mclainpadilla.com

Ugh, I have been SO bad about blogging!  LIFE has flown in and overtaken me Plus, honestly, I just haven’t felt like blogging for the past month.  I needed a little break!

I have had quite a bit going on with me over the past few months, specifically with my health.  I have been dealing with a diagnosis of arthritis and borderline spinal stenosis in my back, as well as a low functioning thyroid.  I have been working closely with a holistic doctor/chiropractor (as the only thing my other doctor can do for me is offer injections in my back…no thanks!) to get my health back on track and to hopefully (fingers crossed) get rid of this nagging sciatic/hip pain that I have had on and off for 5 years.  Ugh.  It’s a battle.  Getting older is the pits, and I’m not even “old” yet.  It’s hard to feel out of control, especially for a moderate control freak as myself…but really, aren’t we all control freaks in some way or another??  God is obviously working on this area of my life.

It’s humbling to face the reality that I am not in control of my life.  It’s humbling to be bogged down with pain, and sometimes exhaustion, when I love to be active and full of energy.  I miss running.  And every few months or so, that nagging, dull pain breaks me.  My heart, almost afraid to ask, says to the Lord “Why am I like this?  What did I do?  How do I fix it?”  Another harsh reality sets in – the beginning of motherhood was the beginning of my pain.

When I started to think about how out of control I am, I started thinking about my kids.  Ultimately, I have no control over how they will end up as adults.  That is their choice.  I DO, however, have ultimate influence in their lives right now, and as a follower of Christ I have access to the Throne and I know that I can and will lift them up in prayer every chance that I can.

I am in control of how I chose to live my life.

With this humbling reality comes another one.

I have a Savior who loves me.

Who’s on my side.

Who has a place prepared for me.

And guess what?  He WINS.

I am so awed and humbled of what He has done for me.

“Therefore, do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

2 Corinthians 4:16

This image really has nothing to do with “humbling.”  But it is quite peaceful to look at.  And it puts a smile on my face.

An afternoon with nothing to do.  Off to the beach we go!

Short and sweet this week A few more pics just for fun…

Linking up to these other Project 52 ladies:

Styleberry blog

Wicked Kate

Heather Marie Portraits

Lucas and Mahina

Debbie Mayes

Freckled Pink

I have cleaned up pee off the floor probably 10 times in the last 2 weeks (something about Daddy coming home and forgetting to use the potty?!)

The messes in the house have been especially crazy lately…and I learned something about myself, over the past 4 months I became a little bit less of a messy person, so all of these messes have been driving me batty.  BUT, the kids have been having a blast.  They have been playing SO well together and have been coming up with a new adventure everyday.  I’ve seen them playing school, baby and mommy, tea parties, princesses, baby Moses, karate (Sara stands in one spot jumping around saying “punch, kick, punch, kick!”), Jesus and Mary (Katie is required to play Mary and pretend cry while Jesus is on the Cross), book club, and all kinds of dress-up (to include mom’s shoes, clothes, and purses).  Everyday I hear the words: “I’m pretending…”  I LOVE seeing their imaginations in action and feel so honored to witness such a precious and beautiful part of childhood.  It makes all the messes a little less overwhelming.

Something I read this week also helped me gain a new perspective on messes.  “What compels me to name these moments upheavals and annoyances instead of grace and gift?  Why deprive myself of joy’s oxygen?  The swiftness and starkness of the answer startle.  Because you believe in the power of the pit.” ~ Ann Voskamp.

I’m the first to admit that I often struggle with not having enough joy.  I let “life” pull me down instead of rising above it and saying “Blessed be the name of the Lord” in every circumstance.  So I guess this is my daily Cross…JOY in the messes.

Linking up to these other Project 52 ladies:

Styleberry blog

Wicked Kate

Lucas and Mahina

Heather Marie Portraits

Freckled Pink

Debbie Mayes

Teaching has been on my mind a lot, especially since I have made the BIG decision to homeschool beginning in the fall. This decision has not been without many years of wrestling, doubts, and prayer, but the Lord has made it VERY clear to me that this is what is best for our family at this time.  Whew.

Big changes this year.  But that is life, right??!!

We have been trying to spend more focused time on Lent this year.  I bought a candle wreath and the girls have LOVED moving the candle and the carving of Jesus with the Cross one spot forward each night.  In fact, they pretty much never forget to remind us.  I love how hands-on kids are.

It’s been a beautiful time of reflection.

Each spot is one day closer to the CROSS.

If not for them, at least for me, it’s a reminder to never lose the glory and awe of the Cross.

Linking up to these Project 52 ladies:

Styleberry blog

Wicked Kate

Lucas and Mahina

Heather Marie Portraits

Debbie Mayes

Freckled Pink

YES, bathing suits and the sprinkler on March 2nd.

The thermostat registered 80 at one point today, so I thought popping the girls in the backyard with the sprinkler while I do awesome mom tasks (like vacuuming my van), was a fabulous idea.

I think they liked it

So FUN to watch them hold hands and run.