Weekend at Gigi & PopPa's

We had a fantastic weekend at my parent's house.  They live in Dallas, which is about 4 hours from where we live.  It's not a bad drive.  Jaxson does really well in the car with Bandit...his little mascot.

We went out to dinner on Friday night to celebrate my Mom's and Hubby's birthdays.  We've been going to The Grotto in Highland Village for 15 years now, and it's a family favorite.  The food is incredible, and Chef Morris is such a kind man.  We gave Daddy cooking lessons there for a birthday gift a few years ago.  It was recently on the Hungry Investors show...you know, the one with Jon Taffer, the guy from Bar Rescue?  Well, we really wanted to see how much it changed...and it really didn't that much!  Just a few things, like the square plates, the potatoes, and they did change the decor.  Anyway, we had an amazing time and Jaxson was a perfect angel.  He even went potty twice!

We spent the ENTIRE.NEXT.DAY in the swimming pool.  Jaxson loved it!

My Daddy got him this floatie, and it was perfect for him!  It gave him so much more freedom than the life jacket.  I think because he could keep upright and not keep leaning forwards or backwards.

It was in the 80s in Dallas.  We had to heat the pool!

Just look at that happy little face!

He played duck duck goose all around the spa with Daddy...over and over again!

Even Bandit got worn out from all the swimming!

"Please don't make me take a nap Momma!"

We all played Chicken Foot that night.  It's my favorite game night game EVER!  I lost...but I beat hubby!  Our games always get a bit spirited (and it's usually my fault).

The weather was so nice that we had breakfast on the patio!

Complete with rescue bots and bacon :)

How was your weekend?

Balance

I just had lunch with a coworker of mine and we were talking about balance.  We come from different perspectives and circumstances when it comes to balance...but it was interesting to both of us that we both essentially have the same basic struggles.  He's a Dad with two little girls under 5, with a wife that has a very successful business that she runs from home.  I'm a working mom with a 3 year little boy and a husband that works full time in a sales capacity as well.  But, we still struggle with pretty much the same things.

He was telling me that I should write a book about working moms and how to balance everything.  As I recovered from choking on my water...I let him know that I had pretty much nothing figured out and that my pie of balance was a in a sad sad state.  While it was a lovely compliment that he thought I had it all figured out...it got me thinking...how do I decide where I spend my focus?

Do you struggle with balance?  If you don't...how?  How do you manage it?

Here's the thing.  We all wear so many hats.  And, we want to excel in each hat that we wear.  Here are my hats...

Mom

This is probably my favorite hat EVER!  I love being a mom.  Jaxson has stolen my heart and I can't remember why much of anything was important before he came into my life.  The other mom's out there likely know exactly what I mean....I just don't know how to put it into words.  It is so important to me that we raise him with a kind heart that seeks out others and is filled with God's plan for him.  There's no failing allowed at this role!

Wife

I love being married and I love my hubby, but being a wife comes with a TON of responsibility.  He does more than most husbands that I know do, and I am so grateful for that.  But, there are also expectations that we carry in our marriage that I need to uphold.  I am his ultimate support system and cheerleader.  That's a really important hat to wear (or pom pom to carry!), especially when my job is just as difficult and I need that cheering too.  Sometimes it hard to give it all, especially during a bad month or sales cycle.  I'm also in charge or the general upkeep of our home, all the shopping, the food supply, and the finances.  Not to mention, he's my best friend.  It's critical that I nuture our relationship and friendship and make it a priority.  

Account Executive

At work, I'm in a high pressure sales job that I love, but that requires a ton of my time and thought.  But I love it (97% of the time if I'm honest).  It's not a 9-5 go through your daily task list and go home kind of job.  It's a creative, exciting, rewarding, purely performance based career.  If you're good at it, and you produce results, you get to stay and continue performing.  If you don't...well, you get a little time to answer for it, and then you don't get to continue any longer.  It's difficult to explain to someone that isn't in a sales / account executive role.

