Ok...with a little encouragement from my hubby...I baked my favorite cookies today (as its snowing...you absolutely need coffee & cookies on a day like today!)
So here is the magic recipe for the best Oatmeal cookies I've ever had!!
3/4 c. butter
1 egg
1/3 c. milk
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla (I use the real stuff from Mexico..YUM)
3 c. quick oats (I have used old fashioned too)
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
Ok cookies makers....mix butter, sugar, egg, milk & vanilla
Mix dry ingredients....and to butter/sugar mixture. Stir in a whole bag of butterscotch chips...you can use chocolate chips, or do raisins & nuts too (if you like them that way)
Bake @ 375* for 10-12 minutes....grease pan....I use the medium sized pampered chef scoop & this recipe made 3 doz + 1 cookie!!
Enjoy!!!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
God's Timing (this could be a long one...so bear with me)
Ok...so Justice is about 21 months old now...and I'm not pregnant yet. Ha ha...quite the announcement I know! Well..it happened so fast after Lincoln (they are 17 months apart) that I have been waiting & wanting our next baby anytime now. Note, I didn't say "patiently waiting." In the last few months years, I have been on a roller coaster of emotions in this area of my life.
Truth is I have wanted to be a mommy as long as I can remember. Most who know me at all know this. In fact, both mine & Mike's family were "placing bets" on our wedding day to see how quickly we would have children....I'm guessing no picked 8 years. In our years of marriage before Lincoln & Justice, I was always wanting a baby of my own. There were some very trying times for me during those first 8 years of wanting & waiting. One day, Mike sat down with me & we had a long talk. This talk included some very tough thoughts of maybe kids of our own was not in God's plan for us, & the fact that we didn't get married just to have kids..but that we love each other & enjoy life with each other. If you know Mike at all, you know how loving he is to me. He was so caring & understanding at this time in our marriage. I remember at one point telling him "I don't know how long it will take me to be ok with the thought of never having children." Yet, we continued life & prayed about it. When Mike worked for the college as a recruiter, we had talked about if we were ever back in church ministry that we would probably adopt. A way for us to have children of our own (which we thought wasn't gonna happen) & a way to rescue orphans who need love. Then when I got pregnant with Lincoln all of those thoughts just faded. I had everything I ever wanted. Waiting for God's perfect timing was not easy, but so worth it. All the thoughts & feelings of your first child plus after waiting & wanting him for 8+ years. I was so thankful that God's plan was bigger than mine. So here we were with a baby after all those years of thinking it might not happen. We couldn't be happier. Then Lincoln was about 9 months old & SURPRISE....I'm pregnant again!! Mind boggling & so amazingly joyous at the same time. Justice was born & we feel so blessed & loved by God....there's nothing more I wanted. Until Justice was about 6 months old & I started having baby fever again....HE WAS GROWING WAY TOO FAST & I couldn't make the time slow down.
As the months continue to pass & I think about wanting more children, my desire to be the best mommy ever just grows stronger & stronger! But I want a house full of kiddos. So I find myself in the same spot as I was so many years ago, longing for a baby so badly that's almost all I think about. Each month that comes & I'm not pregnant, I find myself a little more disappointed.
November came & our church recognized & celebrated "National Adoption Awareness Month." We have an amazing church family filled with people who are called to helping the orphans. Multiple families are foster families, several looking to adopt through the foster care system. We also have families who are adopting internationally, and countless families who financially invest in orphan care. Anyway, Mike & I have never lost the thought of adopting. So one Sunday morning during a presentation for adoption awareness, I was crying (imagine that!), Mike leaned to me & said lets figure out what we need to do to get started on the adoption road. So I am CRAZY excited about this & I spend days online looking up info on agencies & countries etc. I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!!! So I have all these plans for a baby girls from Africa. I want to choose an agency & send in the application yesterday. I had some discouraging info a couple of times, mixed with some very encouraging & exciting info....My head is just spinning....constantly reading about African countries that are open for adoption...I'm figuring out what country I think is the best, I bought coffee beans because they are from Africa. I'm so wrapped up in this.
I'm so excited, but at the same time I keep feeling like I need to wait. So naturally I think what if I'm pregnant?!?!? And the crazy Cristina circle starts again!!! Finally I just stopped one day & thought, "what am I doing?" I spent YEARS putting myself through this emotional ups & downs of baby fever!! And now I have 2 incredible little boys who I adore & I can't stop thinking about the next baby I'm gonna love. So FINALLY....I decide hmm...maybe me & Jesus need to have little talk about this (gee what a concept, right?) Why did I need to talk to him...I mean Why wouldn't he want me to love one, two, or three orphans from Africa? Sheesh...why am I so stubborn & blind sometimes?
