Day... WHAT?!

Sooo... if you've been following... or counting... or noticing.... or even just wondering...

TODAY is the official "ONE HUNDREDTH DAY" of my journey.

Confession time:  I did really super at the beginning.  Probably about the first 50 days were completely spot on.  However, I am sad to report that I did not finish well.

Now, I could offer several valid explanations for why I fizzled:

Samuel was sick.

 See how pitiful he looks?

 *I* was sick...

My swimsuit needed... ah... retired...

We had spring break...

 

There are no words for how happy this picture makes my heart.

I kept trudging on through about day 75, and then something horrible happened [well,  horrible for me].

Remember my good buddy MyFitnessPal?  Yah, on day 75, I forgot to log in.  I lost my streak.  Now, that may not be very traumatic for you, but for a list-keeping, chart-tracking, crosser-offer-kind-of-gal... this was: the. worst. thing. ever.

 

 See how upset we are by this tragedy?!

And I pretty much just kind of shrugged it off.  But I've decided to head the wisdom of Proverbs 24:16-- 

 "A righteous man falls seven times, but rises again."

So I am getting up, brushing off my backside, lacing up my shoes, and putting my hand to that plow... again.

Ellie has the tractor all warmed up for me!

Whatsoever state I am...

This week was full of highs and lows.  Some verses the Lord has echoed in my heart [even when I haven't necessarily been listening] are Philippians 4:11-12, which encourages us from Paul's personal experience so he shares,

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased [knocked flat on my back, completely wiped out by the flu], and I know how to abound [celebrate the life of my sweet babies]: every where [at work when I have to be away from my family] and in all things [no matter what changes in my schedule may come]  I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."

Contentment is an interesting thing.  It is something that often creeps right on out, sometimes unawares.  But something that has helped me to learn from my "abase" moments is to look at the perspective of at least it isn't...  The best part of this lesson is that my kiddos have started to pick up the habit of "at least" as well!  Contentment is a learned quality, you know!

But, as always, the Lord provides more than a few moments of blessed-beyond-measure for me to rejoice...and share!

So here you go:

Highlight of my week:  my sweet boy's birthday.  Wow!  Six.  My first baby is SIX.  I have to use BOTH hands to show how old he is.  *sob*

We know how to party in the Gibson house... We like to do a birthday month instead of just a birthday DAY.  Plus, since variety is the spice of life, we have all different kinds of treats.  So, we had a cupcakes for friends at school, a cookie cake for friends at church, and an ice cream cake for friends at home!

             

Birthday morning started with ice cream for breakfast, and then daddy brought Ellie and Samuel to school so that we could all have lunch together.

   

Another "up" of my week is that my sweet Samuel turned 11 months old.  Again: wow.  I cannot believe it.  He is loving standing in his crib, thinking that he knows how to walk. 

One of the not-so-favorite parts of this week is that mama was a little on the icky side.  But the blessing of mama being sick is that my sweet babies love to take care of me.  My Ellie is especially nurturing-- she took my temperature, sang me some songs, and even gave me some "shots".

 

 

Doc McEllie has been takin' care of Mama

There wasn't much swimming for me this week.  But there were many early bedtimes!  One of my personal issues is finding the balance of life.  Sometimes I stress about not getting to exercise, swimming too much and not spending time with my family, spending equal amounts of quality time with each of my sweet ones, and the list can go on and on and on and... well, you get the idea. 

But I think that that is one of the big "umphs" of those verses I shared [Philippians 4:11-12, in case you are just as tired as I am and can't quite remember].  Learning to be content:  right. where. I. am.  Not worrying about what needs to get done, not fretting about what isn't getting done.  Just being content right where I am.  Perhaps someday I will be able to confidently say, as the Apostle Paul did, "I have learned!"  But for today, I will continue to press on and snuggle these babies.

 

I passed the halfway mark!!!

For anyone who is even more OCD than I am, you will know that not only have I passed the halfway mark, but I am almost to the "three-quarters of the way" mark! :)

Today is actually Day 72.  Wow.  I can't believe it.  While I must admit that I have not made it completely 100% faithfully to my goals set at the beginning of this 100 Days journey, I am grateful for the lessons I am learning along the way.

I am learning to be aware of who I am as "the mama".  I often refer to myself by that name.  "The Mama".  And, let me tell you:  I. love. it.

I know the sun is a little weird on Samuel's face, 

but I love this picture of my sweeties!

I am learning that as the mama, I have a HUUUUUGE privilege.  And responsibility.  I am given the privilege to shape and change someone's soul.  But I have the responsibility to model for these sweet babies each and every day.  The responsibility to model Who Christ is.

