Kindness

About a week ago I started something I have never done before with Grady. We are calling it a "kindness journal." In mothering, there will always be things you really love and admire about your children and then there are those things that you so desperately want to change or take away completely. Grady is a precious boy...but he definitely struggles with an antagonistic spirit. Now, I won't mention where he might have gotten this but let's just say that my loving husband told me in college once, "I only make fun of people that I like." :) Anyway, back to the point...KINDNESS! I told him that for the next month, I want him to think each day about kind things he can do for others and we will write them down each night. I did a little studying of my own to find Bible stories and verses that will help me reiterate the point and teach this important value to him. As I read one definition given, I thought to myself, wow maybe I need a kindness journal too! It said, "To be kind means "having or showing a tender, considerate and helping nature." Thus, one who is kind is friendly, generous, warmhearted, sympathetic, considerate, gentle, and affectionate." In today's world, we are all so inwardly focused or "bubble focused," as I like to call it, that we don't really think outside of our box as to what kindness we can show each day to others. Watching Grady's little face light up as we think of the things he did out of the kindness of his heart has been so exciting! I am praying that the Lord will work in a mighty way in his little heart this month and that he will see the joy in putting others before himself. Who knows, maybe it will take a whole lot longer than a month, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, I am just praying and thanking God for putting it in my mind to make a real effort with him in this area of his life. He truly has a kind heart and I know he will love watching it shine more and more each day! And as usual, God loves to show me through my sons what I need to work on as well and I am thankful for that too even though I sure would like to ignore it sometimes. :) Hope everyone is having a great week!

Fun Family Day

Today was the best Saturday I have had in a long time! We decided on a whim to head to Hilton Head Island to the outlets and to play putt putt. The boys were great while we shopped for Daddy's new work clothes and then it was time for the "big event." Putt putt seems so basic to so many people, but to 5 and 3 year old boys, it is a BIG deal! Grady actually got a hole in one and Davis just mainly enjoyed wacking the ball a few times and then climbing around all the holes. It was so much fun! One of those days where you can just feel God's love pouring down! We have another showing on the house, different people, on Monday, so keep the prayers coming. Thanks so much!!

 

Oh and since I never got around to posting a pic from Easter Sunday, here it is. Truly a testament of the picture taking that day, hiked up dress and all! At least the moment is captured! :)

 

And one more, just for fun! My nephew Tate came over yesterday and the boys were playing fire/police rescue. It was hilarious. They are crazy little men, but they sure do make you laugh!!

Thankful for the mentally refreshing day God gave me today! Hope everyone has a great Lord's day tomorrow!

Camera eyes

Do you ever have a day when you wish you had a camera literally in your eyes??? I had one of those moments this morning! I went for a walk and as I was coming back down my street, I saw one of the cutest things I have ever seen in my life. We went to pickup the boat last night to get it all cleaned up for our inaugural outing on Monday, and Chris and Davis were up at at 'em early to get started. Davis was stomping towards me in a full pirate costume holding an old broken yard hose exclaiming, "Arrrgh Matey!" I wish so bad I could have snapped a picture to last forever, but instead I will have to try and remember that precious image of my little boy. Today has been a beautiful day in Savannah, a berry pickin' kinda day for these boys. Can't wait until tomorrow to celebrate the risen Savior Jesus Christ!!!!!!

Oh how I love my beautiful Hopie girl! Best dog in the world!!!!

Hopeful

Today is Good Friday and for me that means a day to think about what my Savior did for me. Not only did Jesus suffer a torturous death on the cross but his Father, God, had to watch as He knew it was for the love of the whole world. That's the thing about my God's love. He loves us ALL, not one more than any other, and He wants each and every one of us to come to a personal relationship with Him. I am so thankful I know Him and thankful for Jesus dying on the cross for me! I have hope because I know what my ultimate future holds no matter what this world may bring. Happy Easter weekend!!

As many of you know, our house has been for sale for a year and a half. It showed for a 2nd time last night to same family and then today to a different family. More than anything, we want God's will so that is just what we are praying for! Here is a link to the listing! If you have any friends looking please send them our way! It is an awesome house and we have absolutely loved it!
Our House

Happy Birthday to Davis!

