SNOWDAY FUNDAY

Yesterday in Nebraska we experienced, I would say, mild snow. It was the fun, sloppy wet stuff. The stuff you can just go out and enjoy. You could build a snow man, or throw snowballs the sky is the limit. As some of you may know, we have 3 kiddos now so it would've been fun to go out and enjoy the snow. Just a recap, Roman is almost 3, (literally a month away, I am crying) and an 18m old named Oakley (he is the sweetest loving little dude you will ever meet), and finally we have little Pheonix who is only 2m.

About halfway through the day Abram and I decided we probably should not neglect the snow on our driveway and sidewalk any longer, and start shoveling sooner than later lol. Especially since our littlest ones Pheonix and Oakley were napping. At that point we had a decision to make, do we take Roman our oldest outside, or keep him inside (with adult supervision of course). Last year we had a little toddler melt down with Roman when we had to bring him in from playing in the snow, he lost it, it was drama, a full on BROADWAY MUSICAL (I have the video of him crying for 2 mins straight lol - yes I am terrible mom lol). So we decided to risk it, what's the worst that could happen?-YES the melt down happened again this year but on a smaller scale lol

Roman looked so cute all bundled up with snow pants and a puffy coat and was one of the biggest helpers around the block. He followed behind Abram as he shoveled the snow with his bubble mower (yes you read that right), he also helped clean off the neighbors car, and try to steal things out of their garage a few times too. lol.

It had been years since I have played in the snow, (not exactly a cold weather fan) but I determined this year I am going to be more present with my boys but also be spontaneous. Work will always be there but having fun with my little ones wont. With a little effort, some creative vision and determination, we built our first snow man!

We used food coloring to paint him, a carrot for his nose and a frisbee for the hat. Roman was responsible for the painting, that's why he looks like he puked on himself lol.

Once we completed Mr. Snowman, I noticed one thing, I didn't have my phone or a camera. Who was going to take pictures?-luckily Auntie Shayla was nice enough to score some good ones for us. But it made me realize something, yes pictures are GREAT, capturing memories is so important when you have little kids - they won't stay little forever, its so evident with my oldest. But, what is most important is just being fully present with them and NOT being so attached to my phone.

On a more personal note, I want this year to be the year where I choose the better things. This is a biblical principal, there will always be good or even great things, but there is such thing as the BEST choice or BETTER things. We can see this clearly in the story of Mary and Martha when Jesus was at their home visiting. Martha is running around like CRAZY, trying to make sure the house is cleaned, the food is cooked, and that everyone is having a good time (a true host). In the middle of her work mode, she notices Mary sitting at Jesus's feet just listening to his teaching. This frustrates Martha, and she confronts Jesus about this, asking him to publicly correct her sister and send her over to help, but his response is PURE GOLD (LUKE 10:41-42) “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (emphasis added)

How funny that even in life we may have the best in intensions with our time, our money, or even in our relationship with Jesus. But how often do we stop to think, is the BEST or is there a "BETTER" thing I could be doing? Is this the best with what I have. Am I choosing to do what is best with my finances, or is there something BETTER I could be doing? I am doing the BEST thing with my time or could there be a BETTER use of my time?

Some of you may or may not know, but our toddler boys broke our TV this week. As a work from home mom, this literally felt like a tragedy. I rely on that puppy to entertain my children when I cook, clean or just need mommy time lol (please no judgement). But this is and was for the BETTER, I am able to engage my children with more intentionality and most importantly zoning out for an hour or two has gone RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW. lol. It's an adjustment, don't get me wrong, but I am choosing to settle in my heart ahead of time, that this is BETTER. Most importantly this is an opportunity for me to inventory my time. It helped me realize how much of time I actually wasted on television, not engaging with the world around me and just numbing out. So let me challenge you each day this year in 2020, to slow down and choose the BETTER THING. Whatever that may look like, you can do it!

Let me pray with you: Jesus, I thank you for who you are, I thank you that you have a plan and a purpose for me, help me to have the courage, the strength, and tenacity to choose the BETTER things in life. Continue to challenge me in the area of our time, my finances, and the intentionality behind what I am doing with my life on Earth. I want the BEST and the BETTER things you have for my life, help me to hold nothing back from you this year, you have the freedom to access any area of my heart and challenge me! God I thank you that you are close to me, that you hear each prayer big and small even the ones that I might mutter under my breath lol. God I thank you that I can trust you always! That you only want the BETTER things for my life. In your name I pray, amen!