Pray for Joy

Since going back to work after Aaron has been born, my heart has been full of myself and complaining. After confessing this to God, I asked a friend to help me pray for joy especially in the home, since I only have a few precious hours with my family at the end of the day. Sometimes I feel like all they get is "the leftovers" after I put in my all at work.

I finally got a chance to put the dishes away and fold the laundry after everyone was asleep. The house was quiet and I checked my e-mail and facebook. I went to bed a little later than usual, but was all "caught up." It was hard to drift off to sleep cause my mind was still stiring with the "latest gossip." A few minutes after I finally got to sleep, I heard Aaron awake. Grrrrr. So I was back out of bed.

Why can joyfulness be so hard to find? Is the joy of the Lord really my strength? Am I so distracted from putting my Hope in Him? Do I trust Him to overflow my heart with joy? Sometimes I feel like I have good reason to complain. Sometimes it is so hard to get a good nights sleep. But by praying for joy, God is slowly changing my heart.

I stepped into Aaron's room to check on him. He wasn't really awake, but he was just making that noise trying to get himself back to sleep. I picked him up out of his crib and sat down with him in the rocker. His tired smile turned into a yawn as he closed his eyes. I gazed at his beatiful face and delicate features as he curled up against my chest. He always seems to find "that spot" that was made just for him. I immediately started thanking God for this chance when the house was quite to hold him close with no distractions. I started praising God for all of my children and praying for their future. Praying that Aaron would come to know Jesus as his Savior and never remember a day without him. And thanking God that Alisia and Caleb will always have this blessing of knowing him as their Savior at such a young age.

I realized that he was back asleep. I didn't want to lay him down. I was loving this moment. Then I realized....WOW, I've got joy in my heart! That is what JUST what I asked God for! I laid Aaron back in bed so I could get just a few hours of sleep. But it felt so good. I was joyful.

A dear friend recently wrote me these encouraging words in an e-mail and I thought I'd share them:

How many joyful moments we miss only because of the wrong perspective at that time. I just pray that we have the right one everytime for the sake of our children, our marriage, our family and our future generations...the only cost that it comes with is sacrifising our own ego, being selfless at those moments....

Yes, the only cost is being selfless. To think, that could change future generations! The distraction is not worth it! I do not need to keep up with everything everyone else is doing. In this technology-crazed age, why do we think we have to stay informed and up-to-date? Don't get me wrong, I love definately enjoy facebook, blogging, and instant messaging. I love how I can share in the lives of my friends and family in this way. But why do we let those things steal from us time we have for carrying out God's purpose in our life?

The enemy wants us to be distracted from finding joy. He does not want us to be a light to point others to God. How Satan must enjoy seeing our complaining hearts tear down our lives. May the Lord renew your joy today! May we pass on the heritage of a joyful heart! Oh that the joy we find in Him may transform our home!

"Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart."

Psalm 119:111

Payback!

"This is for all those times you squeeze MY cheeks!
Here's what it feels like, sissy."

The Tale of the Momma Possum

There once was a ‘possum who gave birth to a beautiful baby possum. He had big bright eyes, a soft shiny coat, and a long fluffy tail. Every day, the baby possum got more and more beautiful and the momma possum was so thankful that she got to be the mother of the most beautiful possum ever created. This momma possum took very good care of her baby possum because he was so special.

One day the momma possum was waiting for her baby possum to come home. She was very worried that something awful had happened to him so she set out to find him.

First she saw a fox and said “Mr. Fox, have you seen a beautiful baby possum with big bright eyes, a soft shiny coat and a long fluffy tail? He’s the most beautiful possum ever created and I’m very worried something has happened to him.”
The fox replied, “I’m sorry ma’am, but I haven’t seen a thing.”

The momma possum went on her way and she saw a skunk. “Mr. Skunk, have you seen a beautiful baby possum with a soft shiny coat and a fluffy tail? He’s the most beautiful possum ever created and I’m very worried that something has happened to him.”

The skunk replied, “I’m very sorry ma’am, lots of possums pass by these parts, but I haven’t seen one to that description.”
The worried momma possum kept looking for her son when she saw a hen and asked, “Mrs. Hen, have you seen a beautiful baby possum with a soft shiny coat and a fluffy tail? I’m very worried that something has happened to him.”

The Hen replied, “I’m sorry ma’am, I have to scare off lots of possums around this place. But I haven’t seen one like that. But I did run off a scroungy ol’ ratty possum! That lil' fleebag was trying to bother my chicks. I had to chase the ugly thing off ‘cause these here chicks are the most beautiful chicks ever created.

