Celebrating My Daddy!

Today is the day we celebrate the father's in our lives! I love this holiday, I think I love it so much because I have been blessed with such a wonderful Dad and love a day to honor him. My Dad is my hero. I love and appreciate him more today then ever before. He is my Daddy and I am his baby girl, and that will never change. I am a Daddy's girl. I love the relationship I share with my Dad. He would do anything for me and I have never in my life once doubted that. He taught me God's word as a child and instilled in me the principles that I would carry into my adult life. Today I celebrate him, I celebrate the fun times and the hard days but mostly I celebrate how blessed I am to call him my Dad.

You have how many?

This is a topic that has been on my mind lately and then tonight I came across this blog post that made me think even more. First let's start with a little history, I come from a family of 11 kids. I have 8 brothers and 2 sisters. Jeremy comes from a family of 8 kids, he has 3 sisters and 4 brothers. We both love coming from large families and growing up it was just normal, it was life. I have memories of being young and at the grocery store and hearing people ask all those questions..."you know what causes this right"...or.."you must me Mormon or catholic"..and the best..."don't you know how to prevent that". When did it start being ok in our culture to make comments to people about something so personal as how many kids you have? We don't mock people who can't or choose not to have kids. This post touched on and I so agree with the fact that the church is no better in most cases then the world at encouraging young families in the blessing of children.

Jeremy and I are often asked how many kids we want, to which we usually reply with a quick "we don't know yet", or "we hope to have lots". Coming from big families I think people want to know if that has made us want a large family or just want a couple kids. Growing up people used to make comments about affording children or more like not being able to afford kids, my Dad used to always say "God pays for what he orders". How true? We can trust God with SO many things but something as big as our family size we hold with a tight grip. Dad also used to compare the analogy of arrows in the hand of a warrior to children. Psalm 127:3-5 says that blessed is the Man whose quiver is full. Dad said if we was going out to war he would want as many arrows as he could get. Why limit to 2 or 3? I love this verse in the message bible...Psalm 127:3-5 "Don't you see that children are God's best gift? The fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep."

I want to challenge your ideas of children, change the way you view them. It's not about birth control or no birth control, it's a heart issue. It's not about a number its about trust. If you viewed your kids as you greatest asset and your tool to help change the world how would that affect your parenting today. I am grateful my parent's made the choices they did and so grateful my in-laws did too! No, its not always easy. My Mom records some of her journey here and I know you will be encouraged by her message. Maybe you can't have more kids or you have chosen not to, Romans 8:1 says "there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". Don't be condemned, love on the ones you have and view them as an arrow your raising to send out and change the world. This journey of parenthood is something I have only just begin and I know will have many hard days ahead, but I don't do it for those. Yes, they come but I do it for the days my child smiles at me calling my name, I do it for the day my child will come to know the Lord, I do it for the journey my kids will have in there walk with the Lord, I do it so they can start this journey a couple steps ahead of where Jeremy and I started it. I do it cause I was raised with a message that motherhood is a highest calling a Woman can have and that it is an honor and a blessing to bare children. I do it because I want to change the world and leave my mark and will take all the help I can get!

Hard Mommy Days

What's not to love about that baby face? I am more in love with this baby girl then I ever thought possible. This little 13 month old girl has also stretched me in more ways then I ever thought possible! I told my Mom that I didn't know someone this little could challenge me this much! She laughed a sweet chuckle that meant, oh I remember that stage and that kinda made me wonder if my childhood was coming to her mind! ;-) I am number 2 of 11 kids so I don't think there is a stage of motherhood that my Mom hasn't experienced and has some wisdom to offer in. Another sweet Mom whose kids are now grown reminded me "where much is given, much is required". I have to remember that even on those days when I wonder HOW I will survive I have to remember that there are many mom's who have gone before me and survived! Not only survived but did it with class!

I have been convicted that I can only be as good of a Mom as I allow God to use me. In my own strength I cannot make it through the day. I'm SO grateful that I serve a God who gives me new mercies everyday and am surrounded my Mommy's who can encourage and remind me what it's all about!

