Feed me I'm hungry!

Well of course it's another Nathan story!  I promise these stories are real, I am not making them up!  If you've ever spent some time with my sweetie you'll know that for a fact.  This morning, just like every other Sunday morning in our house, we are making a mad dash to get ready for church!  I've had my shower, clothes on, getting Annagrace and her friend Maryssa out of the bed.  Of course we are all going in 10 different directions, and yes Nathan is awake and happy!  Mark comes out of the bedroom, and asks "Where is Nathan?", I reply, "Um, I don't know, I think he's in his room". Well as you would know of course he's NOT in his bedroom.  Mark makes his way into the living room and kitchen.  I hear, "Annette, you've got to come see this!"  I walk into the kitchen, Nathan has pulled a chair from the kitchen table and climbed into it.  Mark left the cereal on the table the night before.  Nathan has preceded to open the cereal, and take some out with his hands! Of course it's Fruity Pebbles, so they are small pieces.  He has found one of his little bitty small play bowls and a play spoon and is filling his bowl with cereal and trying to eat it!  What a sight!  My soon to be 22 month old has figured out how to fix his own breakfast!!  I guess it was his way of saying, "Feed me I'm hungry."
As I was sweeping my floor this afternoon, I was thinking about me being a child of God.  I hear quite often from fellow followers of Christ.  I'm just so hungry for more of God and more of what He has for me.  I was thinking about my own life and relationship with Him.  I think this was an object lesson for me.  Maybe God wanted me to see.  If you're hungry, do something about it! Don't just sit back and wait on Him to serve me my spiritual food, I felt like He was saying, if you want more of me, you have to get out your own bowl and spoon and fix yourself something to eat!  I know God can fill my spiritual hunger in many ways, but I know I have to do some things for myself.  I need to spend more time in prayer and reading the Word!  I've got to get my bowl fixed so I can eat and get full!  I don't see God as an automatic ice cream machine that I can turn on and stick my head under eat until I'm full!  I think I'm gonna get my a bowl and spoon and see what God has for me!

I'm quite a cutie!  This is the smile I gave to my Mama today as she saw the messes that I made! 

The floor is covered!

As I walked through my den door I took a quick look around.....the floor is covered.  I take it all in, there is a tub full of toys scattered on the floor, alongside an entire box of envelopes, a box of crayons, a few shoes, a snugglie, a hat and an empty plastic box! Oh and a wet spot, probably from Nathan's sippy cup, or he spilled someone's drink. Who knows? Wow!  My 21 month old has had quite a time this evening!  He is just as busy as he can be, and as happy as can be.  This process started around 8:30 this morning, to the sound of "mommy, mommy".  I pick him up from the bed and our day begins!  We started school with Will and Annagrace around 9:30, after a bowl of grits AND cereal!  He loves to eat.  Will gets right on his work, he prefers to work in his bedroom with no interuptions.  Annagrace begins her work as well.  While we are working through our spelling lessons, it begins!  As Annagrace is spelling her words to me, Nathan is trying his best to keep up with her.  I hear from across the room "C","D" and so on!  As he is reciting letters out come the blocks from the toy bucket.  Our day continues through lunch and nap time.  After nap he indulges in a snack as he shares it with our little dog Chloe'!  He continues to enjoy himself to the fullest while I begin preparing supper. While no one is looking let's empty the crayon box and the box of envelopes!!!  He's had a joyous day!  After supper, a bath, and a hair trim he's now snuggling in bed with his sister, so sweet!  These moments are moments to cherish, I know I won't have these toys all over my floor one day.  I am learning not to sweat the small stuff enjoy the moment.  I can only imagine what was going through his mind today as he was throwing envelopes all over the floor. I think I'd like to throw things all over the floor sometimes, I bet is feels pretty good!  Today I came across another blog and found a chart comparing a Super Mom to an Abiding Mom.  This I think will make a good fit for today..  A super mom finds peace in the "perfect" environment, while an abiding mom finds peace in Jesus in the midst of any storm.
 You will keep in perfect peace
   those whose minds are steadfast,
   because they trust in you.  Isaiah 26:3
So as I approached my den this evening what may seem like a bit of a storm hit, I know that I have peace in Him!  Not only in the little physical storm that seemed to have hit my home today, but also the other storms that seem to brew my way throughout the day, I know that if my mind remains steadfast in Him that the storms will soon be deminished!

Character Building & Parmasan Chicken!

