living by faith

lots going on in our little world these days...potty training, new adventures possibly on the horizon, a possible new job opportunity in the works...this means lots of praying... starting yesterday. i seem to have hit another point in my life where i'm getting very emotional and allowing my emotions to take control rather than submitting to God, and allowing Him to have control. not good. well...since i can't rewind, i have taken a moment to just stop and re-evaluate the situations at hand. i have to look at all this realistically. i tell myself this on a daily basis, the world isn't daisies and sunshine all the time, so i have to do whatever i can to bring out the sunshine, even in the midst of the thunderstorms. which means prayer...lots and lots of prayer. not to mention, i must fully submit to the Lord's will for my life. even if that means going down a road i don't think i am strong enough to handle. because in the end, i always come to the same realization...i am not strong enough to do anything...it is He who is in me, that gives me strength. so really, if we are going down a road that is God led, then i will have the strength to deal, through Him. it's so simple and yet, i always have to take the long road...you would think i would have learned my lesson by now. now i feel so silly for getting worked up over something that was obviously a lesson in submission and patience for me. i have to keep my hope and faith in the fact that the Lord is good! with that, i can now take a deep breath and open up my heart to the peace that comes with trusting God.

"Rejoice in the Lord, ALWAYS. Again, I will say REJOICE!" Philippians 4:4

operation potty training...a go!

i am pleased to say that operation potty training is going very well. we are going on day 3 in big girl princess panties and no accidents! she's doing really well. i've noticed lots of positivity and encouragement work way better than bribes most of the time. not all the time though....bribes seem to be the only way to get her to go #2 on the potty. we'll have to work on that. i've also noticed that little games like, 'who's going to pee pee first?!' or 'pee pee before i'm done singing this song!' work really well. it gets her in that fun/game type attitude so she's excited about going pee pee. any kind of distraction has worked really well too, coloring, singing, reading, etc. she seems most excited when we get excited. little things like "awesome! you went pee pee!" or "we are sooo proud of you! you're getting so big!" or "that makes mommy and daddy so happy when you go pee pee in the potty!". praise and encouragement have worked better for our daughter than any trick we've tried so far. it makes her happy to know she's making mommy and daddy happy. it's an awesome feeling! i really could see her being completely out of diapers in about 2 weeks. i'll be sure to update.

conquering potty training

after much frustration and for lack of a better term, just being lazy...we are finally full force on this whole potty training adventure. we've dusted off the rarely used mini pink potty, and we've taken out the big girl panties she's had for about a year now. i'm getting excited! our goal is to have our daughter potty trained by her 3rd birthday, which is June 3rd. we're hoping to have her potty trained before that, but if all doesn't go as smoothly as we hope it will, that's our max goal. we've tried the random potty thing and it didn't work. we've tried bribes, but that only seems to work every now and then. so i've decided, today, i'm taking the hands on approach. i'm stuck to her side, telling her to try to pee pee every 30 min. or so. i've found random things to make it fun, like setting my phone to sound an alarm for every 30 min. so she knows when it's time to try on the potty. i also stuck a cheerio or two in her potty and told her she needed to pee pee on them. i know that one is a little weird, but hey, she thought it was fun and it worked. there are also books and coloring pads near her potty to give her an activity to do while on the potty. we began operation potty training around 8 this morning and she has only had one accident all day, which incidentally was my fault for tickling her when she had been holding it for a while. so no more tickling. no bribes today. just fun and consistency. so far, it's worked pretty well. but i think what makes this so much easier on both of us, is letting go of my selfishness. today is not about what i have to get done, it's about helping my daughter conquer potty training. i'll be sure to post updates on her progress and post any tricks i may come across to make potty training a little easier. pray for the rest of the day to go as well as the first half!

i couldn't resist...

i know, i know, i did it again...i entered my child in another magazine cover contest. one day i will get tired of doing this. today is not that day. i can't resist, she's too cute not to show off. so, if you want to see her entry photos, here's the link:
http://www.parents.com/photos/photo-contests-1/2010-parents-cover-contest/1752700033/?photoId=1749600119

becoming a Proverbs 31 wife

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax. And willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservant. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds up herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed in scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates." Proverbs 31:10-31

i want to be that kind of wife. a wife who's heart is after the Lord. a wife that wants to please God, make her husband happy, and care for her children with a happy heart. a wife that is known by her character and love, rather than her beauty. a wife that cannot be replaced in her husband's mind. a wife that is happy because she does as the Lord has called her to do and finds joy in doing so...i want to be invaluable to my hubby, i want to be diligent in everything i do, i want to be important to my family, i want to be considered insightful and influential, but most importantly i want God to be able to use me as an instrument. i want my family [and others] to see God's love through the way He has called me to love and care for them.