Motherly Wisdom

Now, before anyone gets any crazy ideas, I am not the one dispensing the motherly wisdom. It's from my mom. And, since I can't say it any better than she said it, I'm just going to copy it straight from the emails she sent me this week.

The first one was sent on Monday and was simply given the subject, "Encouragement." Unfortunately, I didn't read it until this evening. This is what my mom said to me on Monday:

"Hi Megan, just had a couple of thoughts that I decided to pass on to you. Please do not take this the wrong way; just trying to help. Spend time in prayer each morning before the kids get up. Take the authority that is yours in Christ and bind any and all spirits of strife. Remember the enemy will come at you through your children. Quite the rat, huh? Pastor Farley has been teaching out of 1st Cor. 13---the love chapter. Maybe you could spend some time teaching and encouraging them that love is not rude, love does not demand its own way. Well, I could just go on and on but I'm sure you get what I'm trying to say. I know this--God's word always makes a difference. We may not see the results as quickly as we want, but if we will continue to look at His word, trust Him, believe Him--we will not be disappointed-----first the blade, then the ear........Love and prayers...Mom"

So I wrote her back this evening and said this:

"Oh, how I wish I'd read this earlier this week. It's been such a hectic week that email hasn't exactly been a priority.

I understand what you're saying and I certianly didn't take it wrong. (You don't have to worry about "intruding" here... I'll take your advice!) One of my biggest problems is that I can never seem to get up earlier than the kids. No matter how early I try to get up, they are either up at the same time or right on my heels. Early morning used to be my time. I'd go to the gym and pray all the way there and all the way back, listen to praise and worship during my workout and even a sermon or two if I had them on my iPod. Then there would be time later for a little bit of Bible reading because I'd have all of that done and be showered before the kids got out of bed. Do you have any suggestions?"

To which my mom replied tonight:

"Yes, I do have a suggestion. If you can't be up before the kids, then every time you go to the bathroom--use this time to visit your heavenly throne also. I used to do that all the time-even kept a bible in there. Also, use their nap time to spend with God. I assure you that this is time well spent and the benefits are tremendous. As you do this, you will be surprised at how much more you actually get accomplished in a day. Even use a few minutes after the kids are in bed at night.Megan, God knows exactly where you are and all the demands that are on you. He is most understanding and He will reward you for the few minutes here and there. Now, let me also encourage you to set aside a regular time when you can. As long as you have children, time will always seem to be hectic but as they grow it is a different hectic at different stages. I never home schooled so you are experiencing something I never experienced. Know that I am in your corner and praying for you. You are doing a great job with "my babies". God loves you too. Just always lean heavily on Him and He will give you all the strength, wisdom and everything else that you have need of. Just take things one day at a time. Hope this helps. Love ya much..Mom P.S. Try playing some praise music through the day!!!"

I really love my mom! She's quite the lady. I'm so thankful for her wisdom and her loving encouragement.

Maybe her words of wisdom will benefit you, as well.

Looking Forward to the "New Compassions" Tomorrow

Today actually started out pretty good. Hectic, but good.

Wednesday mornings are always hectic. I'm not sure if it's because I'm not very organized--although I truly do try--or if it's because getting up between 6:00-6:30 to start the day after being up with Ruth once or twice in the night, with the last one being anywhere between 4-5 a.m., is less doable than I'd like to think it is, or what. I've tried quick, easy breakfasts for the kids like oatmeal or cold cereal. Those mornings were truly battle mornings. So I heard about this awesome recipe for breakfast cake from a friend who tried it with her kids. It's great, and the kids eat it without any complaining on their part or begging on my part. When I actually get it prepared the night before and get up at the aforementioned time.

Today was not one of those days. I got up late--6:45, to be exact. Got myself ready, and then it was marathon pace to get the kids out of bed, dressed, fed, lunches packed, teeth and hair brushed, coats on, backpacks together, and everyone out the door so that we could be at co-op by 9:00. We literally like 3 minutes from our co-op site, so you'd think it wouldn't be that big of a deal... but as I said, I am not very organized. It seems that the harder I try to be organized, the more I fail.

