Kiddos....perfectly not perfect

Well Hello there blogland. The inspiration of this post was given to me by this snotty lady I saw today at Target (who shall remain nameless). First off the boys and I went to Target this morning and Luke slept on the way over and Lane watched a movie...the sun is shining, birds chirping, beautiful weather, coffee is in the cup holder, and weeerr'rreee off. It was a very pleasant ride over. We get to Target (I park next to the carts like I always do so I can grab a cart before I remove my children and the put it back easily after they are strapped in.) and head inside. Luke wakes up shortly after getting into the store and Lane is holding his little airplane and is excited to look all around. We first go to the clothes where I was looking for a pair of jeans for our tall 2 year old and a pair of comfy pants as I realized the other day that he has a current pant shortage. We bump into my dad's cousing Renae and talked for a minute...Lane was just quietly zooming his little plane and Luke was just chilling in the carseat( He's a great baby but extra chill right after waking up:). She was nice and said how big they were, how cute, how fast time goes, ect...we talked about her grandson starting school and then went merrily on our way. We got the pants(1pair of cargo type pants and 1 pair of "swishy pants"...all of targets jeans for toddlers seemed like "super skinny jeans" so I will have to look else where) and headed over to the pharmacy section. There is where we saw her...I was heading down an isle getting toothpaste and she passes me(I tried to pretend like I didn't see her because as my mom would call her....she is just "nosey"). Well she says "HI LAUREL" ....in this super surprised voice...and I responded with "Oh Hi___________".
I kept walking but she kind of stood there and I just said something like good to see you and kept it moving. Well we finished our shopping and the boys were angels (they are not always angels, ecspecially in stores, but today they were....good timing on Mom's part for Luke and prepared with snacks for Lane:) and when we were heading to the check out  there she is again walking towards me....now mind you Lane is sitting down eating fruit loops out of his baggie and Luke is just pulling his little carseat toy into his mouth...neither making a peep, and  yes the cart had some items in it, some by Lane and some under the cart on the bottom thing but only about 4 bags worth.....and for whatever reason she says in a super snotty voice " Well you look like you've got your hands full". AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Is literally what I was saying inside my head.....thankfully what came out of my mouth was "Not really this is pretty easy for me" and she says even snottier "Well good for your Laurel". UGH UGH UGH.
Now you may be thinking Im over reacting but let me tell you....I can completly understand if they were screaming or throwing a fit (like they were at the fair last Saturday when they were sick of being paitent, were tired, and ready to move on in the stroller and not sit still any more and a lady said "She looks like she has her hands full" to my mom.... still RUDE if you ask me but somewhat true in that moment. But today...oh no...NOT TODAY. Today it was all good in the hood, all gravey baby!! And I was so proud of them and proud to be at a store with my perfect(at the time) little boys....and for some reason she said that! Is it because one is 2(who is tall enough to look at least 3 or maybe even 4) and one is in a carseat (who is 6 months )?? Because it certainly can't be because of their behavior today. It's just irritating to me because alot of people I know have kids 2 years (well 22 months) apart. There is mom's out there with 4 kids 2 years apart or twins shopping in Target...man wonder what "snotty women" thinks of them. This is not me being over sensitive to her comment either because I have heard this more than once and it definatly irritates me regardless of the situation its just a RUDE comment that needs to be left unsaid. We intentionally had our children 22 months apart (in our late 20's mind you) and are sooo greatful and thankful every day for them  in every perfect and not perfect moment. And even if was a situation where someone had an "unexpected blessing" and had two really close in ages children or was a teen mom...then that is not ok to make that comment then either LADY!
WHEW....ok....all better. But you mommies out there can relate right?!?! ( I am sure your scared to make a comment after my venting fit...please don't be...I'm usually really nice LOL:)
Never the less....she could have been having a bad day(well I know this women and this is just how she is) or maybe she didn't "mean it that way" (but still...I know this women and that is how she is)....but it will hopefully be a lessoned learned for me to keep "comments" to myself. I have NEVER been that person to stare if a kid was melting down or look at a mom like "whoa she has her hands full" (even if she did)...not now as a mother and not even before I was a mother but I will DEFINATLY make sure not to make accusations about anyone and ecspecially not say them. Thank you for reading my post today and letting me vent here in blog land:) Look for a more "positive" post in the near future.

