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Saturday night of our weekend away was dedicated to writing out our family plan. This is our last piece of homework from our "Entrusted with a Child's Heart" bible study. So here it is:
1. Love and obey Jesus (Matthew 22:37
2. Work now, rest later (prov. 26:14; prov 28:19)
3. Speak the truth (Leviticus 19:11; Prov 12:22)
4. Honor and obey your parents (Eph 6:2; Ex 20:12)
5. Have a grateful heart (1Thess 5:16-18; Eph 5:19-20)
6. Give the Lord your firsts (Ezekiel 44:30; Malaci 3:8-10)
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Weekend Away
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Ahhh... the morning after a weekend away. Motivated and ready to get to work this week. My mind and body are rested and ready to CONQUER. I am a little scared of my list of "to-do's", but plunging ahead nevertheless.
Our weekend consisted of two VERY nice rooms. One at Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor (I had never been there before… SOOO CUTE) and a bed and breakfast in Mackinaw Island. We drove all over the northern part of the state and stopped in a bunch of quaint, little Michigan towns. Our proudest moment was when we realized we hadn’t fought the whole weekend, but an hour from home we may have struggled with that claim. It was the darn Lions game that came between us.
We stopped at Blackstar Farms and for $5 tasted 5 wines and took home our glasses. Something we have been meaning to do since we dated. Then we drove through Elk Rapids, Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs, all beautiful vacation spots for another trip. Next, the tunnel of trees and stopped at the Legs Inn (a very weird Polish/Native American restaurant). This could have been a “fight Spot” as my recently pumped breast milk spilled between, under, and all over the seats of Justin’s car. He handled it well and saved the day by sacrificing his golf towel for the clean-up. Very Romantic.
In Mackinaw we drove across the bridge, walk around town, worked on our Family Plan (from Entrusted with a Child Heart, that is for another post), bought chocolaty snacks for way too much money, and slept in until 8:30.
My favorite part of the week: The quiet moments. Sitting at the breakfast table looking out at Lake Michigan; Devotions on the balcony of our room; silence in the car. When we were first married I would have hated these moments, begging Justin to talk with me about anything and everything. Now it is a treat, a gift from God to be able to have a complete thought without a beautiful baby’s cry or a request for help from two busy boys.
Now off to my list. Relaxation is over and canning and cleaning are waiting.
The View out our room in Glen Arbor
Blackstar Farms
Our weekend consisted of two VERY nice rooms. One at Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor (I had never been there before… SOOO CUTE) and a bed and breakfast in Mackinaw Island. We drove all over the northern part of the state and stopped in a bunch of quaint, little Michigan towns. Our proudest moment was when we realized we hadn’t fought the whole weekend, but an hour from home we may have struggled with that claim. It was the darn Lions game that came between us.
We stopped at Blackstar Farms and for $5 tasted 5 wines and took home our glasses. Something we have been meaning to do since we dated. Then we drove through Elk Rapids, Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs, all beautiful vacation spots for another trip. Next, the tunnel of trees and stopped at the Legs Inn (a very weird Polish/Native American restaurant). This could have been a “fight Spot” as my recently pumped breast milk spilled between, under, and all over the seats of Justin’s car. He handled it well and saved the day by sacrificing his golf towel for the clean-up. Very Romantic.
In Mackinaw we drove across the bridge, walk around town, worked on our Family Plan (from Entrusted with a Child Heart, that is for another post), bought chocolaty snacks for way too much money, and slept in until 8:30.
My favorite part of the week: The quiet moments. Sitting at the breakfast table looking out at Lake Michigan; Devotions on the balcony of our room; silence in the car. When we were first married I would have hated these moments, begging Justin to talk with me about anything and everything. Now it is a treat, a gift from God to be able to have a complete thought without a beautiful baby’s cry or a request for help from two busy boys.
Now off to my list. Relaxation is over and canning and cleaning are waiting.
The View out our room in Glen Arbor
Blackstar Farms
Friday, July 8, 2011
July already?
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I guess there is no time to be on the computer in the summer. We need to soak in every minute of the warm, long daylight. This summer has been amazing. Our house is a perfect place for out three little ones to spread out and play, play, play. Abigail is 5 months, somehow, and almost sitting up and beginning here crawling stage. We love her so much we just cannot get enough. Jack and Spencer call her "pretty girl" when they are talking to her and she has only laughed for them. Jackson talks as much as he can and to whomever will listen. Spencer seems so old this summer compared to last. He can follow directions, he likes to swim in the lake and he continues to try new things, which used to be quite rare for him.