Somehow we made it to co-op on time. While we were at co-op, everything was great! Then I found out that Hayden pretty much keeps to himself in his class because aside from two other boys who are his age, the room is full of girls, and most of them are 2 or younger. The two boys his age are bigger than him and they play super rough. (That's putting it mildly.) Large groups intimidate him, and he won't play that rough with other boys... at least, not like they play. Then he told another mom in his class that his ear was hurting, which prompted me to call the pediatrician and schedule an appointment for this afternoon. He had been complaining to me about his ear for the last couple of days, but I figured that if he told another mom who he doesn't really know that well that his ear was hurting, it must have really been hurting.

So we get home from co-op, the kids go to their rooms for naps (Abby, of course, didn't take one, and she's the one who truly needed one the most), and then I got them rushed out the door again so we could make it to the pediatrician's office on time.

The pediatrician looked in his ears and at his throat and listened to him breathe and she found no issues and chalked it all up to allergies. Like his mama, Hayden has allergy issues that carry over into the fall. On the upside of all of this chaos, we found out that Hayden gained two pounds in the last month. That's huge! He finally weighs 29 pounds! For that, I am very thankful. His weight has been a major concern for me.

So we go home and Ben and I decide that tonight would be a good pizza night. Abby had a Book It coupon to redeem at Pizza Hut, so she got to use that and we ordered pizza for everyone else. I had the bright idea that since we were having pizza, why not make it a movie night, too? We ate our dinner in the living room while watching Peter Pan.

Here's where the whole evening went straight down the toilet.

Since Hayden doesn't sit through a movie, I thought that I'd let him listen to my iPod. He informed me that he had pooped his pants. I swear, that boy is trying to set the record for the most consecutive days of pooping in one's pants. That really irritated me. I've been telling him every day for the last week or so to go to the potty instead of going in his pants. I don't know why he's been doing this, but I've got to say that I'm sick of it. Cleaning poop out of cloth diapers was one thing; to clean it out of his underwear on a daily basis is quite another.

I got him cleaned up, into come clean underwear and a pair of shorts since it was almost bedtime, and had just started Ruth's bath water when I heard a loud sound and then heard Abby crying. Hayden had gotten mad at her and thrown his sippy cup at her and hit her in the mouth. That just flew all over me! I couldn't believe he would do such a thing! I got mad at him and swatted his bottom and made him stay in his room until I got Ruthie bathed. Then I put him in the bathtub and talked to him while bathing him, and then Ben put him to bed.

So what started out as a hectic day with a couple of hours that were good ended in an awful evening. I went to my room to nurse Ruthie to sleep and felt like a complete failure. Where did I mess up if my kid is being so mean to his older sister? Why did I have such a short fuse with him? Does he really know that I love him, even though I made sure that I told him that several times before he went to bed? Do my kids think of me as a grumpy, irritated bitch who does nothing but fuss at them, or do they see me as loving and caring? I hope it's the latter, but I'm sure that some days it isn't.

All I know right at this moment is that the Bible says in Lamentations 3:22-23: "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

Thank God, tomorrow is a new day.

"Buckets of Grace"

Well, it has been over a year since I have written anything here. How time flies!

First, let's start with the changes that have taken place during the last year. We became a homeschool family and joined our local Classical Conversations co-op. We love homeschooling! Abby had a very successful Kindergarten year and is now in the first grade. We also bought a house last year! We finally closed on the house on the Wednesday in the week before Thanksgiving and moved in--with the help of family and friends--that Saturday. Since I was expecting at that time, Ben would not allow me to paint; he, his sister and her husband, and their mom painted the interior of the house in two days and did a great job. It was a whirlwind weekend with the closing, the packing of the truck, the painting, the unpacking of the truck, and the placement of furniture, but we all survived it and settled in to our new house quite nicely.

The biggest--and best--change of the last year is the birth of our third child. Ruth Elizabeth was born on March 10, 2010, at 11:28 a.m. She weighed in at 9 lbs, 3 oz, and was 21 inches long. (Before you ask, she was born via c-section! Perhaps that will be another post.) And she had the most hair of the three children! Ruth has been such a blessing to our family; she's always happy, always has a smile, and has such a beautiful laugh. She's on the way to becoming a mobile baby. Currently, at 7 months old, she scoots on her bottom and goes backward when she's on her tummy. When she gets those knees up under her and figures out how to go forward, I have a feeling that she'll be a tough one to stop!

