parenting advice to me

Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer. Psalm 61:1
Why are these chidren driving me crazy!?  

the plea of mothers 
hands up if you uttered these similar words (or is it just me)
when they won't listen
they talk back
they refuse to clean up 
they won't eat
they have pushed all the buttons
hit the last nerve
you're ready to throw up your hands and say whose idea was this any way

guilty
these summer days get me every single year!
and recently i've been doing some deep prayer and reflection on my parenting
i'm not the best mom in the world
some would say i'm the meanest mom ever
but we all want reassurance we are doing it right
we look for signs
are they where they should be at their checkup, on the report cards
do they excel at things
will they function well as an adult
are they going to be a good citizen
these are things that run through my mind
when my son is blatantly refusing to listen

and we compare
ohh the ever slippery slope of parenting or life in general
their kids never talk back
they listen ever time
his home is always clean
she reads 20 minutes every day
STOP
so what?

well in the last few weeks i have came to the conclusion that there are some things i need to change, i have spent many days and tears trying to figure out how to fix them, but really it's me that needs fixing

parenting advice for myself

• put down the phone, walk away from the computer - you know it's bad when your 3 year old says Mommy put your phone down
• don't say it unless you mean it
• talk to them 
• avoid taking the easy punishment to get what you want - go to your room, i will spank you
• try not to yell back

i read a quote today

You are here.

Be present.

Kids are smart.  

My kids are smart.  

They need more of me.  

They need me to to be present.

Mommy can swing too

it's almost as if you can see life changing before your eyes

so much excitement this week

    Bless the Lord, O you his angels,

    you mighty ones who do his word,

    hearkening to the voice of his word!

 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,

    his ministers that do his will!

Bless the Lord, all his works,

    in all places of his dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Psalm 103:20-22

find the good {no words needed}

{Beloved, let us love one another; 

for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. 

1 John 4:7}

my birthday post

there was a time we counted our age by hours 
"he's only 7 hours old"

then days
"i can't believe she's been here for 3 days"

then weeks
"time for her 8 week checkup"

then months
"is he doing everything a 6 month old is supposed to do"

then finally years 

and with such excitement that first year 

but by 31 

well the excitement has started to fade

you never drive past a sign that says Honk, Karrie's 31
40 yes 
50 yes
60 yes

but why

why do we not celebrate life

every minute, every day

on saturday i will be 11,323 days old

HOLY COW!!

that's 271,752 hours.

to celebrate
to be thankful for
to honk about
i have spent some great hours and i have wasted quite a few 

this year i'll have  8,760 hours till i'm 32 years old
and what will i choose to do with my time

no one comes to the end of life and wishes

they spent more time on facebook
they kept their house cleaner
they spent more money 
they had more stuff

so why do i continue to worry, waste and do these things?
when there is so much i could be doing with my time

Here's to my next year

may it be filled to the brim with hours not wasted

wanna find out your hours and minutes? 

wild animal food {no words needed}

lovely linky 

Jennifer

still get to be free

after the fireworks are over, the hamburgers and hot dogs are eaten
after the parades and backyard parties
after the red, white, and blue cups, forks, napkins, and plates are all used up


you still get to be free

you still get to watch what you want, say what you want, do what you want
you can talk about the president or the lastest pop star or how much you love or hate soccer
you can agree with hobby lobby or disagree


you still get to be free


see when the founders of this country fought they fought for our freedom from control
those who choose to leave their home and come here
they were adventurous and rebellious
they didn't want to be told where to live and what religion to practice
they didn't want to be judged by their decisions
they came with nothing and built this place we call home
and with great foresight they built a place where 238 years later

you still get to be free


so today 
breathe it in
inhale and exhale freedom
go for it
don't be afraid to take a risk
imagine if the founders of our country had been timid, scared, and unsure

blessed to live and raise my childreen in a country 

where i still get to be free

quotes from God

these words we breath out are His 
these moments we think are special are 
because we breath through Him
and He breaths through us
that's when its special
that's what we will remember, and others will remember
God breathed out these words, scripture
and we tote them around and decorate our tables and walls with them
and then ask God for a sign
He shakes His head
i spoke words to you that you do not listen
that you do not read
that you do not know
find me there
feel me breath

i used to keep a notebook of quotes when i was young
oh how i loved quotes and i still do
the awesome power of words
and how pieced together and written
can you make you breath easier

but to think we have an entire collection
of quotes from God himself
penned down
for us
so that we
can breath easier
He knew we'd be afraid
so he said "do not fear"
He knew we wouldn't understand faith
so he gave us definitions 
He knew we'd want answers and examples
so he gave us page after page, word after word, story after story
not to decorate our coffee tables and walls
but to fill our heart and soul


My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 
turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord    and find the knowledge of God.  
(Proverbs 2:1-5)

because 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

store up in your heart, mind, and soul.