Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Little Things are Really the BIG Things!

Thank you Rachel for writing this great post!
.http://www.feminagirls.com/2012/04/10/the-littleness-of-motherhood/#more-4170  .What a great reminder to us all! This goes together beautifully with the song by Steven Curtis Chapman called "Do Everything". I encourage you to take time to click the link, and read the post Rachel has written. Then look up the song by Steven Curtis Chapman. May these both be an encouragement to you today!

*These are the lyrics to the Steven Curtis Chapman song if you are unfamiliar with it.

"Do Everything"
your picking up toys on the living room floor for the 15th time today

Matching up socks
Sweeping up lost cheerios that got away

You put a baby on your hip
Color on your lips and head out the door

While I may not know you,
I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes, does it matter at all?

Well let me remind you, it all matters just as long
As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you,
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
Tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do

Maybe your that guy with the suit and tie
Maybe your shirt says your name

You may be hooking up mergers
Cooking up burgers
But at the end of the day

Little stuff
Big stuff
In between stuff
God sees it all the same

While I may not know you
I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes, does it matter at all?
[ Lyrics from: /www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s
Well let me remind you, it all matters just as long
As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
Tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every thing you do

Maybe your sitting in math class
Or maybe on a mission in the Congo
Or maybe your working at the office
Singing along with the radio

Maybe your dining at a 5-star
Or feeding orphans in the Myanmar
Anywhere and everywhere that you are

Whatever you do
It all matters
So do what you do
Don't ever forget

To do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause He made you
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace

As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you
To do
Every little thing that you do
To bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do

In every little thing you do
In every little thing you do


More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/steven_curtis_chapman/#share
 *Every little thing I do for this little girl does not go unnoticed by my Savior and King! So thankful He has entrusted me with one of His children.


Thursday, May 17, 2012

A Child and Their Playtime

So Mama's what is your take on child play? My daughter is only 7 months old, and she can already play alone. It is certainly fun to see her discover new things and interact with her toys. A welcome relief as well, knowing that I can make lunch,  put laundry in, or just relax without having to entertain her at the same time. However, I want to make sure I am giving her "face time" each day. Lately I have been spending time with her outside in the mornings. I'll read on the porch why she bounces away in her ExerSaucer. I try and read with her at least once a day, and make a daily effort to sit and interact/play with her.
I have heard many moms simply include their child in their daily activities. Example: If folding laundry, have the baby on the floor and involve them in the task. Throw a shirt over them and play peek-a-boo. Sing. Talk..etc.Some moms I'm sure spend time playing,dancing, singing, coloring, painting, swimming,running....with their kids. Other moms have a great balance. They involve their children in productive activities, and also spend time playing with them each day.What is your method?
Keeping in mind that some independent playtime is a GREAT thing for children. It allows them to create, discover, and entertain themselves. So how do you balance your time with your kids?
*Eden loves spending time with her Daddy!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Comparison:Does it steal your joy?

Alright Mamas, I've been a little out of touch this week. This past week just flew by, and my husband and I were in a wedding on Saturday.The wedding was wonderful, if any of you were wondering! I'm so glad to have these 2 people in my life, and now as fellow young married friends :).
However, weddings can bring out one of the worst things in me. Others don't really see it, for the battle is in my heart. This word is ugly. It should not be in my vocabulary because it frequently steals my joy. That word is COMPARISON! I have recently read this popular quote "Comparison is the thief of joy". I 100%  agree with this. Comparing doesn't just apply to weddings. Sure I think about my wedding flowers ( Should I have had more?), my pictures ( Did I have enough poses?) my centerpieces ( Why did I do them that way?). Seriously, it has been almost 2 years since my wedding day, and these questions still float around in my mind. Don't get me wrong. My wedding day was a lot of fun. From the sweet ceremony, to fun pictures in the field with lots of friends, to good food and dancing, and cake smashing! I had a great day! God was honored, and we enjoyed ourselves, what more do you need?
However, comparison isn't just tied to my wedding. I guess that would make it a lot easier to deal with if it was!
Comparison creeps into my life on daily basis. Whether it's comparing my clothes, my parenting techniques, my babies abilities, the clothes I have her in, the house I live in...and the list goes on and on! Exhausting right? How many of you struggle with this? Am I alone?Now maybe you are not like me, in that you are constantly comparing in almost every situation, and that's a good thing :).
However, if you do find yourself struggling with comparison. What do you do?

Well this is something simple you could do when you are tempted to compare. It comes from a children's song.
"Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings and see what God has done"
REALLY. If you stop when you are tempted to compare, and think of 5 things the Lord has already blessed you with, I wonder if it would change your perspective. I need to do this more often. How about you?

*As I count my blessings...She is one of them! :)