inner voice.

 

{source + where to purchase = sophie blackhall cain } 

I saw this quote a while a back, " The way you speak to your children becomes their inner voice." /// Peggy O'Mara

so sweet
so powerful

I was having this sappy mom moment thinking about all the lovely things I say to my adorable little children.

be brave /// you're going in the chokey // i love you /// you make my heart happy /// snuggle with me /// are you snugglely? /// go get your cozies /// oooohhhhhhhh i ran around the corner and i ran around the block and i ran right into the donut shop! /// i love you so /// actually and p.s. ///sleep tight don't let the bed bugs bite, and if they bite, bite them back ///  why certainly! ////

Smiling, while thinking about this I asked Elisabeth and Jude,  "Hey, what are some things that mommy says to you a lot?

Elisabeth replies. " I know! SSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Lyla is SLEEPING!" 

...and then Jude quickly agreed.

The sweet sappy moment was gone and I replied, "Oh yeah? Well maybe if you little goobers could be stop yelling during nap time I would have to tell you to be quite."

They laughed.
The end. 

 p.s. Seriously why are they the loudest during nap time?
...probably the same reason the ups man and solicitors always seem to ring our door bell during nap time...

devotional wednesday.

{ source + how to = patton prints }

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. /// Ephesians 2: 8-9

saved by grace

god is the source of salvation

god alone saves

arises out of the lovingkindess of god

saved is past tense

we can't earn salvation

grace is huge gift...

for everyone...

who will accept it...

Last week the hubs and I spotted a person we knew. A person who in my mind had don't some pretty inexcusable things. The husband approached this person, and talked with him, and shook his hand. When my husband came back over to me my exact words were, "I can't believe you shook his hand." (not my proudest moment)  My husband, being the awesome man of God he is, looked at me and said, "You have to show people grace." 

bam. I was instantly convicted. The man I married was right. God shows me grace everyday. Every single day. And every single day I don't deserve it. 

my sin is no different that yours,  and it is my job as a someone who calls themselves a Christian to show people grace. 

It what ways are you showing grace today?

friday letters.

{source + how to = miss renaissance } 

dear husband, even though i nagged you about spending days building projects instead of hanging out with me. i really do appreciate  you making me my very own diy farmhouse style table. i also love that you took my hints about those tree stumps ive been eyeballing and turned them into chairs. i also love that you build my table with your shirt off...it was quite the view from inside (wink, wink )

dear elisabeth, you can ride your bike! i am so proud of you and it only took you 3 day to learn!! i am also glad you learned early and you weren't 8 like me.

dear jude, it is super cute to know that the best thing i cook according to you in cold pizza. glad i can manage to take the pizza that good old dad cooked and put it on a plate for you with out even warming it. ok that is a lie. i don't even give you a plate. 

dear lyla, you look super adorbs in a teeny tiny swimsuit.

dear summer break, you can't get here soon enough.

dear morning coffee, this is how i feel about you. 

dear god, so thankful your voice stills me.

dear home grown arugula, thank you for growing in our garden. you taste awesome. now tell your friends the tomatoes to hurry it up. i see some blt's in my future. 

devotional wednesday

{ source : the olive tree } ( free print /// personal use only please! )

your word is lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path /// psalms 119:105

So thankful that God's word is the light in the darkness this fallen world can sometimes bring...

the light in depression

the light in loss

the light in a hurting relationship 

the light in fear

the light in an unstable job

the light in sickness

the light in life

In what ways are you allowing God's word to light up your life today?

a happy list.

 

{source + where to purchase = mama blue designs } 

 

{ source + where to buy = jillian rene decor }

a happy list

baby food jars full of water /// clouded with paint
hand made cards and notes 
billie holiday on pandora

open windows and a warm spring breeze coming in

three cheeks with dimples & one tiny freckle on a little girl's cheek

starting a new book
reading a  classic

tiny grass stained  feet

hearing a song that instantly throws you into worship

the crumbs of the cheeze-it bag
packing up the winter hats and getting out the wiffle balls and bats

what makes your happy list today? 

i am.

i am the mom who will stop what i am doing and read a book if i am asked /// i am the mom who sleep trains my babies /// i am the mom who cooks a different dinner if the child won't eat what has been cooked (insert sheepish look here) /// i am the mom with ice cold hands /// i am the mom who makes a big deal out of holidays, birthdays, and special events /// i am the mom who wishes i could just freeze time (sometimes for a nap, but mostly to soak up the precious moments of life) /// i am the mom who begs her small children to snuggle with her in the morning for just.five.more.minutes /// i am the mom the mom who stalks pinterest for fun activities and then actually does them /// i am the mom who uses scripture to battle any fear the enemy might throw my way /// i am the mom who will never be ok with vomit /// i am the mom who takes a gazillion photos and says "cheese?...look at me?...just one more i promise." /// i am the mom who thinks potty training is just plain awful /// i am the mom who refuses to let my kids jump on, or off, or over the couch (we have a trampoline for jumping} /// i am the mom who has to check on each and every kid before i go to sleep at night and just possibly steal a kiss or two. //// i am the mom who thinks bribing is a great parenting tool /// i am the mom who goes to bed feeling guilty some nights /// i am the mom who lets them skip school on their birthday (i may or may not also let them skip on siblings birthdays too) /// i am the mom who cringes at  balloons and  has issues with the ice cream man /// i am the mom who will miss these sweet baby faces and feels their childhood flying by and slipping through my fingers /// i am the mom who prays daily for protection, godly friends, and futures spouses /// i am the mom who prays for God to be evident in their lives and place a passion on their heart

i am the mom who squeezes my daughter hand tightly when she offers it b/c i know if a few years she will to cool to do so
i am the mom who's heart skips a beat every night when i say see you later alligator and in return i hear go-go crocodile
i am the mom who holds her sleeping baby just a little while longer b/c slowly she is growing to big for my lap


what kind of mom are you?
what kind of mom will you be?
what kind of mom did you have? 

i hope everyone has a lovely and happy mother's day!  

devotional wednesday

{ source + where to buy = merci merci }

The other day  I was sitting at the table with Jude playing with moon sand. He flashed those sea blue eyes at me and said, " Mom? How can we change the world? " 

note: my first thought was ... what?change the world? aren't you four years old? how did you even think of that? 

I looked at him with all his innocence and said,  "It is very simple son. Love Jesus, share his love, and always be kind."

He was quite for a minute and then responded with, "That's it?"

He smiled at me, "Mom. I am gonna change the world."

It seems like such a simple task that can make such a huge impact on the world. So simple that even a child gets it. ( luke 18:17 ) 

I thought about it.
So simple.
Yet, even I can't seem to get it right all the time.

love jesus? check. i have got that down. that one was easy.
share his love? ummmm. sure! as long as it is in my comfort zone.
show kindness? when i feel like it.

So today I am going to take my own advise and make more of an effort to change the world.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:3-35

How are you changing the world today?