... I am so thankful that my parents raised me the way they did. I am thankful for their teachings, though I didn't always agree with them.. I am thankful for the discipline I received from them, though I didn't EVER like it. I never understood a parents love for their children until I had my own.
Some parents abuse their children in ways I can't even fathom... But my parents usually kept their cool with me and held patience to an extent. Some parents don't even say "I love you" everyday to their children... But mine showed me their love through spending time with me, reading to me, going to my after-school activities, and being there to talk to when I needed them.
I only hope I can be as good of a parents to Elle as they were and still are to me. Tonight I taught Elle about how Jesus made different parts of our bodies to do different things. (Eyes to see, hands to feel things, etc...) And she was really listening... And she absorbed it too, because she was copying things I did with my hands and eyes on her own hands and eyes...
I hope that I can be such a parent as mine are... They pour so much love out to me and my brother and sister....
28 June, 2010
ओं अ "नोथिंग" डे.
The above text says "On a 'nothing' day". Not sure why it is in that silly format. This weekend... We did... Nothing. We went to the cabin yesterday.. Layed on the raft all day. Then picked Elle up in Webster... Then today, we went to church and went shopping for a bit. Then some more "nothing". I must say- some days it feels good to do nothing. I don't necessarily feel like my day is wasted... I actually felt like I had a pretty productive weekend!
I think sometimes we, as americans, get so ahead of ourselves, with such a long "to-do" list of stuff that "needs" to get done, that we don't take time to stop and smell the roses...
Well, this weekend, I literally got to stop and smell those roses... :) (Wild ones) I enjoyed this weekend so much...
And I thank God so much that He gave me this weekend.. To just sit back and enjoy His magnificance.. Not stressing out about the next thing on my list, not worrying about whether or not I needed to complete this project or that project... But just sitting there... In awe of Him. I got to spend a great weekend with a great person...
I think sometimes we, as americans, get so ahead of ourselves, with such a long "to-do" list of stuff that "needs" to get done, that we don't take time to stop and smell the roses...
Well, this weekend, I literally got to stop and smell those roses... :) (Wild ones) I enjoyed this weekend so much...
And I thank God so much that He gave me this weekend.. To just sit back and enjoy His magnificance.. Not stressing out about the next thing on my list, not worrying about whether or not I needed to complete this project or that project... But just sitting there... In awe of Him. I got to spend a great weekend with a great person...
26 June, 2010
VOICE
We were at a movie tonight and after the previews and before the actual movie, there is this bit on how we all need to be quiet during the movie.. (I.E. No babys screaming, no talking, no cell phones, etc...) And after the little skit, three words raced across the jumbo screen. "SILENCE IS GOLDEN." Normally I would agree with that. It is important to have silence sometimes... Whether it be for daily devotion with the One who created us, whether it be to just think, whether it be to just sleep.... But on this particular night, those three words went against every grain in my body. I shook furiously, right there in my seat... And I didn't understand why. Until now.
I have been dealing with some forms of temptation for a while now, and have been just kind of avoiding it recently. But I am digging my heels in. Whether or not I screw up, I won't know until I either fail, or succeed... But I am shouting at the top of my lungs, "I WILL NOT BE SILENT ANYMORE! I AM STANDING UP FOR MYSELF RIGHT NOW IN THIS VERY PLACE! I AM SICK OF BEING TEMPTED AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD WILL NOT LET US BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO HANDLE, SO STOP TEMPTING ME, SATAN, AND STOP TRYING TO MAKE ME GO ASTRAY! I OWE IT TO GOD TO RESPECT THE BODY HE MADE FOR ME, AND I WILL PROTECT IT UNTIL THE DAY I AM MARRIED! SO CEASE YOUR ADVANCES!"
America wants us as christians to be silent. It wants to drown God out of the picture. Although it is easy to do, it is the wrong thing to do. We, as christians, need to stand up for God and need to be His disciples. We are called to a higer standard than society. We are called to His standards. Whether that be in the form or resistance to temptation, or in the form of sharing our faith with others, we should not be silent! We need to let our voices be heard among the others. We need to set strong examples of what a christian life is supposed to look like. Sure, it will not be perfect. No life ever has been except one. We will screw up. But as christians, we need to make it known to other people that our lives are different. When we screw up, we need to admit it and be able to say with confidence, "But God has forgiven me!"
