Day 6: Worship

Don't tell anyone but I often go around the house singing silly songs. Before my kids came I would sing silly made up songs to my dog about how great she is. Now most of my silly songs are about Zaya and Chase and how much I love them or how beautiful they are. I love to sing! I have been singing my heart out since I was a little girl. But there is nothing like worshipping.  Really worshipping, giving the Lord all of myself, singing my heart out and dancing without concern of how I sound or what I look like.  I love worshipping the Lord!

Sometimes by the time Sunday hits I feel like I NEED to worship. I just need to praise the Lord. Throw all inhibitions out the door and worship. I was caught up today as I felt the Lord's presence so intimately during worship. I began to think what a blessing it is to worship and how awesome it is that we even can. God is the creator of the heavens and the earth, He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, He is the Great I am and I am blown away that he would accept my worship. Since I have become a mother I have never been more aware of my selfishness, of my inadequacies, of my sin and I was blown away today that the Lord accepts my worship. Not only does He accept it but my worship blesses Him. Me, with all my inadequacies, all my selfishness and all my sin am able to bless the Lord.

I'm grateful today I can worship the Lord!


Just a note...I didn't forget the rules. This is a self portrait and because of this I was able to learn some new things about my camera. So fun! Thanks for all the support. I'm loving the encouragement.

Day 5: Seeing something other than the walls of my house

I love my house don't get me wrong.  It will actually probably be one of my days things to be grateful for, but for today I was glad to be out of it.  The walls of my house are pretty much all I see since I have become a mom because quite frankly just thinking about all that they need to go out and contimplating whether or not they will be in a good mood makes me exhausted.  And it's even more exhausting when you finally do get out and they decide their not in the good mood you convinced yourself they would be in. 

It was such a gorgeous day out that I had to get out no matter the cost.  We packed the babies up and went on our annual strawberry shortcake venture to Plant City.  We ate our giant size strawberry shortcake, took a walk in downtown Plant City, hit up some antique shops and found a pretty cool car show.  It was one of those days you venture out and you see what happens.  I love those kind of days!  It was a great day hanging out with my family. 

Today I'm grateful I got out of the house.  It can be done with twins!!!

  

Day 4: Being Known

Okay don't write me off as crazy just yet.  I'm not grateful my babies cry.  These pics actually break my heart, but what I'm grateful for is I know their cries.  If I am in a different room then them and one starts crying about 95% of the time I can tell who's crying.  I know them.  I know Chase's favorite relaxing place is his bouncy chair and I know Zaya loves to just walk around the house with Mommy.  I know a couple of things, but I pray I cna really know them.  To know what they need, to know how to teach them best, know what makes them happy, and what makes them sad.  I want to know them.  Probably one of the hardest things in being a Mom is when they are crying and you don't know.  You don't know what is causing them such distress but if you did you would do it a million times no matter how uncomfortable it makes you.  To know them is such a gift. 

As I have reflected on this desire to know my children Psalm 139 has come alive to me.  The Lord knows me.  He knows when I sit and when I stand, He knows my words before I say them, all of my thoughts and desires.  He knows me.  I am grateful to be known by my God.  He knows what I need so I can trust that I will be taken care of.  But just as I long so much for my children to just tell me what they need I am keenly aware now that God longs for us to tell him what we need.  Even though he knows us he longs for us to just tell him.  It's an amazing gift that the God of the universe knows me and he wants to continue knowing me more everyday as I talk with him. 

I am grateful today that God knows my cry and He longs to hear it. 

Day 3: The Gift of Relaxation

For the last 11 weeks of my life one of the challenges of the day is just getting a shower.  I remember when I would take long leisurly showers that made me so relaxed I would feel like a new woman.  I didn't realize at the time how much of a gift that was.  A shower is something to be grateful for.  It still is one of the highlights of my day it just looks a little differently then it used to.  Now it has a monitor attached and usually ends abruptly with a baby crying in need.  Oh well it still is a little relaxing and I have learned to not take such a great relaxing thing for granted. 

Over the past 11 weeks my husband must have heard my need for some relaxation or he might have heard my constant complaints of back, shoulder and neck pain. (Carrying twins for 9 months sure has done a number on my body.)  Whatever it was he heard right and did what he could.  He gave his valentine an hour massage for Valentine's Day.  I'm so excited!  My appointment is for tonight and I can't wait.  I feel like a kid going to Disneyland for the first time.  I have had massages before but have never had this desperate need for some relaxation.  Being a Mom is hard work.  It's the hardest thing I have ever done, but also the most rewarding.  So today I'm grateful for an hour of relaxation that won't end abruptly with a baby crying in need. 

Day 2: Crutch Propped on Wall

I know it's not the most exciting picture in the world, but this picture means alot to me.  For the last 2 weeks my husband has been propping this crutch underneath his arm to hold hold him up because he hurt his back.  It broke my heart to see my big, tough husband in so much pain he couldn't even walk.  I think what broke him even more then the pain was not being able to do anything.  My husband is a servant.  He serves and gives with his whole heart just to bless people.  He truly is the hardest worker I know and taking that away from him was like taking a part of him away.  He wasn't himself and I missed him.  During this time I became grateful that this soon shall pass.  He will be restored fully and back to his old self.  Some women can't say the same, they are taking care of disabled husbands, parents or children.  It's the everyday things we take for granted like using our body and doing mennial tasks on our own. 

So today I'm grateful for a healthy husband, because today the crutch is propped on the wall and not under his arm. 

Day 1: A Great Smile

My daughter just recently started to smile in response to me.  I'll just start talking to her and she just smiles and smiles over and over again. This has got to be one of the best gifts God could give.  I'm convinced she knows her Mama.  She's knows she's loved and taken care of.  I'm so grateful for her smile. 

My beautiful daughter at 11 weeks old.

PROJECT: Candidly Grateful

I recently embarked on the biggest adventure of my life when I had my twins.  They were born Nov 30, 2009 and they really are such a joy.  However, over the last 11 weeks one thing is true life can get lost in taking care of babies.  Monotony started to set in after about a week of feeding babies, changing diapers, and rocking to sleep.  Cabin fever shortly followed. 
So to fight the monotony and the cabin fever I have assigned myself a project.  This project is supposed to get me out of the house, challenging myself in an art I love, photography and keep my heart focused on the many things I am so blessed by.  PROJECT: Candidly Grateful.  For 365 days I will post a picture on my blog of something I am grateful for. 

RULES:
1. Picture must be taken by me, Jaime. 
2. The picture can not be used more then once. 
3.  The thing I am grateful for can not be used more then once.(Otherwise you would have 365 pictures of my husband and my kids.)  However, It can be something more specific about something I've already used. For example; I'm grateful for my daughter. Later, I could say I'm grateful for her learning to crawl.
4.  Must post everyday unless a major emergency happens which will have to be explained upon returning to blog.  (This will be the hardest for me!)

I'm really excited about this project.  I welcome the accountability and encouragement of anyone who cares to read.