Character building..... I do not like character building to say the least.  I know God is up to something.  Many times as we are walking through trials and tribulations we don't always understand.  My husband loves to say God is just up to some character building.  Okay, can I say I don't want to build any more character!!  I know my Father has to have a sense of humor.  Knowing what I've faced the past couple of days, and seeing how God has worked everything out.  I have to ask myself sometimes... why can't I just totally and completely trust HIM?  I know the Scripture... Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding!!!! Proverbs 3:5  The hard part is the trusting! Then He goes and shows me..... I have to trust HIM, there is no other way.  My little brain just don't seem to get it sometimes, I know it's more than a brain issue getting it, it's a heart issue allowing it!  God is teaching me daily.  I want nothing more than for my ENTIRE life to represent Him.  In the areas where I am weak He is making me strong! "Character building!" 

Now on to the paramasan chicken.  I love paramsan chicken, this is a family favorite at Olive Garden.   We order it with white sauce!...YUMMY!!!    I have been on a mission, to get out of the rut of cooking the same old things over and over again..... Well I've been really experimenting with new recipes!  Tonight I gave paramasan crusted chicken a try.  I went online and read several recipes, after reading them and seeing what I had in my pantry, I managed to prepare this for my family!  I recieved rave reviews from my family!  Will says it's the best meal I've ever cooked!  You have to know my Will, he loves to eat.  He also is such a sweet boy, he tells me everytime I cook how good it is. Apparently tonight really made an impression on him!  It's always exciting for me to see my families eyes light up when they sit down at the table to eat! I am so thankful for having the food to prepare for them. 

The excitement of potty training!

It's just amazing at what can make a Mama happy.  Nathan is doing so good with his potty training!  He's just getting to be so big so fast.  Just since Christmas he is talking up a storm.  He is trying to repeat EVERYTHING he hears and sees!  I have to constantly remind Will and Annagrace that you are a living example, what he sees and hears us do he is trying to so hard to copy!  It's so funny listening to Will and Annagrace trying to get Nathan to say "Roll Tide", (for Will) & "War Eagle" (for Annagrace). 
Not only am I reminding my children, I'm also reminding myself.  I am a living example.  My children do what they see me do.  Not only my children are watching but so are others.  Question for myself, "What are others seeing in me?"....  Gonna let that soak in for a while....  

Visit from baby, building a shooting house... hmmm...and you have a purpose!

Yesterday we enjoyed a visit from Mark's sister and new niece Addison, she's 5 weeks old and soooo sweet.  Annagrace was overjoyed, she got to hold her, love on her, feed and burp her.  Annagrace loves babies!!  Hopefully I'll get some pics posted soon!  Nathan was cute he kept looking at Addison saying "night night", that is what he calls his paci and he loves his paci!  Will was sweet too, he's such a tough guy, but with a BIG heart!  He just sat and held her for the longest time
The kids enjoyed staying at Maw Maw's house today, as always, I think Will would live there, if we'd let him.  Will and Popa started working on a "shooting house" for next hunting season. It's practically in my Mama's back yard.  Will says it's gonna be 10x12 and have a heater, bed, and refrigerator.  Sounds to me more like a mini man cave.  You'd have to know my step dad, he loves tinkering with things and building, so I'm anxious to see what comes from this!  I'm glad Will is helping, maybe he will learn some good building skills from it!  :o)  
Enjoyed an awesome church service tonight!  God is awesome.  Pastor Alan  spoke from the book of Esther.  Quite an interesting lady, makes me want to go watch the movie, One Night with a King. I think I will!  Last night we watched Jentzen Franklin and he was speaking on Esther too!  God has a plan and purpose for each one of us!  We have a destiny in HIM.  We have to find our purpose and pursue it!  Thanking God for His plans for my life and family!  I have destiny & purpose!  Ready to pursue it full speed ahead!

I've just started blogging.....,

I decided today to begin a blog.  I have been reading a few friends blogs and thought I would begin a blog myself.  Today has been a quite kinda day around the house, Mark and Will went on a hunting trip this morning.  I have been in my PJ's all day, doing laundry etc..  I wanted to start a blog to help me remember my days at home with my children.  We took a holiday from school today, to be off with Daddy!  Nathan continues to amaze me, everday he is doing something new.  Ha ha ha...... Today he helped me do laundry, he loves putting things in the washing machine.  I just found a hanger in the washing machine, as I was taking the laundry out of the washer and putting it into the dryer.  Will and Annagrace have really enjoyed the 50's weather today, Maryssa spent the night with Annagrace, they have spent most of the day playing in and out of the house.  I love the laughter and squeals of the children in and out of the house.  God is so good to us!