Auntie Kendra

A few months ago my sister Kendra came to stay with us. Why??? Because my kids are awesome and she needed to be with them 24/7...lol something like that. 

I have had a wonderful time with her here. She is easy going and loves to do dishes. Ok maybe she doesn't love them but she always does them with a smile and never complains. She puts up with my moods (and Joes too) and loves our kids. She alway has a hug and a kiss to share with them. I have even grown to somewhat, enjoy her hairy child Charley. He brings lots of energy to the house and my dogs love to chase him around.

She has helped me make it though many grocery store trips and survive errand running. She has taken both kids when I needed a break or a shower. 

I'm not good at sharing my space as I like things in my house my way. But she has always been gracious to me and done it my way even if her way was better. 

I love that she helps me remember the funny things the kids do and say like

"Kenra got dis butt"(; things I don't always catch or forget to enjoy because I'm so overwhelmed. 

Kendra I'm excited for you to have your own place and to have my basement back(; but I will miss you talking loud and waking up the kids... Or me. Mostly I will miss seeing you everyday. I love you.

Ps I need more pics of you with the kids(;

Sam summer loving

Just painting 

The Joy of The Lord

Wow it's been too long since I've posted, this means we have been busy.

 I could never have imagined( even if I could I didn't want to) how busy life is with 2 kids. From morning till night and then early morning again life is non stop. I sleep 2-4 hours a night and rarely sit down durning the day. I have learned new meaning to the phrase " multi tasking". I can cook, feed the baby, do the  dishes and entertain Sam all the same time. I struggle with staying hydrated,nourished  and sane. Many times throughout the day I repeat the Bible verse " the joy of The Lord is my strength". I can see daddy Bill with his big smile saying it. It keeps me in check and reminds me that every action is for God's glory. This is not a cop out phrase for me. I truly take God's promises to heart and seek to find joy in them. It really changes my mood. My day doesn't change. There are still tantrums, poop, vomit, dishes, dogs, sweat, peanut butter and more poop. But it gets my "wanter fixed" as my dad would say and helps to refocus my goals. 

There is truly a difference in working for Gods glory. It's not a fealy good thing. In fact it's much harder to button my lip, not scream at my dogs and be understanding with my children. But as soon as I yell, I open the door to more angry impatient thoughts which later lead to action. In choosing to find my joy in The Lord I set my heart and mind up for success. My day may flop like the bread I forgot to put yeast in today(lol) but it still had a wonderful flavor inside. Like my happy heart, even though my house stinks, I have poop on my shirt and I haven't showed in 3 days. My heart has a "delicious flavor of joy" when I choose to look to God for strength.  

Nehemiah 8 has a great example of this. Read Nehemiah 6-7 first to get the context for the passage then you will understand why the Israelites where charged to " make the joy of The Lord their strength". It's amazing to read these stories and watch them unfold in my life. 

More summer posts and pictures to follow. 

Here's some smiles for you