DAY 2: Blogging for 30 days straight...can I do it!!!!

Did you know that it takes 30 days to create a habit...but for a mom it takes more!!!! Big shocker....I am convinced that I am exempt from this and my brain just does not create habits!!!
So I have to share that after my post yesterday.. I got up this morning to get in the Word and pray with my husband, and after reading Colossians 2, we read an evangelical commentary, just to reach a clearer understanding and to delve deeper into God's word. God is so good and this was in my commentary which is one directed for women and written by two women.

Heart to Heart: Avoiding the Bondage of Legalism

In your attempts to be the "perfect" woman, whether as a wife, mother, church member,or employee, often you impose upon yourself a personal list of "regulations" and "human commands". Failing to achieve these super-human standards can become a source of much anxiety and grief. Although it is not easy, you as believers need to free yourselves from these bonds of legalism for, as Colossians 2:23 says, they are not of any value. If God's grace has given you eternal life, then why do you attempt to live that life by your rules? Having been saved by grace you must live by grace. Instead of looking to your own fabricated standards of "perfection" which no one on earth could attain, you must look to Christ. He has fulfilled all of God's laws on your behalf so that you do not have to meet the standards of the law and He lives eternally to empower you day by day with his grace and mercy.

Whew...boy did I need to hear that. He is so faithful to fill our needs. This I think is probably my biggest struggle. Living in my own self subjected world of "perfection" measuring myself against others instead of against the Word of God. Making sure to seek His mercy and know that I am enough only when I am in Him who is ALL!

Lord My Prayer Today: That you Lord would reassure me constantly, that I live in your grace and mercy. That I am enough in you!!! That when I try to hold my self up to my "LAW" I am taking away the POWER of your death on the cross for me! I Love you Lord, you are my God.

I am really going to try and start doing this occasionally!!! I know some of you are laughing hysterically, but I really am aiming to be better about keeping up with this more for me than anyone else...Because I am sure I will be the only one reading it... so Dear Me!!!
Isn't it painful when you see your biggest weaknesses come out in glaring red in your children, and as you are walking through this behavior with them...that little voice (aka The Holy Spirit) says Um Stacee ...Tap Tap Tap...Um Stacee you do realize that this is your weakness also. Why do you think they do it!!! They see you do it! Uck!!! I pray constantly for the Lord to illuminate these areas in me, but when He does...boy do I fight it.

But Lord I know I lose my patience, but I am a mom of 3.

But Lord I know that I am sometimes ungrateful...but what about all the times I am grateful!

But Lord I know that I procrastinate, but I just have SOOOOO much going on!

But Lord I know that my words may be hurtful, but I am so tired, frazzled, frustrated and the list goes on.

And the Lord reminds me " I am with you, I don't expect you to do it without me( sidenote: you can't) I love you. I want the best for you. I am not the god of all this confusion, I am Peace, Self control, Kindness, Love. I want to grow these things in you, but it will take time and it is going to hurt.... a lot at times.....but I am with you and I love you. "

PS Your children well their sinners too!

My Prayer Lord today.... Let me be more like you everyday, Let me BE love to my children, Let me BE kindness to those around me, Let me BE peace in a world that has none. Thank you Lord for my precious children...all of which I do not deserve. Thank you for my loving husband...which I definately do not deserve. But thank you most of all for your gace and mercy and sacrifice for me and my DIRTY soul. I love you fully! Amen!

Fine I Will BLOG Already!!!!!

Please forgive this busy Mommy from not Blogging like I should. We are at the one year milestone of being at Seminary and wow God is so good. It has not been without its challenges, its sadness, its struggles and its victories. Through it all God has walked beside us all the way. We lost another baby this year, but we're given a new appreciation for the healthy, happy children we have. We have continued to petition God on the sale of our house, but it has become an opportunity to share our testimony of God's provision. We have watched our children begin to become big preschoolers, going to school where mommy teaches. Skylar has asked lots of questions this Christmas about baby Jesus, it has given us a great opportunity to share God greatest gift with her. She is still so young, but what an opportunity to plant that seed daily. Connor potty trained and is as boy as boy can be. He climbs everything, jumps off everything and just plain goes!! Dwight has enjoyed his first year of classes, and excitedly shares his knowledge with me on a daily basis. What a joy to have a husband that loves His Lord and desires nothing more than to serve Him. I just love him!!! What a man. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers and that God will make Himself known to us daily!!! I will attempt to get better at this, but no promises!!!!!!

