Early Preparation...

So I am supposed to be cleaning the toy room as I type, but blogging has become addictive...haha A few days ago, the girls decided they were going to play pretend. Not something unusual for them, but the story they came up with was a new one! They were playing "pa-tend goin' to sool" (as Sophia put it...pretend going to school in english). So they grabbed their little shoes, coats and sleeping bag backpacks. They loaded up their bags with randomness (toys, blankies, sippy cups...u know, the essentials haha) and waved goodbye!! Of course the farthest they made it was the front steps (which was soon dubbed the "class"), but it certainly was adorable to watch. I was slightly tempted to tear up just thinking that this day (for real) is only a few years away. My girls might be a lot of work at pre-school and toddler age but I will NEVER get this stage of life back. I am learning to treasure each tantrum filled afternoon in a new way and take as many pictures as I can to ensure a wealth of documentation :) Love you big girls...always and forever xoxo

A good start...

My big girl has been learning the importance of "hiding" scriptures in her heart. Daddy and I have recently noticed, in Sophia, a regular hesitation to share and a heightened temptation to complain. We are hearing a lot of "me first" and "buuut I don't want to" from her little mouth. We are seeing a lot of angry, frustrated facial expressions towards her sister and "hands on the hips" argumentative attitudes towards mom and dad. So we began to pray on how we could address these issues. In all honesty, the only thing that's going to prove useful in changing my daughter's HEART attitude (not ONLY her behavior) is a correct understanding of truth and a biblical reasoning for adjusting her actions. Something I've always wished I sowed to earlier in life is memorizing scriptures. I cannot put into words how this practice has served me now that I'm grown. So, we began to practice this with Sophia. The scriptures she's finding herself hearing and repeating most often are...

1) "Honor one another above yourself" Romans 12:10

2) "A cheerful heart is good medicine..." Proverbs 17:22

3) "Do everything without complaining or arguing" Philippians 2:14

Adding these principles to the constant instruction of joyful obedience seems like a lot for a three year old at times. She often is very emotional when we go through the process of correction, repentance and "putting on" truth but by the end she is smiling and has a much softer temperament. This is certainly a very busy season of motherhood!! I am learning these scriptures right along with her so I typed up some "reminders" to post around the house. Brian wasn't a huge fan of the new decor, but I reminded him that our girlies souls are more important (and of course he agreed) haha

I have faith that Sophia can demonstrate a good example for her already feisty (yet adorable) little sister!!

Aren't they just the best?!?! :)

You'll want to turn off the volume on my music player so you can hear the video!!

Finally Spring!! from Lindsey Knott on Vimeo.

SPRING!!

We found these adorable mini flip flops for Sophia at Old Navy!! She loves having shoes "just like mama's fip-fops"!! haha She's still getting used to how to walk in them, but it's adorable to watch her try. I hereby dedicate these shoes to the approaching Spring. High of 68 today...woohoo!!

The Exit...

Look where Autumn drove us!! HAHA Ok ok, rather look where the Lord drove us!! After many many tears and prayers, we are on the horizon of a new beginning. This week we will finally begin our plan to move forward financially. It is OUR turn to pull off the monotonous, broken highway of debt and onto a calmer, more scenic side road ordained by the Lord :) No more credit card debt!! PRAISE GOD!! Almost two years now away from the dearest friends known to man and a church that blessed us far beyond words...I cannot believe it has been so long!! The road has been wobbly but the Lord has remained steadfast. He has shown us grace and favor in more ways than I thought imaginable. Mini blessings here and there have helped to keep us pressing forward. So undeserved, but our God loves us THAT much. We trust in the Lord for continued strength to begin to build life HERE in THIS place. I am just so thankful for the release of this particular burden. Of course, there are still obstacles to overcome but this is a great first step. Thank you again to anyone who took the time to pray for my family. The Lord is so faithful. In times when it seemed our highway of financial trial would never find the much anticipated "exit", we were consistently reminded to look UP. Our GPS may have malfunctioned but my God's was right on track. "Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise..." 2 Peter 3:8-9

And thank you to Brian for being the dedicated, hard working, God fearing husband and father that you are. You continue to lead us, although far from perfectly, into the paths set forth by a good and gracious God. No one can ask for perfection, simply a heart that strives after becoming more like Christ each and every day. We love you!!

Trouble up the road...

Autumn, bless her heart, always wishes she could be just a BIT older than she is. She likes to do everything big sister does and often has that curious look in her eye (those with crazy kids know what I'm talking about haha). Well, seems her latest mission is to conquer the roadways (and daddy was surprisingly more than happy to accommodate!!) I'm sure he will be toting her along to car shows before she turns 5. I'd put money on it!! These pictures came out a little strange due to the garage and reflection from the glass but they still make me laugh...

"Eyes on the road babe!!!"

This is how mommy prefers her little angels ride in the car :) Muuuch better!!

medi-sin...