Then the mother possum answered the hen, “Oh, Mrs. Hen, that’s my son! Don’t you know that for every mother, there’s no ugly child.”

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Ok so maybe it sounds better in Spanish. But Angel says I’m the momma possum! Angel's mom used to tell him this story, so now it's my favorite Mexican folk-tale!
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The three Most Beautiful Children ever created:

Hard to Resist

Check out this adorable little baby!


So soft


So cuddly


So special


So precious & sweet


That angelic look


That precious button nose


That squeezable smile


That squishable face


That ticklish belly


Those irresistible big brown eyes


His contagious laugh


Those kissable cheeks


His huggable little body


How can you resist this?

First Halloween

This was Aaron's First Halloween!


Alisia was quite the helper with the hot little chile pepper. I was surprised that she didn't want to wear a costume since she still is into dressing up. She just wanted a "new look." So that's what I helped her with. Helping with Aaron was a good excuse to still be in the fun and get his candy.

For some reason, Caleb didn't want to wear his costume much. Maybe it was because he wore it out when we first got it and I've been letting him play with it. Once he realized he got more candy when he wore it house to house, he wanted to keep going.

Our favorite trick-or-treaters (our next door neighbors)!


Every year, our church has a fall festival we go to at the Marsh's farm- La Sata. This year, the kids had a lot of fun playing in the barn while Mommy and Papi sat around the bond fire.

Sanity

I'm the crazy kinda mom that makes a ol' silly song outta every ol' sayin'. I think I do it more for sanity so I won't loose my mind. This morning I was getting ready for work and was getting Aaron's (stored breast) milk ready and the bag started leaking.

So I started singing:
There's a snag in my bag and I'm loosing this gold; I gotta get paid what I'm owed

My very generous daughter said: You should be a singer!

Me: Why?

Alisia: 'Cause you always sing

Me: Usually singers can sing GOOD

Alisia: Well then you can write songs

Me: Again, usually people write real songs

Alisia: Well then you can just sing country music!

The funny thing was, she was serious! Like country music doesn't really count. What do YOU do to keep your sanity?

70°'s Again

After that COLD last week, we were way excited to have some nice weather come our way again! This is only about 1/2 of our neighborhood gang. Alisia and the other girls were riding their bikes. I love how Angel and Aaron are in there too!

Here's mostly everyone. Soon Aaron will toddling behind.

Aaron loves the weather too! Like most kids, he enjoys being outside.

See? Either that, or he just loves his Mommy!

Squeezy

When you have squeezy cheeks like these....

...this happens ALL the time!

Sorry Aaron! But we just love you sooo much!!

More Than a Memory Verse

When I was in school we had to read and memorize famous poems by authors such as Robert Frost, Emily Dickenson, Walt Whitman, and Langston Hughes. We had to cut them apart and try to understand what each phrase meant. Even now, when I hear just part of one of these poems, I try to remember how it goes and am reminded of the meaning. The great thing about school-age was just how easy it was to memorize...back then.

Well, our kids are given a new memory verse to memorize each week. I have just been amazed seeing how Alisia and Caleb burry God's word in their heart. Alisia doesn't just want to memorize the words, but wants to understand what each phrase means. How valuable this will be for her as she grows and is reminded of them later in her life. She also uses them to comfort others.

One night Caleb couldn't go to sleep and he was saying he was scared. He is NOT usually like this and I was just trying to minimize it by saying "oh, it's not a big deal, Caleb, don't be scared." It didn't help any. He wanted someone to sleep with him.

Alisia pulls out her armor and says "don't be afraid Caleb, Jesus is always with us." Then she goes on to quote the scripture she learned. "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9).

They started talking to eachother as if I wasn't even there! They were talking about God is everywhere and if you are underwater or on top of a mountian, and He is even in Korea which is far, far away!

Shortly after that we were in the car and it was rainy and windy and a neighbor was with us. She said she always gets scared when it is rainy and windy and thinks there's going to be a tornado. Alisia pulls out another scripture "For God has not given us a spirt of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) This obviously wasn't quite as comforting to our neighbor, who is just learning about God, mostly from us. But this reminded Caleb of their earlier conversation and he started telling her that God is everywhere. It didn't make much sense to her as Caleb and Alisia were trying to explain how this is possible. I sat in the front seat listening and didn't say a word. Just pondering these things in my heart.

*Sniff, Sniff*

Guess who's 3 months old!!


Well, technically on Saturday. Which means Mommy is back to work. Lots of stories to share. Back to blogging. Praising God for His protection. Praying for a good baby today for Papi!

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; Let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in You."
Psalm 5:11