Busy Weekend!

Whew! Where did the weekend go?! I know I said I was going to post Friday about the cloth diaper deal, but time just slipped away from me.

Friday night I voulenttered at KidVenture for church, Saterday we met and had bible study with our GA family/small group, and today we volunteered at church and ran errands. All fantastic things...but we sure are tiered!

We are so blessed to be apart of a fantastic church family at North Point Community Church. The programs that they have for children and adults of any stage are so fantastic. We cant wait for Parson to be old enough to really experience learning about God's love for him at Wuamba Land (pre-elementary) and Upstreet (elementary age).

Two years ago I started volunteering at Church in our elementary school kids program called Upstreet. I started off with 4th graders. The reason I started at such a random grade is because this is when they split the groups by gender. Not that I don't love boys...I do, but have you seen seven 4th grade boys together after eating a handful of starbursts? Any-who, I started with a roster of 16 nine year old girls. I only ever have met about 9 of them and about 5 that attend regularly. I had such a great time getting to know these girls that I "moved up" with them when they started 5th grade this fall. I thought that being a small group leader for these girls would be all about flannel graphs, goldfish crackers and kids praise music...boy was I wrong. Within my first two weeks I had heard things like "My uncle just died and I am sad", "I don't have a Dad", "My parents are getting a divorce", and "I am moving to Thailand for a year and I am really nervous". YIKES, I did not read the fine print at the small group leader orientation, I was no where near prepared to actually mentor these kids through life situations that I don't even know how to get through. Luckily, our church has wonderful staff and resources to help us mentor children and really show them God's love.

It is amazing how much I have and do learn from my now 10 and 11 year old girls and the children's messages. I think every adult should stop and listen to a children's message every now and then because we often worry to much about grown up stuff and forget the important things that help us have the child like Faith we need to get through the grown up stuff.

Looking back at what I just wrote reminds me of why I wake up extra early on Sundays, watch service online, and spend the occasional Friday night away from my family and instead bowling with a fantastic bunch of kids hyped up on soda and pizza. I do this knowing that I was that 10 or 11 year old girl who is confused about church, school, and life. Looking for a peer to tell me I am important, to tell me that God loves me, to want to hang out with me, and to take time away from their lives and invest in me.

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God"
Hebrews 13:16

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others"
Philippians 2:4

Patty

P.S The cloth diapers are going great...totally worth the investment!

To cloth or not to cloth?

Its official! After lots of research and thought we are making the switch....to cloth diapers! That's right, we are taking the plunge to save dollars, the environment, and my sweet boys bottom!

We have decided to go with BumGenius all in one 4.0 hook and loop diapers. I know BumGenius are kind of a splurge in the cloth diaper world, but since Parson is in daycare we have to make it as easy as possible for our care providers. (which I still need to talk to them about this..er..transition tomorrow)

The intial cost is kind of high, well real high...but it is such a good investment. We figure after about 3 or 4 months the diapers will have paid for themselves. Which puts Parson at 13 months. So we will save some money for sure! I also purchased "gender neutral" (though I hate that term) colors so we can use the diapers again for future little babes :)

Here is what I purchased to start:

12 diapers
6 extra inserts
1 diaper sprayer
2 laundry size wet bags
2 large travel wet bags
2 small travel wet bags
1 package of Rockin Green laundry detergent

All from diapers.com with free 2 day air freight! Everything should be here Thursday, with hopes of washing and starting the cloth diapering Friday!

I know I am going to need more diapers and more inserts and a cloth diaper safe rash cream. But this is what the budget could deal with for now.

More updates to come Friday.

Patty

My favorite part of the day

So often I find myself rushing through the day so fast that when I go to bed at night I cant remember half of he things I did. Now, I know a big factor to this is that I give myself about 30 seconds before I pass out of exhaustion, but mainly because I don't take the time to relish in the wonderful parts of my life. When I pondered on my day I figured out what my favorite parts of the day are...the first feeding in the morning and bedtime. Take a look below at how these two parts of the day look like for our family and you will understand why:

First feeding

6:30am- Hear Parson fussing on the monitor..."MOM! It has been like 6 hours I am starving, get up here now!"

6:31am- I (still half asleep) find my way up the stairs in to Parsons' room. I see two little blue peepers looking over the bumper and then a big toothy grin saying "Good morning Mommy!" The Parson nurses.

