E's 6 month pictures

This little girl is like a little ray of sunshine!

She is rolling all over the place and, will get up on her hands and knees and plop forward, so I don't think it will be very long till she is crawling. 

She will watch people and wait for them to look at her, then when they do she will just smile and smile, wiggling all over the place because she is so happy.

She loves her brother and sister, and will laugh huge belly laughs when they jump around in front of her. 

She will let them do almost anything with her. The other day I found her covered with blankets in between T. and K. I wasn't very happy about it, but she sure didn't seem to mind.

She has started getting very excited about food, but she doesn't know what to do with it once we give it to her. It usually comes out of her mouth, or it never makes it in there to begin with.

I'm pretty sure that when she starts talking that we will never be able to get her to stop! She will just coo and coo for a long time. Her coos happen to often be screeches that sound like nails on a chalkboard, but at least they are happy screeches.

She's is my happiest baby yet!  

We love you E!

Even the smallest Jobs are Great.

Life is busy. Good busy.

Right now we seem to always be one step behind where we should be. 

But, the reasons that we run behind, are all wonderful reasons to be behind! 

We have been given the beautiful/hard/heart-changing job of raising/teaching/training these three little beautiful souls up to know, and trust GOD. 

I would be lying if I said it was easy, because some times it's not. 

I would be lying if I said we have it all together, because some times, (most times) we do not.

BUT, what I do know is that we have a GOD of grace, mercy, and strength. 

I know that as humans there is no way that we can even begin to know how to raise these children up for HIM. 

BUT, I know that when I am weak, HE is strong. 

I know that He can take our feeble efforts, and make even the smallest jobs great.

Wiping noses,

Changing diapers,

Giving baths,

Changing diapers,

Fixing meals,

Fixing snacks,

Brushing teeth,

Settling arguments,

Potty training,

Sweeping floors,

Wiping faces,

Washing dishes,

Washing dishes,

Washing clothes,

Folding clothes, 

Refolding clothes,

The list could go on...

These are all things that I do day after day, year after year. 

Sometimes I feel as if it will never end.

BUT, I also know that THESE mundane, seemingly small things are important.

Because, (Do you know why?) 

It's when I'm doing these little things that the questions come.

Questions about GOD,

questions about heaven,

questions about Papaw Jim in heaven,

questions on how I do things, 

and why I can do things that they shouldn't do, 

and why I say things the way I do.

It's when I'm doing these little things that the songs come.

Songs about teeth,

 and candy,

 and trees,

 and telephone poles,

 and turtles,

 and dogs,

 and cats,

 and bananas,

 and apples,

 and donkeys.

...

Songs about Jesus walking on the water,

 and about heaven,

 and about stepping into the water,

 and about Jesus loving us,

 and about trusting in Him. 

It's when I'm doing these little things that prayers come.

Watching T go from saying: "You pray, Daddy/Mama, I can't." 

To: "Mama, I'm talking to GOD!"

"Keep Daddy safe, keep Papaw and Mamaw safe, keep Daddy safe, keep everybody safe, Jesus name AMEN!"

It's hearing: "GOD is EVERYWHERE!!" Yelled from the living room.

It's when I'm doing these little things, memory verses are learned.

Hearing a two year old say:

"In de deginning, GOD created, de evens and de eart!! Enesis 1:1!",

is one of the greatest things I've heard for a long time.

Hearing: "Mom, I'm going to do unto others now!" shows me that, day by day, moment by moment, the things that Jesus taught, are getting taught to my son, and daughters. (Well, to be real honest, HIS children.)

If I could always see the bigger picture, the little 'day by day' things would become bigger, and more important to me, and I would be less stressed than I am most of the time. 

The struggle is real.

(When I first decided to catch back up somewhat on my blog, I kept feeling bad about not having taken the time to keep it up to date etc. But then I realized that I really do not need to feel bad about it at all. I really do have better things to do most of the time.

(I hope to share a little more often this spring/ summer, but if I don't, you will know what I will be doing.))

Motherhood is my calling, and how I view my work/job, will affect how my children view their life and GOD.

If I'm always grumpy, my children will not learn the things that should be being taught to them. 

If I'm always stressed/depressed, my children will learn that I don't trust GOD with things in my life.

Children are being taught something everyday.

They can see whether we trust GOD and rely on HIS grace to see us through, or if we try to make it through in our own strength. I believe that it is quite obvious to them, even if it isn't always obvious to others.

It's only by the grace, mercy, and strength of GOD that I am/will be a good mother.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary's mount outpored,

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, GOD's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse with in;

Grace, grace, GOD's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!