ONE

The last year has come and gone so fast and now, Mr. Reid, you are ONE! How in the world we got here, I just don't know. What's a one year old stinker up to...

You have a more serious nature, but man when you let that smile out it melts my heart!

-You are busy, busy, busy! Always on the go, always getting into things, putting everything into your mouth, always trying to mooch off our food, you are a nonstop little guy.
-You have two teeth, and two of four more on top that are starting to pop through. We can see about four that are trying to work their way out, but as of yet only two that have just started breaking through. Which, all in all, you have done pretty well with teething. It's given you yet another cold/runny nose and that's lingered for a week and a half, but it's gotten better at least.
-You aren't walking and don't seem too interested in it. You'll walk with our hands, but still try to walk faster than your feet will go and you don't try to take any steps solo yet. You are a fast crawler and will climb on things when you can.
-You sleep pretty well, but are a really light sleeper so too much noise out of the norm will wake you. You're still hanging on to that 4-6 wake up time and bottle. We're going to try to just cut off majority of bottles. Yesterday you only had one for an afternoon nap, then went to bed without one and only stirred and whined for a bit about it, had one this morning after not settling back on your own, but none the rest of the day. Thus the transitioning out of them, and prayers you'll just ease into dropping that 4-6 bottle dependency. We'll see...
-You are 'talking' more and more. Just as of recent, we've noticed more jabbering from you and it's the cutest. The best is when you give a funny jabber after Caden has said something silly, almost as if you say 'yeah, yeah yeah, whatever' in response. Always makes us laugh.
-You love to eat and will eat almost anything. We all try to eat dinner together, and you usually always eat well sitting next to me and mooching off my plate. I just have to make sure I keep up with you, you're a fast eater!
-You've taken pretty well to milk out of your sippy cup, but like it to be set out a bit and not right out of the fridge. If it's too cold, you'll just spew it right out and that's just not cool.
-You can be dramatic, feisty, and have a tendency to be more whiny when I'm around and always at my legs pulling up on me to get attention. It's tiring sometimes, but it's good and I know I'll miss that from you some day.

You, your ornery look, and your beloved wubby. It helps you keep track of the paci in your crib, so we're all a fan.

Reiders, you are the best. You are a wonderful brother and son. We couldn't have asked for a better little brother to have in our family and we are so eager to see your personality grow as you do. You are fun, adorable, lovable and we love you SO much. Thank you for an amazing first year. Your dad and I couldn't be prouder to be your parents and we are so blessed to have you.

We love you, buddy! Happy First Birthday, Reid!!

xoxo

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was yesterday, and I still couldn't think of a blog topic to write about other than what I'm thankful for. Had no mojo, nothing to go off of, and just felt stuck.

I had been in limbo for a few days after finishing a devotional series, delaying the start of a new one, and not yet continuing on my readings in Matthew, so that's where I picked back up at this afternoon. Surely if I feel like I'm doing this for God then it probably doesn't help to skip out on my time with Him for a few days, huh? I always get frustrated at how easy it is to postpone my time spent in a devotional, in the bible, with God and how easy it is to see that it truly does affect my day to day life.

So, as God would coincidently have it my study today was over the verse Philippians 4:6-7.

'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.'

The teacher for this devo, a man named John Piper, broke it down as such: anxious, thanksgiving, peace/piece.

First anxious. When we worry all the time we are basically making God look like a fool. We might as well be choosing to say God can't help us, He isn't in control, wise or kind when we choose to consume ourselves in anxiety or worry.

Thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known to God with thanksgiving. Be thankful for He meets all our needs, whether they are met how you think they should be or not. Reflect on what God has done in thanksgiving--not only to include what he has done in your daily life but for your life in general through Jesus.

Peace/Piece of God; 'peace of God' being the spiritual peace that He gives and 'piece of God' being Jesus.

The teacher thus concluded that through Jesus, connecting us with God, we can gain a peace that no other human understanding can produce.

And that, that is something I can be thankful for. That is something that outlasts the bad days, that stands against my doubts and that rises above my fears. God's peace has placed in me more humility and hope than I could have ever found elsewhere.

