Silly Faces

enjoying a little snuggletime with Daddy

Potato Prints and Pride Stompers

Let me start out this post by saying it was one of those days. You know the kind. One minute you feel like you are doing a pretty good job at this mom thing. You did a great art project with the kids, you let them play with playdough, or you cooked them a really fantastic meal that they eagerly devoured (How often does that happen?). Then, you find yourself with paint splattered everywhere, playdough ground into the carpet, or mud tracks on the floor you just cleaned. You hear the little one screaming because the bigger one pushed him down, or you've had to repeat yourself three times because they are chosing not to follow directions immediately. Ugh...it was one of those days for me. I tried to ignore the mud so the boys could have fun outside. I got out the paint so my oldest could do a fun craft. I even took a meal to a friend. But, I yelled...at my boys...both boys...and boy, did I yell. I didn't feel like such a great mom after that. In fact, I wanted to cry. I felt like a horrible mom.

After we all calmed down and were in the car, I apologized for yelling and told Graham that it wasn't right what I did. I told him that God still loves me, and I can pray to Him, tell Him I am sorry, and He will forgive me. Graham responded, "Do it right now, Mommy." So, I did. Aloud. Graham heard. And that is the beauty of the Gospel. God loves and forgives, and my son saw an example of that in his three-year-old world.

A wise woman spoke today at my church's Bible study about Gospel Parenting. She said living out the Gospel in front of our children is the most important thing we can do for them. It's the main thing...the one thing. Teaching our children the Gospel-our unworthiness meets His grace and we are forgiven and accepted is the One Thing that I am to be doing for the next 18 plus years. Better than creative crafts, clean houses, well-behaved children is the truth of the Gospel being played out in front of my kids. I want to live out the Gospel in front of my boys. I want to give myself grace when I mess up because God gives me His grace. I want to tell them I'm sorry, and I want them to see how we can approach the throne of Grace with confidence that He will forgive.

Graham knows he doesn't have a perfect mom. I want him to know he has an amazing Father.

after an art project-potato prints

Mud

Graham has a t-shirt that says, "Mud Likes Me". I think it's very true. One of his favorite things is to play outside in the mud and puddles. I'm very thankful for the washing machine.

Wesley seems to love the mud, too.

Valentine Program

Graham's school had a Valentine program in which the children sang songs about God's love. We were the proud parents up front sitting on the edge of our sits with our cameras in the air waving like maniacs at our boy. Well, now that I think about, every other parent around us was doing the same thing. It may just be preschool, but we were so proud. Oh, the fun has just begun!

Graham did great. He kept his eyes on the music teacher the entire time (except for a few moments in between songs when he looked out at the audience, found us, and waved). He stood tall and straight and still. He did a few of the motions at the end when he started relaxing a little. Did I mention we were proud? Daddy and Graham after the performance-uh, I mean program as Graham corrected us

Do you see him? In the middle with the plaid shirt on

Enjoying a Little Sunshine

Since the weather has been sunny and warmer, we've taken every opportunity to be outside. The first picture was taken at a beautiful state park in the middle of Nashville. Graham and his buddies from church, Hank and Sloan, had fun walking around the lake and finding sticks and piles of rock to climb on.

This one does not involve sunshine, but it is cute and I wanted to include it. Wesley, Graham, and I like to turn up the music and dance. Here's Wesley helping me put on a CD.

Graham has been asking to go to the zoo for quite some time. Today was a perfect day for a trip to the zoo. Both boys enjoyed seeing the animals and playing on the playground.

Prayers of a 3 year old

For the last few weeks, Graham wants to pray for Pastor Scott and emergency trucks during his bedtime prayers. He prays that the ambulances and fire trucks will get to the sick and hurting people and that the doctors and nurses in the hospitals can help the sick and hurting.

Tonight, he said he wanted to pray for his family. He prayed, "Lord, thank you for my family. For Mommy, Daddy, Wesley, me and Shelby. I love them all so much."

I love those precious moments with him. Thank you, God, for hearing his prayers. I know they are sweet to your ears.

The Need for Speed

Like father, like son...

On our way home from church on Sunday, we were getting on the interstate ramp and Graham starts saying, "Geese, Daddy, geese!" Tim and I looked at each other like, "What is he talking about?" Finally, I realized what he meant. He wanted Tim to goose it.

Too funny!