God is so GOOD

I'm going to start out with a rather insignificant story, but trust me - it will come in handy later. Do you ever get surveys in the mail? You know, the ones asking you what tv shows you watch or what cleaning products you've heard of? I've been told by people not to fill these out because then you get put on a list of people who will do these things and your mail box will be flooded soon. But you see I'm home all day with a baby and a toddler. And while I love that, sometimes even the little mental stimulation that filling out a survey involves can be a welcomed change - answering questions asked by other adults instead of by a 3 year old. So I have been known to fill out surveys from time to time and I don't think it has really flooded our mail box - at least not yet.

Well, back to my title - God is good. Tim is now part time at the church and going back to school full time online through Liberty. I'm still home with the boys and making a little spending money online through my scrapbooking businesses but not much yet. Anyway, it's meant we've had to readjust our budget and pull from our savings this year. However, we feel very strongly that the first thing we need to do with our money is to tithe. Ten percent goes to the church each month regardless of how little we are making. (If you are a Christian reading this and don't tithe, see my earlier post from Oct 4.) And God is blessing our socks off! Let me just share a few things.

First, we get a letter from our mortgage bank saying that they overestimated how much our taxes would be and there were hundreds of dollars extra in our escrow account. Enclosed was a check for this extra money and a lower adjusted monthly payment we need to make for our mortgage. Next, I open a random survey envelope and out falls $30 in thanks for filling out the last one and would I mind filling out one more. (See I told you that first story would come in handy. :) ) Not much I know - but enough to let us eat out one night. And finally, just today we went car shopping for a van (I know, bit by bit, I'm turning into a soccer mom). And we happen to get a deal on a 2006 Town and Country that was well below what we were hoping to spend.

God is so good!! He provides for us in ways we can't even imagine. Praise Him!

Growing

Jonathan has almost lost his newbornness. The tiny arms, legs, nose, and fingers are filling out into squeezable, cuddly baby chub. The "I'm lost in a new word" cries have morphed into "I know what I want and I want it now" screams. And the blank stares are being replaced by smiles, coos, and inquisitive looks.

I know that many of you see these changes especially pronounced because you don't get to see him very often, and every time you do he is in a new stage of development it seems. But sometimes it feels that way for me too - babies go through so many changes in the time period when parents are so sleep deprived they don't always know when one day begins and another ends. After a night of getting up every couple hours I seem to make it through the following day in a daze, enough aware to make sure the boys are safe and cared for, but not enough for much more. Then Jonathan will bless me by sleeping 8-10 hours and I will wake up with new life and wonder where the time went. Jonathan is now almost 3 months old and loosing that newbornness.

And not to leave Michael out, he is growing too. Every couple of weeks he looks taller to me - is able to see over and reach more and more things around the house. He is participating in big kids worship now at church with a love and excitement for praise songs that can often put his parents to shame. He is learning letters and numbers and learned to use scissors the other day.

You can see updated pictures of my big boys here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tchaig/

By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving

As I looked outside today, I noticed that the leaves on the trees here are starting to change color. Their tips are transforming into beautiful shades of reds and golds. God is so creative and so consistent. Every year the trees decorate creation glouriously.

It remined me of a forum post I made the other day about whether Christians are worried about the economy right now. Here is my post:

"I am learning what I can about the stimulus plans and things so that I can be well informed about what is going on. But I don't feel worried about it. I think that many people (including us probably) are in for some tough times in the next couple years, but God is BIGGER than that. He has promised to care for those who call on His name and he has never failed in that. A friend of mine always said, "I serve a God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills!" and it is so true - He is able to provide all that we need.

I would also like to encourage all of you Christians not to give up tithing during rough times. Keep bringing your tithe to the Lord. He tells us this will lead to blessings in our lives. I know it can be hard to trust that giving money to the Lord first when there are so many bills to pay will not lead to destruction, but I've never heard anyone say, "I went without the necessities because I tithed to the church." God always provides."

I'm so glad to be serving our great God. I truly can "not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil 4:6

Mommy's New Man

I got some great pictures of Jonathan today.













We are loving the fact that he is smiling so much now! In fact the other day I strapped both boys into their carseats and Jonathan looked right at Michael and giggled. For the next couple of minutes, they just laughed in conversation with each other in true brother camaraderie. It was the first moment they truly interacted with each other. And it was then that I realized all the trouble they were going to get into together and how much they'd love doing it together.

Here's the merote mom

To quote my 3 year old when he wants to watch a show on TV.

Sleep training

Jonathan, thankfully, likes to nap and sleeps pretty good. During the day, he has adjusted easily to a nap, eat, play, nap routine. Some of you know from talking to me that he likes this routine so much that he was continuing it through the night. When he would wake for feedings he would then be up for an hour before falling back asleep. I'd spend the time rocking him, bouncing him, giving him his pacifier, reading my Bible, praying, and wishing I could go back to sleep. I kept the lights dim and kept interaction to a minimum and it finally worked.
I am proud to announce that for the last 5 nights, Jonathan has gone right back to sleep after feeding in the middle of the night. I'm so proud of him. I can feed him, wait a few minutes while he grunts to get cozy, and then head back to bed - to toss and turn for the next half hour.
So, how do you sleep train the mom?

The difference between 1 and 2

Well, I find myself with a few free moments! Both boys are down for a nap and I have sat down at the computer without someone hanging on me! I did just hear the dryer buzz so I will have to attend to that shortly, but for now, I'll indulge in a post.
Being a stay at home parent with one child was definitely work, especially when the terrible 2s drain you of all you have. But often it wasn't overwhelming. Maybe this is because I don't clean my house from top to bottom every day like some people or spend hours in the kitchen cooking each night (10 minute meal prep for me! :)). I found that I could manage to spend a lot of time with Michael, do some house work, and find time for myself during the day. In fact, even when I was pregnant we had a pretty good balance going - albeit that most of "my time" was spent laying exhausted on the couch.
Now I have two boys to care for and instead of my Michael time - house work - Michael time - me time routine, I'm stuck in a cycle of Michael time - Jonathan time - Michael time - Jonathan time with maybe a bit of house work time or me time thrown in. But you see, even the house and me time has changed. I always seem to have one of them touching me. Either I'm holding Jonathan or Michael is trying to climb on me, run the race car over me, or sit on my lap.
As I sit here typing now, I feel so free of little hands and bodies. I realize that I'm still me! Wow - it is great to be JUST ME again for even a few minutes! Well, I hear one of the little bodies stirring and so I'd better get to the laundry quick - who would of thought that folding laundry by oneself could be such a treat.