cleansing

Monday I hurried to clean my house before it was time to pick up the boys from daycare.  This consisted of closet straightening, laundry folding, vaccumming, dusting, and even a few lucky windows became free of fingerprints. 

 I looked at my dust cloth in the midst of my dusting and I couldn't help but compare this cleaning binge to the cleaning and purging we sometimes need within our own lives.
Sometimes you just have to wipe away dirt to see the beauty again!  I need to take time to make sure things are in the proper places.  Dust is natural, however, too much can cause probelms and take away the fascination.

 It's so easy to neglect or postpone daily chores.  When we neglect daily chores the pile only gets bigger and then it takes even more energy to complete the task. When I get lazy and choose to put off my chores my house is messy, we trip over things, and feel bogged down by our surroundings.
 Why do I put off till tomorrow what I should do today?  How can I neglect somethings in my life?  Why do I choose to only clean a few windows....I should have done them all!

 If we want a healthy home, we have to care for it and give it proper maintenence, afterall....everything I've chosen to put in my home deserves to feel cared for and sparkly.

CeCe Winans Live In ATL Performs--"I Surrender All"

May I be a wise and strong enough woman to truly, holy, SURRENDER ALL to my Father who delights in me. This world is not for me to understand!

"A small trouble is like a pebble. Hold it too close to your eye and it fills the whole world and puts everything out of focus. Hold it at a proper distance and it can be examined and properly classified. Throw it at your feet and it can be seen in its true setting, just one more tiny bump on the pathway of life." - Celia Luce

peace

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 6-7 
I admit, I'm a worrier and actually always have been and of course this worry has multiplied after becoming a mother.  God's word tells me to give this worry to him. To trust him and he will take over my mind and heart.  This verse is a pillar in my life and I am soooo thankful nothing is too hard for the Lord!

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--PUT IT INTO PRACTICE. And the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:8-9

soaking it in

Just some pictures from our mini trip to the Children's Indianapolis Museum!

Ulitmate Blog Party Newbie!

Welcome!
I'm spreading my wings a bit and participating in the 5 Minutes for Mom Blog Party. I truly have no clue what I'm doing in this "blog-world" and am hoping I can find some lifers to coach me along.
As instructed, some details about me!
I'm a wife, mommy, and teacher trying to make my Lord proud everyday--I consider myself a lifelong learner and hope to instill this in my little men. 

I do a lot of things I said I would never do as a mom and I'm finally beginning to be at peace with that!  My house is not always clean. I allow my kids to sleep in my bed.  My kids often go too long without haircuts.  Laundry can often me found stacked on my dining room table.  And for the big one......I allow my boys to watch Spongebob!  Like I said....I'm beginning to be at peace with all that.

My blog is entitled Another Joyful Day because I'm a happy person trying to grow a joyous home where all dwellers will find their special place.

May we never miss a moment to find simple joy--so go ahead and join me with a smile~

-Kendra

still a baby?

babies...
God's miraculous gift to this world.  My youngest sister and her husband have recently blessed our family with a bright-eyed, wide grinned, perfect baby boy.  He's perfectly handsome and just right-- what a joy it is to watch my sister shine in motherhood. (she musta learned from her sisters)

 Before I became a momma I had the priviledge to scope out a lot of other momma's skills. My middle sister.....friends....even strangers.  

 How they loved their babes, I could only guess.  How they worked and raised a family, I had no clue the mystery.  How they held it together...I assumed was not that big of ordeal.  Come on now after all...I grew up with two younger sisters...I babysat through highschool.....went  away as a nanny...not once but three times. I was an aunt to my middle sisters glowing little girls. On top of all that-- I instructed and managed classrooms of other peoples' babies.  I could do this!

Today, my youngest sister, so yearning to keep her little man a small bundle,  asked, "Do you ever wish Carrson was still a baby?"  I quickly replied-- "No, It's so nice to hear my baby now tell me I look pretty even with huge, velcro rollers in my hair!"

Spiraling thoughts then whirled in my mind.  Bittersweet this mothering thing is--I do somewhat wish I could still secure them so tightly on my chest in the Baby Bjorn for there I was their feet they didn't fall and get bruises--I could turn their perfect faces toward me to shield them from imperfections of this world.  I could decide the what's and the how's.

