New Direction?

What is the point of a blog? What is it that needs to be written for all to see? Who wants to read anything I have to say? What is it that God is laying upon my heart? These are all questions that have been going through my mind a lot over the past few weeks. Well, months. Do I want this blog to be all about my boys? In some ways yes but I have social media to really help keep family up to date on all of our happenings. Do I want this to be a resource for moms/women? Yes! How do I go about making that? That I haven't been so sure about so I went in prayer about it. I've been in prayer for all moms and wives out there. I want to be a source of inspiration, a friend who will listen, a prayer warrior. By no means do I believe I've got everything together. I'm a mess. but I do believe God has called me to be a voice. So I hope as the weeks and months continue you will find this blog as a source of inspiration. A place to come and read and grow. And if nothing else, know you are not on this journey of being a woman of God, a wife and a mother, that you are not alone. I have three boys and im trying to do my best to raise them to be Godly men who will one day lead their families, businesses, churches, or maybe even our country. Some days I feel like I barely scrap by teaching them valuable lessons. Other days seem to breeze by. So please trust me when I say I'm learning and growing everyday with all of you.

There are two lessons I have learned recently and finally seemed to have grasped what they mean. The first is I'm a beautiful mess. I have watched the movie Moms Night Out several times and this part always gets me. At the very end of the money the point is made that we have an important job being a wife and mom. We are raising the future leaders of our cities and towns. What is it I want them to learn? Are my actions teaching them? That cause me to reflect on my dad to day activities, my attitude. Am I thankful? Am I praising God in the good and bad? I may be trying to teach them values and morals but what music am I listening too? What tv shows or movies am I watching? Kids are intuitive. More than adults give them credit for. I think these questions are different for each of us but the heart of it is the same. We want our children to have good morals, good values. Be full of integrity and honesty. Make sure you are showing them that, even when you don't think they are watching because kids are always watching. They are like sponges. We just have to be careful what we fill them with.  I don't have this wife and mom thing all figured out but that is ok. It's ok to be a mess because to God I am a beautiful mess. He didn't make a mistake by giving me these three boys.  He didn't make a mistake by bringing Heath and I together. So while I struggle with not having it all together. I take heart in following Gods direction and knowing he made me, and he doesn't make mistakes.

The second lesson is learning what it means to stand in the gap. I have recently began reading a book about being a prayer warrior mom. Standing in the gap in prayer for our children. There are so many things vying for our children's attention. With technology so advanced, the pressures and knowledge we had at a young age is not near what our children have. Satan is doing what he can go attack kids and families. I pray for my boys daily. But in learning what it means to stand in the gap for them. They are young. They are inexperienced. There are things that at times they just do not understand. I'm reading this book slowly so I can fully grasp what it is I am called to do. The first step is teaching them gratefulness and thankfulness. teach them how to see the beauty in life. Like the song 'give me your eyes' by Matthew West. We have started a grateful/thankful part of the wall at our house. It isn't big. But everyday, or most days because let's face it families are just plain busy these days., and we go around and say one thing we are thankful for on that day. And this isn't something we keep hidden or tucked away. The point is to see it and see it often. Let it be a reminder of everything God has given and done for you. Try it for a few days. See what things God has blessed you with.

The Big 1 0 !

Noah doesn't actually turn 10 until tomorrow but I've been thinking about this blog and what I would say about Noah.  He has really grown up over the past year.  This past summer he auditioned for the Kansas Youth Chorale and made it!  He has LOVED singing since he was little and is really loving going to practice each week.  So far they have had just one concert but are gearing up for a pretty big concert next weekend.  When he decided to try out for this choir he decided to not play basketball anymore.  He had been talking about this for most of the summer so it wasn't too much of a shock for us.  He still enjoys playing recreational, he just stopped playing competitive.

He has the biggest heart of anyone that I know.  He literally will go without if that means everyone else is good.  He will eat last, be the last in line, give his toys away and at times even his clothes on his back.  I have thought over the years I hope I am that type of person that would do anything for someone else but Noah doesn't just think it, he acts on it.  He is such an example.  He always tries to see the positive in every situation.  And he does not like others to feel left out.  A great example is his class took a recent field trip and they thought they were going to get to pick a friend to sit by.  He told Heath and I that he hopes he doesn't get asked by his friends so he can sit by the one who gets left out a lot.  He wanted to include them.  Sometimes this attitude comes across as he isn't having fun or even rude but really, he is just looking out for others.

