That Moment

That moment when my husband gets home for work and hands me a love note.

That moment when he randomly texts me that he is so glad he married me.

That moment when he makes me stop running around, busy with housework and kids, to give him a hug.



That moment my one year old son picks up the most perfect rocks and hands them to me. I've kept them all.

That moment when he leads the way through the yard to pick flowers and acts like he's on a mission while doing so.

That moment when he smiles in delight over nothing and anything.

That moment when he's been screaming most of the day, yet when he goes to sleep, I don't want to put him down.


That moment when five year old Logan tells me how God makes babies; God has a treasure box with all of the pieces to put the baby together.

That moment when he tells me that he's going to save all of his pennies to buy a dirt bike...then a Bob Cat.

That moment when he hugs me and tells me he loves me, even though I'm just his babysitter.


That moment when eight year old Katie says that she was trying to see how much she could aggravate me and out of one to ten, I "scored" two (My patience must be improving).

That moment when she asks me if we can read the Bible.

That moment when she says that she wants to read the Bible to us.


You know those simple and content moments that can just make your heart soar? Those moments when the world, at least your world, feels to safe and innocent? I love those moments and I'm growing to appreciate them more and more. I find so much peace in those moments.

What has recent "moment" been for you?

The Moretz Household and Activities with the Kids

I started off blogging great, right!? Isn't that how it goes? Then my baby...became toddler! I began babysitting, trying to maintain my house, and trying to keep my sanity in the midst of chaos. As the story goes. I get caught up on one thing and another falls, or gets torn, apart. Kids, kids. Blessings and mess makers wrapped up in one adorable bundle.

While I was on my leave from Bloggerville I was pretty well falling apart along with the house. The picture of: barely awake, never stopping, still in pajamas at 5:00pm? The toddler screaming like his mother abandoned him...just because she ran to the bathroom? Constantly washing dishes and still drowning beneath them because the dishwasher is broken? Yep, yep, and yep. That was me. Actually, it's pretty much STILL me, I'm just dealing with it all much better.

I'm doing better in keeping up with the dishes and the rest of the house, but what I have significantly changed, is that I'm stopping for the kids more. More importantly, I find myself stopping for God much more and I see how THAT is changing my overall ability to be a wife, mother (and babysitter), and housekeeper.

All of this to say: Now that I'm doing more with the kids, let me share what I'm doing! These activities may be old news to most, but just in case these simple things have been overlooked, let me share!

                        Toddler Activity:
Need: A plastic bottle, uncooked pasta, and a toddler.

All you do is let them put the pasta in the bottle! So simple, but it's a challenge for Gage (1) and he's getting good, fast!

                          Pre-k Activity+:
Need: Uncooked pasta and kid. Next time, I'm going to have a tupperware container with sand and you'll understand why.


Use the pasta to create letters of the alphabet. I want to use the sand so that the noodles won't roll around as he is trying to put them in place. This activity challenges Logan (4) and when he succesfully does it by himself, I let him take a picture with my phone so that I can send it to Matthew (my husband) who Logan loves.

               Obedience Week:
When Logan first came in today, I explained that we were having "Obedience week" and that we were going to learn how to obey. We read a scripture on obeying leaders in Hebrews 13:17. NKJ Bible says "Obey those who rule over you and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls. As those who must give account. Let them do so with Joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." We broke that down: "Obey your leaders." We'll also go over obeying mommy and daddy with Colossians 3:20 "Children, obey your parents in all things for this is pleasing to the Lord".

I asked Logan who his leaders were, I explained what it mean to obey ("to listen carefully" I said as I pointed to my ears), and for this week every time he obeys (quickly and thoroughly), he gets a penny. I told him he could save it up and we could go get ice cream, buy a little toy, or whatever he gets enough for. The rules: He cannot ask for a penny and if I am telling him to do something that I had already told him, no penny then either.

We're only halfway through the day, but he is doing GREAT and LOVING it! When I tell him or ask him to do something, he quickly says "Yes, ma'am" and does it. I am trying to make sure I enthusiastically say "Thank you for obeying! You're doing such a great job!" I tell him to get a penny and so he gets one and puts it in his container (that I dug out from the recycle bin and cleaned up). Now we're trying it with Miss Katie (8) and she seems pretty excited too!

