a moment...

I tip-toe into their room at 10pm to put a just-ironed shirt on the dresser, and as I turn to leave, I can’t resist their peaceful sleeping faces so I turn and go back in.  In, to kiss lips and cheeks and foreheads; to breathe in the smell of just-washed hair and to linger and stare at irresistible faces.  How are they 10, 8, and 6, and where did the time go?  The hours clocked as a mommy sure do seem to linger and hurry all at once....lingered when they were babies and seem to have picked up the pace as elementary schoolers...sometimes I can almost hear the time ticking away.  As I kiss soft, freshly scrubbed faces I choke back the thoughts that one day they'll be grown and won’t be here, under our roof for me to bend and kiss in the dark as they sleep on a school night.  So, I stay longer on flannel sheets and study faces propped on spiderman pillow cases and I give abundant thanks.  

Tomorrow we’ll wake up and the clock will start ticking away again, and someone will push his brother a little too hard, another will spill milk at the breakfast table because he’s messing around instead of sitting on his bottom and eating nicely and, I’ll probably have to tell them all over and over to hurry up and get ready for school and then wonder (out loud...very loud) if when I speak any sound comes out because everyone just keeps going about their business instead of responding. But tonight, I rejoice over them, kiss them like crazy and thank God over and over for allowing them to be mine.

 And I cherish this night that we are all under the same roof.

What Are You Focusing On?

When we taught our boys how to ride their bikes, initially their feet distracted them.  They were so caught up in watching their feet and getting used to the pedals that their focus was constantly aimed downward, instead of ahead of them at where they were going.  With eyes looking at feet and mind concentrating on the mechanics of pedaling, the arms and body were drawn downward by their focus and inevitably the bike followed suit and boy and bike ended up in a heap on the ground.  We'd rush over and pick them up, brush them off, get them back on the bike and begin the process again, always encouraging them to look up and focus on where they wanted to go; that the bike would follow their focus. 

You know this is also the way of dreams....those little previews into the life that God has for us.  We'll get there if we focus on where it is we want to go.  I heard recently that the likelihood of realizing your dreams goes up by 98% if you write them down and keep them in front of you.  I know from experience that it's not enough to just write them down.  I've written so many things down over the years only to forget about that list just a short while later.  The worst is finding it after 5 years has gone by only to discover in dismay that I haven't realized a single dream.  Ugh!  I didn't realize then that my path would have turned up at the right destination had I only changed my focus. 

We can get so caught up in the mechanics of the dream (how's it going to work, when's it going to happen, what do I need to do, etc) that we lose sight of the dream itself.  Before we know it our gaze has turned inward, focusing on our own inabilities which fuel fear instead of the faith we need to look ahead, and we end up in a heap of introspection...stuck. 

We need to change our focus.

Think about your dreams.  Last week we talked about them being previews of life's coming attractions.  So, let's dust ourselves off and get back on those dreams, this time with our focus on our destination.  For each dream you have, find a picture that represents that dream.  Are you believing for physical healing?  Find a picture of yourself when you were at your healthiest and keep it in front of you daily as you pray and speak over yourself that you are healed.  Do you want to be debt free?  Know your debt, make a list of your debts with the total amount in plain sight.  Pray over and speak to that amount as being paid in full daily.  Do you dream of an organized home?  Pull out pictures from a magazine which represent what you want for your home.  Keep those images in front of you as you press toward that goal.   

Motivation and faith can be either fueled or depleted by what we choose to focus on.

  We can choose life or death for our dreams merely by what we choose to gaze upon day after day.  This time around I'm choosing to change my gaze and put pictures of my dreams in front of me in a place where I can see them daily.  

You know, with the biking, the process took a different length of time for each of our sons.  It was really a process of trust... trusting their parent's advice, but most of all, trusting their own focus and the notion that bike and body would follow it's lead.  Each child needed to go at his own pace and take his tumbles before getting it.  But, all it took with each one was that one time when they looked up and forgot about the mechanics of biking long enough to get a feel of the breeze on their cheeks....and they were hooked.  Even if they fell after a few moments they had enough of a taste to know that they could do it and they wanted more.  Each attempt at changing their focus from feet to straight ahead brought them a few revolutions closer to freedom, until, eventually, they took off.

