Am I Fancy?

"Mommy, am I fancy?"

This is the question filling the house as two young girls go bouncing down the hall decked out in every last piece of "play clothes" they own. Our oldest, 4, in a tutu, slippers, 2 headbands, a crown, and many necklaces draped around her waist, neck, and arms. The younger sister, 2 1/2, following close behind twirling and spinning in a princess dress, with socks on her hands, 2 different shoes, a crown, and a tiger tail. They were workin it! :)

They would ask each other "Do I look pretty?" They would ooh and ahh over each others selection and then come bursting out of the play room to ask me, again, "Momma, do I look fancy?" I would confirm what they already felt and they would dance and twirl around the house singing and giggling until they made their way upstairs and would exchange pieces of their ensemble with each other and then start the parade over again.

Last night when I was trying to fold laundry the twins, 18 month, took clothes and draped them over their heads and then would look up at my husband and I and smile and look at us for approval. They, even though they could not say the word, wanted to know if they were pretty/ fancy.

It is a wonderful characteristic that God has put in girls. We all want to know, "Am I pretty? Am I loved? Do you accept me?" We need those special people in our lives, especially the dads, to notice and approve. Its a trait that we are trying to nurture. Yes, sometime I wish they would not pull all the clothes out at once, or that they wouldn't come dancing across the floor that I'm trying to clean, or that they would stop asking me the same question over and over, especially when I am trying to return a phone call; but overall I love that they want/ need my approval. And I love that they love who they are. They are beautiful in their own ways, and with 4 princesses in one castle there is always a competion to get more complements.

We want them to know they are physically beautiful, and that outward beauty is not the clothes you wear, and is way more than how your skin looks. I try to be intentional about telling them they are beautiful in all their stages- when they are dressed for church, just out of the tub in nothin' but a towel, or in the garden covered with mud. But more importantly we want them to be inwardly beautiful. We want them to strive after the things of Christ and to ask Him through out the day, "Am I fancy?" If I were to stop during my day and ask my heavenly dad "Do you think I'm fancy?" what would his response would be. I pray that our actions, attitudes, thoughts and words will be beautiful, uplifting, and honoring.

Lord help me to have a "beautiful" attitude and to make the most of each opportunity to let our girls know that they are beautiful beacuse You have made them to glorify and enjoy you forever. :)

testing the boundries

The twins have hit the 18 month mark- yes already! They are so much fun I love watching them interact and learn together. This was one of my favorite stages with the older two as well, with all the language development, physical milestone, and gaining independence, but it just seems so much more fascinating with the twins. They build off each other and encourage one another as they learn, its a very fun experience. Along with that come the "double trouble" side of this experimental stage. They climb like the other two never did, they have figured out door handles, locks, how to work the water in the bath tub and pull the plug, then there is more climbing. (It figures that the climbers that God gave us would be the double set.) There have been a few times where I will go check on them and not be able to find one, usually Kaelyn, and find her in her room, door locked lounging in a large pile or clothes and books. Karis is the bigger climber of the two, she usually leads with Kaelyn not far behind. It is a race after dinner to see if I can get the chairs arranged on top of the table before they find their way on top of them.
On Sunday while I was trying to prepare lunch they were determined to get into the pantry to get a "cook-ker" (cracker). Lunch is usually a little late on Sundays b/c of the church schedule so they were fairly hungry. With the types of doors on our pantry I am always afraid they will get their fingers pinched, and now that they can open it by themselves its more of a reality. I gave them each a few crackers and then places the kids table in front of the doors hoping to deter them from trying any more, silly mom! This only gave them reason to climb up onto the table. After getting them down multiple time I had to take a video b/c they were just to cute. After the photo opt I put a chair onto of the table thinking that would to the trick, again not so much. Fortunately for me, Mimi and Popi showed up to entertain them so I could finish cooking. Here is very short look into part of my experience.

Awesome Friday!

"Awesome" is such an over used word today.
"How was your day?" "It was awesome, we...."
"How was the water park? "There was an awesome slide...."
"That's an awesome sunset." and so on. What things are really worthy of this title.
As I was out planting in the flower bed yesterday I began pondering on the awesomeness of God creativity. It was His idea to make a small seed that, with the correct care, will grow a root system to keep it anchored in the ground, and a variety of leaves and petals that come in a rainbow of colors. He would be worthy of the title "Awesome" just as the creator of the world. But then when I start thinking about Easter and what it really is about, Awesome is almost not a great enough word.
People can argue the case for their god all they want, but Easter is what sets my God apart! On Good Friday He took on my sins, the sins of my family members, my children; felt the loneliness when His Father turned away from Him, and the awful physical pain as he hung on the cross and physically died. THAT'S AWESOME! Do you know anyone who would be willing to do that for you? The Awesome thing that set God apart for all the other imposers..... Easter! He did not stay dead! He defeated death, that literally blows me away- its awesome! As our oldest says, "He rolled the stone back and the band-aids came off." :)
So much more than a God is creative, or can grant my wishes, I'm so glad to have a Savior who conquered death and now rules on high.
So this Easter I hope you have a wonderful time with family, but most of all I pray that you will stand in AWE of our might God who saves!