So anyway, I feel like God is asking me why I don't trust Him? Why do I want to be in control again? Why can't I just be still & wait? So...that's where I feel I'm at. Trying to be still & quiet & listen for Him. I believe that a little girl from Africa(at least one) is in God's plan for us...but I feel like he is asking me to trust His timing. So yes, I still am researching & learning more about Africa. I bought (RED) coffee at Starbuck's
Truth is I have wanted to be a mommy as long as I can remember. Most who know me at all know this. In fact, both mine & Mike's family were "placing bets" on our wedding day to see how quickly we would have children....I'm guessing no picked 8 years. In our years of marriage before Lincoln & Justice, I was always wanting a baby of my own. There were some very trying times for me during those first 8 years of wanting & waiting. One day, Mike sat down with me & we had a long talk. This talk included some very tough thoughts of maybe kids of our own was not in God's plan for us, & the fact that we didn't get married just to have kids..but that we love each other & enjoy life with each other. If you know Mike at all, you know how loving he is to me. He was so caring & understanding at this time in our marriage. I remember at one point telling him "I don't know how long it will take me to be ok with the thought of never having children." Yet, we continued life & prayed about it. When Mike worked for the college as a recruiter, we had talked about if we were ever back in church ministry that we would probably adopt. A way for us to have children of our own (which we thought wasn't gonna happen) & a way to rescue orphans who need love. Then when I got pregnant with Lincoln all of those thoughts just faded. I had everything I ever wanted. Waiting for God's perfect timing was not easy, but so worth it. All the thoughts & feelings of your first child plus after waiting & wanting him for 8+ years. I was so thankful that God's plan was bigger than mine. So here we were with a baby after all those years of thinking it might not happen. We couldn't be happier. Then Lincoln was about 9 months old & SURPRISE....I'm pregnant again!! Mind boggling & so amazingly joyous at the same time. Justice was born & we feel so blessed & loved by God....there's nothing more I wanted. Until Justice was about 6 months old & I started having baby fever again....HE WAS GROWING WAY TOO FAST & I couldn't make the time slow down.
As the months continue to pass & I think about wanting more children, my desire to be the best mommy ever just grows stronger & stronger! But I want a house full of kiddos. So I find myself in the same spot as I was so many years ago, longing for a baby so badly that's almost all I think about. Each month that comes & I'm not pregnant, I find myself a little more disappointed.
November came & our church recognized & celebrated "National Adoption Awareness Month." We have an amazing church family filled with people who are called to helping the orphans. Multiple families are foster families, several looking to adopt through the foster care system. We also have families who are adopting internationally, and countless families who financially invest in orphan care. Anyway, Mike & I have never lost the thought of adopting. So one Sunday morning during a presentation for adoption awareness, I was crying (imagine that!), Mike leaned to me & said lets figure out what we need to do to get started on the adoption road. So I am CRAZY excited about this & I spend days online looking up info on agencies & countries etc. I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!!! So I have all these plans for a baby girls from Africa. I want to choose an agency & send in the application yesterday. I had some discouraging info a couple of times, mixed with some very encouraging & exciting info....My head is just spinning....constantly reading about African countries that are open for adoption...I'm figuring out what country I think is the best, I bought coffee beans because they are from Africa. I'm so wrapped up in this.
I'm so excited, but at the same time I keep feeling like I need to wait. So naturally I think what if I'm pregnant?!?!? And the crazy Cristina circle starts again!!! Finally I just stopped one day & thought, "what am I doing?" I spent YEARS putting myself through this emotional ups & downs of baby fever!! And now I have 2 incredible little boys who I adore & I can't stop thinking about the next baby I'm gonna love. So FINALLY....I decide hmm...maybe me & Jesus need to have little talk about this (gee what a concept, right?) Why did I need to talk to him...I mean Why wouldn't he want me to love one, two, or three orphans from Africa? Sheesh...why am I so stubborn & blind sometimes?
So anyway, I feel like God is asking me why I don't trust Him? Why do I want to be in control again? Why can't I just be still & wait? So...that's where I feel I'm at. Trying to be still & quiet & listen for Him. I believe that a little girl from Africa(at least one) is in God's plan for us...but I feel like he is asking me to trust His timing. So yes, I still am researching & learning more about Africa. I bought (RED) coffee at Starbuck's
Monday, December 27, 2010
My first Tutorial - Crafty
So for Christmas I made each of my nieces, nephews & my boys a fold over organizer thing to hold a notebook/coloring book & crayons. It was FUN!!! So here is my best shot at a step by step tutorial. (Since it's my first...bear with me!)
