Family Prayer Board

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." ~ Deuteronomy 4:9 (NIV)

We have been trying so hard to pray as a family.  It's hard sometimes, though, to remember what we should be praying for - - and who we should be praying for.  I feel like so often I tell people I will pray for them - - and I always say a quick prayer right then, but I don't always follow through and continue to pray for them.

I came up with this idea while changing my son's diaper, actually - don't ask me why.  I wanted to make a display where we could write down things that we should be praying for.  Whenever someone asks for prayer, or whenever we have something that we should be praying about (or praising God for, certainly!) we now have somewhere to write it down.

All I did was bought a chalkboard from Staples, then used white paint to write "Prayers" on it.  Now we can write our prayers on the board, and we see them all the time.  Whenever we see it, we can say a prayer.

Nursery

I realized I never posted pictures of our Peanut's nursery!  (Or Love Bug's, for that matter...)  So I took a few pictures today.  It's nothing Pinterest-worthy, by any means, but I'm proud of how the rooms look!

Love Bug's nursery first: Winnie the Pooh theme

Picture that Aunt Rachel made for the Love Bug

I bought that clock at Salvation Army for a dollar!

Footprint plate made at Splatter's Studio when
he was a newborn.

Love Bug's favorite corner of the room!

Closet - - where I keep toys that I rotate, some
clothes, books, extra diapers, wipes, and sheets

Rocking chair handed down to Love Bug

 

He had to get in a picture or two :)

Well, the whole alphabet used to be there... on his closet

Charlene made this for me, to put in my classroom.  This
room is the closest thing I have to a classroom these days!

All his animals and blankets in his crib!

 

 

And now Peanut's room: Norman Rockwell theme.  We're not quite done yet, but here's what we have so far.

 

 

This is the main corner in the room - cradle,
recliner, window :)  Peanut's Papa made that
cradle for Hubby when he was born!

Norman Rockwell pictures of kids

Changing station

And I had to get him in a shot! :)

 

I made this shelf!!  ...With help from Rachel and my dad :)

Dresser that has been handed down through Hubby's family!

Lessons from 2013

About a year ago (at the turn of 2013), I posted what I had learned over the course of 2011-2012.  I was looking back on my posts from last January, just to see where I was a year ago.  It was so interesting to read about the lessons God had taught me in that time, which now seems so long ago.  My post from January 2013 made me want to write a similar one for this year: What I learned in 2013.

As I look back on my year, there is one theme that stands out in my mind: Community.  I have posted about this before, but it really was such a prevalent theme in my year, that it deserves a deeper look.

God has revealed to me three specific aspects of community in 2013 that I really don't want to forget.  The first is The Importance of Community.  If I were to be completely honest with myself (and those of you reading this post), I spend most of 2012 being lonely.  In fact, I have spend most of my life feeling lonely.  The longevity of my loneliness is probably the reason why I never really thought that there was anything else.  The importance of community never dawned on me until I truly experienced it.  When we moved to our current hometown, I was a little worried that we were moving further from family, but I was so excited to be near our church.  Even before we were here, God gave me a sense of peace that we would find new and long-lasting relationships when living closer to our church family.  That's exactly what our church became for us once we moved here: a family.  I can't imagine going back to the way things were before we were here.  Even on days when I don't see or talk to anyone but my kids and husband, I know that I have a support system here.  I know that there are people who genuinely care about me and who are really praying for me.

Photo taken by Kelley

That leads me to the second thing I learned in 2013: The Meaning of Having a Community.  It is one thing to go through the motions of church and not really get connected; it is something entirely different to experience the fellowship that church was designed to be, and to develop lasting relationships that make a difference in your life.  For me, having a community means that there are people whom I can ask for help (even though I'm not always good at that... I'm working on it!) when I'm in a tough spot.  It means that when I need prayer, there are people ready and so willing to pray for me.  Having a community means there are people to get out of the house with (or who will happily babysit my kids for me) when I get stir-crazy.  I have a support system that I know God is using to make me a better person.  Having a community sometimes means there will be people who call me out when I'm out of line.  They'll whip me back into shape so that I am being the best Elizabeth that I can be.  I am so grateful to have support systems in the forms of my small group, my accountability partner (which is someone I just paired up with this year - - and it's one of the best things I did in 2013!), the ministry I am part of at church, my neighbors, Facebook groups, MOPS, fellow staff members, and my family.


