What Christmas Means to Me...

This year I have thoroughly enjoyed putting up my imperfect but beloved Christmas decorations, buying and wrapping gifts, reading and watching Christmas stories with the boys via book or tv, and most of all soaking in what the birth of our Savior means to me... My tree... a few years back I decided I wanted to have a beautiful, perfect tree that was color coordinated with my home decor... Well, I went out shopping the clearance sales after Christmas and got all I needed for that perfect tree.. I set it up the following year and found that, well... while it was beautiful and perfect appearing on the outside, when I looked at it I didn't feel the excitement I thought I would. Rather, I felt sad and empty... Sad that I had denied my boys the opportunity to put up their handmade ornaments and those they had received over the years at ornament exchanges on the main family tree.. I had told them those would be perfect on our "playroom tree." I had put aside the boxes of family ornaments that each had a story behind them, maybe it was about the person who gave them to us, or the year we received them... but each had a story... Now they didn't all necessarily look as if they should belong on the same tree together, lots of different materials, shapes, many worn and tattered...Yet last year I decided that they were going to all be back together on the same tree, our main family tree in the living room... That was a beautiful Christmas... I so enjoyed having my boys place the ornaments anywhere they felt appropriate, as we played Christmas music, drank hot chocolate, and memories flooded my mind as to Christmases when I was a child... They were perfect, mom always made thumbprint cookies with icing, we played Christmas music and we all got to put our special ornaments wherever we thought they looked best... it was quite possibly one of my favorite Christmas memories. So this year, as I reflect on that, I look at my tree and see a masterpiece! It may not be to anyone else's eyes, but I love the ornaments, the ones who gave them to us, and the stories they tell... And I love that though some are getting tattered and worn, they are oh so beautiful when the lights hit them and it shines right though them! The lights, how I LOVE the lights... I could gaze at our lit up Christmas tree all evening... I think about the irony of how this Christmas tree is so much like our lives... at least mine... Don't know about you but for me right now my life if full of many stories... Many good and great stories of blessings the Lord has given me, yet there are also the stories of brokenness, hurt, pain, unexpected and life altering circumstances, broken and scarred family relationships.. These symbolize those ornaments that don't look so pretty alone... Yet as they are all placed on the tree exactly how and where the Lord allows them to be, IF WE ALLOW HIS LIGHT TO SHINE all around and through them, it somehow can shine through the darkness!!! And one day, maybe not now, maybe not yet for you, as it has been a process for me, I believe that we will look on our lives as I have learned to look at my beautiful Christmas tree. It is a tree that tells so many stories-some are perfect and fairy tale like, some are not so pretty and some are heartbreaking. Yet,if He is our Lord and King, He is able to shine through and around even the most painful circumstances stories. As each worn ornament has such character, so is He producing character in each of us if we cling to Him (the LIGHT) through our trials. His desire is for us to look more like HIM,and reflect his light. This can come in many different shapes and forms. For me that has meant to give up more of what I once thought was so important, that I might find and dwell on the things of eternal value. And He alone is truly beautiful and worth it, and the one constant, that will never change. ("The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever "Isaiah 40:8). So this Christmas, I think of my friends who have many sad stories to tell-whether watching a sick child suffer, missing loved ones who have passed,missing relationships that seem to have changed forever, yearning for Christmas as it once was, or for anyone who wishes things could only be the way they used to be,battling illnesses or living daily with chronic pain or depression... No these stories are not pretty, no they are not fun at all to go through... But,when we have the light to guide us, to shine through and around us, to focus on to give us hope... I truly believe that one day,some how if not already the Lord will shine through these circumstances. My story of pain is in no way shape or form as heartbreaking as many of yours...I do not at all take lightly the depths of pain some of you have experienced or are walking through... Yet what I have been through has been life altering for me especially because I can no longer physically do the things I loved to do... It has been physically and emotionally challenging...Although my pain has been different and is minimal compared to what many of you go through, I want to tell you I have seen God shine through to me when I truly felt hopeless and in despair...This is why I share my story any chance I can... It is my hope you will see and experience the hope He offers whatever you may walk through... For those of you who don't know, I have struggled with chronic pain for years now.. 14 years of endometriosis/pelvic pain, 10 years with neck pain, and 3 1/2 with back and leg pain...The last 3 1/2 have been the toughest and the ones that have greatly interfered with life as I knew it... Not long ago I ran into a friend who I had known at the gym in my former "workout queen" days... She also has had life greatly altered by pain in the past few years... She was a dancer and practiced pilates for years and has had to give up both, as well as living with daily pain... Funny because we bump into each other frequently, and I don't believe it's by accident. I truly believe the Lord causes our paths to cross... We have very similar symptoms and will always begin by sharing how we are doing, newest remedies tried, any thing we feel is helping and may be something the other may want to consider... Then we move to the emotional part... The "I feel I can't take anymore part..." This is where I let the Lord take over and share how HE KEEPS ME GOING... HE IS MY LIGHT... I know that as of yet He has not been able to shine through her circumstances in as much as she has told me she just can't have that attitude yet...It's ok, I could not either for a while. BUT, I keep His light coming, I share scriptures, I pray for her, and I pray that one day she can allow that light to shine through the tattered and worn stories in her life...and trust that He is in control.She said that for me I have children and that must make it easier to keep going and have hope. I told her that helps but the Lord must be our focus. He is the only one who understands and will never leave us nor forsake us. He walked these roads ahead of us. That's why Christmas is so special to me.. it offers hope from THE ONLY GOD who came as a baby to walk these roads of suffering and pain, to a much greater extent than any of us have suffered or will suffer on this earth, so that we know HE UNDERSTANDS and loves us. I don't know about you, but those I find most comfort in talking to about my problems are those who have actually experienced them... Now, my mom and Jay and best friends are wonderful and love me and will do their best to comfort me, but they simply cannot understand exactly how I feel... Guess who can... HE CAN, HE DOES, HE WANTS YOU TO TRUST HIM. He is the best Christmas gift ever and if you don't know him PERSONALLY, as your best friend, as your ALL IN ALL, as your ONE YOU GO TO, as your LORD AND SAVIOR... Let him be your one and only, let him shine His light through all your stories... it's why He came... to give us hope, to offer something more than anything or one in this world can... life everlasting... eternal... where there will be no death, no pain, no suffering, we will be made new, so THAT is how I keep going in the face of suffering and how you can too...It does not make it easy, it does not mean I don't break, it just means that I have someone holding me up, walking with me, carrying me when I'm too tired to walk...listening to my prayers of tears when I can't even find the words... His name is Jesus. I'm looking quite forward to my brand new pain free life... and spending eternity with Him one day. How can I look beyond the here and now pain and still have hope she asks? First to have his hope, you have to have Him as your Savior... Ask him and let Him be your Savior. Believe that He died on the cross for our sins. Our sins deserve punishment and would bring death, were it not for His sacrifice. (Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." and Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord). But know that your acceptance of His payment on the cross is the only way your sins can be forgiven. He has given the gift, it's up to you to tell him you accept it. (Romans 1:9 If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.) And then he ROSE, He is a LIVING GOD who wants to live with you, "Immanuel"=God with us...we don't have to do this crazy life alone...Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present, not the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Then know this life is not it, it's not all there is...know that this is a tiny sliver of what is to come if we know Him and believe we will one day have eternal life with Him... Then live for that.. to share His hope with others...we all so need Him. What do you mean by a personal relationship with a God you cannot see? Here's how you can get to know Him more... get in His word, pray daily,throughout your day... talk to Him about your struggles, Pour out your heart... It's ok if you're angry and bitter,I have been too... just tell Him... Just let Him be there for you and He will...I always think a great place to get started in the word when you are struggling is the Psalms. It will not take long when you are doing these things to understand exactly what I mean... God will reveal his heart to you...Lastly, memorize scripture! You never know when you may be presented an opportunity to encourage someone who needs it... Time and time again I have been encouraged by a dear friend texting or emailing or quoting me scripture... It is such a powerful tool... Not long ago the Lord laid it on my heart to memorize this passage... I was able to share this scripture with my friend that morning that has so encouraged me many of mornings... 1 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary struggles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal." This verse speaks to her as it does me...We hug, we cry, she says please keep praying for me and I ask the same of her for me... We laugh and say we will bump into each other again soon, and I hope we will... Merry Christmas to all of you and it's my hope that if you don't know Him personally as your Savior, you will accept the best and most meaningful gift ever given, right now... He is THE LIGHT...Will you let Him be yours and will you let his love SHINE through your stories? So many verses are found in God's Word about the light... here are a just a handful...and just a few of the reasons I love Him... Psalm 36:9 "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." Psalm 47:3 "Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live." Psalm 89:15 "Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord." Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:130 "The unfolding of your words gives light, it gives understanding to the simple." Luke 11:33-35 "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it then that the light within you is not darkness." Romans 13:12 "The night is almost over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." Matthew 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father which is in Heaven."

