"Slow: Children at Play"

This morning I felt a need to sit and take time to do my devotional. I don't make this a priority as I feel like I have so much more in my life more important. I forced myself to sit. I opened my devotional and could not concentrate. I skimmed the chapter, like most of us do, trying to get through this. My mind racing on what I need to do. The baby is in his bed napping... the other two are at school... this is my time... my time to get something done. I finished the chapter and had no idea what I just read. Guilt set in. I have made so much else a priority over God. Is work or school so much more important than my relationship with Christ?

I opened the devotional again. Read the chapter, really read the chapter. Set everything else aside in my mind. Like a slap in the face, the devotional was what I needed today.

It was about slowing down, making God a priority and enjoying those small moments with Him and my children. I tend to discount the moments when the kids are loud, playing,  and laughing, because they are a disruption. A disruption to the things that I have made important in the wrong order. Deadlines at work and school are deadlines. But at what sacrifice do we make in our lives by living by deadlines that in the end will matter nothing when our kids are grown and we have no real relationship with God?

I love this quote, "What if instead of discounting the current moment, the uncontrollable, the simply given - what if I counted it - and on the God who controls it all? It is only the present moment alone that holds the possibility of coming into the presence of God. Look around, breathe deep, enter into this moment." - Ann Voskamp

Today, I will live in the moments with God. The one I had while despite everything else, sat and spent time with Him. The moments with my children. When they come home from school and tell me all about their day. The moments when the house is so loud I can't get anything done. The moments when my daughter gives me a kiss and says "I love you, mommy." These are the moments of life that will mean everything in the end. These are the important things.

 

"Slow: Children at Play"

 



Bragging

I wanted to brag a little and not post it on Facebook. Milo has been doing so well this week. First off, I started a bad habit of laying down with Milo until he fell asleep when he was going through a scared phase. That bad habit lasted months and months. This week we decided to break the habit.

The first night was torture for both us and Milo. Crying, screaming, and punishments went on for over an hour until he finally stayed in his bed and fell asleep. The next night Mike was away and I was dreading doing bedtime by myself. To my suprise, my little guy rose to the challenge. He was a little weepy but was so proud of himself to stay in his bed. He kept calling out, "Mom, I'm doing a good job!". Last night was even better. We have started a new routine at bedtime for him which has helped. He gets to pick out two books that we read together, then we pray, and sing three songs. I am so incredibly proud of him!

9 Months

I am seriously behind on my blogging but here are two of the my favorite photos from Maddie's 9 month photo shoot. We went to a garden in Orlando to have these done.

My Sleeping Beauty

I guess a morning of playing at church while mom was at MOPS is exhausting!

My Crazy Boy!