Isaac; Four Months.

Has four months really passed us by already? My wee baby boy has been such an easy addition to our family. He brings us laughter and lots of smiles. Sweet Isaac is growing fast, already eating cereal, rolling over from front to back, possibly teething with all that chewing and drool!, and almost sitting up on his own. I have cherished every moment we have with him, drinking up all these "baby days". He sleeps through the night in his own bed now and naps generously. He is so observant and loves to watch his big brothers; he cracks up at all their shenanigans. He completes our family and we are so blessed by this precious joyful boy.

This Morning.

My heart is flooded with thanks especially this morning.
…My giggling smiling baby boy, my loud crazy little boys with their laughter and energy and my hard-working loving husband with a heart so helpful and caring...Enveloped by family and friends who pray for us, with us and love abounds...you really cannot ask for more.
...Then there's my God, Oh! My Lord who so graciously gives us more anyway, just because He loves us so and longs to bless us.

Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 106:1

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

He determines the number of stars and calls them by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit. Psalm 147:4-5

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

~2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)


Did that REALLY just happen?!

My eyes scan the room and the wreckage that has become it. They meet little eyes, wide and shiny, is that a twinkle I see? Did I just catch a smirk? ...."Hi Mommy!" (sweetly smiling)
(Pause before reacting.) In my mind, a quick prayer, "Jesus help!"
Kneel down to their level. Look them in the eye. (What exactly would Jesus do? How would He react? What lesson can I teach here?) ...The sweet smile disappears. Tears flow. Crying ensues. Wailing even.
Any words would be lost.
Frustration is bubbling. Must.stay.calm. (Look at this mess! What were they thinking? They should know better by now! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!! ...but they're only two, no reasoning with a two year old. (sigh) okay remain calm.) ..."Look at mommy please. Stop crying. That was unacceptable behavior. You need to say you're sorry and help clean up."
There. I did it. I remained calm. I spoke calmly.
But, it doesn't end there. ..."NO! Mommy!!"
"If you don't clean up, you will go to timeout."
A full blown tantrum follows.
A momma exhausted, defeated. A lesson seems lost.


 
  Years ago, when I accepted Jesus into my heart, a journey began. Life was changed, renewed. I eventually learned that change would continue the rest of my earthly life. Over the years, it seemed as soon as I "settled" into something, God would change it. (Honestly, sometimes it felt as if He had pulled the rug right from underneath me!) And I would kick and scream and fight until I had no choice but to let God work. Because the alternative was unacceptable.

Present day. Motherhood. By far, the biggest life-change yet. And the most wondrous and hardest thing about it, it's a way of life, it's ever-changing, constantly growing. Just like my two-year-olds who are growing, learning, stretching, and constantly daring to test the powers-that-be. ...How much must I seem like that child when God is dealing with me?

As I stumble my way through motherhood, God, in all His amazing glory, has been speaking to my heart in new ways. Changing me once again.

For some time after I gave birth to our newest baby boy, I felt heavy emotionally. I kept telling myself it was hormones and soon enough, it would settle down and I could move on. When it didn't go away quick enough, I began to panic. What is wrong with me? Why am I not going back to normal?

.....What IS normal anyway? Why are we so determined to be "normal"? And how can I expect normal or the old way when all is new? There is new life in our house! Things will never be the same! Now a mother of three, a father of three, big brothers (not to mention a shift in birth order!), a baby brother, a family of five. We are all forever changed!

How many times in life have we expected the old, when we are made new?

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:3 (NLT)

Ps. 34:3 “O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.”