So that's what is happening here. More time with God, less time flipping out. More time "training up" the kids, less time getting onto them. I think this could work!

Anticipation.

When I was little, there was a moment I just fell down on the floor and started to cry because I didn't want to grow up. Nothing was going on, no one was even around, I was just walking through my parents bedroom and I was in the doorway, frozen and distraught, that I was going to grow up.

As you can see, I've been prone to have problems with change.

Well, let's back up. I hate anticipation.

Confession: I hate balloons. Why? Because they could pop and if they do pop, I don't know when or how loud. I can't stand rubberbands. Why? Because, I assure you, there is someone around me who likes to snap rubberbands, I don't know when or how much it's going to hurt.

I had ridiculous amounts of anxiety until, literally, the day of my wedding. Then, my thoughts were "Yay!!! I'm getting married- it's the best day ever!!!" and I had the best day ever!


During the last part of my pregnancy with Gage, I started freaking out, "A baby is going to change our marriage, our life!" were my thoughts. Both are true, but it's not in a bad way like I was afraid. I went into labor and hours later I was crying my eyeballs out at the beautiful sight of our baby boy.

So it's all about the anticipation. Anticipating all that can happen between point A and point B.

All of these thoughts were sprung on by me getting my hair cut. I was going crazy because of whether or not I should do it (especially since my long hair was considered my best feature), but now that it's gone, I'm fine! It'll take getting used to. Seriously, I have to use a small fraction of shampoo than what I use to. So I think we can consider this a money saver, right? Haha.

I made a huge change and gave 10 inches of my hair to Locks of Love. I really encourage you to do the same if you can. It means so much to me to be able to participate in this charity and I hope it means as much to the receiver. I'm learning more about kindness and self-sacrifice and, and as small as it really was, I think this was really huge for my heart.

Every time I look in the mirror or mess with my short hair, I can be reminded that I need to be constantly finding ways to serve others because there are opportunities to share love and show people that you care ALL of the time...

Even if you're just giving a few inches of hair.

So I'll willing run through the anxieties of anticipation because it's just another way of bearing my cross. Of course my worldly, self-centered nature isn't going to want me to show the kindness of Christ. I can't let it win because I am a Child of God, and I better start acting like it.

Are there any specific charities that you want people to know about?

Our Simple Life

Is it bad that I've been daydreaming about chickens, eggs, cows, and farm fresh butter? Matthew and I are taking on another challenge of lifestyle change and I can't be more excited!

1) We've switched to cloth napkins and barely ever use paper anymore and 2) cloth diapers have been a great change. Simply due to Christmas time I haven't been able to sew enough diapers and inserts to do cloth full time, but plan to get it done when this wonderful season is over!
3) We now drink loose leafed tea and 4) we use baking soda and peroxide to brush our teeth, no toothpaste to be found here and my teeth feel so much cleaner. 5) I make Gage's baby food. Hm...I think that's it?

So next on our list of major and minor lifestyle changes consist of: 1) Making our own soap, 2) making our own (healthy!) bread, and 3) start a garden!

4) We are planning to get our chickens in the spring and somewhere afterwards, we'll be getting 5) a cow to eat and 6) a milk cow. It's a lot, and I know I'm looking at a lot of work, but that's why we're trying to make the change gradual so that we can slowly work all of these thing into our schedule and just make it all a part of our life.

I've never had "real" milk and butter before, and I'll be the first to tell you, I'm probably too excited about it, haha.

I look forward to raising Gage in this kind of lifestyle, I think it's a healthy way to grow, both physically and emotionally. Also, I may be taking on 2 more kiddos in the near future. I used to babysit them and I may be doing so again! If I do, I'm confident in knowing that my home will be a great environment for them. No cable and all.

I guess my success will never be in a college degree, which can bother me sometimes. I tell Matthew that I want to go to school for "general education", but he laughs and objects. There really is no sense in going to school with no end goal, so it would be a waste of money. I'm pretty sure my success is going to lie behind adorable kids, a little farm, and the best darn bread you've ever tasted.

So the "simple" life doesn't always mean "easy", but the easy route is not usually the one to go on anyways.

