Day 12 ~ Time for Tea

Today was a great day for a tea party!

My daughter and I read Fancy Nancy Tea Parties a few months ago and she decided then that she wanted a tea party for her birthday party this year. We had so much fun planning it out and she helped me make most of the food.

One of my favorite things to make with her is tea cakes. It reminds me of all the times I helped my grandmother make them…sweet memories. The first time I made them myself I had to find a recipe – thank goodness for Pinterest. 🙂 Here is the one I found and they taste just like my grandmother’s…http://www.deepsouthdish.com/2012/08/old-fashioned-southern-tea-cakes.html.

She wanted chocolate cupcakes with pink icing. I found a recipe and the title of the blog was “Best Chocolate Cupcakes Ever!” ~ I wasn’t convinced by looking at the ingredients but decided to try it. Okay…now I agree…they are the best chocolate cupcakes ever! I’ve got to share this recipe too…http://beinghappi.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/51/.

Ready…just waiting on friends to arrive…

My daughter is our little artist so of course we did crafts at the party. We had the girls decorate their own placemats, we decorated journals, and we made washer necklaces. All the girls were so excited to be able to take these home.

I have to admit that I enjoyed this party as much as she did. I loved planning it, serving them, and listening to them talk and giggle. It warms this mommy’s heart to see her girl and her friends so happy and having fun.

Living with Purpose…I certainly did that today!

Blessings to You!
Melissa

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Girl Time

I am an early riser…I am usually up by 6:30 or 7:00 even when I don’t have to go to work. I love my quiet time…a time to read my Bible, study, and get ready for the day.

This morning didn’t work out as I had planned. As soon as I got up and got in my chair I heard footsteps. My sweet, little girl got up early too and wanted to snuggle. She asked if I had to go to work, when I told her “no” she said she wanted to spend morning, all day, and night with me. That made this mom’s heart feel like it would bust!

We curled up and snuggled for a long time and talked about how we would still snuggle when she gets older, even when she is an adult. I don’t know if that will really happen but I can hope. She is such a blessing! She will tell you that God knew I needed a little girl and she is right.

After we snuggled, she put on her dance clothes and put on a recital for me. I love to see her dance! I also love her self-confidence and her love for our Lord. I have to admit I do worry about her as she gets older. I pray that she will continue to grow closer to God and that she won’t let this world change who He made her to be.

I love the time we got to spend together at the beach last week too. I enjoyed getting up and walking on the beach with her. We got to see God’s beautiful creations while having some girl time. My focus at first was to get out and get some exercise, but it quickly became about having fun and enjoying our time together. I did tell her to try not to get her dress wet, but she told me that was part of the fun. What a reminder to me…stop fussing and just have fun!

Well she decided to watch one of her movies so I eventually got to have my quiet time this morning, but I am so thankful for the different start to my morning. I am so blessed!

How did you start your day? Was it busy or did you get your quiet time?

Hope you have a wonderful day!
Blessings to You,
Melissa

Being a Mom…

Being a Mom is hard but it is also the most amazing and rewarding job God could have given me!

I had no idea what to expect when they laid that sweet, baby boy in my arms 13 years ago. He was so small and fragile. I thought my heart would bust with all the love I felt for him. I became a Mom that day.

As I look back over the years, I mostly focus on the good stuff. His first birthday…starting school…playing baseball…all the hugs and kisses. I try to forget things like that one year in pre-school he lost all of his ice cream scoops almost every day – not a good thing.

When I look at this teenager now, I see a boy growing and changing and on his way to becoming a man. I just want to stop time. I know that in 5 short years my baby boy will be going off to college. Since I can’t stop time I will do what I can…enjoy all the moments I have with him and pray a lot!

God has also blessed me with two more children, another boy and a girl. My daughter tells me that God knew I needed a little girl and she is right. She adds so much personality to our family and lots of pink! She brightens my day and I cherish our “girl time”.

My middle child has been the hardest to figure out. He is very different from the other two. He is quiet…a thinker…strong-willed. The good thing is that God has used him to teach me patience. I also realized that there wasn’t just one way to raise a child. What I did for my first child did not work for my second.

Parenting is a lot of trial and error and a whole lot of praying. Each child is a new creation with their own look, personality, and gifts. I am still amazed at how different they are even though they came from the same two parents. Only God could be so creative.

God has also used these three blessings to work on me, change me, and make me dependent on Him. I have had to learn to give God control over every part of my life. Believe me I have tried to do things on my own and it just doesn’t work.

Moms have such a big responsibility raising their children. There are days when I am stressed out and just don’t think I can do anything right, but I can find comfort in knowing that my Father and my children still love me and give me grace. I cling to the days that are great. Those are the ones I will remember when I am older.

So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? Ecclesiastes 3:22

Yes, being a Mom is hard but the benefits are priceless!

Blessings to You,
Melissa

 

Heart Full of Joy

There is nothing sweeter to a Mom than hearing that their child has accepted Jesus!

Yesterday was a very special day for us…my daughter asked Jesus into her heart! She has been asking a lot of questions so I figured it would not be long. My boys left church with my Mom so we had some “girl time” on the way to meet them for lunch.

When we got to the restaurant I turned around and her eyes were closed. I asked her if she was tired and she said, “No, I’m praying.” My heart skipped a beat as I waited on her to open her eyes. When she did, she smiled and told me she had asked Jesus to live in her heart. Then she said we needed to go right back to church so she could get baptized. 🙂 We couldn’t do that but I will be signing her up for the New Christians class and scheduling a time for her to be baptized as soon as possible.

During the day I wondered if she really understood what she had done – she is only 6 years old. By the end of the day I had absolutely no doubts. She loves “her Jesus” and wants to live for him.

She was the last…all three of my babies will join me in Heaven one day. I had the privilege of being right there and talking to two of them as they gave their lives to Christ. My oldest was at school and went to his teacher after chapel. I will never forget Mrs. Martin and the influence she had on my child.

My heart is filled with joy because all three of them are saved, but it is only the beginning. My job of teaching them and showing them doesn’t stop now. I want them to have a strong relationship with God now and throughout their lives.

I am very open about my faith and my faults. They see me working on my Bible study and they enjoy theirs. It is such a wonderful feeling when we are all learning and growing with God.

Only God knows what is in their future but I pray that they will seek him and live a life that is pleasing to him. I am so thankful for my three blessings. I also pray that I will be the mother that God wants me to be.

Thanks for letting me share!

Blessings to You,
Melissa