Less of me is more.

I plan to post more about this subject but I just wanted to say that God has really laid on my heart that I need to relax and focus more on my kids/home/husband and less of everything else, including MYSELF. I am mainly talking about the TIME and ENERGY I give to these things. It is easy for me to stray away from kids/home/husband and follow selfish desires like ME wanting to talk to my friends, me wanting to browse my emails, check out my google reader, do my workout, MY, MY, MY. Seriously, when I go to bed and the end of the day, what my stuff is going to be fulfilling? I'm not saying that MY stuff is bad. I need my time but when am I taking MY TIME?
Angie sent me this link after I shared with her my heart about this matter and it was put so perfectly.
I seriously doubt God is pleased by some of the choices I have made in a day. We are constantly faced with decisions as parents to choose our priorities. Thinking of what benefits our kids should absolutely be towards the top of our list under serving God (which coincidentally ties into focusing on our family)
This is easier said than done. I struggle with "self" on a day by day basis. My prayer is to no longer see "self" but to simply be the person God intends for me to be. Someone who possesses His characteristics. I desire to be a wife who is gracious and steadfast, a devoted mother who is stern, considerate, compassionate and loving - a homemaker who is hospitable and who takes ownership and pride in her home.

As I typed the last few lines the old hymn, "Have Thine Own Way," popped into my head. I think it is appropriate and will always be so long as we are living.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

I leave you with a couple of videos of our kids. Aubrey says the Pledge of Allegiance in the bathtub and Pete laughs at a silly ball. THIS is what fills my heart with joy at just the remembrance of it.

Fun Canvas Projects

Bryan and his dad built an office in our garage so both Pete and Aubrey could have their own rooms. It is awesome!! I am so glad they can have their own space which means Bryan and I can have our own space. Now, there is adequate room for everyone's clothes, toys and more room to play :)
As I was putting away the baby room stuff for Pete and getting new stuff for his room (which Nana & Grandad happily bought for him), I took down a canvas; I remember paying $40 for it. I decided then that I would color and create personalized canvases for them to save some money. I really had a lot of fun creating My kids some canvases and decided I would make some for some of my nieces. I plan to do more in the future. Here is what I cam up with.

A robot for Pete's room:
(a friend, Melissa Brown, drew the robot and I painted him)



Aubrey's room has beautiful bedding from target.
It was so fun making this one!! I saw the idea online from some pottery barn type store and decided I could make a bird like the one I saw. It was so fun because I went to Hobby Lobby and got to pick out all of the scrapbook patterned paper to match the bedding. Aubrey really liked the bird idea and LOVED the canvas which I am very happy about!
These last ones are some I made for my nieces, Evie, Allie, Alexa Bear and Lysie. I was so glad they liked them. I guess if they didn't, they could at least put them in their closets :) These made for fun, personalized, Christmas gifts.
NOTE: Allie, Alex & Lysie all share a room so I thought the three matching pictures would be appropriate.