Luke is 6 MONTHS OLD!!

I can not believe that our precious little boy is 6 months old  today.
What a "filled" 6 months we've had. Filled with lots of tears, but even more smiles...filled with lots of "busy" moments, but even more precious moments, more doctors appointments than I think I have had my entire life, a major surgery, recovery, and all the other awesome things that go along with growing to be 6 months old!

Here are a few fun facts about Luke being 6 months old....
1. Luke went from being the youngest grandson to having a baby boy cousin on his mommy's side and a baby girl cousin on his daddy's side so he is no longer the "youngest" he is a "big cousin" at 6 months old:)
2. Luke can sit up now on his own and he loves to play on the floor with toys and not just baby toys, oh no, of course he prefers his big brother's toys (big brother is learning to "share" his trucks;)

 3. Luke can hold his own bottle(when he wants too) and loves to play with it.4. Luke has been eating baby oatmeal for a couple of months now
5. Luke has started in on eating some "baby food" his favorite is his Great Grandma Landheer's canned apple sauce! He has also had bananna's that his mommy made him in her new baby bullet!:) (I am going to "attempt" to make most of his baby food....I also attempted with Lane but it did not go well...but I only had a blender so I am hoping this is much easier:)
6. Luke LOVES to ride in the side by side jogging stroller with his big brother and is out of his carseat and sits directly in the stroller and just rides like a big boy!7. Luke loves to "talk" and hear himself (his little voice is absolutly adorable and he wakes up "singing" every morning)
8. Luke now sleeps in his crib (but not all through the night yet)
9. Luke loves to watch his big brother and his dog and is always laughing at them. (He has a sense of humor already)
10. Luke is seriously soooo happy. ALWAYS smiling, no work at all to make giggle, so content, plays by himself so well, but loves to be entertained and read or sang too. His name means "The bringer of Light" and that is truley what he does to our household and our lives. He has brought so much "light" into our family, marriage, and way of life. We are BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED BEYOND MESSURE by this amazing special little boy.

Here he is "happy boy" with his daddy

                                             Here are a few of him this morning on his "half birthday" playing on the floor with his brother and baby cousin Cohen...

(sorry most of those are vertical I couldn't figre our how to flip them:)

                                                               And here he is the other day sitting on his
Poppy's tree stand.....

And playing on the deck in his walker(that he can move around in:)...

                                           
He is such an AMAZING and wonderful little baby! We are waiting to hear from our inssurance so we can get his helmet made and get it on him to get the fine tuning of that bump on the left side taken care of....beside that he is doing FABULOUS since his surgery. It seems that it didn't change him a bit and that he hasn't skipped a beat (I can't say the same for Matt and I but our change was better that's for sure). It was a CRAZY, HARD AND LIFE THREATING AND  LIFE CHANGING 6 months for Luke and for us. But we would do it all over again in a heartbeat!  Our lives are better because of him and we could not be more greatful for the gift of Luke (and of course his big brother Lane:)

