Music Makes Me Smile!

I wouldn't necessarily say I am musical, I come from a musical background, various aunts, uncles, cousins all playing instruments, singing songs, even my parents are both musical with singing and playing, but we are not like the Partridge family or anything!  I didn't grow up singing around the old piano, or playing a symphony with my brother.  I play instruments and sing, but not in public.  I used to, not anymore, but music has still been and will continue to be a big part of my life. 

I love music, there is really no other way to put it.  Music is like a band aid for my soul, if I need cheering up I will listen to music, if I want my day to start off on the right foot, or should I say note :) I listen to music.  When I work out I pretty much always listen to music.  Music is the background noise for my life.  I also love to dance, which will never happen in public, but we have many rock-out sessions at our house, sometimes multiple ones during the day.  Eric is musical, too.  For those of you that know him, you may now pick yourself up off the floor from laughing.  The man has no rhythm and couldn't carry a tune to save his life, but he is constantly singing, whistling, and making up words to songs.  I guess you could say he appreciates music and not that he is musical.

I want music is be apart of our girls' lives, too.  I don't care if they sing in a choir, or play an instrument, but I want them to feel moved when they hear a beat, I want them to sing out their heartbreak in a song, I want them to shout for joy when they worship God with a song.  Sometimes at church when I can't be in service, I will sneak out to "go to the bathroom" to just stand in the back of the auditorium to listen to the music. 

As a staff at The Ridge we took a survey about a year or so ago.  It asked several questions about when you feel closest to God, and my top 2 were singing worship songs and being outside.  The singing one didn't surprise me, but being outside did.  I wouldn't say I am outdoorsy at all, but it made sense.  I am like Eric with music, I don't always long to be outdoors, but I appreciate the beauty of nature and everything God has made. 

Needless to say I just plain old love me some music.  Here is one of my favorite songs right now.  It's almost 2 years old, but for some reason, only God know why, it's striking me now as a favorite.  Take a quick listen, maybe grab the kids or your spouse, and rock out a little bit. 

"We know where the Spirit of the Lord is

The Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty

We know, living in your freedom

Living in your freedom, we see your glory

We know where the Spirit of the Lord is

The Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty

We're yours and yours is the Kingdom

We are yours and yours is the Kingdom

You are the fire through the night

You are the flame that burns inside

We need your presence more than anything

And you're all that we want

And you're all that we need

You call us closer to your heart

Lead us Lord to where you are

We need your presence more than anything"

A Challenge for the Chicks

Yesterday Eric was speaking at church and I was able to sneak in the back once things in the kids area got settled and I was finished telling the Bible story to the Pre-schoolers.  I try not to be one of those people that walk in late and try and find a seat, I just stay towards the back and listen.  Sometimes I can not even see the person I stage, so I just soak it all in with my ears.  Yesterday I could see Eric, see his passion for God and for His people when he was up on stage.  It never gets old listening to Eric preach, and I still get butterflies in my stomach when he goes on.  I am constantly praying for God to speak through him and for people to pay attention. 

After the first service someone came up to me and said "I was watching you while Eric was speaking and I could see the love you have for him in your eyes.  I don't go looking for that you know, but I know it when I see it."  At first I was like "you were watching me?!''  Hopefully I didn't do anything embarrassing or adjust anything I shouldn't in public, ahem.  So after the weirdness went away a little bit, I really thought about what this man said to me.  And it really challenged me. 

I am the first to admit I do not always longing gaze at Eric...sometimes I have annoyance in my eyes, or just pure frustration in my eyes when I look at him.  I am not always perfect at loving Eric, or always speaking great things of him in public.  I never speak harshly of him, but I do joke and make fun, maybe a little too much at times. 

So here is my challenge to you, and to me...what do your eyes say about your husband?  If people saw you looking at your husband what would they say your eyes are like?  Do they show love, compassion, affection? Or annoyance, frustration, and irritation?

It's a pretty sobering thought because you never know who is looking at you...  

Sunday Confessions

I have had a hard time lately putting together posts, oh trust me, there is plenty to talk about or that I want to share, it's just when I try to articulate or elaborate, my thoughts become ramblings, or make no sense at all.  So I thought I would do a list, in no particular order, what's been on my mind lately...

-I have a new obsession...the Dollar Tree, I LOVE that place, seriously in love.  The Dollar Tree closest to me is almost as big as a small grocery store, it's insane, yet incredibly addicting.  I am marveled at what all you can get for a dollar, yet it gets me in trouble because I am like it's just a buck...$50 dollars later!  Okay, not that bad, but I can see myself getting there!!

-I am scared and excited all at the same time for Molly to start school.  I know it's going to be good for her, but I just know her sensitive little heart is going to be broken, and I want her to maintain her innocence of not knowing some grown up kid stuff, but I am sure all of that will be busted through on her first day.  I am really not the sheltering type, but right now I want to protect her and her little heart, but I also know it's time to let her go.  Which has brought me to my next point...