Is this your first visit to Freedom Friday?
We're embracing freedom each Friday here in 2012.
Click here for a list of the other posts in the series.

No Matter What

The note came by way of her mother, to me, sealed in an envelope, addressed to Ethan, marked with a request that it be read alone in his bunk bed.  Needless to say, my dear friend and I were curious, to say the least.  Ethan and Adaire have been friends all of their lives.  Born only 2 days apart, they have grown up together, shared many play-dates, birthday parties, first days of school, and sleepovers.  So passing a note to one another isn't that out of the ordinary, but this one had a bit of mystery that had me and my friend curious.

  The only thing we had to go on was, the day before, my friend's daughter got up from the homeschooling room, grabbed her bible and went into her bedroom.  When she came out she had the note signed and sealed with a request for her mother to deliver it.  So she did.  Gave it to me with all the expression of 9-year-old urgency and I toted it around in my purse all day before I remembered that urgent note when I woke the next morning.  So, deliver it I did to my sleepy-eyed boy up in the top of his bunk.  He sat up with excitement and finding that he was already in position, according to the instructions on the envelope, he tore it open.  I asked if he minded if I stayed in the room while he read it silently to himself.  He nodded and began to read.

He smiled as he read and nodded his head as he finished.  Nodding to himself with a confident smile as if he was thinking,

 Yeah, I got this in the bag.  No problem.

Well, I was curious before I delivered the note, but now I really wanted to know what it said.  So I asked Ethan, and he handed it to me to read.  I have thought of it ever since.

  He gave his ok to share it.  Here it is...

Jesus said, I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father, except through me.

Dear Ethan, Please do this for me.  I need you to preach the good news.  I know that I could do it too, but you can do it more often because you're at a public school.  Take Peter for example, 

he preached no matter what. 

So let's do the same.

And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:15

The Great Day is Quickly Coming!!!

From the cradle to the cross and through the heavens, Jesus made it through it all.

-Adaire 

Can you stand it?  Well, needless to say I was in tears as I read this aloud.  Ethan was beaming a confident, peaceful smile; the  kind that comes when you know something, this good thing, is exactly the thing for you and you know just what you'll do with it.

I was wrecked.

Nine year olds encouraging each other to preach the gospel, no matter what.  This spoke volumes to me and continues to turn 'round in my spirit.

  These children get it and oh what we can learn from them...

If you know the good news, share it.

  Encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same.

Remember the great commission...it's the reason we're still here.

Never take your eyes off of Jesus...

Who He was, Who He is, and Who He is coming to Be.

And do it all, no matter what.

Is this your first visit to Freedom Friday? 

We're embracing freedom each Friday here in 2012.
Click here for a list of the other posts in the series

Living It

It's near noon on a Tuesday and he's in the playground.  Ethan, my nine-year-old, in the middle of the school day is walking around amongst the third grade class recess and praying.


  A classmate comes over and asks what he's doing and Ethan tells him he's praying.  What's that?, the child asks.  Ethan says, Well, you talk to God, the one and only true God who has a Son named Jesus, and you start out like, Dear God, and you ask him to help you with something or you tell him stuff.  But the main thing is you have to believe in your heart that He hears you and that He'll do it and after a few times of praying to Him about it, you'll have an answer. 

This I listen to on our drive home after we've left the car-line at the end of the school day . 

What a pleasant surprise!  I love these moments!  Moments when I discover the fruit of seeds I planted in my children during times that left me wondering if they really heard me.  This fruit discovered in the midst of the mindless routine, right smack between pushing brothers to get the much sought after way-back back seat and the wrestling match that takes place in the driveway daily as we pile out of the van and "walk" (with 3 boys, I use that term loosely) to the front door.

Keys to prayer as told by a child (of God):

1. Make sure you're praying to the right guy, aka the one and only true God who has a Son named Jesus. 

2. Believe that He hears you and that He'll do it.

3.  Keep it up.

4.  Do it no matter where you are.

5.  Don't be afraid to be seen and heard. 


Such a great reminder to me to talk the walk and keep pouring into these boys what it means to live being a Jesus-follower.  Although they may not always look as though they're getting it...they are.  Children are sponges and will soak up whatever you give them.  This is a reminder to me to continue to create opportunities with them to soak in more of God.