Now that we are well into our second year of homeschooling, I have been trying to find a new balance in everyday life. Summer was a little easier because there wasn't any formal schooling to be done during the day. We still did school, but it was at a very relaxed pace. There was plenty of time for play, for naps, for errands, for housework, for devotions... but lately I have found myself struggling because I haven't been accomplishing what I've felt needed to be accomplished, especially in my personal devotional time. I have put my devotional time right up there with my gym time (not necessarily in that order); it seems that no matter how early I get up to try to fit it into my day, one or more of the kids intrinsically knows that I am either about to get up or am up and also gets up, thus leaving me with no quiet time in the morning for Bible study. Nap time, you say? Ruth takes a morning nap and an afternoon nap, and Hayden takes an afternoon nap. During the time that both Hayden and Ruth are sleeping, Abby and I work on phonics so that she can better hear and understand and can succeed with that subject. How about after the kids are put to bed? By the time we get all three kiddos in the bed, the dishes washed and put away, and any laundry folded, I am so tired that I could easily fall into bed.

This has actually been a point of great stress for me, so much so that I recently posed a question to my Facebook friends on this very subject. A couple of friends from college who have children who are the same ages or older than my own gave very wise advice, which I have tried to heed. One said that when her children were babies and young children, she "settled in [her] spirit that the season wasn't going to be a time of much study, so [she] tried to keep her heart sensitive to [God's] leading." Another friend said, "I adhere more to the 'pray without ceasing' philosophy... I don't formally start or end a prayer, but pray whenever I get two seconds to rub together throughout the day (or night)." Wow! Do you know how freeing their advice has been? I wasn't looking for an excuse or a "hall pass" to slack off on my Bible study, but I think that I had set the bar impossibly high for me during this season of life. Infancy doesn't last forever, and I want to enjoy every minute of it. Believe it or not, because I have relaxed about this, I have actually been able to fit in some time for Bible study--even if it's just 5 minutes. I've begun to see this season as one of grace.

Which leads me to the title of this post: "Buckets of Grace." At our co-op today, I had the pleasure of being the room mother in a class of girls who are older than Abby. The tutor, by way of a rabbit trail, was talking to the girls about being nice to their siblings and extending them grace--"buckets of grace"--because that is what God does for us daily. Each day He has "buckets of grace" for us--grace for all of our sins, all of our mess-ups, all of our bad attitudes. As parents, we need to have "buckets of grace" for our children because He shows us grace; in doing so, we will teach our children about God's love. Does that mean that we don't correct them when they do something wrong or that we just sit idly by and let them do whatever they want? No, but it does mean that we offer them loving correction, just as our Heavenly Father does to us, and show them how to live in grace: "unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification." (Merriam-Webster)

So, in this particular season of life, I want to live so that I offer "buckets of grace" to my family and those around me, and I want to live in the realization that God also has "buckets of grace" for me.

The Best Birthday Ever

On September19, I celebrated 34 years of being alive! Everyone always asks, "What do you want for your birthday? Do you have a list?" The older I get, there are fewer "things" on the list. In the last several years, it's actually been a rather difficult thing to come up with a list--for birthday or Christmas--because the biggest thing that I have wanted has been time spent with my family. Well, this year, that is exactly what my family gave me!

We had been in West Virginia spending a few days with my parents and sister because Ben had work that took him to Charleston. So on my birthday, Ben, the kids, and I all woke up early, had a quick breakfast, and left my parents' house and headed toward Cass, WV. If you're not from West Virginia, you may not know that Cass Scenic Railroad even exists. The town of Cass was built to be a logging town, and the railroad was constructed to transport logs down the mountain to the paper mill in Cass. Today, you can go to Cass to ride one of the original Shay steam locomotives up the mountain.

