Nae's Heart

We had our friend, Tim take some family pictures for us…I love how they turned out! To see them click on this link Family Pictures

So I know I am writing a day late but my blog was down yesterday so I figured I would post my Five Minute Friday today!

Ready, Set, GO

Remember the laughter
Remember the squeals
Time passes quickly
And we to easily forget

Remember the smiles
Remember the songs
Memorize the moments
For soon they will be gone

As I remember what life was just 5 short months ago…My son had just been born and I was getting over all those “wonderful” pregnancy emotions. I loved the moments of sitting and cuddling with Jacob, I enjoyed the early morning feedings, the looking at me when he would hear my voice! Now we are at the “everything goes in the mouth” stage…We are at the smile and squeal stage…I am loving these moments with my son.

But I also thought of some other moments…Ones my son will never have the chance to enjoy. These are the moments I shared with my Grandparents…the have both passed away and I love the memories I have of Grandpa walking around the house singing in Swedish or Grandma telling us to “go put socks on” so we don’t get sick!

Remember the moments!

Stop

Sorry I have been silent for a little bit…Our power was out last Friday which made it impossible to do my Five Minute Friday since I had no internet. This week has been busy. It started Saturday with friends over…It was so much fun to spend time with them.

Then Sunday we had an early afternoon service after a soup fellowship…so Sunday seemed like a long day since we were at church from 8:30 am until 3:00 pm…but it was nice to have an evening at home.

Monday and Tuesday were fairly normal days. Jacob has been fighting a little bit of a cold so he was a little more fussy then normal.

Wednesday was a rough day…Jacob was really fussy, even to the point of being so tired and not wanting to sleep that all he did was scream. Then we had church and Jacob’s schedule was off…then we had a youth leaders meeting and that pushed his bed time back a little farther. We finally got home at 8:30 and I feed him and then he proceeded to fuss for an hour before finally falling asleep…I think part of the reason he was so fussy yesterday was because he wasn’t getting enough to eat.

All of this brings us to toady…I called the pediatrician and they suggested starting him on rice cereal…so we went to the store and bought some…after work James and I took Jacob to Babies R Us and bought plates, bowls, and cups…We got home and he had his first meal in his highchair…He loved it! He couldn’t get enough! After the cereal I fed him and then he went to bed…we will see how he does! He will be 5 months next week and I am so happy with his growth.

James and I are doing great! I love being a mom and the time I get to spend at home with Jacob is so precious!

As I start my five minutes I can’t help but think about how much my life has changed. The topic today is beyond and I am so happy to say I can look beyond today and know that God is in control of the “beyond”.

Beyond today I live,
I store up treasure in Heaven.

God is sovereign and knows what will happen beyond today. He sees what next week will bring…He is already looking at the end of my life.

As I go about my daily activities, I am reminded that I need to live for tomorrow and trust God to supply my needs, wants and desires…

Beyond today the sun will shine,
Even if I can’t see past the shadows.

God has blessed me beyond today…I am so thankful I can teach my son the hope of living beyond today and that God is sovereign and in control of all things including those to come!

Well that is my five minutes…

Well Jacob is 4 months old and I have learned a lot…Here are just a few thoughts on motherhood.

1. My house will most likely never be clean again.
2. My sleep comes in shifts right now but at least I am getting sleep
3. I wear my hair in ponytails because I either don’t have time to do anything else or it is to keep it out if Jacob’s reach.
4. Between feeding, changing, and cuddling my baby I have time for little else, but I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything.
5. Baby poop isn’t the most pleasant
6. Everything goes in the baby’s mouth
7. He will wake up from his nap right as you start doing the dishes.
8. His smile and laugh melt my heart
9. Playing with him is the highlight of my day
10. I couldn’t imagine my life without him

I love my baby and have found motherhood to be fun and wonderful. I have already had bumps along the way but God is growing me and giving me grace through them. I am so blessed.

