Our Little Clown

I laugh out loud every time I see this picture. Jake is always finding new ways to make us laugh and this morning was no different. He took off his Huggies Pull-Up and turned it inside out and came out with it on his head. (Yes, it was clean!!) He said, "Mommy, Look at me!" You can see by the look on his face he knew he would get a great big laugh from me. I love his sense of humor. The dinner table is always full of laughter. I hope that as Jake grows up he will continue to always have his wonderful sense of humor. He is just full of light and energy. At some times, the energy part can be completely exhausting, but it is still a part of his personality I cherish. I have been amazed at how fundamentally different boys are from girls. In Jake's world, everything can fly, especially french fries...they are the best rockets. He loves superheros and never fails to enter his superhero identity when we go outside and his Mommy runs from bugs. He will say, "Mommy, I'll save you!" Then he will chase the bug and roar like a dinosaur. I always tell him he is my hero, so brave and strong. He just eats it up. I never knew how much fun it would be to raise a boy. He is so much fun.

Mother's Day

Grace Katherine Millage

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17~This is the Life Verse Aaron and I chose for Gracie. It was read at her Dedication on May 11, 2008.



On Mother's Day we had an additional reason to celebrate, Gracie's Baby Dedication at our church. On this occasion, we stand before our church family and publicly express our desire to raise Gracie in a Christian home, acknowledging our role as her parents and our desire to guide her towards love and faith in Jesus Christ. All three of our children have been dedicated to the Lord publicly in this way. It is always a special moment for me and Aaron. This is our way of surrendering control and submitting to God's will over their lives. This is a tough thing to do as parents, especially in today's world. I want to hold tightly and protect fiercely but I also know that as much as I love them, God loves them even more. This is hard to even wrap my mind around but I know it is true. With that assurance, I can peacefully allow them to rest in His hands and just be there to guide and instruct according to God's word. It is a great responsibility. The further down this path I get, the more respect I gain for my own parents, especially my mother. On Easter Sunday, I was in Atlanta with my family. I was running around getting us all ready for church. I was making sure clothes were ironed, hair was brushed and curled, bows were in place, teeth were brushed and diaper bag was prepared. It was a marathon morning. The kids were all loaded in the car and I came running down the stairs, slipping heels on as I walked, holding on to my jewelry in one hand and my make-up bag in the other. I remembered how before I had kids, I used to spend an hour getting myself ready in the morning. Life had certainly changed, and I was now putting myself last on the list. My mom was waiting for me at the door to help me carry everything to the car. I just looked at her and said, "Now I know how you were able to dress 3 girls for church every Sunday morning on your own. You never worried about yourself and sacrificed everything you needed, to make sure we had all we needed." She smiled as I hugged her and said, "Your right." My mother always had a nurturing spirit and there was never a day that went by that I did not feel cared for and loved. I am forever grateful because I now see the sacrifices she must have made but never minded. I find that as a mother, I am the same way.

The Road Moms Travel...

Life has certainly been a journey, especially these last few years. I am amazed at the faithfulness of God and His immeasurable grace. He is teaching me so much. I am blessed beyond measure. I feel so incredibly thankful for my husband and the three children we have brought into this world. Our children are precious little human beings and I feel so excited to be able to share my life with them. Motherhood has been one of the greatest and also one of the most challenging roads I have taken. It is a struggle to find balance in my life and daily I am trying to learn how to be a better mother to three children without losing myself in the process. Most days around here are an absolute zoo! I am discovering new levels of exhaustion, which is always fun. Probably one of the greatest statements ever made to me was by my dear friend, Rachel, when she said to me, "Some days we thrive, others we just survive." This has become my mantra! It was actually this same friend who encouraged me to "blog it out" and so here I am, giving it a try. For me, writing has always been a cathartic experience, so this could be helpful! If nothing else, I'll be able to show off pictures of my kids. After all, who doesn't love the chance to do that!