We told the kids the night before that we were all getting up early so that we could go ride a train. Both of them were excited, but I think Hayden was probably the most excited of everyone in our family! That boy sure does love trains! When we arrived at Cass, the kids and I waited by the train depot while Ben purchased our tickets and boxed lunches. We chose the 4-1/2 hour trip up to Bald Knob, the third highest point in West Virginia. (Spruce Knob is the highest.) The train whistle is quite loud, as you may imagine, and Abby would cover her ears and Hayden would cling on to me. It was actually quite cute! They heard the first blast of the whistle as the train pulled into the depot, and I thought Hayden was going to climb up my leg! After we boarded the train and the train pulled out of the station, we spent a lot of time standing up in the train car, looking at the passing scenery and waving to the few people that we saw along the way.


We stopped at Whitaker Station for a quick lunch and to let the kids stretch their legs a little bit. They were having so much fun on the train ride that it was hard to get them to eat much of their lunches. After getting back on the train and continuing heading up to Bald Knob, Hayden decided that it was nap time and fell asleep in my arms. He was so tired that the train whistle didn't even make him flinch in his sleep! Abby really enjoyed being held by Ben so that she could see the scenery. She's taken an interest in birds recently and tried to spot some birds along the way. She really enjoyed seeing all of the different fall colors that were starting to appear.

Abby and Hayden when the train whistle blew.

Once we arrived at Bald Knob, we went to the lookout point and were all amazed by the breath-taking view! To stand there and take in the majestic view of the mountains and valley below, I couldn't help but be amazed by the beauty of God's craftmanship. This wasn't my first trip to Bald Knob on the train, but I appreciated the beauty of the surroundings so much more this time. As a child, it was easy to get caught up in the fun of the train ride; now that I'm grown, it was nice to spend the time away from cell phones, computers, televisions and other distractions and just enjoy uninterrupted family time with my husband and our two kids. Of course, I loved the train ride; I've always enjoyed going to Cass! But it was even more special this time because it was their first time to go, and we got to experience the beauty of God's creation together.

One of many views from Bald Knob.

As far as I'm concerned, my 34th birthday has been the best one to date! I couldn't have asked for a better gift than time spent with my family.

Changes!

Wow! When I saw that the last time I wrote anything down here was in May, I could hardly believe it. The summer flew by faster than I thought it would. It's amazing how much faster things go the older your children become...

As the title of this posting says, we've had some changes in our family recently. All of them are good changes, though. Just a couple of days after running the Waynesboro Extravaganza 5K race in July, we learned that we are expecting our third child! That really explained a lot of things... why I was tiring more quickly than usual, why my morning coffee suddenly became very unappealing, and why my appetite had dwindled. We are very excited to welcome the newest addition to our family--baby's arrival is estimated to be March 16, 2010.

Before Ben and I had children, we said that we would homeschool. Then, once we had kids, we toyed with the idea of sending our kids to a private, Christian school. After checking out all of our options and giving it a lot of prayer, we have chosen to homeschool our children after all! We are members of our local Classical Conversations co-op, and Abby really looks forward to each Monday, which is our co-op day. Interestingly enough, it is held in the same church where she attended preschool. God really orchestrated that for us! When Abby was three, we weren't sure which preschool to send her to and learned that this particular preschool was one of the best--and one of the least expensive--in our area. It was through conversations with the preschool director that I met the local Classical Conversations director and found out more about this method of homeschooling. After attending an informational meeting in February, Ben and I prayed and agreed that this was the way we should homeschool our kids. So here it is, the end of August, and we have two weeks of homeschool under our belts and we really love it!

For several months, Ben and I have been looking at different houses that would meet the needs of our family. (This was before we realized that we would soon be adding another member!) There was one house, in particular, that we really fell in love with. It even had a fenced-in back yard, perfect for the kids to romp and play! But, after seeing it 4 or 5 times, we just didn't have any peace about that house. We really thought it was the one, too. Thankfully, God opened our eyes to the shortcomings in that house, the things that would not meet our needs and would end up being frustrations in the long run. So, we said goodbye to that house and continued the hunt.

Then, just about two weeks ago, we found another house that we both just loved. Ben saw it first, without the kids and me, because Abby was sick. He came home with nothing but good things to say about this house. So we scheduled a time for all of us to see the house together, and it was an almost instant knowing that this was our house. This house really would meet our needs--in the short term and in the long run. This is a house that we can stay in for a few years before having to buy something bigger.

