Self-Care: Hygge Style

This fall I have been eager to embrace comfort. And no, this isn't just chocolates and a bottle of wine. Although, that would be a nice way to spend an evening.

Maybe it is because we are grieving the loss of our foster daughter after raising her for two years...maybe it is because I am in need of a deep breath while we a break from foster parenting and all that comes with it, for however long God wants. Maybe because I am just emotionally and physically exhausted. Whatever the reason I have felt a need for slow, mellow, comfort, making my home a place to breathe.

Guest Blog Post at God-Sized Dreams

It was such an honor to have the opportunity to share my story, my heart, with the God-Sized Dreams audience today! Be sure to head over there and read how God walked my family through the unexpected.

http://godsizeddreams.com/fostering-a-relationship-with-god/

Attachment

Sitting in the sun with Robert snuggling in my arms.
Oh it felt so good! 

I have been on cloud nine lately after realizing just how far my little Robert has come over the last year. Many of you may have read the article I recently wrote for the Fostering the Future campaign, if not, you can read it Here.

During our recent camping trip I was enjoying a good conversation with my mother-in-law, and she commented on how far Robert has come. It got me thinking...

Snuggles!

Cuddles with my sweet boy after his bath. 

I have been hoping to write sooner on this but I was struggling with how to share my excitement with you. I have been digesting a lot of our changes recently. With the year coming to a close and as I was reflecting on a lot that has happened I wanted to share the joy in my heart with you!

My sweet boy has slowly been making big changes these last few months. All of the sudden I realized I was able to connect with Robert more without him rejecting my contact or going into a frustrated fit.

Here are a handful of some of the wonderful moments I have been blessed with:

*Cuddling after his bath (as pictured above) while I rock him in his chair until he is ready to be done. These are such special moments for me because I have rarely had the chance to cuddle with him while sitting still. He has shown interest before but would usually get easily overwhelmed almost in a panic and want down.

It's that time of year again...

My sweet little 4 year old Mia is sick. I spent my morning in the bathroom with my little girl as she threw up. I think this is the first time it happened in the morning instead of the middle of night. Although last night she was not feeling well, her head hurt and she had a low fever. :(

So cuddled up on the chair this morning she tells me how scared she is about throwing up and as I tucked her under her blanket and pillow she asked me to pray for her. We prayed for God to help her feel better and for her not to have fear.

Old journals, what a blessing!

Wow, reading through an old journal I started years before I had kids really took my breath away. God is amazing and I am so glad I wrote down my thoughts back then. What a blessing for me to see how perfect His timing is.

Back in 2005 just 2 years into being married my husband and I really started praying for God's will. We prayed the, popular at that time, prayer of Jabez.

One Year Anniversary to my sweet boy!

Our youngest boy has officially been in our home (for the second time) one year as of yesterday. I picked him up from the hospital at 2 days old and we had him for a short two months. He came back into our family when he was 16 months old and has been with us ever since.

Soaking up the moments.

Our kids helped set the table for dinner and I finished getting the last few items together. It was quiet today. We stayed at home and just played. No obligations and nothing really productive. We lived in the moment.

The last few dishes are now on the table and we all take a seat. This is of course after our kids shout,  "Sit by me! Sit by me!"

I look over and our son is reaching out his arms from his high chair so we can hold hands around the table and pray. Each child likes to take a turn talking to God. Even our little guy mumbled words under his breath.

If I had been rushing through the day and eager to get through dinner so we can run upstairs and do bath time I think I would have missed this moment. My heart and attitude would not have been in a place to see what a blessing it is to have our children begging to take a turn to talk to God.

Thank you God for reminding me to soak up the moments. They go by so fast and I know I miss so many when I run through life.