I am thankful that His peace and reassurance directs me to enjoy and cherish the little things in life that He has allowed us to have and has blessed us with. The good that we don't deserve and the hard that has drawn us closer to Him.

Our children, our home, family and friends, His grace-the little things that He has blessed us with and sent as reminders of His love, it is that which helps me not focus on the big things that this world temps us to chase after. To be thankful in Him and in all that He provides.

In the long run, I guess a thanksgiving week post couldn't escape the inevitable...

Our Modern Day Jesus and Judas

Last night I couldn't fall asleep, so I continued to read into Matthew, as I'm working my way through the gospels. Up next was Matthew 24. A nice, sweet bed time story...but, not quite. It was good and it was real.

Chapter 24: 9-13 'Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.'

Jesus doesn't promise an easy path. He doesn't say the situations we will face in this world will make for easy decisions. Things aren't always clear and simple.

This leads me to the ever so popular debate of housing refugees.

I'm not strong on politics. I don't know the in's and out's of the financial statistics towards the situation. I don't know all the governmental details to how refugees are handled. And I know these are all important factors.

It wasn't until I saw a suggestion towards a Wichita chapter of the International Rescue Committee that I even realized how help towards refugees currently works.

But I have seen the statements surrounding the argument saying how can we afford to help refugees if we can't help our own homeless? Or another that said as long as there are homeless children here, we won't welcome refugees.

And I have seen the argument about it only leading to our own destruction. As in literally, they will infiltrate our country using a refugee cover and attack here. Or that helping will just draw a large arrow on our own backs.

The thought of opening my doors and helping, just to be betrayed made me stop and think twice about the idea of going forth with the motto driven from 'the least of these'. (matthew 25:40)

Isn't that just what Satan wants? To fill us with as much doubt, excuses, and fears to lead us to the decision of doing what's best for us, our family, our country instead of what Jesus has asked of us? To choose our lives and our best interest over him just to err on the side of caution? Just to stay neutral on such a hot subject? Just to play it safe?

Satan is good and stealthy, because even typing out 'us, our family, our country' leads me to get defensive that we should fight for ourselves. Do what's in our best interest. That you can't be naïve to the real world, and I don't want to be--but I do believe that despite all the world does, or goes through, it is our job as followers of Christ to make the decision to stand strong in Him, in God's word, even in the most difficult of situations. We don't know when the final day, hour, minutes, breath will be. So LIVE AS SUCH.

Live as if each action and choice you make could be your last and make it count for God, not for yourself or your own agenda.

Quit living to fight for a world that we are not meant to stay with forever. Quit living to make everyone happy, not upsetting anyone with God's truth. In Luke 6:26-36 it first reminds us to be cautious when everyone speaks well of you. Everyone spoke well of the false prophets, and they were just that--false. You can't live the truth of God's word and have everyone like you. The scripture then continues to teach on loving your enemies.

'love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you...if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? even sinners loves those who love them. and if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? even sinners do that.' Luke 6: 27-28, 32-33

If you were born into the situation that these people have been born into; if you had a child amongst such a hostile environment, would you not fight like hell for a better future for yourself, for your family, for your children?

When I stopped and thought-yes, Jesus wants us to help others and it's not for us to pick and choose who gets our love, grace, kindness but what would he say or do with this situation. Where there is a threat of letting some bad in amongst the good, just to later cause harm here-how would he handle that? He never had to deal with that...just to realize that he did.

Jesus took in Judas knowing the outcome of their friendship. Jesus showed him love, grace, kindness all while knowing the betrayal that was to come that would only cause a magnitude of pain upon himself.

It is not for us to fear. It is not for us to judge. It is not for us to let the lies, persuasions, arguments, normality's of this world stop us from doing what God has asked us to do and what Jesus clearly showed us to do.

I'm not suggesting to be unwise in your choices, opening your door when Freddy Krueger is standing there-but I am suggesting we quit living in such fear and caution that in the long run fogs up our minds with self interest, blinding our views and missing opportunities God has called us to.

For us, personally, we are going to start with learning how to help those in need. Despite it maybe making us uncomfortable. Despite it upsetting those who disagree with us. Despite the risks.

Lord forbid we take risks to live for Him. But for real, He doesn't forbid that nonsense. If anything He reminds us the rewards we will have in heaven if we quit playing it safe and start taking our decision to follow Him in ALL situations, despite ANY persecutions, seriously and quit all this backpedaling and excuses that we can muster up to make ourselves feel better about our lack of commitment to Him.

So, as for us, I am looking further into the Wichita International Rescue Committee that we have here to see if that is an organization that we could support, or even to start with something as simple as participating in their Christmas wish list tree. And-because this debate brought up the argument with homeless situations we will look into that as well. I don't want to ignore the needs of people local or afar.

We will work to be a part of a solution and help those in need. I'm tired of being just another voice with an opinion, yet providing no action and no resolution. We will shine God's love, grace and kindness wherever and whenever He calls us to, within our comfort zone or not.

Dang Mac Donalds.

We are reading Dr. Emerson Eggerichs book, Love and Respect, in our church small group. Some parts are focused towards men, some women, and some both. It can be a little over repetitive, and we may or may not joke and add 'because I love you' or 'because I respect you' at odd times because, well, it makes us laugh.

But, for real now, it has good points that seem obvious but can be pretty dang hard to remember when you're in the thick of things, when life is busy, when the kids suck all the energy out of you and the last thing you want to do is show someone love or respect after a long day.

As women, we need the reminder of how our men think, what speaks volumes to them, and how different their thought process can be.

And men, such is the same. The book uses the example of pink and blue glasses for men and women. That we see things in our specific colored glasses because we are different, as God made us, but we have to remember to take off our glasses and see situations and things from the others perspective.

McDonalds, right? That was the title anyways...

This may come as a shock to those that know me, but I can be stubborn. Please, take time to gasp now.

Call it the 'baby of the family' personality, or just call it stupidity, but I'm still working on improving in this category. I literally sometimes have to work myself through fits. And I'm 28 here. I have no good excuses like my toddler does--that only being that he's a toddler, because there's no good excuse for throwing fits when asked to go to the bathroom instead of pee your pants. None.

So, It had been a long weekend, a long Sunday, and we still had to go out to Wally World to get a few things before heading home to make dinner. (This all could have been avoided if we hadn't tried to cut corners earlier in the week. So, second lessoned learned there.) We made it a family affair and all went together. Shopping alone is lonesome, and I love being chauffeured.

During our quick trip I was like ummm, this would be easier if that McDonalds wasn't right out side with yummy fries. Just sayin'.

Nothing came of it. I'm pretty sure I dropped a later hint in the store, too, but nothing. Then, as we're leaving in the car I'm all-so what kind of breakfast for dinner do you want? And he's all-what are the options? And I say, well, there's Mcdonalds, French toast, I don't know....then, Caden's all-I have to pee!

What ends up happening is we're on the fence, probably because he can sense my baby fit brewing, and we decide to run him into McyD's to pee, and I say okay Caden we'll get you fries after you pee. What also ends up happening is my fries get shot down, but we get him some anyways because you can't tell him he gets fries, take him inside fry heaven to pee, then say jay kay and leave. Unless you want the hulk to come out, which we didn't.

So, he pee'd, he got fries, and we left. Son of a biscuit. Here's where I tell you my foolishness.

I then played the silence game. Maybe for a good thirty minutes to an hour, I'm sure. Did what I had to when we got home, and started making dumb breakfast food.

We try to have breakfast food on the 'menu' once a week because we find it's affordable for the budget if you keep it simple. It's also one of the most annoying meals to make because it gets lots of cookware dirty and you have to cook everything. No crockpot action, no one pan for all. It just annoys me sometimes. And you have to time it right so it's somewhat all hot when you're ready to eat it--which, is pointless with kids anyways, but whatever.

Ya'll. Gary apologized first. For what?! I think he noticed something he did made me mad, but come on--I'm the one acting like a fool just because I didn't like his answer! So I was a little more irritated that he took my apology and was thinking gah-dang it! I'm no ready to reply...I'm just not ready!

