Splash in the Rain Puddles

My little Chase is in full swing with his talking.  It's such fun when they reach this stage.  Finally able to express what they are thinking....starting to form opinions of their own....and along with this comes attitudes that need to be corrected and behaviors that need to be disciplined....but also moments that are just so incredibly cute....and hilarious.  Chase loves to empty my spice racks.  I think I've posted a picture of this before.  But just in case, here he is. It's one of those things I really don't mind.  Nothing can break and it keeps him busy while I'm preparing meals in the kitchen.  Earlier this week I was fixing dinner and Chase was busy with the spices.  Chase, and bunny.  Bunny is Chase's favorite little friend.  A gift from Mimi when he was born, this bunny goes everywhere with Chase.  Here he is with bunny :)  So back to the kitchen....I'm busy preparing ...

Isn't it funny how much more amazing your mom becomes after you yourself become a mom? :)  All those things she did for me.....all those things that I completely took for granted while I was growing up.  Things like doing loads and loads of laundry so that magically everyone always had drawers and closets full of clean clothes....things like getting me to and from practices, lessons, or whatever activity I happened to involved in at the time....keeping our home cozy and clean....taking care of me when I was sick...packing my lunch for school....attending most every game, recital, concert, competition....preparing countless meals... It's not until these responsibilities have become my own that I think wow....I didn't tell her nearly enough how much I appreciated all those things.  She and my dad blessed me with a priceless childhood.  One where there was never a shortage of love and laughter.  Where God was at the center of all that was s...

Bath time at our house is also usually song time for the boys.  One of their favorites is a song about Peter, James, and John....their little sail boat....their frustrations with not catching any fish....Jesus walking on the water and instructing them to cast their nets on the other side.....and then of course, "the little boat was filled with fishes".  :)  I love teaching the boys songs like this...songs that my momma taught me when I was little.  This particular song we have sung many, MANY, times since Jack was a baby.  They love the motions and know all the words and like to sing it over and over again.  Last night we were singing it the second time through when Jack stopped singing and just sat still in the tub with suds covering his face :)  "What's wrong buddy?, I asked.  "Well I'm just wondering how Jesus could walk on the water.  Wouldn't he sink?  I don't think I could walk on the water...."  And there it wa...

There are times when the sacrifices we must make as parents can be a bit frustrating.  It's so important for me to remember, as I have written before, that life is a conglomeration of phases.  And the phase I am currently in requires me to give up some things that I would otherwise have a desire to do.  For example....attend the ladies retreat this past weekend, take a Zumba class at the gym, go to the bathroom alone :), get my hair cut on a regular basis, take a nice long walk outside, volunteer with local charities, spend more time in prayer, be more involved in church ministries.  Things of that nature.  Some things seem petty and some things seem quite legitimately honorable.  But what about being a mommy to my boys while they are in these young years.  Is there a more honorable calling?  I'm speaking to myself with this rhetorical question. :)  I am able to write entries for this blog only in the early hours of the mo...

A few days ago after a busy day of preschool, errands, and dentists appointments I was using Chase's nap time to get a bunch of things crossed off my to-do list at home.  Jack was taking a break from his work outside to enjoy some Wheat Thins on the sofa while watching Disney Jr.  I was scurrying around the kitchen when Jack yells out to me, "Mommy, you should sit down and rest."  Wow!  That was the first time that he has ever actually acknowledged that I might need a rest.  Sometimes I feel like he thinks I never sleep.  I'm awake when he wakes and I'm awake when he goes to bed.  In his mind, I just keep going :)  Little does he know that moments after he finally winds down and his eyes finally close.....its all I can do to keep from collapsing on the sofa, on the bed, on the floor....usually wherever I can land the fastest :)  So to have him instruct me to rest was pretty great.  And you know wha...

Dear God, Thank you for Chase Daniel.  Thank you for all the ways he has made our family feel complete.  For the way you gave him a special imprint that makes him uniquely Yours, and ours :)  For the way he tries so hard to do everything his big brother does....for the way he loves to be cuddled before he goes to bed.....for the way that nothing makes him happier than meal time.....for the way he says, "let's eat!" immediately after we say amen at the table.....for the way he runs and plays without anything holding him back....for the way he is so happy to see me every morning....for the way he wants to wear the same choo choo shirt every single day....for the way he seems to learn new words every day....for the way he likes to sit on the potty but never actually does anything :).....for the way he "sings" the ABCs and Jesus Loves Me.....for the way he loves to ride Charlie, his rocking horse....for the way he crinkles up his little nose when he smiles....for t...

Dear God, Thank you for Jack Charles.  Thank you for the way my life was blessed when you gave him to me.  Thank you for bringing him into this world safely after 3 days of labor!  Thank you for the little man he is becoming....for the way he takes his work so seriously....for the way he commits everything to memory....for the way he points out the cobwebs in the tiny crevices of my house....for the way he must have a full recap from his daddy about what happened that day at the farm.....for the way he refers to the farm as "his farm".... for the way he likes to whisper in my ear and then giggle like crazy when it tickles me.....for the way he stresses out when he's not at home because he is worried about all the work he is not getting done.....for the way he says things like, "fantastic!", "actually...", and "it's all my pleasure!".....for the way he is only truly happy is when he is talking about the farm, at the farm, or pretending ...