Basic Inside Layout!
Piece #3 (fabric B) goes in the center on the bottom. You will also pin in 2 pieces of 6 inch elastic in the center (not pictured) to hold a notebook in. Pin end of elastic under pockets on each side.
Now....using this inside panel & outside panel (piece #1 fabric A)...you are going to sew them together...I used 2 pieces of stabilizer interfacing & one piece of 1/4 quilt batting in between. Line them up & pin. Sew along fold lines....this is an 18 inch piece so my fold lines were @ 6 inches & 12 inches...these fold lines will attach all the above pinned pieces together also.
Then pin biased tape or ribbon along all of the outside edge & sew it completely around to finish. I did use my embroidery machine on the from & stitch each kids name on (first step - before sewing together all pieces).
 |
| Fabric A |
Pieces Needed
FABRIC A (inches)
1- 9x18 outside cover
2- 6x8 Elastic pocket (mine was 6x6...to small)
4- 4 1/4 x 5 flap
 |
| Fabric B |
FABRIC B
1- 9x18 inside main
2- 5 3/4 x 8 pocket flap
3- 6x2 notebook flap
4- 4 1/4 x 5 flap
IRON ALL PIECES
Use piece #4 from each fabric, sew right sides together on 2 sides, then turn right side out & iron unsewn edge in to make seam then top stitch. Set aside - this will be flap for pocket on right side.
Use piece #2 fabric A & sew a 1 inch pocket for elastic on the 6 inch side
Insert 6 inch piece of elastic into this pocket & fold right end over 1/4 inch & stitch all the way down length of side.
Use piece # 3 fabric B...fold in half, iron & fold 1/4 inch ends in for finished edges & iron
Use piece #2 Fabric B...on one 8 inch side, fold over 1/4 inch, iron for finished edge
Now to pin it all together...
Piece #2 (fabric B) pin on right side of Piece #1 (Fabric B) matching bottom & right edges. Piece #4 flap goes to top center of Piece #2
Piece #3 (fabric B) goes in the center on the bottom. You will also pin in 2 pieces of 6 inch elastic in the center (not pictured) to hold a notebook in. Pin end of elastic under pockets on each side.
Elastic pocket piece #2 (fabric A) goes on left side matching left side & bottom..this one is a little trick because it has elastic at the top...you will have extra fabric on the bottom to work with...fold & pin it as evenly as possible at the bottom...should measure to 6 inches.
Now....using this inside panel & outside panel (piece #1 fabric A)...you are going to sew them together...I used 2 pieces of stabilizer interfacing & one piece of 1/4 quilt batting in between. Line them up & pin. Sew along fold lines....this is an 18 inch piece so my fold lines were @ 6 inches & 12 inches...these fold lines will attach all the above pinned pieces together also.
Then pin biased tape or ribbon along all of the outside edge & sew it completely around to finish. I did use my embroidery machine on the from & stitch each kids name on (first step - before sewing together all pieces).
Attach about 10 inch piece of ribbon to left side & one in the middle edge (when folded) these will tie the organizer closed!
There you have it! Hope no one is too terribly confused!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas from the Sander Family!!! We have had an amazing year...I will get to that later...I have been pondering alot lately about Mary & the feelings she must have felt. I think about the first time held each of my little boys as newborn babies...the thoughts & rush of emotions...indescribable. The love & joy you feel is overwhelming. So (all you moms out there) think about those moments & add on top of that that fact of knowing not only are you falling completely in love with your precious newborn baby, but the fact that you are holding the Savior of the world. I can't imagine all of her feeling through this. I am continually amazed at the way my boys help me to love our Creator even more & more everyday. The love my Father has for me is so much more than I could even imagine, but each time I look into the eyes of Lincoln or Justice & see them look at me with love, I feel like I have a little glimpse of that love. I just pray that my eyes look at HIM the way Justice & Lincoln look at me.
Celebrating Him!
Celebrating Him!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Women of Faith
I returned this morning at approximately 1 am from Women of Faith conference in Kansas City. I'm going to go through my notes & try to make sense of them & put into words all of the things that God is trying to teach me right now...this may take a few postings!
