Tatum's AMEN!

When you are constantly wondering if you are doing anything right as a new parent ... moments like this help restore hope! For the last couple of weeks Tatum has been trying to beat us to our "Amen" at the end of our prayers. Yes, she is probably just mimicking a fairly often spoken word in our house, but that's not the point. The point is, that she is watching our actions, and learning from them. Hopefully it will be the Godly actions that she sees the most, and not our fleshly ones.

Like most parents ... I have high hopes for my children ... I want them to be kind, gentle and loving. I would love for them to have a love for music like their parents, to play many instruments, and to sing. I would love for them to be athletic, and competitive but not sore losers. I would love for them to be smart and excel in academics. And I would love for them to be creative, and unique, to have a good sense of humor, and posses tender hearts .... Now none of these things are wicked, or wrong to want for your children, but they are NOT the most important thing ... Raising them to know Jesus is. Raising them to praise the Lord, to thank the Lord, to acknowledge the lord and to KNOW the Lord should be our ultimate goal. Hearing my daughter claim "Amen" after we pray, officially marks my best parenting moment yet. It is the first and only word that she has picked up on her own, and hasn't been "taught" to say ... how awesome!

Valentines day, and my own personal Channing Tatum ....

This Valentines day I went and saw the movie "The Vow" with my husband ....

Before you start judging my movie choices, and rolling your eyes, let me just say a couple of things ... I thought it was great, not just because I adore Rachel McAdams, and think that Channing Tatum is charming and wonderful (not to mention has a fantastic last name), and not just because it was sappy, and chick flicky, and got my female emotions all fluttery. It was definitely more than that. It reminded me of a very similar love between Jeremey and I. A love that can withstand the most obscure of circumstances. No I have never gotten in a car accident and lost my memory before, BUT I do have a man in my life who has never given up on me, even when I have absolutley nothing to give back to him because of my illness. I have a man who has given up his life to love me in my extreme weakenesses, a man who sees past who I once was before I was sick, and embraces and cherishes who I am in my present state. I have seen my husband support me as I lay in hospital beds, push me in wheelchairs, take me on countless long car rides just to get me out of the house, plead on my behalf to doctors, and suffer with me through my sufferings. I have seen him sacrifice his own wants and desires to love me unconditionally. This is a beautiful love story. Some may say Channing Tatum in the "The Vow" represents a man that could never exist. I'll say to that ... First of all, the movie is based after a true story. The man really does exist, and second ... As I was sitting next to Jeremey last night watching the dreamy couple interact, I thought to myself "I have a husband even more wonderful than this because he is Godly and truly Loves the Lord. His Love for me is because of Gods Grace." How completely and utterly, and overwhelmingly blessed am I. (I have my own personal Channing Tatum, or whatever the guys name is who he plays in the movie. Such a dorky thought, I know, but whatever.)

We aren't a fairy tale couple, far from it. We don't live in la la land and soak up our trials with consistantly joyful outlooks. We get in fights, and we bicker, but we love each other with great understanding. Someday maybe we will write our love story and make a movie out of it ;) I would be lying if I said we hadn't thought about it before.

My daughter officially has better balance than me ...

Well, its official. I OFFICIALLY have a child who has better balance than me. Tatum is a "I rather walk more often than crawl" toddler. For most parents this is a tad bit of an overwhelming milestone. Knowing that for the next 17 years you will be chasing this child around, reminiscing about those few short months where they could hardly roll over. For me though ... this new stage means something a bit different. As I continue to battle with chronic vertigo, this new stage for me means that my tiny 13 month old officially has a ONE UP on her mom. On my really sick days, she will be faster, quicker and better balanced than me. For the normal mom, with a stable equalibrium, chasing a toddler around is HARD work ... for sicky over here, I can only imagine what my future days will be like. Last night though, as I was talking to my husband about this, I came to the realization that I had had similar feelings when Tatum first starting rolling over, scooting, crawling and furniture cruising. With each step the Lord has proven to uphold my body. Tatum walking, and my ability to take care of her while chronically ill, is just another way to see the Lord work miracles, and have Him be glorified in my weakness! BRING IT ON TATUM!