New Beginnings: November 2011

Saturday, November 26, 2011

I'm a hot emotional mess so in love with Jesus!

No one could have prepared us for how emotional parenting would be.

You always want your child to be the best at the table, in the stores, at the restaurant, meeting new people, and welcome friends with open arms. I wish I could say that accomplished that, but thus far we are lost for answers. Our latest thing that we are struggling with is proper discipline, proper timing for discipline, and the big word we dread hearing "NO!". It is her famous word right now. Not sure how to tell her not to say no, when that is what we say when we are trying to protect her or even stand our ground.

This morning was a picture perfect morning shopping as a family with our Starbucks in hand, goofing off and enjoying our little family the whole shopping trip. When we arrived home at 11:30 I knew it was past lunch time (she did drink a yogurt while shopping, she was not starving), she needed to go potty, and well the shopping trip wore her out. I can't even recall what the argument was over this morning, but she told me no over and over again. Needless to say, I was over hearing such a dirty word out of a sweet girl. So after her potty time it was time out time. Recently I have noticed that our little hallway is a perfect spot... far enough away from the group, but yet close enough to see she is missing out. I heard her scream and yell at me (as an 19 month old can). She was a wreck and beyond tired. As Keith went over to talk to her she immediately calmed down. You know the saying "this hurts me more than it hurts you"? IT IS SO TRUE! As she came over to say sorry to me we just hugged and I cried :). I was explaining to her that the words she was saying made for an ugly heart and God gave her a beautiful heart....I cried more.

Why did I cry? Cause I am a hot emotional mess right now.

Lately I have been so emotional sharing the story of Jesus with Londyn and all the great things His love provides for us. So like telling her that God gave her a beautiful heart... I also cried when telling her that the star on the tree represents the Jesus story, that Christmas is to celebrate Jesus, that the Bible has such great stories of the love and hope that is given to us, that because we bought gifts for a little boy he now would have Christmas, when every night I pray that Londyn would find a place in her heart that Jesus could live. I cry when she asks me for a hug or kiss. My heart is overflowing with love and blessings.

Parenting is emotional! Sharing the love of Christ is beautifully emotional! Being a mommy that wants the best for her girl is incredibly emotional! I love that girl so much, never knew that this love could be so big. As the season is here to celebrate the birth of a babe in a manger, I want Londyn to know every inch of the story and how great Jesus is. I want her to grow to have a heart set and focused on God. I want to never stand in the way of her following Gods will. I want to be the example of a beautiful heart to a girl that is full of emotion and is trying to figure out how to express it.

Some pictures from our Thanksgiving break:

making our thanksgiving meal

Thanksgiving dinner

"hot" chocolate and raisins

Heading to the park

Taking Thanksgiving naps

Her and Blue are becoming close...

I am so thankful for my sweet girl and my wonderful husband....We are on this journey called family. And I want us to be a loving family where the Love of Jesus is seeping out of our skin because we are so full of it. I want every life she comes in contact with to be a life that is touched by Jesus.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The happenings of October

Wow, was October a busy and crazy month or what?! I'm not sure that there was a weekend that we weren't doing something.

At the beginning of the month we walked for Londyn's friend Ashlyn and our Pastor's family in the Down Syndrome Indiana walk. It was pure joy to celebrate the life of sweet Ashlyn and all that she has taught us. Couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to be outside for 4 hours or more.

The following weekend we were able to spend time with my mom and step dad, pure joy and THIS girl needed her momma a little bit:). Londyn had her school pictures, watched Elmo and played outside.

The next weekend we went to Bedford for a car show my in-laws were helping in to raise money for cancer patients. Towards the end Londyn was getting mad at the wind for blowing her cawcown (color) page away. However, she enjoyed the love there! We also carved "pumpins" from uncle Kevin. The best part of this is that she had just learned the sign language for pumpkin.

This past weekend we celebrated Halloween. This was Londyn's second Halloween, but her first to enjoy. We were helping out in our church's treat the street program, providing candy as a group to children and their families. Londyn would get upset when people stopped coming. So I thought it would be great to do a little Trick or Treating ourselves. She LOVED it!!!! Our first house we told her to say trick or treat. Proudly we heard "tick or teat!" She loved getting the candy and was quick to shove it into her Elmo purse. When we got back to the house she began licking all of the candy that was in the bowl to give away.

Our latest thing in October was to move to BIG girl panties. She loves her "Rora's" (Dora) panties. The first weekend we could put pants on because Rora was too cool. We even thought Rora belonged on our head.

Londyn has been talking up a storm about anything and everything! I love every stage that she goes through in it's own way. But this one I love because we can talk!

Here are some pictures of our October adventures:

Our Walk For Ashlyn Ruby