First of all, I had an AMAZING time with some AMAZING ladies from the Norton area who joined me for this trip. What a great time of fellowship, shopping, giggles, worshiping, & growing closer to Jesus together. I am so blessed!
One lady who spoke several times over the weekend was Sheila Walsh. Here is my notes/thoughts from the first message she gave to us! (I will try to put her words in "quotes" & then my own thoughts to follow)
"GUILT = you've DONE something wrong"
"SHAME = You ARE something wrong"
I have never heard these two words compared like this. What a difference....guilt can be used as a growing time & strengthening tool, while shame is much harder to work through & the wounds seem to be alot deeper & take longer to heal. This is so important to keep in mind in dealing with those I have relationships with. I NEVER want to inflict SHAME onto someone. I don't want to be the one who makes them feel worthless. I pray that I can help people past the guilt & not let it turn into shame.
"TRUST is what LOVE looks like" Oh how true this is & how it spoke to my heart. Trust & love almost define each other. Sheila challenged me to ask 3 questions of myself:
1-Do you feel the need to control what's going on around you?......yes
2-When the unexpected hits you are you more ruled by fear & anxiety or resting in the peace that God is in control?....probably fear
3-Do you ever feel a slight disconnect from God & those close to you, like there is a veil covering parts of who you really are?....Yes
OH ME OF LITTLE FAITH!!!! It is so hard to let go....but I was truly challenged when she said "Do you trust the hand of the ONE who is leading your life? " Well....based on my answers to the above questions, I would have to say "no" to this final question. But the truth is I do LOVE Jesus & as said earlier Trust is what Love looks like....so, I guess I need to start showing a little more of what my love for Jesus looks like. I want to trust Him. While talking with a couple friends, one challenged me to not try to fit God in a little box. But, if I would trust Him & watch to see His blessings come. Sheila next wove the story of Gideon (Judges 6-7)into this message. A few things that stood out to me were:
"Nothing is impossible...but you've got to stop pretending that everything is OK!" "God is wanting me to know that He is going to take care of me & all the stuff in my life, but that I need to back away, because it's ALL GOING TO BE HIM!" She stated that the Midianites were never the real enemy....the real enemy was the lack of trust in the sovereign GOD!!! Who/what do I see as my enemy....why do I let me dis-trust deceive me."
I recently told someone that sometimes I feel like I am "gifted" in worrying. So I was truly challenged by Sheila's words...I worry because of fear of the unknown, thinking I always need a plan etc....but really it is my NEED/WANT to feel like I am in control. Please pray for me to recognize that God is in control of my life & if I will just let go & let Him lead me I would be released from my worry.
Ok...well this is the first notes from what I am trying to learn from God. Stay tuned...more great stuff coming! I'm so excited to share with you....hopefully my rambling notes will share a little bit of a message with you & maybe even spark a change in your thinking as it has mine!
First of all, I had an AMAZING time with some AMAZING ladies from the Norton area who joined me for this trip. What a great time of fellowship, shopping, giggles, worshiping, & growing closer to Jesus together. I am so blessed!
One lady who spoke several times over the weekend was Sheila Walsh. Here is my notes/thoughts from the first message she gave to us! (I will try to put her words in "quotes" & then my own thoughts to follow)
"GUILT = you've DONE something wrong"
"SHAME = You ARE something wrong"
I have never heard these two words compared like this. What a difference....guilt can be used as a growing time & strengthening tool, while shame is much harder to work through & the wounds seem to be alot deeper & take longer to heal. This is so important to keep in mind in dealing with those I have relationships with. I NEVER want to inflict SHAME onto someone. I don't want to be the one who makes them feel worthless. I pray that I can help people past the guilt & not let it turn into shame.
"TRUST is what LOVE looks like" Oh how true this is & how it spoke to my heart. Trust & love almost define each other. Sheila challenged me to ask 3 questions of myself:
1-Do you feel the need to control what's going on around you?......yes
2-When the unexpected hits you are you more ruled by fear & anxiety or resting in the peace that God is in control?....probably fear
3-Do you ever feel a slight disconnect from God & those close to you, like there is a veil covering parts of who you really are?....Yes
OH ME OF LITTLE FAITH!!!! It is so hard to let go....but I was truly challenged when she said "Do you trust the hand of the ONE who is leading your life? " Well....based on my answers to the above questions, I would have to say "no" to this final question. But the truth is I do LOVE Jesus & as said earlier Trust is what Love looks like....so, I guess I need to start showing a little more of what my love for Jesus looks like. I want to trust Him. While talking with a couple friends, one challenged me to not try to fit God in a little box. But, if I would trust Him & watch to see His blessings come. Sheila next wove the story of Gideon (Judges 6-7)into this message. A few things that stood out to me were:
"Nothing is impossible...but you've got to stop pretending that everything is OK!" "God is wanting me to know that He is going to take care of me & all the stuff in my life, but that I need to back away, because it's ALL GOING TO BE HIM!" She stated that the Midianites were never the real enemy....the real enemy was the lack of trust in the sovereign GOD!!! Who/what do I see as my enemy....why do I let me dis-trust deceive me."
