Oh the Joys of Motherhood

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted. Time is going by too fast!

This past weekend I was looking forward to my friend's baby shower. This is her first and it's always fun and exciting to celebrate how much her life is about to change. Well...I made it to the last turn (30 minutes away from my house) when my husband sent me a text...would it be bad if you had to leave. I immediately knew something was wrong with one of our kids. As I'm turning the car around to head home, I call my husband to find out that our 9 month old, Eli, would not stop throwing up. He was acting very strange, wouldn't suck on his pacifier and kept coughing. He was breathing fine so he wasn't choking on anything. I call our doctor's office and meet my husband there. As we are waiting with the room full of sick kids at the weekend clinic, Eli started crying again. He threw his head back and I caught a glimpse of something shiny covering the roof of his mouth. Now, do I immediately lay him back and start examining his mouth? Of course NOT! I don't want all these mothers to see that I brought my child to the doctor because he found some garbage to chew on. So I glance around, make sure no one is looking, and pull out a piece of hard plastic from his mouth. Of course from that point on Eli seemed perfectly fine. We go see the doctor and when he ask what's wrong, I simply reply "I'm not going to lie. I just pulled plastic from his mouth and now he is fine. But I've paid my $25 so I thought I would see a doctor while we were here."

Now this is and example of when we as moms, can either cry and get upset with the situation or just laugh at one of our many "oh the joys of motherhood" moments. I tried to focus on the positive: he wasn't really sick and he could have really choked on the plastic, I saved on all the calories I would have consumed at the baby shower, and I came home to a freshly picked up and vacuumed house by my husband.

It's in these moments I repeat to myself: This is the day the Lord has made,
I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

It's the simple things

But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:33-34

Why do we let ourselves get so stressed out in life that we don't enjoy the simple things? Joshua, my two year old, is such a great example of enjoying life. I love to see how excited he gets over...CAKE! Now, I must pause right here and say that yes, he does come by this honestly. Whenever I tell him it's someone's birthday...the first thing he ask is "Mommy, will they have cake?" He gets the biggest smile on his face and jumps up and down when we have a cake in the house. Joshua doesn't worry about the calories or how it's not the most nutritious item on the food pyramid. All he knows is that it's something special and it taste "so yummy." There are so many little things that make him excited...having a friend come over, playing trains with his daddy, building tents, or putting a water hose on his slide. So often, I get bogged down with the worries and stresses of life that I don't enjoy the wonderful blessings the Lord has given me. Maybe Marie Antoinette had it right when she said..."Let them eat cake." This week, Joshua and I are going to have us a piece of cake and enjoy every minute of it! What will you do?

Hanging Out with Mom's Like Me

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.

If one falls down, his friend can help him up.

But pity the man that falls and has no one to help him up!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

I am so glad each month we have a Mom's Night Out for mom's of little ones. Basically, we come together, talk & eat without having to worry about taking care of any babies/toddlers. I definitely needed this past Monday night! It was great meeting new moms and hearing some of their stories about their kids. I'm so thankful I'm not alone in this crazy world of motherhood. It has also been a great way to find out how to pray for each other. If your a BBC mom of a baby-kindergartner, I hope you will join us next month, August 9th!

A Week With My "Other" Kids

I just got home this past Friday from spending a week with my "other" kids. We took 134 children to our Kidz Camp at The Country Place in Moscow, TN. Although we got little sleep and I had to leave my two little ones at home, it was such a blessing! I am not really a "Kidz Camp" kind of girl. It amazes me how all these adults will take a week off of work, especially those that do not even have children there, to stay up late, leave their beds, & watch kids 24/7. The week before, as I started to "dread" Kidz Camp, I was convicted of my attitude. God had given me a chance to share His Good News and His love to others and I was complaining about it. I was reminded of how it's not about me. The world tells us to do what makes us happy but that's not why we are here. We should live each day serving Jesus and sharing the Good News of Christ. I'm thankful for the reminder becuase I had an awesome time. What ever God has in store for you this week, I hope you rejoice in the Lord always! I pray I never let my attitude ruin an opportunity to share God' Love & the blessing that's instore.