-Routines...we are starting some new routines at our house.  At first I was like oh this will be great for Molly, but really, it's selfishly for me.  I am so out of routine, yet have never really been in one.  I struggle daily with being planned or being spontaneous.  It's like I want to go to the gym and work out, yet I want to be able to say to Molly and Lucy, pack up girls we are going to the beach!  I struggle with being too rigid.  So I am really trying to figure out a good routine for our whole family come school time and Fall time.  One thing we are going to start doing is a daily devotion with Molly at breakfast.  I got a Preschool devotional book at half priced books-another store that gets me in trouble!  Molly decided she wants to read the devotions during breakfast each day.  So before school and starting this week, we are going to read them at breakfast.  Hopefully it will give us something to think about and talk about during the day, too.  We are also buckling down and doing a chore/behavior/God time chart each day, too.  Molly does pretty well with picking stuff up and helping out, but we could always be doing better.  Including myself, I need to make a daily chart for myself to keep on track, and also Lucy will get used to seeing how things are done, and some day she can have her own chart. 

-Lucy has a tooth!  On Wednesday I was at the grocery store and Lucy put my finger in her mouth and I felt something sharp and pointy, and sure enough, the corner edge of her tooth is popping through. 

-Lucy is also trying to walk, boo-hoo.  She will hold onto furniture and go and back forth taking steps, she will walk with a walking toy, not perfect, but she can go about 6-8 steps before falling to her knees, then she proceeds to "walk" on her knees! 

-Lucy clicks her tongue every time she sees the cat, it's so cute!  At first I couldn't figure out what she was doing, then I realized it's because I do that when I call him.  So her tongue clicks a lot during the day! 

So really my mind is filled with trying to better myself as a wife, mom, and Christian.  I am trying to strive for more, be more, do more all for His glory.  It's a hard reminder sometimes of why we do the things we do, but when I put it all in perspective, I get it, slowly, but I get it.  This is my last week with Molly being home.  She starts school on Sept. 1.  But we get to meet her teacher on Aug. 30.  We are making her teacher a little gift, because I am not above bringing the teacher a gift on the first day, I used to be a teacher, I know how to play the game :)  I can't wait to share with you all how it turns out!  Have a great Sunday!

Molly's Princess Tea Party

Saturday was the BIG day in our house...the Princess Tea Party finally happened!  Molly would ask everyday when her friends were coming over, and they finally did. 

Here is what we did...

First, we dressed up like a princess

 Someone else wanted to dress up, too!

 Then we took some more pictures

 All the goody baskets set up and ready to go...

inside them were...

Pink Feather Boas

White Gloves

Big, gaudy rings

Containers to make body glitter gel

Little Princess Fairies that were pre-made

2 Candy Princess Bracelets

 Each one had a crown on it with the first initial of the little girls

 Our little table we borrowed, it worked great!

 Where most of the party was

 The gift/cupcake/craft supply table

For those of us who do not have a cool cutter thing, 

I bought these pre-cut shapes and wrote on them

 I was going to order a cake, but made cupcakes instead

 All the craft supplies ready to go

 The infamous pinata!

 And another picture

 First activity-making crowns and wands

 "Pin the lips on the Prince Frog"

It was pretty funny watching them try to pin those lips on

 The pinata, it's all fun and games until someone gets 

slammed in the eye...which happened at our party!

 Princess Lunch and Tea Party time!

 PB&J, melon, strawberries, cheese stick and pink lemonade

 Picture time!  We are going to send these out with our thank you cards!

 Playing musical Princess chairs

 Cupcake time!

 Present time!

We also played hot potato with Princess music, but I was getting lunch around and we didn't get any pictures of that.  And we made body glitter for them to take home with them.  It was fun!  We used Aloe Vera and non-toxic glitter, and mixed them together.  It turned out cute!  Molly had a blast!  She pretty much just thought it was fun having her friends over, so we could have planned nothing and she still would have had fun!  I enjoyed the party planning and prepping a lot, but I now know why people rent a bounce house or go somewhere!   

The Birthday Princess

On Monday we asked Molly what she wanted to do for her birthday, she could pick anything...this is what she said, "I want to go see the elephants at the zoo."  Really?!  I know if someone let me pick for my birthday, the elephants would be way down on my list!  But not Molly, she was determined to visit the elephants.  I was so glad that the weather cooperated, and it was nice and breezey, a change from the unbearable heat and humidity we had been dealing with.  We got to the zoo around 9:30am and left at 1:30pm.  It was fun, entertaining, mainly Molly entertaining us, and a great day.  I am glad my mom was here to enjoy it with us, since Eric was gone.  But Eric did call home Monday night to tell Molly Happy Birthday, and that he loved her, then when I talked to him, he was like "this is 50 cents a minute, I gotta go!"  Haha!

Going to bed a 3 year old...

  Waking up a 4 year old!

