Good Morning God

My kids and I sing this song to each other to get us focused in the morning:

Good morning God

This is your day

I am your child

Show me your way

This morning I woke up and headed outside to get the sprinkler going on the garden, and more importantly have a moment with God. I couldn't help but sing this song over and over as I walked.

This is what I saw...

yea God...The beauty He gives us to enjoy is overwhelming and awe-inspiring...

Monster Truck Party for my Big Boy 4 yr. old

My little man Josiah turned 4 this month. He's just my bundle of joy!  His giggle is the most contagious thing you'll ever hear.

His one request wast to have a Monster Truck Party with his friends so I turned to Pinterest.  Don't you just love Pinterest?  It's offically become my go-to site for, well, everything!  Recipes, DIY, gift ideas, and now that I'm in the stage...themed birthday parties.


I had great visions of this party in my head...the boys running around playing games in our back yard and eating on the patio where my dogs would clean up the mess, not me.  The moms and I would all just sit on the patio and laugh and chat and catch up as we soaked in the spring sun.  However, spring in WI is, well, unpredictable at best.

It rained.

HARD.

Poured is more like it. Rivers running through our yard and my sump pump in the basement could barely keep up.  So...we headed to church. The only last minute place I could think of to relocated that was the perfect price...free.

 Monster Truck Cake
I just made a simple (Confetti, of course) cake mix, added chocolate frosting for "dirt", and the truck and cars (all of which were sanitized in the dishwasher first!).


While all the kiddos arrived the boys colored thier own monster truck pictures.

Lunch
I loved these ideas that I included on the lunch table!!

Games

Monster Truck Relay Races
It took me all week to make these little beauties!  Boxes wrapped in paper and the I glued all the parts on.  The ribbon I just used the hubby's work stapler.

Aren't they cute?!!!

Revving thier engines at the starting line!

 I couldn't resist adding this pic of our little friend Callie.  Oh the concentration on her face!



 Monster Truck Bowling

Pin the License Plate on the Monster Truck

This was a big hit.

And then I sent them home all sugared up for nap time and while my littles crashed in thier beds I crashed on the couch.  I'm so blessed. 

Michelin (wo)man

On December 17th, 2007 I became a mom when my sweet Abiail entered the world at a whopping 9 pounds, 7 ounces.   Yep...you read that right - 9lb.7oz!  One of my greatest achievements! 

 

Here's a picture of her a few months later.

 

 

 

 

 

This just makes me smile...no...laught out loud!  Look at those legs!  Those arms!  Oh I love you sweet Abby.

 

 

 

Here's another one...so funny!

 

 

 

 

Today, I can't believe my precious girl is 5! I love her smile, her laugh, her joy, thoughtfulness and encouragement. What blessing children are.

Just Say NO!

I have been a "yes" man for as long as I can remember.  I'm by nature a people pleaser and struggle to find balance between wanting people to like me and setting my priorities and boundaries. 

Since the day I was married I started to really struggle with my "yes desease."  8 years ago I married an amazing man who has truly blessed my life...yet I struggled to put him first as I saw so many needs in others around me.

 

This Monday, the 17th, celebrates the day I became a mother. My daughter Abby was born and my life has not been the same from that moment! 3 kiddos later I still struggle to put my family first...

Until 3 weeks ago...

In the midst of all the running, commitments, pressure, and demands I started saying the hardest word in my vocabulary...NO.

I am finally beginning to understand how important it is to make my family my first job, my first priority, my first ministry. And OH WHAT FREEDOM there is in saying NO!

We've had more family game nites playing Candyland and "the Camp Game" as my kids call it. We've had more cookies and milk together.
We've had more reading time together.
We've had more time to sing and pray together.

And do you know what?!!! I can, in these 3 short weeks, see a visible change in my children. Mommy is not as stressed getting out the door to here, there, and everywhere and THEY are reaping all the benefits.

 

THANK YOU LORD for giving me the willpower to say YES to my family and NO to overcommittment!

This happy face make me very happy!

Joy

Joy.  That emotion of great delight that naturally springs from my children.  Thier carefree outlook on life as they sing and dance and play.

I LOVE watching them.  Oh to be ignorant and young!

May we, even in the midst of the knowledge of hurt and sorrow in the world, be a ray of light...of joy that radiates as these precious faces do. 

When I think of happiness of think of circumstances...a winning goal made, a birthday celebration...but joy...can't we be joyful in the midst of difficulty?  May our joy be enough to praise our God even in the midst of sorrow, pain, and failure knowing that HIS love is enough to sustain us and carry us and then produce that beautiful product of joy in our lives.

joyfully yours,

Kristin