Spring has SpRuNg!

Spring has SpRuNg...a little early this year, but I'm not complainin', although I may be come summer when it's like 100+ degrees & ridiculously humid...this mild winter is just an indicator of the summer we have ahead of us, I'm sure! But, we are definitely taking FULL advantage of the beautiful weather.  Brayden & I have spent so much time outside this week...so much time that I'm afraid he's fighting some allergies :( (Poor guy!)  He is definitely ALL boy...he loves romping around on the ground and getting dirty and his favorite is picking up every stick he can find :) 15 months is such a fun age!

Here in Virginia the temps have ranged this week from like mid 70's on up to today being the warmest, almost 90 degrees and from what I can tell it looks like next week is shaping up to be the same. 

This week and the beautiful weather has shown a new light on being a stay-at-home mom.  Several times this week as we've been outside playing, throwing a ball, sliding at the playground, playing in the dirt :), or taking a walk the thought has hit me...I feel SO lucky and blessed to be able to soak up the rays and enjoy all these little moments with my sweet boy.  I have been especially worn out at the end of the day everyday this week after chasing Brayden all around outside and everywhere else, but I wouldn't change one thing about it!

Here's just a few pictures of our fun so far this week :)

Mama's Boy

Brayden is definitely a mama's boy through and through.  He acts like his daddy most of the time (I wouldn't trade his personality for the world!), but definitely has a deep love for his mama :) I think this is probably the case for most little boys.  There really is nothing in all the world like the love a little boy has for his mama.  Sometimes throughout the day Brayden will come running to his mama with arms outstretched to be picked up, maybe for comfort or because he's hurt or maybe just because he wants to love on his mama.  Brayden always expects that I will be there to rescue him or pick him up.  I don't think he comes running thinking "I wonder if she'll really pick me up and love on me this time."  That's the innocence of a child.  He also knows, in his innocence, because of the love I have and have shown for my little boy that he can run to his mama and get some snuggles or comfort when he's hurt :)

This morning as we got up and started our day like we always do, Brayden was playing and came running to mama with arms outstretched like he does sometimes.  He wasn't upset or hurt, but just wanted to love on me and wanted to feel the comfort of his mama for a minute.  A couple minutes later he was ready to run off and play again.

The thought hit me this morning when Brayden did that, Jesus is our Heavenly Father and loves us just like Earthly parents love their children. We can run to Him with arms outstretched and EXPECT He will be there to pick us up, love on us just because, or comfort us when we're hurt, because He will.  His love for us is so deeper than we could ever imagine.  He desires us to run to Him with our arms outstretched, like Brayden.  

So, remember, we have a Heavenly Father, Jesus, who loves us SO much.  We can go to Him anytime with arms outstretched and He'll always be there!  

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.  How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings." (Psalm 36:5,7)

We all have a purpose...

It's funny how in life we always hear "God has a plan for your life" and "God has a purpose for your life," and while we truly do believe that, until we see it come to pass or understand what exactly our calling and purpose is...we try and figure it out on our own and take matters into our own hands :) And all the while we get so frustrated when the plans or our "man-made purpose" for our own life doesn't work out.  Some people are on the other end of the spectrum and feel like they have no purpose at all in life (which isn't true...we ALL have a purpose).

Ever since Josh & I said "yes" to the call to plant Vertical Church, I can look back in hindsight over my life and really see times when I tried to create my own purpose or fufill what I thought was my purpose. I can also see certain circumstances, situations, and even trials that were part of the puzzle that God is now putting together in my life (not at all saying I've arrived).  But, I know without a shadow of a doubt that Vertical Church is EXACTLY what I am supposed to be doing right now.  God has truly spoke to us in many different ways about it and there is a peace and joy deep inside about it.  There is no greater joy than knowing you are right in the middle of God's will and purpose for your life. 

I've learned through the many different seasons and chapters of life that have brought us to where we are today that a lot of times it takes God cultivating, preparing, teaching, and correcting us so we can be molded into exactly what He wants us to be.  I look back and see hard times I went through and while I didn't understand why at the time (and I may have even questioned why God would allow such things to happen to me), it was all part of Him shaping me.  We are the clay and He is the potter.  The shaping isn't always easy or painless, but it's so worth it.

God has awesome plans for all of our lives, but we have to be willing to allow the potter to do His work and as we allow him to shape us and mold us, we have to find out what that purpose is.  If you had told me even a year ago we would be at this place in our lives now, I more than likely would have told you that you were crazy, but as we allow God to shape us, He plants in us a deep desire and passion to do the things he has called us to do.
Everyone has been put here on Earth to fufill a purpose and I can tell you from my own life's experiences, when you find that purpose....there is no greater joy or contentment.  No, it won't always be easy, but knowing you're fufilling your God-given purpose brings great excitement and joy :)

Ephesians 2:10 - “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

This won't last forever!

Sometimes I find myself getting so frustrated inside when Brayden wakes up in the middle of the night.  As much as I LOVE my sweet, little  big boy, I get so impatient when it's 2 a.m. and he's up randomly (at 15 months old)...wondering why in the world he won't sleep?  Thinking, "wasn't this supposed to end at like 8 months old?"  I've never been one to function on little sleep, so I think for me one of the biggest adjustments in motherhood has been learning to go with the flow when it comes to sleep.  Obviously, this isn't every night but between colds, sickness, and teething I feel like it happens more often than not.  But, I woke up this morning and the thought hit me (like it has before) that these times won't last forever and to cherish them.  Sounds silly...cherish waking up in the middle of the night, seriously? Yes! These days won't last forever...before I know it he'll be 16 and won't be crying for "mama" in the middle of the night.  Motherhood has taught me so much and has really done a great job at perfecting some of the fruits of the spirits - especially patience :)

So, if you're a mom, and you're so frustrated when you see the clock at hours of the night that you'd rather not be seeing the clock (like me)...remember, cherish every moment of it - these days really DON'T last forever!

Month-By-Month: 15

It has been about a month since I've blogged...I've got to get a little better about remembering to keep things updated here! I thought this would be a perfect time to jump back into it since my little big boy is 15 MONTHS OLD! But, really? It feels so weird to even type that because I feel like just yesterday we got to hold him for the first time...the cute little 7 lb. 6 oz. burrito all wrapped up :)

But, for real, please slow down, Bray... :)

Here's what you're up to:

* You're about 26 pounds now (big boy!) and probably about 31-ish inches tall!

* You're super happy (always have been) and you keep your mama on her toes!!  I seriously cannot turn my back on you for more than 30 seconds or you're up to no good :)

* Your favorite foods are: eggs (scrambled or boiled), bananas, grapes, applesauce, any kind of yogurt, CHICKEN!, black beans, cheese, Veggie Stix, goldfish, waffles, and for the most part you'll eat any kind of veggie (except broccoli!)  You don't like really any meat except chicken :)

* You have such a silly little personality! Lots of people say you look a lot like your mama, but you sure do have a personality just like your daddy ;) (I wouldn't have it any other way though!)

* You drink about 18 ounces of milk per day and then lots of water! We've been without the bottle for about a month! (Yay, Bray!)

* You still take your paci when you go down for a nap or to bed - and you love your little lamb :)

Brayden, you have made your mommy and daddy happier than we could've ever imagined! You bring us so much joy!! We love you SO, SO much!