After telling my mom about this house over this past weekend, we came home and decided that we would like to see it one more time before submitting an offer. We saw the house again on Tuesday and knew for certain that this was our house. So we called our agent again Tuesday evening to tell him how much we wanted to offer, then we went in Wednesday morning to sign the contract. Our agent submitted the contract to the other agent before noon, and by dinner time Wednesday, we learned that our offer had been accepted! Praise the Lord! We both had a genuine peace about the amount we should offer for the house, and we both knew that we would hear something by the end of the day.

Just when we were starting to become a little discouraged in our house hunt, God gave us peace about the one He had for us all along.

God is always faithful, and He always has a plan for us. It's just a matter of us actually stopping to listen to what He has to say and then taking the appropriate action.

I think back to our Bible reading this morning. We read Genesis 12-13, about the call of Abram. Abram stopped to listen to what God had to say. God said, "Go to the land I will show you," and he packed up and went. Talk about a change! He didn't even know where he was going! How willing would you or I be to go someplace if we didn't have a map to follow, if we had no GPS directions, or if we had absolutely no idea where we were going? Honestly, I'm not sure how willing I would be at first. It might take some poking and prodding. :) But Abram did it. He made a change--a dramatic change that affected the life of his family. This was bigger than moving to a new home or even taking a new job, and he did it. He was obedient to the call of God on his life.

Amid all of the changes that happen in your life, remain obedient to the call of God on your life. No matter how crazy it might look on the outside, if you choose to follow God, you will be blessed. He will not fail you. God is always faithful, and He never changes!

A Shameless Mommy Brag!

Just a couple of weeks ago, Abby gave her daddy a very grand compliment. I don't remember what he had said or done to deserve such accolades, but she turned to him and said, "You're the best daddy in the whole United States!" He jokingly asked her if there were better daddies in other countries, and she just laughed and said, "No!"

So, Abby may have the best daddy in the whole United States, but I think that I have the best kids in the whole world. Seriously! Just last week, Abby turned 5, graduated from preschool, and had her first-ever friend party. Busy week! Just reflecting on where she was when we started the school year in September, I can see how much Abby has grown and changed. She's a very bright little girl; she's already reading chapter books and loves the Junie B. Jones series of books by Barbara Park. In fact, she's been reading more than the simple, three-letter words for quite some time. She learned how to better follow directions--something we are still working on at home, but at least she can do it for school. She did learn how to write all of her numbers 1-10, which was something we hadn't gotten to yet. The biggest reason we had her in preschool was social; she simply needed more interaction with kids her own age. She became friends with some very nice kids this year, and we'll be sure to have play dates with some of them during the summer.

Abby was already a very caring little girl, and that was really refined during the school year. She would come home and tell me about this child and that one, and if one of her friends missed school because they were sick she would pray for them during bedtime prayers; one child's daddy recently lost his job, and she shared that with Ben and me and prayed for him and for that child's family and asked God to give him a good job. She's taken notice of which of her friends is going to have a new baby in their family soon. Toddlers and preschoolers can definitely be selfish little people; preschool was so good for Abby because it got her outside of herself and made her more aware of those around her and the needs they might have. I'm not saying that she was a selfish, spoiled, introverted child before; but I am saying that she needed this experience to really help her realize that there is more going on in the world around her than just what happens in her own family. Abby has always been anything but introverted, and she has a natural ability to make others feel welcomed and loved. She is thoughtful in gift giving, and she really pays attention to what others like and dislike.

Hayden turns two tomorrow. Where has time gone? I cannot believe that I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old! Well, I should revise that; I can't believe that Abby is already 5, and the shouts of "Mine!" and "I do it!" are all reminders that Hayden is soon to be 2. :) It has been fun to watch him because he is so different from Abby. He has absolutely no fear at all; he'll climb on anything, and Abby was never one to climb. He loves to bang things around and crash his cars, trucks, and trains; he loves to kick and throw balls; and he has just recently taken an interest in books. He'll sit through Good Night Moon a few times, and then he's ready to hit the ground running again.

Hayden and Abby are both caring kids, but Hayden is more of a cuddler and snuggler. He shows affection physically,where Abby shows affection in things that she does for you. Their love languages are definitely different!