At the zoo!

One of her favorite things to do

Brownies in the shape of crowns!

Excited to blow those candles out!

Now these are from my mom's camera...

Lucy is 8 months old, and a couple days {ahem}

On August 2, Miss Lucy turned 8 months old!  I then a couple days later took a picture to document it, and now over a week later, I am blogging about it, ha!  I tell ya what, when your husband leaves the country for a week, your schedule goes right along with him! 

Lucy you are 8 months...here is what you are up to...
-You never stop moving, I mean never, even when you are sleeping there is constant action!  You love to crawl, pull yourself up, and take some steps here and there!  It's craziness!  We child proofed the stone fireplace, but you ripped it all off, and now you sit and climb on it. 
-Despite all the movement you still have plenty of rolls to love on!  Which I am happy about! 
-You always want to make sure someone knows you are around, you are constantly chattering, singing, making random noises, anything to grab some one's attention.
-If you hear anything that remotely sounds like music you bob your head, it's pretty funny.
-You love shaking your head no, you shake it all the time.
-You still pretty much say dada all the time, a couple baba's here and there, but all I hear is dada...how about mama some time :)
-You love Molly to pieces, and anything she is doing you think you need to be doing the same. 
-You just had a sinus infection, 2nd one in your little life, and now you have your first ear infection...the sinus infection settled in your ear!  It's been pretty rough the past few days.  So hopefully this new medicine kicks in soon!
-You are so sweet and you love to cuddle, yet you love your freedom and independence.  When we try to get you to sit, you push your legs out and go hard as a board!  I keep thinking you might be laid back, then I remember you are the youngest, and that won't happen!

Molly turns 4!

Dear Molly,
Today you turned 4 years old, and that makes mommy feel old.  I remember when you were born like it was yesterday.  I remember all the sounds, smells, feeling of anxiety mixed in with excitement, and just plain not knowing what it was going to be like to be a mom to this little person I held in my arms.   

Over the last 4 years we have been through a lot Miss Molly.  I am still learning to be a mom every single day, so thank you for constantly extending me grace and mercy when I mess up.  You are the sweetest little girl that I have ever met and I know I am not being biased, okay, maybe just a little.  You have a precious heart and you genuinely love people.  You have never met a stranger and you are not afraid to hug anyone.  Which scares mommy just a little, but I know your hugs can brighten anyone's day up, so I am willing to share that with others.  You are a natural comforter and you extend such empathy at a young age.

Every day is an adventure with you, and I love being able to see you grow, learn, and gain self confidence.  You are starting school this Fall which makes me feel all the things I felt when you were born.  I know your sensitive little heart is going to get broke when someone doesn't want to play with you and that makes me so sad.  But I also know this is part of the growing up process.  I will feel the same when you are 16 and some boy breaks your heart.

For now I will enjoy and tear up at your precious prayers every night, your silly faces and constant questions.  Although some days you wear me out, I would never trade a single moment with you for anything.  Thank you for being so sweet and loving.  I can't wait to see your relationship grow with your sister, and your friends over the years.  I also want to do whatever I possibly can to foster a relationship between you and God.  I want to lead by example and teach you things it has taken me 20 years to figure out.  Your daddy and I are so very proud of you and we love you with all of our hearts.  Until next year, keep it simple and sassy Miss Molly! 
Love,
Your very proud mama!

24 Hours Ago...

A little over 24 hours ago Eric and a team of people from our church left to go to the Dominican Republic for 8 days.  They arrived there safely last night, but with the hurricane/tropical storm expected to hit, I am not sure what is in store for them today.  Our church supports GO Ministries, one of the places we work closely with is in the DR.  We have built a feeding center and a church there.  Now the team will be working on building a medical center.  They also will be feeding people at the feeding center and doing 3 VBS's.  Along with working in the 110+ heat, no biggie! 

I am really excited for the whole team, but especially for Eric.  He has never been out of the country on a mission trip before, neither have I come to think of it, so this experience I am hoping will be a great one for him! 

So I am single mom-ing it for a couple of days.  Thankfully my mom and Phil are flying in Thursday, then Phil goes home Sunday, but my mom is staying until the next Thursday.  Yesterday I worked so the girls had their normal routine of our babysitter coming here, today we are running some errands this morning, Molly has school pictures this afternoon, and then we are going swimming with some friends.  So at least we are busy and not sitting home alone.

Yesterday Lucy turned 8 months old!  Oh my word!  I will post pictures and do a little update, hopefully some time today, maybe I should take the pictures first!  :)  What, I don't have it all together, what?!  I know :)

Molly's birthday party is chugging along, I think all we have left to do is order a cake, get some balloons (which if you remember, I HATE balloons!), and finish the treat bags.  I think I missed my calling as a child's birthday party planner, ha!

I can not believe Molly is going to be 4 next Monday!  I also can not believe school starts a month from yesterday!  Alright, better get going...have a great day!