Does Your Reflection Show Your Love?

I avoid the mirror.

It's a habit from when I was a teenager and deep into my eating disorder. I still have a distorted view of my body (I see fat where there isn't any) so the habit is still there. It might be a little amusing to watch me spend time in the bathroom and only look in the mirror once or twice.

I need this.

I know a lot of people feel that children reflect their parents' parenting. (Sometimes I hope that's not true because my son is a typical 3 year old!!) This morning he parroted something that I didn't like to hear. Jonathan (18mo) dumped out a baggie of crackers. This is typical for him and his general age group (just an FYI to new parents: 12mo-24mo is a lot of dumping) I asked them to pick them up and put them back in the bag. As I walked away to get some water I hear Franklin say, "It's you fault, Jonathan."
I froze.
He wasn't being ugly about it. He was very matter of fact. I calmly asked him to repeat what he said to make sure I heard right (this was before coffee...I mishear all sorts of fun things before coffee) He did. I did.
My heart broke a little bit. Is that how he hears me? Have I said that to him? Maybe he heard it on a show... Is he a reflection of how much I love them?

2 Corinthians 3:18 says Our faces, then, are not covered. We all show the Lord's glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings ever greater glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (NCV)

The King James puts it this way:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We're supposed to be a reflection of God's love. Just like we want our children to reflect our love for them. Sometimes, especially on Facebook, I see so many Christians being downright hateful. Jesus loved everyone. He didn't APPROVE of everyone, but he sure loved them. I think that we forget that sometimes. Loving someone and showing them the love of Christ isn't the same as showing them approval of their behavior...but it's hard to be loving and condemn someone to hell in the same breath (or comment box).

Linking up

I Don't Have Faith In Myself

This morning I was lying awake (I do that) and thinking about all of the things I wanted to get done today. I kept thinking "I can't do everything" and trying to prioritize. At one point I thought, "Why don't I have faith in myself to get it all done?"

That's when it hit me.

Source

Duh. Trying to have faith in MYSELF is why I haven't been able to succeed.

I'm not supposed to have faith in myself to get things done; I'm supposed to have faith that God will give me the strength and tools to get things done.

By trying to focus on faith in myself I was basically telling God that I didn't need Him and I'd figure it out on my own.

Yeah...you can see how well THAT'S going!


So if you've been trying to figure something out and feel like you're hitting a wall...stop and pray. I have a bit more peace about the situation knowing that *I* don't have to be in charge! That's my prayer for you: Peace.

Do You Believe In Magic?

Quote from "Hat Trick" episode. Once Upon A Time

I heard that quote on Once Upon A Time (TV Show) and something about it resonated with me.

Yes, the quote talks about MAGIC. However, you could easily make this about God...

"You know what the issue with this world is? Everybody wants a Godly solution to their problems, but no one wants to believe in Him."

So many times we want God to step in and just FIX our lives but we don't actually believe He can do it. We don't believe that He can find us a job or heal what doctors have said is hopeless. We don't want to just give him our problems because we have to try to help God.

Today I'm going to spend time in prayer giving God my problems. I'll be honest, I'll probably have to start by asking Him to HELP ME let go. Will you join me?

Book Club Friday

I'm linking up with Undercover Blonde today!



Right now I'm reading


Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, Energetic

If your child is wild, energetic, busy, screams a lot, never stops, constantly disobedient, loud, etc... YOU NEED THIS BOOK.
I'm learning so much about my kids (yes, both) and myself. I've realized that part of the reason I react so strongly to Franklin is we both have the *intense* characteristic. Think about it like this: When you put two pieces of dynamite together and only light ONE they both go off. Same thing with me and Franklin. We're both dynamite waiting for a spark. So when he goes off it sets me off and, well, sometimes things don't go so well. I yell, he yells, we both scream and cry and nothing gets accomplished.

I borrowed it from the library but I'm definitely putting it in my personal collection!

What did you read this week? Link up!!

Challenges! Join me!

This year I'm not creating my own challenge...I'm totally participating in challenges developed by others, and then blogging about it!

I'm doing the following and want you to join me!

The Gentleness Challenge by Women Living Well
I LOVE Courtney's blog. It's always uplifting. This time she has a challenge around being gentle to our children.

And so I’d like to embark humbly on a Gentleness Challenge for mommy’s everwhere who struggle with raising their voices to their children, scowling, speaking in rapid fire foolish words or lecturing in anger. 

52 Weeks to an Organized Home with Home Storage Solutions
Each week she gives you an area to organize. You just focus on THAT area each week (and snowballing from the week before) It's a GREAT idea. I know several people have "get organized" on their New Year's Resolution List. You can even get it sent weekly to your inbox so you don't have to worry about forgetting to check back.

