Cute faces

Love these faces up close and personal :)

How long will this be cute!!!!

I hate to think of the day when wearing two drastically different shoes will not be cute anymore :)

Sneak!

The boys had my phone while I was working on something at Office Depot!  They thought it would be fun to take pics!  Hehehe...

So precious

The boys are playing in the sprinkler on the trampoline and they decided to collect the water underneath it.  They have pretty much every collection device possible underneath :). Love days like this!

Cute Parkerisms....

Two cute Parkerisms I had to write down so I wouldn't forget....
1. He calls the yoke of his boiled egg "cheese"...mommy, I don't really like a lot of cheese in my egg...just a little bit.  Haha...love that!!
2.  When he sings "I'll fly away" and gets to the part of "Gods celestial shores"....he says "Gods celestial SHORTS!"  :). I love those sweet and funny things he does as he is learning life!!!

Five years of being "mommy"...

Well, today is over....my little boy turned five today.  Oh, five years...it's amazing how when you look back you only see the blissful memories.  I love that.  I love that I only remember the joy filled moments and not the "terrible 3's" type moments.  :)

So here we are and my Parkerman is such an amazing joy to raise.  He has turned into quite the little boy, and I stand in awe at God's grace.  God's grace in seeing that even though I have my "terrible mommy" moments, Parker still loves me so unconditionally.  That even though I have made oodles of mistakes in "judgement calls", God has produced good.  It shows me, even in this early stage of parenting, that no parent...can EVER take credit for how their kids turn out...good or bad....and it reminds me, that though he is such a precious child now, the battle is not won...I must stay on my knees every day, praying over his character, his heart to fall in love with Jesus, and for his mind to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Raising children is such a refining event.  God breaks me on a daily basis...showing me that I cannot do this on my own, and I cannot do this in my own power.  I come to him broken so often...."God, please produce good in these children.", "are you sure I am qualified for this job?"  :).  He assures me, that because I have children, He thinks I am qualified...so I must turn my eyes upon Jesus.

Parkerman, today was a blast.  I had fun celebrating YOU, and rejoicing with you over your special day.  I enjoyed making it special and I am so so thankful that God gave me you.  I hope that just as I do, you will look back on your life and remember the joy, and the fun that we shared and see and feel the intense love that I have for you.  I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be!!!!!!  :)

Love,
Mommy

Am I just like them?

This morning I am sitting here reading through Exodus and I find myself wanting to just close this book in utter discussed at how the Israelites groan so much.  They just experienced the massive faithfulness of The Lord in astronomical ways, such as the overwhelming plagues to get them free, the Red Sea parting, bitter water made sweet, bread falling from heaven, etc, and the minute something goes wrong they start grumbling...assuming God has brought them out to the wilderness to die.  I got through chapter 16 when it hit me...I am no different.  I have seen God's massive faithfulness and hand out here, and the minute things felt hard...homesickness hit...I began to grumble.  The Holy Spirit brought conviction to my heart like a spot light.  Here I was judging the Israelites..."They make me sick!  Just do what The Lord says and QUIT GRUMBLING!!...I would NEVER have acted like that!"  Oops...I guess I have.  My pridefulness reminds me that "God opposes the proud, but gives GRACE to the humble".  Father, forgive the grumbles of my heart...forgive me for focussing on my heart sickness instead of your past faithfulness!  You know after every miracle, God tells them to do something so that they will remember it and be able to tell their children about it...he even tells them to keep an omer of manna so they can remember he provided their food for them.  THAT is why I MUST remember...I must continue to write down when God's faithfulness makes big waves and then go back and read them, when my heart is heavy with a trial.  THANKYOU God!  Thankyou for your firm hand in convicting me this morning through your word.  Thankyou for your love and gentleness and for encouragement even when there is a reprimand.