  Hind sight is always perfection.  Maybe I  would try not to be so uptight and anxious about so many trivial issues...but as these boys grow I love them more and more.  We're bonded now in a snug way that's different from the baby bonds that occured in the Baby Bjorn. I could never prepare myself for this connection....ever.

 So, to my sister Amanda who I'm so glad asked me the question.....No (sigh) (breathe) I can say I'm glad my boys are growing into their own.  Afterall, they both know they will ALWAYS be my babies.

where is home?

An inspiring blogger that I follow enticed her readers to think about where home is in your house.  What is the lively room that brings giggles, joy, and maybe even hints of disaster to your home? 

Where is the life of my home......?

Well, for our house, it would have to be mommy and daddy's bedroom.  I have been begging and pleading with myself and Ryan too to make this a pretty place. 

  In this room, hang no curtains.

  This room has an old coat of blah paint accented with lil boys' fingerprints and my least favorite old, plain woodtrim.  In this room, the carpet is stained with popsickle juice but you'd never even know that due to the heap of laundry that blankets the area!  The bed is never made, baskets of laundry gather here-some dresser drawers are closed (my husband's) and most are open with clothes hanging out or even our cat nestled down within.  It's a sight to behold, TRUST ME!

I have been begging myself and Ryan too to make this a pretty place.

As I step back and look again at this room; IT IS A PRETTY PLACE it's more than pretty--I was awakened here....I can't believe I just said that!  As I sit here typing,  tears are flowing down my cheeks in shame--I've been looking at this all too wrong. 

This room is the room that fastens my family together.  This bedroom is our nest.  I can remember this place before our children....I  remember crawling on the then, so tidy floor, thinking I was going into labor but not so sure as Ryan counted the minutes between my contractions.  I can remember bringing home our firstborn son to this room --it was my safety place to go to nurse him.  I  remember crying tears of joy and worry when I brought my secondborn into this room 14 months later not so sure how I was gonna pull this mommy of  two thing off. 
Yes, it may not be photographed anytime soon for master bedroom of the year, but we craft memories here. We experience disagreements, agreements, and daily routine here. Our almost four year old tiptoes here most nights at 2 am because he loves it so much.  Whether we are all four cuddled under the covers watching Spongebob pleading for more room and shouting for more covers or whether we're eating breakfast in bed waiting for mommy or daddy to get the next family member dressed, this is the eye of our home.  Sick kids are whisked off to bed here, diapers are changed here, mommies makeup and hairbands can be found in every crevice and cranny and let me add my wedding ring was even lost in this room for TWO LONG WEEKS.

Most mornings we rush like a whirlwind in and out of this dwelling without any regard to what the day will hold.  Today, and from here on, may I look at this room as a family masterpiece painted by young artists waiting to fill every nook of the canvas.  Celebrate!

he did it for US.....Easter

Oh what a joyful day!

This was the first year the boys truly were able to experience the happiness of Easter.  The festivities began with an impromptu egg hunt produced by our friend Dan...he came over and nested the eggs in our yard.  The boys had a ball and couldn't get to the eggs fast enough.  They were just glowing! Gotta just love that the so called Easter baskets they're gathering with--Carrson's was actually his trick-treating bag--  They didn't care.  They just ran and searched like wild boys.

Part two of our Easter began with church and then celebrating with Ryan's side of the family. 

I must say I'm quite proud listening to Carrson talk about what Easter means.  He doesn't miss a beat when tellling his version of the meaning of Easter.

Something like this:  "Mom, Jesus died for us.  The bad people were killing Jesus and they put him on the what's that called again mom?  Cross.  Then he was in a tomb for 3 months, I mean 3 days.  The ground shook and the stone like a boulder rolled away and JESUS IS ALVE!"

Yes, Jesus is alive!

Although it's refreshing to watch your lil guys chasing after eggs and asking where the bunny is; I'm ever grateful for this day too. 

What an amazing God I serve that washes us white as snow.  We are no longer chained to sin; by his grace we are free......Oh how he loves US!