M.J.  in the busy two’s!

Look into those eyes … the eyes of our dear children.  What a gift God has given us!  Today I asked God to refresh my vision.  I asked Him to give me His love for my little girls.  Sometimes as mothers, we get so busy instructing, training, guiding, whatever a mother does … and we forget to see them, to look at them for who they are, eternal souls entrusted to our care.  Some days I find myself getting frustrated at slow responses to my commands.  Then God reminds me of how He loves me when I learn so slowly.  I’ve never yet heard Him speak to me in an exasperated tone.  God, help me to ALWAYS speak to my children like you speak to me, in a still, small voice. 

Today, I realized how little I know how to be a mom.  But I’m so glad that God knows it all, and that He is my Father.  I am comforted to realize that He will give me the wisdom that I do not have.  I just don’t have it.  I am so glad to be His.  I am so glad, too, that these little girls have a Daddy who values spending time with them.  You see, those shiny eyes you see in those pictures were captured after special time with Dad today.  It’s Monday, our favorite week day since Daddy doesn’t have to sell furniture.  He often takes the girls somewhere, a double effort.  One is to spend quality time with his girls, and the other to give Mama a break in the routine … hmmm, maybe there’s three reasons.  The girls get a little break from Mama, too?   Whatever, we all love it, and we are all happy to get back together in the evening.  Thank-you, God, for family!             

                                                       

                                                                  Jaime … a delightful 4 years old.

I still don’t know what makes this time the most special … just time with Mama?  Or is it the fun of these little lessons we are having together?  Maybe it’s both.  Whatever … we all enjoy it!  Jaime has a unique way of summing up our thoughts,

“I LOVE doing this.  It makes me love people. “

Girlies’ favorite project … Mama’s pie dough.

When God is doing so many deep things in our hearts, I find the biggest challenge is to be faithful in daily things of life, maybe because the enemy knows that this is where true revival must first be manifested.  When God is working to teach us how to have a broken heart so that His love can flow through us into the lives of others, the biggest challenge is to be patient and loving with those closest to us.  This morning it is my lively, creative children.  :)  Our girls seem to have an uncanny drive towards creativity.  Perhaps most mothers would curtail those tendencies more and find themselves free from little pieces of paper, markers, glue, pencils, scissors, stickers, and a variety of little crude gifts pressed into their hands all day long.  I prefer the mess, especially when I see the joy it gives my little ones to make something for someone.  I have been amazed what all sorts of creativity can come out of even a two-year-old.  All the clean-up times are worth it for the satisfaction I see on my 7-yr.old’s face when she can hand her favorite aunt a carefully crocheted scarf that she made.  No, I wouldn’t trade them in the least.  Certainly, these little ones do lead us in our walk with God, too.  One day when I was feeling especially vulnerable, I was kind of lost in thought, but I heard Jaime calling my name.  I answered her a little absentmindedly, but my heart melted when she said, “You are my best Mama!  That’s all I wanted.”    Her prayers are so sweet, too, and you never know quite what to expect.  :)  She often prays, “Dear Jesus, please … do all Your work in us!”  It’s amazing what little ones pick up.  This morning she was telling me how she fixed up a little place “where I can go in and pray.” 

And now for some pics of my calm, sweet, ‘wait-til-you-have-boys’ kind of girls.   Hmmm…

                                                       

                                                                                  MUD PUDDLES!

                                                                

                                                             

                                                                                      PLAY DOUGH!

                                              

                                                                         THE AIRPLANE SWING!

                                                             

                                                                                           LEGOS!

                                                         

                                                           

                                                                                        HIT THAT BALL!

                                                             

                                                                  

                                            

                                                                 WATER BALLOONS WITH COUSINS!

“True prayer is not so much an act, but an attitude of dependancy … dependancy on God.”

I’m sure by now you know how well I hide my inmost thoughts.  :)  Well, I’m feeling sentimental about my babies today.  I was kind of shocked how long ago it seems since we introduced our girls to their new sisters.  I decided to post some pictures of those little darlings of long ago.  Do I hear a few snickers?   Just thought you might like to guess who is who.  Have fun.