Feeling overwhelmed at my parenting failures today, so I was doing a little praying, a little confession and asking forgiveness with my 3 yr old, and a little searching for encouragement and direction.

Found a great article on parenting with grace:
http://www.eucatastrophe.com/blog/archives/2005/04/23/keeping-grace-in-place-by-tedd-tripp/#more-167

By the same author of Shepherding a Child's Heart. I think this article's perspective on grace perfectly completes the author's previous book and its emphasis on how the gospel influences discipline and parenting.

Worth reading...I'll be reading it again and again :-)

To Honor My Mom

Training Wheels

Sometimes Jesus says weird things to me like "check your bag" (I didn't and proceeded to lock myself out of the house) or "get the guitar" (I usually forget Kev's guitar on Wednesday nights, but Jesus always reminds me before I make it out of the driveway). Today was no less weird. We were playing at the church park for a bit and I was, as usual, frustrated about Cooper's tantrums. He has entered a stage of frustration (his and mine). He can't speak and can't crawl and can't walk but definitely has lots of wants...wants to go, go, go...wants to climb...wants to slide...wants to play in the toilet. Lots of wants. So when he can't get to what he wants and mom's finger (his current crutch in life) is otherwise occupied he throws a ginormous screaming fit. It's lovely to watch. Anyway, I've been at the end of my rope for awhile now not knowing what to do other than let him scream, which I do alot. How do I help him without being his crutch? I'm so not smart or creative enough for this mom thing. Anyway I was watching the boys play on the park and thinking maybe I could get one of my PT or OT friends to work with him on his crawling or walking. Then maybe he would get some practical tough love help. If all else fails, send them to therapy. After awhile Beckett had to go potty so we went in the church, pottyed, then played in the gym for a bit. I was "finger walking" Cooper all around (He loooves the church gym. He makes all these monkey grunting noises. Its pretty goofy.), when Jesus says to me, "be the training wheels." (you know like that line that I can't think of in that movie that I can't think, "beeee the somethingorother")  Oh well, anyway, it killed my back but I just got behind him and held his waist while he walked all around. I just kept saying "I'm right here." That way he knew I was there supporting him but he had both hands free and was pretty much walking around by himself. Then a little at a time I let go just a bit until he was doing it all on his own (just like that sneaky moment when parents quietly let go of the bike.) And he was off!! Toddling all over the gym like he had been doing it for months no problem. Ha. So I guess we won't be needing a therapist after all. I may need a massage, but then that's nothing new. So I totally had a party in my head (as there was no one there to celebrate with) but it was short lived because naptime was approaching and the toddler fits were increasing, All in all a wonderful morning full of coffee, Taco Johns, parks, and freedom!!!

Another great post i read

Been havin a tough week but this was really encouraging. Find faith. Face the giants. God is bigger.

http://www.mops.org/page.php?pageid=3191#.T20zc86eSUJ.facebook

Mom encouragement

I will be reading this post 4 million times this week. Praying God will change me.

http://www.whenyourise.com/2012/03/its-been-rough-day.html?m=1

New Year's Eve Confusion

How to decide from the list of 1.2 million things that I need to change in my life what should go on the official list of resolutions... Should it be getting up earlier or maybe going to bed earlier? Or maybe getting back to running or doing more planks or any at all or at the least eating fewer cookies? Should it be playing with my kids more, organizing our day more, or undoing the tv habit? Should it be keeping my word more or saying no more or both? Should it be reading the Word every day consistantly or memorizing scripture or making the gospel a living part of our home? Should it be avoiding less all the many things I avoid: laundry, answering the phone, vegetables, dirty and clean dishes, conversation? The list goes on. And on. And the answer is probably all of the above. I'm overwhelmed by all the things I need to tackle and amazed at how adept I've become at making up excuses for why I don't need to. So pick one, or pick them all, or one at a time? 2011 was tough, and I can't say I'm not a little nervous about how I'll do in 2012. I feel pretty confident that I'm thinking about this all wrong, but I'm not sure how exactly to go at it. So I find myself, this New Year's Eve, a little more dazed than determined.
How about that for a bubbly blog entry... now I think I'll go eat some chocolate.

Confession

I love goodwill. Kevin is rolling his eyes for sure as he reads this. But I just can't help it. Where else do you get 3 cashmere sweaters, 1 pair of sweet looking black pants, 1 banana republic sweater, and 1 black ann taylor long sleeve all for $19. I pretty much danced right out the door. I went in for cashmere for a sewing project I'm working on, and came out with stuff for me too (which I could have told you was going to happen.) Today they had buy one get one free on blue tags, and yes, I did actually pray while shopping that I would find the perfect thing. It was time to go and I was about to give up and just get my one blue tag, but there on the put away rack as I was leaving were the perfect pants I can't wait to wear. So thank you Jesus :-) Altogether a very fun (albeit way too long) shopping trip. I might even have to go back for the two cashmere sweaters I put back...maybe they are blue tags :-) Now back to cleaning which is what I was supposed to be doing in the first place. No comments please, Kevin. I'll work fast.