So long since I've written... The days go by so fast and the boys say the cutest things and I have GOT to start blogging more!!! I want to look back and remember the little things and smile... and cry I''m sure... So here are just a few of my favorites as of late... Gabe has named me "long take time..." He said this to me one morning as he was requesting his breakfast in a rather demanding tone... I said to him, "who do you think I am? Your servant?" He said "no mommy, you are "long take time" because you take a long time to do everything! What a sense of humor he has... and that is so true by the way :) We have a neighbor JD who has just moved away... The boys are so sad... JD was like part of the family... We would come home and find his bike in the driveway and him awaiting us either in the backyard or actually one day in our garage... He knew where his favorite snack crackers were in the pantry and always helped himself.. I loved that... I told him he was like one of ours... Needless to say the boys were heartbroken about him moving... Gabe said to me he was my best friend the "same old." Sweet baby.. I can't even correct him he's so cute... Probably my favorite story however about JD's leaving is what Jayce told me early Friday morning...Jayce came downstairs teary eyed... It was a night I had not slept well and was up early Jayce said to me "momma I could not sleep last night because I was so sad about JD moving.. He said he had cried all night and early morning... He then told me that he and Gabe had PRAYED TOGETHER about this... This momma started shedding tears... I have told my boys often about the verse Matthew 18:20 "where two or three are gathered in my name, there will I be in the midst of them..." before asking them to join me in praying for someone else... I didn't know they were listening or cared.. THEY WERE LISTENING AND CARED!!! On those days that I feel like it's going in one ear and out the other... something very important has gone in and stayed in the heart...the something that I want them to remember for ever and always, when I am long gone..Bring your problems to Jesus... bring Him everything... it is all important to him, never to big or small... He will be there when no one else can or will be...

