Training Ground

When I think about the season of life I am in, I think of training ground. 

I feel like I have been in a good place and soaking it all in.

For the first time in a while I am doing many things for myself.

It sounds selfish, but I think it is ok, for now, and with a healthy sense of balance.

For so many years I have been giving a lot,

young life, teaching,

and more young life, 

and more teaching.

and now I am home ALOT!

And my schedule is light.

I am involved in a couple really great bibles studies for myself,

instead of for highschool and middle school kids.

and so I have found myself doing a lot more of this.......

and it is all really really great stuff!

parenting books and books to strengthen my walk with the Lord.

I want to do my job as a mom the best way that I know how.

and I feel like this time right now has been like a training ground for what's to come in our future with our family.

But it is easy to get overwhelmed with all of it.

There are so many thoughts on ways to parent, 

and so many are great thoughts!

It's challenging because every child is different, and ever situation with your child is different.

There is no parenting formula.

and now that I am dealing with stuff like this....

I want answers like this.........

but unfortunately that's not how life works.

so I will take in all I can. 

read lots of good books,

ask lots of great moms,

but ultimately,

I need this....

                 (my turquoise bible)

and a whole lot of this......

              (prayer)

And did you know that there are only 2 verses in the bible that specifically address parenting? 

2

and it's a really big book.

I just learned that this week.

Which reaffirms my thoughts on that last picture!

At the end of the day we need Jesus.

It always comes back to that,

the older I get, the more I know....... that we just need Jesus.

12 Month Stats

We had our 12 month appointment this week,
doc says the little man is starting to grow into his genetics.
In other words, he's short
He's 28 1/2 inches long (10-25th %)
22 lbs (50 %)
his head measures 47 cm ( 75-90th %, he's clearly going to be a genius with all those brains)

Thankful for a healthy boy!

As usual, he went to town on the paper! 

I eventually had to hold him so that there would be some paper left on the table 

when the doctor came in

I signed him up today for school one day a week next year! 

Lil' boy is growin' up so fast!

Brooks 1st Birthday

We had a great weekend celebrating little mans first birthday.
Who knew your childs first birthday party could be so exhausting.
I tried to keep it simple by not having to cook too much,
but somehow I always seem to feel the need to do more when we have people over.
I felt like a Martha all yesterday when I intended on being a Mary.
We just had family over last night to celebrate (which is 21 people) and Trip and I were exhausted after everyone left.
I still really enjoyed the evening.
We had a great time eating pizza, cake, ice cream,  opening presents and watching a slideshow of Brooks first year.
We are so thankful for our first year with a healthy precious boy.
And we are thankful to have made it through our first year of parenting!

Brooks,
You are a precious gift from the Lord,
you have brought us so much joy!
We can't wait to watch your little personality continue to unfold.
You're a sweet boy with a lot of joy!
We hope that smile continues to bring joy to so many.
We pray you come to know your Lord and savior at a young age so that you may experience life to the full!
You are an earthly example to your mom and dad of how much God loves us all.
We are thankful that God chose us to be YOUR parents.
We love you so very much!

he did not like everyone singing to him, too loud! 

didn't really know what to do with the big thing in front of him

Chappell wanted to show him!

kinda tasty!

oh no, it got loud again!

presents and tissue paper make everything better!

 Brooks had his playgroup pals over to celebrate this morning

Love Day

We have never made a big deal out of Valentines Day.
But Trip made me feel very special.
He's good at that.
He brought me Starbucks in the morning.
And then he surprised me with the gift of being without child all day :)
He took little man to work with him.
I don't think he had a very productive day.

sleeping in the pack 'n play in Trip's office closet

And he surprised me with a balloon and jelly bellies in my car after bible study.

Little man LOVED the balloon.

and still does.

He carried it everywhere with him around the house.

Momore kept the little man while we topped the evening off with a movie.

She is the best. 

She loves keeping the little man.

It makes me happy that she loves keeping him.

If you don't know Momore, you should. She is the worlds best grandmother,

and little mans great grandmother. 

She makes you feel good about yourself.

She makes you feel like "you're the sweetest one"

That's what she always tells me. 

Anyway, it was a great day and I felt very loved. That's what Trip is best at,

Making you feel loved,

I think that's why he works for Young Life.

because he makes you feel loved.

Like Jesus.

I hope little man learns to love like his daddy loves. 

That would be a good thing for this world to have....

another person who loves like Trip.

Give Them Grace

I am reading this book

and I am LOVING it. 

One thing I have struggled with as a new mom, 

and I knew I would from day one, 

is feeling like my child's actions and behavior will be a result of my good or bad parenting ability. 

As this book says, there is a formula that our society believes in- 

good parenting in, good children out

This book has freed me of this by reminding me of the Gospel.
I will never be a perfect mom, my kids will never be perfect children
we are sinners in need of saving and God gives us Grace.
I can't do this parenting thing on my own.
I will fail every time.
No matter how good my intentions are,
I will not always succeed.

We work because we love him and all he's done for us

We work because he's commanded us to work

And we work because he may use our efforts at parenting as the means to draw our children to him

But we are never to work because we think our work will ultimately transform our children

Our works are never good enough or powerful enough to transform any human heart.

I want Brooks to know that just like his mom and dad, 

he too can't go through life trying to do good on his own

I want him to know that every heartache and every failure is a great reminder of our need for a savior

every failed test, every toy not shared, every broken friendship, every tantrum thrown, every selfish act, every lie told, every time he is left out, every homework not done, every game lost, every time out, every bad attitude shown, everything that is hard and might hurt, 

I hope is a great reminder to him that he needs a savior

I want him to know Gods grace when he messes up everyday.

And I want him to see Gods grace shown from his parents as well. (that would be me and Trip!)

And I hope he will learn to give his imperfect parents this grace sometimes too!

I want him to want to do good, because of a thankful heart from knowing the grace given to him by his savior,

not because mom and dad said so.

And when success does come his way, I want him to know that it is only by the Grace of God!

I know this may not be anything he will understand for many years and that's ok,  

but one day,

 I pray he will.