A Heart of Contentment

I've been dealing lately with contentment. I think we as women tend to be discontented with many things in our lives. We are always wanting more, something better, something nicer, something bigger...Always wishing we had a nicer house, (in my case wishing that the construction of my house would come together sooner), wishing we had nicer furniture, wishing we had air-conditioning (would be nice in this terribly hot weather), and the list goes on and on...plain discontentment.

I have turned to God's word for help in this area...and boy, have I ever felt convicted!

I Timothy 6:8 says: "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."

Notice, it does not say; be content is you have a nice house, or air-conditioning (ouch), or whatever we're discontent about. It says, having food and raiment ( clothing) let us be content. Sound simple, but oh so hard to grasp, to put into practice.
We have plenty of food around here, and clothing too...so that means I should be content!

What exactly is contentment?!?! My dictionary says:
Con-tent-ment  (noun) : The state of being contented (satisfaction),  a source of satisfaction.


Another verse yet, Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."


Once again, it says be content with the things that you have! Very convicting isn't it? I have asked the Lord to forgive me for my discontentment, I want to be content, I want to be a thankful Christian, wife and mommy...I want people to see me as a happy person, not a long faced, complaining christian! So, what has to change???

My heart...

It's a heart issue. It's a decision. A decision that has to be made every day...whether I will be happy and thankful today, or not.

There is one young wife and mommy in our church that has blessed me so much and has been such an encouragement to me as I learn to be content. She is one of the happiest people I know! She always has such a lovely smile on her face. If you would happen to visit her house, you would see that her family doesn't have much.. they live in a tiny, tiny 3 roomed (by three roomed, I mean the house has 1 bedroom, 1 kitchen and living room combined, and a bathroom) house in the back of her mother-in-law's house. They don't have much of anything. Her husband is currently un-employed, and they have two small adorable girls...now put yourself into her situation, I know I would be very worried.. to say the least.
Do you think this took away my dear friend's joy and thankfulness???
Definitely not!
I went to visit her this last week, and I left her house in tears...she encouraged me...she blessed me, she continues to be happy and cheerful although the world around her is falling to the ground. What an example and encouragement she is! My friend and her husband might never be rich, but they're one of the happiest families I have ever met. Their two little ones don't have a nice room, or nice clothing and toys, but they're one of the most contented little children I have ever met...once again reminding us that it's not things that brings happiness...their parents are teaching their children contentment...they will someday make wonderful, happy wives and mommies!

That's definitely what I want for me, that's the legacy I want to leave for my children...I want them to remember me as a happy, contented mommy! I might never get my house as fast or as nice as I want it, I might never get my air-conditioning, but I can still be happy and content because God has already given me so much more than I deserve!

What about you? What have you learned about contentment? Would you care to share?

From a thoughtful and thankful heart,

It's Saturday??? Already???

It's Saturday...unbelievable.

Where has the week gone??? We enjoyed such a nice week. We had nice weather this week. It got down to the 60's, and was so nice for a change! Yes, you can be jealous :)

This week was mostly a relaxing and catching up week...I'm so thankful for God's grace through the many trials we face! His grace is amazing!!

I got all caught up on my laundry! Hurrah!!!

We got our shopping done this week too...so that is another blessing! The prince thinks shopping is quite boring. He decided to take a nap during our shopping trip. How he can actually sleep through a loud supermarket is beyond me!

So. after this week's sabbatical, I hope to return to normal life ;)
How was your week been?!?!
Hope you all have a amazing weekend,

Caught red-handed

Since I became a mother I've discovered that life with children is anything but boring! Can I get a hearty "amen" from the other mommies out there?!?!

Little prince is always into something.

I recently caught him...red-handed... check out the guilty look on his face!!

"But Mom, it's so fun to dump the trash can and play in it!"

I wonder if girls are different??? I don't remember ever playing in the trash..maybe my memory is failing me.

The little prince sure knows how to make his mommy laugh, and trust me, I have definitely been needing a few laughs. I was in the ER last night...long story. I've got a severe case of mastitis...for some reason that term makes me feel like a cow! Anyways, this momma has been feeling quite miserable, trying to follow the doctors orders and take it easy, kind of hard to do with an active 16 month old! I'm taking antibiotics so I feel a little better today. I'm very thankful for my hubby and my mom who have been so helpful with the prince so mommy can get some rest ;)

Mommy's gift :)

Hope you all are enjoying a blessed day!!

My favorite things Friday!

Here are a few of my favorite things!!!

Being around the most handsome, most loving and lovable man!

Beautiful & Relaxing scenery..sigh

My adorable little toddler...and his sweet jabbery voice!

Roses...aren't they just lovely?!?!

What are your favorite things???
I can think of a ton, but then this post would be looooonnnggg...