It's the Small Stuff from a Great God

So, I just wanted to take a few minutes to jot down the thankful feelings running through my head.... God is GOOD, he is SO GOOD!!! I went into the summer unsure of just how I would physically make it through having my boys full time... With back pain and nerve pain/sciatica running down one leg at almost all times it seemed like it was going to be a pretty challenging summer with 2 super active little boys... I asked the Lord to please strengthen me for the task and help me not only get through it but ENJOY it... I claimed a verse for myself early on this summer... Romans 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing (another NIV says as you TRUST IN HIM), that you may ABOUND (overflow) in hope by the power of the holy spirit." I came across it and said Lord, that is what I want to have your JOY and PEACE at all times... regardless of circumstances... because I have seen firsthand how quickly they can change and how little control I really have over any of it... I also thought Lord, Christyn (human, selfish) in my own strength cannot overflow with joy when it hurts to get out of bed and walk to make my coffee to help me face the day... but this verse told me something different...I CAN, by the power of the Holy Spirit... So I claimed it right then. I have prayed it many of days and especially on the rough days... and it's amazing how the Lord wants to fill us with his joy and peace if we will only claim it... no matter WHAT trials we face... So, oh my, how God answered my every prayer... He totally not only gave me strength and many good days in between the hard ones... but I LOVED this summer... I loved lazy mornings with the boys instead of rushing to the gym first thing as I once did... I loved doing my stretches on the living room floor while they bounced the ball and themselves around me and we chatted endlessly.. I loved how they were so patient to allow me to do my little stretching routine before I was able to get moving... I loved our long days at the pool together and trying lots of new recipes with them at my side... I loved watching my boys play ball with Jay so many nights. I slowed down and soaked them in, oh how thankful I am to a God who enabled me to do this... And amidst having some rough days, overall I am doing so much better physically. Here are the small things I praise God for that I've been able to do in the last month or so... -SIT and cuddle on the couch with my boys rather than needing to lay down while they cuddle with Jay at night... -SIT through jenga games pain free with each of them, rather than laying down or sitting through the pain.. -REACH and PAINT my toe nails without pure torture... -WEAR flat, non supportive CUTE shoes with my skinny jeans rather than my bulky super not so stylish rainbows... SUPER YAY!!! -DRIVE on 2 road trips, riding alone used to be hard but I could recline... driving was a different story... but I drove to and from COLA and HILTON HEAD ALONE with minimal pain, praise GOD for that... -Spent 4 days ALONE with my boys at the beach and had the most wonderful time, never would have thought it would be possible for me at the beginning of the summer... Have been able to walk several times a week on my treadmill 20-30 minutes... once that was NOTHING to me, but now it is SUCH an awesome workout for me :) I was told this may be the way things would be forever, sought so many opinions, to no avail... I finally came to a point at the end of the road and gave this battle to the Lord. I also had to learn and did learn, that regardless of the outcome, HE IS GOOD... and He would provide... He was giving me the best thing possible for my life at the time, and He alone knows what I need most, so I trust HIM. And I have to say that from that point on, things have only gotten better... He is SO GOOD... He wants us to trust HIM and HIM ALONE. Anyhow, THANK YOU LORD for the small stuff! I am so thankful for the healing you've given me and trust you for more to come! Romans 8:18 "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly awaits with anticipation God's sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility (that means a sense of no purpose, or lack of usefulness, which I definitely have experienced in the past 2 years) and not willingly-but because of HIM who subjected it in the HOPE that the creation itself will also be SET FREE from the bondage of corruption into the glorious FREEDOM of God's children... One more verse I came across that made me say, WOW... this is the story of this experience... Pre pain-I was in bondage of feeling I wanted to look/be physically a certain way, an issue I had struggled with for years...It overtook me and though I loved the Lord, I could not serve Him or be the light for HIM that I should be when I was always focused and worried about myself. I am FREED of this, I can now use my energy to focus on what's most important, MY GOD, and my family and sharing as much with others as I can about the one and only TRUE God!

Easter 2012

Better late than never! Here are some pics from Easter at Nanny and Grandaddy's... My boys were SO handsome this year if I do say so myself!

Letter from Jayce's 7th Bday -3/31/12

Wow, I JUST realized how behind I really am... I had typed this bday letter to Jayce on his bday (good for me), but never got it onto the blog... so here it is and maybe one day I can catch up on my pics too :) March 31,

2012 Dear Jayce, You are seven today, and I CANNOT believe it! I know I say this every year, but I can remember you being born just as if it were yesterday… Wow, how God has blessed us with you. You are a natural born leader Jayce. You love to “lead” the other kids playing in the backyard, as I hear you so often say “Come on guys, let’s do this/that…” You have inherited this from your daddy! I pray every day that the Lord will use this skill in your life to glorify Him. One day you could do much for Him with this, if you are obedient . You are a tough little guy when it comes to the boys, but you have a very tender side to you. You love your mommy and in fact, 2 days ago, on your knees with the plush rose you picked out for me from Target a year ago, asked me to marry you. It was the sweetest thing ever! Also, while playing in the yard yesterday, you made me a cross with 2 limbs and a piece of tape and brought it to me beaming, “I have something for you momma…’I think both of these instances I cried those happy tears that I tell you mommy only cries when I’m super happy. Just recently Jayce, mommy has discovered your “love language.” There are days that we have struggled, many children do to remember who God designed to be in charge… the parents  I’ve tried many things with you to show you my love and hope you see God’s through me… and in return want to honor us as He commands. None has worked quite so well as spending simple quality time with you (no cell phone, no laundry, no distractions)… We have always spent lots of time together, but I’m talking about a daily period of undivided attention from mommy or daddy. This is a challenge with little brother around, but we have found ways to make it work and my how it does seem to make all the difference! When your needs for love are being met, you are a different child than when they’re not. Mommy is sorry that for years, I’ve missed that. But, it’s taken me a while to figure it out, and now I pray this is what continues to strengthen our relationship, as it’s a blessing to me just as much. Just this past week, we’ve had time on the back porch drinking root beer floats, spent time together eating a popsicle, went on a special date to Mellow Mushroom… Yes, all of these have involved food, as you do LOVE to eat! But the key is, special time where all my attention is on you. Your daddy just took you to a PC baseball game against Liberty where you and he had the whole day together! This seems to be what you love, and again we love these special times just as much! You are doing super in first grade and have made President’s List each 9 weeks, with all A’s! We are SO PROUD of you! You learn so quickly and are constantly teaching mommy things I did not know, or had forgotten since my school days  You are playing baseball and doing great! You hit the ball really well and are now playing catcher, which you seem to really enjoy! We love to watch you play and are SO proud of you! Jayce, a few days ago, you told me that there is a certain song you sing in school that makes you cry every time you sing it… it is “Amazing Grace.” We were singing it together and you told me that the part you cry each time is “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” You asked me why, I said that I believe that Jesus is speaking to you and the Holy Spirit is working in your heart. I know the Lord is doing some amazing things in your life buddy, and how honored I am that he’s chosen me to be your mother! I pray for you each and every day, and as long as I have breath, I will continue  I love you sweet boy, and am honored the Lord chose me to have the awesome privilege to teach you about Him (Ephesians 3:14-20). Love, Mommy