Reflections...My mom, husband, mother in law, sister in law, and Michele Becker

Well this week my blog post could go ON and ON and ON over this topic. And I am extremely blessed for saying that. We are to write about people that "sharpen" our lives. In other words....help encourage us on our walk with Christ ect...
Before I begin on my couple of shout outs on the people that really encourage me in life I have to give a TREMENDOUS  mentioning to my friends Brittnay and Kim  who blog with me on Thursdays and have started this "reflections" group. They started this group with these exact intentions....to "sharpen" each other weakly to be better "pointed" towards Christ. I am so thankful for this weekly blog bible study group thingy I am in because it DEFINATLY helps keep me encouraged!! Thank you to those to wonderful women. They are AMAZING! If you haven't had a chance to view their blogs you totally should attwww.mauneyland.blogspot.com and at www.daughter...wife...mom...sis...blogspot.com.
Ok so here I go....when I first read Kim's challenge last week for this weeks reflections these people instantly popped into my head (although there is many more...) I feel as though I could not blog this topic without mentioning these people that have truley sharpened my life, some for a long time and some for just a short while but they have all been so invasive, I have been completly effected by them to the point of becoming a better version of myself.
First one DUUHHHH.... My MOM!!! Anyone who knows my mom knows that she is a great christian women. I could go on and on and on and on and on and on about the different christian ways she has encouraged me in the past 28 years but that would take forever. She (like most moms) brought us to church, sent us to bible school and church camp but it was more than that. The one thing that really sticks out with her is "hard times". Anytime I was going through a hard time i.e....junior high fights with friends, highschool boyfriend drama, knee surgeries, ect ect....she always turned my view towards God. She left the best notes, letters, emails, (and then later texts) that a mom could always encouraging me in whatever the situation to "give it to God". She always helped me see that HE has(and will always have) the best plan for me. And for that(and much MUCH more) I am forever greatful and feel "sharpened" by her in many ways and wish I could spend my entire time blogging talking about them...but we'll save that for a later post! Love my momma:)
Secondly....MY HUBBY <3 <3 <3!!!  I don't know if it is because he knows me so well or because the holy spirit is in him so much(probably both) but he is always helping me be a better version and a more "godly" version of myself. (This too since we have become parents has been a shared thing between each other...letting our children "see" Christ in us instead of just "telling" them about Him....and "living it out"(like Brittnay talked about in her last post) is our goal for our kids) When I start to lose my cool, or act away I shouldn't he always keeps me grounded, which I need and think we all do at some points, and I am so blessed by him. He is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO calm. (Isn't he?? If you know him you would agree ten fold....calmest most easy going relaxed guy in the world.) Thank you GOD for sending him to me!! Though I have calmed down, slowed down, and eased up since I've had kids I definatly am balanced out by my amazing husband. And when it comes to being the Christian I want to be, he is great at holding me accountable. He reminds me when I need to be reminded and encourages me when I need to be encouraged and is always there to help me take a deep breath. I feel the love of God through him(though I know God loves me much more...) and I am so "sharpened" by that love and need it like breathing is to life.
Lastly would be 3 amazing women.....MY MOTHER IN LAW(Donna Rubright), MY SISTER IN LAW (Danielle Decker), AND MY FRIEND (Michele Becker) (I could keep adding and adding on the friend list so those of you I didn't add please know how much you are loved and appriciated! It would take me 5 hours to give you all a shout out on this blog maybe sometime I will try that:). First my mother in law is always reminding us of what the bible says whenever she gets the chance and I love that and am greatful for her knowledge in that. She buys us devotionals, bibles, christian books for our kids, and baby books with scripture and anything she can think of with a godly encouragment for us and our family and I love that about her. Those things are so great to have around the house and use on a daily basis. She is great at giving us tools of advice or tools we can use to help keep us "right on point" with our walk with Christ. So greatful for an encouraging and godly mother in law. Love her so much!
My sister in law (a.k.a "SIL" (abbriviation for sister in law) as I call her) is another amazing encouragment to me. EVERYTHING and ANYTHING I have ever needed to hear ....she seems to say it. Even if it's against all odds of what I thought...she is usually right on target. She is so in tune with the holy spirit it is ridiculous! I am blessed by her rightous love for Christ and how in all things she is giving Him the praise. She is such an encouragment and always goes immediatly to Christ. Even if I say "I think I'm getting a sore throat" before I can get the sentence out she is casting it out and lifting me up right then and there in a prayer. She has layed her hands on me , my hubby, and my kids and said "you are healed in Jesus name" more times than I can think of....even if was just a headache or a major closure of a skull she ALWAYS looks towards HIM. I am teary eyed at my greatfulness for her and her love of Christ. One time I told her I pray for extra angels when I leave my kids to protect them as they are watched with someone else and she said "I prayed for extra angels before I came to watch them". I mean really??? How wonderful is that?!?!? She is just such a godly women with Him in between, before, behind, and all around her every day activities and I am so blessed just to be around her. (Love you sil!)
Last but not least MICHELE BECKER ROCKS!!! She is a friend of mine but started out as my best friends mom, then a client, and now a dear dear friend. I always tell my husband when I do her hair I should pay her because she ALWAYS makes me feel better!! She has opened my eyes to so many things( the first fast I ever did was because of her) and has helped me go from anger/sadness, to happiness in seconds about things. She finds the good in everything....and I mean EVERYTHING (don't you wish you were like that?? I sure do) And that is someone worth being around. She too knows soooo much about the bible and is constantly whipping out scripture off the top of her head and I love that. She prays with me everytime after her hair appointment...sometimes for me, sometimes for her, sometimes for people we know...but always prayer. She will do it right in front of the next client that is waiting and has even sang me a hymnn once in front of a complete stranger because she knew I needed to hear that joyful noise. She is BURSTING with God's goodness. She and her husband are such disciples of God. Claiming and spreading the good news every chance they get. They even came over and had a little jam session with us with her husband and my husband playing guitars and singing praise songs a few days before Luke's surgery. She lent me mulitple books, videos, and shared so many scriptures during my time of need. She is a walking Jesus Freak and she is absoultly infectious to be around. She makes me a better person and in many many ways and has increased my realationship with Christ over the years. I am so blessed by her and love her bunches!
I am overwhelmed with the amount of Christian people in my life that help encourage me all the time. I pray that I can be a blessing like that to people as well. I am soooo thankful for these people I mentioned and for the people I didn't. It wasn't until now that I really realized how blessed I am having the encouragement I do. I am making a commitment right here and now to try to be more like each and everyone of these people and to "live out" the gospel the way they have in my life!!

