Precious Moments.

I love bedtime hearing my baby boy give his sister a tight hug and tell her" See ew tmorro Emma !" (See you tomorrow Emma) Being a mommy is the best even when it's been a tough day.

Starbucks Day!

One of the gifts I rec'd for Mother's Day was a starbucks card and being a mom coffee for me has become NECCESSARY even while pregnant. So...I took the kids to Starbuck for lunch, we had a panini some Tazo juice for the kids an iced coffee for myself. Afterwards we came home and enjoyed some vitamin D! It was a nice morning for all of us.

Sick Day...kind of.

Last night I had severe food poisoning, at first I thought we were losing the baby then realized it was just that. I will spare you the details. Today Dave stayed home because his ear had been bothering him, he went to the doctors yesterday thinking it was an ear infection but it ended up being just irritated. It was nice to have him home this morning because I was still really weak, my mom and dad ended up taking the kids for us for a few hours so I could sleep and Dave worked. It was really, really nice to have the extra rest.

Unfortunatley when your sick kids don't have empathy or understanding of how you're feeling. So once we got back to the house business as usual, Dave and Ezekiel mowed the lawn and Lani and I did housework.

A Clean House

I woke up the other morning and somehow the same house that I cleaned what felt like ten times that week, was once again dirty. It boggles my mind how my small house gets out of order so quickly with myself (the tornado),a husband (cleanfreak), and a two toddlers (that act like they are in WWF). I think about all the work it takes for my house to appear to be in order, then out of no where...dirty house.

I guess it starts small. Crumbs on the counter top that stands out like crazy. And I guess since you have already compromised your standards, it's not that big of a deal that there is a pile of opened mail strewn across the kitchen table, living room couch, and anywhere else there may have been empty counterspace. Before you know it, your trash can is over flowing onto the floor, you have about 5 loads of laundry that you need to fold, and you've been sitting on the couch for 4 hours watching tv, facebook, or online shopping without a shower for the day.

I was reading my bible the other day and after reading this I really had to ask myself...

When was the last time I took inventory of my relationship with God? When was the last time, after looking through everything in my life, did I clean house?

As I looked into this, I realized that I have so many things in my life that I could just throw away. Things that I thought held importance but in the grand scheme of the Kingdom of God, are just silly. Things that took up my time that didn't benefit me or glorify Him at all. Relationships that lost their luster a long time ago that I held onto out of fear. The list goes on...

How did I end up with such a long list? Compromise. It starts with one seemingly small compromise, which leads to a little less small compromise, which in the end leads to a messy house. I sometimes wonder if this is simply how we get into the biggest messes of our lives?

But then there is Grace. The thing that says, I've already paid for your mistakes...just turn towards Me. Words fail to describe how thankful I am for this. I would still be trying to undo my list from years and years ago of things I used to occupy my time and life with rather than build a meaningful relationship with my Daddy in Heaven.

So...I've decided, it's time to clean house.
:)

CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S MAY ALREADY!

Wow! Time is passing me by...I've been feeling that I need more time lately. Not in a selfish sense of wanting mani/pedi's either (although I wouldn't pass it up), but more time with God, my family, and cherishing my kids. I am feeling like these months sometimes go by without my calling out to our lord and savior praising him for all he's blessed me with, telling my kids that they mean more to me than I could ever explain in words, thanking my husband for being our rock, loving me well and making me want to be a better woman and wife, enjoying my niece and nephew who live a country apart but are so close to my heart... my brother too. Taking the time to pray individually for those who are in pain daily, or who's hearts are hurting or are just lonely. I could go on...I think about all of these things often but is that enough??

As I walked out the front door and watched the kids play outside and admired the view of the city, water and mountains. I began to thank God for what he's done for me and given our family. I really can't explain how happy I am in this life right now. IT's an unfathonable feeling of comfort, peace and unknowing at the same time. I'm trying to soak in every bit of sunshine in my life before the rain comes and praying that when it does decided to rain I continue to praise God that much more for my blessings. I really feel like my heart is being prepared for that time to come.

I don't want this message to come across as every day being "perfect" either. In fact this week we found out we have termites eating at our home and as I sit here with Lani crying and Ezekiel fighting over his baby Jesus toy with a friend. There's moments where I want to crawl in bed and put the covers over my head and just tell the kids to let mommy have some time. Many moments actually...but snot, poop, drool and all I would never trade them for anything! (at least at this moment - ask me tomorrow) :) My kids also serve as a constant reminder that I need to try to be better. I love them with all my heart.

If you know me well, you know I always have ideas in my head of things I want to do! Most of the time I don't get to it, especially now! But...someday, I may become the guitar player I've always dreamt to be, or the owner of family cafe, or the creator of my LaniCoco perfume line. Or just maybe I'll continue to be the best mom I can be to three beautiful kids and the loving wife I try to be to my amazing husband. For now that's what consumes these days which turn into weeks and then months and all of a sudden the years pass.

This last weekend was Dave's 30th and Mother's Day also a celebration to recognize Uncle Joe (Dave's brother) who is heading to National Guard boot camp next week. I will try to post pictures when I get some more time. In the meantime, here are a few happenings from the month of May...