They soak up enough and recess time could look a whole lot different! 


*sharing this at MOB Society's Let's Hear it for the Boys link-up
 {reaching the hearts of boys for the gospel & preparing a generation of men to love the Lord}

Just for Fun

Feeling a bit tired and run-down today.  So after I picked my little buddy up from kindergarten this afternoon I decided we needed a little snuggle time in Mommy's bed before we picked up his 2 brothers from school.  So, we popped a bag of corn and set off with a Lego DVD and headed to my room.  I figured I'd have a little snack and then cozy up with my little guy and get a little nap.  Well, not much napping happened, but we did hold hands and snuggle...and we had a little fun with the Photo Booth app on my MacBook.  Check out these crazy pics...

So much fun!  I didn't even realize it had those fun effects until we took a few pictures.  Glad we found them...Samuel thought it was hysterical.  Oh, how I love his wild laughter!

Pure joy!

  Cherishing and counting this gift today.
  

2011: Reflecting and Counting

via

  As I reflect on 2011 and each of my happy, difficult and quiet moments, I'm thanking God simply for being there, for guiding, loving, correcting, giving wisdom, and never leaving.

  And I'm thanking Him for the people that He's placed in my life.

   He's made my life fuller and more beautiful because of each of them.   I can't recall this year without counting these blessings He's given:

*My husband

  We've been through thick and thin.  He knows me better than anyone...the good, the bad, and the ugly, yet he loves me.  It's nice to know that someone knows you like that yet still calls you "Love".  Still wants to hold your hand and walk together into wherever the path leads.  He sees the world through optimistic eyes even when things are rough.  He never gives up.  He takes his time and tries his best.  He's humble.  He sees the best in people and in circumstances.  He admits his faults.  He loves God.  He loves his little family.  He keeps having fun, no matter what it looks like.  I love him.  And I need him.  God knows it.

*My family of awesome boys

  I get to love them and care for them every day.  I get to hear their laughter and rambunctious fun, their prayers at night and everything in between.  They bring this home to life.  They are sweet, funny and entertaining.  They are courageous.  They love to bee-bug (snuggle).  They give me kisses all the time.  They call me beautiful.  They are patient and forgiving with this flawed mommy.  And, although it can be a challenge being mommy to 3 boys, they've taught me so much and they've made my heart swell to ridiculous proportions.  Most of all, motherhood has drawn me closer to God because there's no way I can do this without Him!  It still amazes me that they are mine.  That I was chosen to be their mommy.  What an amazing gift!

*My family of awesome girls

My 2 sisters and 6 cousins, all girls.  I love these girls!  Love being surrounded by them.  The laughter is contagious and just doesn't stop when we are together.  I grew up with these girls, share a past with them, share memories that only they know, they are a part of me and I love it!  All of them are strong.  Each one has a story.  Each one is wife, mother and amazing woman.  They make me happy.

*My Dad

So thankful to have my Dad close.  It's great to talk to him on the phone and visit with him in person.  He's thoughtful.  For my birthday he takes the time to pick out the perfect Hallmark card, the one that seems it was written with me in mind, the kind that always makes me cry.  He's there for us.  He's been a help to us.  When I have a concern or a problem he offers to pray and I know he does each night.  The boys love going to Pop-pop's, especially to his pool in the summer-time.  It's a gathering place.  Lots of good times and memory-making.  I'm glad he's here.

    

*My friends

 My friends have been such an amazing blessing to me, especially this year.  God has brought a few new friends into my life, deepened some existing friendships, and renewed treasured old friendships.  Some friends have become like sisters to me.  Who show up just because.  Who give hugs just when I need them.  Who see my heartache when others are fooled by the smile on my face.  Who through their generosity, selflessness and unconditional love, have made me feel seen and cared for.  Who through their creativity have inspired me to create and be all that God made me to be.  Who through their testimonies have taught me and given me hope.  Who through their strength and courageousness have filled me with awe.  Who through their faith have lifted me.  We've prayed prayers, laughed and cried, celebrated good times, and shared heartaches together.  I am so thankful to God for these girls.  

