Flashback Friday: Biking

 I had a clever idea that on Fridays I would do a flashback story that had happen and either didn't get a chance to share or it's a fun memory to document. So many great stories to share and just not enough time to share them. Well, this is one I was actually sharing with my sister this week and thought it was one I need to cherish.

Scott and I were feeling guilty, as our just turned 6 years olds didn't know how to ride their bikes without training wheels. We really hadn't found the time to teach them so one beautiful day in October a week after their birthday we decided to try. We went to this park close to our house that had lots of sidewalks with a small (Florida) hill. After awhile... like few minutes or so ... We were thinking this is going to take multiply visits to this park but at least we can let them see how it feels to ride without training wheels. Fall after fall we thought they were never going to get it! They were both frustrated and thought it was going to be much easier, resistant to take much instruction, Parker headed off on his own to practice by himself. We were focused on Brooke as Parker was done (I thought). She would finally get it for one second and then go crashing into the grass... but she was determined! They both had a little friendly twin competition was shinning through as they inside wanted to be the first to get it. Scott and I were focused on Brooke, when in the corner of my eye is see Parker talking to himself .. maybe saying the things Scott had told him out loud... a few minutes later I see Parker do it all we way down the hill.... I screamed and jumped up and down like a crazy mom while cheering Way to Go PARKER!! I couldn't believe it! He was totally wallaby about to fall any second but made it down to the bottom of the hill into the grass to stop. I ran over and gave him a huge hug... I was so proud of him!!! He was on cloud nine... I said "how did you do it??"were you pep talking yourself into it? No he said I was praying to GOD.... For God to give me the strength to do it! Tears instantly came to my eyes... " really?" he said yes ..God helped me do it! WOW a huge thank you Jesus rushed over me ..thank you for answering his prayer!! What a feeling I felt .. I didn't care at all now if they could ride their bike with no training wheels a bigger lesson had been taught ... If you pray to God for strength he will answer your prayers! I looked up my heart so excited but I looked over to Brooke she was defeated, worn out, sad she wasn't the first one to learn it, and wanting to cry... I'm never going to get this she said. Parker came right over to her and said I prayed to God that's why I got it, Brooke and you should too! So, sweet but she was not in the mood to hear it but she tried again and again very determined. Parker was off practicing and getting it better and better. I could see he was talking to himself again... then Brooke grew stronger and stronger finally getting it further and further until she made it down the hill all the way. Screaming like a crazy mom again, I was so happy for her she stood up so proud smiling ear to ear! Parker came over and said "it's because I prayed for her". Wow, he got it my 6 year old son got it .. what a relationship with Jesus looks like! Just amazing! What a day to remember not only my kids learning to ride their bikes such a huge milestone in your growing up years but that they saw first hand what it means to trust and lean on Jesus and he will give you the strength! One of the first days, I had seen one of my kids use what we had teaching them and really getting it! They rode their bike all the way home not falling once we couldn't believe they had it so well. It had only taken an hour and they were off riding like pros... see for yourself!

Simplicity

Simplicity is my new favorite word for 2013.

This last year I found myself running from the things in life that really matter keeping myself consumed with busyness.  In the meantime, who really needs me the most I was putting everyone else in front of....maybe avoiding it because it's much harder to deal with the people you love the most. It's amazing once you get a conviction in your heart to change you seem to hear many messages from people speaking truth to you without them realizing it. 

One of the recent sermons I heard was 2 Peter 1: 4  you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason make every effort to add to your faith goodness and to goodness knowledge and to knowledge SELF-CONTROL and to self control perseverance and to perseverance godliness.

My faith hasn't been shaken but I do know its time for it to grow! To be very truthful to stop imposing like my faith is strong enough to lead others.. I'm missing the knowledge part!  I can easily have a strong relationship with Jesus while being in communication with him by prayer and just seeing him walking with me daily but I'm left with wanting more.... to know scripture his word by heart to have clearer understanding and grasp the meaning of scripture! I NEED to know and use scripture more to speak truth, to protect, and to live more like Christ. It's like going to battle every day without any weapons.

I always find myself signing up for bibles studies and leading them without fully committed to them.. I go to them but I'm just in too many that I'm not committed and it becomes just a great social hour. 

