Sunsets and Stars

Oh the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works I will meditate.

Ps. 145:5

Last night the kids and I went to the grocery store alone. While we were driving the sun was setting. It was a big orange sun hanging on the horizon with a yellow and orange sky fading into the night. Bodie took note of it really for the first time. He saw the sun and exclaimed “Wooow!!” pointing. When I realized when he was seeing we talked about how Jesus made the sun, and he colored it. He just sat there so content and filled with wonder. His eyes were somewhat distant as he thought about what I had just said. Then looked at me and yelled “Yay” while clapping. Which he does when he is proud of someone, or something I made. ;) We talked abut how pretty it was, and he threw in how it reminded him of his friend Eden… (uh oh) ;)

Later after a riot against me in the grocery store we were quickly heading to the car and he saw the only two starts that exist in KC in the sky and Boy did the same as he did with the sun. I told him they were stars (his favorite shape like his momma) and again he related it back to how awesome it was and of course Eden. I asked him if he thought she could see them from home and if we will see them when we get home. He responded with a duh mom kind of ‘yeah’. The faith like a child!

It was something that finally had shifted in this two year old. Something I have been anxiously waiting for. To behold the Lamb in all of creation. To see such captivation in him really seeing it, and knowing it was Jesus who made it was so awesome. A new kind of wonder captivated him for a moment. Its the beginning of a journey into the knowledge of Jesus, and i got to see it. The kindness of the Lord will forever astound me!

Just incase you forgot how cute he used to be ;)

Uniqueness of the Heart

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

Pr. 25:2

This last week has been a beating on us as a family. Bodie has been much more emotional and defiant then normal. Tantrums, yelling, and time out have literally been running our home this last week. My house has never been this messy, I have have been battling headaches and migraines for days, Elsie has gracefully taken the back burner to her brother, Bode has been very sick and recovering, and Dan is steadily loving us in all of our chaos.

I never imagined parenting easy by any means, but I also never imagined having a ‘bodie’ either. He will truly change the world, and has the strength to do it completely by himself. I dont say that lightly or as a pep talk to myself, but in all honestly he lives life to the absolute fullest in the good or bad. And being a mom to one of ‘those’ is not easy either. Why or how the Lord chooses is a mystery to me. Maybe I need the change more then most..

Everything seems to be a down this last week with him and a battle royal for us. Not getting to watch movies, or a veggie Tales, or getting a cookie when he demands, milk after we pour juice and the list goes on and on to even the smallest battles of not crunching crackers on the floor and having his bink not just for bed.

Something has to give at some point. We have tried every kind of discipline, love, everything. But the tantrums and screaming still exists. Im not a crazy bootcamp kind of mom but my kids are going to be respectful and kind and loving even when they dont want to, because thats love. The Father treats us the same.

At my breaking point today in prayer and searching out wisdom on his heart and stewarding it rightly as a parent, the lord spoke so softly,

 I carry your heart unique to you, to how you were created.     Why would you handle his any different?

Oh….. right. If im not dealing with his heart in the way it was formed and feels loved how will I ever bring discipline unto him desiring Jesus through it all. Im not talking unique in boy and girl and every child is different kinda way, but in how we were created and how we are loved.  A very seasoned mother told me one time “Just be a ‘yes’ mom”. Until today I thought that was crazy. After yet another humbling and banging my head kind week Im beginning to understand.

With Bodie, everything is a battle, unless one of us gives. His heart needs some yes’es. So maybe that means a cookie for a snack, or an extra movie. The kids doesnt take any down time in the day and has to work twice as hard as any of us. Why not? When it is purely out of desire and not out of boredom or replacing something like a movie for something.

At the end of the day, does he have joy, peace, love, know love, give love, seek Jesus? Thats what matters. Not if he uses a bink at two Im pretty sure he wont have it in high school. (hopefully) Even today i said yes and let him go watch Dragons while I cleaned and played with Elsie. He has yet to be disobedient or anything. If anything he is happy, Elsie got momma time and i got the house slightly picked up. I would say that is a win. Movies is an easy example right now, but even in a movie he chills out, afterwards he uses his imagination way more, his talking is better, and he is happy and able to love on his sister more.

Now my home isnt turning over to free for all, I love my kids too much or that. And flat disobedience is different then battles…But a ‘yes’ and even discipline each go further when carrying a heart unique to how it was created I am going to be a yes mom. And I will carry his heart rightly, and i will love past my knowledge through Jesus.  It may not look text book, but it works. Even past my own ideas and walls, I will love rightly.

