VBS Week!

Sometimes, I can get so wrapped up in my little world, that I forget anyone else's exists. That can be true of my kids' worlds too. We started VBS this week and I always get emotional when I see my kids learning about the Lord, and worshiping Him. I mean, it is an incredible feeling. I sat in the sanctuary today and witnessed about 1000 kids singing to Jesus. It was as if I was seeing the troops in training, ya know? So cool. Well, I got a little choked up because all I could think about was their spiritual journey and how great it is that they're learning and of course, I don't even think about mine.

I've been too busy lately feeling lonely and missing my hometown that I have missed all that God has been wanting to teach me. I've been getting too wrapped up in my world, that I've forgotten to focus on Him and see where He wants me. I have a friend here in Houston who is from our hometown. She moved here to do some missions work. We've chatted via Facebook but we haven't gotten together yet. I wasn't sure what ministry she was involved in, but after seeing some of her pictures and hearing some of the women talk at church, I figured out she is apart of a ministry called Elijah Rising. I don't know much about it, other then what is on their website, but for a minute, God allowed me to get out of myself and focus on someone else. Elijah Rising is a ministry committed to ending the sex trafficking industry here in Houston and throughout the world. And my friend is apart of the ministry. As I read about some of the stories, my heart broke for the people caught up in this sad, dark industry, but then my heart broke for my friend. My friend, who day in a day out, serves the homeless, orphans, prostitutes, and anyone else that comes across her path. She willingly serves and trusts God to provide for her to do so. What the heck can I be complaining about!? Man, self-centeredness is a trap easily disguised as a self-pity! Lord, forgive me.

I'm really glad God allowed me to see where my sin was hiding, because I was able to reach out to my friend and find out how I can better serve her and be praying for her. Hopefully, we will be able to connect soon so I can love on her, maybe with some Starbucks, laughs and stories from home. I think it will encourage both of us.

Well, to wrap up last week, What's Cooking Wednesday was a huge success and a flop all at the same time! Actually, Thursday and Friday were flops/think on my feet/improvise days too. So for Wednesday, I had pinned this great idea to make these 4th of July layered drinks. Of course, I forgot to buy the things I needed to make them but thankfully, I had a box of brownies waiting to be made in my pantry! Hurray! We even put sprinkles on them so we'd have more to do! I think Make Something Monday and What's Cooking Wednesday are my kid's favorites. I had no idea how much they liked cracking eggs! 

Time to Learn Thursday was a flop too. I thought I had read all of the local library calendars correctly. I purposefully planned to go to library time on Thursday because we are supposed to be learning on Thursdays right? Wrong. By the way, this is like me to a T! I do this all the time. I think I have something planned correctly, on the right day, on all 3 of my calendars, and then never mind, I HAD IT WRONG! Ya, that's so me. Well, at least we found the library, or my iPhone found it. So we walk into the library and into the storytime room which is filled with infants. It was Mommy and Me storytime to which my loud, 7 year old proudly exclaimed, "Mom, there's only babies in here!" Awkward. We didn't stay in storytime. Suffice to say, I learned to be more careful reading the library calendars. But our mission was accomplished. We got new library cards and checked out some great books.

Fun Friday also had to be changed up, but I think the kids didn't mind. The weather forecast called for thunderstorms and we had a pool picnic planned for the day. Well, I was worried about the weather so we ended up at a place called Pump It Up. The kids had a blast! It was a play place filled with inflatables. The kids had fun with other kids, got out tons of energy and it didn't break the bank. After lunch and naps, the weather cooperated just fine and we ended up at the pool after all! Our first Fun Friday, I think, lived up to the hype!

God specifically designed each of us to do the jobs that we are doing. Just like my friend, who God has called into the mission fields, God has made me, to do this job of parenting and sometimes to think on my feet. I think I bring Him enjoyment every time I think I have something planned perfectly and then have to change because I didn't plan so perfectly after all. Really, I think I make Him laugh. God has made each one of us to be a perfect fit for the job right in front of us. Even when we don't think we are very good at it, God knows we are because He created us.

Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14 "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."

Father's Day is around the corner

Some days, I forget to express how wonderful my husband is. As I am writing this, I'm trying really hard to listen to my husband tell our oldest son about the time he found out he was going to be a dad. He's retelling the story of how he was so excited to tell all of his teammates that he was going to have a son. My husband Chris played in the minor leagues for a few seasons and learning that we would be adding to our family was a really stressful time, especially to a minor league family. At least, that's how I remember it, but Chris' version of the story is much better, especially telling it to Cade. I never knew how excited Chris was to tell his teammates and his coaches that he was going to be a dad. Apparently, he was nearly fined for talking about it too much on the bus after a tough loss. I guess the coach was yelling at them for losing, but Chris wasn't too concerned about the loss and was more thrilled about having a son. I'm sure Cade is just glowing knowing how excited his big, awesome, baseball playing daddy was to have him as his boy.

I am so thankful to do life with this man. He's hardworking, fun-loving, hilarious, not afraid to speak truth (especially to me) and he loves the Lord. I know that I'm blessed, but I also know without a shadow of a doubt that God thought of me, when he made my hubby. Happy Father's Day to the best daddy I know, my wonderful husband Chris.

