The Words I Would Say...

Sometimes, a song comes along and it just takes you by storm. God has always used music to touch my life, to speak to me, to move me to tears. I would love to have words to say how I feel, to convey my emotions perfectly, but I rarely am able to be that person.

Just like most moms, I love my children more than words. You could not convince or ever really convey to your children how much you love them, until perhaps they have kids of their own.

Raising kids is HARD. Truly hard. Not just oh..I had a tough day, tomorrow will be better...but sometimes, you go through a valley of doubt and despair. You wonder if things will ever get better, if your child will listen AND obey the simplest of commands after being told a gazillion and one times already. You stop and wonder where in the world that child of pure joy and grace went and who has replaced them as they glare you down, roll their eyes, look at you with ice. Sigh. I was one of those moms that swore it would never happen. But, we are there and fighting it with all we've got. I will admit, we have failed numerous times, as God fearing and God loving parents, to raise our children up in the Lord. I am the worst of sinners and realize that the ugliness I see in my kids...is really me. GASP. It's a brutal, ugly...hard truth.

So, the constant exhaustion of all the battles is hard. But, maybe..even more difficult is seeing your very ugly self come to life in your small precious children. It's motivation to get on your knees and cry out to Jesus. I'm done trying to do this without prayer..which sadly, I am very good at forgetting to do at the start of my day. I am done ignoring the comfort of MY Father who is there for me...to guide me, give me wisdom, and help me through my dry, tired times.

Because I've been, and still am an ugly mom and definitely lost that infamous MOTY award (Mother of the Year) from oh...about day 2 of momhood, I treasure this song. If I could write just how I feel about my daughter and what I want her to know...it's in this song. I want her to know that no matter what...God has his hand on her. No matter how much I mess up, or her dad, or her friends let her down, or anybody else in life...she has God. And knowing that God is the most, the best and all she really needs is so important to me. I want her to desire God above all else. That is a constant prayer in my life..that my children would truly DESIRE God.

I haven't blogged for awhile, but this song "The Words I Would Say" by Sidewalk Prophts, really has hit me and wanted to share. Just tonight, I sat down with my daughter and told her about how this song is one that reminds me of all the things I feel about her. We listened together, me crying (I always cry..ask my family...major crier here). She realized what I was trying to convey, came over to me, gave me the most amazing hug and told me how much she loves me. She got it. I thank God for my kids. I also thank God for his everlasting love and faithfulness, for me...a sinner...a mom. Thankful that his mercies are indeed, new every morning.

Meeska! Mooska! Craigy is TWO!

Well…not quite yet. Officially the BIG 2 will be here Thursday. Nonetheless, we celebrated all that Craigy is and loves last Saturday. He was surrounded by ALL of his grandparents (minus 1…ok, so I guess not ALL, but so close!). Two sets of Great Grandparents (all right…one was sadly, unable to attend), and three sets of Grandparents. Such a blessed boy to have so many to love on him.

The theme was “Mouse”, as that is what Craigy calls Mickey Mouse. Totally cute. Yeah..he also loves “Buzz and Woody”, but I took advantage of the cute factor of Mickey Mouse before he was too old for it.

I cannot tell you how much I love this little man. He is so stinking adorable, and so much fun. He is thoughtful, kind and helpful. Always, always running to help me unload the dishwasher or dryer. More than willing to run and “do” whatever chore I’ve requested him of, usually with a huge, happy, loud “OKAY!!”. He is a snugglebug too with mommy. He says “bless you” after every sneeze, AND cough..including his own. Will, on his own…THANK me for dinner after he is done with his plate!

There you have it…a glimpse of Craigy. Happy Birthday little man!!

Hello long lost blog

Dear Blog-

I miss you blog. I'm sure you miss me too. I'm sorry, dear blog, to leave you so behind in the busyness of life. I shall return soon with stories, pictures and videos to share that will warm your lonely blog heart.

Love,
your long lost blogger

It's been so long!!

For the one lone soul that might occasionally stop by my blog...I apologize on being a blog slacker! I will be posting some updates in the next week or so, time willing!

For now, my biggest news is that I've set up shop on Etsy.com making hair pretties for little girls. So, if you have a little girl, niece, cousin, know of any friends that have little girls, like to wear a little bit of hair flair yourself, then please come on by Scooterbug Flair! If you like what you see, pass the word along! If you are on Facebook, follow Scooterbug Flair with our fan page.

Great

Craig with Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Mulvey

Grandparents are great...but Great Grandparents are even greater. I mean, with the word "great" in the tittle, they have to be, right?! Craig and Saiah are blessed with two sets of Great Grandparents. Saiah was even able to meet her Great Grandma Ruth before she passed away and visited with Great Grandma Merrihew many times before she passed away last fall.

Just recently, we were able to visit with both sets of GG's...always so nice to see them! I really love that both sets of my grandparents are also Saiah and Craig's. They are wonderful, dear people to me and I'm so glad that they know them and have relationships with them. I have such wonderful memories growing up with my Grandparents.

Yay for Great Grandparents!

A visit with Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Dow

Playing with Great Grandma Dow

10, 9, 8....Fieldtrip!

Saiah, the Astronaut

(which she later said she would never want to be one!)

Our first fieldtrip of the school year was to Scienceworks in Ashland. NASA was there with a great exhibit on, what else, but space..of course. We had a fun time learning some interesting things about NASA and our moon/mars. Did you know that NASA is hoping to have an outpost that will allow people to "live"on the Moon by the year 2021? I had no idea.

We decided to end our fun fieldtrip by detouring over to the Yogurt Hut..yum. A great little place where you get to serve yourself and choose from 10 different yogurts, and about 500 million toppings. You pay by the ounce...which is great, unless you have a kiddo that likes to load her yogurt with gummy bears, gummy worms, and anything else gummyish. They aren't the lightest toppings. Silly girl.

Saiah, Shaylynn and Mason outside of the NASA exhibit

Inside a bubble - yeah..she kind of liked it. :)

We finished off our trip to the Yogurt Hut

My Squishybug, squished.

Hey..this is comfy

I was cleaning Saiah's room the other day and Craig was on her bed, hanging out...playing. All of a sudden I hear this "clunk" sound. I look, and somehow, Craig had fallen between Saiah's bed and the wall. I often call him my Squishybug..and he indeed looked squishy between the two!! He was as content as ever to sit there in that spot all crunched up, playing away with his blocks. It was quite the comical sight.