Potty Training

Lord help me!
Seriously,
Lord help me!
Day 2 of potty training here.
I could punch my hand through a wall.
Trip left yesterday for 10 days on a Young Life trip to Canada.
Somehow in my mind it made sense to start our 3 day intense potty training after he left.
So I am staying home for 3 days trying to get this potty training somewhat figured out with Brooks.
Homebound for 3 days without Trip, great idea Rebecca.
We have probably gone through about 11 pairs of underwear in the last 2 days.
Today was an improvement from yesterday but still lots of accidents.
It's hard having to stay home and stay so focused on him ALL DAY.
I know the accidents are to be expected from the beginning.
But it is so frustrating.
I know he will get it.
I just hope it's sooner rather than later.
Finally, after I put both kids to bed, ate my dinner and watched my trashy reality television shows,
I sat with the Lord (priorities are all out of whack over here).
Something I haven't done much of lately.
In my time I realized yet again that I need Jesus.
I have been trying to do so much on my own.
I have been relying on my own efforts and it's not working.
As a result I have been very impatient with Trip and my kids.
I am constantly trying to figure myself out as a mom and sometimes I get caught up in doing it myself.
I don't let others in to help, including Jesus.
I don't mean to do it this way,
life just starts happening and I forget to bring Jesus into it with me.
So many gross symptoms of this are creeping into my life and I hate it.
I hate me without Jesus.
I hate to think of what I am offering my family when I offer myself without Jesus.
It's much harder without Jesus, it's not always easy with him, but I know it's much harder without him.
I don't beat myself up over it,
because I know that's not what Jesus wants me to do.
It's refreshing for me to realize my need for my God.
I think it's healthy, because we are always going to slip, fall away from him. It's inevitable.
It's finding our way back that means the most.
I believe that brings God the most Joy.
While my kids bring me so so so much joy and love that I never thought possible,
I know that if I don't come to Jesus more often, I am never going to make it through this world as a mom and a wife. Because right now, everything they do is driving me crazy!
I am praying for this:
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.............and over all these put on love, which binds them all together." Colossians 3:12-14
 So,
Lord Help Me!

photo of the day

The Beach

We have had such a great summer.
We had two wonderful weeks at the beach after our time in Colorado.
We had a packed house for the week of the 4th of July, 8 kids under 3 and 10 adults.
Crazy fun.
Trip had an incredible week at Frontier while we were at the beach and he met us for our second week down there for some good quiet family time.
Brooks doesn't know what to do now that he's at our boring house with nobody to play with.
Brooks has gained a lot of confidence in the pool after some swim lessons and LOVES it.
Although I would hardly call him a swimmer, he loves it so much.
He had a blast playing with his cousins.
He is saying more and more things that he hears from us which is funny and scary at the same time!
His favorite songs right now are "Cruise" and "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord Oh My Soul).
When he tries to sing "10,000 reasons" it melts my heart. He says "mommy play Oh My Soul" it makes me so happy. He wants to hear it over and over again. Something about a little kid singing worship is just the sweetest.
He also says "is" at the end of every question. "Where is daddy is?"
And he is asking ALOT of questions, "why, why, why?"
Not always sure how to tackle the "why's".
We are constantly amazed at Brooks and how observant he is.
He is incredible with directions in the car. He recognizes how to get places all the time.
He also is great at remembering where stuff is in the house.
He can always tell us where his shoes are or where Bernie is.
Ford is gaining more and more personality. Still super smiley and we have his 6 month appointment coming up!
While the days are long, the months are flying by.
Trying to enjoy these days as I know it's a short season in the blip of life.
Sometimes it feels like we will forever be in car seats and diapers and the task of leaving the house to go somewhere seems monumental but I know it's not forever.
This summer has been special in that I have had a lot of quality time with the boys.
At Crooked Creek I just followed Brooks around camp all day and had no distractions with him,
at the beach we played in the pool together and played on the beach with no distractions.
No errands to run or wasting time on the computer or watching T.V.
Just a lot of time focused on my kids.
Which is hard in so many ways,  exhausting, especially when Trip is out of town or busy working. But I have to be thankful for it because I feel like a really know my kids. I really really do. I am thankful for the time.
Next on the list,
Trip is out of town for 10 days on a hiking trip with YL kids and we are going to tackle potty training!
Yikes!!!!
So many fun memories made this summer!

4th of July parade

wonder what they are talking about?

first time in the pool, loved it!

first time eating baby food, loved it!

brother love

blue eyes

William and Henry in the parade

Ford and Liza in the parade

watching a movie

William showing Ford some love