If you had not seen of my twitter feed, bodie is a healing kinda man. thats what his heart prays for on a consistent basis outside of us and our nudgings. He has prayed for me multiple times and has had instant results. the other day I woke up with full blown pink eye, showered got ready did the morning and it was still there hours later. I had Boy pray for me and within 20 minutes it was 100% gone and I was healed! Lets hear an AMEN! ;) Oh to have faith like a child!!

Parenting is not easy but it truly is a honour to search it out. 

KC Zoo 2011

Today we finally ventured out to the zoo! Some of my favorite places on earth are zoos, and my husband is completely tolerant of my childlike nature. ;) Anne, Pam (Anne’s mom) Eden, and Little Avery came along too, the more the merrier right? Annnnd Boy and Eden only got in one fight! (amazing) ;) I tried to cut out 90% of my pictures and collage the other to show you and save some time.

Enjoy.

I am terrified of birds flying around like this… (obviously) but braved it and had fun :)
Our poor little bird was the outcast beat up guy. Shaking, mostly featherless, and deformed feet. It was a Jesus loves me kinda thing for me :)

Boys Second!

I forgot to post pics of Boy Wonder’s second birthday, ooops..!

For his birthday i wanted it to be very chill, no pressure to make him nap, cause he wouldn’t and no pressure to have a bunch of his friends over since he would end up playing with one anyways, or fighting them… ;)

SO we put balloons in his room to wake up to and in the living room to play with (Cars ones of course ) and then we just had a normal morning. After his nap we took his best friend Eden to a very large Farmstead/Petting Zoo, Deanna Rose. Of course Eden was PUMPED to go and Bode had no idea where we were going. So we loaded up the kids, Anne loaded up hers and off we went! As a responsible parent i made sure to bring my camera, with only about 1/4 battery life left.. :/ But it was a blast, the kids had so much fun just playing and holding hands most of the time. They even went running off to the chapel!! ;)

*side note I have never been to a petting zoo before…. So I thought it would be a blast to go IN the little goats pen and feed them with the kids.. Dan nodded and said “Well you can go ahead..” The second I got in there I was swarmed and jumped on and pinned against the fence by this bigger goat! AH, my camera slammed against the posts, and boy was hitting them saying “top it, top it, stop it”, and “no no no”…so cute, and scary… Lesson learned…

So this is what we did….Some are camera and some are top notch iphone ;)

We fed the fish…Massive gold fish

LIFE

We had a little fun today in the yard, and even did a little praying! ;)

Jesus,
I plead your blood over my sins
and the sins of my nation.
God, end abortion and
send revival to America.
Amen

Bodie’s Pictures

OK, i know i just posted so i am going to keep this short and i only have a short ammout of time before life calls back to me ;)

Here are a few of Bodies master pieces of lately. Yes i have let him hold our nice expensive camera, and snap a few shots. He knows how to look in the view finder and then hit the capture button. It sometimes looks like a two step process, but he does good. I make sure to keep a solid had under the camera incase of any drops though.

I think he has an eye…. ;)

I love how perfect he got these last two of ‘Daddy’

AND i cant resist but to up a few of my own quickies showing all is goofy faces and growing personality. :)

Such a crazy Boy, He is actually posing for everyone of these, not mad or anything.

The best part of it is if i dont actually take the picture he will keep doing that same face until i do, then change faces. haha

What is this half mob/ganster face!?

See all smiles and goofy’ness

HAHA! These two have got to be some of my favorites. He actually LOVES applesauce. Playing the camera again! ;)

This one was just because im a mom and thought it was cute….

 

Ash

 

 

PlayDate

So the other day (more like over a week ago) i tried to post this but my computer kindly deleted it with out saving… SO im sitting here watching American Idol and going to gove this another try.

We had a playdate with our cute little friend across the street, Eden.

Finally, they can see across the street to the others house and when one is out side or at their door it is banging and crying to play :) (Most of the time)

We played in the tunnel

(Love this one)

Learned to play together

Showed off some more naughty skills

Look at those eyes! SO cute and pretty!

We even decided that they were friends ;)

Played hide..

AND seek

Pet the kitty

Finally finished up the day in the make shift ball pit in our basement.

We were given a toddler car bed for Bodie awhile back, but havent been able to use it yet, SO I pulled it out and put the play balls in there. Bode loves diving in and out, and Eden liked the best part the BALLS!

