Do Everything

Do Everything
You’re picking up toys on the living room floor for the 15th time today
Matching up socks, sweeping up lost cheerios that got away
You put a baby on your hip, color on your lips and head out the door
While I may not know you, I know you wonder sometimes….
Does it matter at all?
Let me remind you it all matters just as long as you…
Do everything you do to the glory of the ONE who made you
Cause He made you
To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face and tell the story of Grace
With every move that you make
In every little thing that you do

Man, this song really spoke to me this weekend. I heard it on the radio yesterday and haven’t stopped thinking about the ginormous meaning behind this catchy tune. Some days, I just kind of get in a rut. I feel like I do the same things over and over and sometimes, if I’m honest, I don’t have the most joyful attitude. Don’t get me wrong… I am so TOTALLY grateful that my schedule allows me to be a stay-at-home-most-of-the-time mommy. I wouldn’t trade places with one person on the planet. Honestly!!! But, that’s not to say that some days, after cleaning up yet another spilled cup of milk or scraping applesauce off the table or breaking up a little squabble between the kiddos or wiping bottoms or noses that I don’t think to myself “Seriously??? AGAIN???!” That’s also not to say that some days I absolutely countdown to 5pm. :-)

But, this song is a great reminder that all the mundane tasks of life are part of a greater picture. That my purpose in life is to bring Glory to God. The One who made me. He made me (little ole me, cleaning up spills me) to bring a smile to his face. Wow. That’s humbling. I sure pray that God would change my heart so that I can be joyful and grateful – even in the most mundane of daily tasks.

Check it out… Steven Curtis Chapman’s “Do Everything.” Hope it blesses you as much as it has me! (and no, I don’t know him personally and he certainly didn’t request my personal endorsement, but should you read this Mr. Chapman, I sure do admire you and your family. I’ve followed you for a long time and your story over the past few years touched my heart!)

Wordless Wednesday

Loose Tooth Update

Well, a few days late, but here's the loose tooth update: My sweet baby boy lost his first tooth on Monday night. (one week ago!)


He was so totally excited. My mom had gotten the boys personalized tooth fairy pillows for Christmas a few years ago, so we had to dig that one up and he proudly put it in his pillow before bed time. So much fun!


And just so you know, the tooth fairy left $1 and a little package of toy story tattoos. Fun times. Jacob was even sweet enough to share his tattoos with his brother.



With his $1, Jacob went to Dollar Tree and chose silly string. Fitting for my silly silly boy!

Happy Monday! Oh, and PS - he has another one loose already. Seriously?????

wow

So, I usually don't talk about work too much on the ole bloggy... primarily because I blog so that one day, I'll have written memories of this precious time in my life. And also because I mostly stay at home, my blog fodder is pretty much consumed with the J's and the hubster. Anyway, this week has been interesting at work and I just needed to share. Yep, that's right, I'm practicing one of my therapy homework assignments I sometimes give to patients...journaling. :-)
Yesterday, I had the privilege of having a new patient. She is an 8 year old cutie, but has a world of difficulties. She is severely autistic - no language, no eye contact, no real communication with anyone. She is visually impaired and has some physical abnormalities - especially her face and mouth. That's not the worst part... she's a self-mutilator. She hits herself in the face and scratches herself until she bleeds. And she screams in unfamiliar situations. Basically any time she is outside her house. So, for an hour yesterday morning, I watched in horror this little girl freak out because of the new environment. My.heart.broke.in.pieces. I'm heart broken for this little girl, and maybe even more than that, I'm so totally heartbroken for the mom and dad. Their life is not their own. I can not imagine what this must be like.
I have been doing therapy/social work stuff for almost 13 years. I have never ever cried in session with a client (it's not really the most professional thing to do). Not to say that I've never felt empathy or sympathy during a session, but yesterday, I was so deeply impacted that I almost lost it. In session. I had tears, not uncontrollable, but tears none the less. Wow. Would you guys do me a favor? Pray for this little family that have come into my path! Pray for me as I work with parents on a behavioral plan to decrease the self-harm behaviors. Pray that this little girl knows Jesus and can experience a miracle in her lifetime.

Say cheese!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, we have hit another milestone in our little family. I know I say all the time that they are just growing up TOO DARN FAST (stop it boys, would ya? Please for mommy????!!!). Yesterday, Jacob pointed to this:



and said, "my tooth is jiggly". What? How in the world does my baby already have a loose tooth? I quickly googled "when should my child lose his first tooth?" and found the answer to be anywhere from 4 1/2 - 8 years old. Well, holy moly, I didn't know that, but now I do. Since we are only (gulp) 2 months away from being 5, I guess we're right on track. But seriously? I don't know why this milestone feels so old to me. He's going to have a toothless smile before we know it. Ohmywordiwishicouldfreezetime!!!!!!

So, any wise words we could pass on to the tooth fairy? What's the going rate these days? :-)

Nite Nite prayers

So, I'm a total creature of habit, right? Naturally, I have a routine for my kiddos - especially at bedtime. Here's our basic schedule: go upstairs (about 8:15ish): take baths - well, Jonathan takes a bath, Jacob showers with Daddy; race to get jammies on (everything is a race with boys!); brush teeth; read story in the rocking chair (Jonathan insists on being on the top bunk to hear the story.) Then, Jonathan must turn off the light and we all return to the top bunk for prayer time. It is really sweet.

Here's a recap of most night's prayers...
Jonathan: "Dear God, Jesus in hearts make us feel better. Forgive sins. And I pray for family and sins and hearts better. When we are sad or mad or fight, put our hearts back to feel better. In Jesus's holy name, amen."

Jacob: "Dear God, I agree with Jonathan. We love you and your son so so so so so so much. Forgive us when we sin and help us all sleep really good tonight and you too God, I hope you sleep good. Thank you for my loving daddy and mommy and Jonathan. In Jesus's Holy Holy Holy name, Amen."

Then when Daddy starts to pray, Jonathan always tells him what to say, which is exactly what he prayed earlier. It is hilarious.

I seriously need to video tape this stuff. I never ever want to forget a single detail.

Happy Friday all!

Sweet little messages

Jacob is all into spelling and creating words. It's so cute. Here's a couple of messages he's written us. Can you say precious?

(dad, you rock and roll for Jacob. So does Mom)




(I am so happy and I hope you are too.) - this one he did completely on his own. He didn't ask for help with any of the words.)