What a lovely day!

After a few hiccups in our morning routine, we were off! K and G in the jogging stroller and Mama with her running shoes on. It has grown cooler and the first hint of fall is in the air. My usual route is about 4.5 miles and this morning we set off, K chatting away about the trees and the cars and the birds and me listening to The Power of a Praying Life.

One ear was open for the chattering of my sons, the other ear was occupied listening to some great encouragement. What a good way to start the day!

We saw a turtle the size of a car tire, we saw a lovely blue heron. And we also watched a tiny turtle eat his breakfast - though the dead bug didn't look appetizing to me, I guess you can't blame him for an easy meal. And the exercise just makes it all so good. Even just walking is so energizing.

So I encourage you to get out of the house! It takes less time than you think. And your investment of energy will be returned and doubled. :)

Enjoy!

If I Don't Love Ya Baby...

If I don't love ya baby 

Grits ain't grocery, 

Eggs ain't poultry, 

And Mona Lisa was a man! 

-Little Middleton

When I got married, I was given some excellent advice from another married woman whom I respect and whose friendship I treasure. "Learn how to please your husband," she said, smiling, as she addressed me and the crowd at our rehearsal dinner. 

Now, to be fair, her husband gave my husband the same advice (about pleasing me). And I filed the information away for after the honeymoon, thinking that I would naturally want to please my husband anyway, right? ... Wrong. I have learned more about how selfish I can be in the past three years of marriage and parenting than I ever knew was possible. And every time that I tried to do the "right thing" with the wrong motivation, I lost steam and turned it into something for myself. 

For instance, I had some wonderful pregnancies. There was nothing wrong with me, other than light nausea in the first trimester, and the usual complaints about sleeping and (frequent) peeing. But I used this "right thing" as a reason why my husband should serve me, hand-and-foot. I had moments where I was quite proud of myself for my endurance as I cooked food, cleaned the house, and puttered around, but I wasn't really serving Boone - I was making myself look good. And when he came home, (whew!), I would list my activities and sit down and rest! But I didn't really put himself first. I put myself first, expecting him to put me first, too.

That doesn't sound very pretty, does it? I would love to say that I'm just being too hard on myself, but I believe I have had an epiphany, and don't want to reason my way out of it because it will be very good for my character. If God can help me make it stick!

So, for the next moment, day, and season, on into the rest of my life, I want to serve him, and by doing so, serve Him. I have been trying to think of ways to help and bless my husband, and, over the past week, have been amazed at how much I am being blessed as well.

I want him to be sure that I love him - or Grit's Ain't Grocery! Because of my actions, my love shines forth, without conscious thought as to how it may selfishly benefit me.

It's a lesson to be kept close to heart!

It's a Good, Good Day!

Well, my friends. Yesterday was quite productive, my house is much more orderly with the laundry folded and put away. And I have been able to bless my husband by cleaning the house and feeding him. It's so important for everyone to be fed at appropriate times (snarky, snarky). ;) Speaking of feeding... My little G, at nearly 9 months old, is already starting to be a champion eater!

Why does that not surprise me?

Maybe because he's always been a little on the ginormous side? We only started trying solids this past week (going for the baby led weaning here) and he is putting fist to mouth quite well!

It's amazing, actually. My oldest, K, took such a long time to figure out how to swallow. Now we are all sitting around the dinner table together, and it's quite sociable and nice.

Here's a little encouragement on the matter of first-time-obedience. K has been trying the boundaries and testing us at every turn (sigh). And so my lovely Mom sent me this link and it really was quite an encouragement. I needed to be reminded that it is His kindness to us that leads us to repentance. And I want repentant children, because I want their hearts safely in His charge!

I'm looking forward to the weekend, and completing the other tasks that I have set for today.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, too!

Some Encouragement, Please? Someone? ...Anyone?

Mercy! Raising children is backbreaking labor! Not to mention keeping the household from falling apart. The laundry must be washed, folded and put away, the bread must be baked, frozen and stored, breakfast, lunch and dinner are daily trials, er, I mean tasks..., and if I want a happy husband, I must clean the house and keep it neat.

Whew!

I've been having a hard time staying motivated to do simple things around the house. It seems like there is a never-ending to-do list that follows me around. And so, what's my response to that? Do I stand up, take-the-bull-by-the-horns and plow through? ...Well, so far, no. I have been a lazy bum. It's true. I'm throughly embarrassed and my heart is sinking while I type these words. I have been skating by doing the minimum requirements.

And what has that lead to? An unhappy husband, a low personal regard and whiny children. My husband finally said to me, last night, "Honey, would you please just stop reading?". Yeah, that's when you know it's gone too far. But moderation has always been a struggle for me. I love to read, to escape. And I have been using books as my escape for as long as I can remember. But right now, what my family needs is for to not escape. Rather, to focus.

So here's my encouragement to myself, and to you. And it comes from a very good Book that is not about momentary escape, but true and lasting freedom. With contentment.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galations 6:10

 So there you have it! I will be striving, and trying, and pushing myself on to do this good that comes from God, to those whom I have opportunity to touch.