A few things I have learned this morning!!

(1) This to shall pass...being the mother of a newborn, toddler and wife...my needs will be last to get met...but no need to have an attitude about it. It is not as bad as it may seem/feel.

(2) Thank God for me finding the front carrier that I can put baby Haley in so my hands can be free...I feel like a whole new world has just opened up to me!

(3) Coffee rewarmed 3 times is not as bad as I thought it would be!

(4) If I want to paint today...I just need to make it happen!

Joys and Challenges of being a new mother...,AGAIN!

I am 3 1/2 weeks in to being a new mommy...for the second time :-)!!!










Lots of things to remember and relearn the second time around! Truly a blessing...a gift from God...my little girl!

Today...while she is asleep...I will take a shower! My simple...yet attainable goal!

Today...this morning...instead of moving her sweet little body immediately from the car seat to her bed...upon the return from dropping off her two and a half year old brother at daycare. I will bring her inside...unhook her and let her sleep. I have learned that once I move her...she wakes up, and quiet mommy time...shower time...coffee time...is lost :-)! Just thought of this idea today...we will see how it goes.



To moms with new infants and toddlers...God bless you.



It is a new world for my husband and I...and we are learning to balance them both...showing the right amount of attention, love and discipline...is no JOKE! But it is a BEAUTIFUL CHALLENGE...a beautiful gift and opportunity that God has given us and you too... We Can Do IT!

Great Book for us MOMs

I have been reading this amazing devotional books called The Coffee Momo's Devotional. Truly a book for us moms. I have been learning a lot and getting closer to my Father in Heaven and my family!!!

The questions that I am going to meditate on for today are:

(1) Think of moments with your children during a typical day. Do these times bring you joy? How can you savor them more?

(2) Think of a recent challenge or mountain you had to climb in your life. Did you look for joy in the journey? How can you thank Jesus for joy, despite different circumstances?

(3) Look up "joy" in a concordance or a reference Bible. Read several of the verses and try to find application in your recent experience.

Gotta get my family up and ready!!!

Until Next Time!

LT

A New Day

Well I am dusting the keys of my computer...and this blog...and planning on bringing it back to life. I have had a great morning today. I am reading an incredible devotional book that has continued to inspire me and give me courage as a Christian woman, wife, mother and artist. Although still a work in progress...as we all are, I feel more than ever that I have been holding back on the creative gifts and talents that God has given men...and as a result...not being very happy all the way around. Holding back due to my own fears...many I am sure are unwarranted.

I am a wife of almost 7 years, a mommy of a 2 year old now...and now my husband and I are expecting our second bundle of joy! I am still in my early 30's and experiencing many things that new moms have felt, are feeling, or are destined to feel in the future. I am still working and creating...God is helping me to make it all work. I don't always feel victorious...but that is what this journey is about.

Today it is snowing outside...I still plan on taking my son to daycare and then going into the office for a few hours...but this evening...I plan on developing a plan to become more organized in my home life...especially as we plan for our new arrival.

For those who read this blog...I hope my journey will encourage you in some way...but more than anything...I pray that God will continue to mold me in this journey called life!

Gaining Inspiration from Words!!!

There are many things that inspire me! I am sure that I have mentioned this before...at some point...but I love early mornings. The newness of the morning brings me to a place of calm. I have most of my best ideas between 5:30am-9am. I don't get to have this long stretch of time every morning because I am a wife and mommy of a 15 mo. old, but when I do get my time...it is priceless.



This book is amazing. Uncommon by Tony Dungy. I am only on page 91 I believe, but I have been truly inspired and convicted. This book is geared towards both older and younger men, but I believe that us girls can get a lot from it too!... Especially if we are raising young boys. It is also good to read it and then pass it on to a male in your life...that way you know what it is they are reading and you can ask them about what they think.

I am hoping that my father and my two younger brothers will read it!



I am also studying a number a things in the Bible! Galatians is a very powerful book. At times it is hard to have consistent and in depth Bible Studies...but I try to read daily.



My devotionals would not be complete without my journal! I have journals from the past 15-20 years that I have kept. I think that it is so important to write out your thoughts, prayers, dreams, and fears. It is also amazing to look back on what you had written and see how God has brought you through!!!



Last but not least...A cup of Coffee! My first cup of the day is the best. It helps to set the tone!

This morning has been a very good morning thus far!!! Now it is time for me to get moving, wake up my family, and begin the activities of my day!!!

Psalm 37:3-4
Until Next Time!
LT

The Best Moments

I love holding my son! As he gets older the more difficult it is to keep him still for those sweet hugs! He is only 13 months old, but I know the years will fly by. At church on Sunday they made a prayer announcement for a mother who just lost her 8 year old son in a sledding accident! The day before I watched the movie John Q with Denzel Washington, and I cried so much! Kids are just so precious. My good friend said, "Having a child is like wearing your heart on your sleeve"...and now I understand what she means. Each day is not promised... You could be going on about your business one minute with you kids by your side...and the next minute...

The point is that we need to make the most of our time with our kids!!! We need to try not to be so busy...too busy to spend time and enjoy those sweet hugs!
Until next Time,

Lovlee

Finally... Before Shots of My Studio :-O

I have the finished results of my studio on my other blog. The link is also on this blog. Although it was such a process to get this room organized, I took a journey down memory lane that I wasn't expecting. I looked at some of my old paintings and wondered...wow how did I do that. Or what was I going through in my life when I created this. I found so many old pictures. I found many pictures that reminded me of college and my sorority days, pictures of my little brothers from when they were babies (now they are 18 and 14 yrs. old), and now pics. of my son and my husband. The circle of life is amazing. I also looked through some of my old journals. I have always kept a journal. I have journals that I have written in from the past 10-15 yrs. It is amazing to see how I have grown over the years. So many past memores are already stored here in my special space! I can't wait to create more memories here!