Discipline

I'm lacking discipline lately. I find that when I slack in one area, other areas suffer and it perpetuates my slack-i-ness.

Area 1: Devotions.
We are doing a great new Bible study on Thursday nights with our Oasis group. It's a Max Lucado study called "Experiencing the Heart of Jesus". I really gained a lot of knowledge and insight with the two chapters I've completed, but I have yet to finish last weeks. Why don't I hunger for God's word like I should? Total Depravity, yes. Putting other things first, yes. Playing Pathwords, yes. Excuses about being tired, yes. I know it's not about me trying harder - God's grace doesn't require me to try harder (thank you, Jesus!), but the hunger isn't there.

Area 2: Health & Fitness
I am trying to do Weight Watchers in order to get these last few baby pounds off. I started out strong the first 2 weeks and lost 3.5lbs. Last week I lost 1 and I'm pretty sure I'll be gaining this week. I really want to be healthy - not skinney. Why am I so motivated some days and not others? This truly does require me to try harder.

Area 3: Household
There are some weeks I feel like I have plenty of energy left at the end of working & taking care of Isaac, cooking and running errands, to still clean up around the house. The last 2 weeks have not left me any energy for this type of work. I finally tackled the dishes today, but the mounds of laundry in the basement completely cover my green shag carpeting. Isaac's toys are everywhere. Mail is all over the counter. Bills need to be sent out. How will this all get done before Thanksgiving? No clue.

Area 4: Being a good and godly wife
I have been incredibly critical of my husband lately. This is one of my greatest faults and it's one I am constantly fighting against. I say the first critical thing that I think, rather than thinking if it's worth saying, or if I'm right in thinking it in the first place. Example: Marc ran the dishwasher last week. Rather than say, "thank you babe - I really appreciate you running the dishwasher" I said something like "why didn't you fill it more? There is plenty of space left in there" and I got annoyed.

Marc is an incredibly wonderful husband. I don't tell him that enough, and I certainly don't show him my apprecaition enough. I have so much respect for him and for how hard he works. I wish I could lighten his load through these last few semesters.

So, any suggestions about how to become more disciplined? Prayers are always appreciated too.

One Word

TYPE ONLY 1 WORD... IT'S HARDER THAN YOU THINK!!!

1. Where is your cell phone? couch
2. Your significant other? couch
3. Your hair? messy
4. Your mother? giving
5. Your father? sacrificial
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? pathwords
8. Your dream/goal? debt-free
9. The room you're in: living
10. Your fear? alone
11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? anywhere
12. Where were you last night? home
13. What you're not? patient
14. Muffins? poppyseed
15. One of your wish list items? camera
16. Where did you grow up? g-rap
17. The last thing you did? email
18. What are you wearing? PJ's
19. Your TV? CABLE!!!
20. Your pet? Oslo
21.Your computer? red
22.Your life? busy
23. Your mood? tired
24. Missing someone? nope
25. Your car? garage
26. Something you're not wearing? earrings
27. Favorite Store? Navy
28. Your summer? fast
29. Your favorite color? green
30. When is the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? unsure
32. Who will/would re-post this? Kelly
33. FOUR PLACES I GO OVER AND OVER: a) Goodwill b) Biggby c) church d) parents 34. FOUR PEOPLE WHO E-MAIL ME: a) Kelly b) Al c) Kim d) Melissa
35. FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS: a) pizza b) potatoes c) mango d) salad
36. FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW? a) Hawaii b) cuddling c) Bed
d) Africa

Crazy, Crazy, Crazy for you baby (ies)

My very good friend, Kim, is having twin girls today. She went to the hospital at 9am for a C-section and I haven't heard ANYTHING yet! I'm going crazy. I check my gmail every 10 minutes. Facebook every 1/2 hour...ugh! I'm not a patient person when it comes to babies!

UPDATE: Lydia Mae and Eve Marie are both here and healthy! Both at 181/2 inches. Lydia at 5lbs 6oz and Eve at 4lbs 13oz.

All are doing well!

10 Months

Isaac the day he was born



Isaac at almost 10 months

Stepping into the future

Isaac stood in the middle of the living room this morning and took 2 steps with proud parents cheering him on from the couch. I had this immediate "uh-oh" feeling as I watched my almost 10 month old son try out this thing called 'walking'. It is so thrilling to watch your child learn a new skill and realize that somehow you are a part of that. It is also a little scary to think of what having this skill means. More chasing, more exhaustion, more curiousity...

I think about the future and the countless other skills Isaac will learn. What an honor to be a part of his life and his learning. I can go through so many days without realizing the weighty responsibility of being a parent, but today it hit me again. As Isaac begins to explore his world a little more, I want to encouarge his curious mind, but protect him from the things that can harm him. Right now, those things are pretty concrete - stairs, outlets, cords, our crazy swinging door, etc. As he gets older there is a line between protecting him and sheltering him that I imagine will sometimes be difficult to distinquish.

Rick & Scott were talking on the radio yesterday about media's influence on teenagers. A dad called in who only allows his children to listen to Christian or classical music and moniters what they watch like a hawk. If you know Marc, you know that the idea of Christian music only will NOT fly in our house. Nor would I want it to. There is so much more out there.

I once showed a brief clip of 'The Bourne Identity' in our high school youth group at Sunshine. I had a parent come in to yell and cry because her 15 year old son went out and watched the movie after seeing the clip. She didn't allow him to watch PG-13 movies, and this parent could not believe I would show a clip from that in youth group! It didnt' matter that I was relating Bournes lack of identity to our secure identity in Christ...I showed 4 minutes of a PG-13 movie! Granted, she has great kids, but um....sheltered much?

Anyhow, don't we believe that God is Sovereign and a God of redemption? There are redeeming qualities about "secular" music, movies, art, etc.

Marc I'm sure could say so much more about this, and much more thought out, but these are a few of my thoughts as I look at parenting Isaac as he grows.