Movie Night & Pizza

One of my favorite things to do with my family is movie night! We layer a couple comforters on the living room floor, and bring out as many pillows and squishy stuffed animals that we can find, and watch whatever Abigail will let us (usually Frozen or Tangled). For this movie night, we made it a little extra fun by making homemade pizzas to eat while we watched! These nights are just a little extra special for Abigail, and I admit, for me too!

After becoming a mom, I have noticed that part of me became a lot sillier, but there's another part that actually became a lot more serious. There's so much that goes into parenting that it can at times feel stressful. I find myself carrying so much unnecessary weight on my shoulders that it can be easy to become overly serious.

All that to say, I am learning to take things one day at a time, to cast my burdens on the Lord, knowing that He cares for me and my children more than I ever could, and I'm being intentional about having fun and making the effort to make ordinary moments extra special for my family.

The time goes so quickly, and I want to soak up as much as I can.

Go, Abby, Go

I posted this text on my photography instagram a few weeks ago (June 23rd) when we were transitioning Abigail from her crib to her twin-sized bed. It's a reflection on where my heart was during that time, and so it's something I wanted to place here on my blog for my own reference.

One of the toughest things I have experienced as a mom is transitions. Weaning Abigail from nursing was way more difficult than I ever thought it would be. Currently we are experiencing a big transition. Finley has grown out of her bassinet, and so it is time for Abigail to get a new bed. Finley is taking over the crib, and Abigail is getting a big girl bed. ⁣ ⁣ As I put Abigail to bed in her crib last night for the last time, it had me feeling a bit emotional. She really is still just a baby, but at the same time she is growing, and it is not my job to keep her from growing up. God has placed me and Jacob in her life to raise her to know and love God’s Word, to equip her for the calling God has on her life. ⁣ ⁣ It’s hard to see her get older, even as little as she still is, but I believe God is going to use this girl in big ways, and who am I to hold her back?

Dwell

I had a lot of room to grow early on in my marriage. If my husband did something to upset me, it could easily ruin my entire day, as I would dwell, and dwell, and dwell on it. At times, I am still guilty of this.

But on the opposite side, when my husband and I were just dating, I would dwell on the sweet messages he would send me, or on the conversation we had on the phone, and you better believe my emotions were quite different than the first scenario.

The Bible makes it very clear that we are to meditate on good things.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things”‭‭ (Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NKJV).

It is so easy to be bothered by something, and to dwell on it.

Or to have a fear rise up, and dwell on it.

But what would happen if, when something bothered me, I reminded myself that God works all things together for good to those that love Him?

What if when I became afraid of what the media shared, I chose to remember that God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind?

Let’s choose to dwell on the Word and good things, rather than our circumstances.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You” (Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬).