When I just can't do it all.

So excited about this print I ordered from Aly! Her blog. Her shop. Check it out!

I can't tell you how many times I've heard it. Laundry can wait. Cleaning can wait. Get on the floor and play with your kids. And I believe it! For the most part, that is. 

Except when we have no more clean underwear, and the laundry must be done. 
Except for when my house is so dirty that it must be cleaned.
Except for when I haven't showered since Saturday, (I wish I was joking) and I simply must wash off the dirt and grime (and spit-up. Who am I kidding?).

I guess I somewhat feel kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. (I don't even know what that phrase means, it just sounded good, ok?) I know that the most important task I am doing right now is taking care of my babies and begging the Lord to help me as I aid in shaping and molding their hearts to love Him. I know that. But this other stuff? It has to get done too. 

There are times I sit, rocking my fussy baby, dealing with an attention-demanding toddler, tears streaming down my face, and feeling so alone. But I have to believe that in all reality, I'm not alone. I write this so that if you're reading this and you're in the thick of it, you're not alone. If you're reading this and you find yourself here in 6 months, think back--you're not alone. If you're reading this and you cannot relate, chances are someone you know can--let them know they're not alone.

I don't really know how this wraps up. I guess it doesn't, really. I haven't found the perfect balance between everything. I just know that God's Word says that I can be confident that He is working in my life amidst it all--the good and the bad. So Praise His name. :)

Friday Highs.v45

Yep. You read that right. 

Friday Highs--it's been a while I've missed you.

(If you're new, Friday Highs are something I do to try to cherish the little moments in life. You can read more here about why I started this series. And for a quick link to all my Friday Highs posts, go here.)

This sums it up pretty well:

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I'm pretty sure this one will make the slideshow at her graduation and wedding...

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This little guy is stealing my heart by the minute. His smiles and coos are simply the sweetest. 

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I'm pretty sure one of the very best things in my life right now is to hear my little girl talking about Jesus. Whether it be singing Jesus Loves Me, shouting "Hallelujah" and lifting her hands, or simply including Jesus in her list of our family. It's all so awesome, and I so thankful. 

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Earlier this morning, I was cleaning up breakfast, and I looked over to this scene. I couldn't quite catch it on camera, but he flashed a HUGE smile to her. I mean, is there anything sweeter?? 

Happy Friday, friends!

I lift my eyes.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

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Lately, I have found myself reciting this verse over and over again in my times of need. 

To know that the One who made the heavens and this earth is the same One that helps me. That is power. That is strength. 

So thankful today that His power is made perfect in my weakness.  

This is for my mom.

 When I read this post about how Aly had taught her daughter her first Bible verse when she was two, I couldn't believe that I hadn't thought to teach Molly one! She has been counting to ten and saying her ABCs for about a month, and she's just sharp as a tack. So of course she could memorize a Bible verse! 

I decided to go with the verse Aly did--Zephaniah 3:17 (well, it's actually just the first part.)

Sidenote: you can purchase some of her beautiful prints here in her shop--Blossom & Vine.

Anyway, I've been trying to send this video to my mom for probably a week now. I've tried seriously every way under the sun, and we can't get it to work. 

Hence, this blog post! Hopefully you can finally see this, mom! 

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord is with you. He is mighty to save.

And at the beginning, ya know, she talks about being a toddler and having pears for lunch. This girl is silly. :)

And while I'm at it, here's Molly saying her version of Pattycake:

Translation:

Pattycake,

Fast as you can,

Roll it,

Pat it,

Mark it with a B...

(and then at the end)

Oven for Molly and Cooper!

He was almost Clay.

 

When I was about 6 weeks pregnant with Cooper, I had somewhat of a revelation that I felt was directly from God. I was at my girl's Monday night Bible study, and I read this verse silently to myself:

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
    We are the clay, you are the potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

It was in that moment that first and foremost, I knew it was a boy that was growing inside of me. I even leaned over to my friend and whispered, "it's a boy." 

I just knew.

But I also believed at the time that this was further affirmation that we should go with the name we were already leaning towards--Clayton (Clay for short).

