Habit Forming

Is it too late for New Years resolutions??? Yes.

Well that’s okay cause after last years’ disaster it’s probably best that I don’t go there.

Here is what I’m thinking though, there are some things I really want to be committed to.I have watched Lily’s physical development blossom and now I’m getting to watch her mental development bloom. In the same way I want our family to form good habits so that God can use that to help our hearts bloom.

So let’s just consider this my revolutions list for the next 80 years or so, mmmmmmk?

1. Read/Study/Memorize Scripture
So here is how this is going down right now. We started the One Year Chronological this year; one pastor called it the view from 30,000 feet. It keeps us connecting the pieces, knowing scripture, seeing the whole counsel of God. We are also studying, digging in learning and applying specific scriptures. We also have a family bible verse that we memorize. That is going slow, but we are learning together. I want scripture written in our hearts so we will keep going till it sticks!

2. Prayer
The Bible tells us to pray about everything. I have always know that, but I’m ready to apply it, take it literally, and take it personally. So we are working on doing EVERYTHING prayerfully in our home. Going to the grocery store? We are going to pray. Seeking Jesus’ counsel is going to be come as natural as breathing.

3. Healthy Eating
Yes this is partially because I’m gonna be wanting to lose some baby weight soon, but it’s way more than that. I believe and have seen in my life that eating junky over processed foods affects my mind and body. I don’t want to be running on “good enough” I want to run the way God made my body to run! Also, I’m feeling pretty convicted about the food worship that is so culturally prevalent. I don’t want my days to be consumed with what we are going to eat, how we can have more and what will be the most satisfying. So we are shopping the perimeter and simplifying meal choices.

4. Service
This one seems hard with a toddler and soon to be newborn, but I really want us all to start learning to look beyond ourselves. As I do this, I’m learning there is always a way to serve. The easiest thing right now is taking a bag to the park and picking up trash as we come across it, taking snacks to bible study, or meals to people that need them. I want to cultivate a heart of service in all of us and that means doing what you can when you can. Someday that might mean bigger more “official” things. Right now it’s just seeing the blessing of the small things. Learning to be like Jesus

5. Learning
I’m not talking about the sitting down learning colors, numbers, letters thing. I’m talking about exploring inside and out, following an interest, going and doing things we haven’t done before. I want to model curiosity and discovery. True learning. I want to exercise my mind, stretch it, and push myself. I want my kiddos to see that learning is more than school and worksheets and 12-16 years in a classroom. It’s a lifelong process of growing.

For the Love

We have been working with the Bug on using a spoon by herself. Which she is actually pretty awesome at doing. Which makes sense because she is pretty awesome. I digress.

The Bug isn’t usually that affectionate because mostly she is too busy/independent for all that business. However when she gets enthusiastic or excited about something she starts the loving.

So here is what happened she got very excited about getting to use her own spoon. Very. Excited.

And, Hey, I was very excited for her. And right about when she looked like this…

She leaned over and made a smacking noise. I knew what she wanted. I had choice to make.

Kill her excited affectionate moment with a mouth wipe or share in her joyful moment of exuberance…

Y’all I just want you to know there is not much I won’t do for the love of my child…

Different Detox

So I sang my love for Epsom Salt last week. Still singing it actually. Just in case anyone actually takes my advice I have little side note:

When ingested it works as a laxative.

Which means that if happen you put your baby in an Epsom Salt bath for a little detox and then she proceeds to drink her bath water, you will have a really nasty diaper on your hands.

Purely hypothetical of course. *Grin*

I don’t have the words

I wish I could write more eloquently.

I wish I could explain the blessing we received for our adoption last week.

I wish I could put into words what it is like to witness miracle after miracle.

I wish that I had the words to explain how awesome God is; and more importantly how personal He gets.

I wish I could tell you how humbled I am and how beautiful that feeling can be!

What I can tell you is this, two days after receiving a grant from the Show Hope foundation we received a check in the mail for our adoption. It came from family and here is what you really need to know…it came out of their need, NOT their abundance.

