on being a stay-at-home mom

I love my kids, they are both the source of my joy and my discontent. I have been told that once you are a parent, you are always a parent. I have also been told that you never stop loving your kids. I think these statements are very true. So, for you folks who are not having the daily experience of my kids like I am...here are a few recent anecdotes.

Micah and Anna like to read books, usually alone, but recently with Micah on Anna's lap :)
Micah and Anna push each other and/or yell at each other several times in a given day. Ugh.
Micah is trying to learn how to put on his shoes, and daddy's shoes, and Anna's shoes and mommy's shoes.
Anna turned four this week, and she was excited that her shoes still fit!
Micah sings the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle little star" before drifting off to sleep because it is the tune we sing him with our own made up lyrics.
Anna sings her ABCs, "Jesus Loves Me," and portions of "Silent Night" mixed with "O Holy Night" at Christmas time, because they both have a line about a "holy night."
Micah and Anna love to give each other kisses and hugs at night. He crawls off of whoever's lap he is on that night to go over to Anna as she is tucked in her covers and gives her a big hug and kiss. Anna loves it : ). We do too.

I would not trade one day of being a mom at home, why would I pay someone to take care of my kids when I can stay home and take care of them myself, and store up these kinds of memories in my heart?

The Storyline of Christmas...

Gen. 3:15 The promise of our forever king to come...

“She (Mary) will bear a son (offspring), and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Gen. 12:3 The promise of blessing to come...

so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:14

Exodus 12:13 The promise of freedom to come...

...the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28
So if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed. John 8:36

2 Samuel 7:16 The promise of our forever king and a forever kingdom to come...

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Luke 1:32-33

Isaiah 7:14, 9:6 The promise of our forever king to come as a helpless baby...

All of this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 'Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.' (which means God with us).”

Matthew 1:22-23

Micah 5:2 The promise of the place where our forever king would be born...

And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. Matthew 2:6

Ezekiel 34:15 The promise of our forever king to be our true shepherd...

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:14-16

Isaiah 53:3-10 The promise of our forever king to rescue us from ourselves...

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:22-24