One of my most vivid memories from the first days of being a mother was standing in my house hugging my mom goodbye after she picked us up from the hospital to bring us home and the tears welling up in my eyes as I began to break down and tell her how terrified I was that I was going to do something wrong or that Andrew would be up all night miserable because I could not figure out what he needed or what I should do. She hugged me and smiled and said she knew I could handle it. But, she offered to stay the night anyway to help and I was so glad she did. After that first night of taking care of him (with lots of help) I KNEW I really could do this! I just lacked the self-confidence.
My wonderful husband is always telling me that if I keep telling myself I CAN'T do something then I will always be right. As long as I think I cannot accomplish this task or that one then I will be holding myself back from doing it. James talks about your tongue as a rudder and that, even though it is so small, it can be as powerful as the tiny rudder on a huge ship. The older I get the more I see that my husband and James are really right. If I can just start telling myself that I CAN do this then I will be able to and have confidence that God will give me the strength I need to do it whether it's preparing VBS materials, loving my enemy or forgiving someone who has hurt me deeply.
So here's to changing "I think I can't!" to "In God, I know I can!"
Showing posts with label Andrew. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andrew. Show all posts
Friday, April 15, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Precious Moments
I thought I would share a few things that help remind me constantly of how awesome our God is and how the best things in life can come in the littlest packages... like little people!
We always encourage Andrew to say thank you to God for things during the day and at night. Sometimes he spouts out random things on his own without me asking what he is thankful for and sometimes we lay in bed and thank God for everything under the sun. Which is never a waste of time! We also like to pray for people who are sick or struggling and I don't know if he quite gets all that is going on when we ask God for things but he definitely understands being thankful. Last night while laying in bed next to him I asked him what he wanted to thank God for and he said "Thank you God for.... GOD!" I said "Well, yes. Thank you God for being a great God." and I ask him what else he wants to thank God for and his response was heart melting... "Thank you for always keeping mommy safe." See what I mean? Then he thanked God for keeping everyone in his family safe.
When I ask him who made the trees, skies, his baby sister, etc. he responds "God" and sometimes adds "God is SO powerful!" I guess we are teaching him something right.
Another thing that I absolutely adore is when he sings Bible story songs like "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho" and "Zacchaeus was a wee little man". We don't watch videos much so singing songs is one of our favorite past times and we like to look at books and sing Bible songs with his Bible story books. But it is even cuter when he is sitting in his room playing with a toy car and out of the blue we hear him singing "Jesus loves me this I know."
My recent favorite is when I ask him if he loves me he says "Yes. This much." and places his hands close together and then laughs and says "No, THIS much!" and throws his hands out as far apart as they can go. :D I love this kid!
And God is blessing us with ANOTHER one? I don't know how my heart can grown any more. But I've said that many times before! So much to be thankful for! God is good!
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| My most favoritest little man ever! |
We always encourage Andrew to say thank you to God for things during the day and at night. Sometimes he spouts out random things on his own without me asking what he is thankful for and sometimes we lay in bed and thank God for everything under the sun. Which is never a waste of time! We also like to pray for people who are sick or struggling and I don't know if he quite gets all that is going on when we ask God for things but he definitely understands being thankful. Last night while laying in bed next to him I asked him what he wanted to thank God for and he said "Thank you God for.... GOD!" I said "Well, yes. Thank you God for being a great God." and I ask him what else he wants to thank God for and his response was heart melting... "Thank you for always keeping mommy safe." See what I mean? Then he thanked God for keeping everyone in his family safe.
When I ask him who made the trees, skies, his baby sister, etc. he responds "God" and sometimes adds "God is SO powerful!" I guess we are teaching him something right.
Another thing that I absolutely adore is when he sings Bible story songs like "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho" and "Zacchaeus was a wee little man". We don't watch videos much so singing songs is one of our favorite past times and we like to look at books and sing Bible songs with his Bible story books. But it is even cuter when he is sitting in his room playing with a toy car and out of the blue we hear him singing "Jesus loves me this I know."
My recent favorite is when I ask him if he loves me he says "Yes. This much." and places his hands close together and then laughs and says "No, THIS much!" and throws his hands out as far apart as they can go. :D I love this kid!
And God is blessing us with ANOTHER one? I don't know how my heart can grown any more. But I've said that many times before! So much to be thankful for! God is good!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Gotta go go go go go....
One of the most frustrating things to me about pregnancy is the remarkable shrinkage of your bladder! Yes, I know it doesn't actually shrink but with all that baby and uterus expanding it kinda bunches things together down there and the bladder has to make room. At least that's what I've read in books and online(In much more scientific terms) to explain this phenomenon of an overactive bladder.
The unfortunate thing is that, when you are 20 weeks pregnant and taking care of a two year old at the same time, you get pretty drained at the end of the day and you are ready to sleep as soon as your tired body meets your gloriously soft bed... then you have to get up and go potty. Then you come back to bed and the baby starts kicking, then you have to go again. It is a vicious cycle and sometimes the up and down getting no sleep plus the raging hormones makes you just want to cry. I almost lost it last night when I had been trying to sleep for 2 hours and had already gotten up 3 times and I was finally getting comfortable and sleepy and Andrew started to fuss. He woke up crying and was just not feeling well. So I was up another 2 hours with him trying to sleep but he kept waking fussing and wanting mommy to hold him and talk to him. So after he finally went to sleep and I went to the bathroom AGAIN it was after 4am! I was one tired mama. For the record. He seems much better today. :)
The reality is that every pain and trial in pregnancy is worth it! I was miserable on bed rest with Andrew but I would do it over again in a heartbeat for my little man! He is such a blessing from God and I know this little one will bring me just as much joy as his/her big brother. I may gripe and complain about back pains and "round ligament pains" and about how the baby is always kicking right when I'm trying to sleep but in reality I could not be happier. I am so blessed and if I have to get up and pee 100 times in the night to bring this child into the world I am ready to do it!
We find out in just a few days if we get to reuse all Andrew's boy clothes or if we need to add some serious frills to the wardrobe. I am very excited to know but as I have been telling everyone who asks me, I will be happy with either boy or girl. God blessed us with Andrew and I know He will give us whatever is right for us the second time around. Being a female myself, I have always loved dolls and girly things but in the past 2 years, balls, dirt and toy cars have found a very VERY special place in my heart.
The unfortunate thing is that, when you are 20 weeks pregnant and taking care of a two year old at the same time, you get pretty drained at the end of the day and you are ready to sleep as soon as your tired body meets your gloriously soft bed... then you have to get up and go potty. Then you come back to bed and the baby starts kicking, then you have to go again. It is a vicious cycle and sometimes the up and down getting no sleep plus the raging hormones makes you just want to cry. I almost lost it last night when I had been trying to sleep for 2 hours and had already gotten up 3 times and I was finally getting comfortable and sleepy and Andrew started to fuss. He woke up crying and was just not feeling well. So I was up another 2 hours with him trying to sleep but he kept waking fussing and wanting mommy to hold him and talk to him. So after he finally went to sleep and I went to the bathroom AGAIN it was after 4am! I was one tired mama. For the record. He seems much better today. :)
The reality is that every pain and trial in pregnancy is worth it! I was miserable on bed rest with Andrew but I would do it over again in a heartbeat for my little man! He is such a blessing from God and I know this little one will bring me just as much joy as his/her big brother. I may gripe and complain about back pains and "round ligament pains" and about how the baby is always kicking right when I'm trying to sleep but in reality I could not be happier. I am so blessed and if I have to get up and pee 100 times in the night to bring this child into the world I am ready to do it!
We find out in just a few days if we get to reuse all Andrew's boy clothes or if we need to add some serious frills to the wardrobe. I am very excited to know but as I have been telling everyone who asks me, I will be happy with either boy or girl. God blessed us with Andrew and I know He will give us whatever is right for us the second time around. Being a female myself, I have always loved dolls and girly things but in the past 2 years, balls, dirt and toy cars have found a very VERY special place in my heart.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Singing two year olds and flashbacks
When I was about my sons age my parents joke about my singing.
My favorite account is when my brother and I were singing "I'm in the Lord's army". In this song you go through the stanza then you sing "I'm in the Lord's army" 3 times and then sing the stanza again. Well, my brother would sing with me and when we got to that part where you sang "I'm in the Lord's army" I just kept going and going.
Another favorite was the song "The B-I-B-L-E". I would loudly and proudly belt out "The B-I-B-I-L, yes that's the book for me. I stand upon the word of God, the B-I-B-I-L."
Yes, I know I was adorable! Maybe my son gets it from me. Although he seems to be doing a better job at the singing thing so far but I know we are just getting started. He LOVES to sing and that makes this mommy happy.
The list of songs he knows is growing but lets see some of what he knows so far...
I will make you fishers of men
Ring around the rosies
Jesus loves me
ABC's
10 lepers
Twinkle twinkle little star
Row row row your boat
Jesus loves the little children (in English and cebuano)
Lalum Lapad (Cebuano version of Deep and wide. He's still learning the English)
My God is so big
Jesus loves the little ones like me me me!
Ok, so he knows a bunch of songs and I love to hear him sing. He soaks stuff up like a sponge. God has blessed me with one amazing child!
(beaming smiles from a proud mommy)
:D
My favorite account is when my brother and I were singing "I'm in the Lord's army". In this song you go through the stanza then you sing "I'm in the Lord's army" 3 times and then sing the stanza again. Well, my brother would sing with me and when we got to that part where you sang "I'm in the Lord's army" I just kept going and going.
