Hi, This is Grace. I'm Not Home Right Now...So Leave A Message...

Well, okay, literally, I am at home (come on, 4 little kids? Rarely am I anywhere else!) but "The Mommy On the Bus" had to SAY something!  :)

What I mean to say is, I'm not "home" at my blog today, because I've been invited to I Dream Of Clean as a guest poster!

So come visit me over there today!  I'm sharing how to set up a chore schedule for littles!

And If you are visiting from "I Dream Of Clean", WELCOME!!!

Glad you stopped in!

I hope you take a few minutes to look around, after all, I really do dream of clean!  Sometimes I even obsess about it (see HERE).

And If you too, "Dream Of Clean", here are a few more posts of mine that you might be interested in...


Cleaning Tip: Let The Lights Lead You

The Benefit of Chores for Little Kids

What Chores For Kids Look Like Around Here

What Chores For Momma Look Like Around Here

My House Managing Binder

And one last, fun post giving you Just a Taste of Little Things I Do To Simplify My Day

Remembering...The Day My First Child Was Born...

My friend Jenilee has a really neat "meme" on her blog called "Wednesdays Walk Down Memory Lane" that she inherited from my other friend Lynnette.

So I am taking the opportunity to write about my births!  Starting with my first born...

From the beginning of our marriage, my husbands and I's plan was to wait a while before having a baby.  We heard the typical advice that you should spend the first few years getting to know each other before adding a baby to the scene.

But soon after we were married we started asking ourselves 101 questions about birth control and God's view of us taking such control of my womb.  We realized we were calling him "Lord" but not letting him reign over our decision to have children.  After all, we had no good excuse for waiting...

-we were both done with school
-hubby had a steady job
-I was able to stay at home full-time
-we didn't have the typical "trying" first year that everyone warned us about
-we were both healthy and fit (more than ever)

Our only excuse would have been based on selfishness.

The Lord laid on our hearts this verse:

Proverbs 3:5, 7

 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;

 ...

 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
       fear the LORD and shun evil." 

So we decided to surrender and trust...It was exciting and scary all at the same time!

And 2 months later, we discovered we were pregnant with our first child!  We were so thankful we let the Lord take control, because we KNEW we right in the middle of His will for us!

We started taking "Bradley" classes (also called "Father Coached Child Birth") right away in order to prepare us for a natural, "spontaneous", unmedicated birth.  We didn't have a whole lot of support in this decision, but it was important to us that we educate ourselves on how GOD designed my body for childbirth, the stages of labor and how it was meant to be natural and God-induced :)  (for more "why's" about natural childbirth, click HERE).

So at nine months of pregnancy, we were so ready, so excited for our baby!  We had our birth plan typed out and signed by our doctor, our bags were packed (and had been for over a month!), we had interviewed and hired our Doula (Amber), Ryan had his scriptures ready that he would read to me, we had all our worship CD's ready for labor...

But our baby boy didn't seem ready...

At 2 weeks overdue, EVERYONE was telling us to go to the hospital and "just get induced".  But our doctor said we were fine to wait, that there wasn't any danger in letting my body "take it's time"...so we waited...and waited.

13 days overdue, mild contractions, getting ready for a "vigorous" walk in the rain

2 days after this picture (15 days overdue), my contractions really picked up and I knew it was time!  We loaded the car and took the 20 minute drive to the hospital.  By the time we got there, my contractions had picked up and I was all smiles!  

"This laboring stuff is a piece of cake", I said!  

My doula loving patted me and said, "Honey, it's only just beginning...but you're right, you CAN do this!"

I labored for 8 hours total and it seemed like I would never have this baby.

After about 6 hours of being at the hospital, I remembered being so tired and scared about "transition" (the worst part of labor-it comes at the end) and how I would get through it.  But as I sat in the hot bath water, in pain, with contraction on top of contraction, I heard my doula say, "she's in transition now and will be through it soon" to my husband outside.  After I heard those words, I was on cloud nine...I was almost done!

And she was right, in about 15 minutes, I was on the bed pushing!

The labor pains were severe, but not more than I could handle.  I had learned relaxation tequnigues through the Bradley classes, so I just applied what I had been practicing.  As for pushing, that was a breeze, definitely the easiest part for me!  I always wondered what people meant by "your body will push for you"...but to feel it happening was like experiencing a miracle and knowing that God really DID design this to work perfectly!!!

And before I knew it, our son was in my arms!!!  No pain medication, no drugs, no interferences...just letting my body do what God created it to do!

Per our request (with the assumption he was healthy) 

the nurses gave us a full hour of uninterrupted time with him 

before starting all the hospital procedures.

Just an hour old, getting "tagged", weighed and measured..

 

7lbs 14 oz (I *still* think the scale was off--just look at that chunky baby!)

20 1/2 inches long

We named him Trusten, because of the the Lords call to us in Proverbs 3:5.

Our birth experience was amazing!  In fact (as strange as it may sound) laboring is one of Ryan and I's favorite thing to do together.  It unites us is such an awesome way!  He knows me SO well and is definitely my favorite labor coach!

