Resolved

Is it too late for New Year’s Resolutions? I can just call them New Resolutions I suppose. The last three months have been trying and enlightening and convicting and well, I need to make some changes. I’ve decided to publicly announce them here because the extra accountability will be good for me. Also, as a daughter who loves glimpses into my Mom’s thoughts when she had a 3 year old me and a 1 year old Zach, perhaps this could someday encourage Luca and Court.

Resolution #1 Clean Less and Be at Peace with the Mess

I know, I know, you’re thinking gee Brooke, how about just going all out and also resolving to consume more calories and exercise less? Really taxing. But let me explain. I have a need for order. For as long as I can remember, cleaning and organizing have had a calming effect on my spirit. I become internally (and sometimes externally) frantic when our house is in chaos, it gives me the feeling of drowning. And as you can imagine, that reaction doesn’t foster a cheerful heart, instead I become frustrated and angry. I consider myself a generally optimistic person but when my cleaning checklist is not checked off I become a “cup half-empty” girl. Why can’t I accomplish such seemingly simple tasks? (Side note: don’t be worried about what I may have thought if I’ve seen your home in less than perfect situations. Disorder that isn’t my responsibility? Sure!) In examining our days at home, I’ve noticed a pattern; the worst times are usually when I’m trying to get something checked off of my list (Motherhood, right?). That started me thinking about priorities. My priorities are to God first, Joe second and Luca and Court third. The Bible doesn’t give specific cleaning standards. Joe doesn’t notice dusty baseboards or fingerprints on the French doors. Luca and Court don’t need sparkling kitchen cabinets or organized closets. I want those things. I feel good when the house is tidy. I get grouchy when it isn’t. And that gave me a pause. If I do these things because I have deemed them more important than what Joe and the kids need from me, then it’s sin. I’m being selfish. Cleaning is selfish? Yup. For me, in some (perhaps most) instances it is. Now of course, as a Wife and a Mommy part of my responsibility before the Lord is keeping order in our home and training the kids up to do the same. However, I want to start doing it in the correct way. The house will probably look the same, with many chores left unfinished but the goal is that I won’t be inwardly cringing. My attitude is going to be the hard part of this resolution. I have to train my mind to look at a mess, the dust, the smudges, the unchecked lists and have peace, rest and joy. I have to stop doing what I want to do when I know that God would have me do something else.

Resolution # 2 Train with More Grace

I have been reading “Give Them Grace” by Elyse Fitzpatrick. She challenges that parenting should be just as much about “reciting the Story” as it is about “declaring the rules”. The grace of God through Jesus’ obedience and death is the only way that my children can receive the heart to obey. I want to direct Court and Luca to their need for a Savior above all. God doesn’t require morality, He requires repentance. I know that my tendency is to focus on results, for example; I tell Luca that she “must obey” without explaining why and then give the blanket “because the Bible says so” answer when she questions me. I can’t do justice to the themes of this book here but suffice it to say I want to focus on living out the gospel in the way that I train Luca and Court. To say every day that we can’t do right without Jesus’ help and because of the cross, He will give us help whenever we ask.

Resolution #3 Memorize at Least One Bible Verse Each Month

I have a whole list of verses that I read when I get overwhelmed. It’s time I put them to memory so I don’t need the physical list.

January: 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”

