Isabel and Mommy's Day Out...

I had a wonderful Mommy's day, with just Izzy and I. As the day progressed I didn't quite follow what I had in mind. I went to get my hair cut and Izzy got hers cut too. Then we went to the mall for some girl time. It was so sweet to have Isabel all to myself. She was very quiet at times and then there were times when she would point at something and babble to me. I could hold her and cuddle her without being interrupted by a mess to clean up or having to answer to, "Mommy".
Not that I am complaining about messes and always answering to, "Mommy, Mommy", but I really treasure it when I am alone with each of my kids.
It makes it all the more special that this kind of occasion doesn't happen all the time.

Here are some pictures of Isabel...and her special day with Mommy...


My first haircut

"I was doing real well too..."

until...

"The lady found some food in my hair-Mommy didn't wash my hair!"
"OWWW!"

"It hurts!"

"The lady gave me lots of lollipops when it was all done
because she felt bad she pulled my hair."
"Now I'm happy..."
(sniff...sniff)

"Mommy took me to the mall and she ate lunch. I didn't, I wasn't hungry.
I wanted to go on the merry-go-round but she wouldn't let me.
So we went here..."

"I kind of liked it...but I wasn't so sure.
Mommy put me on this thing and so I watched the other kids
play."

and I watched...

and I watched...

"Mommy took my picture and then we went home,
because I wasn't doing anything."

"I had a fun day with my Mommy!!"

NO KIDS-accept ONE!!!

YUP!!! Today is a day for just "Mommy"!!!!
Thanks to my Mom who has kindly taken my 4 kids for the day. She is going to bake cookies with them and do a lovely craft!!! I am so excited today!!! All by myself-with Izzy of course!!
So Izzy also gets Mommy all to herself!
So what am I going to do? Well??? I have to go through my long list of ideas and PRAY!! What would be the best use of time here.
I am going for a trim. I think am going to try to spend the day cleaning and organizing a schedule for the kids school next year-Christmas shopping? Tomorrow!!!!

So we shall see!!!

Thank you Mom for this moment to take a breather-it's so needed and such a blessing!!!
Love You and have lots of fun baking and making memories with the chillins'!!!

Simple Things I Enjoy As A Mom

So much has been happening in our family over the past few months. Changes are taking place in many different ways. Some changes are more difficult to face than others, some are pleasant and enjoyable, while others are requiring more faith.
God is faithful and teaching me many things through these challenges, its hard to post about them all because they are happening all at once. Though for starters, my eyes are truly beginning to open in realization that my oldest is turning 12 in November!!! A Pre-teen!! We are already seeing signs of what is to come for those teen years. I do sense in my spirit much excitement! I love relating to my daughter on such a different level. She is growing into a teen, yet then onto womanhood! It is hard to believe, but as I told her, I was only there myself about 15 yrs. ago!! I do remember. I had Kayla when I was 19 yrs. old- I was just coming out of those teen years, myself. WOW!!
Last night Stefan took Kayla out on a father/daughter date. Kayla, today, told me how much fun it was and that she wished it could have lasted forever. Daddy just let her talk and talk!!
Go Stefan!!!!!!!! (He is learning well!)
She is Daddy's girl, let me tell ya!

Anyway, today as a Mom I faced some challenging thoughts and questions, one being, "oh my goodness-a Pre-teen! Lord help me to give and feed her not only Truth, your truth, but much grace and love!"
Mothers of girls~how I urge you to look forward to these years - if you haven't already!
I am amazed that the Lord has given me this responsibility to raise 3 girls for His glory!
How my heart is growing in praying for them and desiring to teach them Godliness!!
I keep looking at Ava and Isabel thinking-ok 2 more times I must do this, not in a relieving way, 'phew', but in an amazed sort of way.

It seems as though when they are so small-life is so simple...holding, cuddling, singing, reading books, and teaching them ABC's...
but when the day comes when they are...emotional about everything, the world seems to be falling a part around them...and you want to just tell them "get it together"...wow... how the opportunity is there to show Christ's love to them, to have patience, grace, kindness, most of all to listen and be there for them.
Oh Lord, help me!!!

In relation to the title I wrote above? What are those simple things I so enjoy as A Mom?

• feeding the kids popcorn for lunch-with some kind of fruit of course
• all of us laughing together
• dancing and singing together
• taking lots of pictures of them!!
• watching their happy and satisfied faces after I have thanked them for being a great "mommy's helper"
• hearing their simple thoughts like, Carson and Ava, what they think about life...Ava's famous words about the, "cation house" (vacation house) and her "chickens" (cheeks)
  
• lastly, they are so much like sponges at these ages...they soak in everything!!! Teachable moments!!!

Simply put...

I love being their MOM!!!

Today...

Not much is happening today. Though, I am currently aware of God's amazing kindness!! I haven't been doing well in the area of giving consequences for sinful choices nor have I been consistent in disciplining. This is where having 5 kids truly stretches me. Trying to catch all those moments or opportunities to teach God's truth through disciplining-wow-well lets just say-I struggle with keeping on top of those things. Then comes a day like today when the Lord so kindly reminds or shows me specifically, "This is where I want you to focus your attention on "Johnny".
Thankfully today I was able to carry out a consequence for this particular child...it took several consequences to get the message across! Yet, his heart was quite different throughout the day!
Thank you Lord that you enabled me to carry out the discipline/consequence necessary.
It's tough to be consistent, yet you promise there to be the peaceful fruit of righteousness...!!
I can vouch that there was definitely more peace in our home and in the child.

(Now onto the other 4 children!!)

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Hebrews 12:11

How I am Enjoying Caring For My sick Patient...

As I posted below about Gavin being sick...I thought I'd note...
How I am really enjoying pampering him. He can't open his mouth to talk too well due to blisters being on his lips. So I have to feed him things that are more liquidy. Yet, I am really enjoying making this a special time to care for him. I have begun, according to the children, a tradition that whoever is sick will get served with, "the sick tray". Yesterday Carson said, "Mommy I wish I was sick so I can have the 'sick tray'. So I told him that he could have the tray next time he was sick...thankfully he was just fine with that!
I remember my Mom would serve crackers with butter and soup whenever I was sick or not even. This was such a yummy, yet sweet memory...
So I served Gavin the same today for lunch...he was sooo excited!! He said it looked sooo good and soothing to him.
I love it when that the Lord allows us as Moms sweet moments like that. The times when our children are so blessed by the love that we show how much we care for them... just through the "little" traditions or things we do for them.

Happy Mothers Day To Our Moms!!!

Wishing all mothers a very blessed and Happy Mother's Day!!
From Stefan and Erika...
We love you Mom (s)!!
We pray the Lord will bless you this special day as we look at God's abundant grace and kindness in giving you to us!! What blessings both you are!!


We love you!!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

Asking My Daughter To Pray For Me...

I sense that this blog may be becoming more of a diary type of blog. There seems to be so much to record lately.
Though this was one moment that I will treasure and remember. Over the past couple of months I have been struggling with the spirit of fear. I will not share the specifics on this blog due to tempting someone else who may struggle in this area. Yet, this has been one of the major battle fields I have been facing almost on a daily basis. Honestly? For no apparent reason at all actually. (Though feel free to ask me the specifics and please give input or encouragement!).

Well, it has been a very eye-opening experience to actually walk through this battle in the presence of my children. You know how we are taught that our children watch us? Yes, it is very true! I know that my children are watching me walk through this challenge-how I am combating this sin with scripture. Have I been walking in total faith and trusting in the Lord? Sad to say...No. God is at work though!! Though Stefan and the children have been so faithful to bare with me, and have ministered to me.

Tonight as Kayla and I were in the kitchen together, she commented on me giving into fear-how so silly it seemed she thought, (this was not said in a disrespectful tone at all!!). She is right!! Wow! She saw this truth!

So I asked if she would pray for me. It was a moment of prayer that I will never forget. She truly and genuinely knows God's truth and prayed for me to be released of this sin and how the Lord has not given us the spirit of fear. What truth she prayed!!! I then prayed with her. How KIND of God to allow my daughter to be a Christian and to know His truth! It brings me to tears as I think about this moment. I told her we are going to be praying so much more together for many different things! I share this moment with you in praising God for His kindness and Love. Thank you Kayla-my sweet girl-you have ministered to my soul!!