2012 Decluttering Calendar by MySimplerLife.com
Each DAY has a small area to declutter. Like the top shelf in a cabinet or a single drawer. That REALLY breaks it down and makes it easy!

Saying YES to God Challenge with Becoming a Strong Woman of God
I follow this wonderful woman on Facebook. Her posts are always uplifting. This challenge is about saying YES to God this year and learning to hear His voice.


Did you check out the challenges? Which one will you do with me?

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

That is my 9 month old CLIMBING...He already climbs the stairs.

That is my 2 year old, fully clothed, in the bathroom sink (yes, there was water).


I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 


As a mom (especially a mom of boys!) I need that extra strength. There are days when I'm ready to throw in the towel. There are days the Enemy wants me to resent having children. There are days when I literally need to run away...(I always come back!)

I can do all things [change yet another diaper, break up another fight, deal with more screaming, wake after another sleepless night, clean up another mess...] through Christ who strengthens me.


http://www.themobsociety.com/2011/10/growing-godly-men-link-up-day-14/

Pinterest...I want to go shopping

I went on an "outfit pinning spree" the other day. I need to go shopping but I'm waiting 1) Until I'm at my goal weight 2) until we can afford it!

Source: polyvore.com via Kasondra on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Kasondra on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Kasondra on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Kasondra on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Kasondra on Pinterest

Source: sundaycrossbow.blogspot.com via Kasondra on Pinterest

Which is your favorite?

Phone Link Up

I'm back again.

Watching the delivery men

Fridge doors

Empty space

*sigh* Ahh...love it

Franklin made a peanut butter sandwich

I actually got dressed on Wed. 

Dear Grocery Store, It's not even Halloween yet!!

Franklin kept insisting he wear the headband around his neck.

This weird rash...it's been a week. Now it just looks like bruises.

RAIN! It didn't stop us from getting our raw butter from the Farmer's Market

I thought this was important

At the zoo

Elephants are his favorite animal.

So that was my week. I was so excited about the fridge!!! Did anything exciting happen to you this week?

Boob Tube Babble

Linking up again!






Pan Am
I FINALLY watched this show and I'm hooked. I love love love it! I'm from the wrong era. *sigh*

Dexter
YAY Dexter is back!! It's weird to see the kid from Roswell as the bad guy...but I get "stuck" on characters like that.

CSI
I recently got caught up. The episode with the family that got killed? Yeah, I also buy baking soda a lot at a time...I thought it was funny that was "evidence" for a drug ring!

Glee
SIGH
Was this number really necessary? I thought the, uh, floor work during the dance part in the gym was a BIT much. They're supposed to be teenage girls.



 Warehouse 13
Season Finale. If you watched it you'll understand these thoughts...If you didn't you'll want to stop reading.
1) Why couldn't HG have put the forcefield around the BOMB instead of the people and saved herself too? I get it was a big moment and her one selfless act and blah blah blah...it was stupid.
2) Stefan called the mole from the start. Like, 2mins in to the episode he says, "THAT is the ultimate plan." He was right.
3) When Artie pulled out the watch I looked at Stefan and said, "What does that do again?" I don't remember...if it just magically fixes everything I'm going to be irritated.

America's Next Top Model
Do these girls not have to have medical checks? How many seasons have we had someone with some sort of medical issue?

Survivor
Do they show a lot of this guy's Christian professions because Matt was such a popular player last season?


There are a lot more I'm loving right now. Fringe, Ringer, etc...

Words to Remember

I needed this reminder this week. I hope it blesses you too!

Gratituesday

These past few weeks things have been rough. God has chosen to show me that I do, indeed, have a 2 year old...

And I'm grateful for every second of it.

Wait, what??

I know that if you're friends with me on Facebook you probably don't know that I do, really, love my life. (And if you're not friends with me on FB you're missing out! Links will be at the bottom of this post!)

I have a friend with a baby that's a micro-preemie. She was born before 30 weeks. I'm sure that her mommy would gladly be cleaning up poop messes if it meant her daughter could come home.

A woman in my Due Date Club with Franklin had a still born baby. I'm sure she'd take dealing with tantrums if it meant her son could be with her.

My boys try my patience. They send me into prayer several times a day. They make me cry several times a week.

But I laugh with them. I get sweet cuddles. I get to see their faces light up when I'm gone and come back (even if it's just a couple of mins while I go pee!)

He got into my makeup and drew on his eyes with lipstick...

He was trying to attack me

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Last Week's Phone Photos

Check out the fat lip to compliment the slice on his forehead

He kept running over the baby...

Breastmilk Nutrition Facts shirt :)

A new way to play with it??

Mango Kombucha = Awesomeness

Sick toddler

We wrote Daddy a note

My baby likes spinach...he stole mine!

Link below

Coupon Trip


YAY I love this Link Up!!