Love {Motherhood Challenges Series}

Jonathan at 3mo old photo shoot

Love is hard.

It's not just a feeling of butterflies in your stomach, or head spinning from the excitement of newness, or not even sweet feeling of joy when holding your newborn babe.

Love is action. Love is thought. Love is work.

Sometimes love requires a lot of work to stay alive.

We say that we love things - everything from a tasty burger to our mother. But the love I'm talking about is something that you learn to give, something that needs time to grow and mature. 

To love children it takes...

...patience when they don't listen and obey; when they have stubborn will and awful attitude

...care when they can't care for themselves. Every time of the day, every day.

...compassion for their inexperience when they don't know any better.

...lots and lots of teaching right from wrong and empathy for their mistakes. 

...wisdom to let them go and be independent while carefully watching over. 

...sound judgement when to punish and when to have mercy. 

...kindness in every word we say. 

...goodness and grace. 

...understanding of their little minds and how God designed them.

...tenderness for their fragile soul and impressionable spirit.

...affection and smiles. 

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.
(1 Corinthians 13:4–8)

Love takes much effort on our part and doesn't come easy because, let's face it, we are selfish human beings.
It's hard to give love as a parent without having a constant source to receive from.

This is why God's love to us, people, is such an important part of His existence. He loves us every time we mess up, every time we leave Him and don't obey Him; every time we make mistakes and are unkind. We bring turmoil on ourselves and still ask Him to help us and guide us. And He does.

Truly God's love is amazing!

As a mom, I know that I cannot love my child as much as God loves him. I cannot come even close in understanding, kindness, compassion and wisdom that God has with us but I can try.

It isn't easy and every day grind gets to me.
I fail. I ask His forgiveness. 

I try again to be the best mother I could be. To show my little boy what love really means and how give it to others. How to live it and show love in my everyday life.

One Heart

 MUNCHKIN #1                     +                         MUNCHKIN #2

=

MUNCHKIN #3

Over the weekend hubby and I (finally!) got a chance to get away from the daily grind. It was a long awaited but short-lived vacation that we both very much needed. 

One thing I did not expect is to miss my baby so much. 

This little munchkin of mine completely stole my heart. 

My sister was gracious enough to watch Jonathan and, although I trust her completely, I was anxious. The night before we were supposed to leave, I couldn't sleep, was super worried and doubting the entire idea.

 I honestly did not think it was going to be this difficult to leave him behind. For just one night, mind you.

I've read countless stories of mothers who had to leave their child over night (or two) and how they were driving away in tears. I thought that those mothers were taking it a tad too far. Why wouldn't you want to leave your kid somewhere to escape for couple of days? 

You do. Really. You need to.
But when it comes time to leave, you doubt and feel guilty and just about to cry. 

You brought the little munchkin into the world and that heart is a huge part of you.
No matter where, no matter how far away, he will forever and always be with you.
He's a little part of both of us.

Who do you think he looks like?

Everybody Gets The Sniffles

sweater, belt: Gap
skirt: Talbots
flats, watch: Target

It is the season for vicks and humidifiers. 

We got the sniffles in this house and I guess there is just no way of getting around it. We tried to look like it's not happening, stayed away from all the sickly people but, alas, we are here.

Runny noses and teary eyes. Mommy and baby are both sitting in the living room and planing on doing absolutely nothing today. 

There were plans and there were aspirations.

We even thought to venture out to the farmer's market today. 

Nope.

All that's happening today is lots of hugs, chest rubs, hot tea and watching chick flicks... 

Hope you have a great day! 

P.S. Stay away from sickly people. 

The Mistakes We Make

blouse: Vince Camuto
skirt watch: Target
purse: Kate Spade
shoes: Tahari
glasses: DKNY

I'm the type of person who has played it safe all my life. I haven't made any 'big', life-altering mistakes and stayed on the 'good girl'side. But there are plenty of times when I have made a mess.

The worst mistake that I made was in 10th grade. No really. I was taking my Russian language exam (should be easy right?) but was too distracted with church activities (ready: lazy) to write an essay on a topic of my choice. I went online and downloaded a good looking (too perfect) paper about the last Tsar in Russia and submitted it. So dumb! Did I really think I wouldn't get caught? 

The thing is that I could write a stellar paper in Russian language without any problems. 

But I was lazy and ignorant, thinking I was better then anyone else, that I wouldn't get caught.

Upon receiving the paper, the grading teacher, of course, knew I copied it off internet. She was really kind to give me another chance instead of reporting me for cheating. I was so embarrassed and felt HORRIBLE. Which I should.

I went home and wrote the paper (all by myself) without telling a soul about what happened and received 98% on the exam.

I told this story to only one person and kept this moment of shame to myself. 

What's the lesson(s)?

First no matter what, do what's right.  And not just because you will get caught but because it is the right thing to do. 

Second, learn from your mistakes. I learned that mercy trumps judgement; that giving people second ( and third) chances will humble them and teach them life's greatest lessons.

God gives us second (and third, fourth... and millionth) chance to change and we still mess up. Thank goodness for His mercy.

The mistakes we make help shape us into the people we are today. 

What We Are Up To

I thought instead of boring you with a minute by minute update on what's going on (who needs another one of those?) I'll summarize it for ya.

Here it goes. Only the important stuff ;-)

  

Making : a ton of DIY projects. Started a million of them but how many will I finish?
Cooking : eggs Benedict every morning. I have to lay off the Holaindaise
Drinking : water out of fancy glass bottle. even with a weeknight dinner it feels a bit grown up and we like it
Reading: between pages of marriage and baby books. Must. Know. It. All.
Wanting: a vacation
Looking: at my baby trying to stand up all by himself 
Playing: with his shoes. they are just so fascinating and it's like a new toy every time
Wasting: time on Pinterest
Sewing: a dress I found in thrift store which was too big on me. 
Wishing: for summer days to stay longer.
Enjoying: family time when daddy gets home. especially when Jonathan goes to sleep and I get him all to myself
Waiting: for the weekend. exciting stuff is happening
Liking: my new brightly colored wall in the kitchen
Wondering: when Jonathan will start walking
Loving: the changing foliage 
Hoping: for a mild winter
Marvelling: at God's goodness, love and mercy everyday. it still amazes me 
Needing: more time in a day 
Smelling: the last rose in my garden
Wearing: lots of fall colors 
Following: too many blogs
Noticing: how old I'm getting
Knowing: that this time will never come back and Jonathan will never be this little again. sad face
Thinking: about Sunday message
Feeling: tired
Bookmarking: cooking magazines
Opening: curtains every morning and letting sunshine in
Giggling: with my sister and mama. best time ever
Feeling: my cold toes. always

Got the idea from this lady