I recently told someone that sometimes I feel like I am "gifted" in worrying. So I was truly challenged by Sheila's words...I worry because of fear of the unknown, thinking I always need a plan etc....but really it is my NEED/WANT to feel like I am in control. Please pray for me to recognize that God is in control of my life & if I will just let go & let Him lead me I would be released from my worry.
Ok...well this is the first notes from what I am trying to learn from God. Stay tuned...more great stuff coming! I'm so excited to share with you....hopefully my rambling notes will share a little bit of a message with you & maybe even spark a change in your thinking as it has mine!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
I LOVE sparkpeople.com
Okay so...last week I discovered Sparkpeople.com. An awesome FREE website that includes nutrition tracking with menus, fitness tracking with online exercise videos & printable workout guides. It will track the number of glasses of water you drink each day, your total calories consumed & worked off (I haven't found just general everyday activity calories burned, but deliberate calories you can enter). DID I MENTION IT'S FREE????
Reasons Why I Love Sparkpeople.com
1. It's FREE!!!!
2. Meal/menu planning....all I have to do is print the grocery list, mark off what I already have, shop & then prepare & cook. Oh yeah, I can choose different things, search recipes, never cook something I wouldn't eat etc.
3. It helps me set practical goals that will provoke a lifestyle change!
4. They also have free apps for my Droid phone!!!
5. It's easy to use.
6. It's practical.
7. It's FREE!!!
OK. So, the first week was shaky, basically my laptop cord broke & then when my battery died I couldn't use it anymore...gotta order a new cord! Anyway, all I really accomplished the first week was I gave up drinking soda. I haven't even missed it. Just from reading some articles on sparkpeople.com I got to thinking about what I consumed & decided that soda was the least productive calories I took in. I am not saying I will never drink it ever again...but who knows. As for getting started, I needed to be drinking more water & this was an easy fix.
This week however, I decided I am going to walk every night after the boys are in bed. So, Monday = Day 1 + good friends = 2.5 miles walking at the track...oooh & we even did one set of stairs! Then I came home, logged onto sparkpeople.com & planned our meals for the week & made my grocery list (my printer is broken). Woke up early (for me), went to the grocery store before the boys woke up. Bad side is I spent almost double my grocery budget for the week! YIKES!!! Maybe it will get better....anyway! I some breakfast & then made some muffins. They smell & look amazing! They are Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins. And as much as I would love to dive into one, I will wait until breakfast for tomorrow! Then...if they taste as good as they look & smell I will share the recipe & nutrition info!
So, I LOVE sparkpeople.com
Check it out!!!
Reasons Why I Love Sparkpeople.com
1. It's FREE!!!!
2. Meal/menu planning....all I have to do is print the grocery list, mark off what I already have, shop & then prepare & cook. Oh yeah, I can choose different things, search recipes, never cook something I wouldn't eat etc.
3. It helps me set practical goals that will provoke a lifestyle change!
4. They also have free apps for my Droid phone!!!
5. It's easy to use.
6. It's practical.
7. It's FREE!!!
OK. So, the first week was shaky, basically my laptop cord broke & then when my battery died I couldn't use it anymore...gotta order a new cord! Anyway, all I really accomplished the first week was I gave up drinking soda. I haven't even missed it. Just from reading some articles on sparkpeople.com I got to thinking about what I consumed & decided that soda was the least productive calories I took in. I am not saying I will never drink it ever again...but who knows. As for getting started, I needed to be drinking more water & this was an easy fix.
This week however, I decided I am going to walk every night after the boys are in bed. So, Monday = Day 1 + good friends = 2.5 miles walking at the track...oooh & we even did one set of stairs! Then I came home, logged onto sparkpeople.com & planned our meals for the week & made my grocery list (my printer is broken). Woke up early (for me), went to the grocery store before the boys woke up. Bad side is I spent almost double my grocery budget for the week! YIKES!!! Maybe it will get better....anyway! I some breakfast & then made some muffins. They smell & look amazing! They are Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins. And as much as I would love to dive into one, I will wait until breakfast for tomorrow! Then...if they taste as good as they look & smell I will share the recipe & nutrition info!