I just needed to get that out there...ok back to the summer schedule!

Monday was make something Monday and we painted fish plates. We even had our neighbors over to join in the fun! Over the weekend, I made a flip up, picture, chore chart. It works so well! My kids can see what they still need to do and they don't really have to ask to get started. It's really great for my Type A oldest, who thrives with a schedule! He's almost like a broken record. Seriously, he's repeating himself and the schedule over and over and over and over....you get the idea. Anyways, picture chore chart, great idea!

My kids loved the craft. They kept asking to make another craft all day. It made me feel really good that I was deterring them from watching tv and video games because I kept them busy, all day. The cool thing was, and granted, I am typically NOT, wait no, NEVER this scheduled or routine, but when my kids were done doing a chore or their craft, they didn't want to watch tv! They wanted to play. Thank you Lord! It felt really good and productive! Not to mention, for the first time, I was not embarrassed to have someone new in my house. My house was actually picked up, toys put in their places, trash taken out, table wiped. It felt so fantastic! I really hope I can keep this up because I like it!

FYI- other moms, Please hear me out. I AM NOT a meticulous, scheduled, orderly, clean, or amazing homeschooling mom. I am a loud, unorganized, late, goofy, forgetful, messy, did I mention late? Mom. My kids' clothes are always wrinkled, their hair isn't combed and we eat out A LOT. So if I can do this, you can do it! (Ok, it's only day 2 but still, we can do this!)

Today was Team Tuesday. Really, this is what my summer schedule is for. I want to get my kids to buy in to the idea that they are apart of a family and not just here to be serviced. We are apart of a team, so we all need to do our part. Plus, how the heck am I supposed to send my kids to college knowing that they have no idea how to do the dishes or start their own laundry!? Am I right??
My kids worked so hard today, I could not be prouder of them! My son worked his tooshy off, he didn't even want to play with the neighbor kids because he was too tired. They vacuumed, mopped, cleaned toilets, changed laundry, pulled weeds, mowed the lawn, dusted, cleaned appliances and of course did their daily chores too. What a blessing it was to me!!! As I write this, I am filled with gratitude for the effort my kiddos put forth today. This tired mommy got such a great pick me up from my 3 kids, of all people!! 

Thank you Lord for these 3 blessings that you've entrusted to me. Not only do you trust me to give to them, but you trust me to accept the love they give back to me. What a great position to be it. I think as moms, we get so worn out by constantly giving that we forget to receive the love that our babes give back to us. May we always remember gratitude when we think of our kids. May we receive the love that they give in the obvious ways and in the not so obvious ones. Lord, help me to remember that my "Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord." (Ps. 127:3)

Tomorrow is What's cooking Wednesday!! I'm excited to see how we do!

Love,
Reese

The Last Day of First Grade!!

Thank God for the last day of first grade!! My oldest is such a wonderful kid. He's smart, loud, fun loving, goofy and not afraid to speak up (like way up, no volume control- UP). He's a great kid and I know he's going to be an amazing adult. I'm excited to see how God continues to shape and mold him in this life. So today is actually his second, last day in first grade. When we left California, we weren't sure if we were going to re-enroll him in school here in Texas. We had a good bye party for him in his class, gave his teacher flowers, lots of  hugs and thought it'd be a last day of first grade. Cade was very well connected in his class. Most of his teachers like to refer to him as the president. He knows everybody. He likes everybody and everybody likes him. I figured if we jumped into another school, it would be close to the same for Cade. Well, like in many things, I was wrong.

Once we moved into our new home and out of desperation to get Cade back into school, I re-enrolled him. I prayed about it. I felt like this was the best way to get him back into some sort of routine and hopefully, he'd make a few friends for the summer. I should've known something was bothering him when he started asking to stay home. Cade loves school. When he's sick, I have to force him to stay home and usually, I end up taking him in after lunch because he doesn't want to miss his buddies.

Cade started having fits of emotions when I'd pick him up from school. He was frustrated about running errands or pretty much anything.  He'd cry when I'd make him do the one line of homework that his teacher assigned. He was just really frustrated with his new school. I asked him about friends at school and if he had any. He made one. My poor son was so crushed inside and I just don't know how to alleviate his pain.

Over the past few weeks, I'd check in with him on how he was feeling about our move and his new school. I was really trying to get him to say his feelings instead of just breaking down over every little thing in life. He'd tell me he didn't like Texas, it was hot, there are bugs, he didn't like his school, etc. Cade is the ultimate perfectionist. He loves to win, loves to know how everything works (like everything, "mom, how does the TV make a picture on the screen?" you get the idea) and he loves being good at stuff. I think with all the adjustments and unknowns, he really started to get down on himself. He told me he would call himself stupid in class and get in trouble from his teacher. Then he told me what no mom ever wants to hear like EVER. He said that he has been telling himself that he hates himself. My heart hit the floor.

All I could do was cry.

