Little Ones and Phases

Well, so much for blogging 3 times a week. Life has been full lately, so obviously family comes before my little blog. I have been thinking on the phases that little ones go through. Moms all know what I am talking about... during the time that they are going through them it seems like the end of the world or the most frustrating experience EVER! For instance, teething or not eating, changing their sleep patterns, being clingy. Currently, some of our little phases (most of them are towards Owen) are Owen's new wake up time. The past two mornings he has been rising at the lovely hour of 6:30! That is too early in our house. I have things to do before they get up. I "plan" for them to get up at 7:30, which is usually the case, but not the past two mornings. Naturally, this can be frustrating because it does take away from some of the mornings things i do before they get up, but I have to remember that it is just a phase and he has done this before and he will go back to sleeping later. And if for whatever reason he doesn't I will just adjust my schedule. And then the ever changing eating habits. Owen will have wonderful days of eating and then weeks of only wanting bread, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt and of course anything that has sugar in it! These are the frustrating days for me. I so value a good healthy diet for my family, so for him not to get those wonderful greens that I cook or good fiber and protein from a yummy lentil burger my mind can go crazy! (i could insert here various tips i have found on eating and toddlers, but that is another post) And then let us not forget the "clingy" phase. Owen still cries and cries in the nursery at church or if we are at an unfamiliar place and I leave the room... flips out! With all these things that Owen is going through my main encouragement is that my Lord is to be trusted in all of them. He cares greatly about these things and He comforts me through them... the small and the big. Also, that these are things they just have to grow out of... I am doing things to help Owen eat better, I am helping him to stay in the nursery. For me it also shows that he still greatly needs me and needs to be near to me. One disclaimer, I do think you have to be careful in claiming a behavior as just a phase. Disrespect, tantrums or any other unacceptable behavior should not be simply written off as a phases. While it may be a phase it still needs to be handled and administered with the proper disciple to help the child grow and learn that that behavior is not acceptable at anytime.
I cannot leave out my little Eden bug, currently her little phase is dressing herself. And let me tell you she is a fashion forward little girl. She will come up with some of the craziest little outfits that I just cannot let her walk out in public in. At the same time I do help her in picking out her clothes and I am really trying to give her the independence she wants in deciding what she is going to wear. But it is SO hard for me. I love love picking out her cute little dresses and hairbows!!

Do you have currently have any little phases you are going through with your kiddos? Let this time be a learning time and not a frustrating time. I understand I am right in the middle of many :)

Eden in one of her many crazy outfits, don't you just love the white leg warmers and Christmas socks!

Owen only eating cornbread at dinner last night, but he sure did love that cornbread

I don't want to be poor...

I have always thought that The Beatitudes were a beautiful and very encouraging part of Scripture. A few days ago, they came up in my time with the Lord and I was struck so differently by them. I found myself saying no, I don't want these things. Here is the text for reminding....
"And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.'"- Luke 6:20-23

I don't want to be poor. I don't want to be hungry. I don't want to weep and I surly don't want people to hate and exclude me. All day long my flesh and the world tells me that I should live a happy, fully satisfied life with love from everyone. Don't get me wrong the Lord does want wonderful things for His children, more than we can ever imagine, but more than that He wants to give us things of lasting value. He wants us to gain and long for Kingdom treasure. I still view the Beatitudes as a beautiful part of Scripture, but I see it now as much more challenging. I am challenged to strive more for the things that will last and things that the Lord finds valuable. Oh Lord, flood my mind and spirit with things that please You!

Hospitality part 2

So, I have realized if I am going to do this whole blog thing I have to do it early in the morning. Otherwise, I am just rushed and cannot get my thoughts together. I think being a mother forces you to be a morning person... well, at least for me. I love the quietness of the house. Anyway, I wanted to add a few things about hospitality.

First, hospitality is not having a perfectly cooked meal, a spotless house, a beautifully set table and children that don't make a sound. If that is it then I have failed. Hospitality is welcoming people in your home, your life and making them feel at ease and loved. It is also engaging with them and letting them know that you care about what is going on in their lives and you want to share a meal together to grow in community. As I mentioned earlier Romans 12:13 reminds us the importance of hospitality, "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." When we show hospitality we should be aiming to meet the needs of those around us and show them the love of Christ. Seek to show hospitality it is an active thing. Typically, something you typically have to plan to do. Here are just a few tips:

Practical tips:

• My husband and I plan each month together. At the end of one month we will look to the next and see what we want that month to look like. It includes a lot of different things, from family nights, to date nights, but one part of it is deciding who we want to have over that month. We try to have at least two families over per month. Sometimes it's just one, but we aim for two. We have found if we do not plan then it doesn't happen. The week gets busy and schedules get full.
  
• Then I usually set up the time with the other wife if we are having a couple over. Sometimes my husband will, but normally it is me.
  
