Friday, February 21, 2014

Raising Kids Requires a Lot of Prayer!

As our kids are getting are getting older it is getting harder! I am experiencing all the things parents warned me about your kids getting older. I really thought it would never happen to me. But this growing up thing is creating a huge pit in my stomach. I remember when they were all little and thinking it was so hard and thinking I couldn't wait for them to be older and it would be so much easier. WRONG!!! It is hard physically when they are younger but way more hard emotionally when they are older.

My cousin Robin is a great Mom and wife. She is a prayer warrior and has been a great resource for me. She always tells me you have to PRAY constantly during this phase of life. Pray for your children. That is it so much harder and more stressful when they are older. She encouraged me to get the book the Power of a Praying Parent. I got the book and pray the prays frequently. It is an excellent tool. I keep a journal as well and try to put my thoughts and prayer requests on paper so I can remember them.  I speak lots of scripture over my kids as well.

The issues of kids these days are too much. I feel so bad for them with all the social media and things like that. Social media can be awesome, but it also causes a lot of hurt feelings among teens. They can see where their friends went that they weren't invited to, all this BFF stuff, WCW. If you aren't anyone's WCW then you feel bad. If you aren't with your friends in their 5000th selfie you feel bad. When your friend says someone else is their "Main" or their "bestie" then your feelings are hurt. AHHHHHH It is so frustrating.

Another thing I have learned is that I can't make my child do anything. I can't "make" them have a relationship with Christ, I can't "make" them look to Him to meet their needs. But I can pray for them and encourage them. Christ has to grab ahold of their heart and they have to form their own relationship with Him. It is my job to model Christ to them and to let them see me having a quiet time and looking to Him for answers. And for them to see me pray to Him in situations. And keep praying that He would grab ahold of their hearts and have a relationship with Him.

It feels like too much. It is so much pressure to be a good parent. But people have been doing it for years. I just have to keep my focus on Him and keep praying. In my book I read these great verses and I think they would be a great theme verse for our family.

Romans 12:10- "be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.

1 Peter 3:8- "be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.

Ephesians 4:3- "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

So those are my ramblings today, just really been thinking of the seriousness of parenting!

Thursday, February 13, 2014

I Have A TEENAGER…….

Happy 13th Birthday Ella Rain! I can't believe my firstborn is a teen! WOW! Where did that time go? It seems like just yesterday I had my first baby. This little chubby faced, full head of hair baby girl! She was the cutest thing ever. And boy was she spoiled. She wouldn't sleep unless she were in my arms. I could not leave the room without her crying and she was a major mamma's girl!

She seriously had the thickest head of hair I have ever seen on any infant. She was such a fun smart girl. I am so blessed to be her mamma.

Here are some random facts about Ella:

-she has a huge heart for others
-she has a very giving heart
-she has a guilty conscience
-she tells me everything
-she is a baller
-she has a beautiful singing voice
-she loves Jesus
-she is very repentant when she is wrong
-she is strong
-she loves going to church
-she is loyal
-she is very affectionate
-she is super smart
-she is a hard worker
-she is pretty  mature
-she made me a mamma

Ella Rain, you are a joy and a blessing and Dad I love you so very much and we are very proud of you! Keep focussing on Jesus baby girl!




Friday, February 7, 2014

Max Wilen is 10!!!

My first little boy is 10 years old. Where has the time gone? For his 10th birthday he got to go to a KU game. It was so much fun. We got to meet up with Madz and sit with her and it was a blast! We are huge KU fans at this house!

When I think back on his 10 years I ams so proud of him. He has overcome a lot of adversity. When I was pregnant with him I had to have my gall bladder out. Then during his birth his heart rate was dropping so we had to hurry to get him out. He was born a bit early so he had a hard time learning to swallow, he choked on everything. He was a happy to starve baby. And he has had many other things he has overcome.

He has been brave and a fighter and for that I am thankful. I love him so much and I wanted a boy so bad. I was so happy to finally have my boy. As a little guy he was always my little buddy, he stuck to me like glue. Now he is a major dads boy. Which hurts my heart a little but I know that is what boys his age do and he has a great daddy. I like to be around his daddy too!:)

Max has been a huge blessing to us. Here are some random things about our guy in honor of his birthday:

-He is so darn handsome.
-He is super fast.
-He is very funny.
-He is sort of an observer.
-He has so much fun with his buddy Lane.
-He is a great athlete.
-He is a hard worker.
-He is very smart.
-He is an overcomer.
-He has some sick dance moves!
-He is very good to his baby brother.
-He loves babies, just like mamma!
-He is a good artist.
-He has an engineer mind.
-He is pretty fly for a white guy.
-He is a trend setter.
-He melts my heart!!!

Max Wilen, I love you so much and I am super thankful for you! It is an honor to be your mamma!