On Tuesday we went with a friend to the park and took pictures of our girls all dressed up. So here is My Little Lady and Princess for the day.

Re-enactment of eating the ice cream. :-)

August 1st

Hard to believe! I really fell behind this last month with the blog, but here's to a new start :-)

3 Gifts White

1- Vanilla Ice Cream: walked to the store and got some ice cream sandwiches for the kids. They were a hit!

2-Snowflake: I found a method for writing that so far has really helped me get going...I am actually enjoying the process!

A hand flew into the picture just as I snapped it.

 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/articles/snowflake-method/

3-Wet wipes: These are always useful to have on hand especially to clean up ice cream faces.

used a lot of these to clean up my little Lady.

Bubba wanted me to take a picture of his thumb before he licked it clean.

July 29th

3 Gift Together

1- A great running partner!! We ran this morning!

2-Three little ones who are playing with balloons right now.

3-Mommy/daughter time. Tonight we are going out together...excited for some one on one time.

 

3 Gifts Learned

I am not Supermom or a princess fairy with a magical wand ...

I learned about expectations and time management again. Yesterday I was a bit overwhelmed by all that I wanted to get done in my day, but did not accomplish despite being at home all day. Ideally I would get up to exercise, read the bible, get showered and dressed, cook breakfast, do lessons with the kids, feed the baby, sing songs, read books with the kids, wash the dishes, prep snack, paint or do a homemade craft with the kids, do baths, prep a healthy lunch, clean and organize the mess of my house, work on my book, catch up on my blog, read Devin’s book, practice taking pictures with my camera, learn about photography... and the list goes on. Listing all my wants makes me laugh because I know how real life happens and I am lucky to get a shower in before Devin leaves for work.   

 So to help me out I had a talk with Dave Ramsey, NOT really, but Devin pretended to be him and I pretended to be a caller.

In Dave like fashion, Devin asked some questions to assess my time, “So how much time do you have?”  

M: Well, I am home all day.

D: Ok, Do you have any children?

M: Yes, 3.

D: How old are they?

M: 4, 3, and 15mo.

D: So you don’t really have any time, right?

M: Umm, Yeah, I guess that’s about right.

D: My guess is that the time that you do have without kids you are probably tired and the last thing you want to do is write, work on projects or read a book. You just want to go to bed or relax. Is that right?

M: Yep...

The conversation was great because it helped me look at the situation differently and to see that I am attempting to live a 200,000 life style on a 25,000 dollar budget. I try to cram as much as I can in the windows of opportunity only to be discouraged when they do not happen. I have to work with what time I have and at the moment that is not a lot. Especially with interrupted sleep at night, my little man does not sleep through night yet, and a 3 year old who is starting to not take naps, but really needs them!

I have also learned that I need to change my idea of a successful day. Right now my job and number one priority are my kids and for me, second is training for the half marathon that is in 7 weeks! So that means the rest of the things I want to do are extras. I have to “pay the bills” first and then decided what to do with the left overs. Some days that means I can do three or four items on my list other days ten or only one, but as long as the essentials are taken care of I am doing great.   

Lastly it is about contentment and joy. It is so easy to say you’re going to change and another to consistently live in it. This week was evidence of that because I slipped back into discontentment. The clouds rolled in and I had to blow really hard to get them to leave. I knew it was my heart that was the problem, but I let it linger in the familiar too long and the anxiety started to creep back in and blocked out the truth that although I am not full of super powers or magical abilities, I am a wonderful Mom because I love my kids and I care for them with all the love I can give. God has given me the joy of raising three very different children each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. He has given me the grace to do this job I just have to run to Him, be humble and give thanks!! Each day is a chance for me to either see my imperfections or the Perfect One, but I have to choose what to see. To look at Him I have to daily shift my eyes and see that being a mom is more than changing diapers and filling endless cups of water. It is about the eternal and three precious children knowing the endless love of their Creator, God. 

July 7th

3 Gifts of Challenge, Conflict and Change

Sitting in time out today.

 For all three I have one answer, Little Lady. She is a determined, strong-willed Lady so it is a challenge for me everyday to stand my ground and teach her. Conflict seems to be her middle name these days as she always says the opposite of what I say.  And Changing her attitude is always on the top of the list of conversations we have.  But it is through the challenges and conflict of raising my Little Lady that God changes me as I am driven to pray, listen closely to His spirit and learn to love unconditionally like He loves me.

Love her smile!

 

July 6th

A hug at the Park on the 4th

3 Gifts of Enthusiasm

1-Little Lady and Bubba were cheering in the car when we said we were going to Church. (We have missed a few weeks because of sickness).
2-Little Man's laughter of joy when we turn on music.
3-Devin's enthusiasm for life. 


July 5th
3 Gifts of Persistence

1-Devin's persistence in finishing his novel.
2-Little Lady is a perfect example of this as she asks and asks...I pray she never loses that and will seek God with the same persistence.
3-God and his pursuit of me. 

July 4th
3 Gifts in Red, White and Blue

1- Red: Lighting Dragon McQueen. Bubba and I played with his cars together it was a lot of fun!
2-White: The clouds in the sky as the sun was getting ready to set.
3-Blue: Doc Hudson from the move cars and playing with Bubba.

Sun Set outside out window

July 3rd
3 Gifts in Faith, Family, Freedom

1- Faith: I am so thankful for my relationship with God!
 2-Family: I love my family and I am so glad God has given me the joy of having an amazing husband and three beautiful children.
3-Freedom: I am very grateful for all the freedoms I have living in the USA. To pursue God and the dreams he has for me.