• Like I mentioned before Don and I love to cook, so a lot of times we will plan the menu together, but sometimes I just do it.
• If cooking is not your "thing" do not let that stop you from having guests. Do something simple like a sandwich bar followed by an ice cream bar. You can be so creative and cute with those simple and no cooking needed menu items.
  
• Again, the point of hospitality is not the food, but loving and welcoming people into your home.
  
• If I do not know the people super well Don and I will briefly discuss what we should talk about. I probably think on it more than my husband. I just enjoy it when conversation flows.
• Let your children be involved. Of course this depends on their age. And to be honest this is something I want to grow in. Let them set the table. Help stir. Anything to involve them. If other children are coming over we talk to Eden about playing with them and inviting them to come see her room.
  
• Don't worry too much about your house looking perfect. People really don't notice if you have scrubbed your floors or not. Or if you have dusted the top of the bookshelf. I do believe your house should be in order and not a mess, but don't think you have to have it spotless. That is too stressful.
  

I recently read an awesome book about hospitality that is full of so much wisdom and very practical advice. I highly recommend it. It's called Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock.

So, I encourage you to invite someone over. Enjoy fellowship. Show the love of Christ to others.

Hospitality part 1

Hospitality has always been something my husband and I have loved to practice together. We feel that it is a very important part of our marriage and ministry. And we enjoy doing it! Last night we had a little "dinner party". We invited over some new friends Rich and Kristy and some of our oldest friends Jared and Stephanie. And it was such a good time! Don and I really enjoyed preparing the food and getting everything together. I am so blessed to have a husband that loves to cook, that is creative with food and just knows how to make things taste good! Here is what we served: a simple salad with Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette, Chorizo Stuffed Jalapenos, Enchiladas Suizas and a for dessert Nutella- Filled Shortbread cookies and Chocolate Chip Cookies. The Nutella cookies did not turn out as good as they sounded. The nutella that was in the middle hardened more than it should have and it just wasn't chocolaty enough. We will not be making them again. That's why we fixed the chocolate cookies as well. Since we have a small dining room table we did it buffet style and had the kids at the kids table. It worked really well. We just had the basics on the table, dressings, sauces and few trimmings for the salad and a bottle with water in it. I saved a wine bottle that we had and I now use it for a water bottle. It looks cute and it is small so it doesn't take up a lot of table space. (got the idea from a restaurant we were recently at). I made little place cards since we were doing a buffet and so that everyone would easily know were to sit. Probably not necessary, but i liked doing it :) And we like to do cloth napkins. I am reminded of the value of showing hospitality in Romans 12:13, "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." I still have lots of room to grow and things to learn in this area, but it is a huge joy. Tomorrow I am going to share a few practical tips on hospitality.

Eden waiting for our guests to arrive :)

Toilet Paper Rolls... Who knew?

So I just finished a quick piece of artwork. It was super easy and relatively quick. I do have 2 little ones so everything takes a bit more time than planned. All you need is a canvas (which Hobby Lobby has them for 40% off right now!), toilet paper rolls, paint and a hot glue gun. Everyone should have a hot glue gun. They are amazing!! I have had my mom's now for about 5 years...She hasn't mentioned it, so I guess she isn't missing it. Then all you do is paint your canvas, paint the toilet paper rolls, design and glue away! I made the mistake of cutting the rolls before I painted them, so it took more time to paint all those tiny strips. So, paint the rolls first! Originally, I only had the orange flowers and I knew it needed something else and my creative husband suggested the smaller blues ones, which I think look great. This would also look cute in a little girl's room, just a thought :)

The idea came from apartment therapy... i don't have their original post. But check out their website it's great!

The pictures aren't that great they are a little crooked... I am growing in my photography skill

and an up close one, which changes the colors a bit

Why the unlikely housewife?

Because that is what I am. By calling myself the unlikely housewife I remind myself that what I am is only by the grace and blessing of the Lord. I never in a million years thought I would be here: a wife, mother of two small children, a college education and staying home. You see my mind was aimed on career and making much of myself. It was only by the Lord’s grace and mercy that He called me to be a wife and mother. I love being those things. I love being with my children all day and having the house ready for my husband when he comes home. At one point in my life that sounded like prison. How blind I was to the beauty of the Lord’s plan. Don’t get me wrong we have tough tough days and I am a sinful mother and wife with many shortcomings, but only by the Lord's mercy do I grow from those shortcomings.

I want this blog to be an account of my joys, celebrations, frustrations and shortcomings as a wife and mother. But most of all about the things the Lord is teaching me about my role as a wife first and then a mother. I hope to also share projects I am working on around our house, recipes, things I am learning and just "stuff" we do as a family. So here's to blogging... hopefully this won't be the only entry :)