It is amazing to me how God works. Amazing in the way He does things in His time and how He goes about doing things. Just when I get into a cozy spot or pray about something that might be something little compared to all the big things I take to Him in prayer, He answers me. He let's me know that He hears me and cares about every need. And the way He goes about answering me is amazing, such beauty in the answer. I've had several people pop into mind from my past. Friends that meant alot to me many years ago and over the years our paths went different ways. Now to have them pop back into mind , so very clearly or running into them, to me is no accident. Thinking about this has caused me to think about my own girls and the relationships they are making with people. The friends they are making and the path they are on. All those little girl moments you have with your girlfriends. What you want to be when you grow up, all your dreams and hopes, where you want to live, wanting to do all those big girl things like shaving and having freedom, wondering what life would be like if you lived with your girlfriend all grown up. I remember like yesterday all those things.I know that these are moments , lessons and memories that they are making . I believe it's my job now as a mommy to help foster those friendships my girls are making, to teach them the importance of friendships and the value in a friend . To be a light to one another and to the world. Remembering that friendship isn't a big thing it's a million little things. Praying for my girls to have blessed friendships and thanking God for all of mine.

Life just goes way to fast. This has really hit me lately. My oldest daughter being 11 and middle daughter right behind her at 10 are changing right before my eyes. We have had so many conversations recently about their bodies changing, friendships, peer pressure,honesty, loyalty,individuality,standing up for yourself,not compromising for their beliefs,grace, and forgiveness. Sometimes when I look at them I can't believe God has given me these little lives to raise. I know I can't do this alone but it's so sweet to know that I have a God that will help direct me and answer prayer.I've been paying attention to how I spend my time and if I'm making the most out of my day with my girls. At the end of the day getting the list done does feel good but not as good as that time with your kids. It's way to easy to plug away at the list and all of a sudden you are wondering where time went. I read something lately that stuck out to me. The danger of wasting the "now". It is so easy to let your children grow up without being taught the preciousness of today, each day. We live in such a fast pass world that we are all victim to that. I try to remind my girls to enjoy the moment ,you won't get it back. Take a deep breath and just enjoy life. My little one who is 20 months has had a fever the past 3 days . The night before last as I was putting a washcloth on her little face she would rub my arm and give me kisses. It brought tears to my eyes andI just enjoyed that moment. I shared that with my two older girls. The love we give comes back. That is such a powerful gift that God has given us. One day my girls will have sweet moments like that with their kids, what a wonderful thought !! My prayer for today and everyday is to soak up my girls,capture those teachable moments and really watch my little butterflies spread their wings a little at a time.

As Valentine's Day is approaching I think of how we are getting ready to show eachother in cute ,creative ways how much we love eachother. I wonder why we can't have that much enthusiasm throughout the year . I got to thinking about myself and what I do to show the people in my home how much I love them and what I do to show my family and friends I love them all year.Love is important everyday ,all year. Grace and love have been on my mind a lot lately. Giving people grace for everyday things, could you image how the world would be different . I know for myself I've been really working on this. It seems at times I'm the most hard on the people who live in my home. And love ! This is something I've been really aware of. What that word really means and the action that follows. We are reading this book right now, the girls and myself and it's teaching the kids that God IS love. When you sit and think about it, once again for myself, when I sat and thought about it, that is really powerful stuff. If we could all just love, how the world would be different !!! With these thoughts also came ,what is unique about our family ? What is the first thing that comes to mind myself and for others? How are we going to effect the world ? The girls are at an age now that things we taught them several years ago are showing in their character. My middle daughter told me today that she feels so lucky to have parents that explain things to her and help her to understand things in life. She said some parents don't do that and so she feels like she is VIP. How cute is that! I love that at such a young age she realizes some of what we do in our parenting and that she appreciates us and that she feels proud.What a great mommy moment ! Thinking about Valentine's Day and the little things we do as tradition, like starting our day with red pancakes, eating dinner on our red, heart Valentine dishes ,drinking out of valentine glasses and of course we have our candles ! The girls have always loved this and we have always choosen to be with them on this holiday. As the year continue's maybe bringing out those dishes and drinking out of fancy glasses with candles would be a good way to celebrate our love as a family. Wishing my friends and family a very Happy Valentine's Day !!

