Fun with cousins

Cayden playing in Gigi's bed

Zachary is such a sweet cousin he loves playing with Sammy and Sammy could not be happier. 

 I am not sure where it came from but when I say smile Gigi's head always goes to the side.

Friday's are one of my favorite days of the week because we always do something with Aunt Sara and the boys.  Yesterday we met up with a friend at the park for a couple hours,  then Sara and the boys came back to our house. After rest time the kids played in the house and had a great time. Sammy was right in the middle of it all and could not have been happier.

It has been fun to see Sammy's personality starting to come out.  He loves being with people and is so socially stimulated that he has trouble napping or eating.  Gigi is such a good big sister...she loves her Sammy, protects him, plays with him and is an amazing helper.  I love my kids more and more every day and yet there are days when I wish I could just put them away in the cupboard for a while.  Being a stay at home mom is by far the hardest job I have ever done and yet I wouldn't trade it.

Last week I started reading, Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist. It was recommended to me by my friend Annie who blogs at www.ourthugson.blogspot.com and I also saw it mentioned on my friend Corrina's blog www.embracetheday.com.   So far it's been a really great read and it's awaken a part of me that has been somewhat asleep for quite a few years.  I have been praying that God would show me how to connect with him and develop a type of communion with him.  I feel like I have been programed by the church to do things in a certain way and although they are good for many they leave me feeling like  a failure.  I am kind of in the midst of a new start of sorts where I live in grace not guilt.  I am just starting this journey but I am treasuring these moments of intimate prayer with my Savior.

My friend Diane recently went on a 10 day silent retreat and one of the things that she learned about was stoping the negative thoughts that often plague our minds. There are days when I wake up and feel depressed and often times I just live in that depression. But this week I chose to take those thoughts captive and instead of focusing on them I started to list all of the things I am thankful for. It was amazing how it turned my whole attitude around.  I want to live in the moment and choose to be grateful versus living thinking the grass is always greener.  Life is hard but those hard moments are what shape and form us into who God's wants us to be.

May you live in God's grace also:)