Three Cheers!

Although I am around children all the time, wether it be my own or those at church, they never cease to amaze me with the things they say. This past week, my aunt passed away. My heart has been so burdened for my uncle and her children. As when anyone we love dies, the saddness seems to take over. However, Ethan, that same four year old nephew that didn't understand why I would want a bald headed baby, was about to remind me what I should really be doing. He and my son were carrying on a conversation about the clouds and sky, which led to how heaven was "up there." When Ethan shared with my two year old, "Joshua, Aunt Lois is in heaven with Jesus!" My little four year old nephew threw his hands in the air and shouted "Three Cheers for Aunt Lois!" Of course, Joshua followed suit and they together shouted, "three cheers for Aunt Lois, three cheers for Aunt Lois!" You see, they may be only 2 & 4 but they get it. When someone goes to heaven, we should rejoice! We knew my aunt had trusted in Jesus. Our hearts should be burdened on those that don't know Him. We are not promised tomorrow, so share the Good News of Jesus today!

I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

A bald headed baby

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

I love to have conversations with my four year old nepehw. Kids can say the funniest things sometimes. We were discussing his little (3 month old) brother who has a ton of hair and my 7 month old who barely has any. My nephew came to the conclusion that he loved his brother more than anything in the world and after all "who would want a bald headed baby anyway." I told him how I love my baby no matter what he looks like. It made me think about our Heavenly Father. I often get down about the way I look. Why can't I lose weight? So many days I'm too tired to want to take a shower much less do something with my hair and put on make up. That's just the outside, I won't even get started on what I would change on the inside. But God loves me no matter what. After all, He did make me. Let's take time today to thank God for making us so wonderfully.

Great quote

This is how God works. He puts His people in positions where they are desperate for His power, and then He shows His provision in ways that display His greatness.

~David Platt, Radical

Not much longer!

Wow! I have been engrossed in all things VBS this past week. I can not believe in four short days, Bartlett Baptist will open it's doors to approximately 600 children. It will take over 200 volunteers to round up all the kids at this year's Saddle Ridge Ranch. If you are unable to join us, please be in prayer for all those children who may be hearing the Word of God for the first time. Please pray that God would move in the hearts of all ages that they may come to know Him. If you are a volunteer, know that someone is praying for you as well. Praying that God will use you in a mighty way for His glory!

Choosing Holiness

You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own. Leviticus 20:26

I recently read a devotion about choosing holiness over the things of this world. Now, as a mom, I am constantly reminded that it's not just about me anymore. How can I ever expect my children to one day choose the pursuit of holiness over the pursuit of self gratification if I am not that consistent example for them? Of course, even if I was alone on this earth, I should strive to be set apart because that's what our Heavenly Father wants of us. But there is this overwhelming, humbling wow factor that comes into play when I think about the little souls that the Lord has placed in my arms. I want my children to see that I choose not to watch certain TV shows or movies that are displeasing to God...I want my children to see that I spend a part of my day reading His Word & praying...I want them to see that our priority in our home is Worshiping God above any other activities...In a nutshell, I want my children to see me pursuing holiness. Am I there? Unfortunately no, it's a daily struggle. But I better strive to get there fast because my two year old already knows "mommy's Bible" so he surely knows how much I'm picking it up.

ARK MINISTRY COOKOUT!

BBC ARK Ministry Cook-Out for all expecting babies-Kindergartners

@ the home of Josh & Laura Hassler 6345 Barwick Bartlett, TN 38134

This Saturday @ 4:00 pm

Come & Enjoy Fellowship with other families!
All food will be provided, just bring yourself.

Let me know if you are planning on coming...
Facebook, email (laurahassler@bartlettbaptist.org), 497-7781,
or leave a comment here!

If it's Free, I'm on board!

