I find lots of little notes likes this around the house from True and Brave. Sometimes it says, “Dear Mommy…” and it has an equally sweet message. Also, sometimes those notes that are “Dear Papi,” and say something like, “Mommy was yelling again today…” Oh, my sweet darlings! They test me in ways I never thought possible, but I love them so much!

This week’s learned, links, and thankfulness…

Glow’s in the all about mommy stage. Only I can change her diaper, only I can cuddle with her, only I can put her to bed, yada yada…

I love bold patterns on this dress, which led me to look through etsy, and I found this. Maybe I can sew something up for myself!

This cake is amazing!

How cute is this vintage, little girl, party dress?! I always love everything in Ms. Tips!

I’m thankful my girls are so forgiving. I can be a crazy mom one minute, come to my senses, and then ask them for forgiveness. Thankfully, they say, “Yes,” and they carry on like nothing ever happened. I know it’s hard, but it’s so good for kids to see their parents asking for forgiveness and admitting where they fall short.

Ben and a group of his guy friends from our church family is working on this love dare. It’s easy to get in a rut in marriage, so I love how they are trying to intentionally care for their wives.

On another marriage note, I read somewhere this week (can’t remember where) a couple was asked what their secret to a happy marriage was and the husband replied, “My goal is to make her happy.” The wife then replied, “My goal is to make him happy.” That’s so true! We tend to be selfish in most of our relationships, including marriage, it can sometimes be all about what we want and “He’s not doing this…” But if both parties focused on the other person rather than self gratification, how different things would be! I’ve been trying to remember this more this week and things that would make Ben happy.

I’m thankful for this space and that I can be honest and express my feelings in yesterday’s post. I really was so scared to press publish (knowing it could possibly cause more negativity) and didn’t want to just come off complaining because I really am thankful for so much. I wanted to continue bring some realness to this place (and the internets) and share a bit of what’s in my heart. To be clear, I don’t necessarily think that those who engage in the sarcasm and criticism are jealous or particularly angry people. I think just as much as blog reading is a fun, little, time-waster-passer timer for us, it probably is just a fun and engaging thing for them to indulge in that kind of… I don’t know what to call it, observational-very-opinionated banter? Just like I don’t appreciate their judgement on me without fully knowing me, I don’t think it’s fair to call them jealous or unhappy because then nothing really makes us all that different.

What I’ve learned and take away for myself is that I need to work on applying Ephesians 4:29: “No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” Also, I’d love by example to teach my daughters Proverbs 31:25: “She opens her mouth with wisdom and loving instruction is on her tongue.” I know I can definitely work on that too! With those verses, thank you for your kind and wise words, it definitely encouraged me more than you know!