I have been trying to figure out a little play room get away in our house so i dedicated our little basement room to that, for now :)

B’s First Snow

This winter in KC has been so mild its crazy, no nothing, not really even any overcast days. Once we went on vacation thought i got my fill of a beautiful white snow in Denver, and then i found out that we got snow in KC that same day. (Go figure) BUT i know i enjoyed it in Denver alot more, even thought it, (and Bodie being sick) hindered us from meeting up with some good friends, but i guess you have to roll with the punches sometimes and try again..?

Anyway, we got a pretty big snow the other day here, and it was perfect, big fluffy, falling straight down snow. So the next day we thought it would be fun to go and take B out and check it out while daddy shoveled.  We had a blast, and i have fun taking a few pictures to remember it by. He looked so cute in his cowboy boots, fuzzy hat, oversized coat (that he cant balance in), and mittens that he actually kept on! :) Their not perfect b/c i couldn’t see the pics with how bright it was out side and my fingers were on the verge of being frost bitten… ;)

These first two pictures are actually his very first snow in CO. As you can see his favorite part was eating it ;)

<3 This picture, it shows just how boy he really is

Helping daddy shovel, we ended up bringing out the car scraper for him to feel like he was helping ;)

The biggest accomplishment of the hour was me getting my coat zipped up! I had to suck it in for what i could, and then it still took about 5 min b/c i couldn’t see the zipper and it was being difficult! Win by me :)

After everything was said and over he was a happy camper ready for a warm bath and  his runny nose wiped haha :)

-Ash

OH and if you haven’t checked out Dan’s blog and new post head over and give it a read. :)

http://danielscorner.wordpress.com

Caught Coloring

Yesterday was a day that will forever be marked in momma’s heart! I caught Bodie coloring, all by himself!

I usually put him in the pack and play during my showers, but decided it was time to give him a bit of freedom. I baby gated the upstairs, and opened up his room and the bathroom doors. That way he could roam in between the two. The first few days he was super nervous and basically hung around in the bathroom with me. But yesterday he decided to roam into his room and see what i would say. Once he realized it was ok, i heard some rummaging, and then dead silence. No return yell back at mine, no baby stomping, nothing.

Oh geez better make this fast

So I hurried up my shower to make sure he wasn’t into to much trouble, and peeked into his room to find that he found a box of crayons, and dumped them out, and was straddling ready to bring color to the bible. Good thing I walked in when i did. I grabbed the canvas painting he did when he turned one (that i still hadn’t hung up) and turned it over for a quick coloring pad.

I quietly left the room not showing him anything, and he started coloring! He knew what why to hold the crayons, what hand he liked, and he quietly went through all the new colors. Although white was defective ;) I tried to show him to color awhile ago on a kids menu at a restaurant  but he had zero interest. I guess he logged it away for today!

Here are the pictures i took of him the next day, ‘showing me’. Yes he is sick and thats why he looks slightly crazy and sleep deprived.

So Handsom, love the focus!

Yes, this did happen again, but i caught him before any real damage could be done ;)

Black ended up being his favorite color b/c it could mark on anything. dark.

He wanted to try out the color on his crib, changing table, the inside of his dresser drawers, curtains and so on. (Of course i didn’t let him, but it was cool to see his mind thinking, for now) Thats when we decided to clean up quickly.

Look Momma, I can even color on the SIDE!

Hes such a joy even when hes sick, and hasn’t slept

Willingly showing me his work

This did happen a time or two but hes just too cute to say no to!

And he decided he didn’t like them anyways.

I love the blur on this, shows the intensity he was coloring with :)

Ash

Simple Cooking

It feels like its about time I posted something proving that we really do cook in our house.  I really enjoy cooking, when I have time and we are actually prepared. We try and eat pretty healthy in our house, so we really watch what is in what we eat.

Tonight we whipped together some fajitas. Some amazing fajitas if i may say so. ;)

First i cut up all the veggies and mixed in some fajita seasoning

I browned the meat, (steak tonight)

Stirred in the veggies to cook to perfection

And then enjoyed the most simple amazing meal ever!

And its healthy, which is even better!

I have a few more posts i want to be sure and put up this week, mainly the ones i have neglected in doing. Including our little bathroom revamp. I cant say it ‘helps’ the pink wall tile in there, but it does look much better for now. ;)