Not Me! Monday

Not Me! Monday is in honor of Sweet Stellan this week, so read on MckMama, read on!


This week I most certainly did not spend hours in prayer on Sweet Stellan's behalf. I did not pray for his tiny heart to correct itself, so he could get some rest. I did not beg, plead, cry before Our Lord for this baby. I did not lift his mother up in prayer, because she was not constantly on my mind. I did not worry if she was taking care of herself. I did not stay attached to my computer and check for updates regularly. I most certainly have not told many people about this sweet boy and his family this week...and have not asked for their prayers. I have not woken up in the middle of the night to pray for this family. They are not on my mind constantly. Sweet Stellan has not reminded me to put things in perspective, as I return from maternity leave and leave my daughter today. I have not praised the Lord for keeping Stellan with us! I have not renamed Stellan, "Sweet Stellan!"

Current Book: I'm Fine with God...It's Christians I Can't Stand

I'm Fine With God...It's Christians I Can't Stand
Getting Past the Religious Garbage in Search for Spiritual Truth
by
Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz

This is the book that I am currently reading. It is a book by two Christian men who are in search of spiritual truth. I guess their goal is to make people (Christians) think with the brain and the heart God gave them. What a thought!
***I look forward to finishing this book and hopefully putting it to good use! I will post and let you know what I think of the whole book.

Logann's Short Timeline and Pray for Chris

Logann's Timeline

I was looking at Logann today, and noticed how much she has changed in the short 3 months she's been here. Take a look and see what you think!

3 month pictures coming soon!!!

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Please Pray for Chris!

Chris had all 4 of his wisdom teeth taken out today. He was in a LOT of pain earlier, but seems to be doing better right now. Please keep him in your prayers that he will heal quickly and will not be in too much pain.

Conversations with Matthew and Stellan Reminds Me How Lucky I Am!

Matthew: "Mommy, am I big?"

Me: "Yes Matthew, you are getting pretty big."

Matthew: "Can I drive yet?"

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Matthew: "Good night, Mommy. I love you so much!"

Me: "Good night, baby. I love you sooo much, too!"

Matthew: "Okay, be good today."
***I wonder where he's heard that?***

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Me: "Matthew, did you know Logann is going to start school on Monday?"

Matthew: "Yeah, but she's going to be in the BABY class."

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Matthew: (singing) "Take me down to the paradise city, where the grass is green and the girls are pretty! Please take me home, yeah, yeah!"

Me: "Wow, Matthew, that was good!"

Matthew: "Rock and Roll baby!"

Me: "What other songs do you know?"

Matthew: "I know my 'Vowel Song' pretty good."

Me: Can I hear it?

Matthew: "I don't have time right now."

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In the car
Matthew: "Hey, Mommy. You're my best friend."

Me: "Oh, you're my best friend, too."

Chris: "Hey Matthew. You're my best friend."

Matthew: "No, I'm Mommy's best friend!"

***This would be really funny to me, except the roles have been reversed, and I was not the best friend.***

I love you my sweet Matthew...more than you will ever know!


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Stellan Reminds Me How Lucky I Am!

God has recently reminded me how truly blessed I am to have such healthy children. I started reading MckMama's blog this summer. I loved to hear about her many small children as I was taking care of, and growing, my own MSC. I also became familiar with her unborn son Stellan who was diagnosed with heart problems in the womb. MckMama was told that her baby would probably die before he was born. Very long story short, Stellan was born with NO sign of a heart problem. MckMama used her experiences to try to show others God's awesome power. Even when things were not looking good, she never quit praising our Lord. Since being born, Stellan has suffered with RSV and recovered.

Now, he is near death again, and many are rising up to pray like I have never seen. My heart has been heavy these past few days. Every time I look at, or hold, Logann and Matthew, I can't help but say a prayer for Stellan and his mother. I have woken up in the middle of the night and felt lead to pray for this little baby. I do not know what God is doing in the whole situation. I do not know what His plan is for baby Stellan. I do know that Stellan has caused me to take to heart how blessed I truly am. I have had very easy pregnancies and births, and my children are so healthy. I praise God for the miracle of life and the miracle of healthy babies/children. I praise God for the line of communication He has so divinely put in place for His children to reach Him. I praise God for the gift of the Holy Spirit that knows our souls and intercedes when we are so distraught or confused, or when we don't even know what to pray for. Please pray for baby Stellan and take note of how lucky you are!