Reflections- MUCH BETTER!

Well another week went by so fast! It seems like I was just sitting down to write my reflection from last week and here we are again....crazy! I have to say though....I am glad it is this Thursday and not last Thursday. Last Thursday....I have to say was not a good post for me. It was an "OYE VEY" moment where I dreaded the whole thing. We were to talk to others about our "daily walk" with God. And that definatly convicted me because I had been "really busy" and not getting deep in my daily time with Him just skimming the surface to get by. What I realized though now looking back is how everything seemed very difficult while doing this. Like everything I picked up- I'd drop...or  unloading the dishwasher seemed to take about as much energy to build a small country. I just didn't have my "witts about me" lately and that is because my skimming by wasn't cutting it. I was FOCUSING on everything but the ONE who gives me EVERYTHING!!! After my major conviction I decided to go back to giving myself limits and only allowing myself to get on facebook, watch my DVR(which I currently have 6 shows I haven't watched and I am proud that they are sitting there...looking forward to getting to them but normally I'd watch them as soon as I could and now that is not that case), or do otherthings with out scheduleing my daily time with God. That has been incredibly helpful taking time to make the excuse that I can't do those things because I have an appointment with Him or my bible. Which leads me to my next transformation....Sunday at our church we had a guest pastor because ours was on vacation. His sermon was all about FOCUS on Him! Not on us, or what we need, or what we don't have, but simply and yes SIMPLY on JESUS! See it doesn't have to be difficult, or "churched" up to have your focus set on Him it's simple! I know it's a bit intimidating when you are friends with the one that created you and everything around you but it doesn't have to be. He loves us NO MATTER WHAT WE DO (or don't do). If we don't make the time for Him...that's ok He understands, loves us anyways and is paiently waiting until we do. During that sermon he spoke about how if you read the bible for 15 minutes a day you can read the whole thing in one year. (which I have always wanted to do and so has my husband) So we decided not to set a time frame but to set a goal...and that is every night before bed(when we would be watching our shows, looking on his Iphone at facebook ect...that we would read 15 minutes of the bible before we go to sleep.) My husband has been believing God for a new and better job(and I have been standing firm in that with him) for 5 years next month. I am so proud of his faith but as anyone could imagine....it gets a little wearing in our flesh. So even though we've said time and time again "God...we trust you" (and we do)....we've decided to be at REST so He can be at WORK...and in the mean time indulging ourselves in the word and just FOCUSING on Him, and not on us and what we want, need, have or don't have. Just simply and blatently on HIM. After the first night of reading my husband looks over at me and says "this is good stuff" :) And he is right ....it really is! I have read many scriptures, and even books of the bible but never just sat to read it like a book. We are starting with the new testement....we just felt as though it was relevent for the "season" we are in right now in our lives but we are fully commited to read the old testiment as well too. This "daily" routine has already in 4 nights of reading been such a blessing in our lives. I feel so much more energized(even though I have gotten very little sleep the past few nights with a teething baby) and even though my husband has been working very hard this week we are having a better week. Feeling stronger, and calmer, and more paitent and so much better! I am excited to see what God will do (as He is always doing in our lives even when we don't ask...He is meeting the desires of our hearts) in our lives as we redirect our FOCUS on Him. If I spent as much time on God as I did on other things....I think alot of things would be a lot better. Of course watching tv, facebooking, ect...is fine but there is a balance in life my life that needs to be met and that is CHRIST FIRST and then so on and so on. I am glad to say that I am currently back on track! Here is a few verses I found and am so passionate about because I read them and instantly felt like it was a little personal note from Him(maker of heaven and earth) to me!! (how cool is that)
Matthew 5:5
YOU'RE BLESSED WHEN YOU'RE CONTENT WITH JUST WHO  YOU ARE-NO MORE, NO LESS. THAT'S THE MOMENT YOU FIND YOURSELVES PROUD OWNERS OF EVERYTHING THAT CAN'T BE BOUGHT.