Photo taken by Tim



Photo from Jan's camera



Photo taken by Mark



Photo taken by Greg

The Meaning and Importance of Being Part of a Community is the third lesson that stands out to me from 2013.  I confess I am still working on this one (though, if I'm honest, I'm still working on all of these points).  As a part of the community, I have a responsibility to my friends.  It's not an obligation, though - - it's something I want to do as a member of the community.  I want to talk on the phone with these people, I want to help them take care of their kids, laugh with them, and lift them up in prayer.  I want to be by their side when they are hurting, and at their kids' birthday parties.  It is so meaningful to not only have the support system in place for myself, but to actually be that person for someone else!  I've been that person for people in the past, sure - - but never in the context of community like I've felt this past year.  It is for this reason that I am so grateful for these lessons that the Lord has taught me this year.

To those of you through whom God has taught me these lessons this year, thank you from the bottom of my heart!  Thank you for being my truest friends, and for sticking by me closer than a brother.

The Smaller Things

I've decided to stop stressing about what I accomplish during the day, and start enjoying the smaller things... because really, the smaller things are not small at all!

Today's accomplishments: I trimmed both the boys' nails, did one load of dishes, and cleaned up all of the toys in the house at the end of the day.  I also swept and mopped the downstairs quickly while waiting for our pizza to be delivered (yes, that's right - - I didn't even make dinner!!).

Today's joys: I snuggled with the Peanut, had lunch with the Love Bug, we went shopping with very few tears, I bought a new purse, and almost every time my son asked to sit in my lap, I was able to say yes!  I got some work done for church (which I consider pure joy).  I even got some quality time with my husband before he was called in to work today (last day of being on call, and he gets a three day weekend)!

I'm glad today's joys outweighed the accomplishments, because finding joy in what you do is so much more important than finishing tasks.

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!" ~ Psalm 126:3

Gotta love nap time!

Family Update

Tonight I laid down on the couch after a long day to watch a movie, and a Hot Wheels car fell on my head.  It sent me into a state of euphoria.  I love being the mother of boys!

3 Days Old

1 Day Old

3 Days Old

Our Peanut was born about a month ago, and we are starting to settle into a routine.  Of course, I'm expecting that routine to be flipped upside-down any minute now that I'm getting used to it... because that's how it goes with kids.  But for a split second I am feeling somewhat in control.

1 Month Old

At some point I'll share my birth story, but not tonight.  I am devastated that we might have lost all of our pictures from the Peanut's first few days because our SD card won't read in any computer we try it in.  When Hubby gets a chance, he'll try to make it work, but it's not looking good.  For now, we have pictures from my parents' camera.

When Peanut was a week old, we celebrated Christmas with Hubby's side of the family.  It was SO nice!!  Almost all of his siblings and their families were there (he has 10 siblings spread out along the East coast, so that's quite an accomplishment!) as well as his parents.  So many family members got to meet the newest member of the family, which was such a blessing.  The Love Bug got some time with his cousins, which until this year, he hadn't really been interested in playing with other kids.  It was so nice seeing him take an interest in the other kids close to his age!

We also celebrated Christmas with my family, which was equally as nice - but not quite so chaotic!  I only have two sisters, and I am the only one with kids so far, so our Christmas is a lot different!  But just as special.  It was so nice being with family, and spending the day at my parents' house!  We actually do have a picture from that day, from my parents' camera:

Christmas Day 2013

I am just so grateful for all the family time we have had in the past month!  Hubby was able to take about a week and a half off to stay home with us and take care of the boys and me, which was such a blessing.

Today a blizzard hit our hometown, so the boys and I stayed snuggled up inside.  We even stayed in our PJs all day!  Hubby's been working his little tail off fixing people's heat - - no snow day when you're the one fixing things!  I'm very proud that I've been able to get the boys down for bed at a reasonable time the past two nights all by myself, and it's actually been kinda nice having some time to myself.  Last night I got all the laundry washed, dried, folded, AND put away!  Tonight I took an hour and a half long bath and watched a movie.  I do miss my hubby, though.

Here are a few pictures from our Snow Day today:

"Baby in! Baby in!" He was so excited to be "in" with the baby :)

He kept moving around so much that this was the best picture I could get of him!  He's such a boy... and I love it!

Hubby's still out in the blizzard, though he says the roads are much better now.  It still makes me so nervous that he's driving around in this weather... but I'm glad that he can do something to help people who don't have heat!  Praying he'll be home safe and sound soon - - and heading to bed.  Goodnight!