Daughter of Christ

Gosh, this is likely the most important one on this list!  As I've started to devote more time to my walk with Jesus, other things have suffered.  Quiet time means reading in bed at night, or getting up earlier in the morning which means hubby is woken up early.  Or, spending the time I normally would with him in the evenings having my time.  It's a difficult balance.  But, I can't operate fully and successfully without it.  And, I'm a firm believer that God will create the time that I need to spend with him and everyone else as I continue to be faithful in my commitments to him.  I am aching to know what his plan and his purpose are for me.  I see other people doing amazing things in other countries, in our church and in our neighborhood, and I can't help but feel like I'm wasting the opportunities he's given me.  So, I'm learning to spend more time with him and faithfully asking for his plan to unfold.

Me

This is the selfish part that we probably aren't supposed to talk about, but this is what started the entire conversation at lunch today.  We were talking about me trying to read the entire bible and how long it has taken me.  And, that taking time to do things like that can feel very selfish.  Just like missing my last two hair appointments or working out 5 times in the past 3 years.  I love being fit and healthy...but I can't justify taking time from any of the above roles to selfishly do that for myself.  Blogging is the same thing.  I've loved it for the past 6 years, and the past two I've really let it fall off of the radar.  Why?  It's not a priority.  Spending time with my precious friends is the same thing.  It's hard to take time from all of the other areas of my life and allocate it to fun on a regular basis.

I know that I'm not alone in this.  Many of you have got to be facing the same "hat parade" that I am.  I am eternally grateful that God has blessed me with so many hats to wear.  I feel beyond blessed...but I want to make sure that I am making the most of and focusing on the right things.  How do you find balance and peace?  How do you know that you are doing the right things?  I'm so curious to hear the experiences of other women.  Thank you for sharing!!

Jaxson's First T-Ball Game!

My baby boy had his first T-Ball game today!

Why is he so big?

Would you judge me if I told you I cried a little when he was at bat for the first time?

It was a great morning.  It was hot...like Houston-First-Day-Of-Summer-Hot.  And these little boys are 3 & 4 years old.  There were tantrums.  There were tears.  There were kids not taking turns and kids sitting out full innings to eat snacks...(oops...that was my kid).  But, it was amazing.

And...I am pretty sure that I am going to like...I mean LOVE being a sports Momma.  I fell right into it...and it FELT.GREAT.

I loved cheering for my little man.  I struggled with stepping back and letting to coaches lead (shocking to everyone that knows me...I know, I know)

They were all so cute...just trying to figure out this "team" stuff.  Jaxson got #1...no, I didn't ask for it, it was just the jersey we were handed...and I love it!  I started thinking...oh my gosh...if he plays sports all the way through high school, will he want to stay #1?!  Relax Michelle, relax...

He wears a size XXS baseball pants.  You can buy them at Academy, just in case you were wondering.

Look, we even made a new friend!

Jaxson's Grandparents were so sweet to get up early and come brave the heat to see their Grandson play his first ever T-Ball game.  Here he is going over the post game wrap up with BopPa afterwards.

It's the truth.  I'm really into this sports mom stuff :)

Happy Memorial Day!

We had a wonderful, relaxing Memorial Day, thanks to the Men and Woman that have fought for our freedom.  I often think of the families that support those individuals...their Mommas, Sisters, Daughters, Sons...and I am so thankful for them as well.  I've always known that I could never be a military spouse...I worry too much and I think it would consume me.  I have so much respect for those that support our military here at home.  Thank you all for what you do for our freedom and families.

We celebrated with my parents before they had to go back to Dallas.  And look what we made..

Snow Cones!  Did you have one of these when you were little? I did!  I saw it at Wal Mart last week and couldn't resist buying it for Jaxson.  I felt all those warm and fuzzy childhood memories when I saw it on the shelf.

As you can see...it didn't disappoint!  Jaxson LOVES it!

PopPa and Gigi were all about it too...