Justin and I are blessed by the busyness of our little ones. It keeps us striving to be better parents at every turn. We are currently in a bible study that is reading "Entrusted with a Childs heart". It is such a good book we have learned so much already.
Here are a few summer glamour shots of the family.
Our beautiful home
Sleeping with papa Barlett
Campout with dad on Father's Day
Me and my boys
Helping Papa horses build our sandbox
Justin and I are blessed by the busyness of our little ones. It keeps us striving to be better parents at every turn. We are currently in a bible study that is reading "Entrusted with a Childs heart". It is such a good book we have learned so much already.
Here are a few summer glamour shots of the family.
Our beautiful home
Sleeping with papa Barlett
Campout with dad on Father's Day
Me and my boys
Helping Papa horses build our sandbox
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Working on...
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I want to be better at a lot of things. My dream list is endless, but here are a few things I am trying to tackle recently.
- hugging my boys every time they eat (they are so precious, why not?)
- flossing my teeth (a tip/scare from an older and wiser sister)
- not being a crab to my hubby (why oh why is this so hard?)
- getting up earlier (yuck, but I have so much to do)
- Praying for my kids and hubby every morning (love this)
- Eating smaller meals (need to slide back into those size 6's again)
- Using gracefilled and fruit of the Spirit words (Is that promoting peace? Are you being gentle, kind? no, no, no you are not!)
I need to write them down so I can check back on my progress. Slowly but surely...
- hugging my boys every time they eat (they are so precious, why not?)
- flossing my teeth (a tip/scare from an older and wiser sister)
- not being a crab to my hubby (why oh why is this so hard?)
- getting up earlier (yuck, but I have so much to do)
- Praying for my kids and hubby every morning (love this)
- Eating smaller meals (need to slide back into those size 6's again)
- Using gracefilled and fruit of the Spirit words (Is that promoting peace? Are you being gentle, kind? no, no, no you are not!)
I need to write them down so I can check back on my progress. Slowly but surely...
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Three Little Paths to Holiness
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Oh my....I had only written those two words and I have already been interrupted. Spencer: "MOM, Jack is knocking down the fort. PLEASE COME." Up from the computer, fix the fort, tell Jack no knocking the fort down, leave the room, come back to the fort to help Spence fix a blanket, finally back to the computer. This is the story of my days and to be honest, I was really struggling with having a patient and loving attitude. How can a human being live like this?
I get up in the morning, feed Abigail, make Justin's lunch, get the boys bottles, change diapers, clean up a little, change a BAD diaper, take someone to the potty, stop a fight during my breakfast, feed Abigail, have to stop to wipe bran muffins off the boys hands, pj's, table, floor, wall. Pick up a now screaming Abigail, nurse some more, finish nursing only to find every cooking utensil and the silverware drawer emptied in the kitchen. When do I find time (interruption: comfort a crying boy who hurt himself on something, pat, pat, on the head) to do my devotions and make sure I have time to a quiet time to pray.
By God's grace, I have realized in the last few days that every season of life is going to look different. I may not get an hour to do my devotions and pray, but I can use the moments throughout the day (interruption: break up a fight over who gets what blanket) to choose righteousness and patience. I can read a short devotion during a quiet moment locked in the bathroom. I can call (interruption: stop jumping on your brothers head, it is not kind) a sister and be encouraged by a short conversation. I need to look for the little miracle moments in my day so that I can have a heart of Joy to fill my home with.
My little paths to holiness:
I get up in the morning, feed Abigail, make Justin's lunch, get the boys bottles, change diapers, clean up a little, change a BAD diaper, take someone to the potty, stop a fight during my breakfast, feed Abigail, have to stop to wipe bran muffins off the boys hands, pj's, table, floor, wall. Pick up a now screaming Abigail, nurse some more, finish nursing only to find every cooking utensil and the silverware drawer emptied in the kitchen. When do I find time (interruption: comfort a crying boy who hurt himself on something, pat, pat, on the head) to do my devotions and make sure I have time to a quiet time to pray.
By God's grace, I have realized in the last few days that every season of life is going to look different. I may not get an hour to do my devotions and pray, but I can use the moments throughout the day (interruption: break up a fight over who gets what blanket) to choose righteousness and patience. I can read a short devotion during a quiet moment locked in the bathroom. I can call (interruption: stop jumping on your brothers head, it is not kind) a sister and be encouraged by a short conversation. I need to look for the little miracle moments in my day so that I can have a heart of Joy to fill my home with.
