Signs of Spring

On Monday our family went for a walk to look for "signs of Spring." It was our first walk in our neighborhood since Titus joined our family. The girls had lots of fun. Grace wore her super sleuth hat & binoculars for the occasion. We are VERY excited for Spring at our house. Although for different reasons. I am so ready to loose the hat/gloves/coat/boots etc. routine when we leave the house. Grace keeps asking if Spring is here yet because she wants to go camping. We told her we would go when Spring came, so she is keeping track.

Funny to think today is the first day of Spring and it is snowing outside. Although many people don't think of the midwest as being beautiful I love the way we fully experience all four seasons. There are things I love about each one. But, I especially love Spring. The first day of Spring has taken on a new meaning for me. Last year it was on that day that our baby unexpectedly went to Heaven. I think I will always be reminded of our little one on this day each Spring. But, Spring isn't about death. It is about new life. Its not our baby's death that I remember, but the hope we have of meeting our little one someday in Heaven. Only the hope we have in Christ can bring the type of healing our family has experienced.

Little One,

I know you are in a place beyond my imagination. A place so beautiful and perfect even God's word cannot fully describe it. There is nothing better for a mother than to know your child walks with the Lord. And you are in a place where you can truly walk with Jesus. Our family loved to walk hand in hand and shout out, "Four Strong." I remember we whispered "Five Strong" for the first time when it was still a secret I was pregnant with you. While we are now five strong as an earthly family I still imagine us all together again someday as we walk the streets of heaven and shout, "Six strong" or whatever that number will be.

Love,

Your Mama

Happy Spring!

Road Trip Perspective

This week the girls and I went on a road trip. (Opps, still adjusting- the kids and I...) I love a great road trip. There is just something about packing up and going somewhere that gets me excited. When I think about the idea of a "road trip" I think about my college days. Jumping in the car, headed to a new place with my friends. Often these trips were spontaneous. And if they were planned the most I had to worry about was what outfits I wanted to pack so I'd look cute in all the photos we were sure to snap along the way. I have some great memories of past trips.

These days my life is a little less spontaneous. Okay, maybe a lot less spontaneous. Getting ready for a trip these days looks more like this:

Doing Laundry. Or This:

Packing lunches for Jeremy while I will be gone.

As for those cute outfits, I pack three sets of them for my kiddos and hope I remember to pack clothes for me too. Going on a road trip is simply put, a whole lot of work. But, I still love a great road trip. So, I do laundry, pack suitcases, make lists, pack lunches, and hit the road in my minivan. And I am so glad I did it was a blast!! (More on that later)

This week I finally sat down and cracked open my Bible study book & journal. The last date I had written in it? January 22nd. The Friday before Titus was born. Time to get back into the holy habit of quiet time with the Lord. So, what in the world does this have to do with my road trip?

Before kids I could spend time with the Lord whenever I wanted to. There were no little people to interrupt. No necessary sleep deprivation to distract me. (Notice I said necessary, there was definitely sleep deprivation in college but it was chosen.) Now finding quite time to read my Bible is kind of like a road trip, work. I am a wife, I am a mom to three small children, I am not getting quality sleep... Does that mean I should cut myself some slack? Maybe.

Yes, I do have a new baby. And some might say this warrants my lack of quiet time. But, I have found time to watch TV, I have found the energy to plan for a road trip. So, I'm working at reestablishing my quiet time. Not because God won't cut me some slack. But, because I am a wife & mom of 3 small children who isn't getting quality sleep. And I NEED the perspective God's word brings to my life. How else can I be patient, kind, & equipped to be the wife and mother God desires?

Ultimately daily quiet time with the Lord is just like a road trip a whole lot of work but totally worth the investment.

Growing So Fast!

One of the great things about having a newborn is that they are constantly changing, reminding you how far behind you are on updating your blog. My mom took these photos when Titus was 5 1/2 weeks old. And his look has already changed! But the photos were too cute not to share. It was a typical photo session full of bribing, begging, and my kids basically not cooperating. My favorite quote from this photo session was from my sister. It went like this:

Jenn: Can you imagine what its like trying to take a family picture of the Duggars?

Josie: I bet its easy their kids are so well behaved..... I mean uh, not that your kids aren't well behaved.

My kids not well behaved? Clearly, Josie lived with us and knows my kids! Lets just say my kids remind me DAILY how important my job of molding & shaping them into the people God desires them to be is! (and I'm guessing maybe yours do too.... at least I hope so)

And for the record, I only use the popular bribing and begging parenting technique when their Gramy is trying to take pictures, I wouldn't recommend it for general daily use.