Thursday, February 24, 2011

Temper tantrums and time outs.....

How can something so ugly come out of something so cute? Seriously, look how cute she was painting a few days ago:
It was such a delightful day.

Now its temper tantrums…..oh the temper tantrums! I did a little reading today about appropriate ways to discipline, and one mother described the said behavior as a “necessary expression of emotion.” LOL! I would call it a little bit more than an “expression of emotion” when Mikayla, after I told her she could not climb on my bed, flails herself on the floor, in an exorcism-like manner, throwing anything within reach against the wall. Poor Winnie-the-Pooh, he never knew what hit him.
Last night I was thinking to myself “Where does she learn this?” and I received a very matter-of-fact, clear-as-day answer…… “She learns it from you.” Yep, that’s God for ya, never softens the blow when He has something to say. Ouch.
And it’s so true. Granted, I haven’t thrown Pooh-Bear against the wall in the last few weeks (J), but boy do I freak when I don’t get my way. I say things I never intend to say, I become pouty, and my joy is completely stripped of me. Have you ever caught yourself saying something mean, or spewing a curse word, due to a certain situation, only to wish you could crawl into a cave and hope no one, even your child, heard you say it? I hate those moments, and I have them a lot.
I have felt rather confident in my decisions with correcting Mikayla thus far. She gets a swat to the behind or on the top of her hand when she does something harmful to herself or others. This morning she got a time-out for acting out, and then I told her why she was naughty and showed her what being a “good girl” looks like, so that when I tell her to be a “good girl” she will know how to do it.
I think my “ah-ha” moment that I shared above, was God’s way of swatting me on the behind. Now if only I could get a time-out  J

Friday, February 18, 2011

Zumba just....

kicked my butt. We have the Zumba work-out game for the x-box, and it is hard core! Although, it may be hardcore to me because, let's be honest, shaking my hips is not my strong suit. But hey, I didnt stop moving (although it may have not been pretty movement)!

So, in an effort to get myself in better shape (because the round one just isnt working for me anymore), I have started my new full-time mommy role this week with a goal to get into my pre-marriage (yes you heard right, pre-MARRIAGE, I didn't just gain baby-weight, I gained new-spouse weight too) jeans by fall. I have worked out every day this week! Woo hoo!

The way I am staying motivated is by a rule I set for myself:
I can't do anything with my blog or the computer until I have worked out.

So, my lovely readers, if you haven't heard from me in a while, you will know why! But because I am so committed to you, I am going to make this happen! Wish me luck and send skinny thoughts my way!

Hope you all have a fab weekend!




Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Feels like a flower.....

So here is a thought-provoking concept that I am contemplating as I fight the sleep that is beckoning my name.

I am reading this book right now about a missionary who lived through fourteen years of torture in a Communist prison (sounds like a real feel-good book doesn't it?), and one of the quotes that I read tonight was:

"A flower, if you bruise it under your feet, rewards you by giving you it's perfume."

After reading this quote, it made me think about when Jason brought me home a dozen roses the other night, he also brought home a single pink rose for Mikayla. Well she was so excited that she snapped the flower right off the stem. We did our best to revive it, and it's still beautiful sitting in a bowl of water. Mikayla still loves it, and it still smells good.




Have you ever been a flower, like its referred to in the quote above? When the trials of life have "bruised" you, do you still give an air of sweet smelling confidence, or do you wither up and become frail?

Or, maybe you have encountered beautiful "flowers" in your life. People, who against all odds, are still walking the walk, and living in the peace that passes all understanding. How inspiring it is to see people faced with such tragedy, press on, maybe still stricken with grief, but being guided with the faith and reassurance that God is in control.

Boy do I want that faith. I want the "perfume" that I exude to be so strong, that the room needs to be aired out. I dont want to be a flower just for its beauty and appearance (ie: seem like I have it all together), I want to be a flower for the fragrance.

Anyone else feel like being a flower? (Don't worry, I promise not to break out in Kumbya or anything J.)



Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentines Day

Ok so I have never really been one to dive into Valentines day, it's always seemed silly to me. Call me scrooge (or what would the Valentines equivalent be?) but I just didn\t get it. Then I remembered this verse:

"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." -John 13:35

Okay, okay. So I now relent on my previous scrooge-ness (or whatever that is). And I do have a little girl, so the color pink, hearts, and chocolate are already a norm for us. And showing love is so much fun! So we had a little Valentine's Day fun with our friends....

Making a mess......

while making these:



Lots of fun! And yummy! Oh and the best part about today is..........its my first official day as a full-time mommy! And to celebrate that, my dear sweet husband got me these beauties:



So I suppose Valentines Day means so much more to me this year than it ever has! I hope you all have a wonderful day lovin'! Just do me a favor, ok? Don't wake up tomorrow morning and forget all that you did today to celebrate LOVE. The celebration can continue tomorrow, and the day after that, and for all the remaining 364 days. Deal?!




Friday, February 11, 2011

That's You!

Do you know your name?

The other day Mikayla and I were playing downstairs and she looked at the pictures I have framed on the TV console. She pointed at the engagement picture of Jason and I, and said "Dada, Mama" (how she knew it was me is mind boggling, as I had super dark hair and was...well.....lets just say I am a little fluffier now J), and then she pointed to the picture of herself when she was itty-bitty, and said "You!"

So many people have said to her "Thats You!" when she looks at a picture of herself, that now she thinks that is her name! If only she knew how long Jason and I prayed for her, and gave thought and special care to her name.......

If only we knew what went into our "name." Not our name given at birth, but our name given by God. Oh how I have fallen prey to what society, satan, and even my flesh, says my name is. Lately I have heard "Not Good Enough" (rolls right off the tongue doesn't it?). But that is not what went into me, into my name, when I was created and put on this earth. God gave care and special thought to who I would be, and it was not "Not Good Enough" it was:

"You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way." Song of Solomon 4:7 (NLT)

So I will ask again. Do you know your name?


Thursday, February 10, 2011

Introduction to My Life From Scratch

Made from scratch. This was not a term I grew up hearing too often. This is not a hit at my mother, as she will be the first to admit that her domestic skills and desires did not fall on the same playing field as June Cleaver. When we were younger, I do remember family meals around the table, but the older we got, and the more capable we became, the more the homemade meals were few and far between, and the Hot Pockets, frozen pizzas, and Pop-Tarts became the norm (and let’s be honest, as growing teenagers, what could be better?).

And just an FYI: where my mom may have lacked in the Suzy-Homemaker role, she made up for ten-fold in the relationship department. She was the mom who created rules and boundaries, and at the same time, was the mom who everyone wanted to talk to. I will be thrilled if my relationship with my children is a fraction of the relationships that she developed with the three of us kids.

Back to my point….

This day and age has made the term “from scratch” a thing of the past. Fast food and TV dinners have made “slaving over a hot stove” a running joke. Pre-made cookie dough has taken the love out of comfort foods. They are easy ways to get by with little effort. **Disclaimer** I am a fan of frozen pizzas and the occasional fast food dinner. So understand me clearly before you continue reading. This is not a criticism of any of those things**

I don’t want my life to be like a TV dinner. I want it to be filled with great reward. What is better than walking into a house with the smell of a home cooked meal wafting from the kitchen? And doesn’t it taste better too?

“Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.” –Proverbs 12:14 NLT

That’s what God wants for me as a woman, wife and mother. I want my desire for greatness to “waft” from my very being. There are not “microwave solutions” to living a Christ centered life. It’s all or nothing.

So join me through this journey as I attempt to live a Life From Scratch. It will be filled with clever crafts, how-to activities, and the occasional pictures of my beautiful daughter, but mostly it will be filled with the wonderful insights that God provides me through my relationships with my sweet little family.

I can smell the goodness now……….. J