Waffle Mornings

Paul has graciously made scratch waffles on Saturdays for the past few months. Lillian LOVES waffles and I appreciate sleeping in just a bit!

Homecoming Queen

I ran a few errands today with Lillian and I'm pretty sure she greeted everyone who came into our fly zone. The cashiers, the ladies shopping behind us, the gentleman in a wheelchair across the store, the construction workers we drove by on our way home...

Gomi Top 10

As I begin (granted I actually began over a month ago) to spring and baby cleanse our closets, drawers, baskets, pantry, etc. I have discovered there are a few products I am particularly thankful for during this season of life.

10.) Yoga Ball: It is marvelously handy to quickly do my workout then roll it away. And I haven't had to say goodbye to crunches yet thanks to this home tool.

9.) Wall Calendar: Whether pregnancy brain is a hormonal truth or a product of too much multi-tasking, I've got it! It helps to have a small wall calendar (complete with an adorable puppy for each month) in the kitchen where I can write anything and everything that might hold an inkling of importance.

8.) Mini Gumball Machine: When the candies are exchanged with brightly colored M&M's it accomplishes both tasks of potty reward and teaching basic colors. Yeah efficiency!

7.) Signing Time Videos: Let's face it! There are simply days when we need the little one(s) occupied while we vacuum, mop, think for a moment, and I'm a huge fan of special movie treats.

6.) Swiffer Products: I love the option of quick cleaning when you have a limited amount of time and a large order of tasks to be completed. I'm pretty sure they don't cut the deep cleaning standards but they're great when you need your home to be guest-ready in 15 minutes or less!

5.) Color Wonder Products: It might be cheating to have two items on the 'I need my child to focus on something other than destruction for 5 minutes' list, but a cheater I am.

4.) Spray N Wash Stain Remover: This stuff really gets everything out. I've used it on baby blow outs, dog stains, spaghetti, and cow poop and the stain(s) came out every time!

3.) Hoover Puppies: When the task of pulling out all my convenient swiffer products seems overwhelming, I opt for puppy suction. My kitchen floor is debris free and sparkling in a matter of moments! There is also the alleged side effect my three wonderful beasts have on my blood pressure.

2.) Extra Toothbrushes: Growing up my parents always had a stash of new toothbrushes. I must confess I found this practice rather odd, until I owned my own home and was solely responsible for it's upkeep. There are few things in my house that don't warrant a toothbrush scrubbing at least once in a while.

1.) Disinfecting Wipes: I am a child of this modern era, to be sure. I use these things for EVERYTHING...well, mostly everything. I have them in my diaper bag, underneath every sink, in my craft area, in various drawers around the house, in both vehicles, yada-yada-yada. There was no doubt they are my number 1 product!

Marvel

Sometimes I simply marvel at how similar Paul and Lillian look. I was studying this picture earlier and it's even more evident. Look at the shadow from the sun on their faces, the slight 'it's sunny' grimace on both their faces...

Beautiful Spring

A Mama Must Be Ever-Watchful

It's a little snug...
Maybe this will be a better fit...
Come on in Mercy!
Treasure Ho!

We've been looking for that Elmo sock!

And Then She Found the Water

We spent most of last week with Paul's family due to the unexpected death of Grandpa Gomez. It was a special (and exhausting) time of meat and potato meals, old family photos, and LOTS of bonding. Something we regularly do when we visit is drive the cart down to the wash near Paul's Parent's home and play in the river. Per her usual, Lillian was delighted with the expanse of water and the 'big splash' daddy made with rocks and while she did her best to imitate, her tosses only made Lillian size splashes. Thank goodness for cellphone camera's!

Consider A Recent Thought

I must confess that life as a Mother has created a luscious feeding ground for one of my greatest struggles in life. The all-too-simple word 'loneliness' has the power to constrict hearts at the mere mention of it's name and send many of us into socialization overdrive. I feel a person would be hard pressed to find many people in the world who cannot identify with the debilitating feelings of loneliness. But, please consider something with me for a moment. In my experience as a young lady, women, wife, mother, friend, teammate, etc. I have found my greatest strength has come in the time of deepest sense of seclusion. It has become, even more in recent years, my Alli, my spiritual thermometer of sorts, to re-examine my selfish sense of entitlement and remind me of the great and glorious riches of Christ my Savior and instill in my heart a renewed humility as a child of God. Loneliness is not a sin in and of itself but in my life it has led to many selfish endeavors or self licensing of poor character and action. The isolation I have battled over the years has provided fodder for an eating disorder, poor friendship and boyfriend choices, and family disputes and it has taken 27 years for the light bulb to click. I feel the most lonely when I have neglected my 'daily discipline' of knowing the Lord better. It may be through watery study, shallow and neglected prayer, or an alarming lack of reverence and understanding of Who my Lord Jesus is and who I am before Him. Loneliness ought not send us first to our calendars to reconfigure times to interact more often with others, or send us out on the town in search of companionship, or some other 'filler'. It should rather direct us to deeply consider what is making us feel alienated from friends, family or society. For me, the answer is consistently that I have forgotten, or chosen to ignore (either passively or aggressively), that I am a sinner in the worst way and the only thing of value in me is the Lord Jesus Christ. He has created character that matters, He has re-formed my heart to love in a way I was incapable of before, to pray with an earnestness that is not my own. When I feel lonely it is because I have examined my life with selfish eyes and feel I deserve better from friends, family, my husband, life. I haven't died to myself during that time and asked the Lord to give me fresh eyes to see my existence properly, as a sinner saved by grace, operating in a world of other sinners who need to see the Grace of God. When I have been honest before the Lord and allowed myself to be truthful about the depth of my own depravity in light of God's Holiness, I am simply grateful He has given me even more blessing and not destroyed me on the spot. It has been my recent challenge to see myself as a servant of God, deserving nothing (while still gaining so much), and having no selfish claim over my life, my time, my relationships, or my heart. This new gift of Grace in my life has given me a complete sense of freedom over lonesomeness.

I know that we live in world that survives under the burden of loneliness like a cloud. The pain of alienation runs so deep for so many that it's often overwhelming and drags many down into a cycle of depression and other self-destructive behaviors and patterns. The only lasting answer in the world is a relationship with Jesus Christ. He can give each person a peace, a calm, when the attack of loneliness looms overhead. If you can relate to my struggle I encourage you to examine your heart. Are you like me and allow loneliness to lead you into bad choices? or do you choose to allow the Lord to either fill that loneliness, or give you a peace in the midst of it? And through His process, The Lord will begin creating a deep sense of trust in a beautiful, fruitful relationship with Him.

***please forgive the many errors and incomplete thoughts in this post. I must confess that moments for deep thought blogging have been sparse the last few months but this was a lesson that the Lord has put before me in recent times and I was eager to share my personal revelation, albeit rushed and amateur.

It's A...

...baby!!! Yes, our Dr. did take a quick peek during our last appointment. And Yes, the baby was cooperative.