The other night, as I sat on the side of my bed, rocking Cooper to sleep, I stared up at all his wall art and reminisced on how only 8 weeks ago, I was looking at the same wall dreaming about what it would be like to hold him. I then remembered that night at Bible study and how even though the name Cooper is so perfect for him, we almost named him Clayton. 

And my eyes welled with tears. His name wasn't meant to be Clay or Clayton. God was and is using this little boy to make me like clay in His hands. 

For your Friday

When Daddy gets her dressed...

"Babe, that is a shirt, not a dress."

"Well, she has tights on."

"That's not enough. She needs pants."

Haha. Little girl had no idea what the fuss was about!

And yes, she went to church in this. We were running super late.

I figure someday--probably sooner than I'd like--she's going to start wanting to dress herself.  

Oh Lord, help me when that day comes to see her outfit choices as her creativity shining through! :)

Happy Friday, friends! 

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ps--I'm really loving this song lately: 

Then He said to me,

“Prophesy to these bones and say to them,

Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!

This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones,

I will make breath into you,And you will come to life.”

So I prophesied as I was commanded.

As I was prophesying, there was a noise,a rattling sound,

And the bones came together, bone to bone.

And I looked, and tendons and the flesh appeared on them,

And skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

Then He said to me,

Prophesy to the breath,

Prophesy, son of man, and say to it,

Come from four winds, oh breath, and 

breathe...

Awake My Soul. Chris Tomlin (feat. Lecrae)

I have a choice.

This gig called motherhood is tough. 

There are days I don't think I can go another step. 

Days where I just want to run away. To crawl in a hole. 

Hide from everyone and all my responsibilities.

Days where all I can do is cry.

I love these babies with all my heart, 

but this is the raw honesty of it all.

However, these moments and days are making me realize that 

I have a choice.

I can choose to let the difficulties steal my joy. I can choose my humanness and let it take over my entire self. 

Or I can choose to let the Lord use this journey to shape me and mold me into who He wants me to be--more like Him. 

I can't help but think about mothers who are further into their journey than I, such as my own mom, my aunts, or others who have older children. Sometimes I just wonder what they were like at the beginning of their journey. 

 Not that these women are perfect now. And not that I think that there will ever be a point where I've arrived, so to speak.  

But I do desire to learn and be changed through this process.

My mom always used to tell me that children were a tool that God uses to make His children more like Him.

And boy, oh boy, am I finding that to be true. 

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Every problem can teach you something, transforming you little by little into the masterpiece I created you to be. The very same problem can become a stumbling block over which you fall, if you react with distrust and defiance. The choice is up to you, and you will have to choose many times each day whether to trust Me or defy Me.

Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, March 5th

to be changed.

inHisgrace on Etsy

buy this print HERE! (unless I snag it first) :)

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Things are changing, do you remember? 

This new season of life has brought an incredible amount of ups and downs. I have been learning more about my need for Jesus than I probably have in my entire life.

This is a good thing, quite obviously. 

But if I can be transparent, I'm a little anxious for when this season passes. 

I'm concerned that when circumstances get "easier", or more and more normal, that I'll become less dependent on Him.

See, I believe that Jesus wants our whole being--every ounce of who we are. I believe he wants us to live IN Him at all times. 

I believe an important part of following Jesus is allowing him to shape and mold us to be more like Him. 

That is why I desire

to be changed.

I don't want this difficult season to pass and come out on the other end NOT having learned that I still need Him.

So this change to the blog is just a teeny tiny piece of the puzzle. 

It's simple. I want to be changed.

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A few fine details:

*If you're viewing in a reader, hop on over to the blog and see the changes.

*I've decided to keep the sugarpumkin url for now to avoid confusion. Maybe I'll change it later. We'll see.

*I've been tempted at times to delete a lot of my prior posts due to embarrassment, or simply because I've changed my thinking or viewpoint. But isn't that the beauty of life? We change. And this blog--embarrassing posts and all--document that in my life. Praise be to Him. *grin*