I feel so strongly that I need to remain pure until the day I am married now. Looking back, Elle is definitely a gift from God... But I really want to marry the man who was man enough to wait for me... Who stuck by my side through everything OTHER than sex. I want to marry the man who respected my body, and proved to me time and time again, that he is 100% faithful to only me.
That's not too much to ask, is it?
I owe it to Elle. To myself. To my future husband. To GOD.
Silence is definitely not "golden" in this case...
I have been dealing with some forms of temptation for a while now, and have been just kind of avoiding it recently. But I am digging my heels in. Whether or not I screw up, I won't know until I either fail, or succeed... But I am shouting at the top of my lungs, "I WILL NOT BE SILENT ANYMORE! I AM STANDING UP FOR MYSELF RIGHT NOW IN THIS VERY PLACE! I AM SICK OF BEING TEMPTED AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD WILL NOT LET US BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO HANDLE, SO STOP TEMPTING ME, SATAN, AND STOP TRYING TO MAKE ME GO ASTRAY! I OWE IT TO GOD TO RESPECT THE BODY HE MADE FOR ME, AND I WILL PROTECT IT UNTIL THE DAY I AM MARRIED! SO CEASE YOUR ADVANCES!"
America wants us as christians to be silent. It wants to drown God out of the picture. Although it is easy to do, it is the wrong thing to do. We, as christians, need to stand up for God and need to be His disciples. We are called to a higer standard than society. We are called to His standards. Whether that be in the form or resistance to temptation, or in the form of sharing our faith with others, we should not be silent! We need to let our voices be heard among the others. We need to set strong examples of what a christian life is supposed to look like. Sure, it will not be perfect. No life ever has been except one. We will screw up. But as christians, we need to make it known to other people that our lives are different. When we screw up, we need to admit it and be able to say with confidence, "But God has forgiven me!"
I feel so strongly that I need to remain pure until the day I am married now. Looking back, Elle is definitely a gift from God... But I really want to marry the man who was man enough to wait for me... Who stuck by my side through everything OTHER than sex. I want to marry the man who respected my body, and proved to me time and time again, that he is 100% faithful to only me.
That's not too much to ask, is it?
I owe it to Elle. To myself. To my future husband. To GOD.
Silence is definitely not "golden" in this case...
23 June, 2010
Motherhood is...
Easy? NOT ON YOUR LIFE.
Wonderful.
... Exhausting.
exhilarating.
Scary.
Always surprising.
Filled with love and laughs and smiles and tears and cuts and broken toys and broken hearts and moments that only a mother could love.
Nights that never seem to end when your child is sick, but in a week you look back at it and a small smile crosses your face in rememberance of the moments of holding that child in your arms... being their protector in a time of need..
Swinging, playing in the sandbox, losing at hopscotch, drying tears of a little one.
5, no, 6, no, 7 bedtime stories
Being able to be there for your child and loving no matter what. Unjudgementally, unconditionally.
Trusting your instincts. No matter what others say.
Not clutching on to the mistakes you make in parenting and realizing you start fresh tomorrow. And you can put to practice what you've learned.
FALLING IN LOVE EVERY DAY.
Going with the flow... (in lots of ways)
sitting back and admiring once in a while...
teaching your children to love. by example.
Realizing that if cleanliness is next to godliness, a child fresh out of a bathtub is like heaven on earth (Cheryl Karpen)
.taking time for yourself.
but spending ample time with your kids...
being a chauffer, cheerleader, teacher, friend, instigator, encourager,and most importantly, a glass of water from God, through you, to your children. They will drink up your attitudes, your motives, your heart, your thoughts.
Disclaimer:
I'm sure I missed something. But I can't think anymore.
Wonderful.
... Exhausting.
exhilarating.
Scary.
Always surprising.
Filled with love and laughs and smiles and tears and cuts and broken toys and broken hearts and moments that only a mother could love.
Nights that never seem to end when your child is sick, but in a week you look back at it and a small smile crosses your face in rememberance of the moments of holding that child in your arms... being their protector in a time of need..
Swinging, playing in the sandbox, losing at hopscotch, drying tears of a little one.
5, no, 6, no, 7 bedtime stories
Being able to be there for your child and loving no matter what. Unjudgementally, unconditionally.
Trusting your instincts. No matter what others say.
Not clutching on to the mistakes you make in parenting and realizing you start fresh tomorrow. And you can put to practice what you've learned.
FALLING IN LOVE EVERY DAY.
Going with the flow... (in lots of ways)
sitting back and admiring once in a while...
teaching your children to love. by example.