Well, it has been a really fun week around the Witherington house. Grady started Tball, Davis had his 3rd birthday party, we've had some backyard sprinkler fun and Grady and Chris went to their first father/son campout!
Today though is Davis' 3rd birthday. It really is strange because I feel like he should only be turning 2 not 3. Time has flown, yet it doesn't feel like it's been that long either. Anyway, I felt the best way to wish my little Davis man a happy birthday is through pictures of his cuteness! He truly has one of the sweetest hearts I've ever known and I just pray that he will learn more and more how to let that shine through! I am so thankful God gave him to our family and know for certain he has taught me more about myself and brought me closer to the Lord than anything else in my life! Thanks Davis for all the smiles and laughs. You are a blessing from God!

Sarah Buck Photography has captured the first 2 1/2 years of Davis life! This is his birthday debut picture!              

6 months

1 year...this is sooo Davis!

18 months

2 years! Beautiful blue eyes!

Davis 2 1/2 years and Grady almost 5

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Davis' kind of fun...spraying Grady in the hiney!

Striking a pose with mommy and daddy

3rd birthday party at Norwood Stables..."Howdy Partmer"

Riding his big boy bike

Mrs. Donna (his childlife specialist) & Davis at her last visit before he was too big for Babies Can't Wait

Silly boys showing off their new goggles

bead man on St. Pat's

kungfu Mickey

And this just says it all!! Have a wild and upside down kinda day in honor of Davis!

Feeling a little old

Well, today is a day that I have talked about for a LONG time! Today, my little brother turns 18! WOW! Time flies!! I remember the day of my 18th birthday, my little 5 year old brother bouncing around and all my friends saying, "Just think, when William turns 18, we will be 31! Whoa that is soooo old!" Haha, well the day is here. Thankfully I don't feel soooo old, but it is a day when I reflect back on how fun and fast life goes by. I am thankful that God has blessed me with such a talented, kind, and hilarious younger brother. I truly don't know what life would be like without him, oh yes i do...BORING!

I love you William!!

No worries, he's not grey yet! He had just finished a performance as Daddy Warbucks!

Good days and bad

Lately, I have found that my patience is wearing quite thin. I have talked to Grady before about the verse in the Bible James 1:19 "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." Well, I guess that was a good thing and a bad thing depending on the day. Some days, he says, "Mom, remember when it says you have to be slow to get angry in the Bible." Then of course I feel like the biggest pile of poop you can imagine on the floor, yet it also serves as a humbling reminder that he is right! I so wish that my sons could just love and appreciate each other as brothers and not antagonize or wrestle or constantly rev each other up every waking moment. I keep dreaming that I will wake up and things will be different tomorrow, and then tomorrow comes and I am right back where I was the day before, frustrated and tired! I had a lady this past week give me some advice after spending about 30 minutes with me and my boys for an evaluation for Davis. She said I should write out scripture and put it all over my house, i.e. bathroom mirror, back door window, kitchen sink, playroom door, the boys' doors and pray it all through the day. She said to pray over Davis every night for his strong will and his spirit. I found myself almost angry when she first suggested it thinking "I do not want to do that. He should just be able to behave!" Do you ever feel like you pray and pray and pray about all kinds of things and NOTHING happens. I have really been going through a valley just like that. Then, completely out of the blue, God looked down and said "Yep, she needs a pick me up!" He sent me a great blessing of joy in one area in a way I cannot share with words. God calls us to put Him as #1 in our lives. I would never need Him like I do right now if I wasn't dealing with the issues I am struggling through with the boys. They are such a blessing, yet the toughest job I have ever been given in my life. I still feel that the most difficult part for me most days is the fact that society as a whole is extremely judgmental. I am so tired of trying to take my boys to buy shoes, grocery shop, or eat at a restaurant and have people talking about them, especially Davis. I wish they could live a day in my shoes and know that it's not that I don't discipline or that I don't try to teach him the proper way to behave in public, or that he is an awful child. It's that sometimes because of who he is, he just CAN'T fit into the "norm" that society expects. I realize though that God wants me to be drawn to Him through this and not away. He wants scripture and prayer to be the tools I use to get me through the day, not anger and yelling. I know this will NOT be possible in my own strength but am praying that this week, I can take some time to focus on verses that He wants me to see and use them to help me have a better attitude of gratitude no matter the circumstances! I am truly reminded today that God's timing is NOT always our own and throughout our lives, we are called to have faith that the Lord is working on our behalf through all things good and bad. I mean after all, who couldn't love all this??

 

Dirt day in the yard followed by Davis insisting on trying on Grady's Halloween costume from when he was 21 months old! Absolutely hilarious but pretty much sums up my life!