Homeschool/Stefan's new job

The Dahl family school is back to testing again today...I am also using this time to begin thinking about what curriculum(s) to use next year for the kids. I am excited for them and what new things they will be learning next year. I must say I just love the fact that my kids are getting older-there is so much more to teach them and they are interested in a lot more too! (lots of field trips??)
I was sharing with Stefan yesterday that I am really content, very content, done content, that this season of having babies is over. I am just really ready for the next season of our lives. Focusing on teaching, spending time with Stefan and the kids, and having lots of fun!!
I love how the Lord gently leads us as Moms, to help prepare us for that next
season in our lives.

By the way...Stefan got a new position (promotional type) in a new division within his company that will allow for a more normal schedule. The Lord has had favor on him in a lot of ways here. His boss now really appreciates him and wants to keep in contact with him for the future. He has been officially released, by his boss, to accept the position. We are now waiting for the official offer in writing-it should be today.
Hurray!!!! Good is soo Good!!

Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday To You...

(Mimi here are the purse and gloves you a gave to her)

Happy Birthday dear Ava, Happy Birthday To You!! Yes, it was Ava's Birthday this past
Sunday!! We had a little princess party for her. It was sooo cute!!! I will have to post pictures when I get one. I forgot my camera!!!!

She has officially turned 3 now! She is getting to be a big girl.

I have to say...having Ava, wow!! God knew the exact children He would give to me. It is NOT ONLY to help them to grow, but to help me become more like Christ. I mean this in a positive way.
Ava...What a gift!! I just love that girl!!! I love all of my children the same but each according to the way the Lord has made them-in their own uniqueness. I know you Moms with multiples can relate!! Each child brings something so different into your life! This time it is about Ava since it is her Birthday.

Ava is what you would call our pleasant surprise!! Absolutely Different than the first 3. See the first 3 were somewhat similar in the way we would train and relate to. Now, I don't know if it is the result of having #4, or just that the more kids you have, the more you have to focus on. Why was it just easier to parent 3 kids instead of 4 or 5? (these questions I may have to do a post on another time)
For now this is what I mean.

God in His kindness and mercy has wonderfully given us a daughter that was different in character than the older 3. While raising a 2yr. old again, God has used this to challenge Stefan and I in many different ways. It can be challenging to parent that age anyway, but God has revealed through training 4, 2 yr. olds so far that it can be challenging at times because of our sinfulness-God has taught Stefan and I a lot through her character.
Her character seems to involve more of a desire to be independent, and bold. See it is these very characteristics that God has given to her, that Stefan and I must direct towards the Lord.
Yet, we may see them as challenging at times, but really it is because of our own sinfulness that may cause us to struggle. For example in the way we may respond to her-we must respond with much patience, grace, MUCH cheerfulness, and practicing consistency while teaching/training her. In general as parents we are still seeking to work and grow in these areas!!!

In our church we have been taught well how to train our kids biblically. For some reason there were "techniques in parenting" that I had grasped hold of that challenged Stefan and I to rethink, "how does this apply to this situation? or Is this technique the only "biblical" way of parenting?" God has given us nuggets of wisdom here and there as we have parented, not only through His word and teachings, but through others' wisdom as well. We are definitely still learning and will continue to learn!
Ultimately it is because of God's grace that she is growing-evidences of grace!

She is so much of a delight to Stefan and I!!

The Highlights of age 3:
She is potty trained, age 3 seems to be an easier and more peaceful age to train than 2, she can verbalize what she needs or desires better, she seems less frustrated at times now that she is allowed to do more on her own and she understands more.

Throughout my days at home and spending time with her, I have been greatly encouraged to see how much God has worked in her little heart at being a sweet and cheerful girl!

She is so creative, very smart, bold, independent (she is learning her boundaries), and hilariously funny!