This year has been one of pruning and digging deep.  Although it has been painful at times, I know it's necessary for growth and I wait expectantly for the bud of beautiful blooms.


  But, it's going through this process that I've

experienced the love of God through the love and kindness of others.

 He's always there. 

He always loves.

He sees.

He knows.

 He provides.

Continuing to look to His leading in the New Year.

And praying that you experience His unconditional love through the relationships in your life this New Year as well.

Ringing in the New Year with the Kids

I've been to plenty of New Year's Eve parties through the years, but the best one yet was last year as I rang in the new year with my husband and boys at home.
  About a week before New Year's, my husband decided the boys were old enough (7, 6, and 4) to stay up and see the ball drop, so he and the boys got busy buying decorations and enough snack foods to last us the night.

  That evening he decorated the dining room while I made pizzas, the boy's favorite, of course.
  The boys loved the party hats and blow horns.

  They even got me a girly hat which my cat Fifi ended up wearing for part of the evening.

  We had the best time just being together playing games and watching Dick Clark in Times Square.
  The boys were so excited to stay up until midnight!
  Except for my littlest guy who fell asleep 10 minutes before the ball dropped.
  We spent some time thanking God for the year we were saying goodbye to and remembering the things He had done.
  We also spent some time praying for the year ahead.
  I think we'll pray a little harder for 2012 because this one was tough!
  So very ready for a fresh start!!


  Anyway, I think we've started a new tradition and my boys love a family tradition.
 They've been talking about our New Year's Eve party for a month or so and are ready for the night of fun.  It's the ultimate family night!

  
How are you planning to ring in 2012?    

Opening a Gift {Tuesdays Unwrapped}

Today I'm linking up with Emily at Chatting at the Sky here for Tuesdays Unwrapped.  It's a place to choose and celebrate one gift from an ordinary day.

Today I chose this... 

A rare moment.

These are boys who are very physical and full of energy.

  When they are together it's Legos, wrestling, star wars, climbing...anything action related.

  And loud.

 Always loud.

So when I popped my head out of the kitchen the other night to find out why there wasn't any noise, I was delighted to see them huddled together on the couch as big brother read one of the newly borrowed library books aloud.

I smiled and turned to head back to the kitchen and my dinner preparations when I thought of the camera.  I took the picture to capture a gift in my ordinary day.  Finding 3 brothers sharing an impromptu story together was a gift that needed to be embraced and celebrated.  I especially needed this on this particularly challenging day of 3 wired boys, lots of tattling, time outs and a minor injury.  It was a welcoming bit of space in between the loud and rambunctious norm.

It helped this mommy. 

And I'm thankful for it.

What gift in your ordinary day can you unwrap today?

31 Days {Day 7} It's Gonna Be Worth It

I don't like thinking about time.

Ask anyone and they'll say that there never seems to be enough of it.  

But here lately I can't help but to think of it.

How fast it goes.  In the blink of an eye, the day is over, the week, the month, the year...gone so quickly.

And right now just talking about it I can't help but to have the lyrics to that  old Steve Miller Band song in my head...

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' 
into the future 

The reason I'm thinking of time so much lately?

Well, there's 3 actually...

My sweet boys.

My littlest one just started Kindergarten. 
{sigh} 

The other day I was taking a walk in the park and saw so many moms pushing babies in strollers.

 All of a sudden it hit me, that's not me anymore.  I'm in a different bracket now.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy, but at the same time I think where did the time go?

It doesn't seem that long ago that they were so little and we were celebrating our 1st Christmas as a family of 5.  
It's tempting to be weepy and long for the days when they were younger and needier.  It's tempting to go back and examine things and beat myself up for not being some crazy form of perfect.  And mourn the things I wanted to do with them, but didn't.

But, then I remember... 

Grace

And I realize that it's not too late. 

As we begin our 7th day of seeking peace in the midst of the mess, I wanted to encourage you and myself that although this takes time, this is worth it.
  
I'm reminded that my boys will benefit from having a mommy who knows how to live from a place of peace.  That taking time to be still before the Lord not only helps me, but it gives my boys a peaceful mommy.  That dealing with my thinking keeps me from passing down negative thought patterns to them.


So worth it.