His favorite thing to do is sing.  He has an ear for the piano and has taught himself a few songs even though he hasn't had any lessons.  Here soon he hopes to start playing the guitar.  He loves playing board games. I don't know if there is a board game or card game he won't play.  And he is a fish.  In the summer he lives in the pool.

And there is one tradition Noah has on his birthday.  When he was 4 or 5 we were eating at Red Robin and someone got a lid filled with whipped cream shoved in their face and he wanted the same thing to happen.  So, now, every year he gets it!

Happy 10th Birthday Noah!

In Summer!

I'm not sure about all of you, but we feel like summer flew by!  We didn't do anything extraordinary but a lot of the ordinary and loved every minute of it.  Most of our attention at first was geared towards Caleb and his Tball games.  Really we just wanted him to try.  You know kind of swing the bat, look like he was making an effort.  And even maybe run a little to the base.  Not asking for much, just a little.  So we took to bribery.  Probably not the best parent move however it worked.  And if faced with another baseball season I would do it again.  Although I don't think sports are in his future, at least not like his older brothers.  He is perfectly ok with this and so are we.  All we wanted was for him to learn how to be a part of team and to not give up.  We try and teach all of our boys that when you commit to someone or something you don't give up and quit.  Quitting is easy but isn't the answer.  So he hung in there and really it was just as much of a struggle for us as well.  Its hard getting a kid ready for a game when he could care less about going.  But its over and man that feels good!!!

Our July was jammed pack with Noah at church camp one week.  Then on the weekend Jonnie and his friend ran a 5k for the Sunflower State Games.  They didn't place but raced well.  I think his friend Jake improved his time.  Jonathan twisted his ankle so he didn't get a good time but he didn't quit.  He had to walk some and slow down but he didn't stop and made it across the line.  I'll admit at first I was not happy that he was so far behind.  Then when he still wasnt anywhere in sight after a few minutes had passed I started to worry that something happened.  Then when he finally came and crossed the line and I was so proud of him for not giving up.  That next week was his turn at church camp.  And let me just say they go to an awesome church camp.  They loved every minute of it and are already talking about next year.  And next summer Caleb will get to go for a few days and he can't wait for that.  

Both Jonathan and Noah competed with their basketball teams in the State games.  They didn't win many but played hard and learned a lot about what they need to do to keep improving.  We truly love being with the families on both of these teams and can't wait for october to get here so we can spend time with all of them again.  

By the time camps and the Games were over it was the end of July and VBS time.  We are back at Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene and the boys had a great time this year.  We met a  lot of great families and were able to connect and meet some new ones!  At the end of the week Caleb even one a scooter and was so excited.  This was the first year Caleb really took to being involved at VBS.  I'm not sure what changed in him or just him maturing but it was exciting to see.  And he loved singing up on stage in front of the church on Sunday.  This boy who usually has no clue or interest in others around him, and plays in his own world, has seemed to have left!  Who knows, maybe acting is in his future.  Or singing like Noah!

We then went to our first Royals game as a family and with my parents and brother and his two kids.  Somehow we have never taken our boys to a game and it was a blast.  It was like 110* out but it was worth every bead of sweat.  The boys' face when they saw the stadium and walked inside, got to see several home runs and even got to watch each Royals player that they wanted, was worth it all.  The joy on their faces was priceless.  At the end they did a fireworks show and it was awesome.  Caleb did a good job at sitting down for the game but when the fireworks started his face lit up.  He was so happy it brought me to tears.  And when it was all over the looks on their faces is a memory I will never forget.  Hopefully we can go to another one soon.

Its now August and we are gearing up for another school year.  Jonathan will be in 6th, Noah in 4th and Caleb in 1st.  They are all super excited about their teachers and literally can't wait for school to start next week.  I am still so thankful they love it so much.  And honestly I am pretty excited too.  I've loved sleeping in and being relaxed all summer but I can't wait to get back to work.  

33 years

I woke up this morning at 5am unable to sleep and big smile on my face. I only wish I would wake up like this everyday.  I woke up thinking how fortunate I am to have a roof over my head, all my needs met, a husband who loves me, and three boys who call me mom.  I am blessed with great friends and coworkers.
I don't have being a wife and mom all figured out but I can say even though its bumpy at times, I would not trade my life.
Here are just some of my favorite pics over the past few years.