Characteristics of a Godly Mother

So I hacked in again to tell you how amazing Tarah is as a mother...

These are Characteristics that I have seen in Tarah since we have had kids.

1. She is patient when a two year old goes potty in her pants for the 5th time today even though she is potty trained.

2. She is kind when I walk in the house and everything is crazy and I want to share something that I have been thinking about all day and she is kind enough to listen.

3. She sees long term, Tarah doesn't allow the temporary frustrations to change her course because she has long term purposes with our children.

4. She perseveres, Tarah perseveres with the intentional characteristics we are instilling in our children even when it would be justified to give up.

5. She is gentle, Tarah is so gentle in the what she does with our kids and speaking gently with them and not getting frustrated when frustration is due.

6. She is hungry for God, I have never met someone who wants the things of God like Tarah does. She seeks Him and longs to be led by Him. She truly is a woman who is after the heart of God.

7. She is fun, I love watching her with our kids, run around, laugh, sing, dance, color, paint, and experience the joy of God.

8. She is protective, Tarah does a great job of making sure she listens to the Holy Spirit when it comes to who watches our kids, where our kids go, and what they do. I saw this in my mom who would stop us from going places, wake up in the middle of the night and call us or wait for us to get home and then ask us what happened at 10:43 and 30 sec. I admired this so much in my mom and now I have a wife who walks in the same giftings.

9. She is Diligent. The definition of diligent: characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort. There is a steadiness about Tarah that is awe inspiring. Nothing really gets to her or shakes her, she is like an oak tree with her roots going deep.

10. She is worth modeling her life after, I look at my girls now and think if they grow up to be just like Tarah we have succeeded. The character, integrity, hunger for God, love, compassion, perseverance, gentleness, if these get into our children we have done our job. Tarah, thank you for being the best mom and wife a man could ever wish for.

Proverbs 31:10 "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. "

My Baby Girl

My Havey baby is 6 months old!

Half a year gone just like that. I can't believe that a little over 6 months ago I was wondering what it would be like to have another child at home and now I have a hard time remembering life without her.

I feel like you don't know my baby girl very well because I haven't been keeping up with blogging as much as I hope so here are a few things you should know:

• Haven is a very determined baby. She knows what she can do & does it. No questions asked. (So opposite of her big sister!)
  
• She has to have peace & quiet to nurse. Not an easy task....unless you're the first born, which she's not!
• Havey is a little chatter box, talking all the time to me.
  
• Haven is my cuddle bug, just like I prayed for.
• She has a heart of compassion. If someone is crying she is crying too.
• Haven means a place of safety or a sanctuary. My girl first her name to a T, if she doesn't feel safe she aint a happy camper. (FYI: Changing tables in noisy bathrooms that echo are NOT safe.)
• Havey has the best cheeks ever!
• She's a very happy go with the flow kind of girl. We went out with friends late one night & as we were leaving my girlfriend said, "Wow, what a great baby can I order one of those?" It was hours past her bedtime and Hav just chilled in her car seat for 2 hours while we ate & talked.
• My girl has does not cry she screams & screeches and it's ear piercing. Not one of my favorite traits but it's cute when it's an I'm having fun scream.
  
• Is a mama's girl.......this mama doesn't mind one bit!
• Hav is a cat napper. If we're out and about all day she'll do wonderful taking 20 minute cat naps here and there. This is both a blessing & a curse.
  
• Haven already has a best friends in the form of a big sister! My girls can't get enough of each other and it's the sweetest thing ever. I'm understanding more and more why my mom always said that watching us girls together (my sisters & I) blessed her so much (she doesn't have any sisters.) I adore watching my girls be sisters just as my mom adores watching my sisters & I!
• If ya can't tell the girl still has all kinds of nicknames usually it's our favorites are Hav or Havey. Today someone asked Jericho what her baby sisters name was and she told him it was Havey.
• She is a delight in every way shape & form.

Happy Half a Year Havey Baby!

Riding Waves

Sometimes my heart just misses Gideon.

I had just gotten to church, dropped Jericho off in her class, handed the baby to Seth (because he asked for her.....that'll make any mama's heart melt right there!) and started to worship. I don't even know what song we were singing but I immediately got teary eyed (as I am now) I was thanking God for, well, everything.....my husband, our girls, my church, the fact that I can worship God freely, for where we were at and where we've been, I just felt so thankful yet.....I was sad.

I knew that I was missing Gideon. I don't know how to explain that I know that it's Gideon I'm missing I just know. It's a different sad I feel when I miss him. Different than anything else.

Sometimes when I feel like this....I feel silly. I know I shouldn't I mean he was my son! It's not silly that I miss him. I also know why I feel silly, it's because I'm blindsided. I'm going along just fine and BAM this wave comes out of nowhere. It knocks me over and takes the wind right out of my sails.

I am leaning that grief comes in waves. It is not bad, it is not good, it is life, with life comes death, with death comes grief, grief comes in waves, so I am learning to ride some waves.