Trusten was the best baby...so happy, so content, so precious!  

And unlike most newborns, he had a lot of awake time those first few days (which we contribute to the fact he had no medication in his system or interferences in his birth).

Before leaving the hospital...

Oh, how I love my "Trusser Man"!  I am so thankful we listened to the Lord, even though it was huge step of faith for us!  ...And little did we know, that was JUST the beginning of our blessings!

(More birth stories to come!)

Psalm 127:3-5

Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
       children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
       are sons born in one's youth.

Blessed is the man
       whose quiver is full of them.

A First!!! But Was It Too Soon?

I've been waiting for this day!...The day I could put Liberty's hair in a pony tail!

Despite popular belief (ahem, my sweet hubby, Ryan) she DID have enough hair to manipulate into an elastic band!

At first I tried piggy tails, but there wasn't enough hair for the bands to stay on, so I decided to try just one little spritz of hair on top!

Here's the result...

What do you think?  Is it still too soon?

Well, all I know is that SHE looks happy about her new 'do!

(and so is her momma!)

"Not The Mothers Day I Was Expecting It To Be" (and MckLinky Monday)

I'll be honest...this Mothers Day has been a hard one for me.  I was not prepared for it...and even though I knew it was Mothers Day, I was kinda taken off guard by it.  In fact, I cried most of the morning...and not tears of joy...

My sweet husband let me sleep in, so I awoke to some VERY happy boys who had been waiting for me all morning long!

As I walked out of my bedroom, they all chimed "Happy Mothers Time Day" in rounds (still used to saying "Happy Valen-Times Day!") and greeted me with big hugs.  My heart was overjoyed!

Then I see a HUGE box sitting on our front room "coffee table" (an old chest we keep our board games in).  Again, my heart was overjoyed to see that my boys (and Liberty!) had bought me a brand new, fancy set of cookware!!!  Pots, pans, skillets...my dream come true!!!  I have been wanting a new set for a while, but haven't said anything because I know how expensive these can be!

But my hubby (have I mentioned he's the best in the world?) had noticed (see I told you he was the best!) that I needed new cookware, so he took the initiative to buy me an entire 12 piece, commercial grade set!  Wanna know my favorite thing about this gift?  They range in size from small to HUGE (so bring on the big family, Lord!!!)

Then came the best part...the hardest part... My hubby handed me a DVD with "Happy Mothers Day 2010" written on it.  We popped it in the DVD player and it was a video card!

My hubby had taped each one of the boys telling me Happy Mothers Day, what they love about me, what they like to do with me, their favorite thing about me, etc. etc.  Trusten even sang a song he wrote for me!

I bawled...seriously, bawled.  Now, if you know me, you know I cry easily...but rarely do I full-out bawl.

As I watched the amazing video he put together (with an amazing Chopin piece as the background music) I felt so completely and utterly unworthy.  It was not a good feeling.  Then the video ended with Proverbs 31:28-31...If it hadn't been for my boys (who were so thrilled to finally show me their video card) I probably would have run out of the room crying, "no, this is too much...really TOO much."  

I wasn't being modest...nor am I trying to be now, I just honestly could not handle all that they were saying.

This morning as they showered me with love and compliments, I was so very aware of all my short-comings.  I felt like a hypocrite as I watched my children talk about how and why they love me.

"I don't deserve this love!", I thought.  "How can they love me so freely when I lose my temper so often?"  "These kids deserve a mom who doesn't put herself first and grumble when things don't go her way"  The thoughts went on and on.

As the video ended, my kids ran into the dining room for what else, but DONUTS!  (My favorite!)  I walked into the kitchen with my hubby and as he hugged me, I cried some more.  He asked about my tears...knowing they were different than tears of joy.  

I explained to him that I felt unworthy and that I just know I have SO much to work on.  He just hugged me and told me I didn't have to feel worthy of it...that they just loved me...and that none of us should ever feel worthy...but that we should always be desiring to be more than we currently are.

I said "okay", smiled and headed to the dining room, but was still in turmoil.  Eating the donuts, I thought about his words, and tried to let the Truth sink in.  But I still felt so...so...guilty.  I haven't been being the mom that my boys deserve.

So we finished breakfast, took a quick picture of Liberty and I...

(can you tell my eyes are swollen from crying?)

and headed off to church.

The minute the music began, I started feeling better.  I felt the Lord...He was comforting me and sheltering me.  I knew He wanted to speak to me.  So as I wrestled with Liberty (she was really squirmy this morning!), I waited on Him to speak.

Then we started to sing,

"You amaze me.

You amaze me

and I'm overwhelmed by your great love and mercy.

You amaze me."

And that's when I realized I am nothing without His mercy.  I need it everyday.  I may not be the mom I want to me, but I will never get there without God's mercy.

I am a work in progress.  He has began a good work in me and He will faithfully complete it, but I can't expect to just sit by and watch him complete it.  I need to be actively trying to become what He wants me to be...and NEVER settle.  And that's been the problem...I think I've been settling.  That was the guilt I felt...I think I've been giving myself a few too many pats on the back, buying the lie that I've done "good enough" for the day or the week and I don't need to strive or try any more.