Please Pray With Me!

Please Pray for Baby Stellan!

Stellan is in desperate need of prayer! Please pray for his sweet little heart to calm down. If you do not know who he is, this blog will fill you in. If you do know who he is, the same blog will tell you what's going on. Please, please, please pray for this baby and his family.

In Him-
Jenny

Blessings

Sometimes when life seems hard, I like to remember what I have to be thankful for!

I am thankful for:

• my beautiful, healthy daughter, with her sweet dimples and precious smiles
• my handsome, healthy, smart son, with his kind words and funny stories
• my wonderful supportive parents, brother, sister, in-laws, and all my family
• my loyal, hardworking, best-friend husband, with his sweet hugs and kisses
• my nice, warm, comfortable home, that holds my growing family
• my loving, caring friends who mean the world to me
  
• my dream job doing what I love
• my precious health that allows me to spend time with the people I love, doing what I love
  
• my wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the unconditional, unending, pure love He gives me and the gift of everlasting life
  

Names, The Escape Artist, and Motherhood

Names
For a while, I thought it was best if I kept our names quiet. Then I asked myself, why? They are quiet no longer!

The Escape Artist

Little Logann is becoming so active. She is cooing and squealing all the time. She is so much fun to watch! Several days this week, I have sat beside Logann and watched her try to escape from her bouncy seat. She is the wiggliest little girl I have ever seen. She has been successful several times. I thought it was to hilarious not to share with you.

I made it!

You may be wondering "Why doesn't she buckle her in?" Well, she's not big into restraints:). She is just now getting to where I can put her down for more than two minutes, so I just sit beside her and watch her. It's funny, as soon as I saw her doing this I immediately thought of Matthew who did the same exact thing. I have a picture I will try to find and post it later!

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My Thoughts On Motherhood

I wanted to share a post that I blogged somewhere else. Being a mother is my main job these days, and it is the hardest, and most rewarding, job that I have ever had. Please read on, and know that if you are a mother, you are doing the greatest work you will ever do!

Written February 7, 2009

Growing up, I thought I had a wonderful mother...well, I still do! I loved the time she spent with us playing, snuggling, and teaching. I thought she was a perfect mom. Looking back that is what I remember. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that she felt many of the same feelings that I have been feeling over the past three years. I felt the need to write this blog because I know that many of my friends here are mothers or will soon be mothers. I read a blog that made me stop and think the other day. I wanted to share my opinion of motherhood, so if you are interested, please read on.

I want to start by saying that I love my children with my whole heart. I did not know that I could love anything on Earth as much as I love my children. This love is instant, painful, joyful, undying, unshakable, and stronger than I could have ever imagined. I am completely in awe that God loves ME even more than I love my children. I have wanted children for as long as I can remember. I LOVE my children! I love playing with them, snuggling and rocking them, dancing and being silly with them, teaching them, watching them grow, listening to Matthew's funny stories and comments, listening to Logann's baby babble, and just being with them. I was so thrilled when I found out I was pregnant with both of my children. I knew my life would be changed forever. I really could have never imagined how true this was.

With all of this said, being a mother is SO HARD! Some things I have experienced as a mother are sleepless nights, lack of time for myself, disciplining the 3 year old for putting a friend in a box at school, correcting potty-mouth language, breastfeeding, teaching children to tell the truth, changing diapers, potty-training, teaching colors, letters, shapes, and numbers, teaching children to share, doing all the laundry your children produce, taking sick kids to the doctor, almost passing out when stitches are needed, feeling disgusting because you are covered with spit-up and haven't had a shower, spending time at Vanderbilt for dislocated elbows, and lots of worry. Worry...am I showing my children Jesus everyday? Am I raising confident, not conceited, children? Am I spending enough time with each one? Am I always calm and patient with them? Am I always a good example? Some days, I think that I am letting my children down even though I love them more than they will ever know.

My message to you is this... I found out that my "perfect" mother felt the same way that I am feeling now. The truth of the matter is that there is NO SUCH THING as a perfect mother. I tend to be very hard on myself. I tend to expect more of myself than I probably should. I have a feeling that many of you reading this do the same thing. Please don't be too hard on yourself. Try to enjoy yourself...the time goes by too fast!

I know now that my mother was not "perfect," she was just perfect for me. She loved me with all of her heart and that is what I have always known. I absolutely love being a mother and I hope that Matthew and Logann will remember how much their mother loved them, even though she was not perfect.