mom challenge

Saturday we had Cydney's birthday party and before the party could get here I found my self frazzled, grumpy and ready to bite my children's head off.  Really, I did bite their heads off!!!  I had to ask over and over to get things done, and I had had it!!  As I ask forgiveness from them that evening, it left me feeling like a terrible mom.  I knew something had to change...and soon!!!

For one, I will not ask more than once to get something done.  After that, they will suffer the consequences.  I sat them down last night and explained my expectations and consequences to them.  Let's hope they were listening.  If not, it could be some miserable last days for the Kirkland Kids.  It would totally stink to spend the rest of the summer in their rooms contemplating their behaviors.

But I knew my heart needed softening too...In the mean time, I found this 30 day Mom Challenge.  Maybe this was God's way of giving me one thing to work on everyday to improve my own actions towards my children. What better day to start than TODAY...the first of the month.

I love that it says "Mom's Ultimate To-Do List."  I get to caught up in life and all that I having going, that I often forget they are my top priority, my greatest job, and biggest blessing.

I made a copy to hang on my fridge to remind me my big job... 24/7, 365 days a year.

Hopefully, I will blog about my experiences as I work through this challenge.  If this is something you would like to join me in, please leave us comment and we can keep each other accountable.

You are a super mom!!!

growing up

There is probably nothing in life that creates such mixed emotions as my children growing up.  I love each new stage they enter.  I love how the mother-child relationship changes through each new stage of childhood.  I love that my children take on a new level of independence and responsibility.  I love most that their hearts begin to mature and in tender moments their sweetness comes pouring through.

One of these such moments happened last night.  The son of one of our of dear family friends fell last night on his rip stick and broke his arm terribly.  When Calleigh came home from practicing basketball at the gym, she sent a text to all of friends that made my mother heart smile and tears come to my eyes.
     
     "Please pray for Tate.  He was doing something and broke his arm. Will possible have surgrey.  We are pray for fast recovery and healing.  Please pray!!"

Through the misspelling and missing words, the meaning came through loud and clear.  It touched my heart that she would call her friends to pray for their friend.  She is growing up and maturing.

Over the last months she has been asking if she could start shaving her legs.  In my mind, I had a clear cut time frame for these things to happen.  Fifth grade wasn't really what I had planned.  But, I also hadn't planned on her being so mature and grown up in fifth grade either.  I tried to blow if off and put her off at first.  That only lasted a little while.  She was persistent.  Hairy legs "embarrass" her.

I gave in.  As I sat on the bathtub this week showing her how to shave her legs, I had a smile on my face, but an ache in my heart as I realized another sign of her growing up.  As much as I love the young lady that she is becoming...I HATE IT!!!

I was doing some cleaning last night and came across a picture we took on our cruise just last summer.  I couldn't believe how much she has changed in a few short months.  She is losing her little girl looks and changing into a beautiful young lady...inside and out.

Treasure the moments with your babes...they will be gone much to soon!!!

Be blessed,

hills

As I look out my back door, in the pasture that lies behind the yard, there are 5 very small hills.  Why we have these hills in our back pasture is really beyond me.  I have no idea who created them, or why one would create these 5 hills...so small, but evenly spaced.  It strikes me as rather odd.

However, for Cydney Claire, and the other munchkins of the neighborhood, they provide lots of good entertainment.  When the kids ride their go-cart, they love to ride it over each of the hills.  Often getting high centered and someone having to push the go-cart off.

But with Cydney, it's not the go-cart that is most entertaining.  It is running the hills.  On many days, she will head to the pasture as we are feeding the calves or doing chores in the yard and run the hills.  Up, down, up, down, up, down.  Every now and then, the small hill that it is, poses a struggle and she must dig in to make it over.

Always careful to keep her sucker safe from any mishaps.

Not really sure why this is so entertaining, but it sure makes me smile.  Hope you smile too!!

just a walk

There are many days that I don't blog, for I feel I simply have nothing to blog about.  But, just a short walk through the yard with my camera and many things caught my eye to share.  It's amazing what lies just beyond my eyes that remind of life as it was just a short time ago and how it can change in such a quick time.

Beyond the swing set, beyond the trees, lying against the fence are Carson's old Tonka trucks.  Unused, but well loved.  Tossed aside because he is much older now.  He rides bikes, plays football and basketball, build forts, and many other things.  But digging with Tonka trucks is not on his list of activities anymore.

