nap bliss

i'm fully convinced that naptime is more necessary for mama's sanity than for child's well being. some days, naptime is my only saving grace. and even better when they both sleep at the same time.

hall-le-lu-yer!

sweetness

there are some moments in motherhood that i wish i could hit the pause button on. today was one of them. during worship this morning, bella was standing on the pew next to me. we started singing here i am to worship, and i looked over to see her singing in her precious voice with her hands raised. it was so humbling to me to know that even children can worship...and worship perfectly (in their own way).

thank you Lord for letting me watch your creation reflect your glory.

the opposite of financial peace

U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000

• Fed budget: $3,820,000,000,000

• New debt: $ 1,650,000,000,000

• National debt: $14,271,000,000,000

• Recent budget cut: $ 38,500,000,000

Let's remove 8 zeros and pretend it's a household budget:

Annual family income: $21,700

• Money the family spent: $38,200

• New debt on the credit card: $16,500

• Outstanding balance on the credit card: $142,710

• Total budget cuts: $385

radical

I don't know how to describe my current state of mind, except to say that I feel like all the ugly pieces of my heart that I don't want to acknowledge are there, sitting on the surface. And I can't get away from it.

It all began when I picked up the book Radical from the library.

I started reading.

Then I put it down, because honestly I knew it was going to de

mand more of me than I presently want to give. But I can't leave it down. I know that if I'm going to say I'm a Christian, then I need to live an authentically Christ-centered life. And I know that I'm not right now.

And it hurts. I feel like I enjoy life. I love staying home with my girls (most days anyway), photography, house design, interior design, my husband, (sorry, honey that you came 4th in line...I truly love you more than that!), music, travel, cooking. Oh and I do love you Jesus.

And that's where the problem is. God demands that NOTHING. Nothing. (now this is where it gets hard if I'm being honest with myself.) Nothing can come before God.

I like to gloss over those pieces of scripture that Jesus asks possible disciples to give up what they least want to give.

And here I am. Do I love this life...and lose it?

Or do I give my life to the Lord and gain it? I know that it has great costs to give up life. To put yourself last. To say that my relationship with Christ is more important than ANYTHING.

ANYTHING.

so I'll end my post on a lighter, but important point. in researching radical, i had to seek out others who have read it and how they process it and i discovered some cute shoes. for a good cause. because we need to realize that our money can help or hurt.

check out sseko it made me feel a little lighter.

an idea for creating memories for your kiddos

So, I cannot take credit at all for this idea...I saw it on a Google commercial.

I recently set up 2 email addresses for our girls. (FYI, you have to fib on their birthdate as they won't let you have an email account since they're so young...which is strange especially since Google initiated this idea) And whenever you have a second to write them a note, send a pic/video, whatever, you just email them. Anyone can email them too.

When they're older you can give them access to their account and read stories, notes, etc. I think it's such an easy way to journal about their life while sitting at the computer and forget about finding that journal while a baby is trying to steal your pen!