snippets

(I wake to the slamming of a hockey stick...)
Luke: I was playing hockey in the basement and ya know what mom? I started getting tired but I wouldn't quit, I persevered! It was hard work but I kept going. Do you know that hockey is exercise mom? You use your legs like this and your arms to slam the pick like this. I'm going back down to practice more hockey.
#hetalksamileaminuteinthemorning #obsessedwithhockey #everydayhewakesandcomesoutofhisroominhisgearskatingonthelaminate. Lol
Taylor: (woke up from slamming in the basement) is Luke playing hockey again?
Me: Yup.

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(Luke often talks about not worshipping idols, he's passionate about it and the other day I was explaining to them that an idol is ANYTHING that you love more than God and that we have to be careful not to love anything or anyone more than God)
Luke: Mama, its not good to worship idols is it? If I were to get you a real robin bird (he thinks I like them based on the fact that red is my fav color and they are named robin lol) then you'd have to be careful not to worship it.
Me: right.
Luke: Ya know I love God even more than hockey? And I LOVE hockey so I love God a crazy lot. I love God more than anything. Even the things I love a lot like my red wings shirt.

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Olivia is raising her hands and doing motions along with the kids for one of their memory verses. "The earth is the Lords, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1"

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Olivia's vocabulary is increasing. Dada, mama, hi, buh bye, baby, nigh night, book, ut oh, awe, and she's signing "more"... She was saying gook for Luke but can't get her to do it anymore.

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I was so excited to have the lawn mowed for the first time this year. :) Taylor however literally cried because of them mowing her weeds that she thinks are so beautiful.

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Luke: Mama, if the Hershey Bears win, do they get Hershey Kisses? (Best case scenario for Luke, hockey and chocolate)

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Well if we want the kids to eat well, I guess we should have tbone steaks, homemade French fries and corn more often.

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We're all praying and Olivia just repeated Amen several times. :)

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Wish it didn't seem to go so fast. I will say though...it's been awesome to be a momma to them for 5 years. So thankful for them and who they are becoming. What a blessing they have been.

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I told Luke I'm no longer playing goalie without pads. He responds in a very serious tone. Mom, God has not given you a spirit of fear. But of power, love and self discipline. You don't have to be afraid of getting hit. (Yes, yes I do) lol

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Luke (on his birthday morning, runs and looks in the mirror) Mom! I still look 4, I don't even look 5!!!! (He was seriously frustrated, i told him he has a whole year to grow to look 5) lol
Taylor asked daddy first thing, do I look taller today? (He said yeah!)

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Last night I played hockey with just Luke as Taylor and Olivia worked on a puzzle and we seriously could not stop laughing. It was so much fun. I don't know why but when he gets super intense and is fighting me for the ball, it cracks me up and when I start laughing, he starts and we giggle the whole time. At one point he said, mama, why do we laugh do much playing hockey and you're silly mama. I don't know but I love it. One on one time is always so precious.

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Nick and I were reflecting on this past year last night and thinking about what all God has done. In some ways it's been the hardest year yet and at the same time the blessings have been overwhelmingly worth it. In this past year... We've built a house and moved, had our third child, Nick took a different full time job, started a second job as our children's pastor, I started leading intentional moms ministry, and we started a weekly life group with 7 families, and I started homeschooling Luke and Taylor. All pretty big life changing things, Gods been so good to us through it all. Blessed.

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Me: Luke, can you stop playing hockey and be quiet for awhile? I have a headache this morning.

Luke: Well, why didn't you ask me to pray for it? Can I pray for it mama? Dear God, please heal mamas headache in the name of Jesus, Amen. And please do it quickly so I can play hockey. Amen.

Taylor: Please heal mamas headache in the name of Jesus for our party and for my ballet when I'm a lamb! Amen!

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Thinking on this this morning...Grace through faith, anything we add to faith is no longer grace and contradicts Ephesians 2:8-9. Faith that Jesus died for all sin now and forever, he paid the price in full. His blood was enough for all sin in the past, present and future. Let that motivate us to live lives pleasing to him instead of lives filled with fear, guilt and condemnation. Those who believe in what Jesus offered us on the cross are FREE!

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8, 9 NIV)

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Luke and Taylor were arguing over where to sit for school and Luke insisted Taylor was sitting in his chair to irritate him.
Me: Is your name on that chair?
Luke: (laughs) No, but Gods name isn't on it either and it's really his chair. #God owns it all #stinkerpot

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Luke: If I was gonna make you a bracelet, it would have flowers and ballerinas and princesses in it.
Taylor: I love ballet more than anything!
Luke: Taylor, that is not good, then ballet is an idol. You should love God more.
Taylor: I do not worship idols Luke.
Luke: Sounds like you do. Cuz you said more than ANYTHING!
Taylor: I didn't mean more than God.
Luke: Well that's what you said.