To my baby girl!

Baby girl,

Your not a baby girl anymore, your 1! We made it! Daddy and I survived our first year of parenthood! You have been on this earth over 365 days! This has been the most incredible year of my life, hard at times but oh so rewarding! When Daddy and I stop and think about our life before you, it seems kinda boring. We can't imagine what we spent our time doing or how we managed without the joy you bring to our lives everyday. We have watched you go from a new baby who slept and ate all the time to a blossoming toddler who talks and walks! You have lots to say and are never at a loss for words, although we don't understand most of the words you say yet. You love other kids and get so excited to play with them. You freely give kisses and hugs. You adore your baby doll and are such a good little mommy to it, you kiss her and hug her then throw her over your shoulder when your done. We still have some things to work on before you become a Mommy I guess!

Teaching you to sleep has been a year long battle and we still have times that you fight it but I think you are learning that Mommy and Daddy always win! You are finally eating more solid foods and love eating what we are eating. You love ice and would be happy all day with a cup of it! You are fearless, nothing seems to scare you! I love that about you! You are so social, talking to everyone at the store and waving to other kids. You wake up talking in the morning go to bed after you snuggle with Mom. Daddy and I love getting you up in the mornings cause you are so snugly, you love to wake us up with kisses and laying in our bed.

You are Daddy's treasure! I love to watch Daddy love you! You have made this couple a family. We love you dearly and cannot imagine everyday without you! We have loved you since the moment we knew you were being formed in my tummy. We haven't done everything right and I'm sure will make many more mistakes but we are doing the best we can. I thank God for allowing me to be your Mommy and trusting us to raise you. Thank you for coming into our world and forever changing us!

Love you baby girl!

Mommy

*photo credit goes to my amazing sister who is pursuing photography, she does amazing work!*

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I Love You So...

Today my little baby girl turns 1 year old! People told me before I had kids how fast time goes and I don’t think I fully realized how true that was until this very day! My precious baby girl, who rocked her mommy and Daddy’s world a year ago at 7:12pm, is still my precious baby girl, but she is not a baby anymore! She walks, says “hi”, “bye”, “Daddy”, shakes her head no, blows kisses, gives Mommy kisses and freely gives hugs. She waves and charms anyone who pays any attention to her. She thinks the world was created for her to entertain. I can’t imagine my love being any bigger for her then it is. Her Daddy is so in love with her and she adores him. We have had our hard days and I know there will be many more to come, but I cannot imagine my life without my baby girl. She has taught me so much and made me laugh more then anyone ever has. She is SO busy and keeps us running but I wouldn’t want it any other way!

On this day we celebrate life! We celebrate that God has trusted Jeremy and I with a daughter to love and raise in His ways. I am humbled at the thought yet I am more proud to be Ava’s momma then I could express.

“I can’t imagine life before you came along. You are the music to my dance and my song. I am meant for you, and you are meant for me, the one I love forevermore. Undeniably.”
I Love You SO… by: Marianne Richmond

Casting My Cares

Ever have flashbacks to childhood memories? I learned lots of scripture when I was little through songs and they often still come to mind at different times. How many of you remember Psalty the singing song book? Don't worry, I'm not really that young, he was more when I was a bit older but having younger siblings I still heard WAY more then my fair share of that blue singing song book!

He sang a slow song and the chorus was something like this "..I cast all my cares upon you, I lay all of burdens down at your feet and anytime I don't know what to do, I will cast all my cares up you". Sounds fairly elementary but I cannot tell you how much I have sang that song in my head the last couple weeks. My Dad is having major surgery tomorrow and I have had my fair share of burdens regarding that. Casting my cares up Him...that sounds easy but really it's a hard thing for someone like me who likes to be in charge and manage my circumstances. I am holding fast to that truth right now though because in all honesty, I don't know what else to do.

I will post an update once surgery is done tomorrow on facebook and twitter for all you who follow me there. Until then, my family would covet your prayers. For my Dad, my mom and us kids as we walk through this together.