Summer Fun

Take The Time

I read this the other day and liked it. Such a good reminder to slow down and savor each precious moment with our little ones.

It's 9:15, and bedtime took along time, once again-

Another drink, another glass of water, and then

The questions come, the hands hold tight, and the eyes are opened wide,

And something in me whispers, "Now's the time."

"Mommy, why did Muffy die? Daddy, wheres the sun?

"Are there cats in heaven? and why did Jesus come?"

And though a whole day's dishes wait, and bills are piled high,

Something in me whispers, "Take the time"

Take the time, while they're right here by your side,

Take the time, while their arms are opened wide.

Teach them how to love the Lord with all their heart and mind.

Oh, they're only home a season, take the time.

Ridding off to Narnia upon a lions back,

Chubby fingers close the book and add it to the stack.

"Aslan didn't kill the witch Oh Dad, why did he die?

And something in me whispers, "Nows the time."

Her soccer game's tomorrow, but so is my interview.

How can I play Scrabble, when there's so much to do?

Little faces plead with me to put my work aside,

And something in me whispers, "Take the time."

Take the time, while they're right here by your side,

Take the time, while their arms are opened wide.

Teach them how to love the Lord with all their heart and mind.

Oh, they're only home a season, take the time

For one day they'll want to spend time alone.

One day they'll need to be on their own.

Next week their hugs may not seem quite the same-

Oh Lord, may they honor your name.

It's 9:15, and bedtime took a long time, once again-

Another drink, another glass of water, and then

The questions come, the hands hold tight, and the eyes are opened wide,

And something in me whispers, "Now's the time."

Take the time, while they're right here by your side,

Take the time, while their arms are opened wide.

Teach them how to love the Lord with all their heart and mind.

Oh' they're only home a season, take the time.

Mothers Day

A few days late but couldn't let this Mother's Day pass without sharing my memories. My mom is and was the most AMAZING, caring, loving, compassionate, gentle, sweet mother in the world.

Some of my favorite memories growing up include:

-coming home after a LONG day of school hahah and having snacks waiting for us on the table

-taking us to White Water every summer and ridding all the rides with us

-carpooling us around to soccer, never missing a single game or practice

-teaching us about the Lord, singing songs to us at night in bed, scratching our backs and our arms

-Psalty the singing songbook haha

-creating so many fun memories, our house was always the house the kids in the neighborhood wanted to be at, we had the most fun, best snacks, and all around fun time there. She made it a special and magical place for others and has the gift of hospitality for sure

-playing house with us, dress up, doctors office, school, games galore

-always making our family dinners special and yummy

-organizing and dreaming up fun/affordable vacations. I remember she would sometimes take all 3 of us on vacation by herself (if my dad had to work), she is a travel agent extrodinare

-making each holiday, birthday, celebration special and unique

-Unconditional love and acceptance and complete selflessness

-A legacy of godliness, prayerfulness, and love for others

Mom- I love you and I hope that I become 1/2 the woman/momn that you are.

Now for my sweet girls.....

They bring me such joy and happiness. This year on Mother's Day Harper made me a little potted flower plant with her fingerprints on it and a special little poem. I loved it! Sydney gave me her sweet smiles all day long =) and Adam bought me a diamond drop necklace to replace my favorite one that I had lost. It was such a sweet surprise!

I hope all you momma's out there know how special you are and what a difference you are making in the world.

Sydney Mini

Sydney,

You are 6 months old and what a JOYFUL little babe you are.

* You love to smile at me any time of the day or night. You love to smile at anyone who glances your way. Your joy is such a sweet presence in our family.

*You are very active, you love to be on your tummy, you don;t like for me to change your diaper or be constrained by your car seat.

*You started rocking back and forth on your knees at 5 months and are now semi crawling. It is the cutest thing. You use your little toes to propel you forward. You are going to have some strong little toes.

*You have started sleeping through the night. I am thankful for longer stretches of sleep at night but I miss your sweet night time cuddles when I would nurse you. You love to nurse and love to find my hand to hold while nursing. I love this sweet time with you!

*You love for me to hold you most of the day. I am so thankful for the Ergo so that I can carry you around wherever we go.

*You love to smile and laugh at your sister, she can be pretty silly =), When we play patty cake you laugh so hard I am affraid you are going to hurt yourself.

*You have enjoyed almost any food I have offered you so far (peas, sweet potattoes, green beans, avacado, bananas, pears and rice cereal) You rock back and forth in your bumbo with your arms out to the sides when I feed you. You get so EXCITED.

* You are very observant. Always watching what everyone is doing and taking it all in, much like your daddy.

* You love to kick your legs in excitement when I get you out of your crib in the morning and after naps.

*You love to sleep in the far corner of your bed all curled up in a little ball, it is your special spot. Always on your tummy

*You get so EXCITED when daddy comes home from work.