Letter from Jayce's 7th Bday -3/31/12

Wow, I JUST realized how behind I really am... I had typed this bday letter to Jayce on his bday (good for me), but never got it onto the blog... so here it is and maybe one day I can catch up on my pics too :) March 31, 2012 Dear Jayce, You are seven today, and I CANNOT believe it! I know I say this every year, but I can remember you being born just as if it were yesterday… Wow, how God has blessed us with you. You are a natural born leader Jayce. You love to “lead” the other kids playing in the backyard, as I hear you so often say “Come on guys, let’s do this/that…” You have inherited this from your daddy! I pray every day that the Lord will use this skill in your life to glorify Him. One day you could do much for Him with this, if you are obedient . You are a tough little guy when it comes to the boys, but you have a very tender side to you. You love your mommy and in fact, 2 days ago, on your knees with the plush rose you picked out for me from Target a year ago, asked me to marry you. It was the sweetest thing ever! Also, while playing in the yard yesterday, you made me a cross with 2 limbs and a piece of tape and brought it to me beaming, “I have something for you momma…’I think both of these instances I cried those happy tears that I tell you mommy only cries when I’m super happy. Just recently Jayce, mommy has discovered your “love language.” There are days that we have struggled, many children do to remember who God designed to be in charge… the parents  I’ve tried many things with you to show you my love and hope you see God’s through me… and in return want to honor us as He commands. None has worked quite so well as spending simple quality time with you (no cell phone, no laundry, no distractions)… We have always spent lots of time together, but I’m talking about a daily period of undivided attention from mommy or daddy. This is a challenge with little brother around, but we have found ways to make it work and my how it does seem to make all the difference! When your needs for love are being met, you are a different child than when they’re not. Mommy is sorry that for years, I’ve missed that. But, it’s taken me a while to figure it out, and now I pray this is what continues to strengthen our relationship, as it’s a blessing to me just as much. Just this past week, we’ve had time on the back porch drinking root beer floats, spent time together eating a popsicle, went on a special date to Mellow Mushroom… Yes, all of these have involved food, as you do LOVE to eat! But the key is, special time where all my attention is on you. Your daddy just took you to a PC baseball game against Liberty where you and he had the whole day together! This seems to be what you love, and again we love these special times just as much! You are doing super in first grade and have made President’s List each 9 weeks, with all A’s! We are SO PROUD of you! You learn so quickly and are constantly teaching mommy things I did not know, or had forgotten since my school days  You are playing baseball and doing great! You hit the ball really well and are now playing catcher, which you seem to really enjoy! We love to watch you play and are SO proud of you! Jayce, a few days ago, you told me that there is a certain song you sing in school that makes you cry every time you sing it… it is “Amazing Grace.” We were singing it together and you told me that the part you cry each time is “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” You asked me why, I said that I believe that Jesus is speaking to you and the Holy Spirit is working in your heart. I know the Lord is doing some amazing things in your life buddy, and how honored I am that he’s chosen me to be your mother! I pray for you each and every day, and as long as I have breath, I will continue  I love you sweet boy, and am honored the Lord chose me to have the awesome privilege to teach you about Him (Ephesians 3:14-20). Love, Mommy

Happy 5th Birthday Sweet Gabe

Really Gabe? 5? Can it be? I keep telling you to please stay just like you are forever and you just say "momma I wish I could but I have to keep growing up!" I guess you're right but I don't like it one bit! This year we had another pool party for you with your buddies and it was a blast! It was the night before your bday so on your actual bday we had a special bday dinner per your request... egg casserole and jelly toast, with ice cream for dessert... We gave you your gift which was a big boy bike... pictured here and I think it's safe to say you liked it! These are the things I love about you most right now... Your crazy hair when you wake up, your sweet smile when you see me first thing in the am, the way you call for me any time I'm not in sight (it also can sometimes get a little aggravating but deep down I love it)..., the way you stare in the mirror and make funny expressions, the way you tell me over and over how much you like something I make when you really like it, the way you raise your eyebrows up and down and up and down to make me laugh, the way you still suck your thumb and rub your ear when you're tired... btw, that is our resolution for this year of life, to say goodbye to that ole habit...The way you love Life cereal, cheese, and egg casserole... and yep folks that's about it! And of course, the way you cannot stand to be without your sidekick, Jayce... as much as you fight these days, you really do love each other... You are absolutely an entertainer, you love to be the center of attention and really love to imitate others and get a laugh from us! You love to dance and when you do your true colors show, you are DEFINITELY white! You are still my little singing boy and sing all throughout the day! I LOVE LOVE LOVE you Gabriel Taylor and cannot imagine our lives without you! I want to always remember you at this age and seriously would freeze you right here if I could! Although I look forward to seeing how you grow this year :) Mommy

MY SCRIPTURE PRAYER FOR MY BOYS

So I'm reading this morning in my quiet time and found THE PERFECT WORDS to describe exactly what I desire for my boys... I try to explain to Jay often that I have such a desire to teach my boys of God's love for them... I do not want them to feel that He's a set of rules and regulations, as I think so often can be the case when He's misunderstood. And with children, we have to have rules, yet I want them to do certain things because they LOVE Him, not because it's a rule, so it's a hard balance. The Lord's love is so amazing and full of grace for us, as imperfect humans. Yet, I believe that when one really grasps it, how great His Love is for us, they will have a desire and want to do things that please Him... Just like how we love our kids and want to do good things for them..., that's how our love should be for the Lord... I've found so much freedom in personally experiencing the difference it makes when I do things for the Lord not out of duty then when I do them because I WANT to honor Him because I LOVE Him!

I just thought this passage sums up what I want for them and I wanted to share it with any of you who may not have seen it before...it JUMPED out at me today!

Ephesians 3:14-20
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. That He would grant you (Jayce and Gabe), according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in their inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts (in the hearts of Jayce and Gabe) through faith, that you (Jayce and Gabe), being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you (Jayce and Gabe) may be filled with all the fullness of God."

and when it's a rough day and I am wondering if my prayers are ever going to make a difference, I'll remind myself

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Update

SO, my lumbar MRI came out clean, other than scoliosis, which we already knew I had, and uneven leg lengths... again already knew this...
HOWEVER, we finally have a good possibility as to what it might be, the SI joint appears to be dysfunctional, which is below the bottom vertebrae of the spine that connects the spine to the tailbone... There is no way to see this on screen in xrays or MRI's as it doesn't show up there. But, the symptoms I have are supposedly very similar to it and it causes radiating pain into the lower back and down the leg on one side... They've given me a steroid injection into the joint and I'm unable to tell yet if that will bring relief... They are able to do more later, although I'm hoping to be able to find some exercises to strengthen and correct the actual problem instead of having to continue to take these... but one day at a time... I'm hopeful they have indeed pinpointed the issue and at least now we now what we're dealing with. If it is this, from what I can tell, it can be a chronic problem for many, yet some have had success in getting it to a manageable point, with less pain, and moderate activity... I'm praying for the latter... or better yet, the Lord will heal my body totally of this if it's part of His plan for me.