Almost 9 Months

These brown eyes make me melt.
And the eyebrows above the brown eyes make me laugh.
Court is such a mover I am in trouble already and know it's just the beginning. We pulled out the tunnel the other night and oh boy was he excited! His crawling is so perfect it's actually quite funny, he looks like one of those little wind up toys, perfect form but tiny, tiny, movements. I am so grateful not to have multiple levels in our house and a door by the staircase, he is getting adventurous!
He is also already pulling himself up and walking along the coffee table, chairs, beds and anything else he can get a grip on. This has created a serious problem as we are very much pile-stuff-on-the-coffee-table people, remotes, computer, food, books, magazines, pens. It's going to have to change because he doesn't seem to care about the word "no" or consequences. This may be completely wrong but I'm going with the assumption that he's too young to be expected not to touch the tray on the table. So for the next couple of months at least I have to figure out where to put stuff.
I find the differences in my kids so fascinating, pondering how God created their individual personalities, that He chose their abilities and preferences and we get to watch them develop. Things such as Luca kicking the doctor's hands away from my tummy during checkups when I was pregnant with her and her refusal to move her foot out of my rib cage no matter how many times I pushed against it. And now we know her to be a very independent, opinionated little girl (no idea where that comes from). Court was never still in utero, his birth was easy and the minute he was put in my arms his little face was content...I don't remember him even crying during his first day on earth. That's my little man, always on the move and pretty pleased with life. A new thing that we're noticing with Court is that he is very interested in how things work and he is a bit obsessed with wheels. A boy! The other day Luca got out her stroller and when it was unattended, Court crawled to it, flipped it upside down and started spinning the wheels. We think these pictures tell that he's looking for "the problem" and then he's found it and then he's ready to explain how much it will cost us to repair it. :-)
Can't wait to see what this little boy does next! And does anyone have tips for cutting little boys' hair? We're fast approaching haircut #3.

Luca Bean

Ahhhhhhhhh! She looks so old! A sample of the funny things that come out of her little mouth:

(Holding up a quarter that Daddy gave her) "I found this in Madi's hand. I'm going to put it in my heart box where Madi will never get it again."

"I don't want to play with her, I want her to play with me!"

"Where is the moon?" (me: "It's not out tonight, there are too many clouds.") "Is the moon staying up with God tonight?"

While out running errands in a downpour: "When we are done shopping can we go to the carwash and get the rain off the truck? Is it on your list?"

Carrying a bundle of things wrapped in her blanket: "I have a present for God" Me: "what is it?" Luca: "It's just obeying. When God comes to my house I will give it to Him."

Talking to Court: "When you get bigger you can have a cookie with me." (Turns to me) "He wants to get bigger."
These are from October;

Me: "We are going to the zoo today!" Luca: "You can go to the animal zoo but I'm going to the monster zoo." Me: "Where is that?" Luca: "It's halfway to the land of Haas. We can go there and the bus will pick us up". (Land of Haas is a Veggie Tale parody of the Wizard of Oz but there are no monsters or zoos in it. :-))

After rediscovering a fairy princess costume that Joe bought her she put it on and twirled for a while, I told her to wiggle her shoulders back and forth to move the wings. She started flapping her arms and shimmying then stopped, looked at me and 100% seriously asked"Why can't I fly? The wings aren't working".
And the most recent amusing quote from while I was doing her hair: "My hair is getting really long. My hair is longer than Puh-punzels!" (We may or may not watch a lot of Tangled around here...)

Other December Things...

I finally emptied both camera cards and found pictures of some of our other December crafts. Luca really got into doing a special activity each day and would often turn expectantly after breakfast and ask "what craft am I going to make today Mommy?". I love that she loves to be creative, I should probably plan more things for her. In April. Or maybe July.

I have the beginnings of a plan to have Luca (and eventually, Court) make a special ornament each year to put on the tree in their room. Anything sparkly is always fun, so for this year we covered cookie cutters with glue and glitter and then painted a little name/date tag to tie on. This was a royal mess but very fun.
These pine cones are an idea that I stole from Pinterest and so very easy. The girls loved them and with virtually no mess I had sweet little decorations on the bookcase greenery.
This collage craft was spread out over two days so that "the glue could dry". Genius.
This particular project gave me a very clear picture of how far apart a 3yr old and a 2yr old are in their ability to follow instructions. Interesting, isn't it? Both girls had a lot of fun and actually shared the "ornaments" very well.
I can't find a picture of this craft finished but the look on Court's face cracks me up...does he not approve of the painting techniques being used?
On a weekend we broke out the gingerbread house kit and Joe and Luca commenced with the eating (I mean decorating). Admittedly, this activity was just as much for my enjoyment as Luca's.
And finally, a failure. Here we made snowglobes out of baby food and salsa jars. The idea is from Martha Stewart but to do it justice we will have to try again. What I had thought was waterproof silicone was revealed the next morning to be decidedly not waterproof. Oh well, we got one good evening of shaking them up!