Wednesday, June 14, 2017

previously unpublished pictures from my phone

I am always taking pictures on my phone.  I post about half of what I take, usually, maybe even less.  I thought I'd share about those today, because it's Wednesday, it's hot, I'm tired still, and I don't know what else to write about.

Last Wednesday was a rough parenting day.  All the kids at my house that day were fighting over stupid things (x box), and I might have kicked them all out.  As in, I made them turn the game off and go outside to play basketball.  Graham was about to be going to the church, and I made him take them all with him.  Jonah stayed here to decompress a bit, then Drew came home and joined us.

Later on I took him and Drew to the church (Drew didn't want to drive his truck), dropped them off, then pulled around to the shade in back of the church and sat in quiet.  In those moments, I prayed, asking God to show me if it was ME, or if it was the kids, and He did reveal to me a few things.  After about fifteen minutes of quiet, I drove back around to my normal side that I park on, and went in for a meeting.  I felt much better.

Meanwhile, this was where I sat and how I felt about my mom skills that day.



Not my best day.  #keepingitreal

I am thankful it got a lot better, and after some of that quiet, I realized I was in a bad mood.  I have to say here that there are always kids in and out of my home during the summer, and sometimes, I just need it to be us.  I love having their friends here all the time, but sometimes that can be a LOT of testosterone in the house, and words fly, and moods can change really fast.  We've actually had this happen in the past and two times, it resulted in fighting.  (Physical fighting, between one or two of mine and one extra.)  I try to be observant and catch it quick, so that doesn't happen again.


My friend Marissa posted this a couple days ago.  This is part of my family on the Navajo reservation.  I love these people and really wish I was there with them.

Next year.


I've resorted to taking screen shots of the boys Snapchats.


(Drew in the bus with some of the kids on their bus route.)


I caught this perfectly amazing picture of Crash yesterday when I was talking to one of girls from church.  He's twinning with the dog in the background.


I went outside to read for a while on Monday.  I was so cold, and it was a beautiful day.  Right after this, I thought I felt a spider on me, and started itching and went back inside.  It was nice while it lasted.


Todd and Noah went to some yard sales Saturday morning and found this cross for me.  Isn't it pretty?  Well, I ended up using it yesterday, to bury a cat for our neighbors, whose three cats Jonah and Noah are watching.  My stepdad came to town to bury her, and we used this as a grave marker to show them where she was.

It's been a week!  From multiple leaks and repairs in our house, and hundreds of dollars spent on repairs, to the unexpected death of a neighbor's elderly kitty, I feel we have run the gamut of emotions this week.  I am looking forward to an easy going day, a good dinner, and another family night at home.

Also, I miss my older boys.  I finally talked to both of them yesterday and after last night's conversation with Drew, I almost cried.  It is still really weird and strangely quiet minus them and their ever-present friends.

Thanks for reading!  Love to all.

4 comments:

Nina Newswanger said...

Hello!! I've been M.I.A
Good to read you again!
I realized a few things today and need some encouragement....I am not living for Jesus, I want to, but feel I don't quite know where to start if that makes sense. Also, I need to spend less time on my phone and more time living my life!!! What is a happy medium? I love reading blogs and watching YouTube.

Jennifer Goodwin said...

Hey there! I've missed "seeing" you on here! I love how honest you are, and how willing you are to put yourself out there. If you've not accepted Jesus as your Savior and the Lord of your life, it's as easy as believing that He is who the Bible says He is. It's admitting that you're a sinner and that you're in desperate need of a Savior. (We all are!) It's confessing your sin (that you've not been living for Him), asking Him to forgive you, and to change you from the inside out. And then you can ask Him to help you live your life for Him. Pray all the time. Read His word. (John is always a great starting place!) It's not complicated, and it's often much simpler than we make it out to be.

I certainly understand about the phone issue. I try to practice self control in that area. Sometimes I silence it and put it screen down, so that I can be present in my life. You can pray and ask the Lord to help you with this, too, and He will strengthen you. I always ask Him to fill me up with all the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control) and to let me learn to practice them regularly.

I also love to read blogs and I love scrolling on Instagram. I love when my newsfeeds are full of scripture, so I follow lots of inspiring people on social media. That helps me to get into His word daily, if I'm struggling, and that does happen.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Nina Newswanger said...

I'm definitely a believer and a Christian, I'm just feeling like I'm failing in having a real relationship with Jesus and disciplining myself to be in the word daily. Thanks for the tips. Would you be willing to share your email address again?

Jennifer Goodwin said...

Of course! Allboys@gmail.com.

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