In Christ Alone Worship Video with Lyrics

STAY STRONG NEWSBOYS...

BEWARE:Long post but PLEASE READ THIS!!!

February 23, 2012
I had this song in my head this morning... Little did I know that so many of the verses I've been dwelling on the past two years would be all throughout the video, now I love it even more!

I'm headed to the Southeastern Spine Center this am for a consultation... For those of you who don't know, I've been dealing with chronic leg/back pain for the past 2 years that has been life changing to say the least...It began with a pulled hamstring that just never seemed to heal right, followed by me lifting a heavy box of tiles and injuring my back to being in a wreck several months later... The symptoms began in my leg, then worked down to my toes on the left side with a strange numbness and tingling sensation. They have now turned more painful in the leg and back. I cannot sit for long periods due to pain in my back, but cannot walk without my leg hurting...It's quite a dilemna... The times I feel best are flat on my back which is certainly no way to be throughout the day, nor would it be possible for me to remain there with my 2 active boys! I say this not for a pity party but because the Lord has impressed it upon my heart to share my story- however, whenever I can, to be used to glorify Him.

Am I dying? Well, yes, we all are but as of now, I have not received a life threatening diagnosis... Yet, I have lost my "Life" as I knew it..Please do not misunderstand, things could be oh so much worse and I am blessed beyond measure... but here's the deal...my story, and I want to share it for anyone who may need to hear it right now...

A little background, for the past nearly 20 years I'd been a very active person, many times too active... Many times too obsessed with the hours I was working out and the amount of calories I was burning that the truly important things in life were placed on the backburner to my selfishness, my pride, my agenda... I always said 2 things I could not live without each day were Jesus through being in His Word and my workout... Well the Lord has shown me firsthand I was wrong and there should be and only is one FIRST LOVE for me... and that is my Jesus!

At the time of my initial leg injury, I was running 30 miles per week, working out 2 hours per day... I do not say this to boast as looking back, what an IDIOT!!! But, to show you that God has taken me from MUCH to LITTLE in the area I'd made an idol in my life... Not that being fit is a bad thing it's great, but I loved it too much and He wanted me to love HIM most and first and I have learned to do just that. I praise Him for stopping me from the meaningless path I was on. Presently, I am unable to walk my block or even my street some days without feeling pain in my legs and having to go very slowly as my 6 year old innocently yells "Come on mom, you're so slow... can't you keep up?" How hard and how humbling to hear...I smile and tell him "mommy used to be pretty fast and one day in Heaven mommy will be running again, I can keep up with you then if I'm not healed before... But how hard, and how much it hurts now...I watch the families on walks on Sunday afternoons, and the girl jogging and want so badly to feel that again...It hurts to know I cannot sit through a movie anymore with them, I worry whether I can do a zoo field trip with Jayce in a few months due to all the walking/riding... my dream is Disney and to take both my boys as Gabe has never been but right now, riding that long and walking that much seems out of the question... Never in a million years did I think that at 33 year of age, my life would change so drastically... I was the fit mama pushing the double stroller around the block each day... now I need someone pushing me...what's happened to my body?

February 26th
What do the doctors say is always the first question? Well, I've been around the block here in Florence, from family, to orthapaedics, to neurologist, chiropractors, pts, acupuncture, and finally just to a spine specialist in Charleston... Thus far, no one can tell me exactly why this is happening and what I can expect my future to look like, let alone how to treat it... The not knowing might be the hardest part...

For those who know me, you know how I LOVED my workout and being active... For those who don't or don't love it yourselves you may not understand that... At first it was hard to hear I would never run again and would need to stick to low impact... As time has progressed, I've had to learn I may not ever be able to workout again, even harder... Things have worsened in the last two years as I've grown slower and stiffer with time...

Now, what's hard to comprehend is whether I'll continue to lose even more ability and be able to take care of my home and my family...You can all relate to how scary that could be... As my precious mother reminds me "I think Jesus would say don't go there Christyn... one day at a time and trust HIM. So while I have my moments, I come back to HIM and His Peace.

Matthew 6:25-26, 33
"Do not worry about your own life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your BODY, what you will put on. Is not LIFE MORE THAN FOOD and the body more than the clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM.
33 "For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness and all these things shall be added to you."

So that's what I do... I seek Him first. I trust in HIM. I NEED HIM as never before. I loved Jesus before but I truly DEPEND on HIM for the strength to roll out of bed many of days... I depend on HIM to keep going although I don't know where I"m going in this life... PRAISE GOD I still can have joy and peace in the midst of this trial because I know where I'm going for eternity and in this life my job is to point others to Him however I can while I can.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." The peace that comes from the Lord, surpasses all worldy understanding. Only those who KNOW the Lord and have a relationship with Him know this true peace. This peace says regardless of life's circumstances I can rest because I have a God who's plans are bigger than mine... who sees the big picture and how it's all going to play out, even when I can't... He asks me to trust HIM and I will because John 14:26 "the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." The Holy Spirit does just this for me, he brings to my remembrance God's precious words that I read each morning at JUST the right time...

Update:
Many unknowns still remain... The spine specialist ran another lumbar spine MRI Thursday and we ride back there tomorrow to receive the results. We pray for answers and for wisdom for the doctors. Please pray with us if you read this...But regardless, GOD IS GOD and I am NOT (love that song too). I still pray for healing if it should be the Lords will for my life and strength as I await His answer...

So why do I share this LONG drawn out story?
2 reasons-
For one to say, please be thankful for your blessings...I only say this because I was not... I thought I was but I have learned that I took so much for granted before I began to lose those things I thought would never leave me, at least not until I was a senior citizen :)
But now, not a day goes by that I don't thank the good Lord for what I CAN still do and my precious family and on the list goes on and on... may I never again take his blessings on my life for granted...

Two,
We all have hard times, this is my story but what is yours? I know you have one...Whatever it is, please know that there is a God up there whether you know Him now or do not who LONGS to be your all, your everything... He MADE you, He LOVES you, He's died for you, He pursues you, He's waited for you if you have not yet come to HIM, and ya'll He is what matters...
He has been and will remain my Rock (my strength when I am weak), Redeemer (the one who's saved me when I could not save myself), my Hope (when all seems lost), my Anchor (when I am shaken by the storm), my Compass (when I am not sure which direction to go), mainly my FRIEND and MY SAVIOR.