Oh Lord, help me to have a heart like that. An obedient heart that gives when I believe I have nothing to give. To give my all and not my leftovers.

Their obedience stretched even beyond just giving, but also obedience to give in God’s timing. The letter was dated almost a year ago, but they waited for God to say send. I am so thankful for that. I can say without a doubt the blessing would have fallen on much rougher soil last year. But now I’m learning about receiving with a heart of worship.

Thank you Jesus for giving me a chance to practice!

Natural (Cheap and Parnoid)

So Russ and I have been cutting back because we are the cheapest people alive.

Okay that’s not true, but we do enjoy pinching a penny when we can, and also? I have become a paranoid hippy.

It’s true. Strange but true.

In my effort to save a buck/rid out house of synthetic chemicals (don’t worry we aren’t even close) here are a few of my new favorite things:

Vinegar- It can do almost anything. Seriously. I use it to clean everything now, and best of all? It costs way less than buying all-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, so on and so forth.

Coconut Oil- We are a family prone to seriously dry skin, and living in a semi-arid climate that is in the midst of extreme drought. That means a lot of very expensive lotion or a jar of coconut oil for $5. Bonus: it works as a natural diaper rash cream as well.

Flax Seed- The girls in this house tend to have some tummy issues. Flax seed? Amazing. I grind it up and put it in just about everything now. Lots of fiber, lots of Omega-3, little protein. All good.

Epson Salts- Oh goodness. I could write a love letter. Strangely I found out about this in relation to ADHD children, I saw that someone posted it can help release toxins and cleans a system. It’s true. It also exfoliates and your body absorbs the magnesium a mineral most of our bodies badly need (without taking any pills) (I’m not fan of that). It can also help with digestion and works as a natural fertilizer. Amazing stuff it is!

Also I’m thinking about doing this.

If I decide to there will probably be a boring and tedious chronicle of how it goes.

Bring on the Pachouli (yup I said it Boo!)

All About the Bug

So very shortly my eldest child will have to share her sparkly spotlight. I imagine it will be tough to no longer be the absolute center of everyone’s attention. I can relate. I’m an oldest.

So today I present to you All About Lilybug! Just a fun list of things that are adorable about our Bug that we want to remember!

1. Doggie is her favorite word. It is also her favorite living being in this house. She literally falls all over herself to be near Fiona.

2. If you ask her what a sheep says she giggles because bleating sounds like laughing to her.

3.she will wear a tiara around the house with the exact same gusto that she will eat dirt when she’s outside.

4. She loves to be “sneaky” and “tricky” She loves to surprise you. She also loves to tease you as if she is going to give you something and when she gets close she runs away screaming.

5. She melts for her daddy.

6. She is a thrill seeker. Nothing is ever high enough or fast enough.

7. She is a wallower. She loves to get on a big squishy bed or pillows (or lap) and just wallow.

8. She loves the Foot Book dearly.

9. She is getting really good at playing pretend. She “cooks”, “eats”, “gives presents” very well!

10. She gets more than a little silly when she is tired. She giggles a lot and stumbles around (kinda like some girls when they have had one to many margaritas).

11. When she feels silly or really happy she has started smiling while scrunching up her nose and lifting her chin. It’s very Steve Erekle and too cute for words.

12. Yesterday I noticed her walking around with her hands rubbing her belly and thought it was weird. Then I remembered Monkey see monkey do.

13. Speaking of that, when she wants to go somewhere she gets her bag, puts her phone in it and stands by the door and says “go” repeatedly!

14. I taught her to sign (and now she can say) outside. Still haven’t decided if I regret that move as she wants to be outside from the moment the sun rises to its setting.

15. She is the most brilliant, adorable, sweetest little girl in the world!!! (not that I’m biased or anything!)

Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS

Last night after the Bug went to bed hubs and I had to talk about some things happening in our lives and in our hearts. We had I sit down and hash out a very unsure future. We have no answers. We can’t see the next step in front of us. We are walking by faith and not by sight.