 More fun at the park!









July 2nd
3 Gifts Read

1- Bible
2-New Guidepost
3-Children's Books

July 1st
3 Gifts Loved

1-God
2-Devin
3-My Children

June 30th

3 Gifts Given

1- Baths for the kids

2-Dishes completed

3-A nap for Devin, who was unfortunately home sick.





                                                                       
June 29th

Bubba's little foot.

3 Gifts Big, Small and Just Right

1-Big: Dreams...Over the last few days I feel like God has quickened my heart to dream again. In it there is so much joy and hope for the days to come.

2-Small: Little feet on 3 little children.

3-Just Right: Prayer for anything and everything.

Little Lady's feet

Little Man's toes

June 28th

3 Gifts Eaten

1-Banana after a very hard run, I was so tired today!


2-Eggs and  Toast with my Lady

3-A sandwich while out looking at Homes...we were just going out for fun...I love looking at model homes.















June 27th

3 Gifts  Framed by a Frame

1-Today was the last day of VBS and the kids made little frames as thier craft for today.

2- 1st year anniversary gift to Devin.

3- I loves this last, We have it in the hall and I love the reminder that God is pleased with his children!

 

June 26th

3 Gifts in Fabric

1-My Running clothes are great and feel so comfortable!!

2-The blanket on my bed to snuggle with when i go to sleep.

3-A fresh towel to dry off with after the shower.

June 25th
3 Gifts in someone older than you

1-Wisdom: I enjoy learning from moms who are a few years ahead of me. I always walk away with a different perspective.

This was from our Engagement Photos, we need some more pics taken.

2-Inspiration: Devin is a constant inspiration to me when it comes to writing. He has faithfully worked on his novel and he is nearing the completion of the Editing process!! His dedication and discipline are a great example for me to follow after in my own writing endeavors.

3-Love: I know this might be sappy, but Devin is older than me and he loves me! 




June 24th
3 Gifts in Water, Written, in White

1-Water: A cup of cold water after being outside on a hot day!!

2-Written: Devin wrote up a 'formula' for me to help me hash out my story idea. 

3-White: My friend has a white suburban and she has picked us up all week to take the kids to VBS!

June 23rd
3 Gifts Around the Table

1-Knowledge: The kids and I do their "school" work at the table.

2-Nurishment: This is where we eat. Tonight was breakfast for dinner :-)

3-Laughter: I love having snack or lunch with the kids at the table. They can say some of the funniest things. 

June 22^nd

3 Gifts That are Difficult

1-Cleaning up when you want to do nothing because a clean home feels so good!

2-Giving up sleep to comfort a sick child.

3-Letting go of my fears so someone else can have a fun. 

June 21^st

3 Gifts Found in Light

1-Beauty I love sunsets they are so beautiful and remind me of God’s love for me and his creativity.

2-Warmth: The lights went out today and there was a vacancy in the apartment and the kids were running around trying to turn on the lights asking what happened.

3-Truth: Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Light. His is the Light to my path.   

June 20^th

3 Gifts Bent, Beautiful, Loved

1-Bent: The bend the pipes that bring water to my home.

2-Beautiful: The voices of my kids laughing and playing together.

3-Loved: Devin whom I have been married to for 5½ years today!!

June 19^th

3 Gifts you became today in Serving 

11- A mother: I feel like this is me most of the day getting things for my kids, but to do it with a heart of Joy can be difficult at times.

22- A wife: I love being able to serve my Love, especially when I can listen and pray for him.

33-Humble: Serving others is humbling because it lifts my eyes off of me and puts them on others.

June 18^th

3 Gifts From Your heavenly Father

1-Friendship: I love that God is my best friend!

2-Love: I KNOW I am loved by God.

3-Joy: He has given me life and with him I can live it with joy!

June 17^th

3 Gifts in your Dad

1-Athletics, He sparked my love for running!

2-Laughter, always ready to tell a joke.

3-Giving

June 16th

3 Gifts Moving

Her tongue makes her look like she lost her front teeth. lol

1-My Children, they are always on the move!

2-Time: Some days I want it to stand still or slow down, but I am glad that it's always on the move. Because with time I have opportunity to see dreams come true.

3-God: He is always moving on my behalf. I so thankful that He is my Father and cheers me on!

June 15th 
3 Gifts in His Word

This was taken when I was in Croatia almost nine years ago...

1- Encouragement: I love how God uses His Word to encourage me.

2-Power. To save, heal and set free!! I stand amazed that the WORD became flesh and died so I can live!

3-Direction: With His word and the Spirit I know that my path is made straight and I can have peace in the decisions that come up in my life. :-)


More than anything I love that God teaches me through His Word no matter where I am.

June 14th

3 Gifts Unexpected, Unwanted, Unlikely


1-Unexpected, going to the Zoo this morning. It was a great day to go too.

2-Unwanted, Conviction...I do not like to see my faults, but I am so glad that God points them out so I can be refined into the image of His Son.

3-Unlikly, Saturdays are long run days this week was 3.5miles, I thought that was going to be really tough, but I finished and made it to 4 miles today!!

Waving goodbye to the train, his favorite!!

June 13th

3 Gifts Smelled

1- The fresh air during my run in the morning! It was absolutely beautiful outside!!

2-Sunscreen. It always reminds me of summer and all things hot.

3-BBQ another sign of summer. We passed one on our way home from the park. Smelled so good!

June 12th

3 Gifts Full

1- Three little faces full of smiles.

2- A Full dishwasher of clean dishes.

3-Fulling a dream of running a half marathon one step at a time.