A Heart Divided

School starts tomorrow! I am so excited about the kids God has placed in my care for the year. This year I will be teaching reading instead of math so it should be interesting as once again I find myself learning right along with the kiddos. I work with the most wonderful, and I mean the most wonderful, people. I truly believe that my school has got to be one of the best places to work in the world. I am excited about the opportunity I have to allow God to make himself known to these kids through me and I am praying that I allow him to do that daily.

However, while I am busy training and instructing the leaders of tomorrow, someone else is watching Karter's first steps. While I am busy with lesson plans and bus duty, Nathan will walk Kaden to his class on his very first day of school.

I guess that this is all so hard because it doesn't fit into "my plan". You know...my plan to be a super mom! I just always imagined being there for those moments, the way that my mom was there for all of them with me.

Several months ago we felt the call to get "gazelle intense" (Dave Ramsey) and get totally out of debt except for our house. Don't get me wrong, the idea of having everything paid off and having money in the bank to have fun as a family and to give to others in need sounds great. I am just having trouble deciding if it is all worth it.

As I sat with Kaden in "big church" tonight I couldn't help but wonder...where did the time go? He has just grown up so fast. I keeping wondering if my time with Karter will go by even faster since I am not staying home with him like I did with Kaden.

I guess no matter what I do my heart will always be divided on this issue. I am just praying that God will work through me to make the best mom and the best teacher I can be.

Pollution

Pollution can be defined as an undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities.

To be honest I do not think about pollution very much. I would not be described as someone who is very green. However, after reading this verse this week I began to think about another kind of pollution. A kind of pollution contaminates lives and families and is the direct consequence of our (my) human mouths.

" Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word, nor unwholesome or worthless talk ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace to those who hear it." Ephesians 4:29 AMP

I have never read this verse in this version, but it really struck me. How many times have I polluted a conversation with gossip, or negativity, or even just spent time talking about things that are worthless? How many times have I polluted Kaden by just the tone of my voice? I am praying that the Lord will give me his power to speak only things that are good and beneficial. I pray that he will speak through me and use my mouth to be a blessing to others...not something that contaminates!

Our latest pet attempt...

Let me start by giving you a little history.

Attempt #1- Rowdy...aka "rockin" he is a cute little Yorkie that Nathan bought for me before we were married. We actually kept Rowdy for a few years but, after Kaden's arrival we graciously allowed my parents to adopt little Rowdy...they still have him today.
Attempt #2- Princess. A cute little pug (Nathan's idea) that only lasted for 3 weeks before we discovered she had health problems and our vet gave her to another family who had more time for her.
Attempt # 3- Macy. A black and white bunny that Nathan surprised me with. She was cute but boy did she stink! Once again she lasted about 3 weeks.
Attempt #4- Jackson. A black labmaraner that Kaden picked out. He was so cute while he was little...then he got big and so did his poop! He jumped all over us and chewed up EVERYTHING in the backyard. He lasted several months but we decided to give him away before moving to Malakoff last summer. Kaden still asks if we can get a "nice" Jackson.
That brings me to our latest attempt...#5- Mittens and Lucy. Two sweet little kittens who will be living in backyard. Although Kaden thinks of them as his pet, Nathan thinks of them as snake guards.
Here is a picture of our new little furry friends (Bet you can't guess which one is which:)

Simple Pleasures and a new phone...

As some of you know, my phone was stolen this week during my visit to San Antonio.

My mom and I decided to take the boys to the new Target :) down the road from her house to get Kaden a backpack for school. We had a great time looking through the store and even stopped for and ICEE on the way out. We made it home with two very sleepy boys. I decide to nap with Kaden.

Shortly after laying down my mom came in to tell me that my phone had just called the house. Weirdo! So I called it back and a man answered the phone. He told me that he had found the phone in the parking lot of Target and did not want to take it back into the store so he wanted to meet me some where. Immediately I started thinking...PHYSCO!! I handed the phone to my mom in a panic and she arranged for George (as he called himself) to leave the phone at a local grocery store for us to pick up after the boys were done with their nap. Needless to say he never turned the phone in and I would hate to think what he might have done to us if we had decided to meet him. Talk about creepy! So $100 later I have a new phone and can safely travel back home!

Now about the simple pleasures....Now that we are blessed with two beautiful little boys I seldom get to spend time with them just one on one.

Several weeks ago Nathan's parents took Kaden to their house for a few days and I got to enjoy some sweet alone time with Karter....although, he really missed all of Kaden's entertainment. But it was sweet to just hold him and spend time just playing on the floor with him. He is such a little miracle!

This week my mom kept Karter while Kaden and I enjoyed a movie together. He was so excited about the popcorn and candy. I love just watching his eyes light up. He is so full of zest for life. My prayer is that he will be full of that same zeal and passion for Jesus as he grows. He decided half way through the movie to sit in my lap and I cherished the moment to just hold him close.

I never want to get so busy that I miss out on the simple pleasure of just loving my family. Playing in the backyard, or going on golf cart rides...watching their eyes light up when they learn something new. It is a blessing, a pleasure, and an honor to be a wife and mom...I never want to forget that.