Stefan and I realize the task ahead is great for raising all of our kids. We must rely on God to direct us in this training. We do pray that we can teach Ava how to use this boldness in character that she has been given, for Gods glory alone!!
I get so excited as I think of how her boldness can be used for the Lord!
Oh Lord, I pray that she is chosen for your Kingdom and that you will capture her heart and soul revealing your gift of salvation to her!!!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!! We love you soooo much!!

You are a present from the Lord and you bring so much joy to our hearts!
(a little phrase we say to all of our kids)

Today...

Well, what should I post? All is finally quiet, peaceful, and still. What a day today was...it was a challenging day. I have been trying to work with Isabel and Ava on little sleeping/quiet time schedules. Well, Ava woke up at around 6am and couldn't go back to sleep-all day!!!! No naps-nothing! Her mind was on overdrive-poor thing. Somehow, with the understanding of Ava ending up in a family of 7, her little brain just keeps ticking. It's hard for her to slow down.
So I have been relentlessly trying to work with her on staying in bed at nap time or at least just resting in her bed for quiet time. A work in progress-for the both of us. Grateful to the Lord though for intervening by giving me an idea. By around 4:oo-still no sleep from Ava. (Note: She was not in bed all day, I had tried to put her down for naps in the morning and afternoon.)
I felt like I needed to take the kids for a little outing, maybe some fresh air, or a difference in scenery would help. We have been at home most of this week-which is unusual anyway. I had a few errands that I could run-so we did, then we went to look at Christmas lights just 4 kids and I. Kayla was with my Mom doing Christmas stuff.
After we returned, it was sleep time for Ava. We read a book together as she cuddled up against me, she was sooo ready for her bed!!
God is so kind when He grants us Mom's wisdom at just at the right moment. Yes, I did try all the normal training stuff, working with Ava, and putting her back into bed. Yet there are just moments when sometimes God intends something different to be a part of that training. That little outing for her was really what she needed. We kind of all did for that matter.

God is granting her a peaceful sleep now.

Rest peacefully baby girl...

The Reality Of Being A Mom But Remembering God's Mercies

As I sit down to blog, I hope to say things that are going to make sense. My mind has been very much on overdrive this past week. To have a single logical thought is a great blessing! I know some of you can relate to this mindlessness.

Don't get me wrong-it's been a good past few days, better than I deserve!! Just that the demands of being a Mom seem to be weighing heavy this week. I know I am in continuous desperate need of God's all sufficient grace and some undistracted time with Him alone. I will have to set some time aside.

Though, I have been continuously praying throughout these days, praying for grace to continue on parenting with grace, humility, and patience. Definitely, God has met me in the most difficult moments! Yet the reality of it, I am an exhausted Mom today!! As I was holding Bella, my arms had felt so weak. I know we all have those days of extreme fatigue and there are days where you are just unable to focus or you lose perspective on what the never ending tasks are that need to be done. Well, that's been this week.

In the midst of a full life, the Lord has kindly brought back to mind day after day that His Mercies are new every morning! As I was washing the dishes tonight I began to think about how His mercies have been evident.
I looked up "mercies" in the dictionary: Here are some meanings...

1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner (me).

4.an act of kindness, compassion, or favor

5. something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing:

So I began to list areas where I have seen His mercies (His compassion, His kindness, His blessings, and His favor) as a Mom, not only today but on a daily basis:

1) Granting me strength the next day after I have had an unrestful night sleep with the baby
2) Enabling me to eat a whole meal through at times without being interrupted and feeling refreshed after a meal
3) Granting me immediate patience during a challenging time of discipline.
4) Allowing His Gospel to shine through in ways that are unexpected
5) Working in my children's hearts
7) Giving me fun and precious moments to remember
8) Granting me vision to see the funny looks my children express
9) Granting me forgiveness from my family when I have sinned against them
10) Reminding me of His undeserving love on the cross

The list could go on and not only in the category of motherhood...His Mercies truly outweigh the hardships and challenges I face.
His Mercies are never ending!!!

19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
the wormwood and the gall!
20 My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; [2]
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

In what ways have you seen evidences of His Mercy in your daily life?