gotta love that grin

Sunday Stroll

Grandma came to the rescue Sunday. MK was on the upswing and getting pretty bored after being cooped up inside for days!  My mom came over to check on the little one and took her out for a stroll. It was actually somewhat chilly outside after a cold front moved through so MK had to wear a jacket over her pajamas.

She loved getting outside. Thanks Grandma for the Sunday stroll!

PJ's, cuddles, paci and pedialyte!

The perfect prescription for a sick little girl? 

Pajamas (8 pairs in 4 days).

Cuddles (day and night).

Pacifier (just about whenever she wanted).

Pedialyte (all she took in for three days).

Now she's just sleepy, slowly getting her appetite back and super clingy! 

Having a sick child is no fun. You just want to trade places with them. Carry their burden for them so that they do not have to.

I'm amazed at how God uses my everyday experiences as mommy to little Madelyn to remind me of His word. Words that are etched on my heart but that in my flesh I forget or deny because I think that my way is better or that I can do it on my own. My understanding, though still lacking SO much, of His fatherly love, care and concern for us has grown far beyond what I could have ever imagined since she was born. Constantly over the last few days, it's as if He's been whispering to me, "I know each hurt. I want to carry each burden. Just let me, Kathryn". 

After a week filled with:

• sickness for our sweet girl

• an unexpected diagnosis for a young, dear friend

• a conversation that I will never forget with a grieving 28 year old woman who has buried two children (a five month old who died from SIDS and nine month old that died from an undiagnosed neurological disorder) and is 38 weeks pregnant with her third

• friends who are struggling to make ends meet and keep their marriage alive

After a week filled with all of that, I needed the reminder that He knows each of their hurts. They do not have to carry their own burdens. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11: 29-30.  

Also, I do not have to carry their burdens for them in ways that I was not meant to. Even when my heart is heavy for them and I have no words to pray..."Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8: 26-27.

I'm thankful for simple reminders of how big God is and how small I am. I don't have to do it all for Him.

quick visit

Aunt Kenda and Papa stopped by for the night on their way to visit friends in Nashville for the weekend! It was a special treat for our sick little girl!
 

She ate up all the attention and loved her gifts from their recent trips.

They left right before nap time today. When MK woke up from her nap she walked all over the house looking for them. After she searched every room she stopped to look at me and asked, "Where's Papa?". I know she will be delighted when they spend the night again on their way back through! She loves Aunt Kenda and Papa!

the difference a nap makes

MK went from singing and dancing around the yard with her Daddy to pitiful in a matter of hours.

After a breakfast date with Luke, she played around for a couple of hours then came in for lunch and a nap. When she woke up, she was burning up and lethargic. We know our girl is sick when she sits still long enough to watch any amount of TV, much less falls asleep sitting there. I feel so bad for her and hope that it goes away soon!

it's on her lips

It seems my sugary sweet little toddler has a favorite word these days. "No". She's even mastered the head-down-eyes-up charging bull look. It's on her lips more often than I'd like to admit. (Side note: How does she manage to even make her protests sound so adorable??)

playdates

One (of many) of my fav things about being a stay at home mom? Playdates. Especially now that MK actually plays. Even better? She plays with her friends (or their toys at least) while the mommies sew and craft! So fun.

 

I'm laughing looking at these pictures because it seems that Madelyn and Logan always end up trying to ride on the same toy. Such cute friends she has.

Even though it's one of the little things, it's still so much fun!

We love Spring

	We love spring around here. Each day holds the potential for nature walks, picking flower or weeds, singing at the top of our lungs while using patriotic solar garden lights as our microphones, picnics with little people, swinging and many more things we have yet to come up with. We love spring.