Ok moms...have you received the email about free summer admission to the Pink Palace & Lichterman Nature Center this year? Just in case you haven't... I wanted to share the news. So when it's 150 degrees this summer, let's get together and go to the pink palace!

http://www.memphismuseums.org/trial-membership/

I hope each of you have a wonderful Wednesday!

The Value of Mommy Friends

The following post is from another ARK mom. However, names have been withheld so no further cleaning will be asked of them. :)

Yesterday God taught me a very valuable lesson: the value of having mommy friends.

Last night at church we had a pot luck dinner. I really enjoy these fellowships. Seeing all the families together is always great! But I have a 2 year old – a very rambunctious 2 year old. She loves to run and play and make messes. I have a friend who also has a 2 year old – a very rambunctious 2 year old. Last night, we chose to sit together at the pot-luck and tag team our 2 year olds during the meal time. Surly 4 adults could handle 2 kids… right?

Well, we managed to keep them busy while others stood in line. (Disaster 1 adverted!)

We were a little closer to the front of the line so I offered to get my friend’s 2 year old a plate too because food always seems to calm! Besides, how in the world can you expect one of the kids to sit there and eat while the other one watches? That is just not fair! Plus the goal here is to get them BOTH eating as quickly as possible. (Disaster 2 adverted!)

Within seconds, and I mean seconds, of getting back to the table, my daughter turns over a full glass of tea. Two of the four parents who were at the table at this time, jumped right into action and we got the spill easily cleaned up. PS to the church – might need to spray and wash that table cloth! (Disaster 3 not adverted!)

So finally we get all plates and drinks and kids situated and all is going well. The kids are even sitting and eating – both of them at the same time. We breathe a little sigh of relief as we discuss the topic that seems to be most dear to our hearts these days… potty training.

OOPS! What’s that mess on the chair? Why is that chair wet? Oh no. So maybe we are not doing so great at the potty training. Daddy leaves to change child. Mommy cleans chair. (Disaster 4 not adverted but maybe no one else noticed!)

Dessert time! Let’s give them chocolate. Sure, that’s a great idea.

Finally, dinner is over. I offer to go let the kids “race” in an empty hall at the church if my mommy friend will clean up the table – and the floor – and the chairs – and basically anywhere our sweet little children have been.

The kids are having a great time “racing.” I am out of breath – but hey, neither one of us is having to drag our kids out of someone else’s plate or off the stage in the sanctuary or telling them to shhhh or the embarrassing scenarios go on and on in a mommy’s mind! (Disaster 5 adverted!)

Finally, my mommy friend comes to claim her precious little one and let me know my husband is ready to go. Her little one asks his mommy what’s sticky in the hall way. Sticky??? On the carpet??? We both look at each other and start running for our kids. STOP! No more running. She yells to her darling – “Are you muddy?” I yell to mine, “Did you poop?” Stop running! Let us check your pants. She gets to her kid first. It’s not him. I see the slight sign of relief on her face. OH NO! It’s mine. My kid didn’t just poop – its diarrhea! It’s all down her legs. (She’s wearing a cute little sun dress so her bare legs are covered in it!) It’s in her shoes. I pick her up – and it’s on me now. YUCK YUCK YUCK

Mommy friend helps keep other kids from getting in it. Daddy comes to clean up the hall way. I go to the women’s bathroom where there is a shower to hose her down. There is poop literally dripping off this child in the shower. What? NO water? It’s broke! What now? Mommy friend offers help. Go find someone to turn on the water. Someone finally comes to the rescue, but the water is broke. We clear out the men’s restroom and mommies and kid heads over there. Finally, shower works and we get the kid hosed down. Not sure at this point whether to laugh or cry!

Mommy friend checks for more poop in the floor and they get it all cleaned up. Thank goodness it’s time to go home! Don’t think I can take much more of this day.

This morning, got an email from my mommy friend first thing asking me how I was. She knows that it’s not really about the kid this morning – it’s about me.

