There’s a game that we play in our house called “Three Things.” It’s usually a game that I break out when we are having a hard day or struggling to get along. Each person gets to choose a family member and they have to tell them three things that they love about that person. Usually, by the time everyone has their turn, we are all feeling much better about ourselves and our relationships with each other. This game works great between the kids and has ended quite a few arguments.

Months ago, while we were playing the game we decided to draw the three things instead of just saying them. I had C’s name, so on a piece of paper I wrote the following three statements and included drawings to illustrate them.

1. C gives good hugs.
2. C loves Jesus
3. C is my best girl!

She loved the drawing so much, she asked me that evening to tape it to the wall next to her bed so that she could look at it. I happily obliged. And there it stayed for a long time… until we had an argument one evening and she ripped it off the wall, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it on the floor. When she finally came around, she picked it off the floor, smoothed it out, and asked me to hang it again. This has happened a couple of more times. This evening, after a particularly bad night, she came storming into the kitchen and handed me this note, written of all places on the back of that drawing…

So here’s the deal… this piece of paper is looking pretty rough. It’s been crumpled, stomped on, tossed, written on, and thrown… and tonight while she is sleeping, I will be hanging it again. Because I want her to remember those three things. I want her to open her eyes in the morning and see it, and remember that I love her. I love her when she’s angry, when she’s scared, when she wants to pick a fight. I love her when she is disobedient. I love her when she says she doesn’t love me. I love her in the happy moments and in the hard ones. I love her. I always will.

There are not a lot of pictures of us from when we were kids, and even fewer with my mother in them, so I treasure the ones that I have- glimpses into a past I can’t remember, but is no doubt ingrained in her. I’m incredibly grateful for the selfless, wonderful woman who raised my sister and I, often single handedly as my dad worked long hours. And now that I am grown and have children of my own, it is such a blessing for me to see how she loves them.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom! We love you!

We got home this afternoon, and after a brief rest, we decided to get out of the house. We remembered that there was a small carnival going on down at the boardwalk, so we decided to head down there and check it out. When we got there, we bought some tickets and took turns taking the kids on their very first roller coaster (it was a tiny one, but they loved it all the same.) As I stared at the kids, I realized that this was a perfect opportunity to build some memories. We’ve had a rough winter, and our kids missed out on a lot of activities. We’ve been bogged down with sickness and crazy schedules, that it seemed like maybe tonight would be a great chance to just forget about all of that and just have fun.

So Tim and I did something we NEVER do. We bought the older kids the bracelet passes that would get them on any ride all evening long. Tim bought one for himself as well because they were too small to go on some of the rides alone. We don’t normally spend that kind of money on an outing, but tonight it just seemed like the right thing to do for our family, an opportunity to relax and let go. And the kids enjoyed nearly every moment of it. Baby E was a bit challenging because he wanted to ride everything, but we compromised and let him ride the little train a few times, and then I let him walk around and splash in all the large puddles he could find. Sure, he was a mess, but it was a free activity and it kept him happy! As night was falling, we piled into the van and went to a local pizza place to end out our evening in grand style. Poor Big E fell asleep at the table, and Baby E scarfed down his pasta with a glazed over look in his eyes. Needless to say, they were all ready for bed when we got home!

We had the honor of attending a memorial service today for a woman that, combined with her husband, had a great impact on me and my husband when we were in our early twenties. Around the time I moved home from New York and was settling back into my life, these two stepped up and began to lead a young adult group at our church. They became deeply involved with our lives and we spent countless hours in their company. We learned a lot about friendship and what living a godly marriage looked like in real life. A few weeks ago she passed away, and today was her service. I was encouraged by the numerous people that came up and spoke about her, all talking about the kindness, generosity, and graciousness she had exhibited throughout her entire life, but one comment in particular stuck out at me.

She knew who she was in Christ. 

Wow, should I get to the end of my life and have someone proclaim such a testament of me! Could there have been a greater compliment? She knew who she was in Christ. From that knowledge and that confident assurance was able to flow the fruits of  a transformed life, a life that lived full even within its limitations. For to have your identity wrapped up in Christ, is to know that your foundation is secure, which affords complete freedom for joy and selflessness, irrespective of your circumstances.

She knew who she was in Christ, therefore others knew about Christ through her.

Well done, a life worth living.

I stood in complete denial as I held the thermometer in my hand. I stared at the numbers as if by sheer willpower I could make them descend, but they wouldn’t budge. 102.1- There was no sugar coating it, Big E had a fever. It was strange because he had spent the evening running around, eating everything in sight, and acting completely normal. It wasn’t until he crawled into bed that he started to complain about the headache. His face was a little red and his eyes looked exhausted. I gave him some tylenol and he slipped off to sleep.

This morning when he woke up I handed him the thermometer, holding my breathe and praying that last night had been fluke. It beeped and he handed it over… 99.5. Not great, but not bad. His head still hurt. I gave him more Tylenol and 10 minutes later he threw it up.

I’ll admit that after cleaning his throw up bowl (yes, he has one… and it has his name on it) I curled up on my bed and cried. It never ends, I whispered to the ceiling. It never ends.