If you do not know Him, please come to Him. He is the only one who will never change, who will never let you down. He endures forever! As I'm learning in a Bible study on 1 Peter... "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flowers fall away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever!" He's waiting, just tell Him you're ready to accept His gift. He's paid the price, died on the cross and provided a way for us all to spend eternity with Him, all you have to do is acknowledge there's nothing you can do to get there on your own.. It's all His Grace, just accept it and begin a life worth living for! Get into the Bible and find out what true treasure is...it will sustain you through the tough times.

One last passage that has been such an encouragement to me and I hope to you in your own trials:
I Peter 1:6 -9 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuiness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love, though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls."

Lastly, I read to my boys tonight about Jonah and how he ran from what the Lord has wanted him to do. The Lord has wanted me to share this story, somehow, somewhere, and I"ve run for a while now... Lord, I'm not one to post alot on FB, I don't want it to sound like I"m complaining, or self-centered.... so make no mistake about it, what I've posted is not to be used for those reasons, but to glorify my Lord Jesus Christ. I will answer to Him one day and He will ask me, What did you do with the opportunities I gave you, above all else, I want to hear "well done, my good and faithful servant." I can and will use this trial as opportunity to share my faith in Him with anyone who will listen.... So I'm done being Jonah and running, I'm all His, I pray you will be too... Please contact me if you have any questions about how you can be :)

There is still one race I'm running, run it with me...
Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnare us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the AUTHOR AND FINISHER of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Loving Summer

Here are a ton of pictures from the end of the school year to current... Jayce's 5k graduation and Gabe's 3k end of year program, and lots of summer fun (in no particular order as always) :)
We are having the most wonderful summer ever... No structure whatsoever, no alarm clocks, no camps, nowhere to be other than church and a few playdates here and there..., it's great! So what do we do? RELAX!!! We wear our bathing suits almost all day long, I've finally learned that trick after years of washing 3 outfits a day for the boys in the summer... just dress them in them in the morning and keep the suits on unless we're going somewhere! They'll dry out! We love going to Nanny's pool and the summer dollar movies, and we've even taken several road trips to mimi's and the beach! My boys have gotten so much easier this summer! All the sudden we can go to Sunday lunch and ENJOY eating out with them, sit through a movie, travel without fits (most of the time), and pool time is enjoyable rather than nervewrecking! Love my boys at this age!!! Not that have not loved their other ages but it's just fun to be able to do the things I had gotten used to just not doing for a few years... a whole new world with them at this stage it seems!
Gabe's fits are becoming fewer and further apart... and we have definitely made improvement in that department...
They tell Jay and I all the time how much they love us and that we are the "best mommy/daddy ever..." They've learned we like to hear that :)

A few updates:
Jayce lost his first tooth while we were at the beach with our good friends the week after school got out!
Jayce learned to ride his big boy bike the Saturday after it got out!
He is swimming great without swimmies or floaties!
Both boys are really enjoying golf with daddy on summer evenings!
Gabe is very excited about turning 4 in a month, much more excited than his mommy is about it!

doing something right

So after Spring Break, a field trip to pick strawberries yesterday and a parent teacher conference today, I feel like I'm getting a small dose of what this summer will bring... I'm sleeping great, let's put it that way, and that's huge for me! Having 2 non napping, full speed ahead little boys requires some energy for sure, but I am loving their ages MOST of the time... I love when they are playing together, and I overhear little conversations, they don't know I"m watching... Today after hearing Gabe say he'd hurt his leg and had another boo boo (which he literally is covered... another boy thing), I heard him say "Dear Jesus, can you please make this boo boo go away?" Then he turned around and said "Mom, Jesus said that he's going to make my boo boos go away now." I LOVE that he's doing on his own what I've tried to do with him so many times... something is clicking!

Then later, on a not so great note, Gabe had to give up his t ball practice tonight because he did something I'd told him 2 times not to do already that day and the next consequence was to lose tball... well he had to test, so he lost it...Mind you this was going to be my first break at home in almost 2 weeks and I was desperately looking forward to a quiet house for an hour but gotta do the right thing... He starts having a throw down fit and if you've never seen Gabe throw a fit, it is something... really is... He is literally a crazy boy when it's happening, he's jumping, screaming, running in circles... repeating again and again "I want to go to t ball..." It lasts anywhere from 10-30 usually if at home... If out, from the time we get him in the car until we reach home usually...If at home, I try my best to remain calm and pray out loud while he can hear me "Dear Jesus, please help ME remain calm and help Gabe know that he cannot act this way and that it hurts you and mommy for him to do this, etc..." This is something I started doing a while back after realizing we are supposed to pray to the Lord about ANYTHING that is a problem to us, to bring it to Him.. and after losing my temper and way too many times, I realized prayer could be good for both of us... I then continue to pray quietly and busy myself until he's done...I believe in spanking and time out for certain things but when Gabe is having these... with my recent physical issues with back and leg, I'm just not willing to risk hurting myself worse by trying to constrain him or carry him to his room.. he's a big boy and it's literally dangerous for him to flail around in my arms while he's doing this.. so I just walk away and try my best to pretend there is not a crazy 3 year old in my midst! Eventually, he stops, and returns to sweet Gabe where he says he's sorry and wants hugs... crazy....And it's amazing how when I've spent time with the Lord that day, he will give me a peace as I go through it, to remember, it is a phase and just continue to pray that God will help Gabe love HIM and want to please HIM, children obey your parents :)

In any case, he was balling when Jay picked up Jayce for practice... I knew it would definitely make a mark so that's good...But sweet Jayce saw his brother so sad and I saw him start to wipe under his eyes, he said "Now let's wipe these tears off your face little bro, you got to smile for me..." then he started to make silly faces to make him laugh...

It was here, after the craziness of the fit, the frustration that we had yet ANOTHER one just when things started to seem to be better... that I realized, I'm doing something right... Jayce is the sweetest big brother to Gabe and was so trying to cheer him up... and Gabe, he got it and is ready to play Thursday... assuming no fits between now and then... I love them fits and all, this too shall pass...

