "Each moment is a gift from you to live." Cleaning counters, loading and unloading the dishwasher, picking up kids from school, making dinner are all gifts of life from my heavenly Father. This gift of living and breathing, of cleaning countertops is worship. My life, my living is evidence of His life-giving power. Oh, how I was able to celebrate and praise Him that I am alive because He sustains me. He is glorified when I clean countertops when I acknowledge that each moment is a gift of life from the Life-giver.

#59 Breathing...again and again. He sustains my life.

#60 Cleaning countertops. Each moment of this life.

The Prayer Chair

#58
Many of you know that I love the inspiration from the blog, Holy Experience. Recently, I have been impacted by Ann's words and wisdom about prayer. She reminded me that it isn't the prayer that's powerful but Who we pray to. She reminded me that sometimes in my effort to get everything done the right way what I really need to do is stop and pray to the One that can actually make a difference.

Ann's family has a place that is designed for quiet reflection, a place to go when they need rest and prayer. I know this can be done at anytime and anywhere, but sometimes setting apart a place can help quiet a heart and mind. So, using this family's idea we have created in our home, "The Prayer Chair." After explaining the prayer chair and placing a basket of Bibles and a cross near it I found Jacob resting and reading. Oh, how sweet! For over twenty minutes my little, five year old boy poured over Bible pictures, occasionally asked questions and when Zac tried to get his attention he said, "Not now Zac, this is my rest time." He was resting in Jesus.

My hope is that "The Prayer Chair" will become a popular place to stop, reflect, pray, submit, read and rest in Jesus.

What I heard from the bathroom tonight...

Ryan went in the bathroom while the boys were brushing their teeth and says, "Boys, I want you to brush your teeth without being crazy, without knocking each other over and without saying the word booty!"

Things we hear from Zac

"Mommy, I need a snotter." (Kleenex)

"I wish I had worms under my bed."

"Mommy, let's pretend I am Simba and you can lick my bottom." (What?!)

While looking in the mirror at himself trying on a new outfit, "Perfect!"

While playing football with dad in the backyard, "Daddy, I want to be the attacker."

Hallie's Hair

Hallie is really starting to love fixing her hair. Have I ever mentioned how much I love having a little girl? Anyway, her latest obsession is curly hair. She wants me to braid it at night so that it will be curly in the morning when we let the braids out. Well, I told her we could give her a perm and then she would have curls all the time! She loved the idea, so this past week I gave Hallie her first perm!

Discovering

Today was filled with wonderful discoveries in our backyard.

#52 Digging in the dirt to find out what is hidden underground.


#53 The harvest of carrots. Thinking about making carrot cake.


#54 A creepy, cool creature captivated our attention. Yes, I am thanking God for spiders! It was HUGE!


#55 Discovering how fun lunch can be if we change locations and eat outside. Every bite of our sandwiches took us to invisible land where the boys saw monkeys, cheetahs, and a whale in our backyard.


#56 Rediscovering the sandbox and how fun pulling out an old pastime can be.


#57 Joy that comes from the Spirit as I watch my boys play, dream, imagine and discover in the backyard.

Happiness is...

...taking a walk with Hallie and her dolls.

Today, Hallie and I dressed up her dolls,brushed and styled their hair and took them for a walk around the block. Hallie was precious as she showed her dolls different things we saw along the way and held them if they started to cry.

#51 Thank you, Jesus, for my little girl!