Well it's the end of the school week and thinking of all we did , all the conversations we had, and stories we read I feel so filled with love. It's amazing how reading can spark such great conversations and new interests for things, and a desire to do better and want more for yourself and life. We started our week with a book we have been reading and it started a conversation about the Easter bunny. We were talking about the true meaning of Easter and my middle daughter was very confused to how the bunny fits in to the true meaning of Easter???? She really wanted answers so I prayed that God would give me the words to say knowing that it was time to come clean.I explained that the bunny is a tradition the world had started and that it's a fun thing that parents like to do for their children, leave eggs for them to find and baskets full of goodies !! She really had a tough time thinking that we had done this. Now, some might think that they are plenty old enough and they should already know. We felt that telling them up to this point was kinda like taking away some of their childhood. You are then entering into the next stage of their childhood years and we weren't ready for that. Talking about the bunny of course lead to Santa and then the tooth fairy. As I told them I couldn't help but cry, thinking to myself I can't beleive this day is here. I remember like yesterday my mom telling me, in 5th grade and standing in the kitchen crying with her. Here I am with my girls having the same moment. Wishing my husband was home to share this time with us, but knowing that God had opened the door for us to have such a good talk.Our girls have known the true meaning of Easter but it seems the bunny overpowered why we even celebrate the holiday.Thinking about this really gave me the peace I needed with having to come clean. The thought that maybe they would ever think that God, and Jesus aren't real because they can't see them was something we didn't want. God is so real, and Jesus DID die on the cross for us and we want our children to know this , and live a faith driven life. I believe that God gives us mommies feelings. You know ,when it's time for your baby to sleep on their own, begin potty training, when your child just doesn't look right and they are getting sick, when they are turning an age when great change is about to happen ,you can just feel it, you know. It was just our time this week to have such good conversations about "stuff" . I love my talks with my girls ! Our good nights especially. We lay together and talk about our day and life . When they were really young we started a tradition of what was your favorite part of the day and we still do it ! Kinda like the story of the mommy who rocks her baby boy to sleep and as he get's older she still does it and then when he becomes a man she still goes over to his house and rocks her baby boy. I love those special things that we do with our children, it makes me so happy to be a mommy and that I have a husband that loves me and his children so much. God has me/us right where He wants me/us and I'm so thankful for that. So blessed, not lucky !!!!!

It's the end of the day. All my little butterflies are tucked in, all is still in our home. I love these quiet times, when all is well. The day wasn't well though, so much going on. The girls not feeling well, and needing different things at all times of the day, and a very sick cat that we had to take to the vet. That created for a bit of an emotional day as well. As I flew around taking care of the needs of my family I felt at peace. I've noticed that getting so overwhelmed and frazzled over situations just causes stress and I'm missing so many teachable moments. When I gave birth to my first daughter I told my husband all I want is to be a good mommy. At the end of my life here I want to know and feel that I did my best at that. I've never wanted anything more than what I'm doing now. Tonight I read a book to my daughter that we haven't read since she was little. It made me feel so happy to read it to her and know that she will always be my little girl ! I'm loving how God uses different situations to show himself. At the beginning of the year my prayer was that God would strengthen our family in Him, as well as individually. Jan. 4th He started doing that. Amazing !!! Enjoying everyday, no matter what life gives me, and watching my butterflies open their wings a little more is a true blessing !!!!

Blessed not Lucky, that is how I feel ! Everyday I wake up I get to stay at home and raise my children. The freedom to school them at home,read to them, play with them,cuddle with them,cook for them,laugh with them ,pray with them, love them and am loved by them.The other day we were getting ready to leave the house and my older daughter said she likes when she straightens her hair because she looks like me. I melted !! What an awesome thing to have your daughter say about you. I think to myself how do I portray myself to my girls ? Always keeping myself in check. I have three little girls watching my every move, learning. What do I want them to learn ? So many things..... to love life,love people,respect for themselves as well as other culture's, to never take anything for granite,to say I'm sorry, admit their faults,to not be selfish, to serve others and to want to do it with a willing and loving heart, to forgive, confidence,to take time for people, to do what is right when nobody is watching, to love God with all they are, to trust Him with everything in their lives, that nothing is to big for Him, to always pray, to pray together as sister's, to value friendship, to work hard and have goals, as well as many others. They teach me everyday so many things about myself. I love them so much for who they are. I thank God for a man who loves me and who works with me to raise our three beautiful shades of pink.