Our little Escape Artist

So, I go in to get Addison up in the morning, and she's just talking away having a good old time. I leave her in the crib to go put my contacts in and hear a "thud thud" followed by a distinctive cry.  I'm thinking, no big deal, she usually throws her head back against the crib protesting her continued "jail time" sentence begging for me to release her.  I go back into her room... and there's no Addison in her crib....

The door is open, Hunter's downstairs and my husband is asleep in bed, so.... where did she go?!

I found her walking around the top of the banister stairs, pacifer in mouth, blanket in hand, just cruising around like nothing happened! She looks at me with these big proud eyes as if to say, "well, you wouldn't come and get me, so I took care of the situation! Now, let's go get some breakfast!"

So, needless to say, I spent the entire rest of the day going around town shopping for baby gates to contain my little escape artist.  I knew this day would come- I just am happy it ended with no casualties!

I heard a friend say that her little brother figured out how to climb ON TOP OF THE REFRIGERATOR! He would go from chair to countertop, to microwave, to cabinets, to fridge. Addison climbs the chairs and the pantry shelves, but hasn't reached that level of insanity yet.  When she does, its gymnastics enrollment for us so she can learn how to fall safely! :)

Reflecting the Purpose and Personality of Jesus

This weekend we had a conference at church to help us with our discipleship and small group ministries.  We were blessed to have a very gifted and humble man, Tim Miller of Sevier Hights Baptist Church who leads a collegiate group of 1000+ come to speak and encourage us.
http://www.sevierheights.org/watch-and-listen/   (this is their church website)
http://insidethewalk.org/   (this is their college group)

He was speaking specifically to us regarding our small groups, but the implications also apply to us as moms, don't you think?  Here are some of his points.....

Reflecting the purpose and personality of Jesus (to my children and to other moms):
1. Wakes me up in the morning  (even at 6 or 2am!)
2. Give me meaning to the mundane  (diaper changes and making PB&Js)
3. Helps me to say "no" (to non-kingdom things that exhaust my resources so that I can have energy to say "yes" to my kids)

more to come on my notes from this conference later......  right now, I have to make my sweet energetic kids some dinner!

The Holy Spirit....the forgotten and unused Person of the Trinity

Wednesday night I was teaching a lesson on the Holy Spirit, and I was provided many opportunities to put into practice what I was "preaching"!  Addison is at the age where she thinks she should be able to do and have anything she wants and proceeds to scream and cry, throwing herself down if I don't concede to her desires.  Hunter is a typical three year old boy who just wants to be played with all day.  Every time I turned around, he was moving furniture, tackling Addison, climbing banisters, pulling out every toy, asking for more food, wanting me to play Go Fish, Play Doh, wrestle, cars, color, read, go outside in the rain, you name it!

I was tired, needing to study my lesson, REALLY needed to work on the mountain of laundry, and I couldn't stand my house being full of crumbs and toys no matter how many times I used the dustbuster or put things away!
Thinking back on my previous post on the lesson, I sincerely put every spare energy I had into praying for the strength of the Holy Spirit, and the peace and patience to finish strong.

Did you know that 38% of Christians "strongly agreed" that the Holy Spirit doesn't exist? (2009 Barna Study).  The Holy Spirit empowers, purifies, reveals, and unites us!  Jesus told his disciples that he will give them "another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth..... You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."  (John 14:16)  Isn't that amazing?!  We have the power of the Trinity at work within us to glorify the Father!  While not always easy to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, we must fight to allow Him to work in our lives instead of doing everything in our own frail power.

Thursday was much better because it began with MOPS and ended with my wonderful husband taking Hunter to the mall (clad in his Lightening McQueen pajamas...Hunter, not Doug!) and he treated him to a fun night of ChickfilA milkshake, Dicks Sporting Goods, and a special gift for me!  But the best gift was a QUIET evening of just me and Addison, reading books and playing together!

Thank you God, for not just providing us with your Words to us in writing, but for going above and beyond to allow the third Person of the Trinity to dwell inside the life of every Christ-follower!