So, I LOVE sparkpeople.com
Check it out!!!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Just thoughts.....
I often wonder
1- who reads my blog
2- is my blog for the reader or for me
Then I got to thinking about the blogs I read....undoubtedly when there is a new post I get excited to read it...thinking it was written for me or the reader in general. But I know that it is also written because the writer needs to write, share thoughts, sometimes vent, praise, etc. As I write this, I am doing it for me, but also thinking of you the reader & hoping that my words can fill a little spot, make you laugh, cry, or shout! So it can kinda run in a circle all the way around!
But, I really started to think that it is the same way with lots of things in life. For instance, at bedtime, Lincoln always wants to snuggle with Mama....I would rather snuggle when he comes sweetly into my room in the morning & wakes me up. So tonight, while laying in bed snuggling Lincoln, I was thinking about the whole thing. Thinking the whole time that I wanted to go clean up (what was I thinking), come down to my computer check facebook, maybe work on pictures etc., and thinking about his sweet boy who wanted to snuggle! After snuggling a few moments I told him "goodnight, I love you!" he wanted to "snuggle more." So, I gave in (rarely happens- at bedtime anyway) and stayed to snuggle, thinking about this sweet boy who needed his Mama & that this was all for him...I was fulfilling my mommy job & snuggling. At that moment, he reached his tiny little arms around my neck...one on each side & pulled me in tight. So close that his chubby little cheek was pressed tightly into my eye socket, so soft & squishy cute!! Then, I felt his eyelashes (they can make any girl jealous), batting up & down on my forehead. OH MELT MY HEART!!! Suddenly, these snuggles are not for him but for me! I LOVE BEING HIS MOMMY!!!! I AM SO SPOILED!!
Now, I'm not saying it always happens like tonight, but all I know is that when I was willing to give him a little more of me that he needed....I was the one more immensely blessed than I could have thought!
I want to be this way more in my life. When I think I have nothing left to give, I want to give anyway. Not because of the blessing that could come, well kinda because of the possible blessing, but more because I want to give more. I like the blessings, but the feeling of knowing how much I enjoyed that sweet moment with my little boy, how much more it meant to him. Also, I didn't leave him crying in his room not wanting to go to bed yet!
1- who reads my blog
2- is my blog for the reader or for me
Then I got to thinking about the blogs I read....undoubtedly when there is a new post I get excited to read it...thinking it was written for me or the reader in general. But I know that it is also written because the writer needs to write, share thoughts, sometimes vent, praise, etc. As I write this, I am doing it for me, but also thinking of you the reader & hoping that my words can fill a little spot, make you laugh, cry, or shout! So it can kinda run in a circle all the way around!
But, I really started to think that it is the same way with lots of things in life. For instance, at bedtime, Lincoln always wants to snuggle with Mama....I would rather snuggle when he comes sweetly into my room in the morning & wakes me up. So tonight, while laying in bed snuggling Lincoln, I was thinking about the whole thing. Thinking the whole time that I wanted to go clean up (what was I thinking), come down to my computer check facebook, maybe work on pictures etc., and thinking about his sweet boy who wanted to snuggle! After snuggling a few moments I told him "goodnight, I love you!" he wanted to "snuggle more." So, I gave in (rarely happens- at bedtime anyway) and stayed to snuggle, thinking about this sweet boy who needed his Mama & that this was all for him...I was fulfilling my mommy job & snuggling. At that moment, he reached his tiny little arms around my neck...one on each side & pulled me in tight. So close that his chubby little cheek was pressed tightly into my eye socket, so soft & squishy cute!! Then, I felt his eyelashes (they can make any girl jealous), batting up & down on my forehead. OH MELT MY HEART!!! Suddenly, these snuggles are not for him but for me! I LOVE BEING HIS MOMMY!!!! I AM SO SPOILED!!
Now, I'm not saying it always happens like tonight, but all I know is that when I was willing to give him a little more of me that he needed....I was the one more immensely blessed than I could have thought!
I want to be this way more in my life. When I think I have nothing left to give, I want to give anyway. Not because of the blessing that could come, well kinda because of the possible blessing, but more because I want to give more. I like the blessings, but the feeling of knowing how much I enjoyed that sweet moment with my little boy, how much more it meant to him. Also, I didn't leave him crying in his room not wanting to go to bed yet!
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