STRONG

There's this little boy.
A very adorable, crazy, adventurous, fun, full of life little boy.
Today he grew up...right in front of me.
Today this little boy looked at me and said:
"Mommy! What time are your students going to be here today?
And will they be boys or girls? Because I think the girls are really gonna love my outfit!"
I looked at him standing there with a pair of jeans....shirtless....proudly wearing the new
necklace we had made today. It read: STRONG
Today we talked about how strong people make good choices even when it's hard.
I hope this same little boy remembers this concept as he becomes a man.
I hope he remembers that being strong doesn't always mean being the coolest boy.
That being strong doesn't always look popular.
That being strong might not always necessarily come in the form of big muscles.
That being strong means love will always be greater than hate.
That being strong means "I'm sorry and I forgive you".
That being strong means you never give up.
And most of all...I hope this little boy never forgets:
There is a God who fights all our battles for us...and we are strong because of this.

MONKEYSTORY #711

OVERHEARD IN THE MONKEYHOUSE THIS PAST WEEK:

PapaMonkey: Hey toughen up Buttercup!
BabyMonkey: I am not a buttercup!!
PapaMonkey: You are an adorable buttercup.
BabyMonkey: I NOT BUTTERCUP! I AM CINDERELLA!

 "Mommy!!!! Come quick!! Come look!!! I pooped a Mama poop
and she had lots of little baby poops!!!!"

"Mommy! I picked this big booger. Want to come see it? Look how big it is!
But I used a Kleenex just like you told me. Man, it feels so good when I get all those boogers out!"

Me: Who went to the bathroom and didn't flush the toilet?!?!?!?
All monkies: "NOT ME!!! NOT ME! NOT ME!!!!"
Me: What have I told you guys about that!?!?
Gabe: Well I did see that earlier, but it wasn't my poop!
Me: How do I know that it wasn't you?
Gabe: Mommy! My poop isn't the same color as that poop! That's how you know!

Glory Days

Hanging out with coughing little monkies all day (after a sleepless night)....drinking coffee....slathering on Vicks....drinking coffee....wiping yucky noses...drinking coffee.....giving breathing treatments....wasn't exactly how I had planned this Sunday to go.
We had church, football party, food, and fun on the agenda.
However...tucking in little monkies tonight with more Vicks and warm lemon juice and raw honey and cinnamon tonics...I realized these days are the glory days.
The glory days of parenting end up being just like these:
We weren't running here and there and everywhere.
We did face painting.....in our own house.....not waiting in line with 100 million other kids.
Sure, one monkey may have said to me: "Um, Mommy, I don't think this is what it's supposed to look like!" But hey...we face painted.
We all layed on the living room floor at one point and gave back massages. These monkies give the best of the best :)
We made a 30 minute funniest home video to send Uncle Isaac in Ireland.
We cuddled....a lot.
We had no where to be at any certain time. Our kids were all under the same roof.
And as I'm held close tonight by my bestest friend....the man who keeps me going....who keeps me sane.......I'm thinking I need to start lingering in the glory days now....and being grateful for the here and now.
Before these days become memories of "remember when." #blessedmamamonkey

JOY

Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.

 

God doesn't promise that the outcome will always be what we wanted or expected.....

But He always promises JOY.

 

 

Motherhood

I am overwhelmed, infatuated, love struck and completely unhinged. Especially on the nights they bring in wild flowers and all the ever-loving mud in the world. I am full and fulfilled. I am older and comfortable in my skin. I am about the work of raising tiny humans. I am out of my mind and in my calling and desperate for five minutes alone and a lifetime together. I want to stop time, tame my fears, bottle their dreams, live a hundred summers of dripping, sticky, chocolate swirl ice cream. And in between I hang onto my faith, my temper, and my sense of humor with my fingernails. These are the good days, the glory days, the slow-as-molasses days. These are the fast years, the wonder years, the how-do-I-find-words years.

 - See more at: http://momastery.com/blog/2013/06/10/for-the-dog-days/#sthash.eSuzwQo4.KXZNjq1h.dpuf

BeHappy

Lord I Need You

 Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart


Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You


Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Yes where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me


So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay

 

http://youtu.be/_rR_Rdb1CTE