My Baby Sister You Will Always Be

Tonight, Ruby and I went through our normal bedtime routine. We prayed, we sang, we rocked, and then I laid her down with her blanket. As I slipped out of her room to tuck the boys in, she began to cry. After only a few minutes in the boys' room, I went back in and got her. She was already screaming, red-faced, and angry.
I headed back to the boys room to tuck Myers in and gently placed Ruby in between me and Myers on his tiny twin-sized bottom bunk. As I lay there on my 6 inches of mattress, (silently wondering how long the bed could possibly hold all 3 of us) I watched as Myers gently brushed his sister's hair off her forehead and rubbed her face. She slowly calmed and the crying stopped. Every so often she would whimper and he would draw her near, patting her back, and whispering to her. After a while, I thought they were both asleep and then she rolled over throwing both her tiny arms around Myers' neck holding on tight. I stayed statue still, eyes filling with tears, feeling slightly like an intruder watching the love these two share.
Since she was born, Myers has taken the role of big brother very seriously. He protects her and dotes on her constantly.
I am so thankful God chose Kevin and I to be the parents of these 4 precious children.

Princess Love

Today Ruby was wearing an outfit with a bright pink tutu. McCann glanced over at her when I brought her out of her room.

McCann: "Why is she wearing that?"
Me: "It is part of her outfit."
McCann:"Is she a princess?"
Me: "Yes."
McCann: "Then I will protect her."

Yes, buddy.

Please do.

Of all the things I adore about having all these babies, sibling love may just be my favorite.

 

A facelift!

I finally updated the blog design! I have always planned to do this but a million things always came first. Feeding babies, changing diapers, carline, homework....the list goes on and on. There is very little extra time in this world of raising children. And that's ok. I love the endless busyness and constant chaos that follows us around.
Last night, I had several empty minutes in a row and I decided to put them to use. Thanks for checking it out!

Baby dolls and Stubborn hearts

Have you ever see this kind of baby doll? They are called "water babies" and are made to feel like real babies. They are made with a plug in their back and come with a funnel to help siphon the water. (And instructions to change out the water. Whoops.)  Ruby got one for her first birthday. I was shocked to see they still made them. I vividly remember begging for one for Christmas when I was 7 years old. I also distinctly recall watching my momma struggle to fill that baby doll Christmas morning 26 years ago. I now feel her pain. You see it's really easy at first because the water flows into the baby's belly. Then you realize you have to work to get it to fill the baby's extremities. The plastic is inflexible and unbendable. It's quite a task to fill her up adequately. Ruby's doll may, in fact, be only partially filled. Her mom is clearly not as determined as mine was.

Sometimes I feel like that's how I am when I pray and ask His spirit to fill me. Inflexible and unbendable. I cry out to God begging him to make me more like Christ and he does. I feel His power transforming me but then there are those parts that I hold too close. The places in me that are inflexible and unbendable. I easily allow God to change, mold, and fill the majority of me. But what about the rest of me? Like Ruby's baby's limp arms and legs are the areas in my life that I try to control. Yet really- they control me.

I can readily identify these areas where I need more Jesus and less Amy. My pride. My worry. My doubt.

Satan wants to consume our minds. He wants to gain control over our thoughts. He wants me to believe I should care how the world views me, overthink and agonize over the what-ifs of life, and question whether I will ever be enough.

I am so thankful I serve a God who is bigger than unbendable plastic and stubborn hearts. A Savior who can enter and transform even the deepest most selfish parts of me. All we have to do is ask and soften those areas. It's difficult to change. To be humble and not prideful. To trust and not worry. To find your identity in the God of the universe and not social media. He wants our everything, not just the things we prefer to hand over. All of us. Every ounce. Every thought.

"... In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: "Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall LIMP. The Lord your God is in your midst. A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy. He will be quiet in His love. He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy." Zephaniah 3:17

She's one!

18 pounds.
28 inches.
6 teeth.
8 words spoken.
3 brothers in complete love.
375 days old. (Because I am ten days late.)
Our sweet daughter is one.
The months pass so quickly. It amazes me that this busy little girl has been with us a year already. She is a delight. She smiles easily, giggles constantly, and brings so much joy to our world. Peek-a-boo, chasing daddy, emptying cabinets, and playing with her brothers' toys are her favorites. She loves to be held and I find myself carrying her all the time. She is a blessing and we are so thankful for the gift of her.

 Our precious Ruby.

 

 

 

 

 

Acts 1:8

The boys have this toy. It's a clear ball with a smaller marble-like ball inside. The goal is to move the bigger ball in just the right way to get the tiny ball to land and stay in this little groove. It's seems next to impossible to me. Maybe because I have zero patience for things like that but for my deeply thoughtful, puzzle-loving Myers, it's a challenge.

Today, he did it. He got the tiny ball to sit perfectly in the groove. He cupped it in his hands and carefully brought it to me to show me his achievement. He was so proud and so afraid to move it for fear it would mess up. He said, "I am going to hold it just like this forever."

I feel God's familiar tap. Teachable Gospel moment, Momma. Do what I have you here to do.

I explain how happy I know he is for finally getting it to work and how I understand his desire to keep it to himself. Then I continued, "But Myers, if you keep it and don't play with it anymore; the toy loses it's purpose. It is supposed to be played with and enjoyed. It's just like God's word. It is so wonderful when we have it hidden in our heart but if we never tell anyone about His love- we don't do what we were created to do either. We were sent to earth to tell others about Jesus."

He nodded and shook the toy enough to make the tiny ball fall. For a moment, I feared that he may be upset with me if he could never do it again. And then in an instant the ball landed right back in the groove. Almost like it belonged there. Much like God's word should remain in our hearts even when life shakes us up.

It continually amazes me to see how God uses my children to bring truth and light into the world. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

They make me laugh

Everyone wears goggles inside.

 

My kids are the most hilarious little people. Kevin and I are constantly laughing at the funny things they say and do. Here's a short list of the ridiculously amusing things we see and hear on a daily basis:
1. When Myers was a tiny thing, Kevin started to change his diaper not knowing he had a dirty diaper. Myers stopped him commenting, "You might want to wear gloves, Daddy." First clue that it was time to potty train.

2. Manning was telling Kevin about the Christmas story. He said it was about "Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the Wise GUYS."

3. Manning got his jacket stuck in my car door the other day. I told him it was fine and not to get upset. He responded with, "You don't even know what FINE is!"

4. Myers asked me why his Mimi and Papa (Kevin's parents) never had any children.

5. After the tooth fairy came the first time Manning lost a tooth, Myers came to me (barely 4 at the time) and said, "Momma, there is no such thing as a fairy that comes and takes your teeth!"

6. I hit curbs. A Lot. Yesterday, Manning commented, "They should make cars that automatically stay on the road when you turn."