The moral of the whole messy story… sometimes you need another mom that understands. You need moms that are where you are in life. You need mom’s that aren’t afraid to help you clean up your “muddy” child. They understand what it’s like to be pooped on, peed on, spilled on… and loved on, hugged on, and kissed on. They know the tears of being a mom – the frustrated tears, the sad tears, and the tears of joy!

God blessed me with a special mommy friend just like that – in fact, he blessed me with a couple of those special friends. My prayer for you is that you will find mommy friends like that too!

(PS - A perfect plug for our mommy’s time out each 2^nd Monday of the month. Come join us! We’ll try to save the poop stories until after we eat. Although, we are all moms and sometimes that’s our life!)

Verse for the week

...pour out your heart like water in the prescence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children... Lamentations 2:19

Thankful

I thank my God everytime I remember you. Philippians 1:3

Last night, we had an appreciation dinner for all of our ARK & Treehouse teachers & helpers. As the person who has to always recruit for the children's minstry... I am thankful for everyone's dedication to the ministry. However, now as a mom, I am so thankful for those who have, are, and will be investing in my children. They show us each Sunday & Wednesday how much they love our babies. If you are one of those special people God has placed in my children's lives... THANK YOU!!! And of course, if you are not yet serving somewhere in the Kids' Ministry...we have a spot for you!

Poop!

The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts...with the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
James 3

My two year old now finds it hilarious to respond with the word "Poop!" every time he is asked a question. Me: What did you do today? Joshua: Poop! Me: What do you want for dinner? Joshua: Poop! Me: Do you love me? Joshua: Poop! It's time to start a lesson in taming the tongue. Am I devastated my son yells "poop" every other minute? Of course not. But it really has got me thinking...I have to be his example of what is good to say and what is not. For now, it's cute. But one day, the word is not going to be so funny. Lord, please remind us today that little ears are always listening to what we say. May we be filled with you so only holy , pleasing words come from our lips.

Moms Just Wanna Have Fun Too!

Mommy's Time Out Monday night was so much fun! Thanks ladies for making me laugh so much...I needed it. If you weren't able to make it, we missed you! I hope you will be able to come next month, June 14th.

If you want to hear funny kids stories that make you laugh until you cry,

spend some time with these two hilarious girls

The chocolate cake was just that good :)

We still want to feel like a princess...

Wow! It's so much easier taking a picture without the kids.

Mom's Time Out

I hope all of you ARK moms will be able to join us for Mom's Time Out tonight at 6:30pm! Just a night to sit back, eat a good meal, and not have to worry about chasing kids. We will meet at Natalee Godsey's house. Call me if you have any questions: 497-7781 . Hope to see you there!

The Stakes are High

"Most children of kingdom-focused parents become young adults with a vibrant, lifetime walk with God that is kingdom-focused. Many children of spiritually shallow parents become spiritually shallow young adults, and others walk away from the faith all together. The stakes could not be higher." Excerpt from Parenting with Kingdom Purpose by Ken Hemphill & Richard Ross

Hunger Pains

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
Matthew 5:6

My two year old attends Kids Day Out on Tuesday's here at church. It's a great way for him to get out of the house and give my mom (the babysitter) a break. Yesterday when I picked him up they told me that I needed to pack more in his lunch. Apparently he scarfs down his food and then asks the other kids if he can have some of theirs! What can I say, the little guy likes to eat.

It made me think, Oh that one day He will hunger and thirst for the Lord. It just comes so easily to pray for their safety and health. But we should always pray for their salvation first and foremost. I also want to be that example for my children. I hope as they grow older, I do not get side tracked with the things of this world. I want to teach them that God comes before everything else. He should be our greatest desire!

Family Fun Night was a Blast!

The BBC family had a great time at our 2nd annual Family Fun Night at Singleton Community Center! Michelle Cartwright and Karen Grigsby are two ARK moms that really got into the nights' festivities...