And what a great lie from the enemy!  I mean, what other lie would he want me to believe, than one that can get me to stop striving and to just settle.  He doesn't want me to grow anymore.  He doesn't want my kids to be blessed anymore.  He wants all of it to stop...and, what's more, He hopes to even see me loose some ground.

So more than ever, I need the Lords great mercy!!!  I need His mercy to cover over the areas where I lack...and to help me when I've taken my eyes off of Him.

Lord, you TRULY do amaze me!

Thank you that today, when I was overwhelmed by my weaknesses and by what I don't deserve, You showed me your love and mercy.  

Thank you that you reminded me to be "overhelmed" by you...and not myself.  

I need your mercy to help me take my eyes off my victories and my defeats, my accomplishments and my guilt.  

Help me, Lord, to seek your mercies in my mothering...I need you Lord so that I never feel "worthy"...but always be striving, reaching, growing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After church we went out to lunch, then came home to take some more pictures...

We ended up having a WONDERFUL day!  I truly am a blessed Momma!

My favorite quote of the day was Trusten when he said,

"Momma I love you too much to love you just a little bit"

And the day's not over yet!  Once the boys wake up from naps, we're having a cookout and spending the evening outside, playing!

Editing to add: My Mothers Day just got even better!  I won a giveaway over at my friend Jill's blog!  I think I'm gonna choose the framed hymn with cross!  So excited!

This post is also linked to: Momentous Monday and Mom and Me Monday

Now it's YOUR TURN!!!  Link up YOUR Mothers Day post below...(and be sure to visit the others who linked up their posts!  It's a great way to get to know some new bloggin' friends!)

Quiet Times: Learning To Adapt To A New Style of Seeking and Listening

For 20-some years I had spiritually programmed myself and didn't even realize it!
 
To me, a "Quiet Time" was:

~a few minutes of Prayer

~a chapter or two read in the Bible

~about 6 pages written in my journal

~followed by a more lengthy time of prayer

All of this was done in the quiet of my bedroom, no interruptions, my schedule, my timing.

Often I would be in my "Quiet Time" for an hour...and I loved it.  I sought the Lord daily and would wait upon Him (in the quiet) until I heard Him speak to my heart.  It was wonderful--I loved reading, journaling, and communing with the Lord.  I always felt so much lighter and hopeful after my "Quiet Times".

Well, after I started having kids, I tried to fit in my "Quiet Time" into my day, but no matter where I'd place it, I often ended up frustrated by the end result...I would barely get done with my initial prayer and someone would need me.

How was I ever going to have a real "Quiet Time" again?

Then the Lord told me that I needed some re-programming!  After all, how could I expect to have my past step-by-step "Quiet Time" experiences when I am no longer in a quiet season of my life?

At first, this was a really hard reality for me to handle.  I didn't know any other way to experience God (on my own) than in my little routine I had set.  I was already missing Him...even though I knew (and could quote) that the Lord is always with me.

I needed God (throughout my day) more than I ever had, yet time with Him was extremly limited, more than it ever had been!  I remember asking "How is this gonna work, Lord?"

So through various scriptures and books, I sought the Lord on how to adjust to this new season of my life.

One book I read said that in our kid-less years we get used to a "gush" of the Lord every morning, but that as momma's we have to live on "scattered showers" throughout the day.  So now, the scriptures posted around my home and scheduling things like "5 minute morning devotion/quiet time" into our days are my scattered showers.  They are usually just a few minutes here and there, but they are all I have most days.

I still try to wake early to be with the Lord, but no one tells mommy's about the secret alarms that go off in your kids rooms once your feet hit the floor (no matter how early you keep trying to make it)!  But on those days, I have to remind myself that even when I set out with the intention to have my "old-fashioned Quiet Time", and don't get to it all, I just need to trust that was a part of the Lords plan for that day.  And then, I need to WATCH and LISTEN for how the Lord wants to supply my need for Him in another way.

Stilll, I struggle missing those long, in-depth "Quiet Times".  I get them every now and then...and those are cherished times!

It's a lot more work when I don't get my "gush" of the Lord in the mornings.  I have to remind myself to watch for Him and listen for Him-and that can be exhausting even on a "typical" day!  But I know it's good for me to develop those disciplines.

Recently, I was talking to my sweet friend Cheri (who I don't get to see often enough!) about all of this...and she greatly encouraged me that the Lord is creative in speaking to us when our children are small.  She said,

"Sometimes He will use their little voices to say the very word that He wants us to hear...He might use nesting birds or sour milk to speak to us.

He is crazy about momma's who love their babies so He helps them out a lot!..

When we realize that we can listen as we are on the move, it makes our movements more like a dance."

In other words, he's trying to speak to me in new ways...but am I trying to listen?

So...I'm still learning...Still trying to discipline myself to listen for Him in the thick of my day...Still failing to recognize His voice in the "sour milk"...Still desperatly needing to open my eyes so I can see Him...

Still needing to remind myself of this day after day after day after day...

And more thankful than ever for His steadfastness and His faithfulness!