Life with Boys

     Life with my boys is always interesting. 

     Tuesday night the boys decided to place their WWE championship on the window sill above the front door (and no I don't want to know how they got it up there without a ladder), and have a no falls count curtain (since they again didn't have a ladder) match for the WWE championship. My mom walked into the front of the house to find Lucas hanging from the curtain rod. Miraculously, the curtain rod only managed to come loose, but not out of the wall. As Mom is pulling Luc off, Lo climbs the curtains to get the belt down. I'm pretty sure only God's grace kept them from getting hurt. 

     Then today I realized at nine years old Logan has figured out girls. At lunch after being made aware he had hurt a girl's feelings, I asked him about it. He assured me that he had not said that. It had supposedly happened at lunch, and I told him it was a misunderstanding. I explained he needed to make it right by letting her know he did not say that. But he was sorry her feelings were hurt, and he would not want that to happen. His response completely caught me off guard, "Mom. She's a girl. That's too much work. I'll just apologize and say it won't happen again. If I explain I didn't say that, she's gonna argue with me that I did. It's just easier to apologize and move on." 

     I probably should've had a discussion with him about how being honest is always the best choice, but I laughed and told him to make it right. Mom fail. 

     But then there are these moments when they get up, eat breakfast, get dressed, and do their quite time with the Lord all on their own. Then I think they might turn out okay. 

     I'm so thankful for these crazy boys God entrusted to me. 

Answered Prayers

     God has this miraculous way of doing incredibly more than we ever could ask or imagine. 

     A couple of years ago, I began praying that God would transform me into the kind of friend who builds up and encourages. A friend who points others back to Jesus and the truth in His Word. I also began praying that God would give me one friend I could be completely transparent with, who would point me back to Jesus, and would tell me hard truth in love. One friend who would love me where I'm at and at the same time push me to be better than I am. Push me to be more like Jesus. 

     When I began praying those prayers, I had my own idea of what His answer would look like. My thoughts were so incredibly narrow compared to what He was going to do. 

     Over the last couple of years, He has brought several ladies into my life who are this friend. I may not speak to them everyday, but they're my people and they're there when I need them. They've seen the good, bad, and ugly. And they love me. They are wise women who know when to offer support and encouragement or call me out when needed. 

     Then God did something even sweeter. Joshua is developing friendships with some of their husbands. These are men he is making connections with. Men who accept him as he is and push him to be better, more Christ like too. My self-proclaimed anti-social husband is becoming willingly social. 

     I'm so thankful for a faithful God who answers prayers in a bigger way than I can imagine in my wildest dreams. And I'm thankful for the godly friendships He has provided for us.  

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Ephesians 3:20

First Soccer Games

     Both boys had their first soccer game yesterday. They played at the same time, so Grammie and I watched the first half of Luc's game while Joshua and Grandma watched the first half of Lo's game. Then we switched at half time. The boys had a blast, played hard, and got aggressive with trying to get the ball. 

Luc's team won 2-1. Lo's team won 3-1. And they're both on Team USA. 

Luc:

Lo: 

Far From A Perfect Mom

     This morning was a rough morning. The boys woke up early and grumpy in the middle of my Jesus time. Lo came first. Then within five minutes Luc was up too. I'm trying to journal my prayers and they're arguing and pushing, trying to sit practically in my lap. Luc won that fight. Lo gave up fighting Luc for a seat next to me a long time ago. The bickering continued until Lo and I left for school. I yelled. More than once. Lo and I barely spoke until we got to school. Then we said goodbye and headed our separate ways. 

I felt terrible all day for yelling. And the disaster that our morning was. 

On the way home I told Lo how much I love him and how sorry I am for yelling. Then I asked for his forgiveness. 

His response brought me to tears. 

"Of course, I forgive you."

"You're not perfect mom, but you always try your best."

"I get mad at you, Mom, but when I'm not mad anymore and think over it, I realize you're right and I'm glad you don't let me do whatever I want." 

I mess so many things up as a mom, and yet God's grace and forgiveness is more than enough for each step of this journey.

I'm thankful for the privilege of being Lo and Luc's mom. And I'm thankful for God's wisdom and grace as we try to train them up in the Lord. Most of all I'm thankful that Jesus is more than enough for all of us. 

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT