Modest Mondays: Stripes and Brights

(Tuesday is the new Monday!)

 Actually, in my defense, Nathan spilled water on my computer and I had to power it down and leave it off for close to a week before attempting to start it back up again. Thankfully, all seems to be fine--thank you Jesus! So now I'm behind in editing and blogging, which is why this post is brought to you on this fine Tuesday.
 I haven't done one of these in way too long, and now that spring is in full swing (even if it is still snowing in your neck of the woods), I have some super fun outfit ideas coming up! For now, I'm so thankful that my sister filled in for me today. :)

Claire is here again with an outfit that I absolutely love. She says:
 Bright colors pair amazingly with black and white stripes. Having a variety of solid skirts in your wardrobe is a huge plus in creating stylish outfits. Find a statement necklace that matches your skirt color, or for an braver more exciting approach, try something that contrasts!

Outfit Details:

Skirt: Goodwill 

Blazer: Goodwill 

Necklace: WalMart 

Flats: Thrifted

This outfit is motivating me to get out thrifting more--practically this entire darling combo was thrifted, and you would never know!

 Hope you all are having a great week!

Not Keeping my Head Above Water

My busy photography season is evident in my lack of blog posts here. My computer time is spent editing and I'm not left with much time after that... or, I just don't want to stare at a computer screen anymore. ;)
 Some days I feel like I'm totally in over my head trying to keep up with everything. Pulling my hair out, snapping at the kids far to early in the day, totally scatter brained dashing from thing to thing and never quite completing one project. And lest you think a "project" is anything extra, that is far from the truth. Projects these days consist of loading my dishwasher or vacuuming the floor. However, I am reminded that these are the best years of our lives. They are nothing compared to what is to come as our kids get older. I will crave the days of impromptu hugs with a heartfelt, "I love you Mommy" and days filled with totally beautiful chaos, when problems were as simple as who had the toy first or who snuck a drink of Mommy's coffee.

 It's to hard to try and keep my head above water. Instead I'm letting it go and drinking it all in, every giggle and laugh and yell and scream and absolute madness, because I could not be more blessed in this life I live.
 The days are long but the years are short. 
 Enjoy the days.

Raising our Children's Hearts

I’ve been a Mom for almost 8 years now and I still have no idea what I’m doing. I try to do my best but fail multiple times a day. 

 So many worries.  Am I doing enough for their education? Are they getting enough nutrition? Are they drinking enough water? When should we do music lessons? What about sports—we have boys, shouldn’t they be in sports as they grow up? I haven’t gone to the library in months, I’m the worst Mom ever.  What about college? We need to start saving now. I never do crafts with the kids and all the cool Moms  on Pinterest are doing crafts. On and on, comparing and wondering if I’m really cut out for this, if I am doing it all wrong.

But here’s the thing that I’m learning: there’s really only one thing that matters in the long run, and that is how we raise their hearts. All the other stuff will fall into place (Matt. 6:33) if we really focus on raising them to love Jesus with their whole heart, mind, soul and strength.

How do we do this?

 Leading by example. Having the closest, truest walk with God that we can, and letting it show. Listening to the Holy Sprit in everything that we do and communing with our Saviour throughout the day. And prayer. Tons and tons of prayer.  Asking God the wisdom, joy, longsuffering and grace to guide their little moldable hearts day in and day out.

Eventually, our children will have to make the decision to serve God or not and the only thing they can do then is pray that they choose the straight and narrow way. It would be such a blessing to look back and know that despite our failures and mistakes, we did every thing we could to turn their hearts towards Jesus and guide them to the truth, no matter their choice.

The further I get into motherhood, the more terrified I become--this world is a scary, wicked place. But I also grow to rely on God more and more every day, which I believe is exactly where he wants me: fully dependent upon him in every moment of the day. My best on my own is nothing compared to what he can do through me when I allow Him.

The words of a well known hymn have become a repeated prayer of mine: I need thee every hour. We won't make it and our children definitely won't make it if we don't lean on him to raise them, to turn their hearts and eyes upon Jesus. 

Ending with this picture just because... ;) Happy Wednesday, friends!