Happy Memorial Day

Well, we had a blast!!! Today we had a little get together with lots of the neighbors. We grilled out and watched the kids play in the pools. Unfortunately, they just mowed the grass a couple of days ago and there were grass pices everywhere. By the time the kids had gotten in and out of the water they were a mess and so was the water to say the least. I bought a little pool with a slide at wal-mart and a water sprinkler as well. Rachel and Dan brought their pool over and their play
slide, the adults had the bright idea to place the slide into the water over the edge of the pool. Needless to say even the adults could not resist!!! What a hit!! Our next door neighbor Kyle played kid wrangler in the pool, and our other neighbor Nick played the line security guard, so the little ones all had a chance. Daddy even got in on the action when he got done with school. Poor Daddy summer school started today. It was a hit and all the kids are still asleep, probably most of the parents too. It is so great that the kids have all these new frinds right here!! What a blessing. What a great way to spend Memorial Day!! Hope all are doing well, please forgive the lateness of the new Blog! Connor's big day is tommorow hope that you will visit the blog soon, I hope to do a special post for him for his Big 3 year old Birthday!! Where does the time go and Skylar is growing like a weed too. God Bless and PLEASE PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH!!

Mommy's Day or Daddy's Day???????

So where to begin..... Today was not only Mommy's Day in our house, but it was also Daddy's 32nd Birthday!!! We had both unknowingly planned on suprising each other this morning, me with a birthday cake in bed joined by the kids singing happy birthday and Dwight with breakfast in bed for me to celebrate Mother's day. This morning when I woke up I noticed that Dwight was not sleeping as soundly as usual so I just decided to lay still, while laying in wait, Dwight quietly got out of bed and headed downstairs where I could hear him in the kitchen rustling around. I decided now was the time to inch down grab the cookie cake (Dwight despises birthday cake) off the couch along with the cards and shirt the kids had picked out! So as quiet as I could I snuck down and got all my stuff and got back upstairs with Dwight unaware. I quickly signed the cards got the cookie cake together. I snuck over to the kids room realizing that only Skylar remained in bed so I quietly woke her to go sing to Daddy. I slipped Dwight's new shirt that we had bought onto Skylar, which she thought was great, and headed down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs Connor came running to us so I quickly quieted him and we tiptoed into the kitchen where we suprised Daddy with a Burton family rendition of Happy Birthday, all Jammie clad. Dwight was so suprised . He looked at me smiled, said Thank You now go back to bed!! So I ran upsatirs and climbed back in bed, where I was served a breakfast fit for a queen!!! on my new MOM tray. It was the perfect Mommy's/Daddy's Morning.
Everyday I am reminded of how blessed I truely am to have a husband who wants to love and dote on me. He paid such close attention I had pointed out the tray on a recent date night excursion, and he remebered. I am so glad that my daughter will get the opportunity to grow up with a daddy that loves her, and thinks that she is the most amazing little princess in all the world. I pray often that she finds someone that is a good christian leader like her Dad. That she realizes the sacrifices that he makes regularly for her, and how he has surrendered fully to God's call on his life. I pray that she finds a man as in love with God and his family as her Dad is. I hope as she grows up she always cherishes the relationship with her dad and sees it as invaluable in her growth as a christian and a woman.

It is so funny when people see Connor smile they always say that he is a little Dwight, but the two of them could not be more different in personality. I am so glad that Connor will be blessed to have a daddy that is trying so hard to be a Godly leader in his home(which is hard with a wife like me). I watch Connor run around watching his Daddy with such awe and it just melts me. He always talks about growing up to big like Daddy. I think he means tall, Daddy has never really grown up!! Daddy is content to play in the leaves, go and play soccer or just be Connor's ladder at Skylar's ballet classes so that he can see sissy through the window. Sometimes the little things are the big things..... I know that our family would never be what it is, including a little insane, without Daddy around!!!

I LOVE YOU AND THINK THAT YOU ARE ONE OF GOD'S GREATEST GIFTS IN MY LIFE!!!!! THANK YOU FOR LOVING GOD, ME AND OUR CHILDREN SO FULLY!!!!

Mr. Soccer

On friday it is Connor's day for a special thing SOCCER and he loves it as much as Skylar loves ballet. The name of the soccer program that he goes to is Lil' Kickers. They start at 18 months and go up to age seven. For Connor's class the parents are a part of it. So daddy has been going to soccer class too. I think he will miss it when Connor moves up to the next class where the kids go by themselves. We'll have to find Daddy a new hobby.... like studying, and reading.. HAHA!! We have been so blessed that Dwight's mom has helped us pay for Connor to go to Soccer. Parents are such a blessing. It is so nice to give the kids something special for each of them to look forward to. Connor is learning good listening skills, as well as the physical side. He has mastered so many soccer skills. He will be able to play in a micro-league when he turns 4. We have lots of big days coming up soon!! Daddys B-day, Mommy's Day, and Connor's B-day. Pretty soon we will have some family visit. We are so excited. Hope everyone is doing well. Please keep in touch.