AMEN AMEN AMEN TO THAT! Thank You JESUS that in the midst of all my "wants" I am PROUD of what I have and that is nothing that could ever be bought....it is an eternal life with my savior! (and that I am married to an AMAZING man that is also going to spend eternity right there too!!)


Matthew 5:13
LET ME TELL YOU WHY YOU'RE HERE TO BE SALT-SEASONING THAT BRINGS OUT THE GOD-FLAVORS OF THIS EARTH. IF YOU LOSE YOUR SALTINESS, HOW WILL PEOPLE TASTE GODLINESS? YOU'VE LOST YOUR USEFULNESS AND WILL END UP GARBAGE.

Matthew 5:14
HERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO PUT IT: YOU'RE HERE TO BE LIGHT, BRING OUT THE GOD COLORS IN THE WORLD. GOD IS NOT A SECRET TO BE KEPT. WE'RE GOING PUBLIC WITH THIS, AS PUBLIC AS A CITY ON A HILL. IF I MAKE YOU LIGHT-BEARS, YOU DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO HIDE YOU UNDER A BUCKET, DO YOU? I'M PUTTING YOU ON A LIGHT STAND. NOW THAT I'VE PUT YOU THERE ON A HILLTOP, ON A LIGHT STAND- SHINE!!! KEEP OPEN HOUSE; BE GENEROUS WITH YOUR LIVES. BY OPENING UP TO OTHERS, YOU'LL PROMPT PEOPLE TO OPEN UP WITH GOD, THIS GENEROUS FATHER IN HEAVEN

Now that my friends is worth reading! I AM HERE TO BE A LIGHT(that is actually the meaning of our son Luke's name "the bringer of Light" and it is oh so fitting)
My daily walk has increased in one week and it will continue! I will keep you all posted on my daily reading and FOCUSING! I'd love to encourage you to take your eyes off of you(or anything else that may be consuming you more than Christ) and put your FOCUS on Him. He has the master plan...so I'm going to take my eyes off of "calendar" for a while and keep them focused where they should be....things will be a lot "lighter" in my busy life I just know it!!!

