Find Your Happiness

Week 4: January 22nd to January 28th 22  Beautiful Saturday afternoon clouds in Seaside, CA 23   Monterey Bay. Yes, this is where we live :) 24  Daddy is home ! 25  Innocent-looking Nathaniel 26  Homemade Hummus by hubby (Alliteration much?) 27  Riley, our almost five-year-old Miniature Pinscher 28  Nathaniel looks so much more Asian after waking up Linking up to: The Daily Wyatt: 365 Days in Pictures NapTimeMomTog: Project 365 Becoming a Strong Woman of God: Capturing Life... One Photo at a Time BlueEyedGirl Photography: A Daily Picture Project For The Love of Blogs: It's Comment Love Day!

I have a problem. It's a rather BIG problem. You see... I can't find Nathaniel. Last time I saw him, he was playing in the living room. If he doesn't show up anytime soon, I might have to call the police. Linking up to: Supermom: Friend Finding Fridays And then, she {snapped}: Show{off} your shot Design it Chic: Boost My Blog Friday Simplicity: Photo Challenge {Everyday Life}

  All day today I have been pondering the struggles my wife and I will soon be facing as our young little man begins to get out of the house and explore this world God has placed him on. I am not simply speaking of the skinned knees and possibility of broken bones or, God forbid, a broken heart when he gets older. I am talking about whether or not we are capable of shielding him from the evils of this world just long enough to allow him to grow up to be a good Christian man. Honestly, Diana and I thought long and hard about whether or not we should even bring a child into this world that has fallen oh so far. Clearly, after plenty of discussion and prayer we decided that, if able, it wasn't an option to have kids. So after making the decision to have kids, what does one do? I understand that the Bible tells us to raise our children to have fear and admonition for The Lord. And that it is taught, in the parable of the prodigal son, that is possible for a child that has fall...

Looking at the time stamp on these pictures is when you know being a stay-at-home mom means more than just staying at home . 2:09pm Watching Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That   2:11pm Got bored with the TV (as he always does) so he decided to read his books 2:15pm Still entertained by the same book! 2:21pm Now he's bored with it so he decided to eat it. (Gets corrected that books are for reading, not eating) 2:23 pm Playing with his toy 2:27pm Playing with a different toy while holding my brush 2:31pm Starts to walk around the house while brushing his hair. So of course, I must follow him. 2:35pm I asked him to look at the camera and this is what I get :/   2:37pm Still walking but now he's chasing our dog, Riley. 2:40pm Trying to give Mommy a heart attack by flipping over. After removing one of his socks. 2:40pm Ok, enough. 3:00pm Playing 3:30pm Waiting for Daddy to come ...

This boy is completely head over heels over his Daddy. He no longer just light up when he sees his Daddy; he now also calls him by his name. "Da-da!" Good thing, the feeling is mutual :) "It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons". -Johann Schiller                 

For Today (January 25, 2011) Outside my window... Still dark, slightly cool 54 degrees morning I am thinking... how Nathaniel is really a toddler now and not a baby anymore: walking, talking, testing this boundaries/authority (aka terrible ones twos), etc.   I am thankful for... peaceful and quiet times like this. From the kitchen... leftover rice from dinner last night. I am wearing... tank top, cardigan, pajamas I am going... to go grocery shopping this afternoon. We are out of food! I am reading... leisure: none; Daily Devotional Bible ---currently still in 2 Samuel and John I am hoping... to be a better wife and mommy today. (Don't we always?)   I am hearing... nothing :) Around the house In our bedroom... two baskets of clean laundry that needs folding and putting up. Blah! One of my favorite things... daily after-dinner dessert with my family; usually ice cream :) Inspired by the church song... Hold to God's Unchanging Hand "Tru...

 There is sunshine in my soul today, More glorious and bright Than glows in any earthly sky, for Jesus is my light. O there's sunshine, blessed sunshine, While the peaceful, happy moments roll; When Jesus shows His smiling face, There is sunshine in my soul. There is music in my soul today, a carol to my King; And Jesus, listening, can hear The song I cannot hear. There is springtime in my soul today, For when the Lord is near; The dove of peace sings in my heart, The flowers of grace appear. There is gladness in my soul today, And hope and praise and love; For blessings which He gives me now, For joys laid up above.

Week 3: January 15th to January 21st 15  Puto (Steamed Rice Cake) that my husband quickly devoured 16  French Onion Soup from Paris Bakery in Monterey 17  Guess what I'm eating ! 18  Nathaniel developed a full body rash . Roseola virus vs Amoxicillin allergic reaction. 19  Hubby surprised me with dinner at Bubba Gump for our eighth year "dating" anniversary. 20  Nathaniel wearing his Colts pajamas from his "Uncle" Bernie---my Kansas City Chief-loving husband's best friend :P 21  Ramekins from my generous husband so I can properly serve my French Onion Soup :)