It can be a challenge to blog on the weekends, so I'm a bit behind. I've tried to keep a mental note of things Jadon has done or said that made us laugh or wonder, "Where did he learn that," but with two kids constantly going in a million directions, I've already lost those things I had made note to remember. Here is what I do know about the last three days:
HIGHS: Macy has been shaking her head "no" for about a week now, and it completely cracks anyone up who sees it. She smiles from ear to ear, while she's doing it. She's really started to develop and show off her silly side. She knows she's funny, and loves to entertain us :) She's also developed a major attitude with Jadon. While he is her absolute favorite person to hang with, she has no problem yelling at him, when he pushes her buttons. Hilarious!
Jadon is obsessed with a certain house in our area that has every blow-up Christmas character you can imagine: a 20' tall Santa, a snow globe Santa, Santa in a hammock in his swim trunks, Santa in a helicopter on the roof, Santa in a tractor, etc. He LOVES driving by this house. The problem is, it is about 10 minutes from our house.
On Saturday, we convinced Gramma and Grandpa to drive, since they hadn't seen it. Because it's in a development with little traffic, we took both kids out of their car seats, so they can get the best view of all the lights. Macy was squealing and trying to jump out of my lap and out the window, she was so excited :) Jadon kept saying, "Grandpa, turn around," so we can see his favorite house a million times. This first pic is the house Jadon loves (minus a deflated Santa in the helicopter on the roof), and the two other pics are of another house that has Jadon's favorite nativity set. He always says, "There's Joseph and Mary and baby Jesus."
My FAVORITE, melt-my-heart moment of the last three days happened last night. I ran into Lifeway (Christian bookstore) to buy a card. Macy was sleeping, so Jamie stayed in the car with her, while Jadon went with me. I have no idea why, but Jadon started quoting his "Hermie's Fruitcake Christmas" video (maybe because we bought the DVD at Lifeway??). Anyway, while I was looking thru the cards, he started saying, "And that's what Christmas is all about...it's not about presents." I looked at him and asked, "What is Christmas all about, Jadon?" He looked at me with the most innocent eyes, and out of the mouths of babes, he said, "It's about Jesus." I held the tears in. One of the BEST moments of parenting so far! It is the desire of both mine and Jamie's hearts that our kids grow to love Jesus at a young age, serving him all the days of their lives.
It is so sweet to see Jadon's heart for God starting to grow. Spiritual training starts very early, and it is amazing to see the impact the things we are doing already having an effect on him at just 2 1/2 years young. We've been reading to Jadon every night from his Early Reader's Bible. Some nights are just more rushed than others, so we'll hurry thru a few books, then finish with the story of Jesus' birth.
A few nights, it's already been way past Jadon's bedtime, but he has cried and asked, "Read baby Jesus, Mama?" How can you dare say no? It's really not a tactic to buy more awake time. He truly wants to hear the story and will add comments about the pictures and how, "Jesus is God's Son. He loves you. You love baby Jesus. You love Mama and Daddy and Sister." Out of the mouths of babes, I tell ya! Here he is reading his Bible on his own last night:
Okay, now the lows...I really go back and forth debating whether to talk about the lows of my days. I don't want to focus on the challenges of life, marriage and parenthood because there are so many, and I never want to appear to be complaining. I do, however, want to be honest about life. I/we do struggle with lots of things. We get burned out. Somedays feel like 'Groundhog' days...the same thing as the day before...potty, breakfast, clean, play, potty, lunch, clean, nap, etc. Jamie and I REALLY would LOVE to have more time with each other and by ourselves. We would like to have more time with each of our kids by themselves. We are pretty broke with a capital B. We are uncertain about the future. We struggle with impatience. Yada, yada, yada. So sometimes you may get a really raw, "wow, they struggle with that??" kind of low, sometimes I really may not have a low, and sometimes there will be lows that make my heart ache.
So here are my two lowest points in the last few days:
(1) After 10 months without seeing her, good old Aunt Flo decided to stop by. Blah. With Jadon, it was six months, before I had my first period, since I was breastfeeding. I assumed it would be about the same with Macy, but thankfully, I was given four extra months. Seriously, pimples at 32??? Bloating. Feeling icky. Yuck. I still have to breastfeed...no fair, God :/ I will say that only having about 4 periods in the last 3+ years has been an AWESOME reward!
(2) This is a REALLY, REALLY HORRIBLE low. One of my best friend's husband is cheating on her :/ They have three kids and have been married for 10 years. It's just a huge mess, and if you knew the details, you'd just be disgusted. I'll tell you this much, you give Satan an inch of a foothold, and before you know it, he will destroy things you thought were indestructable every, single time. Please pray for my friend, her husband, and all of the kids who are involved in this mess :(
What an aweful time of year for this to happen to them all. Sadness consumes my thoughts. I have to tell you though, it has opened my eyes even more to the things that Jamie and I need to work on and never take for granted. I don't care who you are, this thing can happen to ANY OF US! Not one of us is out of the enemy's reach. The Bible tells us that the enemy comes to "kill, steal, and destroy" (Psalm 37:32). For those who have accepted Christ as their Savior, the enemy can't have your soul, but he can destroy your life and ability to serve God.
My friend's husband has fallen for a trap, but I tell you that through his poor choices, the enemy has only reminded me to keep our marriage and lives focused on the Lord and the things He has promised us. Our joy is in the Lord, and we thank Him for each other, our beautiful kids, our friends and family, our health, and all of His undeserving provisions.
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What God has joined together, let no man put asunder." ~~~Mark 10:9
