Children...."Love is..."

As wisdom became our theme in our home with WesleyGrant, it began to provide language for us in our home...it is wise to "obey, be kind, share, be self-controlled, ect..." and it began to give not only WesleyGrant language, but me and stew language.

There has been quite a journey since we've become parents and we've only tasted it....but God has been gracious to walk with us and show us things just in the right time...

It was March of 08...Sally was getting older and began playing with wesleygrant. Their little evil hearts began to expose it's tank of sin as each other interacted with the other. I went to the Lord and asked for help.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." psalm 32:8

okay, Lord.

Matthew 22:35-39

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

If that is the greatest thing God has commanded us to do, I need to train my kids in that. So, 1 Corinthians 13 took on a whole new look for me. "Love is patient, kind....not easily angered...ect.." So new language began in our home again....love is 'this' and we love God and others. This is what God is like and this is how we are to be.

Love has been a leader in our home...and though it was another turn and growth in my parenting....still had no idea that there was more to come....

Children....continued..."Wisdom became my theme"

I keep this journal that I record the lessons I am learning as a parent...hoping one day to hand it off to my girls....not so much to tell them how to do it (although it will give some of that) but to help them see my journey as a mother and be encouraged. I was looking back through it and have been reminded of God's grace that He gives to mothers.

I became a mother at age 27 in the first year of my marriage with stew. I was excited and scared all at the same time. My mother had been sick since I was 12 years old, and so I was nervous, not feeling like I knew what it was like to be a mother. But the Lord had prepared me way before I knew it. He had 2 women specifically in my life that had been mentoring me since college....and they directed me to Jesus....who would be the help and well of all parenting skills I could ever ask for.

I had just put wesleygrant to bed...he was 2 years old. I sat on the couch and said, "LORD! I can't do this anymore! He bites, throws temper tantrums, and nothing seems to be working." We had just moved to Austin and the insecurity of being a parent only heightened as we were around new people and all I wanted was easy, disciplined, "pretty" children to introduce them to. But had quite the opposite. I was bitter at my son in many ways.

The spirit spoke to me in that moment as I confessed my "woes"...I looked at a collage of pictures of Wesley Grant and cried out to God, "why me?!". But in that weak moment, God spoke life into my soul as a mother and pointed me to Himself.

"That is MY child!" "Whom I have created for MY purposes." "His character and everything he is, is what I made!" "Right now he is reigned under sin, but I have made a way to free him and all that is captive under sin, will be reigned under Jesus" "You are to point him to ME...I will do the rest" "He is not for you, he is for ME!" "Turn from your bitterness, and follow me."

I was humbled and broken in my heart...I had been bitter and only saw negative as to my son's character. But God would begin changing my heart...."How Lord?!" "How do I turn him to you?!"

"Be patient, child...I will show you..."

2 Timothy 3:14-17
"You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the WISDOM that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

Scripture began to heal me and point me to how I might be a mother....I realized I was teaching him to be "good"...when that was impossible...he is a sinner...Romans 3:23..."all have sinned.." I wanted him to BE for my glory...my appearance, rather than who he was created to Be for..GOD's GLORY!

Thus, WISDOM became our theme...I will teach WesleyGrant what is wise...and trust the Spirit to convict of sin and point to Jesus...little did i know that my life as a mother would change so drastically that day....

The Aunties came to town!

If you've called me and I haven't returned your call........texted me and i haven't responded....emailed me and wondered if i got it....well, i've been a little checked out and having good girl time with my best friends who are truly like my sisters and my kids call them their aunties! It is so fun! 

Sometimes friend are just more than friends...they are family!  And these ladies are it! Aunt Panda, Rachie, T, Wendy, and Christy!!!   We've had a blast together this week, toured austin's finests and all stayed together in our home remembering good times!! I love you dear friends!! You are gifts to me and my children!! Thank you for coming to see us!!!

The Gospel...according to WesleyGrant

ME:  "Good morning wesleygrant...would you like some cereal?"

WG:  "Yes, mommy, thank you...." (pause)  "mama, I love you"

ME:  "I love you too, son!"  "I hope you always tell me you love me, WG"

WG:  "Yes, mommy....I will always love you..."  (pause)  "I will always obey you too, mama!  ALL TIMES!"

ME:  "That is wonderful, WG, but I have to tell you that you will not always obey me..."

WG: Quickly..."Yes I will!"

ME: "Do you know who did always obey?"

   as i was attempting to "share the gospel"...exciting thinking wow! i can share the gospel with him....he interupts and attempts to share with me....

WG:  "Mommy, It is just like the boy who ate the pig food (prodical son)....he ate it but then he went back to his daddy. (the father) and his daddy hugged him."   "He obeyed mommy...."

ME: I attempt to tell him that is right and further explain, but he keeps talking....

WG: "mommy, remember when i had poopoo stuck in my bum? (poop in his bottom, ie constipated)

ME: "yes, you needed more fiber..."

WG:  "well, a bee catched my poop and didn't let it come out...so i had to eat fiber"

Sally comes in...

ME:"Sally you want some cereal?"

Sally: "Yes"

WG: "sally, i will share my cereal with you and make you some apple pie later!"

Sally: "NO BUBBA!!" (yelling)

ME: "Sally, that is not loving..."  "WG, can you share the gospel with sally and help her understand how to love."

WG: "yes..."  "Sally, We obey all times like the boy who ate pig poop and then caught his father...and then poop came down inside of me and the bee caught it...I had to have Jesus and then it came out! "

ME:  "thank you wg..."

Sally, very confused...but no longer yelling....

wow...and that is the gospel according to my wesleygrant...=)

Just a few more pics....so cute!

Neal and Christel's Wedding!

Today was the BIG day!! Our sweet friends and now neighbors got married!  Neal and Christel got married at the Allan House downtown and it was beautiful!!   My kiddos did great! I was so proud of them...they even managed to steal the dance floor and create an audience! oh my goodness! so funny! It was so fun! We love you Neal and Christel!!! 

Children, Part 1

I've been reflecting a lot on my role as a mother...every year I go away and evaluate it...pray over it and beg God to help me.  This year I have been moved by the thought of "building a home"...with every little thing, I am building something...

But most of my days look pretty much the same.

I get out of bed each morning so that I could do everything I did the day before. 
I wash the dishes so they can be dirtied again.
Iwash and iron the clothes so they can be worn and wrinkled again
I wipe noses so they can run again. 
I pick up toys so they can be played with again.
I sweep and mop the floor so mud could be tracked on it again.
I cook meals so that I can go to the grocery store again.
I make beds so they can be slept in again.

Some days I wonder: if I do all I do, only to have it undone, am I really doing anything?

I got this and used it to describe my day EXACTLY from a blog entry I read from Carolyn Mahaney.  Then, she encourged me when she spoke from experience and after her girls are grown...

"I realize that all of the mundane, repetitive days were actually full of significant, enduring work. A home was being built. A family was being knit together. Four souls were being shaped for eternity." Carolyn mahaney

So, I am pursing with hope all the days seeking to build my home to glorify God, knit my family together and shape souls for eternity...may you mothers be encouraged as I am...more later...