My little paths to holiness:
Monday, February 14, 2011
Abigail Grace Bartlett
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It has almost been a week since Abigail was born and I am just getting around to putting up some pictures. She was born 2/8/11 at 2:34 in the afternoon. She weighed 7lbs and 8oz and was 21 1/2" long. She was the biggest and the longest of all our babies and definitely the hardest to deliver. We found out almost 5 weeks ago she was breech and even though she was covered in much prayer she never flipped and decide to come into the world upside-down. We delivered her at home with a midwife. This was our first time having a homebirth and everything went better then we could have ever imagined.
The boys love her. They ask about her when they wake up from their naps and take turns holding her and getting her a pipe when she cries. Our home seems filled to the brim with joy as our new family of five fills every corner.
The adjustment has been very interesting. I lost quite a bit of blood after the delivery and my hemoglobin level dropped well below what was average. I have been babied by my mom for the last week and this week I am continuing to take it easy as my boys go to their grandparents and cousins houses for a few days. Abigail and I are already enjoying some special mom and me moments.
We have learned quite a bit with this new little one, most of all to trust our Saviour and be grateful every moment for our health and the health of our beautiful children.
OUR NEWEST
It has almost been a week since Abigail was born and I am just getting around to putting up some pictures. She was born 2/8/11 at 2:34 in the afternoon. She weighed 7lbs and 8oz and was 21 1/2" long. She was the biggest and the longest of all our babies and definitely the hardest to deliver. We found out almost 5 weeks ago she was breech and even though she was covered in much prayer she never flipped and decide to come into the world upside-down. We delivered her at home with a midwife. This was our first time having a homebirth and everything went better then we could have ever imagined.
The boys love her. They ask about her when they wake up from their naps and take turns holding her and getting her a pipe when she cries. Our home seems filled to the brim with joy as our new family of five fills every corner.
The adjustment has been very interesting. I lost quite a bit of blood after the delivery and my hemoglobin level dropped well below what was average. I have been babied by my mom for the last week and this week I am continuing to take it easy as my boys go to their grandparents and cousins houses for a few days. Abigail and I are already enjoying some special mom and me moments.
We have learned quite a bit with this new little one, most of all to trust our Saviour and be grateful every moment for our health and the health of our beautiful children.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The day before????
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This is the problem with going overdue (which we have never done before)... you never know when it is going to be the last day.
I keep thinking, "What should I do today, because it might be the last day before the baby comes."
- Should I clean the bathrooms, because I don't want to be having contractions in a dirty bathroom?
- Should I give the boys a bath because they are going to be at some one's house and I don't want them to be stinky?
- Should I balance my checkbook for the 100th time because I don't want to get any overdraft fees?
- Should I do laundry so that Justin has enough clean clothes?
- Should I just sit and cuddle and read with the boys because I am going to have new little one soon?
- Should I clean out my fridge... it is just plain nasty?
- Should I make a few meals to freeze for after the baby?
- Should I mop the floor again... I just did it yesterday, but it is gross again and I don't want people coming into my house seeing that?
- Should I sit on the computer and whittle the time away in hopes that a big bad contraction will come at any minute?
The real problem is that I am inpatient and I want to see this little one. I also like to have a plan and a schedule and at this point those are impossible. So, as much as I hate to say it, God may keep me asking that question for a few more days because it is refining me. Argggg.
I keep thinking, "What should I do today, because it might be the last day before the baby comes."
- Should I clean the bathrooms, because I don't want to be having contractions in a dirty bathroom?
- Should I give the boys a bath because they are going to be at some one's house and I don't want them to be stinky?
- Should I balance my checkbook for the 100th time because I don't want to get any overdraft fees?
- Should I do laundry so that Justin has enough clean clothes?
- Should I just sit and cuddle and read with the boys because I am going to have new little one soon?
- Should I clean out my fridge... it is just plain nasty?
- Should I make a few meals to freeze for after the baby?
- Should I mop the floor again... I just did it yesterday, but it is gross again and I don't want people coming into my house seeing that?
- Should I sit on the computer and whittle the time away in hopes that a big bad contraction will come at any minute?
The real problem is that I am inpatient and I want to see this little one. I also like to have a plan and a schedule and at this point those are impossible. So, as much as I hate to say it, God may keep me asking that question for a few more days because it is refining me. Argggg.
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