*Harper gave you the nickname Sydney Mini (I love to hear her say it to you)

Sydney- I love you so much, your a precious gift from the Lord! I pray every day that God would give us the wisdom to parent you as He would want. We pray that you would come to know and follow him at a young age and that you would always know how special you are. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, you bring joy to our family. I am blessed to be your mama

FAITHFUL

The last few months have been filled with much joy, fun, excitement and sweet memories but have also been filled with lots ofquestions, insecurities, challenges and fears.

I LOVE being a mom to my 2 beautiful girls. They make me laugh, make me cry, they make me want to be a better human being. Its funny how parenthood will do that to you. You suddenly realize all your short comings and are inspired to change, to grow so that you can be a better example for these little people.

Our sweet girls teach me so much more than I could ever teach them. Each day I find myself wishing that I could stop time because sweet moments pass so quickly, yet wishing I could go back and do something different (not in a guilty way but more in a wish I would have known that before kinda way, learning kinda way).

I have grown a ton over the last few years. I have rea

lized things about myself that were hidden deep within. I have conquered so many of my insecurities and faced many of my struggles. I

am still learning, still growing and thankful for the self awareness that God has provided. Today I took time to STOP and thank God for His FAITHFULNESS to me.

Today...as I was spending some time with God. The word FAITHFUL came into my mind in BIG, BOLD letters. I pondered the word (means devoted, consistent with truth) and what it has meant to me over the last few years/months/days/hours/minutes (ha lets be honest). My mind was flooded with so many memories, answered prayers and verses that remind me of God's faithfulness.

God is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. Psalm 145:13

God who has called you into fellowship with his son Jesus Christ is faithful. Psalm 57:10

Because of the Lords great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3: 22-23

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless. 2 Samuel 22:26

Your love O Lord reaches to the heavens your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 57:10

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:4

I know that each and every day I fall short, I fail, I say something I wish I didn't, I am not enough for Adam, our girls, my friends, my family. But God is ...THE FAITHFUL ONE! I can't tell you how much encouragement, power and and strength this brings to my heart.

More than anything I want it to be said of me that I am/was a faithful wife, mother, friend, and servant of God. I praise God today for his faithful answers to my prayers, the way he provides wisdom like no other in parenting, the way that he intimately knows me, my struggles, my imperfections and the way that he LOVES through his faithfulness. Because of his faithfulness to me how can I not desire to grow in faithfulness toward him. I know that the only way that I can understand and appreciate his faithfulness is to allow him full access to my heart and to seek him with all that I am.

So...this is my prayer....for myself and our girls

Psalm 27:4-5

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in His temple.

How have you seen God's faithfulness in your life lately?

Sing Over Me

This is one of my FAVORITE baby cd's . It is a collection of beautiful worship songs and lullabies. Perfect for days like today (a little gloomy) when you just want to rock your babe a little longer and sing them some sweet melodies. I started singing these songs to Harper as a baby and now I get to sing them to Sydney too.

Check out a few of my favorites below (How Deep The Fathers Love For Us). I thought this one was fitting considering that it is almost Easter and it really spoke to my heart today.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/nichole-nordeman/tracks/how-deep-the-fathers-love-for-us--34122278

I also love this song (Hold On To Jesus) for those of you with little girls. It often comes to mind in the night when I am feeding Sydney. It is such a beautiful song and a great prayer to pray for girls and boys

http://www.amazon.com/Sing-Over-Me-Worship-Lullabies/dp/B000GEU6FO

ENJOY!

Our Girls

I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful Texas weather! We have so enjoyed playing at the park, walks with friends, painting outside and impromptu tea parties at our house this week.

The sun always brightens my spirit, helps to jump start my creativity after hibernating over the winter and most of all reminds me of the goodness of God, his creation and new life.

We had a bit of a rough winter at the Hammack household. Lots of sickness and cold indoor days. Thankfully we are all feeling better and looking forward to all this new season will bring.

Here are a few pictures I found on my parents computer. We are hanging out here for a few days while Adam is enjoying a much needed vacation/boys trip (snowboarding in Mammoth).

Sweet Sydney! Her nickname is "All Smiles All The Time" She really is the most happy and contented baby. She reminds me to be thankful in all circumstances and to find joy in even the most mundane moments of mothering. She is always so sweet and patient and her smile really lights up the room. She just turned 4 months old. She is starting to talk, and loves to kick her little legs (most of the time out of her clothes), she is starting to drool and may be getting a tooth before we know it.

Harper is my sweet little social butterfly. Here she is at my dad's office talking on the phone. Fast forward.....20 years...I can see her working with and serving people in some capacity. She is so loving, kind and social. She talks a million miles and words a minute and always has something cute to add to the conversation. We are working with her on stranger danger stuff since she trusts pretty much anyone and everyone. Oh if only the world was as small and innocent and as a 2 year olds.

Another Happy Picture of Sweet Sydney. I love this little hat. My parents got it for her for Christmas. Check out that smile...seriously captivating

Harper and Sydney sweet friends allready. Sydney loves to watch Harper and Harper is the sweetest big sister. She is so loving towards her and is my little helper. My prayer is that they will become the best of friends