Happy 6th Birthday Jayce

Dear Jayce,
You are 6 years old today and I CANNOT believe how time has flown by! We pulled out the baby book tonight and it truly seems like only yesterday we brought you home!
You actually looked a year older to me this morning when you came downstairs, you have hit a growth spurt and are super tall and even are losing some of that belly! You're the tallest on your t ball team this year!

You chose tonight to have a small bday family party with only your nanny and grandaddy and mimi and papa, because you said you wanted to "be with the ones you really love on your bday." This was precious and this is so much of why I love you!
You have the most tender heart in the world, you cry every time your mimi and papa leave to head back to Columbia.. you love them that much! You love your family so much! Today you said you were moving to Virginia as soon as you were 27 to live with your cousins :)

I asked your favorite food today, you said candy... not surprising, then you said spaghetti if it had to be a real food... So for your dinner we had spaghetti and ice cream cake for dessert as you do not really care for real bday cake!

Today for lunch I brought you Zaxby's and balloons and we got to have a date at our own table in the lunchroom! You were so proud to hold up your rice krispy treat to show your friends! I left a big cookie for your class to enjoy at snack time and you were super excited about that! I loved the look I got when I came in with your treats! Like you were on top of the world and so proud it was your special day!

Jayce you are so much fun! When you are not here, mommy is not quite sure what to do because the house is SO QUIET! I am so thankful to have such a sweet, funny, talkative, caring, yet ALL BOY and strong willed little boy at that! I want you to use all of these characteristics to serve your Heavenly Father in any way you can throughout your life!

You love Jesus and to talk about him and are full of good questions about Him. You are loving kids choir right now!You are playing t ball this year with little brother on the team! Your best friend in school is Braden you said today... sometimes it varies... along with girlfriends...and girlfriends this year have been :Hallie, Marry Ella, Aleah, possibly now Melana, but you're being shy on this one...You're very funny talking about them, and tell me that sometimes you and your friends trade them and they've never even known they were your girlfriend in the first place :) Please don't be mad at mommy for writing this one day, it's really a cute story!

What mommy might love most about you right now is your adorable smile and laugh when you think something is really funny! I also love the way you raise your eyebrows and give a half smile and shake your head when your brother is being silly! Oh yea, and how much you love that brother! You said to him today, my best friend is someone sitting right here and gave him the biggest hug! He is so lucky to have you Jayce and I KNOW that you will always take good care of him :)

Happy Birthday Jaybird! We love you so much and I thank God each day for the little boy you've become and will become :)
Truly Blessed,
Your Mommy

still here...

So, it's been so long, I was afraid I'd forgotten how to log in... I've got so many pictures to update... Christmas, snow, etc...
Wanted to jot down a few things the boys have said lately that made me smile...

We are in a love/hate stage... they love each other to pieces, yet cannot be around one another 5 minutes without some type of disagreement... over a toy, whether Jayce needs to help Gabe or he can "do it myself" or sometimes just a real difference in opinion...For example..
Gabe said he wanted me to take him to the zoo to see the dinosaurs... Jayce said "Gabe, they do not live at the zoo, silly..." Gabe: "uh huh they do Jayce!"
Jayce: "Gabe, the dinosaurs all live in heaven now..."

They are growing all the sudden so much and I cannot tell you how many times people look at me in shock like "when did they get so big?" I ask myself the same question. I went to clean out Gabe's closet today after months of procrastination... knowing that this time, putting away the jon jons was not going to be as easy... With Jayce, I could simply move them over to Gabe's closet and still look at them on my other sweet boy... Now, sadly, I'm bagging them up for the attic or consignment sales...very sad :(... I looked at his closet full of big boy button downs and khakis and thought to myself how in the world did this happen so fast? His crib is finally stored away as we made the transition a few months ago to his big boy bed (which he's done amazingly well with)! And it's time to transition his room to a "big boy room." Wow... but I tell him every day, he will always be my baby and he says "uh huh, I'm yours and daddy's baby big boy!" Along with my sadness though, I feel very content with out little family of 4... A few months back, I asked the Lord to please change Jay's heart if it was his will for us to have more (as Jay was not interested) or to change mine... but most likely I thought he'd want to change Jay's :)... Well, to my surprise, he has not changed Jay's and has actually changed mine to being quite content as we are now... If the Lord surprises us later, I know that I'd feel differently but for now, I'm thinking this is as he wants us!

Gabe is actually obsessed with turning 4 and asks about every day "am I four yet?"
I must say though that I am enjoying the freedom that comes along with the older years... and I've decided the Lord works it out for the school years to begin just as nap time ends... that way mommy still gets a break :)

OH, Jayce got his first call from a girl about a month ago... what in the world? 5K? She also gave him a Valentine that said "I've got my eye on you!" Granted she's adorable and I love her but still, he's 5... really? A phone call?

Anyhow, that's a quick random update for now... I'll post pics soon, I have Jay's old computer and am trying to figure out the best way to post them on here :)

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Don't be too impressed, it has actually been 2 days of staying in bed with flu type stuff and a fever that prompted me to realize I could at least be productive enough to update our blog picture! I loved this one of Jayce tickling Gabe's feet because it SO captures them at this age and how much fun they have with each other!

And, yes, time to catch up... I love the fall... The boys and I did the Florence County Fair for their good buddy Wallace's bday, we met their buddies Landon, Owen and Ian. We had a fantastic time! As nasty as the fair is, I LOVE it, love the smell of elephant ears and funnel cakes, and most of all to watch their faces when they taste that first bite of cotton candy! This year, they got to ride together, which was super for mommy, who does not much like rides or the way I feel afterwards! Glad Gabe could help me out this year!

Also, are pics of Gabe's first field trip to McLeod Farms. We visited a pumpkin patch and he got to pick out his very own pumpkin, as well as sample their homeade peach ice cream! We had a great time! I LOVE field trips!

and Gabe wants to go too :)

We were singing one of Gabe's and my all time favorites, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!" Last verse, "Let it shine till Jesus comes, I'm gonna let it shine..." Gabe said, "Mommy, WHERE IS JESUS?" I said well, he is in Heaven. Gabe said, "Well, I wanna go see him tomorrow..." I said, "Well, he is really high up in the sky and you can't really just go on your own..." He said, I can climb up there ALL BY MYSELF!

How do I get to Heaven mommy?