Luke's Helmet Appointment

Today we went to Chicago to Luke's helmet "casting" appointment. We had to leave at 730am in order to get to our appointment by 11:00. Lane came with us today and both boys were absolutly angels in the car. Luke slept alot and Lane watched movies, colored, played trucks( I saved certain trucks for over a week and hid them telling him I didn't know where they were so they would be special when he got restless in the car and at the doctors office and IT WORKED:) He was very happy to see them!) I was so proud of our 2 year old for waking up and 15 mins later being put into a 3 hour car ride then have to be "tame" and behaved in a waiting room, and doctors office, then back in the car immediatly after! He was PERFECT!! We did stop at the outlet mall in Aurora on our way home (but he was then confined into a stroller immediatly so that was just more sitting!!) Finally on the last strip of the mall and out to the car he walked holding our hands(they got sweaty fast) and he was on cloud nine! Kicking his little feet saying "wee" and swinging and enjoying his partial freedom! Then...back in the car!! And he STILL did great:) Then as soon as we got home it was lots of playing catch and rough housing for 45 minutes until he settled down! :) We love our little mister!! Ok now on to our little helmet guy:) The people at the office were SOOO NICE! We got there early and said we'd go take a walk if they weren't ready but they were fine with us being there and got us in fairly quickly. While I was waiting to check Luke in I saw an adorabe little girl(probably about 5-6 montths old) in a purple butterfly helmet! She was such a cutie. Then we met a mom with a just turned 3 year old(who brought a car and a truck with him and Lane and him were instantly buds) and her 8 month old son Dylan who had a helmet on. The way Dylan laid in her womb made his head misproportioned and neck weak so he is wearing one for a few months. He also looked soo cute. She said her son Quinn asked for one for his 3rd birthday!! (So he got a bike helmet instead:) When we got in to the room they did lots of messuring and he explained that Luke would be wearing it until his next appointment with Dr. Reid (which is in Decemeber so Luke will wear it approximatly 5 months). He was VERY impressed by Luke's healing and ecspecially his scar. He couldn't believe he had surgery only 7 weeks ago!:) :) :) We LOVVEE to hear that ecspecially from people that are in this field and are very knowledgeable in his situation. So the room (of course) was bright colors, had toys, mirrors, fish posters ect...so Lane was in heaven and wasn't even effected by the 3-4 minutes of crying from his brother. He did look over at him a few times but I quickly distracted him and he didn't think a thing of it! Matt had to hold Luke down wearing just his diaper as they put vaseline all over his neck(to prevent any of the soft fiberglass from sticking to his skin), then they put a white stocking/panty hose over his head. It looked exactly like the black one they use in movies for robbers or something like that with the little knot on the top of it. IT WAS SOOOO CUTE. Of course he hated it but he was so adorable....it pushed his little nose up and his eyes look Chinese and with all his rolls he looked just like a sumo wrestler. I so badly wish we could have taken a picture!!!! Then they wrapped a few layers of that wet soft fiberglass mesh on his head and then he pressed on his head in certain areas helping it mold...then he had to sit there a couple minutes. Then he cut off all the material and I got to swoop him up and make it all better:) We wiped all the vaseline off him and we got to pick out the design on his helmet. Matt picked Camo for our 1st pick ( I think a little army man for his first halloween may be in order:) and then a white one with race cars and trucks on it for the second pick and blue race car/truck one for our 3rd pick. Guess we'll see what we get:) We didn't have as many options as I expected....well actually there was alot of designed options just not alot that were our taste. And the only solid color I think they offered was white.(Which we could have done with stickers but I thought that'd get pretty dirty:). They then told us that they would send it to our insurrance to see how much they will cover and let us know. It should be ready in about a week or two and then we will get to go to naperville to retrieve his helmet and continue our appointments there. It sounds like he will need it fitted every week at first and then later on every 2-3 weeks. We are just thankful that they have a naperville office and that will take a good hour(and lots of sitting in traffic) off of our time:) PRAYING that we will be able to see him on Mondays(Matt's day off). The guy we saw today said that Tom in Naperville who we will be seeing is actually his boss and specializes in the helmets amongst all of the other equipment they deal with. So that was very encouraging and good to hear we will be working with the cheif of this situation. During the adjustments it sounds like they will be shaving off areas of the helmet(from the inside of course) to make it tight in the areas it needs be(his temple area) and expand the other areas that need to grow. He said that he will be cutting out the area above his ears because he wants that area to expand to let it catch up with the protruding temple spot. They ensured us that kids have no problems wearing these helmets. They don't usually ever seem bothered by them and sleep just fine. He will need to wear it 23 hours a day(the other hour is for batheing him and cleaning the helmet). We will get to work up to that 23 hour a day mark the first week of having it here...an hour on and hour off two hours on two hours off ect.... Here are a few pictures of the day....

Here is the boys on the way to chicago...Lane watching a movie and Luke just chilling. :)

Here is Luke after he pulled his carseat canopy down so he could look out the window at the busy traffic:)

Lane being a good big brother staying seated in his chair as wait for the casting to begin

After the casting....his little arms were soo pink from Daddy having to hold him so tight and still! Everyone did a great job:) He's soo cute:)