Realizing that if cleanliness is next to godliness, a child fresh out of a bathtub is like heaven on earth (Cheryl Karpen)
.taking time for yourself.
but spending ample time with your kids...
being a chauffer, cheerleader, teacher, friend, instigator, encourager,and most importantly, a glass of water from God, through you, to your children. They will drink up your attitudes, your motives, your heart, your thoughts.
Disclaimer:
I'm sure I missed something. But I can't think anymore.
17 June, 2010
Witch's Hat
This is the most beautiful place I have ever been.
The Witch's Hat Water Tower.
It's a magical place for Elle and myself.
A friend showed this place to me a while ago. It was special then. And it is special now. This is where I rededicated my life to Christ. And meant it.
16 June, 2010
Divine Intervention
God is so good.
I turn from Him and He stays put... Ready for me to come back into His arms. In the middle of sin... In the middle of being the furthest distance away from God that is possible, WILLINGLY sinning, HE just takes my desire away.. That's what I call divine intervention.... When you go from sinning to repenting all in 30 seconds... What a life-changing moment.
Elle reminds me of God's grace and forgivness all the time as well.
When she wraps her little arms around me after I discipline her it gives me reassurance.
She is a strong-willed child, but I know her heart.. And I know she desires deep down to obey...
I have been so blessed and God just keeps blessing me.. I really don't understand why He does it, but He does... :-)
I turn from Him and He stays put... Ready for me to come back into His arms. In the middle of sin... In the middle of being the furthest distance away from God that is possible, WILLINGLY sinning, HE just takes my desire away.. That's what I call divine intervention.... When you go from sinning to repenting all in 30 seconds... What a life-changing moment.
Elle reminds me of God's grace and forgivness all the time as well.
When she wraps her little arms around me after I discipline her it gives me reassurance.
She is a strong-willed child, but I know her heart.. And I know she desires deep down to obey...
I have been so blessed and God just keeps blessing me.. I really don't understand why He does it, but He does... :-)
03 June, 2010
E.L.L.E.
So many things have happened since I have last written..
So many experiences, so many new laughs... So many new thoughts...
But the most important thing that I have learned is to appreciate my child...
Elle Anne Hultberg.
Elle.
Little Elle.
Munchkin.
Elsworth.
RASCAL.
Shorty.
PipSqueek.
El..
Honey.
El Bell.
Age 2.5 Years.
Born October 27, 2007.
Changed my life forever.
In the past, ohh I would say Month, Elle and I have gotten this special bond... This mother-daughter friendship.... kind of
I still discipline her and am her authority figure, but I just really LOOK FORWARD to spending a lot of time with her... Even if it is just to be in the same room with her, or holding Pebbles and Bam-Bam (Our new bunnies from the Ellis's!!) or if it is just making her lunch.. I feel so honored that God would bless me with such a wonderful child.. I desire to spend as much time as possible with her... And I will be honest- it hasn't always been that way! I have recently realized just how special and fragile her life is... AND I have decided to soak up every minute of it I can.
She is so wonderful..
Lovely...
Beautiful...
Crazy....
Intelligent.....
Funny....
Real...
Smiley...
Smart....
Fun...
Zany...
Random...
Genuine...
Outgoing...
The list goes on and on and on and on and on.......................
So many experiences, so many new laughs... So many new thoughts...
But the most important thing that I have learned is to appreciate my child...
Elle Anne Hultberg.
Elle.
Little Elle.
Munchkin.
Elsworth.
RASCAL.
Shorty.
PipSqueek.
El..
Honey.
El Bell.
Age 2.5 Years.
Born October 27, 2007.
Changed my life forever.
In the past, ohh I would say Month, Elle and I have gotten this special bond... This mother-daughter friendship.... kind of
I still discipline her and am her authority figure, but I just really LOOK FORWARD to spending a lot of time with her... Even if it is just to be in the same room with her, or holding Pebbles and Bam-Bam (Our new bunnies from the Ellis's!!) or if it is just making her lunch.. I feel so honored that God would bless me with such a wonderful child.. I desire to spend as much time as possible with her... And I will be honest- it hasn't always been that way! I have recently realized just how special and fragile her life is... AND I have decided to soak up every minute of it I can.
She is so wonderful..
Lovely...
Beautiful...
Crazy....
Intelligent.....
Funny....
Real...
Smiley...
Smart....
Fun...
Zany...
Random...
Genuine...
Outgoing...
The list goes on and on and on and on and on.......................
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