Peace I Leave With You

I have sadly neglected my little blog once again.  The days just seem to fly by and often I wonder what in the world I accomplished.  What does a mother accomplish anyway, day after day, hour after hour?  I have been thinking about this often lately.  I pick up, put away, wash, clean, cook, discipline, correct, love on, comfort, wipe snotty noses, tuck into bed, give baths and tomorrow?  Do it all again!  The very same, confounded things.  Sometimes with little reward, most often with no recognition.  Feels often with little headway in any area!

God has been challenging me to forget (just a little bit anyway because I tend towards obsessive compulsive when it comes to housework, cleanliness, etc) about doing and focus a bit more on being.

You want peace, Jama?  You want an untroubled spirit and heart?  Then abide in Me.  Come to Me.  Stop worrying about the constant demands on your energy and soul and allow me to bring peace.  Not the peace the world is racing after, but my sweet, gentle, abundant peace.  Just rest.  Just STOP already...at least once in awhile and BE.  The house will always need attention, your children will always need you, your husband needs your encouragement and support, yes.  But you NEED ME.  Abide in me and I will give you grace for one more day.  For one more chore.  For one more hour of shepherding the little people I have entrusted to you.  And guess what?  You will find joy in doing all that, if you first find your peace and contentment and joy in ME.  Wow.

How I need Him!

We are nearing the end of our sixth month of unemployment.  Please keep praying.  We are being stretched in marvelous ways.  When we feel we can't take one more day of uncertainty, of blind faith, of trusting when it all looks impossible, we feel the prayers of those who love us.  Please don't stop!

Following are a few pictures of our lives the last few weeks.  I thought my camera was going out on me because suddenly all the pics were frighteningly white tinted but praise God, my sis in law figured out why.  We have little messing, curious fingers to thank, I am sure and a mommy that really does not know how to use her camera...or fix it!  Anyway, here goes.

Off to her first day of her last year of Pre-School!  Makes me feel a bit panicy that she is nearly 5 years old and next year will go into first grade, for heaven's sake!

Always a little poser!

In feeling desperate to help Missy learn about the passing of DAYS, we made this calender counting down to going back to school.  She literally asked me every.single.day of her 6 weeks summer break if "today was the day?"  Even with the calender to visualize the passing of time.  But at least I could say, "Let's check off one more day!"

Our long awaited and MUCH LOVED Isaac Jorge Barros finally made his appearance on Saturday, February 7th at 9:30pm.  We were able to visit him in the hospital and oh, we all came away in love!  I am pretty sure I will smother this little nephew with all my auntie love that I cannot give to my little nieces in the US.  Poor child.  Between Chloe and I...he may find us a little overwhelming!

Not much has changed in Noah's favorite pastimes...he still loves flour and cornstarch and lotions and baby oil...everything that makes huge messes for mommy and daddy to clean up!  He is so FAST, while you are cleaning up one mess, he is already into something else.

In trying to meet my personal goals for 2015, I am really making an effort to use my Pinterest recipes instead of just looking at them, dreaming about making them.  This was one I thought extra yummy and beautiful too...and easy peasy.  Breaded chicken breasts with tomato sauce, shredded spinach and musserela cheese on top.

This auntie got the distinct privilege of spending an entire day with these two on Isaac's one week birthday.  Oh, the joy!

She is so in love with her little son.  It is so fun to watch her as she experiences all the newness of first time mommyhood.  Brings back memories.  Sweet memories.

Bad quality picture but had to share how sister carries around her big little brother!  He loves it and thinks everything.she.does.is.hilarious.

My green eyed princess.

Sissy Brother loves...Noah does not hold still long enough to get his picture...ever!

I was making lunch one day last week and realized the child had been way.too.quiet.for.way.too.long.  This is what I found.  Him, sitting quietly on the mattress in the living room with a chocolate candy, still in its wrapping, eating away in pure contentment.

And yup, he's eating the wrapper too!!!  Dead serious.

Noah's great grandma bought him a trike this week...not sure what is being enjoyed the most.  The trike or the box it came in.

Our selfies!

Mom, look at those curls!  They are slowly, quietly taking over his little head!

Thank you, Bisavo Ruth, for this special gift.  Another manifestation of God's goodness to this mommy.  I had been wanting to get Noah a trike for such a long time, but our current situation simply did not include an expensive toy (toys are outrageously expensive in Brazil).  Standing amazed once again at how He loves to delight us!

Wishing you all a great week and one full of PEACE,

Jama