What speaks to me the most is to have self control . It tugs at my heart!  This time in life is busy and it can be overwhelming. I need the word of God to be my foundation and my strength. I want to be able to say NO to the busyness... to refocus my importance on the one who has the answers! Just as Jesus needed to take a time of 40 days to hear the voice of God, I feel he's called me to take this time to dig deeper into the one most important area of my life and that's my understanding and knowledge of Jesus! I was so busy trying to make it to different things that time with the Lord was cut short or limited to the material of the study.  I want to have the quiet time where he leads me, to be still so his word can penetrate my heart. The bible studies can be such a crutch of relying on our time with God. Depending only on that time for him to speak to us when our mind is racing thinking of the next thing. Instead, for a season I want to just let God lead my focus to see what he wants to teach me.

I  also want to dig deeper to understanding my husband and children. I want to surround them in prayer and teach them what it looks like to be devoted to God. I want to learn along side of the family God has given me, that Jesus is the answer! 

My sister was here last week speaking such great truth to me and it challenged me in this area in my life ... she rattled off her scriptures she had been learning and memorizing... Romans 8: 1-10 it rolled off her tongue so easily .. it was impressive! Crazy that next Sunday the whole sermon was about the same verses. Ok God I get it ... I need to start memorizing...here I go ... If you see me out around town ask me to say these verses... you can be my accountability. 

Romans 8: 1-4 

Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.because through Christ Jesus the law of the spirit set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 for what the law was powerless to do in that is was weakened by the sinful nature God did by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. and so he condemned sin in sinful man 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the spirit. 

Yes, this year is about Simplicity going back to the basics and the first place I start is learning God's word to help this battle of  busyness. To rebuild the foundation of this family to dig the roots so deep it can withstand any storm that comes our way! 

18 months old Today

 Our littlest nugget Kate turns 18 months old today!

It's hard to believe she has entered into full toddler-hood. Our chunky squishy sweet adorable girl has hit the milestone of stubborn ways. Just when I thought we were getting off scott free of having an easy baby Kate has my mind thinking it was too good to be true. She is a Momma lover and melts my heart with her big blue eyes and smirk of love that she does when I hold her in my arms. The smirk is "I got my Momma right where I want her" knowing she is my last baby. She just loves to be held .  It's true if you're the youngest you truly DO get away with more. She is pretty funny too, her favorite word is "YA"  to just about everything you ask her but don't try to trick her like saying "I'm  going to feed your dinner to Lucky?" she quickly will say "MINE". I can tell she is on the edge of beginning to really talk as she is starting to try to speak more and more. A few favorite words right now are, YA, mine, hi, byebye, mommy, daddy, stop it, doggies, ball, bath, pappie, duck, and milk. 

This girl is independent trying to keep up with her brothers and sister watching their every move. She wants to do it all with nothing holding her back.. she will try it all. Thank goodness her tough personality comes in handy when she's exploring new things. She has had more cuts, bruises, and falls than any other of my kids, always within minutes she is up trying to do it all again. 

  We were out walking the lake today enjoy the Florida sunshine looking for fish in the lake.  

She loves walks and loves walking her baby around and around in her stroller... she does it for hours. 

If were not able to find her in the house, she usually off hiding in the boys room playing cars and trains, she's great at playing by herself.  Another great pastime is she loves opening and closing things especially doors... she could do it a hundred times. 

Our personal greeter loves to say hi and bye bye to everyone. 

Her snuggles are the sweetest and she is a full cuddlier with her head always resting on my shoulder. 

Most friends tell me she looks the most like Brooke which I see in this picture

For being the youngest, she can be spicy and spunky.. her cry is LOUD and mad... 

The girl has some volume! Maybe because Jonas at an early age was teaching her how to scream, it comes in handy for getting what she wants.  For these last few weeks we are at the beginning stages of the melt downs, body throws, and the irrational women of not knowing what she wants but just to cry. For example, in the photo above she's mad because I didn't give her passy to her. 

Look who won that battle! 

The girl is addicted to her passy more than my other kids .. within minutes if it's not in her mouth she's looking for it. Hey, she is my baby and I know she won't be 16 going to school with it. Our baby girl is growing faster and faster as each month goes by ... as I reflect on the New Year my mind races on all the things I still want to do and haven't done with my kids yet. I cling to these precious moments more to even enjoy the terrible twos we're about to embark on as they are most likely my last!  Here's to a great New Years day celebrating our little Kate as a family... I'm off to grill up some hamburgers.