I am actually quite proud of Hayden's "I do it!" attitude; before we went on vacation he didn't realize that he could "do it," like feeding himself with a spoon or fork or wash his hands. Something clicked on vacation and he suddenly became this semi-independent little boy who no longer wants help feeding himself, and just in the last week he has learned how to put his socks and shoes on. Sometimes he gets his shoes on the right feet! I really didn't expect him to be able to do socks and shoes just yet; in fact, I never even tried to teach him. He just took it upon himself one morning and walked into the kitchen with both of his socks and his tennis shoes on, strapped and on the correct feet, and said, "Look!"

He is very compassionate. If someone has a "boo-boo" he asks if they're okay; if someone coughs or sneezes, he asks if they're okay. If Abby is in time-out on the couch, he'll go sit with her most of the time.

So you see, I believe that I have the best kids in the whole world. They're not perfect, just like none of the rest of us is perfect. They argue and fuss and whine just like other kids, and they make mistakes just like other kids. But I truly believe that I have the best kids in the world.

I love Jan Karon's Mitford series. The book that I have been reading off and on since completing the series is titled The Mitford Bedside Companion. It is a compilation of the best of the series with essays added by the author. It's a great book, but don't read it until you've completed the series!! It could spoil some things for you!

In this book, Ms. Karon devoted a short chapter to "Popular Questions from Gentle Readers." In this section, on page 206, she says, "Brag on your kids. To them."

Since reading that one line, I have tried make sure that I do better at praising the kids to them, and doing more than just the "Good job" kind of praise. I want them to know that their mommy thinks they are the most special kids on the planet.

I'll say it one more time: My kids are the best kids in the whole world!!

Aren't yours? :)

VACATION!!!

I think that the lesson for our family during the last six months has been thankfulness and realizing that it is so much more than just words--it's an attitude of the heart.

When Ben and I married almost 10 years ago (May 29, 1999), we said that we would take a cruise for our 10th anniversary. Obviously, we had no children at the time, so we couldn't truly picture what life would look like 10 years down the road. So here we are, 2 kids, a dog, and almost 10 years later, and we have taken our trip. It was wonderful! As I stated in the last post, we took a Disney Cruise; with kids, this is absolutely the best way to go! We are both so thankful for the gifts we've been given in Abby and Hayden and really couldn't picture taking a vacation without them, so we chose to go on a 4-night Disney Cruise to the Bahamas.

First of all, we drove from our home in Virginia to Cocoa Beach, FL, in two days. I think we hit all of the welcome centers in the states we drove through, and we have pictures from each one. They were welcome breaks to stretch little and big legs alike, chase bubbles, play with sticks and leaves, pick flowers, climb trees, and even take care of some necessary business. We always stayed at each one longer than we had originally planned... but do you want to know something? There was a lot less grumpiness and there were fewer melt-downs because we did. And I must tell you that it felt absolutely liberating to be free from the constraints of time! For once, we weren't in a rush!

On Sunday, April 26, we drove the short distance from our hotel in Cocoa Beach to Port Canaveral and were truly awed by the sight of the cruise ships in the port. They are huge! I've watched the shows on the Travel Channel that talk about cruise vacations, but until you actually see a cruise ship with your own eyes, it's nearly impossible to grasp just how big a cruise ship really is. Immediately, we found our cruise ship--the Disney Wonder. It was pretty easy to spot... the red stacks with the Mickey Mouse ears on the sides of the stacks really helped. :) Ben dropped the kids and me off at the terminal, we unloaded the luggage, grabbed our carry-ons, and he went to park the van. So off I go, into the Disney Cruise Line terminal with a 4-year-old girl, a 1-year-old boy, and two pieces of carry-on luggage on my shoulders. Once we got through the security checkpoint, I saw that this was not an uncommon sight! The kids even got to stand in line to see Minnie Mouse while we were waiting for Ben to meet up with us. When we were finally all together again, we quickly got our Key to the World cards--one for each person, which unlocks your stateroom door and gives you access on and off the ship at ports of call--and got Abby signed up for children's activities. She had a blast in the Oceaneer's Club!