We ended our little chat with a time of prayer and worship of the Lord. I felt words of praise, Joyful words, flowing out of my mouth. I couldn’t believe I could be so joyful facing such hard questions.

I don’t tell you this to be sanctimonious or self righteous but to let you know that we prayed out of discipline. We worshiped because we knew it was the right thing to do, something I have neglected to do many times. We had no idea God would bring us joy in that time.

Too many times when God gives us a miraculous blessing I feel deep hurt that I did not count it all joy. That I did not choose to be thankful, trusting, or joyful until the blessing came. I share this with you do that you will know TODAY? Wasn’t that day.

We received a letter from Show Hope, an adoption grant foundation, with a life changing announcement of a grant to cover some of our adoption expenses!

I want you to know that my joy was not mixed with hurt this time. Because I was joyful in my fear, because I trusted in a moment of insecurity, God is allowing me to fully understand the abundance of His blessing. I am able to bask in His glory without marring it with my shame.

I want this more often. I want to feel His abundance because I chose obedience first. Lord thank you for opening my eyes to how this feels! Lord please help me to rejoice in You always. I mean really. ALWAYS. Amen!

*Cue Gospel Choir complete with robes and hands up dancing*

Break Your Mama’s Back

Oh y’all. Last night something cracked. I mean I literally heard a crunching noise emanating from my lower back.

My back and I haven’t really been getting along for a few months now, but evidently she really doesn’t want me hopping up off the ground in any kinda hurry.

Oh I’m moving ever so slooooooowly now.

Last night Russ even had the nerve to stand right in front of me and moon me without fear of harm to his raw hide because he knew I couldn’t move that fast.

(Yes I know, we are the picture of maturity and dignity in this household)

So you can just call me Granny K today, cause I’m going to take my hunched over back and go soak in some Epson Salts.

(if you don’t hear from me by tomorrow it’s because I got stuck in the bath)

All the Stuff

You know when someone says exactly what you were thinking except far better?

Thanks Jen Hatmaker for this post. And yes I will be reading that book!

Ready or Not?!?

Okay so we’re almost within a month of D-day (otherwise known as my due date but that doesn’t sound nearly as exciting) and I may have heard once or two million times that going from one child to two is a BIG adjustment. So I’m here to seek wise counsel.

I know there is only so much you can do to prepare, but let me share with you the (slightly obsessive) measures I have taken to help us transition to a family of four. THEN you can feed the obsession help me out with any suggestions you have.

FOOD
We are currently working on a good crockpot oatmeal recipe since I am diehard about oatmeal for breakfast. That will keep Lily and daddy from turning to junk food and give me an extra fifteen minutes if I need it!

I am getting freezer meals ready for dinner and have already made an assortment of cupcake tin lunches for Lily. I really don’t want to have to resort to expensive (and not so healthy) microwave food when I’m feeling overwhelmed.

We have smoothie bags in the freezer and a yogurt stocked fridge for quick snack times not to mention tons of fruit on hand!

HOUSE
I made a chart of very simple and basic household tasks to do each day to keep a little order. This combined with our “pick up before nap policy” should suffice while we adjust.

I also set up changing stations in the front and back of our house so no one has to go unattended. (that makes our house sound big, it’s not really, but I hate to not be able to monitor one girl because I’m changing the other)

I also have bedroom and living room nursing stations set up with burp cloths, water bottles and Chapstick.

PEOPLE
I’m (obviously) the most prepared because I think about it all the time. My body isn’t giving me a choice on that one.

Russ is working on it, but like when Lily was born I don’t think it’s going to hit him until ya know, it hits him.

The Bug is completely oblivious to the fact her world is about to be shaken, but clearly having a coherent conversation with a fifteen month old about a sibling can’t happen. Sorry about the blindside baby Bug!

Any other tips to keep life somewhat on track until we find a new Hodges family groove with Miss Ava joining the dance?