Director of Operations and Chief Operating Officer

http://youtu.be/HB3xM93rXbY

Have you seen this video? It went viral (which is a really yucky term in my opinion) here recently and I must say it brought tears to my eyes. I love that society is recognizing how hard moms work in their homes for their families (including having a full time job as well). 

However, I watched it as my extremely, down to the bone tired husband naps on the couch. He works so hard every day all week long so that I can stay home with the girls. He often does without earthy treasures and man-toys so we can eat and pay the electricity bill. He recently sold his truck with his toolbox on it (he is a carpenter by trade by the way) so he could work on buying us a minivan to hold our expanding family. He is up and out before the sun, works with his hands all day long building mansions for other people. On top of that, he's really good at handling my emotions via text in between setting cabinets or building master closets. He reminds me what a blessing my kids are and that I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength. 

Everyday he has to leave his family and go build homes for someone else. His kids are growing everyday and he is not there. Each day he misses the funny things that Madeleine says, and though still cute, they're not quite as funny coming from me. Every single day he misses the aha moments that make home education so fulfilling. He misses the sweet post-bath baby snuggles when she smells so good and is wrapped all nice and warm in my arms. 

He misses so many memories so that I don't have to. He works so incredibly hard. And in this family, I may be the director of operations but my wonderful husband is the chief executive officer and the leader of our home!! 

Ladies, friends, let's celebrate our men today. Thank your husbands for everything they do, whether you stay at home with your kids or not, whether your man is your husband or not. Thank him for being there and keeping you safe. 

Grace and Playdoh

So God knows me inside and out and I think I've mentioned on here he uses different things to talk to me because I have a hard time just being still. Wednesday night bible study left me feeling like I ran into a brick wall and He spoke to me plain as day!

It was a wonderful revelation. When I first had Madeleine, I held her close and loved on her and I prayed begging that she would just love me as deeply as I loved her. Well, He answered my prayers. She loves me more than anyone else in the whole wide world. I'm the best mummy she's ever had. She loves me to Mars and back (because it's farther than the moon). 

And she wants to be around me all the time. Just around me. All. The. Time. And for some reason (I think it has something to do with being an only child) I like to have some time without little hands on me. Even though that really was what I asked for. 

Then, God in his infinite wisdom and something of a sense of humor, did bless us with another daughter. From that I have realized through God what I have done with Madeleine. I love Charlie Ann. So deeply and wonderfully and I look at her little face and just pray that she will love me and love her Jesus as much as we love her. But when she does because my prayer has been answered I can't be surprised! Pray for rain and carry an umbrella right??

So why, oh why, have I turned on my Mae and started keeping her at arms length for doing exactly what I wanted her to do. I push her out of the kitchen because it's faster to make the food myself. I nudge her out of the laundry room so I can sort socks. I do and will continue to push her out of the bathroom for at least thismuch privacy! Egads!

And honestly I don't know why. But now, I've realized that I'm doing that and it is so not intentional. Today was awesome!! Full of grace and playdoh. Full of snuggles and teaming up on dishes. Full of cartoons and Fancy Nancy. So incredibly full of love. 

I slowed down today. I let her help. Instead of holding her at arms length, I bent my arm and wrapped it around her. 

My girls are my reward from heaven. I love them. I, through the grace of Jesus Christ, am loving them more intentionally. They will see more of Him than me from now on! <3

When plans don't go according to plan...

So today was MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) and I look forward to it every single month. We only have one month left and especially after the super fun crafty day we had I am really going to miss them and our quirky group. 

After that I had to go to the bank. Can I just say I really loathe going to the bank. Every time I lose my patience at times or my precious daughter, I try to stop and think "what is God trying to teach me here" well now, at the bank you don't even really deal with people. You deal with a guy on a webcam, so when your 3 year old tells you she has to go potty...too bad, you pray she can hold it because you didn't bring her a change of clothes. When she dumps the box of crayons all over the floor, you have to bribe her with rainbow candy because you can't, like stop and breathe. Then when you've discovered she's grabbed another three pieces by very sneakily getting into your purse and you reach down and pop her hands and she starts crying and then the baby who was sleeping starts crying...that's too bad. You still have to jump up and scan something or type something in because it's not a real person!!! 

Then, as we are heading home to a home full of laundry begging to be cleaned, my darling husband calls me and needs me to bring him a new battery for the truck...despite having babies with me and not enough funds...soooooo back to the bank. Then I did get a beautiful drive up to Comfort, Texas to go deliver it. 

Upon sensing my frustration and prayers to calm my riled up heart and snapping at my darling girl, God sent a thunderstorm and a lovely Psalm. 

My day didn't go as planned. I will not let it get the best of me. My husband loves me even though I didn't get the laundry done. My kids love me even though I didn't have time to have 15 cups of "tea" with my darling girl. My God loves me enough to send his only son to die the worst death in the cross for my sins, those committed and those I am going to commit and he didn't out any stipulations like "as long as she gets the laundry done, I'll forgive her sins and love her." 

One if my favorite verses: Romans 5:8

Good night everyone. Hug your kids and kiss your spouse!

Here's something I found the other day. I like my posts to have pictures so there ya go. <3