It really wasn't all that many years ago that he was a cotton top little boy that spent hours digging in his sandbox with his trucks.  But things change.  Time flies.

It was just a walk through the yard, yet it brought so many memories of where we've been and how far we have come.

potty training 101

Knowing full well that Cydney is probably too young (23 months) to be potty trained, we bought a potty seat anyway...and tried...well, kinda!!  If you call asking her if she wants to go sit on the potty and she screams "NO!!!"  I can’t honestly say that I have tried really hard.  We leave for Calleigh’s basketball tourney in Branson in a week, and I will honestly say that diapers will be much easier than finding a bathroom all day long.  Especially public restrooms...ggrrooooooooossssss!!!  So, we have just thrown that potty seat out there for a little taste of being a big girl.

She told her daddy tonight that she wanted to go potty.  He put her up on the seat.  Walked away for, like, 2 seconds and...

This pretty well explains our potty training experiences thus far.  She is obsessed with the toilet paper.  

I love diapers!!!

a mother's dream

As a mother, I have so many dreams for my children.  I think every mother has incredible dreams for each of her children.  It’s part of the job.

• I dream for my children to have a college education, to have a great job that challenges them and doing something they love to do.  
• I dream for my children to each find a spouse they care the same type of marriage that Robby and I have.
• I dream for my children to have friends that encourage them, support them, and hold them accountable i life.
• I dream for children to share in the joys of parenthood.
• I dream for my children to live a life of prosperity and fullness.
• I dream for my children to have so much love that their cup runneth over.
• I dream for my children to happy, no matter where the road of life leads them.
• I dream this....and so much more for my babies (growing babies!)  One of this mom’s dreams came true a few weeks ago when I was able to sit on the front row close to the front and watch Calleigh and Carson be baptized!!!  It was an unforgettable moment that will forever be etched on my heart.  To know that my children will walk with Jesus...makes my own cup runneth over.  I was such a precious moment!!

I dream for my children to have an intimate relationship with their Heavenly Father and know the love and joy of a relationship with Him.


Be blessed!!!

momma's girl

dEEpLy, mAdLy in LOVE

This morning (this post has been a post in progress...started yesterday, finished today) I was reading this (blog) devotional from Proverbs 31 Ministries titled "Am I Messing Up My Kids?" Very honestly, there are days moments that I wonder if I am doing the right things for my kids...I feel totally drained, physically and emotionally. I ask myself...am I being too hard, am I expecting too much, are they being held accountable and becoming responsible. The list could go on.....I am probably not alone.

As a mother, we want our children to leave our nest ready to face the world.

As a mother we know how tough the world is, and we want our babies to be tough and ready to take it on.

As a mother, we want to protect our precious ones from the heartache and hurt that we had to go through to get us where we are today.

In all reality, it is the a little of the pain and the hurt that made us tough mommies ready to take on this world ourselve and raise our most precious earthly possessions.

Now I know that this battle will rage on in our minds, but I want to share some encouragement with you. My sweet friend Wendy shared this scripture yesterday in her blog...isn't it funny how God puts all these things in your day, and at the end it all comes together to make some kind of sense.

Psalm 46 says "Be STILL and know that I am God. I will be exalted in all the Earth." He has created these children as His wonderous works. God is in CONTROL of these kids...if we only submit them to his tender, loving care. He is more kind, protective, gentle and loving than we could ever hope to be. Call on His NAME in those moments of desperation. He is our STRENGTH and our PROVIDER, and He will not leave us.

As I was getting ready for bed, Robby was in the bedroom working out (YUCK!!) with the music playing. The song Dont Blink by Kenney Chesney was playing.

Don't blink.

Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife.

Don't blink.

You just might miss your babies growing like mine did.

Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half" Of fifty years is there in bed.

And you're praying God takes you instead.

Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think.

So don't blink.

Life goes faster than you think.

As I listened to these words it brought my day full circle...moments of desperation, God's words being placed in my heart, realizing that I am not alone and I will make it through this journey of motherhood, and remembering how precious my babies are to me and I am so deeply, madly in love with them....and my amazing husband.

My dear friends, know that you ARE a wonderful mom, and your children will be just fine. You ARE a Proverbs 31 woman. You are strong. You are bold. You are noble. You are full of wisdom. Finish the race. Keep the faith.

How could one not be deeply, madly in love with these these cuties??? Have a great weekend. Be blessed...remember, don't blink!!!