My heart just broke. I was filled with all the emotions that I've ever felt for this boy. The moment I found out I was pregnant, I cried tears of joy. The moment I saw him, I cried and laughed.
"I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he granted my request." (1 Samuel 1:27 NLT)
I'm sure that's how Hannah felt when she said that. I cried when he was 2 and nearly knocked his two front teeth out on our front porch steps. After dropping him off at Kindergarten, I cried as I was walking away. I cried as I was rushing to the ER because I received a phone call that he had a seizure. And I cried when he told me he hated himself. I'm sure there are many other times that I have wept over my boy and I know there will be plenty more in the future. But hearing him say this just hurt me to the core.

I reminded Cade of all the love I have for him. I told him all the special things about him that I hold dear and think are so amazing about him. And more importantly, I told him that God loves him even deeper then that. 1 John 3:1 (NIV)  "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" I love the exclamation points. It's like shouting the awesomeness of who God is and how he sees us! I believe every time I have cried or wept over my children, God is sitting next to me weeping too because I am His child. He hurts when I hurt and he rejoices when I rejoice. He is my Abba Father.

Today is the last day of first grade for Cade and thank God for it. I believe He is rejoicing over Cade enduring the change and that he has been trying hard to make friends. And I also believe that God is hurting where Cade hurts, too. Cade is His child. May my son's ears be more receptive to the voice of God. May God's voice be louder then the crowd of negativity in his life. May his heart be so rooted in God's love that not even negative self talk can penetrate it. May Cade feel God's love in a whole new way this summer.

Happy last day of school y'all!!
Love, Reese

Summer Break...2 of the scariest words put together!

6 days, 134 hours , 8050 minutes, and 482987 seconds....until summer break starts!!! Ahhhhh! Insert Mom freak out here!!  Last summer was my first summer of having a school aged child at home. I had no plan but swimming, park dates and lots of lounging around on my calendar. In my mind, it was going to be heavenly. Well, as you can imagine, the first few days were good. But after the 1st of 3 Vacation Bible Schools (you know, I was trying to give them some "structure"), it became clear that I was counting down the days to school starting again. I believe I even bought all of my son's school supplies around the 4th of July. Ya, it was that bad. So this summer, is going to be different.

My family recently moved to Texas. Between our spring break back in California, moving halfway across country and temporary housing, my oldest had been out of school for nearly a month. I was DESPERATE to get him back in school! The lack of structure, schedule and all of the unknowns were making his behavior was unbearable. I called my dear mommy mentor back in my hometown and she gave a great thought.  She said that "Our children are not blocking our goal, they ARE our goal." She has said this to me so many times before and for some reason, this time was different. I started asking myself what my goals were. Well, for now, my goal is raising my children. Raising them to love the Lord, to have a relationship with Him, to be responsible adults, and to hopefully be wonderful husbands and wives to their future spouses. So why am I trying to push my oldest away from me?? My mentor challenged me to take the opportunity of the summer to really hone in on training the team. She told me to get on a schedule with established cleaning routines and to build in some fun for the kids to look forward to every week.

Now, for those of you who don't know me, I am anything but scheduled. My mother-in-law refers to me as being on "Reese Time." My dear friend Teresa never tells me the time something actually starts. She always tells me 15 minutes before, so I end up thinking I'm late, but I actually show up on time. (I know, right? She loves me for me!) So, the thought of actually making a schedule for my summer break literally kept me up at night. I was terrified of figuring out how to structure my summer!! AHHH!! Thankfully, we in the modern era have PINTEREST!!

Seriously, I don't know how I planned my wedding without Pinterest. Like, what did we actually do? Just magazines? You young brides have no idea how lucky you are to have this resource!! Sorry, I'm off the subject. Ok, so I turned to Pinterest and searched summer schedules. I HAD NO IDEA these even existed!! Apparently, there are some AMAZING mommies out there that just have a natural bent towards scheduling, homemade everything, homeschool and organic awesomeness!! As much as I try, I am not one of these moms. But I really appreciate all that you ladies have given to the world wide web to help us crazy moms survive. (Here's a link to my board of their awesomeness).

So my countdown is now down to 6 days, 133 hours, 8002 mins and 480115 seconds until summer break starts. (Btw- that app is called the Legacy App, it's pretty cool). And I officially have my first week scheduled out and on paper. I used a template from Microsoft and made myself a spreadsheet for our week. I'll have to figure out how to post that on here so you all can see. I'm actually pretty proud of myself....(side note, I keep 3 calendars because I usually forget something or don't show up to appointments etc...I mean really, writing a schedule for myself is like winning a gold medal....a lot of hard work, training and dedication!) OK, I figured it out. Here is the link to my summer schedule!

This blog is intended to keep me accountable with my goals this summer. Summer break shouldn't be the two scariest words put together. It should be a cherished time where we can make every one of those seconds count. My kids aren't blocking my goal, they are my goal. My heart's prayer for myself is Proverbs 31:26-27 (ESV) "She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." May I not grow complacent in the job of raising my children. May I not let the fear of change and challenge rule in my life. May I take every one of those precious seconds that God has given me with my kids and use them to help mold my kids to be more like Jesus. That is my prayer this summer. What's yours??

Love, Reese