I couldn't resist sharing these cute little feet.  Jaxson is in a size 9 shoe now and I've had a hard time finding flip flops past a size 8 with the backs on them.  He is not coordinated enough to walk without the backs on them so I was super excited to find these Nike size 9s complete with backs!

My Daddy was so sweet and patient teaching Jaxson how to use it.  Warms my heart.

Jaxson is 3!!!!

I cannot believe that my baby is now a little boy!  We had a great 3rd birthday party and I wouldn't have changed a thing.  He was such a sweet boy and played really well with all of his friends.  I feel so blessed to be his mommy!

The entry way table.  I made a photo book each year for everyone to sign at the party, but I didn't get it done in time :(.  I felt like such a disorganized Momma this year!  I had people sign a piece of cardstock instead that I can add to his book when it gets here (tomorrow of course!).

The spread.  I made way too much food...there are too many dips and treats left in our house!

We had Rum Punch for the grown ups, and kool aid for the little firefighters.

I also went simple on the cake this year...instead of making it myself I ordered the cupcakes from HEB.  They were really good and very reasonable.

This jump jump was well worth the investment.  The kiddos loved it and wore each other out jumping and jumping.  Daddy enjoyed it too!

My sweet Pappa drove all the way from Port O Connor to come to Jaxson's birthday.  I'm so thankful he was able to make it!

4 Generations of Adams (well, I guess Jaxson and I are Ellis...)

Pappa treating Jaxson to a red cupcake

YUM!!!!!!!!!!!

And of course, he got so many presents that we were still opening them the next morning...

This is one happy 3 year old boy!

Us ready for church the next day

And yes, he is still wearing his fireman hat!

And...I had to share the wreath I made...I was pretty proud of the way it turned out!

Thank you to all of precious family and friends that celebrated with us!  We are so grateful for each of you!

XOXOXO

Don't cry over spilled nail polish...

I started my morning like this...

I know it looks like I murdered an Aggie...but I swear I just dropped a bottle of maroon nail polish in my bathroom.  I wish I had taken a picture of my hands .  It was EVERYWHERE.  

So, as a little gift from me to you...here is the easiest way to clean up spilled nail polish.  I had none of these supplies at home, so I had to go to CVS with wet hair and no makeup.  Because of course this happened right after I got out of the shower!

First, wet a rag that you don't care about with water and wipe up everything you can.  Then, pour a layer of 100% acetone one the surface.  Let it sit for a couple of minutes and start to scrub.  I used my smile scrubbie...the scrub daddy.  I love those things.

Then, make sure to wash all of the acetone off with water and a rag.  You don't want it to eat the finish off of your sink.  Then, I used a magic eraser to get the rest of it off of the wall and the floor.  Then, use 409 to make sure you have all of the harsh cleaners.  After that, I polished the granite and repainted the wall with our touch up paint.  What an ordeal!

Anyways...I threw all of my nail polish away after this event.  I feel like Mommy Dearest...No More NAIL POLISH!

I hope that this never happens to you, but if it does, I hope this helps!

Suffering

As a Christian, have you ever been asked, or even wondered, "If God is so wonderful, and loves everyone so much, why is there so much bad in the world?  Why do people get cancer, or get murdered, or hurt?"

I've been asked this hundreds of times throughout my life, and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't wondered it myself from time to time.  Especially when I read the stories of families with sick children or couples that want nothing more than to have children that can't.  Not to mention horrible natural disasters, cancer and people that hurt other people.  It's heartbreaking more often than it isn't.

Our message in church this morning really spoke to me, and I decided that I needed to share it with you.  It's titled: Liberation and Suffering - II Corinthians 12:7-10

(You can buy this beautiful print here.)

Let's look at the passage before we dive in:

or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions,in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Interesting stuff, right?  How often do we think of suffering as something we delight in?  Suffering is one of God's chosen tools.  Think about Jesus...God made him perfect through suffering here on earth.  Suffering is also necessary.  Take a look at Psalm 34:19...