Another favorite was the song "The B-I-B-L-E". I would loudly and proudly belt out "The B-I-B-I-L, yes that's the book for me. I stand upon the word of God, the B-I-B-I-L."
Yes, I know I was adorable! Maybe my son gets it from me. Although he seems to be doing a better job at the singing thing so far but I know we are just getting started. He LOVES to sing and that makes this mommy happy.
The list of songs he knows is growing but lets see some of what he knows so far...
I will make you fishers of men
Ring around the rosies
Jesus loves me
ABC's
10 lepers
Twinkle twinkle little star
Row row row your boat
Jesus loves the little children (in English and cebuano)
Lalum Lapad (Cebuano version of Deep and wide. He's still learning the English)
My God is so big
Jesus loves the little ones like me me me!
Ok, so he knows a bunch of songs and I love to hear him sing. He soaks stuff up like a sponge. God has blessed me with one amazing child!
(beaming smiles from a proud mommy)
:D
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Whatcha got cooking?
Well, if you must know I've got a bun in the oven!
Yes, we're expecting our second child! According to the ultrasound and my own calculations the EDD is August 7th so I'm just now entering my 2nd trimester. It has been interesting so far. I have had quite a bit of nausea especially over the Christmas holidays but it's been a lot better lately. Based on an old wives tale I must be having a girl because this pregnancy has been so different. I hardly had any nausea when I was pregnant with Andrew. I'm so emotional lately as well. I initially suspected I might be pregnant when my mother showed me the new cabinets my dad built her for her wash area and I started crying! I've also been beyond exhausted during the past several weeks. I was never this exhausted with Andrew, even in his first weeks of life. But I am healthy and we got to see the baby a couple of weeks ago and it was wriggling around as expected so despite the problems I am thankful to God.
Everyone keeps asking me if we want a boy or girl but I honestly don't care. I thought I wanted a girl when I was pregnant with Andrew but when I found out it was a boy and got used to the idea I was so happy I was having a boy and when he arrived I knew God gave me just what I needed and wanted. I trust he will do the same for us this time. He is so good! So I'm happy with a boy or a girl. I am just praying for.a healthy baby and that we don't have a repeat of the problems I had during my first pregnancy. Which, by the way, my doctor thinks is highly unlikely
Andrew turned 2 last weekend (January 16th) and he is such a big boy. He talks all the time and if you are on my FaceBook then you get to read about all the cute stuff he says and does. I don't really think he completely understands what we mean when we say we are having a baby but he understands there is a baby in mommy's "belly" and pats my tummy sometimes and says "Hi baby". It melts my heart. It continues to amaze me how much love a mother can have for her child. Just when I think I could not possibly love him more somehow my heart grows a few sizes!
I'm thinking my next post will be about some money saving ideas Clint and I have come up with. :) TTFN!
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| Bun in the oven |
Yes, we're expecting our second child! According to the ultrasound and my own calculations the EDD is August 7th so I'm just now entering my 2nd trimester. It has been interesting so far. I have had quite a bit of nausea especially over the Christmas holidays but it's been a lot better lately. Based on an old wives tale I must be having a girl because this pregnancy has been so different. I hardly had any nausea when I was pregnant with Andrew. I'm so emotional lately as well. I initially suspected I might be pregnant when my mother showed me the new cabinets my dad built her for her wash area and I started crying! I've also been beyond exhausted during the past several weeks. I was never this exhausted with Andrew, even in his first weeks of life. But I am healthy and we got to see the baby a couple of weeks ago and it was wriggling around as expected so despite the problems I am thankful to God.
Everyone keeps asking me if we want a boy or girl but I honestly don't care. I thought I wanted a girl when I was pregnant with Andrew but when I found out it was a boy and got used to the idea I was so happy I was having a boy and when he arrived I knew God gave me just what I needed and wanted. I trust he will do the same for us this time. He is so good! So I'm happy with a boy or a girl. I am just praying for.a healthy baby and that we don't have a repeat of the problems I had during my first pregnancy. Which, by the way, my doctor thinks is highly unlikely
Andrew turned 2 last weekend (January 16th) and he is such a big boy. He talks all the time and if you are on my FaceBook then you get to read about all the cute stuff he says and does. I don't really think he completely understands what we mean when we say we are having a baby but he understands there is a baby in mommy's "belly" and pats my tummy sometimes and says "Hi baby". It melts my heart. It continues to amaze me how much love a mother can have for her child. Just when I think I could not possibly love him more somehow my heart grows a few sizes!
 |
| What's not to love? |
I'm thinking my next post will be about some money saving ideas Clint and I have come up with. :) TTFN!
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