Thankful

On my 39th birthday I decided I was going to celebrate going into my 40th year by giving thanks each day for the little things. I started that day documenting through instagram something I was thankful for. I love finding the blessings each day and it will be so fun at the end of the year to look back over all that God has given us. Last Sunday was one of those days the blessings were so abundant I almost lost track. It was the celebration of an amazing week of Vacation Bible School, a fun-filled picnic with our church family and most important, the day our two oldest publicly professed Jesus as their Savior.

As parents, we have have so many hopes and dreams for our kids. We pray for good health, positive choices, excellent grades, uplifting friends and success in life. The last few years the Lord has pressed upon my heart how little all of this means if our children are not following their Savior with sold out hearts. The rest of it actually means nothing if they aren't seeking Jesus above all else. In this world there is so much competing for our attention, especially the attention of our kids. Leading our kids is a command, an honor and no easy task.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

                                                                                                        Deuteronomy 6:4-7

I am so thankful for His grace. Because every.single.day. we fail at leading our kids and following Him with radical abandon. We try our best but because we are human, we fall short. Praise God for His grace. Praise Him that even with our shortcomings, they know Him. They love Him and they are choosing to follow.

As a mama I can't think of a more proud moment. I am so thankful for their choice to follow. I know there is so much ahead of them. So MANY challenges and choices but they have stepped out in faith in the right direction and we will offer them up with open hands and pray they continue to love and follow the One who loves them far more then we could ever imagine.

A few from today

It finally feels like summer around here. We couldn't be happier around our house. I've been working quite a few extra hours in preparation for Vacation Bible School so I was overly anxious to get home this afternoon and soak up some sun with the monkeys. I'm pretty sure this one was in her suit the entire day.

 Monkey girl is climbing and flipping even more than usual since she watched the Olympic Trials last week. Quote from Millie while she was watching gymnastics "I'm going to do that someday and I think I'll get started working on it right now." Love it.

 One of my favorite places...the garden.

 Be afraid Maximus, be very afraid.....

Cause this girl's out to get ya!

Thankful for sun today. For a job that I love. For a husband who is totally supportive and even when they're ornery, the greatest monkeys a mama ask hope for.

Golden

It's her golden birthday. Four on the 4th. I CANNOT believe it. You know that whole "It was just yesterday...." Yep, that's how I'm feeling. She was just our little bundle all wrapped up in pink and so sweet that her siblings wanted to eat her up. Truth be told, they still can't get enough of her. She is hilarious and far too grown up for her lil' pants. Oh boy, can she pour on the drama and sass with the best of them but she really is such a sweetie. She gives me far more unsolicited hugs and "I love yous" than the other three combined. She is learning what following Jesus looks like and even though she doesn't particularly like being the first to ask forgiveness she's working on it. She adores her big sisters and my favorite moments are when her and Amelia play together for hours on end. Did I mention she's hilarious? She is, and cracks us up constantly. Independent and fiery, God couldn't have picked a better day to bless us with this child. Happy Golden Birthday Miss Josie Bean! We are absolutely smitten with you four year old!