So my five minutes start with this thought…
As a little girl, my daddy taught me how to catch and throw a ball…He made it seem so easy but it took work and practice. Now as a mother and a wife I find myself “catching” things all the time. I catch the pacifier as my son spits it out, the keys my husband tosses me so I can unlock the car door, etc…

But the thing that stand out the most to me is how often my Heavenly Father “catches” me. How often I fall and fail and He is always there to pick me up. He is the one who helps me through each day and who is the perfect example of always being there.

My son will soon be walking and I will have to be ready to catch him…I just hope I can do even half as good as the Lord does for me.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Go all out encouraging the writer who linked up before you.

Starting my five minutes now!

Ordinary is just a daily thing…My days are filled with things that may seem ordinary but make each day special.
Changing, feeding, and playing with my son. Ordinary moments made special…that smile from my husband as he brings Jacob to be fed.
Getting ready for the day and knowing that I get to spend it with my son and husband.

There are other ordinary things…like serving the Lord by ministering to the kids at school and helping out with things in the office.
I love how I can have a wonderfully ordinary day that ends up being magical because of the God I serve. He can make the smallest things seem special. God can take the ordinary and make it amazing.

Well that is my five minutes. Hope you will join me in taking a five minute break from life.

Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays.
We write because we want to, not because we have to. We write for fun, for joy, for discovery.
We just write without worrying if it’s just write or not.

Won’t you join us?

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Go a little overboard encouraging the writer who linked up before you.

As I start my five minutes I can’t help but think about the encouragement my friend, Jen S, was to me in her five minute post this morning.

One of my favorite quotes about friends is:
“A friend walks in when others walk out!”

It means so much to have friends who are always there for you, no matter what you are going through! I am so thankful for my friends. They encourage me, uplift me, cry with me, pray for me, and ultimately help keep my focus on the Lord.

My friends tell me what I need to hear and not just what I want to hear. They hold me accountable for my actions and keep me faithful in my Bible reading.

I know I can call or text them anytime day or night and they will answer me.

The one friend that I am the most thankful for though is the Lord Jesus Christ…He is the Friend that sticks closer then a brother. Without the Lord leading my life I wouldn’t be able to be a friend to those around me.

Well that is my five minutes! Won’t you join me in taking five minutes to think about your closest friends?

As I start my clock for my 5 minutes I want to share this quote with you…
“God gives you grace to live through the processes of change that are necessary so that his grace can do in you what it’s promised to do.” Paul Tripp

Growing…man, what a topic for me right now.
I have watched my son grow the last 3 months into an adorable little guy. He has grown so fast…It was almost exactly a year ago that I found out I was pregnant with him. I have grown into the role of mother and learned that it isn’t always easy to make decisions that affect a little child.

Another area I have grown in is my walk with God…There is a little boy depending on me to teach him about God. I can’t believe how often I take control…I need to grow closer to the Lord and I need to teach Jacob how to grow close to Him.

Growing isn’t always easy…I have had struggles in my personal life and I have watched my son adjust to a life that is all new to him. He makes me smile as he grows and discovers things that we take for granted like his hands.

Thank you, Lord, for growth in our lives!

Well, that is my five minutes…won’t you join me in taking five minutes to reflect on life?

Today as I start the clock and write for five minutes I look back on my week and at the joy I was able to have.

This week I had the joy of celebrating the life of a man who is gone far to soon for us but for the Lord it was the perfect time. Jesse Ravega was a wonderful encouragement and lived in the joy of the Lord. He brought joy to the lives he touched. I was honored to know him.

I have joy in knowing that I will get to see him again, but my greatest joy is in the fact that the same God who decided it was time to take Jesse home is the same wonderful God who I serve.

I find joy in the ministry He has given to me and in the family He has allowed me to have. My son brings joy to my life with his smiles and laughter. The Lord brings so much joy into our lives and we often overlook it. Lord, help me to dwell on Your joy and help me to share Your joy with others!

Well my time is up… until next time!