Yes, I know it is spelt wrong but my children have added a whole new meaning to the word. Medi-sin = alternate spelling of the word medicine...definition = when your kids deliberate disobey your instruction concerning a controlled substance of types. Let me explain...the girls have had colds on and off for about two months now (not fun for anyone). Last time they fell ill, the Dr. suggested that I give them warm apple juice with honey, benadryl to dry them up and apply vicks vapor-rub to the soles of their feet before bedtime. Remembering these techniques this time around I decided to implement them right away. Last night, after a looong day, we had baths. The girls were beautifully cleaned, in their pj's, hair dried and medicine taken. I must note that my girls are OBSESSED with medicine. They ask for it on a regular basis (and I don't give it to them often, honestly!!). Sophia proceeded to ask about a hundred times if she could touch the vicks vapor-rub that I was applying to their feet. I repeatedly told her "no" that it wasn't a toy but medicine and she was not allowed to touch it. She finally "accepted my answer" (or so I thought) and I left them to peacefully read a book together on Sophia's bed. I put the vapor-rub "up high" (or again, so I thought).

I returned to the bathroom to clean out the tub and put the dirty clothes into the hamper. No more than five minutes later, I hear quiet giggles from across the hall. "What's going on in there?", I ask. "Nothin Mama, just div buppa da medicine. Buppa div me da medicine too!", responds Sophia. My heart sinks (thinking they somehow got ahold of the benadryl) but as I am racing towards her door I pass the benadryl safely sitting outside the gate where I left it. Next thing I know I am standing in front of two girls who are COVERED from head to toe with a shiny, whitish, thick and sticky substance. "NOOOOOOO!!!", I screech. My lovely SINFUL three year old had deliberately disobeyed me. She had taken her plastic tinker-bell chair from her bedroom, piled it with pillows and climbed up to the shelf where I had left the vapor-rub. She unscrewed the top and the girls began GENEROUSLY spreading it all over each other. I'm talking in their hair, all over their clothes, covering their faces like masks and I could BARELY see Autumn's ears underneath the globs of vapor-rub. My response was a bit less than gracious as I had to redo baths, redo hair drying, redo pajamas, redo the bedding and was still left with two heads of greasy matted down hair (any suggestions for easily removing vapor-rub from long flowing locks of hair, please let me know).

By the time I was finished it was late, my patience was worn thin and I needed to buy more vapor-rub....sigh. But alas, the crisis is over and it's a memory I suppose. I do believe that the most "memorable" part of this situation was simply remembering that my girls aren't alone in their sin. Inspired by a dear friend of mine, Sophia and I have started to sing the gospel song before bed each night. As I sang it with her after "the ordeal" I was freshly reminded of how my actions towards the Lord are at times just as deliberately disobedient as my little girls are. I guess Sophia and I have a lot to work on TOGETHER. I may be 22 years older but surely not 22 years wiser when it comes to the occasional belligerent attitude. Anyhow, it's a good thing vapor-rub isn't all that dangerous. I did read the label and although it clearly states "not recommended for use directly on the face, in the nostrils or around the ears" what can you do?!?! It's now Monday morning, the girls survived the night and I am starting with a cup of coffee and my bible. Here's to a new day :)

The numbers game...

So my "lesson" with Sophia today went as follows:

Me: "Ok babe, let's count to ten!"

S: "Ok...1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10"

Me: "Great job!! Ok now repeat 1-2-3"

S: "3"

Me: "No. Say each number" (holding up my fingers)

S: "Letter A"

Me: "No. Not letters...NUMBERS...say 1-2-3"

S: "1-2-7"

Me: "No. Who said 7? No one said 7"

S: "Yes mama. Me did!!"

And so it continued until I about lost my sanity. Am I called to home-school my kids? I think NOT!! Maybe the sugar from her morning donuts caused a brain misfire? Or maybe she's just rebelling against learning on a Saturday?? One may never know. LOL

My Sophia...

Lately, I have been seeing my little three year old blossom into such a grown up little girlie. She has brought me so much joy and laughter that I get teary eyed just looking at her some days. The things she says are at times HILARIOUS and often far beyond her years. I have to stop and wonder where on earth she gets these things from!! I thought I would share with you a few of our most recent conversations. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did hearing them :)

S: "Mama, I love you sooo much"

Me: "Oh thank you baby, I love you so much too!"

S: "You is my best friend Mama" (small pause) "Ummm well, you and puppy"

She has a stuffed animal dog that my mom bought her for Valentines Day. We tried to get her to name the thing (since she treats it as if it were real...feeding it, putting it to bed and making it talk to her) but she insists that it's name is "just puppy" haha

S: "Mama, are we going to the mail today?" (mail=mall)

Me: "No baby not today"

S: "But how mama?" (she says "how" instead of "why"...I've tried to correct her but yet again she insists her grammar is correct haha)

Me: "Well we just don't need to buy anything there today"

S: "But daddy said mama...daddy said 'I wanna go a mail!!'"

Me: "Well daddy likes to go to the mall, but he was just kidding honey"

S: "But the bible says mama" (with a cheesy grin on her face)

The girl will try anything to go shopping...UH OH!! :)

And lastly, as we were driving home last night we had the song "Never Let Go" by the David Crowder Band playing in the car. Each time the chorus came on we heard a very enthusiastic pre-schooler belting out the words from the back seat "YOU NEVER LEEEET GO...NEVER LEEEEET GO....YOU NEVER LEEEET GOOO-OOOO" and then she would say "Mama I sing it! I sing a song!" haha I was just grateful it happened to be a godly song she chose to repeat (daddy is ghetto at heart and can often find himself wandering to the rap station!! haha)