I didn't have a picture of coke to post on here, definitely a favorite thing too :)

Have a lovely, lovely day enjoying your favorite things!!!

Random musings

 This blog has had a quiet week but my week hasn't been all that quiet! There's always a lot to do around here, and I feel like I can never get everything accomplished! Anyone else feel that way?!?!

My head is  still above water...I think :)

 We've had some cold days...when I say cold, I think the lowest it got was in the 50's or so...too cold for me!  I much rather have some warm, flip flop weather :) I have to admit it was fun getting to sleep in and cuddle with a warm little guy for a while!! Love, love, love the cuddling part!

It's really a beautiful time of the year, although a little dry...some rain would be nice, but not complaining :) I love watching the colorful sunsets, there's just something special about it! I love sunsets...makes me want to sit and just think for a while! It's amazing to see the beautiful things the Creator made for us to enjoy!!

Now changing gears...

I had the privilege to teach the 11-14 year old girls for camp last week. It went very well. I don't have any pictures though, my camera was not charged! Bummer! It was a lot of fun, and I think I've learned some things about teaching! It's definitely different than the age group I'm used to teaching, but I think it went well...for the first time!

This week has been mostly a catching up week. I had loads and loads of laundry to do, a house to re-organize and clean, and now I've been working on new things for my preschooler Sunday school class! Keeps me quite busy!

Then there's also a busy little prince to take care of :) It's my all time favorite pass time (grin)..
He's sure a busy little feller and he's been waking up extra extra extra early lately! (ughhh) Not good, not good.
He's becoming quite the talker! It's fun to hear his happy chatter through the house!!! I have to say that my house is never clean though, there's always toys and snacks on the floor :) Please tell me your is the same way, so I can feel a little better ?!?!?

He loves teasing the cat!

So, that's a little bit of what's going on here on my side of the world! How's your week?!?!
  Hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week!

Happy June!

This blog has been silent for quite a while...I guess I have the blogging blues :)  We've actually had some crazy, crazy, days...weeks...it's all been a blur! I am waiting for life to slow down so I can actually be inspired to blog, but it hasn't happened, so I decided I just have to blog anyways (big grin)..

I won't bore you with the long accounts and details of our last couple of weeks....
My Mom has been keeping an account of what's been going on here, so if you want to drop over and read that, please feel free to do so.

I can't believe today is the 1st of June already! Wow! June is one of my favorite months of the year!  It's my birthday month...it's Valentine's Day month (in Brazil)...I like June a lot ;)

So because June is my very favorite month...I will be hosting a giveaway! I am so exicted about this...and it's the first time I am going to do this on my blog...so stay tuned for more information on this giveaway! (coming up soon...I promise ;) I just have to get a few details in place...)

My sweet husband & I :)

The 12th of June is Valentine's day here and it also happens to be my birthday :) I love birthdays!!! Our church also hosts an annual couple's outing...so we're getting ready and we're excited for that!

The little prince is growing, growing, growing...Sometimes I look at him and I can't believe how big he's getting! He's a busy little guy and he is sure a ham...takes after his daddy...I guess (sheepish smile)...

He's going to be 15 months old in another week...and I think this is the best phase ever...It's been a joy to see him learning new words, and getting to see his personality coming ...it's amazing...I love every minute of being a mommy! Thank-you Lord for this wonderful privilege!

Mommy's little cowboy :)

Have a happy Wednesday...and stay tuned for the giveaway :)

Monday!!!!!!!

Happy Monday! Hope you all have a blessed week!

It's Winter in Brazil!!! It's 68 degrees outside today...That's cold for our Brazilian blood! We're all wearing jackets and socks and keeping the house well closed! You can laugh now :)

We're just not used to this kind of weather. It's really rare for it to get this cold! Only a few times every years, so that's the reason we basically freeze when it gets cooler :)

Have a happy week!!!

Blessings,

Busy weekend....

Whew! What a busy weekend! The last 3 days have been a holiday here in Brazil...that means hubby can be home with us during this time! We've really been enjoying this precious time together.

It's been a crazy couple of days...but enjoyable too..

I cooked,

chased after a busy toddler ;)

Did laundry....

Helped my hubby in the construction of our home...it's a' coming slowly....but it's coming!!!
This is what it's looking like. We hope to get the roofing up in the next couple of weeks...I can't wait!!!

our house...

Helping hubby carrying bricks :)

The lil' prince playing while mommy & daddy work on the house!

So, that's my weekend in a nutshell ;) FUN, huh?!?!

Blessings,

A day in the country

I don't know about you, but I love the country...and I can't wait to live in it and enjoy the country life!

