Always changing

Life seems to be always changing. We get used to one phase, then we're on to the next. Norah is crawling all over the place, and has been pulling herself up on whatever she can grab ahold of. She is on the move...all the time! :) She is a busy, busy girl. She is exercising her independence in little things, like meal time! She wants to do it herself...she's not very interested in food off the spoon. She wants to pick it up herself! Lately she has needed me to entertain her more often than is convenient for me (meaning some days I don't get much done around the house)! But, I have to remind myself that this is just one phase, and soon we'll be on to the next. I sometimes find myself wishing for the next phase, when I really need to just be content and thankful for the phase we're at...because all too soon she will be a big girl. Norah is 9 months old (almost), and we are so thankful for all that we have experienced in these past 9 months.

Norah recently started saying 'da-da'. I'm not sure that she is associating that with Lance yet, but that will come soon I'm sure. She babbles a lot! It's so fun to hear her in her crib after a nap, just talking to herself!

Eternal Perspective

It is Family Bible Week at our church. We have had the privilege of hearing the speaker two times already, and there are three more nights! What a blessing it has already proven to be. Tonight the speaker spoke on having an eternal perspective. (He was reading out James 1:1-4). This was a great reminder for me. It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day 'things' and only think about the 'now'. As the speaker stated it, we get caught up in the weeds in our life...all the busyness, trials, victories, and just day to day circumstances. He talked about trials (vs. 2...Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds). It says whenever you face trials, meaning we WILL face them. And when we do, we are to consider it joy. Verses 3 and 4 say, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. In school, taking a test was to prove what we learned. Spiritually, the testing we go through is to prove our spiritual depth. Are we going to persevere through our testing and become mature (steadfast), or are we going to fall apart and let the devil get ahold of us? He also talked about having the right attitude through our trials. None of us are going to jump up and down in excitement when a trial comes our way. But, if we have an eternal perspective, we can say, "God, I trust you and know that You are working in this situation. You are in control and I trust that you will work this out how You see it working best in my life." Complaining will get us no where. It will actually cloud our vision and cause us not to see what God wants to do in our lives. One last quote from the speaker that really impacted me was this..."Those who have confidence in God will value character above pleasure and eternity above the present." What a good reminder.

Growing up

Our little girl is growing up. Just in the last week, we have seen so many changes. It's hard to believe she's 8 months old. I can't believe how quickly this time has gone.

Norah started pulling herself up this week. I left the room for a minute, and came back to her kneeling next to a table, then pulling herself up (picture below). She did it a few more times that day, and now is pulling herself up to anything she can get a grip on! She's a busy, busy girl! Today I put her in her walker, and she managed to maneuver down the hallway, almost into our bedroom...the walker isn't easy to get through doorways, so she's doing pretty well! We are so very thankful for our precious little girl and all the blessings she has brought to our life in the past 8 months. God has been so faithful and we are reminded, daily, of the many blessings He has given us!

This morning, as I was typing this post, I starting thinking about how Norah is growing up...how she is learning (a little) independence, yet still relies on Lance and I to meet her needs. I started comparing my relationship with Norah to my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Do I rely on Him to meet all my needs? Do I crawl to him when I need or want to be carried? Do I lay in His arms to rest when I am weary? Do I trust Him to hold me up, or am I trying to stand on my own, like Norah is trying to stand on her own? It put things in perspective for me this morning. I NEED to be relying on Him to meet all my needs. I NEED Him to carry me. I NEED to lay in His arms when I am weary, and I NEED Him to hold me up, rather than trying to stand on my own. The truth is, I can't do it on my own. I fail so many days to rely on Him to meet all my needs...I think I can do it on my own. As Norah is exploring and trying to do things on her own, I am humbled to be her mother and help her learn and grow...just as I should be looking to my Heavenly Father to help me learn and grow in Him every day!

First Mother's Day

Mother's Day has a whole new meaning to me now! We have always celebrated with our mothers. Now we also celebrate being a mother! Here is something a good friend sent me...though I haven't experienced or felt everything that's written, I just really liked all it had to say! We are so thankful for our moms!!

Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.