Funny Quotes to Get you through the weekend!

"My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk until I faint." ~Erma Bombeck

"I'm not going to vacuum 'til Sears makes one you can ride one." ~Roseanne Barr

"The truth is that parents are not really interested in justice. They just want quiet." ~Bill Cosby

"One thing they never told you about child raising is that for the rest of your life, at the drop of a hat, you are expected to know your child's name and how old he or she is." ~Erma Bombeck

"A two year old is kind of like having a blender, but you don't have a top for it." ~Jerry Seinfield

Finding my Green Pasture

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

Psalm 23:2-3

After a long day yesterday, I was excited about coming home, crawling in my bed and getting a good nights sleep. It lasted for about an hour and a half and in walks my two year old crying. Poor thing had an ear ache and could not go back to sleep. A dose of benedryl later, we were finally back to bed. That was once again short lived as my 5 month old started crying which had me out of bed for the rest of the night. Now I have to say I am normally blessed to have children that sleep through the night. But when it rains...it pours.

I thought about Psalm 23:2-3 this morning. Those verses always give me a sense of peace in the chaos that is life. I need to find my green pasture so I can be refreshed and restored. Where is your green pasture? Lately mine has been sitting in my living room early in the morning, holding Eli & reading God's Word. I would like to say it's getting away from everyone & relaxing somewhere beautiful...but who has time for that. I pray today you allow yourself to find a "green pasture" and spend some time with the Lord. And now back to the chaos...

Welcome to the Family

We are so excited to announce the arrival of our new family member in the BBC ARK Ministry...

Braxton Carter Wong

7lbs 3oz

20 1/4 inches long

Proud parents are Katelyn & Jonathan

Please take an opportunity to pray for this sweet family as they discover what parenthood is all about!

Patience with Potty Training

But the fuit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22

"Lord, when will my child ever be potty trained?" That's the question I've been praying these days. Why did you other moms not tell me that this is such a battle? First off, there is this pressure of "don't let your kid be the last one his age to be potty trained." My first goal was to potty train him while I was on maternity leave. Ummm....yea right! That was the craziest thing I ever thought of so I decided to wait for warmer weather. Well guess what...the warmer weather is here, we have started and there is no turning back! I kept saying, "I just don't want two in diapers". Well I have soon discovered that keeping a child in diapers is much easier then having to run to the potty every 10 minutes. Then you have to make the bathroom easily accessible which means every time I turn around he's either washing his hair or his cars in the toilet. Which brings me to my second prayer, "Lord, are you sure you wanted me to have boys?" Just the memory of him doing it grosses me out! But I'm his mom and this is all part of it.

Oh, how patient our heavenly Father is with me. So many times I think I've learned from my mistakes and then there I go again. But He never gives up on me! Just like with my two year old...I don't really care how many accidents he has. He's my child and I'm going to love him no matter what! This is just a lesson for me in being patient with the one I love. I might as well get used to it after all; I have a feeling God's going to be using my little guy to teach me patience for many years to come :)

And thanks to all those moms that tell me "Don't worry! He won't go to college wearing diapers." Your right...its just going to take a little time and patience.

Let's give it a try

I've been talking with several moms in our "Ark" ministry to come up with ways to connect our moms to each other. Let's face it... we are so busy just surviving, it's not easy to make friends along the way. But isn't this when you need friends the most? To have that person to call when you've been pooped on, spit up on, peed on, and it's already been three days since you've had a shower! When I feel like I can not stay up another night with my 5 month old or watch my 2 year old throw himself on the ground kicking and screaming; it sure is nice to hear someone tell me they are going through the same thing. Now maybe it's not right to wish this on someone else but I can't help it...I like to be around those that are in the same boat as me. So let's give this blog spot a try. We will update it with opportunities we have coming up to fellowship with each other and it will be a place for you to soak in some encouragement and know...YOU ARE NOT ALONE! We can go through these important years with our children together...praying each other through it the whole way.