I really enjoy the peace and quiet, and the scenery, sigh....you'll just have to see for yourself:
                and there is the most beautiful prince to enjoy it with...I am blessed beyond measure ;)

Breathtaking, huh?!?!.....now look at these...even more breathtaking, if you ask me!

Mommy's lil' pumpkin ....makes me want to squeeze him ;)

Serious face..

I love silly faces ;)

  
I am so ready to be a country girl!!! I can hardly wait till my amazing hubby finishes our house out there! I'm going to be one happy country girl ;)

Blessings,

Watermelon love...

So...

Little prince's new favorite is watermelon ...

And...I really don't know why he likes it so much...I'm not much of a watermelon fan, so yes...it's shocking!
  What's even worse...it makes such a mess....and it's even worse when daddy gives him watermelon when he's all dressed up to go somewhere...

                                                                     Not a good thing....

Check out the mess!!! Oy.....

Quite innocent looking, huh?!?!

The joys of being a mommy :)

He won't stay clean anymore... sigh...

Feel my pain, anyone?!?!?!

It's Tuesday :)

It's Tuesday...just a reminder, in case you're like me and you easily forget. If I were pregnant, I would blame it on the pregnancy brains, but no excuse for this camper ;)

Is it just me or is time flying like crazy?!?! I can't believe it's April already...wowzers...time flies when you have a kid.


On my last post, I had mentioned the goof-ball prince was sick...he's doing much better and it's so nice to see him be himself again. We sure have been enjoying this little goof-ball. He is so funny and it's fun to see his personality showing. He makes us laugh all the time...learning new things, doing different things. He's actually taking some steps now ....so I figure he will be walking pretty soon :) YAY, wait, maybe not ;) Seriously, people tell me, "wait till he's walking, then you're going to be busy..." I reckon so, but I still really can't wait for him to walk :)

Yesterday, I was cleaning up the house, while he sat playing with his toys and jabbering to himself. He then got up, waddled a couple steps to where I was and gave me a toy he was playing with...I was so shocked and I just started laughing...:) My baby boy is growing.

What do you think of his shades?!?! He likes 'em ;)

 It's amazing how fast they learn things. He's recently started saying his own name a lot...he will repeat in a sing-song voice a couple of times : "dosh, dosh, dosh, dosh"...It just melts this mama's heart ;)
 The other day is was going through some receipts and putting away important ones and throwing some away, he was on the floor playing with the papers...I accidentally threw one on him and it landed right on his little feet...he picked it up and looked at me and said "no, no, no" while shaking his head ;) It was so adorable...he's in the phase where he wants to throw everything and I always tell him "no" when he does...and here I thought he wasn't even paying attention to what I was trying to teach him ;)

This week we had a visit from a good friend of ours ...she has a little girl who is exactly 2 months older than my little boy...so it was fun to watch them together.

Friends ;)

Prince & R several months ago...prince was 4 months old and R was 6 months old...

 This dear family has moved away to another state, so it had been a couple of months since we'd seen each other...and these kiddies grew like weeds ;) I honestly tried to snap a good picture of the two toddlers, but it was impossible! They were moving all over the place, so it was hard to snap a picture...and they would not stand close to each other....don't ask me why, maybe because of the 7 inch rule ?!?!

We've already had quite an exciting week. We bought a car (actually our first car as a married couple :) yesterday and we get to pick it up tomorrow. We're soooooo EXCITED about this...it's going to be so  wonderful to have "wheels" :)

Have an amazing rest of the week,

Hello! Wow, it's been quite a while, hasn't it? These weeks have been busy as always, I've thought about blogging many times, but to be honest, I really haven't been inspired to blog :) Maybe it's the many sleepless nights that's been wearing on me ...the little prince has been sick ever since his birthday. That's quite a long time! It started off like a normal flu...fever, coughing, runny nose. We gave him all we knew to, natural remedies, inhalation treatments, and all the stuff  but after almost three weeks it's still wasn't working, so we finally took him to the pediatrician last night. She checked him and said he has a severe throat infection... that explains the reason he hasn't been eating lately :( So, she prescribed antibiotics, and we've started him on that.  We finally got quite a decent night's rest last night, so I'm praying and hoping this will make him feel better. He's been quite miserable, poor little guy!

He wants to be held and cuddled all day....so it's definitely wearing me out!

Annndddd....no, he still isn't walking...not sure when he will decide it's time :) We're waiting....

                                              

PEEK-A-BOO!!!!

A smile...finally :)

Anyways, my days have been devoted to taking good care of this little one and keeping him comfortable.

Since my last post, I have started teaching English to my husband's teacher from the university. I teach on Tuesday's and Friday's from 8-10 am. The little prince stays with my mom for those hours. It's been a really wonderful experience for me, and I have already been able to witness to her during one of there opportunities.
She is going to teach a seminar in Israel in May and she needs to learn English as soon as possible, so I've been working hard with her. It's fun! I've been enjoying it!