  
If you're struggling with taking the time to seek peace in the midst of your mess, remember not only you, but the ones you love the most will benefit. 


Oh, and that Steve Miller song, here's the second verse...
I want to fly like an eagle 
To the sea 
Fly like an eagle 
Let my spirit carry me 
I want to fly like an eagle 
Till I'm free Oh, Lord, through the revolution 

Do you see it?
What the verse is saying?


{An eagle goes to the sea for sustenance.  They are fish eaters and the sea is the source.}


Want to soar?
Take time to get your sustenance from the Lord daily.
Then your spirit will be full and it will carry you...
right through the change.


Til you're free!

Isaiah 40:31  

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;   

they shall mount up with wings as eagles; 

they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Great song!
Check it out here. 

Have you missed a day in reading 31 Days of Seeking Peace in the Midst of the Mess ?  

click here

This post is also linked up with other moms who are growing godly men,

 over here at the M.O.B. Society. 

If you aren't following  Loving This Life yet, I’d love to invite you to do so. Simply click here or go to the side bar and click on join this site.  There are also options on the side bar to subscribe to receive posts in a reader or to sign up for email to have each post delivered to you right into your inbox.  

Bug Hunt

So today was gorgeous!  High 70s and sunny...I could stand every summer day to be this beautiful!  I sent the boys outside so I could get some things done and they quickly got to hunting for bugs.  They were in and out of the kitchen grabbing empty food containers that I had in a bag to go into the recycling bin.  They needed them to make "habitats".  I wasn't going to argue because they were having fun and were really into it.  Plus, they were all getting along and enjoying each other...big plus!

The paper and markers were used to sketch out bug house plans!  Very creative.  The exciting find of the day was a snail named Howard.

They wanted to find Howard a wife that they could name Shelly, after her shell...get it?  Don't ask me where the name Howard came from though.  Anyway, they did find another snail but it was small so they decided she was too little to get married and they let her stay in the garden.  Yes, let her grow and explore life and live among the flowers!

So here's Howard in his new habitat...or bachelor pad as he's not yet married!

Boys + bugs = happy!

Fun with My Boys

The boys and I just shared a great outing together.  Woke up yesterday
morning and asked them what they'd like to do for the day.  A trip to the zoo was unanimous.  So, after breakfast we headed down to the Brandywine Park and Zoo just a few blocks away.

They wanted to head to the river 1st and check out the wildlife before checking out the zoo life.  I wasn't really planning on that, but okay, sounds good.  So, I set out with my little explorers and we climbed out onto rocks in the water (me in my skirt and flip-flops) to get a better look at ducks, geese, fish, cranes, and even a water snake.

and here he is

I was actually surprised at how into it I was.  Well, the weather helped...it was gorgeous...sun-shiney blue skies, low 80s, low humidity...perfect!  We found some really big rocks and camped out there for about an hour and a half.

The boys waded in the water around the rocks and yes 2 of them actually slipped and took a little "swim" and got pretty wet.  It was inevitable really.  But, you know what, they were fine and so was I.  Funny, because when we first got there I went all "laying-down-the-law-mommy" and told them to keep their shoes on, no feet in the water, no touching the water even (what???)...I just knew someone would be soaked, or worse, get some crazy "river illness" (yes, I know, I need to chill).  But as I was exploring with them I thought, what in the world am I asking of them?  Letting them explore down on the water and not get wet?  What kind of downer am I?  So I found as I was there with them that I got comfortable and just didn't care about anything else but enjoying that present moment.  So, I said, that's it everyone take off your shoes and get your feet in the water. 

Yes, even me!  So much fun!  Felt good to not care about anything but just having fun and exploring.  Those boys are great!  I had the best day with them and made some wonderful memories!  Oh, and we did make it to the zoo.  Ethan and Samuel went soaking wet, but they didn't mind, and neither did I.  We got the see the new tiger, Zhanna, which was the highlight of the zoo trip.

this was the best I could do...she wouldn't look...shy I guess

I capped off the day by taking them to Red Robin for a late lunch.  They beg to go there every time we pass by, which is about weekly, so I was excited to have a little cash on hand to treat them. :)

Awesome day!  Smiles and laughter abounded.  Love those boys!!