REFLECTIONS.....OYE

Well....so much for doing my "reflections" last Thursday like I said I was going too. :-/ It is quite discouraging when I don't do it, and not because everyone else is bumbed about pidly ole' me not blogging about it but because I truley enjoy it. I LOVE reading my good friends Kim and Brittnay's awesome blogs every Thursday and it's so encouraging to read them AND write! (If you haven't read theirs YOU NEED TOO.... http://www.mauneyland.blogspot.com/ is my Friend Kim's blog and http://daughterwifemomsis.blogspot.com/2012/07/live-it-out-reflections.html Is my friend Brittnay's blog! They are such great amazing "pastor's wives " and are such encouragers. Ok so today I will "bundle" my blog session with last weeks reflection and this weeks. Last weeks was based off an amazing message Kim's husband did from the book of James (and it was an encouragement on "DOING" in life) and this week's was to update others on your daily walk with God. Ok....YIKES I FEEL AS THOUGH MAYBE I HAVE NOT BLOGGED FOR A REASON. Because honastly.... my "doing skills" and "walking skills" have both been challenged. Anyone else ever feel the same?? I have a million excuses...2 kids in less than 2 years(need I say more? lol no really it's not that big of a challenge that is where the problems lyes....but I'll get back to that), my husband, my clients, cleaning, cooking, changing kid's rooms around, having a cold, trying to find time to excersize, catching up on my DVR, my dog, seeing my family, checking in with friends, the loss of my husbands great grandma and grandpa and many other things. Are they all valid? YEP. Do they all matter? Yep. Do they need to be excuses in life? NOPE. Here is the thing that I feel like I gained from Josh's message(well I gained ALOT of things but....) WE NEED TO MAKE EXCUSES! YES YES YES WE DO. But not excuses do NOT do something but excuses TO DO something. We are always making reasons why we can't do something but never finding the time do something....well what if that was flipped? What if we couldn't find the time to do the things we shouldn't and always made an excuse for the things we should. I know I'd get alot more done.  Here is where the problem lyes...excuses! Having 2 kids in less than 2 years is obviously eventful but is it so time consuming I can't even take 20 minutes to blog each week and keep another aspect of Godly encouragement in my life...absolulty not! I find time to "facebook" or watch my DVR or do all those other things(which is fine ) but then I say "oh I've been soo busy with this this and this so I haven't had time". Well that is bull! I've had the time...haven't made the time. That leads me into this weeks reflection....updating others on your "daily" walk with God. Well here is the moment of TRUTH.....Oh wait I already told you... I'm really busy and don't always get my perfect amount of daily time in with Him...and that is ok right? because I have valid reasons for it??!! NOPE...I dont. And not because HE is mad at me that I didn't spend enough time with Him but that I am Mad at me, not because it makes me feel guilty because of the type of God He is because that's not Him either....He is a loving God and the same God today as he was the days I was on my knees and face crying out to him in despair....He loves me the same. But I feel better and NEED a daily time with Him. Ever heard "Start your day with God...It'll end better" Well It's the Truth!! Yes God wants us each day to speak to him in a relationship; requests when need be "PLEASE LORD", shout outs "THANK YOU GOD OR PTL", or watching sermons on tv or podcasts on the internet...yes all of those things are GREAT and should not be stopped...but what about making the excuse to "DO SOMETHING" everyday for yourself with God? We drop everything to get our work out regimine in right? We often postpone things with people until that is done, or our daily "reading of the FB wall" but what about that "daily, habitual time with God." I will be honast ....alot of days I do spend that time with him but alot of days I don't. I often feel as though if I read my daily Joesph Prince or Beth Moore or Joyce Meyer devotional then that is good enough....and is it good? yes...but is it enough?? NO...not for me it's not. I remember that one time when I was watching a sermon on tv Joyce Meyer said "It's great that you are watching this and hearing the word of God from me....but if this is honastly the only time you're going to hear from Him today then turn the tv off right now and meet with Him" and that is so true. It needs to be a daily habbit like brushing our teeth. I find that seeking him FIRST in the morning is best for me. It makes my whole day go smoother...yes I still enjoy watching those things, listening to praise music while walking or running, and talking to Him at night but DAILY making the habit to talk to him, read his word, pray, whatever it may be is what I like to do in the morning before my kids are awake.

Mark 1:35
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

So updating people on my "daily" walk with God....it hasn't been so good...and honastly I have found myself too busy to get those special times in with Him. and My DOING is obviously effected by my priorities so I can't really update everyone on that. So reflections for this week and last were a major REALITY CHECK FOR ME!! And a much needed one! This is why I blog! And this is why I love my friends that blog on the same topic...it encourages me to get back to "doing" and spreading the good news....so that is my goal for this week. Next weeks reflection I will be joining my friends in reflection on the same topic that we all admitted we could be better at and will let you all know how I do with my daily walk!!