 So, that's my life in a nutshell...:)

Hope you're enjoying a wonderful week!

I'm here!

After several days of blog silence, I'm back! I wish I had counted the many times I made plans to post something, and ended up not being able to do it...they were very many times ;) These days have been crazy! I feel like I am running around in circles...ever feel like that?!?

We're getting ready for the lil' prince's birthday party. His birthday is a week from tomorrow, but we're having the party on the 11th. You all are invited, by the way ;) It's crazy how much work a party takes! I am sure you all know that already. This is the prince's first and last big birthday party! I was able to get a song I wrote him recorded and put into a video to show at his party, so that was a big one crossed from my list.  I still have to get the party favors done. I worked on that till very late last night, but unfortunately did not get it all done! Let me see what else...oh yes...the shopping, I'm getting it done tonight! YAY for one more thing crossed out!!!


And on top of all this, family camp is fast approaching! It starts on Friday night, and I'm going to spend the 5 days there! Am I crazy or what?!?!

I am really looking forward going to camp this year. I know I will be blessed with the messages and fellowship with others there! I'm hoping to get some rest there, so I can be perky for the prince's birthday on Friday night :) I'm so excited!!!!

So, this week has been crazy, and I've been on the go since bright and early till very late at night. There's always lots to do. I got caught up on my laundry today, so that's another one crossed out of my list..let me tell you, this list thing is quite long :)
y b
The lil' prince is just so funny and energetic. He's growing up so fast. He will sit and mess in everything (cough, cough) entertain himself for hours now, which is such a blessing for me ;) He's repeating so many words now and just really making his daddy and I laugh constantly at his new achievements. His newest favorite is "Dosh" which I think is "Josh", because he says it every time I call him....he will shake his head and say "Dosh:. It's C.U.T.E...

Everybody asks me if he's walking yet...and the answer is no....I don't think he will walk before his first birthday, but that's okay! I always say: "he'll walk when he is ready to". No use forcing him around, but it would be awfully nice :)

So...that's the scoop around here, and I really can't write any longer...I am sitting here and the mosquitoes are just eating me alive here :) Slight exaggeration there ...but they are pretty bad today. Probably because of all the nice rain we've been getting!

Hope you all are having an amazing week.....
Mine's been pretty crazy, but I'm here and I'm rejoicing in the Lord's goodness to me!!!

Whoever said boys don't have bad hair days?!?!?

Well, they're wrong! Check this out.....

I wish my hair looked this cute when I have a bad hair day :)

Adorable, ain't it?!?!

Busy bee...

These past few days have been extremely busy for us...and the next couple of weeks will be the same way! I'm trying to get things ready for a birthday party for the cutest little prince, and boy, oh boy...it's a lot of work!

As his birthday fast approaches, I get more nervous with all the stuff I need to get done before the 4th of March. We're planning to go to our annual family camp during Mardi-grass, which is from the 4th-9th of March, and the prince's birthday party is the 11th, so I am trying to get everything done before the 4th so I can go to camp and not have to worry about party stuff. This has meant several....way to many trips downtown just this week! I need to get this done so I can pack for camp! Pack...another thing that has me worried. Is it just me or does every mother have to carry so much junk stuff around?!?! I have a headache just thinking about all the things I will need to pack to spend 5 days away from home...oh my! Let's get back to the birthday talk though...


Decorations, balloons, party favors and the list just gets longer... I am thankful that I already got a lot done this week, I still need to get some last minute things together...but they're still time consuming and exhausting to say the least :)

Not complaining though, I am excited about this party and I just hope everything runs smoothly and we can enjoy a cute party for the prince!


We finished the party favors this week...and boy, are they cute !!!!!!!!!!!! Below is a picture of the beginning of them...but you'll have to wait to see what me made these into ....(Grin)


I am soooooo pleased with it!

It was a lot of work, but I had help from my friend Andreia...and my Mom...and it was worth it every minute of cutting...sweating, gluing, cutting....you get it :)

They're as cute as can be, and I am so happy we decided to make our own party favors. They came out so much cheaper than having them made, and I personally think they look much cuter...

So, can you guess what it is?!?! And nooo, they aren't flowers...it's a boy's party...you know!!!! I'll let you think on that one for a while...

Anyways, that's been my week..and I am really looking forward to this party, but I will also be glad when it's over :) No more big birthday parties after this one, dear little prince!
......And I won't even begin telling you how I can't believe he's going to be one...that's going to be redundant...I think I say that in almost every post :)

Hubby gets to stay home tomorrow, so I am going to relax and enjoy the day with him tomorrow ...We all need some rest :)

Have an amazing weekend!