I am learning to enjoy each moment more and more.  I am a pretty "task oriented" and "list driven" kind of person.  But often in those driving moments, I miss so many quiet blessings that are not on my list, but are whirling all around me.  How thankful I am for how persistent the Holy Spirit is with His work on my heart.

 

"Mama, let's paint our nails the same."

 I am learning the dishes will wait, but my babies are one day older.  Today is the youngest they will ever be again.  *sob*  But I have today.  Today to enjoy and laugh.

     

Look to the left ......... look to the right

*love is all around*

We've had some exciting activities in the past couple of days...  As I've already shared, these kiddos are just growin' on up...  Look what they've gotten into lately:

Color Belt Testing

    

Daniel has moved up to a "Yellow Belt"!

   

Front leg kick!  E is now an "Orange Belt"!

D and E with their beloved instructor.     And they are lookin' fierce!

 

This sweet boy is standing up and lovin' life!

Baking and sharing with others...

 

 

Ellie drew me a lovely flower picture...

"It's you and me, Mama."

 

Helping mama pump the gas

Enjoying the beautiful sunshine and time together with the ones we love...

  

                                  

    

 Wheeeeeeeee!

Play hard, sleep hard

This sweet boy reads a bedtime story to his sister every night...

 

"I will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."

~Psalm 4:8

Days... eh, who's counting?!

 

I really need one of these clocks.  If I was into tattoos, this would probable be the most applicable one I could get.  [No, I'm not getting a tattoo.   No, I am not going to get into my personal opinions of tattoos.]  

While I have been maintaining (for the most part) my goals set forth in my 100 days, I have just not managed to carve out any time to jot it down for all the world to see.  

So I thought I would just do a little summary...

I am enjoying my time in the Word... the Lord is doing some work on my heart... sometimes it's painful, but it's always worth it!

We had another couple of snow days.  LOVED. THAT.  I got a lot of work done around my house.  My hubby rocks.  (Yes, he was super relieved for me to go back to school!)

        

Daniel is really taking off with his piano lessons!  He enjoys practicing (*shock*) and really "gets" it.  Daniel also is the absolute best helper.  He loves to work with Daddy and help out Mama.

I don't think a day goes by that my sweet Ellie Rose doesn't give me some special gift-- a sticker [you should see my phone case!], a special picture, or even just a rock.  Her tender heart melts mine, over and over again. 

 

I love that I managed to capture this precious-- and common-- sight...

my Sweet Girl entertaining her Sweet Sweet.  

They both love each other in the most special of ways.

And,oh.  That sweet-sweet Samuel.  How the Lord knew that I would need him.  He is so cheerful!  During this stretch of time, he had his ear tubes put in.  The nurses all looooooved him.  He never even cried.  How grateful I am that the Lord has entrusted this precious soul to me.

    

Mama and Samuel before........................................ and after!  

(Can you see the relief on Mama's face?!)

There have been some trying times.  

There have been some times that I really just wanted to hide under my covers 

and never come out.  

No, seriously.  neeeeeevvvvvveeeeerrrr come out.  

But then the Lord offers me His cup of Grace.  

It is mine to take, mine to sip, 

mine to dive into and allow to engulf me and all my troubles.  

But I must let go of myself in order to take hold of His Cup.

 

A note I found that Daniel wrote for his sister and put on her bed.

*LOVE*

See?  So many blessings are all around. 

Just keep swimming...

              ... just keep swimming!

That's been my mantra this week.  And swim, I have!  As I've shared before, I do love the water.  I love the solitude (even when the guy in the lane next to me is "racing" me...).  I am thankful for my sweet hubby who "sends" me each day!

Days 29-35

Day 29...

When I came home from school, my sweet Ellie greeted me with elation and love-- as is her usual custom.  While I don't always love working outside of my home, the blessing of this greeting day after day after day is such a precious gift.  But today in addition to the regular greeting, she added, "Mama!  I have a surprise for you!"  Shamefully, I have to share that while my heart was ready and desirous of accepting this surprise, my schedule driven, task-oriented nature brushed it aside, and instead went into "operation recovery: mama is home from school" mode.  It wasn't until much later, as I finally headed to bed that I discovered the precious "surprise" that my little princess had so lovingly crafted for me:

Do you notice the "E" for Ellie and the "M" for Mama?

It literally made me weep.  I am so ashamed that I did not take the brief moment to stop from the hustle and bustle of my life to drink in the innocence of this sweet child that I get to call "mine".  Even as I sit here and look at this picture, I am moved to tears by the giving nature of this little girl.  Isn't it wonderful how the Lord uses the littles to teach the bigs?


