Dealing with Discouragement

Sunday’s message was thought provoking, even as I sat in the nursery with a restless little girl who wanted to play with her restless friend, and especially this week as it’s continued to be on my mind. Care to join me as I sort through this?

Psalms 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (NIV)

What is our response to discouragement?  Do we pull away from others & stew in our own pot of discouragement or do we follow our Savior’s lead when He surrounded Himself with His trusted friends, opened His soul to them, asked them for help, poured out His heart in prayer, and rested in the sovereign wisdom of God. (Matthew 26:36-39) Who do we reach out to when we have become so burdened by the experiences we are going through and need someone to remind us of God’s promises and His faithfulness?

I’m thankful I heard this sermon now, while I am not discouraged, because I’m spending more time meditating on it and considering my usual reaction.  Usually I do withdraw from people and cover up my struggles… wouldn’t want people to think less of me as a person, right?  As a result, I usually skip the first 3 steps that were brought out, leaving me with pouring out my heart to God.  Now I’m beginning to see that without opening myself up and sharing my discouragement/vulnerability, perhaps I am not fully recognizing my desperate need of the Father, causing a part of me to continue thinking that “I can handle this… just a little bit longer… if I just work harder to overcome this…” but that is missing the opportunity to rest in God’s Sovereign wisdom, plan, and workings.

On the other side of things… how do I respond when a friend comes to me to share their discouragement? Am I the friend that brushes it off saying something trite as “it will get better soon” or am I such that a friend can know that their discouragement will be taken before the Lord in prayer?

Psalm 73:21-26 (NIV)

²¹ When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
²² I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
²³ Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

Delicious Bananas

Oh how the time does fly! Two weeks ago I picked up teething biscuits for Kimberly to start gnawing on at mealtime along with a sippy cup for her to play with. Next thing we knew she was reaching for coffee! *uhm, no!!* So she wore coffee for a day because this mama wasn't fast enough for so much eagerness packed into those chubby arms!
Saturday evening we smooshed up banana to her delight.

Maple teething bars are delicious! (LOVE the curled up toesies!)

"Uh oh! I dropped it all Mama!"

To the observant eyes, the answer is YES! I will cut those tags off the chairs today! Didn't even notice them until editing these pictures. Welcome to our life where tags don't get cut off but the food is good! :)

Baby Fun

One of the best parts of being so far from home is new friendships. Kimberly & I have enjoyed the time we have spent with Kiersten & Caleb and will really miss them when we leave.
Until Kimberly met Caleb, she really didn't know how much fun babies are... or that in every mirror is a baby! He excels at making funny faces and she loves watching for new tricks that she can learn.

Kimby getting close to sitting on her own

Curious Caleb

Sleepy, but can't go to sleep and miss anything!

 Kimberly is completely fine watching Caleb play with "her" toys... until he reached over for her doll... That was not ok! I think he thought the giraffe was cooler anyways, it has a rattle. So funny to watch them interact!

Love their feet!

Thank you Kiersten for your friendship & so looking forward to the adventures of motherhood that lie ahead for both of us!

Naps are Necessary

How do you explain to an adorable, giggling, 5 month old, that the naps she views as optional, really are not? I lost count on how many times that I've told her "even 20 minutes would help." She eventually gives up the fight with her eyelids and sleeps... for 15 minutes... okay, 18.
I haven't seen the bottom of the sink for 2 days. I haven't had time to procrastinate on wiping out the fridge where the milk dripped.
Jason was greeted home from work with a "shhhhh....she is sleeping" whispered through the screen door. We had maybe 3 minutes before she woke up anyway.
Dear Kimberly. Mommy & Daddy love you very much. We are sooo unprepared for this stage of parenting. Please be patient through the coming years while we struggle to figure this season out!
It is clear that her self-will is coming out, I hear it in the way her cry has changed (setting aside the times when she is crying from being over-tired of course!), but when/how/why do you discipline your children? Scratched the why... we see the "whys" enough. How much does she comprehend at this age? How is it possible that I'm getting the feeling my daughter is practicing to take my "Champion Tantrum Thrower" title away? At 5 months?

Crashed, facing the wrong way, in our bed.

Nap Attack, full throttle!

So folks, please help some new parents out... Some advice for these next months of parenting?

Isn't she just the sweetest sleeping baby!? :) Oh we sure do love having her in our lives!

Baby Girl and the B17

We had an exciting Tuesday this week when we went to visit my previous boss, Frank, who was in Carlsbad for a few days with the Collings Foundation, an organization dedicated to sharing a bit of aviation history across the country.
This is Kimberly's first experience seeing warbirds!


Kimby, Frank, Happy, and the B17

Testing out her grip!

Her first restaurant highchair. And yes, the waitress sanitized it for us!

It was ever so nice to see a familiar face so far from home!

Quiet Moments

A blog response to a writing challenge by Allume.
She tries to go to sleep but her brain will not shut down. Morning comes too quickly between the midnight feeding and getting up with her husband to share the precious 30 minutes before he leaves for his 15 hour day at work.
Thoughts keep crowding her mind. There is more and more to do, to think, to ponder, and the minutes keep creeping by as her family peacefully sleeps beside her. An inventory of the day quickly brings her to the realization that she didn't spend very much time in quiet with her Savior. Yes, lots of praise through the day, but not the quiet reflection her soul so desperately craves. These quiet moments while her family sleeps are precious moments to rest at the feet of Jesus.