Snow Much Fun!

Our church started later today, so we were able to go out and enjoy the snow early today before anyone else was out. It was beautiful, peaceful, and not too cold. We enjoyed it even more today than yesterday. Graham's favorite thing was sledding down small hills while Wesley enjoyed pushing his truck around in the icy snow.

Tim took these photos. I thought they were artistic and creative. I also love the snow boots on Wesley. This pic will help me remember how cute he looked in them.

For those of you who asked...

Isn't it cute? I can't wait to see her in it.

Snow Day!

Snow came today and it's still falling tonight. My boys are having a hard time going to sleep because they are so excited about the snow. We'll be playing outside again tomorrow.
Our friends who live in our neighborhood and go to our church came over to play today since they were out of school and their mom needed to go to work. What fun we have together! Graham and Wesley just love it when they come over. I was excited to have them eat at our new kitchen table. It now can seat 6 people-so we have room for baby girl when she gets big enough to join us at the table. I told Tim we could really fit three kids on each bench, so technically we could have six kids someday. Ha! Only kidding.

Hope

I bought her a shirt today. I've tried to resist buying clothes for our daughter at this point because we don't know what age she will be when she comes home. Today, I couldn't resist. It was pink, it was cute, it had a bird on it, and it was a whopping $2.50. After I got home, I started to hang it in what will be her closet, and then I decided to hang it on the outside of the closet door...for all to see. Well, at least I can look at it often. It seems I, being a visual learner, need something to look at to remind me. I want to be reminded of the hope I felt today.

As it has this past month, my hope will wane at times. Yet, at other times, it will appear like the welcomed sunshine Wesley and I enjoyed today at the park. It will gently land on my heart as the beautiful cardinal outside of my window with it's breast all fluffed up to brace the winter's chill.

I have felt so encouraged after posting my last entry by my precious friends who have written me saying words like, "You are not alone", "I have felt the exact same way", and "I am praying for you". God knew what I needed to hear, and He has blessed me so much with friends who let me see their insecurities, their mess, and their fears.

Sometimes I think we can fall into the trap of thinking we have to have it all together. Everyone else does. We believe the lie that all the other moms know what they are doing and don't ever struggle with the feelings of doubt like we do. This week, I've been reminded that we are all in this crazy, broken world stumbling over each day just trying to do the best we can. Freedom exists when we let others see our flaws and our insecurities, and hope comes when we open ourselves up to others and are vulnerable enough to share our struggles.

I'm going to go look at the adorable shirt hanging on the closet door. I'm going to let myself feel excited knowing that there will be difficult days to come, life with three kids will not be easy, but I can do it because of God's wonderful and sufficient grace...and with a little help from my friends.

Sufficient

This last month has been rough, and I feel ragged. My two-year-old has stepped into his "terrible two's" complete with tantrums and melt-downs. He refuses to sit on the potty, answers a grumpy "no" to most questions, and has decided he hates baths. Mommy has wanted to have her own melt-downs.

And it's not just that...I have felt like this gray cloud has been following me every where I go. I, being a woman who doesn't cry that easily, has found myself several times on the verge of tears. I have felt overwhelmed and overburdened by the responsibility before me. At first, I thought it was the end of Christmas, the good-byes to loved ones who live too far away, and the cold weather that confines us to our house. Yet, we are back into our routine, the sunny has peaked out, the snow has melted, and I still feel "blah".

I think about our adoption, and again, I feel overwhelmed. The excitement I felt a few months ago has been replaced by anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. How can I do it? How can I mother three children when I feel so overwhelmed caring for two already?

I asked God these questions, and His reply, like so often times, was a gentle reassurance. He reminded me that His grace is sufficient for Today.

I woke up one morning to read this message in my devotional book, Jesus Lives, by Sarah Young:

My Grace is sufficient for you, but it's sufficiency is for one day at a time. That's why it is essential for you to learn how to live in the present. Your mind so easily slips into the future, where worries abound. You also spend way too much time analyzing the past. Meanwhile, splendors of the present moment parade before you, and you don't even notice. Part of the problem is your tendency to strive for self-sufficiency. I will help you learn to rest in My sufficiency, depending on Me more and more.

Be he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Brrrrrrr!

It's cold here, but we can't stay inside forever. Despite the frigid temperatures, we went to the park on several sunny days last week. My dad and his wife were here for a few days, and they bravely faced the cold with us, too. Graham and Grandpa even played tennis one afternoon.

A Day Trip to Chattanooga

One day this week, we drove to Chattanooga for a little family time in a city we love. The boys loved the hands-on children's museum, eating ice cream, and walking on the bridge.