Day 30...

It is amazing how time flies by.  It is amazing the things the sweet ones can learn and do.  My current favorite thing is listening to my sweet Daniel read God's Word-- especially to his brother and sister.  Daniel has taken on the responsibility of reading their Bible lesson each night before bedtime.  I cling to that encouragement-- especially during the moments of struggle and instruction.

Day 31...

Ugh... it was: a day.  And, yet.  Oh, and yet... I am blessed more than I could ever deserve.  As I was "strongly encouraging" my sweet ones to clean up their toys, Ellie Rose pipes up, "Thank you,  Mama, for all the work you do for us!"  [shot through the heart, conviction!]  

Day 32...

Sweet Samuel's 9 month well-baby check up was supposed to be a couple weeks ago-- you know when we had those 374 snow days?  Well, today was finally the day.  And I am proud to report that my 5-weeks early preemie has blossomed into the 97% for his height (and that would be the 97% for his BIRTH age-- not his "adjusted age"!) and his weight is still off the charts, but not as much as it was.  Hey, we grow 'em big, and they like to eat.  Don't judge me.  Again, it was a great family time, since we all trudged down (over an hour from home-- what can I say: we love our pediatrician!) and back.  But my sweet hubby is the best, and the time with kiddos is always precious.

 

He's come a long way from this early check-up... 

though I no longer can visit without remembering him as this tiny, little fighter!  

God is so good...

Day 33...

Valentine's day... I am blessed to have a godly sweetheart who loves me unconditionally as Christ loves the church.  And add to that, I now have three little sweet ones who call me "mama".  One of my most favorite names in all the world. I had a sweet breakfast with my Daniel; we shared some Munchkins with his teacher (you know, because she takes care of *MY* munchkin!); Ellie and mama got roses from my daddy; Samuel was a snuggle monster; I made a sweet treat for all of my sweets for dinner.  What a wonderful day...  *sigh in my heart happy*

Day 34...

GIRLS' DAY!!!

My sweet Ellie sometimes feels a little left out by mama-- Daniel gets to ride to and from school with me each day; Samuel is the baby and, obviously, gets the "baby normal" amount of attention.  Sooo... I try to work in some special time for her to have me all to herself.  And the joy, gratitude, and elation from my sweet princess is so rewarding and renewing for my soul. 

We started with a milkshake from Chick-fil-A.  Well, ELLIE had a milkshake-- mama had a Coke Zero [feel free to insert massive praise riiiiiiight about.... here].  We then headed over to get our toes done.  Ellie also enjoyed having her sweet little nails painted, too.  After that, it was lunch at our favorite restaurant-- an authentic little Italian place where the service it great, the food is divine, and the price isn't too bad either!  I will take this moment to brag:  we started with a salad, and then I only had ONE slice of that delicious pizza.  And, you know what?  That was really all that I wanted!  I guess that's what the grown folk call: progress!

    

      

Day 35...

Today was a bittersweet day.  We had a "See you later!" fellowship time after church for a dear family that is moving away.  I am sad for our loss in our local church family, but how I rejoice in the hope that we have in knowing our bond is eternal through the blood and gift of Christ!

Since we didn't have an evening service, we decided to make the most of it and have some family fun!  Daniel was desperately in need of new shoes, but he has whacky feet and can't wear just any shoes from any store (read that as: Wal-Mart).  And as one who has really sensitive feet, I happily oblige and get those "special shoes" for him!

 

SUCCESS!

(And they even light up, too!  It's a win-win for everyone! ;) )

We stumbled upon this home-cookin' kind of establishment.  And it was sooooo good.  I even had the fried catfish.  Did you read that right?  Fried. Catfish.  Don't worry.  I swam later.  A lot.  Oh, boy was it worth it.  Mmmmm.... so yummy.  My sweet hubby presented the suggestion that we make this little joint our "no Sunday evening service" tradition.  I'm game!!!

  

My fried Catfish.  Please notice that it didn't even all fit in the photo. 

Thaaaaa's what I'm talking 'bout!

Do you know why our faces are so happy?!
(See previous photo)

 

 

This was certainly a busy week, but I am once again grateful for the Lord's provision and grace.  How humbled I am that when I fail, the Lord never turns away saying, "Nope.  I've given you enough chances.  Sorry about your luck!  You wanted to do it your way, so have at it..." 

No, my gracious Abba Daddy picks me up, dusts me off, and wipes away my self-inflicted tears.  He fills my cup, presses it down, and lets it overflow.  Again and again.  And again.