The righteous person may have many troubles,
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;

So, the bible is telling us to expect hardships, persecutions, difficulties...suffering...but promises that God will deliver us from them.

Take a look at John 16:33...

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I feel like this is the same exact message.  Expect to have trouble, to experience suffering...but have comfort that God will take care of you, because he has overcome anything that we will experience.

Take a look at Acts 14:22...

22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

This verse tells me that I have to experience suffering to grow my faith and become closer to God.

Let's look at Paul, and why he was suffering.  He experienced suffering from others.  After he started this church, teachers came in after him, attacking his character and speaking ill of him.  (I Corinthians 11:22-29).  How many times have you suffered because someone talked badly about you or your family?  Girls can be mean, and I feel confident as I type this that each and every one of you have suffered because of someone's unkind and untrue words.  Paul also suffered in his Role as an Apostle of Jesus.  When he wrote this letter responding to the untrue, ugly things people were saying about him, I found it interesting that he chose to use his experiences of suffering for validation, versus using examples of things he had done.  Here's what I took from this that was SO valuable for me: God takes the worst things that can happen and turns them into the best.

How amazing is that to think about?  Think about the hardest times in your life...did you become closer to God?  Did you bring someone else to God through your struggles?  Did you grow in your faith and your trust to God?  I know that in each situation of suffering that I can think of in my life, I've come out on the other end better, stronger, and more faithful than I could have ever imagined.  Not that I could see that while I was in the middle of it, but now, looking back, it makes sense.

So, now I've learned that suffering does have a purpose.  God uses suffering to help us to grow in faith and to become closer to him.  He uses it to prepare us for his kingdom and to strengthen our relationship with him.  But, why do these bad things happen?  Does God do these bad things?  Does he give people cancer?  I'm sure that there are 100 different opinions about this and 100 different answers to this question.  But I believe this:  God does not say, "Sally, I'm giving your child cancer so you can be closer to me".  I believe that God can permit the enemy (satan) to attack us to build us up.

The other way our passage tells us that we suffer is through the thorn. (II Cor. 12:7)

or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

Let's talk about this Thorn.  What is a thorn?  Think about thorns in a rose bush.  They are sharp, painful, and get stuck in your finger.  Paul asked God to remove it three times, and God did not.  Think of the times you've prayed for your "thorn" to be removed during difficult times.  Was it a sick family member?  A difficult situation at work?  A rough patch in your marriage?  An impossible financial time?  Sometimes God doesn't take these things away.  These thorns stay, and we have to give them to God and trust him to navigate us through them.  

Where do these thorns come from?  Paul says they come from satan, as an attack.  But why does God allow him to attack us?  Well, we learn more from pain than pleasure, for sure.  When things are good, it's easy to float around and be thankful...but it's when things are difficult and painful that we are required to search our souls and depend wholly on God.  Paul tells us that God allows these thorns to keep you from being conceited.  To keep us grounded and focused on him...not on being proud that we make more money, or have more, or behave better than others.  To keep us meek and humble.  

What is God trying to tell us? (II Cor. 12:8-10)

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God tells us that His GRACE is sufficient.  For MY power is made perfect in WEAKNESS.  WOW.

How do we respond to this?  We TRUST and DELIGHT in Christ in spite of our circumstances.  We trust him.  We remember that he loves us so much that he died for us, doing for us what we couldn't do for ourselves.  How amazing is that?  Paul decided to delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  He said, for when I am weak, then I am strong.  Isn't that food for thought?  I'm going to have to marinade on this all week.  You know how sometimes you hear a sermon that makes so much sense that you know it will change your daily life?  Today was one of those for me.  I hope that this one helps you during times of suffering and hardship.  And, I'll leave you with this:

10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

What are your thoughts on this?  How do you view the suffering in your life?  I'd love to hear.

If you are interested in viewing this sermon from our pastor, you can visit the podcast here.  I should be up tomorrow.