Luke's Appointment

Well I was hoping to keep my blog up a little better than I have in the past 3 weeks but obviously that hasn't happened!! First of all Luke is doing FABULOUS! He is sooo cute and so fun and I CAN NOT believe he is going to be 5 months old this Saturday. The first months before the surgery seemed like they took forever and now his surgery was a month ago and that post surgery month was the fastest month of all. It's so hard to believe it was a month ago. Luke is right on track for his age. He is rolling over both ways and even sitting up for a few seconds at a time by himself. He will pull himself up and stand on our laps just by holding our hands and he is a GIGGLE BOX. Laughs all the time!!! He is nawing on everything in site and eating cereal on a spoon in the high chair twice a day. It is fun that he can play in his excesaucer and toys like that because Lane loves to join in and show him how they work and Luke LOVES to watch him do EVERYTHING!! So excited for these 2 boys to grow up together. They are both so wonderful in their own ways and I already see their personalities shining through and reflecting on how they are the same and different:) It's alot of fun. Yesterday we took Luke to Chicago to meet with out plastic surgeon. He was so happy when he saw him and said he "looks fabulous". He said his forehead and right side of his head looks exactly as it should but the left side of his head still protruding a bit to far so he will need to wear a helmet(which we kind of expected and are totally ok with...most children do wear helmets for a few months after such a major reconstruction). Here is a few pictures that really show off the spot on his head that needs the fine tuning.....

These pictures kind of show the gradual decrease in how the bump

has gone down on its own but the plastic surgeon said it's just best while the bones are soft to form it into 100 % perfection! Which is fine by us. We are looking foward to having his head be perfect and preventing any issues in the future by being proactive. The surgeon said he would guess that Luke will only need it for 3 months but he will leave that time frame up to the Orthotist. We go in a couple weeks to have his head casted then we will go back a week or two later to get the helment then it sounds like we will be going back every week-three weeks old to have it fitted and adjusted(sounds kind of like braces for your teeth). So it will be lots of driving and doctors appointments but we are SOOO THANKFUL Chicago is filled with amazing people to help us and that it isn't that far away.We are sooo happy with the results on his surgery and we give all the glory to God for his amazing and quick healing. His head, his incission, the scaring EVERYTHING is better than expected GLORY BE TO GOD!! And on top of that Luke has been doing wonderful and Lane is so wonderful and handles everything with a grain of salt!! Good ole' Lane has been through alot the past few months with having a new brother brought in his life, parents that shed alot of tears(even tho they tried to keep them from him), extra visitors, lots of  play time with ammy and poppy while mommy and daddy went to appointments, staying in Chicago at a different place, learning to be paitent, learning to share(his stuff and ecspecially his parents and now his ammy and poppy and aunt jessie and uncle j because Luke came into the picture and his new baby Cohen), he went to his first visitation for his great great grandma and was quiet and very good boy, and so much more. He is TWO and yes there are moments and I do understand where the "terrible two's " stemmed from however I am focusing on Mark 11:22-24 and believing I WILL HAVE WHAT I SAY....... and I am saying Lane is going through the "terrific two's" with moments in between;) We are now onto transitioning him into a toddler bed which we will be doing here soon in the next week or so, and are working on potty training still, and limited pacifier time, and he is doing so great with everything. We are just so proud of him!! So here is a picture for a shout out to his wonderfulness....

And Last but NOT LEAST.....MY AMAZING HUBBY!! He is doing GREAT....BETTER THAN GREAT ( I can't even find the words). He has just been so incredibly wonderful this past month helping in everyway he can with both boys, house work when needed, ect.... He has made this month so wonderful as Luke was healing and we were adjusting!! He has lacked in sleep so many times to try to make me Lane and Luke rest. He is just beyond amazing and through this all I could not be more blessed to be even closer to him. He is simply wonderful and I give God so much thanks everyday for him!!
LOVE HIM.....

Thank YOU again for the love prayers and support for our family !! Will work on blogging more thorughout the helment processes and uploading pictures of his cuteness!!!!!!!  and I'll be back tomorrow blogland to link up with my great friends on "reflecting" :)