Breathe deep and run!

Awww.... that moment of quiet, that some days never seems to fall upon this house, but always seems to come when most needed.  Breathe deep, refocus, rest for another run.  Sometimes I cannot find the quiet, and I just pray for refreshment while I run; but today it's here, and I'm clinging to it for a few moments. This is one tough and beautiful job.

And to all the mothers out there, you are tough and beautiful woman designed specifically for this tough and beautiful job. Don't forget it.  Breathe deep and run!

3 months!

I can't believe my little Ryder man is 3 months old already!  He is such a little sweetie.  I would have to say little boys are every bit as sweet as little girls.  He is smiling a lot these days and is starting to have a lot to say. I have yet to get a laugh from him, but he's getting so close and I'm trying every goofy thing possible :)  I thought he was going to be my worst sleeper, but he is settling in and often sleeping 8-10 hour stretches at night. We are falling more in love with this little guy everyday!

Ryder and his friend from church, Anna. She's 10 days older than he is

He likes making this face for the camera apparently

 

All dressed up at church on Sunday - such a little man! 

Real Life

After my last blog I felt like I should do a follow up of what grace really looks like in my life.  I never got around to it. I was talking with some friends last night about life and realized I needed to write that update See, grace is not me sitting in my spotless house while my angelic children sleep peacefully and awake with charming personalities to a mother who is always gracious and loving :)  Grace is not perfection.  On the morning I wrote that blog it looked more like this.  I got upset with my husband when he did not meet my expectations.  I raised my voice at one of my girls when she did not want the breakfast I prepared.  I was impatient with children that needed me while I was overwhelmed with a too big to do list.  And yet, over all of that was this sense of grace.  This knowing that God is not disappointed in my imperfection.  The thought that He is big enough to cover it.  Grace happens in real life.  Thank goodness, because there is a lot of real life going on around here, and I'm guessing that happens at your house too.  I'm learning not to be afraid of that.  Realizing that God has me covered while I grow and learn. Knowing that my kids can be just as happy with uncombed hair and toys strewn across that house, and maybe even more importantly realizing I can be happy in the midst of all of that too.  Gotta love real life!