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Taylor: I think today is beautiful out because its Mothers Day and God wanted to make it pretty for mommas. :)

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First thing this morning Olivia gave me a card before I was even out of bed. Well, nick handed her a card and she got really excited to hold it, and when I say "thank you" she hands me what she's holding... So I said, thank you and tada, she gave me her first card ever. ;) ♥

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(Kids playing with Olivia while i make a bottle) Taylor: We're pretending Olivia got hit by a car.
Me: Well that doesn't sound very nice.
Luke: Mama but were praying for her on the way to the hospital.
Taylor: Yeah, and were taking her to the hospital so Jesus can use the doctors to heal her.
Luke: And I already put the guy in jail who hit her.
Taylor: Yeah and we will pray he will know Jesus and change his attitude.
Luke: Okay now we're at the hospital, Olivia time for a shot.

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Taylor: I saw a bunch of Althouses yesterday when I was on stage. Mark and Jean were up w Adin and then I saw Sue and Katie...they were everywhere! Susan Hendrickson Althouse

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God is in the room.
BE AWARE OF HIS PRESENCE
What would you do differently if God was right there observing your house for the day? He is, every moment. He sees it all. God, help us be aware of your presence like never before so we don’t forget you are right there in our presence.

In almost every complaint lies the foundation of thanksgiving.
BE THANKFUL.
Argh, those loads of laundry, this mess, and the weather is cold. The laundry and mess mean there is someone you love around you to make things dirty and you wouldn’t care about the weather unless you were well enough to go outside to enjoy it. If God took away the burden, he’d also have to take away the blessing. God, help us to be
thankful and be aware of the blessing behind the burden.

God chose YOU to be your kids mom.
ASK GOD FOR HELP.
God chose YOU knowing all your flaws, knowing every mistake you’d ever make. He still trusted you to raise HIS precious child. God knew what you needed and what your child needed when he put you together. Instead of comparing yourself to the other mom who you think could raise your kids better, remember God chose you. Ask him to help you grow and mature as you approach each day and trust that he will answer your prayer as you seek him with your whole heart.

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Luke is eating cucumbers identifying the different moon phases as he eats it lol

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Happy Birthday! I was so hoping to see you guys tomorrow but Olivia's sick. :( I hope we can all hang out again.

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Our casual compliance with sin is often as much a forgetfulness of God as it is rebellion against God. -Sacred Parenting (about being aware of Gods presence, God is in the room)

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Luke: Mama, wouldn't it be cool if we could invite Wayne Gretzky over to play hockey. We could go pick him up at his house and bring him here.
Taylor: Luke, he doesn't live in our world.
Luke: Yes he does, he didn't go to heaven yet, he's still alive.

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{In the middle of doing school with 2 kids and a sick baby who wanted held, nick calls to say he locked his keys in his car. I know he felt bad asking me to run him the key but it actually completely brightened my day because I couldn't stop laughing at Luke and Taylor's reaction.}
Me: Daddy said he locked his keys in his car so we gotta go help him.
Taylor: Let's GO Luke!!! We have to go save our Daddy, hurry get your shoes on!!!!!
Luke: We will come save you Daddy! {running like maniacs and getting ready to leave the house faster than ever, we all get in the car to go as they are still pumped up to save Daddy...}
Taylor: How are we gonna get Daddy out?
Me: He locked himself out of the car not in.
Luke: Well where's he at?
Me: Rutter's.
Luke: Like the gas red and yellow Rutter's?
Taylor: We better get him fast, he's in danger.
Luke: Mama, we gotta get there fast but don't go over the speed limit cause we don't wanna get pulled over. Just go the speed limit, okay Mom?
Me: Yes Luke!
Taylor: It's okay, if you get pulled over, we'll just tell them we gotta go fast cause we need to save our Daddy!!!!
{give Daddy key, kids acting like heros...}
Taylor: He sure is lucky to have us, huh?
Luke: Seriously, what would he do?
Taylor: He'd be stuck at Rutter's forever!

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Cracks me up when I tell Olivia "no", she looks at me and asks the question, "no?" Or when she hands me a book, "book"? I adore how she says "Aweeeee" all high pitched when she sees something in a book or when she hugs me, a baby or stuffed animal. Or when she says, "Whewwwwwwwww with a big grin when she stands up...love this age, she's learning so much.

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{kids are playing hide and seek and Taylor can't find Luke so...}
Taylor: Luke, you're hiding some where that's not safe, you better come out...

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{Luke walks in first thing this morning completely naked with a very concerned look on his face}
Luke: Mom, I can't even find all my hockey balls and pucks.
{I smirk} Mom, it's not even funny, I'm serious.
Me: I think they are in the garage. You should probably find your clothes first.
Luke: It's not funny mom, what if they are lost? {walks away on a mission} {that was really hard to take seriously} :)

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Taylor: Mama, you're a really good mommy.
Me: I try to be a good mommy. I'm not always but I try.
Taylor: Well I think you're the best. You're the best mommy I've ever had!

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Realized while doing laundry that Taylor's been wearing tights that are Olivia's size. Lol

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Luke: Isn't it cool that the first letter if my name looks like a hockey stick? (He's now writing his name on his schoolwork with a hockey stick L)

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Luke and Taylor had their yearly checkup. Taylor's still not even close to being on the chart for height or weight...but she's growing steady! stinker made a little scene about having to get a shot. Luke was brave and all proud of himself being 30secs older and going first. Haha love my goofballs.

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Olivia Loves avocado!