6:50- I sit Parson on my lap and this is the conversation we have, whispering back an fourth his cheek against mine.

Me: Good morning baby

Parson: ba

Me: ba ba?

Parson: BA!

Me: ka?

Parson: KA!

Me: Where is dada?

Parson: daaa daa?

Me: Mama!

Parson: daa daa 

Me: No, i'm mama

Parson: DaaaaDaaaa!

Me:......lets get you dressed :) Someday we will figure the mama thing out.

 

Bedtime

Fist we give Parson a bath...though somehow I get a shower in the midst to. After we dry both of us off, and Parson gets jammies on we read two stories and Parson nurses. While Parson nurses Aaron prays for our family, Parson, and any other prayer requests that we have. Then he comes over and kisses Parson on the head and whispers "love you buddy" and kisses me on the forehead and says "love you mamma"

In the midst of our crazy days these moments are what make me remember the story about Nehemiah, when he looks down at his messenger and says "I am doing a good work, I cannot come down" (Nehemiah 6:3) It is true, we are doing a good work and we cannot come down. Even though life throws curve balls and the world likes to tell us what is most important, we know what is most important our Faith and our Family.

So sorry folks, we will not come down for anything. 

Patty

Photo Update!

Since it has been so long since I have updated I thought I would give you a few pictures to enjoy :)a

 Parson and his cousin Charlie. They are 5 weeks apart.

I think we are going to be in trouble when these boys are older

Family picture on Parsons 1st Thanksgiving

How can you not kiss those cheeks 

Opening a Christmas present from Grandpa and Grandma Jones

"Mom! Look at these lights!"

He LOVES tomatos

Wiggling after his ball

Our sweet baby boy!

Play time with Daddy

This is just a little glimpse of our wonderful crazy life.

Patty 

Six months?!

Yikes has it really been six months since my last post?! Time sure does fly when your having fun!

Parson is nearly 10 months and is on the brink of being mobile! He can get on his hands and knees and then thinks  "well now what?"  I thank God every day for his and my Aaron's health and that he has blessed me with two wonderful boys (er men)!

To my dismay I am still working full time. But we make the best of it and know that God has a plan for us and right now this is it. We know that he has our interest in mind, even if its not what I think is best. I am still working on this part of my faith.:)

Speaking of contentment! A dear friend of mine sent me a email this week with some verses and quotes about being a content wife and mother. The email really got me think about why I am not content with my life and decisions. I came to the conclusion that I am trying to please others and not God in my life.

This whole ordeal made me re think everything I do and why I do it, past, present, and future. Here are a few instances that I thought out:

Why I  want to be a stay at home mom

I have wanted to be a stay at home mom for as along as I can remember. Not because I think its the easy way out and not because I think it is glamours...because it is the exact opposite. SO many people have told me that it is not realistic and that "people " don't do that any more. I desire to be a stay at home mom so I can parent they way that I believe is right. So I can raise my son and build my family up on faith in daily life. So I can cloth diaper to save money and the environment. So we can eventually home school so we know our children are getting the education that we feel is best, based on faith and building character. So I not someone else can watch our children grow and nurture them along the way.

Why I believe and want natural child birth


I  believe in natural child birth. Why? Because that is they exact reason that God built my body for. I was upset for a long time that the birth if Parson was not natural. Why was it not natural?  Because I was not educated enough and because I was way to influenced by those around me. Everyone told me..."don't do it" "that's silly" "just get the epidural, just get the epidural." and in the mist of the most vulnerable time of my womanhood...I caved to those around me instead of relaying on the Lord for my strength.  Because of the lack of  support...I have really considered becoming a doula to make sure all women know that they can labor and deliver a child naturally.

Those are just two of the most "controversial" things that are most influenced by others and in 2012....things are changing for our family. We are going to do what we think is best for our family and pray about every decision that we make.

So whats next? I am always researching ways that I can work from home. I am currently looking into blogging (I know I will have to update more than every six months ;)  ), a in home daycare, and becoming a certified Doula, and cutting expenses (more to come on that). We are praying over everything we do...and I mean everything, what we eat, how we parent, over our home, and finances...everything.  We are getting closer to the Lord be doing devotions individually and as a family.

I will keep you posted on what the next adventure in the Jones home is....most likely next is going to be having a crawler.  :)

Love,

Patty