Our latest "challenge"...

Okay so just last week I decided to buy Caleb a potty chair. I did this with very little expectation of him even wanting to sit on the potty for any length of time. Well, much to my surpirse, HE LOVED IT! He sat there for a good 10 minutes (reading books mind you) the very first time he sat on the potty!

SOOOOO, I have decided to take a stab at potty training. I know, I may be crazy since he is only 19 months, but I figure, what the heck.....I am a stay-at-home mom with ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD! :) Right......

It has been going pretty well so far. He doesn't ever really put up a fuss when I put him on it, but it does get a little wearing on me....we sit on the potty once every hour! Wow, that is a lot of time sitting on the bathroom floor :)

I am trying to enjoy it, though, and take it with it's ups and downs. I still have him in diapers and we are going to move to pull-ups (the ones that get cold when he pees) in a day or so. We'll see how he does with that. I still am unsure if he actually KNOWS when he goes to the bathroom (even on the potty), but that can be worked on....I think right now the consistancy is KEY!

So, keep me in your prayers and I will keep you updated. Since we started on Saturday (Jan 24th) he has gone pee-pee on the big potty about 5 times. I am just going to keep on keepin on! :)

I enclosed a picture of our "challenge"...... :) hehe.

Enjoy :)

Loss vs. Prosperity

Just a thought to ponder....as I have been pondering it these last few days. May it challenge you and stretch your faith and trust in God...

"God is glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him in the midst of LOSS not in Prosperity."

This is kinda a hard thing to grasp. What does this mean? To me, this means that we are not to show others that the THINGS we have are "gospel". For example....I have this great car because Jesus gave it to me. Or I have this wonderful job because Jesus gave it to me. That sure would make the world want Jesus huh? Well we need to show others that even through the midst of suffering, heartache, hard times, loss, struggles, and pain GOD IS STILL GOD. He is still the only one that is ENOUGH for all the circumstances we go through. He is enough even when we feel the oceans rage around us....when we feel the world cave in on us....when we lose everything.

No, I have not experienced this kind of pain or suffering lately, but I know some who have. It is a true testimony when you see those experiencing loss and pain turn their eyes to Christ. That they can see the handiwork of God through the deepest of pain. They can point their hands to heaven and says "Your will be done God, not my own....in Your timing not mine". WOW, that is faith! That is trust!

Oh God, may my heart turn toward You in good times and bad, happiness and sorrow, prosperity and loss! May my actions and LIFE reflect Your glory in whatever circumstance I am given. That my life here on earth would be a total reflection of Your grace and mercy. May Your name alone be glorified!!!

Amen and Amen

Needy...

Wow I can hardly believe it is already 2009....I remember where I was at midnight NINE years ago when we were wondering what would happen when the year changed from 1999 to 2000. Crazy time.

It seems like time goes so fast these days. With a toddler running around, things get kinda hairy some days. I have really needed to find time for myself...whether that is working out downstairs as Caleb enjoys a Baby Einstein movie in his pack-n-play or reading a book while Caleb naps. I have needed to stop doing the "things" that need to get done (yes, the never ending list) and just take time for ME. I find that I am a much better mom and wife when I take those times.

The other day, I had not felt like I could take time out for myself...I had things to return in the morning, came home, made lunch for Caleb and myself, put Caleb down for a nap, unloaded AND loaded the dishwasher, shoveled the driveway, finished my 4 loads of laundry that I started that morning, got Caleb up, gave him a snack, started dinner.......and before I knew it, my husband was home and wanting some of my time as well. UGH! It was a crazy day. Then I started wondering why I was in such a crappy mood. Most of the time when I am "busy" it helps my day go by faster so I can enjoy the evening with Caleb and Kirk....not this day. I didn't take the time for myself that I SO DESPERATELY needed.

So anyway, some of the things I look forward to this year are: Caleb's SECOND birthday (wow!), running my second 5K in May (the training is part of my ME time), possibly a new baby?!?!?! (we will see what God has in store for us there), finding more time for JUST my husband and I, and simply finding time for myself.

God is so good and as I look over the past year, I can see how His hand has guided me through hard days and protected me from many dangers. I look forward to 2009 in many ways but most of all just another year to dive deeper into my relationships....God, my husband, my son, and my family!

Here are also some recent pics of Caleb....enjoy :)

Caleb and Uncle Jeff

Caleb on the way to church

Just chillin'

Playing outside...didn't like it much because he couldn't walk well :)

Caleb and all his (Reid) cousins