So, for a 5 1/2 year old, Jayce has always been very intrigued with and in tune to the things of God. We have always talked about God together but only in the past few weeks has he really begun to ask me questions specifically about Heaven and how he can go.
The first conversation started after he was at church and we have this Christian Magician Mark who goes to our church and is kind of famous with the kids around town for doing bday parties and stuff... well, he had visited them on Sunday and did a trick with a deck of cards where he held out the King and kept getting rid of all the others (this is how Jayce explained it at least) and then he asked "Who is the King?" Jayce said the King was Jesus and that all the other Kings are false gods. He went on to say that all the people who believe in these false gods are not going to Heaven but to hell. Sounds harsh, but I confirmed that yes this is true. Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven (I am THE way, THE truth and THE light, no man cometh to the Father but through me...John 14:6)
Over the course of a few days, Jayce went on to ask me repeatedly if he was going to Heaven and about numerous other friends and family members and their status. I explained to him that God would cover with his grace any child who was not of age to understand how to make a choice about Jesus Christ. As for all the others, I said that only God really knew their hearts. I said of course that I hope so, and yes they will if they are saved.
He asked me what it means to be saved and how he could know for sure he was going? I explained to him that first he needs to realize that he is a sinner and did he know what that meant (for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God...Romans 3:23). He said "Yes, like when I do bad stuff....mommy, do you sin? does daddy?" "Yes, Jayce, we both sin, everyone does... Jesus is the only person who never sinned." I went on to explain that because we are so sinful, we deserve to go to hell. But the good thing is that when choose to be saved, we do not have to pay for our sin by spending an eternity in hell, but we our sins were payed for by Jesus' death on the cross, his blood covers our sins (But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...Romans 5:8). When we are saved, we get to spend eternity with Jesus Christ in Heaven. I explained that once we tell God we are sorry for our sins (That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved...Romans 10:9) and we want him to be our Savior, and come into our hearts and stay there that He will (For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved...Romans 10:13). And THEN, we can know for sure that we can go to Heaven. "Well mommy, so we don't deserve to go to Heaven?" "No baby, we don't, we deserve to go to Hell because our sins separate us from God but we can go to Heaven because of His sacrifice on the cross for us." "Well mommy, so Heaven is like a gift God gives us?" "Yes, I think you got it, it is a gift!" (...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ out Lord...Romans 6:23)

"Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do wrong things. I am sorry for my sin. I want to accept the gift you gave us by dying on the cross for my sins. I want you to come into my heart and I want to give my life to you." So mommy, (BIG SMILE)... "Jesus is in my heart now?" Yes baby, HUGE SMILE, Jesus is in your heart! "Well mommy, can Jesus be lots of places at once? Like in Heaven, and in my heart, and around the whole world?" "Yes, only Jesus can be all those places."

Now THIS is a moment I had to record asap so as never to forget all the precious details! THIS as I told Jayce, is what I've prayed for since he was a tiny tiny baby... as he said "even when I was as small as a worm?" Yes, even then!

Some may say Jayce is too young to truly understand this. I do not believe so. I know that for now, he may not be the most mature Christian in the world, but the seeds are planted and his Christian journey has begun. It is my hope and prayer that the seeds planted in his heart will remain throughout life no matter where he goes. I pray they will not only remain, but grow and grow into a life that shows his love for Jesus ("Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.")

First Day of School

Ok, so Gabe has started 3K half day... remember he did NO mother's morning out! So this is big! I am glad I've waited a few weeks to write just because I might have sounded like I was in a deep depression the first few.... or maybe just one.. it's actually really nice now. I do miss him alot BUT, I am loving having some quiet time in the mornings to work, run errands ALONE, clean out closets that have needed to be cleaned out for 3 years... and just kind of catch my breath after the last 3 years! And, I am SO ready to see them when I do get them! Jayce is in a full day now, which I DO NOT like... I really would love to have him with us from noon on, but that's not an option for 5K.. I miss my other little buddy at lunch but it is nice to have some 1:1 time with Gabe too!

It does help that Gabe LOVES school, he told me "mommy I love my school." His first words to Jay when he sat down at his table for orientation were "Daddy, the girls are so pretty here." I KNOW Jay had to have been just like him as a 3 year old...

Jayce is loving school too although he won't admit it... I just know because he would have TOLD Me if he did not like it, he told me that so much last year! He used to dread going and he seems to look forward to it now. He is making a + s! I am SO excited! Jayce has always been very real world smart but has not cared much for his school work... it's like something has clicked this year and he's really getting it, and he's so proud of himself, it makes me happy! He has had a green card every day for behavior except for one day of yellow for too much talking. We took away tv for the day and have not had a problem since, he loves his Backyardigans. So, we are off to a great start! Hope it continues ! Starting Upward football now so will have some cute pics to post soon I'm sure!

PS The little girl in the pics is Hallie... Jayce LOVES Hallie... don't be mad at me Jayce if you read this years down the road... he is very defensive about it... but he gets this look when he talks about her, he grins so big, gets really shy, and denies everything... but he loves to chase her at recess... and today told me he was her "guard" at recess, walking back and forth in front of her to make sure she didn't get away!

911

So, how embarrassing it was Saturday that I had a little fender bender... actually I hit a legally parked stationary car in the TJ Maxx parking lot... simply because I was paying absolutely no attention at all... The most embarrassing part however was that I had to call the police to come do a report and Jay brought the boys up there to meet me and talk to the police... Well, see, we are always telling Gabe that if he takes his straps off in his car seat we will take him to the police... So, the first thing he says when he sees me is "Mommy, is that police man gonna take you to jail? Well, I won't let him!" I explained that no, I just had an accident and he wouldn't take me to jail for that... I kind of thought he was over it and then today, during a prayer he wanted to pray for his teacher... it went like this "Dear Jesus, Thank you for Mrs. Thompson, please help her feel better, and I pray for 911, that they won't take my mommy to jail and that she won't get in another wreck, in Jesus name I pray amen." So, I have scarred him for life I think!

However,the other reason I am writing this is I am so impressed with his prayer ! Not only did he pray for Mrs. Thompson to feel better, he started with thankfulness for her! That is how God wants us to come to him, with praise and thanks for who He is and all He has done for us. The lessons learned from a 3 year old are truly priceless.