Birthdays and Perspective

Well, another Birthday passed. Ok, I'm making it sound like I don't care. Really, I LOVE birthdays.....they are fun, you celebrate life, gift giving (one of my love languages), words of affirmation (another love language), coffee of course and good laughs. But one of the best gifts and greatest things I learned this birthday, besides feeling a bit more wise and just plain grateful, was.....perspective and a THANKFUL heart. (Need to check my boys helping me put away clean laundry....it's getting put in the bathroom, I'm scared....brb.)
Ok, I'm back. And folded 2 loads of laundry, initiated by my boys wanting to help. Thanks, Boys!
I put my heart in an expectant position for the day (my birthday last week).....no matter what joy I was experiencing....coffee out w/girl friends at the park and lots of chatting or cleaning up a potty tip over....I found I had joy. I realized that instead of a large overwhelming must-do-to-do-don't really-do list......I set stuff aside, did some chores (a Mom has to you know.....or it just get crazier). My outlook and heart were set to be grateful....so when the usual hard stuff comes....5 pm low blood sugar potty's spilling all over....clean up emergency...well, I just said, " This is my birthday, not gonna let this ruin it". Amazingly, I had energy still, didn't feel so tired (as is proned to this phase of the day) and kept looking forward to the rest of the day (what was left). I began to think that I need to have this outlook and heart position each day! I had energy, I was super happy, I was expectant of good, I took the things that are hard for me and just kept going, it was a good day. That same life lesson, or should we say personal revelation....has been something I've been pondering and thinking on in my heart this past week or so. I wanted to share it so it will solidify, and hopefully keep growing in my heart and attitude.
I often feel tired throughout my day, overwhelmed, and just lethargic. I don't like feeling like this. My birthday was a revelation to my heart and mind, to change how I view things and handle life as it comes. Potty chairs and all!
How do you cultivate a thankful heart....I make my kids smile at me if they are pouting....it changes their heart and attitude. I don't think we are that much more complicated than kids, are we? Just more stubborn sometimes. I start thanking God for things, good things, great things, hard things, even bad things (mostly I've seen Him use them for good for me because He loves me), and like David in the Psalms, I command my soul to praise Him! It works wonders on a bad attitude or a dejected heart. When I'm truly going through something hard, I do the same, and often I dance and worship, something about moving around making myself and my body worship, changes my heart and my outlook and sometimes I even feel my situations shift. Practical application: Dinner time, crazy time for us all, I make dinner, taking breaks w/the worship music to dance.....and lift up praise = a better Mom = a better home and kids! Of course, I forget this great tool and position of heart, and those days/evenings are harder....but I'm sharing so I can keep it in the forefront of my heart/mind.
So grateful for a new perspective, what a great gift on a birthday.
To add to what I'm sharing....I recently read a post by a friend on FB telling us to get over our weather hating selves.....she said it comically but truthfully....if it's hot, quit complaining, go swim, drink ice tea, have fun! If it's cold, get cozy and put on a scarf, something hot and yummy to drink! (I have changed it a bit to my own but the heart of her comment was good). It's weather she said and it's always changes, so get over it! Loved it! We are so fickle and quick to complain.....hey, we are lucky to have A/c or swamp coolers in the summer, others don't have (my Mom always reminded us of the fact that we always have/had a lot) and we have heaters/woodstoves/blankets/family to cuddle with....and there are those who don't! Ooops, not trying to sound like my Mom, but I guess as I'm raising my boys, my heart is surfacing and I'm dealing w/all that is in it. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
To end on a lighter note....we are taking one of these last hot days....(a sudden heat wave of sorts, meaning hot for this cold summer) and going swimming w/Grandma!
Thanks for listening...and I would love to hear how you get perspective on life!
P.S. I'm experimenting w/a picture up loading option, so maybe pictures will appear in the near future...we'll see. As you can see above....I found a way.....the twins at the 2nd birthday party w/cousins eating popsicles! Pretty EXCITING.

My good friends yummy blog

My good friend's yummy and helpful blog

Really, you should check it out. She references a very helpful site and she mentored me in cooking and baking for myself and my oldest when he was off of dairy and gluten! What a help she was.
Enjoy!
P.S. Her pictures make me wish I'd driven a few hours for that meal!

Pictures

I love pictures! Are you wondering where they are on my blog? Me, too. Not, really. It's called Dial up. I need to try uploading a picture every night while I sleep, that will be my new experiment. But well, truthfully my brain does a warp late at night, ok, really late afternoon, and I no longer function fully....it just sort of shuts off and down....until, I must crawl into bed and recharge.
So.....my lame excuse for no pictures. Yes, my kids are as cute as ever (I know, aren't all we parents biased - it's a lovely plan of God's, so we'll love them unconditionally and so we'll get through hard days).
Today (at least in our neck of the woods), it's cooling down. Fall feels like it's on it's way. Did I get enough swimming in, no, not really, but future summers I'm sure will hold swim days, for now 3 boys  by the water is fun and a handful (life jackets a must for us). It's hard to let go of fun summer days that make you feel so young and healthy. Days that make you remember your childhood as you watch your children live theirs. It's like having fun all over again as I take my kids to do some of the same things my parents did with me.
We had so much fun in TX with lots of family and lots of fun and sun. We had an exciting (and transisitional for me alone) move to the country. We've had our ups and downs on potty training (2 out of 3 love it, so were are taking a break on one for now.....). Let's just say I cried a few days, I grew up, and I'm learning to be grateful for little things in life. Our garden is still (really starting to go) full blown on the squash.....yep, that's what's for dinner every night. I save so much not going to the store every week for veggies and fruits this summer. We've been without cable (or DLS) and have survived. Acutally, I think our marriage is better for it. Late summer nights on the patio (once the kids are in bed) w/ a drink and a nice long evening chat. Making new memories....for ourselves as a couple and our kids. Learning what my Mom did for us to live in the country - THANK YOU! Stacked 3 cords of wood already, here comes the woodstove and long cozy days by it with our ABC's and our 123's.
Colby is doing well developmentally, though I do feel at times I need more tools. His passion for music and everything related - rhythm especially is consistent. His love for books and learning is always present.....I feel he'd be happy if I just read all day long to him. I feel a bit bad that he's a people pleaser/perfectionist like his father and I combined. A true oldest....sorry, Son, I guess that's what happens when you put 2 oldests together.
Kyle is the most bold of the bunch, and daring.....jumping, climbing, swinging.....he is sweet, easy (most days)....and a wonderful little man. His eye contact will draw you in.....and his spirit is so sweet!  I believe there is a depth to him from the stress of his birth, something so valuable....He is great. It's funny to say most daring and also most easy going, but he is!
Ryan is my (whiner - somethign we are working on....talking would be way better) people pleasing, Daddy's boy, cheese ball. Daring in most things like Kyle, they are a force together. When my aunt said she sensed "Sons of Thunder", I'd have to agree. It felt true in my Spirit when they were in the womb, and now I get to see it in action! Thankful each day for the amazing individuality and the special bond they have (don't you want to be a twin, too...I do).
All my boys are gifted to 'talk'....not sure if they got that from my side (just kidding....if you know me and my family, boys included, we can talk). And Cuddle.....that is a talent they have to, together or w/ Adam and I. They love to cuddle. Ryan w/his ears tucked in....and Kyle w/one of his special blankies and Colby in the middle of it all.
Well, life is blessed, it can be hard....but thankful it's mine and all who are in it!
How was your summer?