Terrific Threes

I am learning how parenting is so much tougher than anyone ever told me. My three year old, Ellie, loves to test my patience, especially in public and around my friends and family. I feel like I am constantly saying "no", "don't", "stop". I am currently reading a book by Gary Thomas called "Sacred Parenting". I've only read the first chapter and already I'm in awe of how he relates parenting to how God sees us as children and oh, how he loves us. I also have the David Crowder Band song "How He Loves" on my mind a lot lately. Even though I so often feel like I'm not worthy of loving or my kids drive me so crazy, I hear His voice, "Oh, how I love you, Hayley." "Oh, how I love you, Ellie." "Oh, how I love you, Alyssa." I'm so thankful He still loves us, despite my faults. 

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves

We are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way

And oh, how He loves us
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us so
how he loves

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how he loves
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Summer Dreams

We're coming into Memorial Day weekend and I'm reflecting on so many things. I am so thankful for my husband, Matt, who faithfully serves his country. We miss him so much! We're one month down during this year apart while he is serving in South Korea. I am thankful a month has gone by, though I am sad that he is missing so much of our girls' lives. Last night, Ellie asked me if Daddy sees the same moon. I say yes, honey and she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. It seems harder this third time around because the girls are old enough to realize their daddy is not around and one is old enough to ask questions. Alyssa is starting to talk more each day. I feel like I need to record her everyday so Matt will not miss out on everything. I am excited to have the summer to enjoy the warm weather, cherish time with family nearby and sip on some southern sweet tea and lemonade. I never considered myself to be a teacher, but I have no doubt that is what I need to be doing with my girls this summer so Ellie will be prepared for preschool in the fall and Alyssa will be ready for preschool the following fall. Being apart from Matt makes me really admire single moms who day in and day out work to provide for their families and be a single parent making all their own decisions without support from a husband. I am blessed Matt and I are able to communicate so often through Skype video. God knows just what you need when you need it. I am thankful for these summer days ahead and all that God will do!

Some ideas...A Case of the Momdays, Wordless Wednesday, Thankful or Thoughtful Thursday, Saturday Sayings or Weekend Wonders

You make me new, You are making me new

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
You are making me new

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
~Gungor


This song has really encouraged me over the last couple of months. So many changes have occurred. Matt is now in South Korea at Camp Hovey serving a year in a Key Development position, aka KD in Army language. We could have chosen to go with him, though we chose to stay in the US to be near family in Roanoke, Virginia. Moving from Fort Gordon, Georgia was so hard because not only was it stressful with all that comes with moving, but so incredibly hard to say goodbye to some very dear friends both military friends and church family. Then we endured more stress as we unpacked all our boxes and tried to get the new house ready in Virginia before Matt left for Korea. It was then very hard to say goodbye to Matt for a year. Even though we are able to talk via Skype most everyday, it's not the same as being together in person. It's so much better than even a decade ago, so we have to thank the Lord we are able to communicate via Skype! The girls are growing so fast! Ellie will be 4 and Alyssa will be 2, both in August. They seem to be handling the transition well, so that is a blessing! I just pray that God gives me the strength to endure this challenging year apart from Matt. I feel as if I am a temporary single mom. I have lots of help on the weekends and some weeknights with my family nearby! I just miss my husband and I miss seeing him be a Daddy around our girls. This year I am looking forward to what God is going to do, in my own personal life, my parenting, my marriage and in my girls' lives. He makes me new. He is making me new. With love, Hay