I left early from work to take him to the doctor, and thankfully they saw him quickly. His fever was gone and much to my delight he was diagnosed with an ear infection. She said the cold he had been fighting for a few days had developed into the ear infection and she prescribed him some antibiotics and said he’d be much better very soon. I actually smiled, no, I grinned. I was downright giddy. I laughed inside thinking that a year ago the diagnosis of an ear infection might have caused me at least a small amount of consternation, but after the winter we have had, it was music to my ears. Finally a sickness with a simple, quick solution. It was like we had hit the medical jackpot!!

So, Big E can add ear infection to his 2017 medical list- three stomach bugs, two bouts of the flu, strep throat, and an injured foot!!

This kid is handsome!

It’s 8 pm and I’m already laying in bed. I got the kids down early this evening, started a load of laundry and dishes and headed upstairs. An early bedtime like this only happens a couple times a year, but when it does I’ve learned to embrace it. 🙂

My secret sister didn’t know that I had a rough day. She didn’t see my horrible commute. She wasn’t there as my disobedient children ran rampant around the church this evening (well, maybe she was there, but I have no idea who she is.) She didn’t see me wipe away tears as I drove home, frustrated by my fatigue and limitations. No, she wasn’t privy to all that. But she did leave me a bag on the table at church. I’m not sure how long its been there, but I picked it up on my way out the door this evening. After we got the kids to bed, and I finally got a chance to sit down I opened it up to find, among other things, a grown up coloring book based on the Psalms. She had no idea that the perfect thing that I needed at that moment was some coloring therapy to help me unwind and breathe through the last few moments of my day. Those quiet moments of escape helped to calm me down and bring my turbulent thoughts back into focus. God is good.

To my Secret Sister, if you are reading this, thank you!

In Big E news- he got registered for kindergarten this morning! He was bored silly during the entire process, but I certainly enjoyed the extra time I had with him!

Tomorrow is a big day in our household. In the morning I will be taking Big E to school and registering him for kindergarten. I’ll admit I have been feeling increasingly nostalgic as the reality that my second child will soon be in school started setting in. I think I might even be a little more anxious this time around than I was when I registered C!

Even though I am thoroughly exhausted, this evening I have had a lot of nervous energy, so I decided to try something new. I had found a recipe online a few weeks ago to make strawberry jam using an Instant Pot. I received an Instant Pot for Christmas and it has been my go-to appliance ever since. I had never had a pressure cooker before, but it didn’t take long to get me hooked. I’ve cooked whole chickens, made pork bbq, homemade chicken noodle soup, and now… Strawberry Jam!

The recipe was very simple, and didn’t take long to assemble at all. I’ve never made jam before, so I am curious to see what the flavor will be like. I’m waiting for the jar to cool down before putting it in the fridge!

I started with a carton of fresh strawberries.

The final product!! We’ll see how it turns out!

C got to meet her newest cousin this afternoon. Outside of Baby E, this is the youngest baby she has ever gotten to hold. She was very excited about the opportunity and I think they will be fast friends!

I can’t tell you all their names (even though I wish I could), and I certainly don’t know all of their stories, but God is working a mighty calling in their lives as they tackle each day with a fierce love for their babies and a desire to draw closer to Him. They are a blessing, a safe space, and a tribe of women with a common goal and a common passion. As we wind down our MOPS year, I pray they​ forged deep relationships and built strong friendships to journey with them as they continue on in motherhood and that their love of Jesus will impact their families and their communities in a very tangible way.

1. Ladies- If I’m walking behind you and I can clearly see the lines from where you were sitting on the toilet… your shorts are too short.
2. Gentlemen- Pull up your pants. You might think that I’m old and I just don’t get the trend, but that trend started in the 90’s. It looked stupid then… It still looks stupid. If you want to be taken seriously, dress like a grown up, not like my two year old who needs a diaper change.
3. Ladies- Don’t get too comfortable with a man that has cheated on someone else to be with you. Chances are he won’t stick around long.
4. Young People- There’s no such thing as a soul mate. Let me rephrase this. There is no one person that will complete you or fix you. Every person is flawed. Asking a flawed person to fix you will only end in heartache.
5. Young People- Do you want to know what your future spouse will be like? See how his/her parents interact. (You will either end up with the same relationship or one that is polar opposite.) Watch how a man talks to his mother or a woman’s relationship with her dad. Take note on how they talk about previous relationships. If they never seem to be at fault, they will never see room for improvement in themselves.
6. Ladies- If you want a man to fight for you, be a woman worth fighting for. Have  integrity. Be honest. Know your own worth apart from a man.
7. You don’t have to win every argument. Relationships are more important than being right. If your stubbornness will cost a friendship, think again.
8. Consequences happen. Good ones and bad ones. Don’t be surprised by them.
9. Marry your best friend. Choose to love them every day… even when it’s hard… No, wait… Especially when it’s hard.
10. Don’t be afraid to say you’re sorry. If you are wrong, admit it. Swallow your pride and do what’s right. And in return, forgive others before it is even requested.