Eventually, I did. Multiple times. Because it felt so ridiculous of a matter it needed a few real apologies. And then, yesterday while reading my chapters in Love and Respect it touched base on how 'a marriage needs her intuition and his insight'. How it's so easy for us as women to disregard his insight. To not count it as important, because it may differ from ours. BAM. Right in the face.

Something as simple as a dinner choice. I didn't want to cook, I wanted something quick and easy that I didn't have to think twice about. I can't lay out his reasoning-but it saved us from feeling crappy from eating fast food, saved us the money that we could later elsewhere in the week, and well-even if it did nothing it was his decision and just because I had other opinions doesn't mean that's the way we have to go.

Five years and I'm just now being able to really focus and work on this. This is when you can add Gary to your prayer list.

Either way-I at least knew I had to work through my stubbornness, and I did. Quietly, unfortunately with an attitude, but because I knew that I needed to respect his decision even if it wasn't one I would have made.

And that is hard to do sometimes. Marriage is hard to do a lot of the time. But, it is worth it. Seeing and acknowledging area to grow in your marriage is important and worth the uphill battle.

I know we're guaranteed to have different opinions on things far more important than fries, so here is where I need to start to prepare my heart for those situations. Remember to try on his blue glasses and learn to work together. Luckily, God showed us grace, so we show each other grace and continue on.

And, luckily, I stole one of Caden's fries before handing them back to him. Hashtag hangry mom problems.

Eleven Months

Oh, my sweet boy. How can you be one month away from turning one?! The months have flown by, and here we are, you're eleven months and growing fast!

 

You are a handsome little fella. You do this adorable eyebrow raise sometimes and it always cracks me up. Sometimes it's almost in a sarcastic way, other times it's almost as if you're motioning 'hey, what's up!' when you are doing something you know you shouldn't be...hitting the tv, getting into the dog bowls...

You are a fast crawler still, and will walk with our hands but not much before you go back to what you know best in crawling.

You babble and babble and I love it. It's the cutest sound to me when you're 'talking'.

You barely sat still, and when you did you just gave me that ornery smile!

 

You get completely over zealous towards light fixtures, but especially fans. Or almost anything that spins. You'll stick your arms and legs out straight and start to kick/shake them in excitement. It is the funniest thing ever and everyone gets a good laugh out of your silly reaction.

You are a little lover. You'll get excited to see people, and it's adorable, but you also get overly excited and kind of hit in the moment of it all. Like multiple times-tap, tap, tap on the persons head or body as you start to shrill or smile real big.

You kind of bite, but luckily not really biting down-just another thing you do in excitement. Always puts a good amount of fear in a person though when you go in for a hug with those two sharp teeth involved!

You absolutely love your brother. He adores you, but also thinks you're bigger than you are so usually the two of you playing alone doesn't last too long before we here you fuss. But, not always, and he is the best at getting you to give out good laughs.

Cuteness, and a funny showing big bro's enthusiasm and you're hesitation towards it:)

 

You have a routine of waking up between four and five in the morning for a bottle, then returning to sleep for a short while. Not sure how ending bottles soon will go with that, and what will happen in that whole new transition.

You love to mooch, or at least try to, but don't take as well to solid food. When we had a pre-thanksgiving when Jacob and his family was in town you loved the mashed potatoes, gravy and tiny bits of turkey together, but other than that-you only sometimes do well with baby food. You like the snack baby food, but it just depends. I'm assuming once you get more teeth that may change.

You are recently getting over a cold, which turned up to be a crappy hand/foot/mouth virus. Didn't take you in for it, because it wasn't until day six or seven of the runny nose crud that blisters showed up on your hands and some breakout around the mouth. There's nothing they can do for it, and you were still acting like a good trooper, so just praying that time brings you healing and you feel better soon.

You are the best. You love to laugh, you never want to miss a moment, you are very curious and always on the go. We love you to pieces little man. You are the best little brother and son we could have and we're so excited to see you continue to grow!

Praying God protects and guides you, buddy. We love you so much! xoxo