Day Eight: January 8, 2011

We had a quiet day at the house today. Nothing to do, no one to see, no where to go. The boys woke us up to their usual singing in the bed - I think this morning it was the theme song to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (It's the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, come inside, it's fun inside) I love listening to them sing that because they pronounce "house" with a little southern draw to it.

I am going to take a moment and be honest. Is that ok? Good!

The past few days I have felt like I have not had good mommy moments. My patience has been thin and I have been frustrated more often. It is not that the boys are being "bad" but they are just curious two year olds that are learning that they have more independence then they thought they did and they often bicker with each other. (And let's not forget that in the past 3 weeks we have moved states/houses/churches/friends and had two sets of family visited - I think that has a bit to do with it) I have had to have a "come to Jesus" time to get my self and attitude in check with what the Lord would require of my heart and actions in regards to my children, family, and home. He has been purging my heart on so many issues within my life and where my dependance is relying. I think I am a good mom but it is more important that I love my children and respond to them and teach them in a christlike manner then if I do "blanket time" or "quiet time" or any other organizational "method" that I based my "good mom" status on. Is that making sense?

In the study of Isaiah we looked at his warning to complacent woman and how on the outside they have "merry" homes but that is just counterfeit. Then you see the spirit move in and the "People live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest." It really convicted me as to what type of home am I displaying and then what type of home do I really have? Am I displaying a counterfeit home or a home that has the spirit alive in it? My prayer is that the Holy Spirit is among my home. The past few days, since I could sense frustration with me in my patience, I have just been praying that the Spirit would be in our home and that the Lord would be constantly sanctifying our family. I know that now, more then ever, we will be battling a war, not against flesh and blood, but against the evil one, and I pray that the Spirit would be constantly moving in our home and family - that our lives will be a genuine example of what the Gospel in the home looks like.

When Mike and I got married we chose songs in our wedding that meant something to us and that we wanted to be a testimony of our life and marriage. The opening song that we had sung was called Invade by Watermark. It is a song about Christ coming in and invading your life and your home. A theme we wanted in our wedding was that Christ would be the center of our home, that "depending upon Christ for strength and wisdom we commit ourselves to the establishment of a christian home." This song speaks of that:

Come, come in
Invade all You see of us
Any man, who'd walk Your road is welcomed here
And You're the only one

Chorus:
Jesus, come and walk the halls of this house
Tread this place and turn it inside out
With Your mercy...
Jesus, teach us the prayers that open these doors
Until Your light floods in and illuminates these floors
And let Your truth be on our steps and in these rooms
Jesus invade...

Reach, reach in
With the hand that heals all our suffering
Conquer all that is not of You
Bring Your spirit throught
As we fill these walls with Your praise

Bridge:
I call for angels
I call for mercy
I call for freedom
In the name of Jesus
In the name of Jesus

I loved that we had that song in our wedding and I have always wanted to get the words framed to hang in our hall! I have been singing that song the past few days and just asking the Lord to really be in our home!

Thanks for letting me be transparent for a bit :)

Anyhow, with all that said the past few days have been much better - I have been more patient and, has a friend from Montgomery has taught me, is trying to view those moments that may "interrupt" dishes (or any other task we may be doing) as teaching moments that the Lord has given us to help train our children!

Tonight the boys helped me make apple dumplings. By helping I mean they licked the apples when I asked them to dip it in the cinnamon and kept pinching the crescent rolls! Good thing I wasn't making them for guest :) (If so I wouldn't have shared that info on the world wide web) :)

Day #8: January 8. 2011

Aren't those smiles precious!

This is a cute video of Jeremiah. They have started to love the song "Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" and Jeremiah started doing the impression of the doctor during the song - it is too cute. Hope you enjoy the video - please excuse my singing and the towel on my head!