Once aboard the ship, we were treated like special guests. Your family's name is announced as you enter the ship, and applause is heard all around. We were taken to a restaurant called Beach Blanket Buffet for lunch, and someone was there to help us carry our trays and find a seat as soon as we got through the buffet line. So helpful! After lunch, we deposited our carry-on luggage in our stateroom then went up to Deck 9 for a party. There were characters there dancing and singing and everyone was having such fun... and we were still in the port! When it was time to set sail, we went to the railing on Deck 10 and waved goodbye to the onlookers on land. Hayden loved seeing the water; Abby loved seeing the characters; and Ben and I were amazed that this little dream vacation of ours was finally a reality.

The Bahamas were really fun; we were in port in Nassau for the second day of the trip and went to the Ardastra Gardens and Zoo. The kids thought it was fun to see the flamingo show there; Abby has declared that flamingos are now her favorite animal (I think it's because they're pink) and Hayden still says, "Clap for birdies!" We got to ride a bus in Nassau, and both kids fell in love with busses on the spot. I wonder if it's because they didn't have to sit in their car seats??

The third day was spent at Disney's private Bahamian island, Castaway Cay. Beautiful doesn't even begin to describe this island! I have never seen water so clear or so blue, or sand this white, or such an abundance of perfect seashells. While we were swimming at the family beach, we actually saw a few fish swim past, and you could see all the way to the bottom, no matter how deep the water was. There is even a pirate ship at Castaway Cay... how cool is that? (It's the one from "Pirates of the Caribbean.")

The kids loved spending time on the beach and in the water. Abby found out that it was super fun to get really wet, then roll around on the beach, stand up and triumphantly declare, "I'm dirty!" and then run back into the water and start the process all over again. She was so much fun to watch! While she was doing this, Ben and I were taking turns holding a sleeping Hayden. When it is time for his afternoon nap, nothing else matters! Bless his heart, he tried to stay awake. He even went to sleep holding his own special treasures: two small seashells that he picked up out of the water. Nothing could pry those treasures from his little fist!

As I said at the beginning of this post, the last six months have been a lesson in thankfulness. I am so thankful for my family. God has blessed me with a husband who is a hard and diligent worker, a man who is a fair boss at work and a fun and loving husband and daddy at home; He has blessed us both with two wonderful children. What gifts they are! Abby brings laughter and silliness to any and every situation. Hayden is still young enough and small enough to want and need that loving, cuddling touch from us. I have said from the time he and I came home from the hospital that he is my "slow down and take it easy" baby, and it still holds true. Both kids have precious smiles and beautiful laughter, and we got to see and hear so much of that while on vacation! I am so thankful for the 10 days that we got to spend together. The kids seem to play together better; Abby is a little bit more patient with her brother; we are both more patient with the kids; Hayden seems to be talking a lot more than before we went on vacation; and both Ben and I really appreciate the small things even more. Sure, we were treated like guests of honor while on the cruise, but even at home we have heard a lot more "please" and "thank you" going around the house.

This vacation certainly ranks at the top of our family vacations so far, and we are in no way on a quest to top it any time soon. Maybe next year we'll go camping, and that could very well blow this vacation away. We got to spend uninterrupted time together as a family. We were able to slow down and just enjoy being together... something that we need to do a better job of in our everday family life. But more than that, I am so thankful that God provided for us to take this vacation and that we were able to take in the beauty of His creation in another part of the world. Only God could create water so blue and so clear; only God could create the sun that shines so brightly; only God could create the magnificent flowers and plants that we were able to see during our vacation; and only God could create in us hearts that are eternally thankful and in awe of Him and His creation.

Yes, I loved vacation and would love to take another cruise sometime. I loved watching the kids interact with the different Disney characters. I loved getting away from the everday-ness of life and having the opportunity to reflect on the wonderfulness of my Lord. Who else could create an ocean that vast, or skies so blue?

Above all of that, I am thankful for today. Remember, today is a gift!

Don't wait for vacation to show your family how much you value and appreciate them. Don't wait for a holiday or a birthday to tell someone how much you love them. Walk in thankfulness today... Vacation is a drop in the bucket when compared to the rest of the days of the year. Enjoy today! Laugh today! Make today memorable! Every day can hold the specialness of vacation when you have the right heart attitude. Be thankful!