Getting Creative

With the cold days settling in, and quite a lot of rain, too, the boys and I have been getting creative indoors.

Nathaniel is not really "into" coloring or sitting for much time to create art, so he's been dancing and singing and making lava rocks of our couch cushions (jumping from cushion to cushion to avoid the hot lava on the floor). He's creative in his own energetic crazy way. I just have to take it and help him channel that craziness into something that doesn't destroy the house or his brother! He sings a lot, too. His singing is often an indicator of the mood for that day. He likes to sing all day sometimes - all his conversation in song - some days he wakes up and says he wants to have an "opera day" and then he just starts singing everything he says! He's been making up lots of new dance moves and asking me to watch his "dance shows." Very, very funny.

Josiah has been finding his own preferences and personality. While Nathaniel has been at kindergarten, I have been learning about and enjoying my little boy's humor and creativity. We've been attending the weekly story-and-craft-hour at our local library. Josiah is loving this! He especially enjoys anything with glue and talking with the other kids about their crafts. And he loves to play with play-dough! He's painted several times at home, too. While I have been working on a couple small canvas paintings to decorate the boys' bathroom, he's been painting right next to me at the table. It is fun to be near each other and just hear him chatter about his "creatures" he's painting.

I have been painting and sewing and baking, too. It has actually been a joy to have a few cold days, and it is good to sometimes slow down and stay home. I just finished a couple 8x10 inch paintings for the boys' bathroom - a water/pond theme - one has a lizard and one has a flamingo. They are just silly and not realistic - no great works of art - but cute nonetheless. And it is really fun for me! I have sewed and patched up about 5 pairs of jeans and took in the waist. I also sewed a horse mane and tail and ears on an existing sweatshirt for Nathaniel's Halloween costume. He has been galloping around the house for a fews days whinnying and snorting. The more I sew and paint, the quicker I get and the set-up and clean-up process becomes more efficient, too.

There have been many lonely days and the Lord is prompting me to pray when that lonely feeling nags in my heart. While I lay in bed between 6:30 (Tom is up, but not the kids yet) and 7 each morning I've been asking the Lord to review my day's to-do list for His plans. Nathaniel's anger and mouthy moments have lessened over the last 2 months. God is answering our (and your) prayers and I can see a little softening of his heart here and there with sweet conversations about our Savior.

I used to think that spending time doing "frivolous things" was not what God wanted for me, and staying home with children might be boring or not "big enough" to serve God. I have been realizing more and more lately that having a peaceful home, helping Tom whenever I can, working to discipline the children, working on peace in my stubborn heart, and creating a home with pleasant walls brings blessing to Him, as well. So, why don't y'all come visit us here???!