365 days

Sometimes music just says it all.  My heart hurts.  I've listened to this on repeat all day.

Training Two's...

There were 4 big goals I had for my big girl this year.  She has achieved all of them while amazing me along the way.

Potty training and saying goodbye to her beloved paci were the most recent two.

She got potty training faster than I thought was possible.  She doesn't like to be dirty, wet, or have a drop of anything on her clothes so after the first few times of being soaking wet, she became very aware of her body.

But with no diapers comes having to wake up in the middle of the night to go potty.  She hates to wear pull ups and when I try to put one on her, she proudly proclaims, "I don't want to wear that! I am a big girl!"

There are sometimes that pull ups are easier and a must.  ie: Aunt Lee's house with no water proof mattress... periodically, accidents still happen.

I've been told to choose your battles...so the pull up one doesn't get fought while she is awake...after she falls asleep, I put it on over her clothes.  Sneaky, I know.

Losing her paci was tough because I felt like she had to learn how to fall asleep all over again.  In the middle of the night if she lost it, she would just find it and put it back in her mouth and go back to sleep.  Now between no paci, and potty breaks in the middle of the night, we are up a lot some nights.

With all these new changes her sleep is interrupted which makes for some grumpy and tired days.  On top of being two.   Some call it the terrible two's, but I prefer to call it the teaching two's.  Or the teary two's.  Because lets just be honest, there are a lot of tears from her and ME!

Her favorite naughty thing to do it jump on the couch and for the life of me, I can not figure out why she does not understand that 1. when she falls off (which is often) she gets hurt and comes to me in despair on why the couch would hurt her.  2. we sit on the couch, or lay on the couch.  We don't stand or jump on the couch.  But it is still a daily battle if she will choose to obey or disobey.

I would be lying if I told you I wasn't OVER discipline, training, teaching and being consistant.   It is exhausting.  Tim leaves at 5am and sometimes doesn't get home until 8:30pm.  I find my patiences runs out way before then.

I don't want to be a grumpy mom.  I don't want to be a mom that is loving and nurturing from 9-5 but heaven help you after that.  I don't want to be like the card I saw recently that said, I woke up as Cinderella and went to bed a Cruella De Ville.

Gracie is changing physically, emotionally and even spiritually.  Her sin nature is more evident than ever.  But now is my chance to mold her heart.  Now is the foundation on her attitude, life and how she makes good decisions.  And quite frankly, that is extremely overwhelming.

I am thankful for the encouragement of moms that have traveled through the two's before me.  My sister was here this weekend and her reassurance that its all NORMAL was so comforting!

I've chosen to stay home most days instead of partake in play dates, or run errands because we are in such tough training.  But this season will get easier, and for now, "I am doing a great work, and I can not come down."

Be encouraged Momma's!  It's all Normal! Or so I am being told :)

Heavy Heart

Since Wednesday my heart has been really heavy for a precious family in our life.  It came to light that our Pastor from Orlando resigned at our church because of an extramarital affair.

It is times like this when I lay face first in front of a BIG and loving God and beg him to wrap His arms around the Hunter family.  

Because they are well known in Orlando, the media has gotten a hold of the story...people that do not like him or his family have gotten a hold of it, and then there are those that love them deeply and support them.

It makes me incredibly angry the things that people have had the nerve to say.  

Let's be really clear.  He is a man.  A sinner.  Who yes has made terrible choices, but that doesn't make him any different than me or YOU!  

He is wearing his sin on the outside now, whereas my sin is still hidden.  

My sin and your sin grieves the Father just like Isaac's does.

The fact that people can say intentionally mean and hurtful things about someone that is just like them makes me crazy!

As a Christian woman, wife, friend and mother, my heart breaks for them...and the judgement that he will get from the Judge will be enough.   Ours isn't needed.

We are not immune to Satan's schemes, temptations or lies.  He is the deceiver, and that is his job.

There are 3 kids that miss their daddy terribly.  A wife that has more questions than I am sure she knows what to do with, and a pastor, husband, father, son, brother and friend who is being tormented by Satan.  

Pray for them.  Beg God to intervene and save him from the grip of Satan's bondage.  Pray for him.  Pray that he will grab hold of the truth, and it will set him free.  Pray that he will remember "there is a God that is absolutely crazy about you".

Summit Church was build on Jesus Christ.  Not any man.  And because of that, Summit Church will thrive and bring Glory to Christ alone.

I am sure none of the Hunter's will read this, but if they do, know you are loved deeply and prayed for continually.