Love, Mommy

So this is it, huh? This is what it's like.

The love of a mommy.

My Little Ray of Sunshine is having his first run of sickness. Not entirely sure if it's the bug going around or if it's allergies. I'm leaning towards the latter. What I do know for sure is that I woke up to a little boy with puffy eyes, snotty nose, and a congested cough. He's slept 5 hours in naps today (which is a ton in comparison to yesterday), which is partially due to me laying down with him. He sleeps MUCH longer when he's cuddled with.

I kissed his little cheeks that had dried snot on them, I hugged on him and he shared all of his germs, and gnawed on his hand that was covered in slobber just because it made him cackle hysterically. I told him tonight, "I'm so glad I have you". Because I am.

I spend my days at home and we hardly go anywhere, but I'm having to learn how to actually spend time with him. Not just be in the same room. I'm working on it though. I want him to know that this mommy of his doesn't mind getting on the floor and crawling around. Seriously, what is better to do than the little things that make my baby grin from ear to ear?

Even though I've been lacking in the playing area, this kid literally makes my heart swell when I look at him. It's a new aspect of love that I'm getting to experience.

What's been your favorite part of mommyhood?

Thanksgiving and the Whole Christmas Season

It's late and I should be really going to bed. If not going to bed, then cleaning the house because we have my family coming over tomorrow for Thanksgiving, yay! We essentially only won by default....We usually have lunch at my parents but their house is under construction and we'll be going to my sister's house on Sunday- leaving my little family hosting the beginning of the Christmas season at our house!

This excites me :D

With this being our first holidays spent in our house, our first with Gage, and our first with just our little family, I'm being extra sentimental. Tomorrow we'll get to put up a Christmas tree (and fight Gage off all the while, no doubt). Ahh! I can't wait!!!

Matthew and I didn't get the "our first Christmas married" that I had dreamed of. Last Thanksgiving morning, we did set up a 4 foot Christmas tree in the living room. Our house was no where near done, but Matthew helped me decorate that miniature tree to make me happy. We didn't even have power in the house, but we put lights on anyways and had a drop cord from Matthew's parent's house to ours and our tree was lit up. It made my heart giddy to see it glowing next door.

But now we're here. In our home. The Christmas season is probably going to make me cry out of joy and relief that we're finally here, starting our own life. We finally get to create memories here and start our own traditions that Gage will get to grow up with. My goodness, where has all of the emotion come from? Haha! The past few holidays have not been enjoyable on my part, the experiences pretty bitter, and I'm ready to have a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas! Seriously, let's do this ^_^

I recently discovered one major con of having no cable tv...No Christmas movies. What!? Time to dig out the radio...

Bring on the Christmas music!!!

Which Christmas songs get you into the holiday spirit?

Thomas Gage

My son Gage was not planned. Actually, it wasn't a very "convenient" time to be pregnant with trying to get into our own house, but did I ever consider abortion?

No.

After I found out I was pregnant, I spent my first few days in total and complete awe. I couldn't believe that God was using my body for something so amazing! I had this itty bitty tiny body growing in my belly; I can easily recall the feelings of those first few days. There were lots of tears, but simply due to amazement.

Sure I was one of those crazy women that absolutely loved being pregnant, but that doesn't make my cause less important- how can you justify a purposeful death on someone so innocent? Simple answer:

You can't.

To be clear, I am not trying and will not try to make anyone feel guilty if they have done this in their past. That's their sin and their's to ask God's forgiveness for. And He WILL forgive you! I say everything I do for the recognition that abortions are wrong and to prevent anymore in the future.

8 weeks

I was able to see Gage for the first time when he was 8 weeks along; 3/4 of an inch with a heart beat so strong. Boy, did I cry! It was my baby! Soon enough, I would find out that it was my son. Shortly after, I started feeling his little body roll around! Little hands and feet started poking around and my belly grew and grew while God intricately designed my child. Everyday he was learning something new, just like he is now outside of my womb.

A year ago, I was 22 weeks pregnant.

 

And a year later.

My little boy. So full of personality, screams, and, best yet, life.


Would you hire an assassin to kill someone for you? Then don't hire a doctor to kill your baby. Choose life.

I am PRO-LIFE.