PRESENT.
As in "to be more present."
This word popped into my head after the word "peace" dwelled there for a while. But after some time I felt like "peace" is something I am longing for not what I need to be practicing. Soon after I had that thought I had the thought "more peace would be the result of changing something."
So, more thinking, pondering, and then came the word present. As we drove back home, the thoughts. What would life look like if I was more present?
If while spending time with Jesus I was REALLY present
If while home with my kids I was REALLY present.
At coffee with a friend I was REALLY present.
Hanging out with my husband I was REALLY present.
Partly because of who I am, an extrovert with three kids. And partly because of where Jesus has us, still getting used to a new life on a church plant. I found myself less and less present with the NOW and more and more planning and thinking about the LATER.
LATER included both the little (what was I going to make for dinner?, is Nora taking a morning nap today or not?), the MEDIUM (how many days should Claire do preschool?, who is next for us to host in our home?), and the BIG (will Jesus ask us to do this again?, will my kids MAKE IT?). None of these questions and thoughts running through my head are inherently bad, but rather the fact that I found myself often thinking and worrying and pondering these things all too much in the MIDST of the NOW.
PRESENT for me is about trusting Jesus more...that if I work and living more in the NOW that He has given me....what is next....what is LATER will be MORE CLEAR.
Thus something to give up...something to hold looser...something to trust Jesus in more. To live in the moment He has given me and to trust Him to lead me in the later.
Jesus has been helping me work this out now for just 2 weeks, and I can tell you I already see a difference in small ways. Less hurried, more time, more moments, more Jesus.
All good things.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
2014 New Years goal....
I am not a huge fan of "New Years Resolutions" but I saw an idea that sounded like something that might be fun for this year. The person was talking about picking a word as a sense of focus for 2014. I thought it sounded interesting and a fun activity to do with Justin. So on our way back from visiting family we talked and thought about what our words would be for the year. We decided that they would be verbs, actions we could take in each aspects of our lives to focus and think on :) We have each picked our words and have spend time thinking of practical ways to work on these things in our time with Jesus, our relationships, our family, our physical and emotional health.
It isn't something that we are great at now...but I have faith that with Jesus' help and each other reminding ourselves of our word I think it is something that I will be better at in 11 months.
I started by thinking about what I thought Jesus' next thing for me was, what I wanted to do better at, what I desperately needed to put focus on and help with.
I am excited about this and thought I would share :)
It isn't something that we are great at now...but I have faith that with Jesus' help and each other reminding ourselves of our word I think it is something that I will be better at in 11 months.
I started by thinking about what I thought Jesus' next thing for me was, what I wanted to do better at, what I desperately needed to put focus on and help with.
I am excited about this and thought I would share :)
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
At the risk of being yelled at...I have to say it...
At the risk of being told I am a bad mom-or I did it wrong-I have to say something. I am tired...tired of research articles telling mom's that a NEW finding has found that what they are doing is wrong...damaging...or will forever change how their children attach or don't attach to the world, people, or life.
I have 3 beautiful children-I did nothing to deserve them-but I have them and I am blessed. And I know that even on my best days I am messing up in one way or another...I know this because I am not perfect, therefore in many ways I am going to make mistakes along the way.
Don't we all feel that sense as a parent. If so then why must we go back and forth on these issues. It is a vicious circle that never ends up with both sides feeling good about their parenting choices. Why must we make each other feel guilty in order to feel okay about what we have chosen?
If you can and have chosen to breastfeed-AWESOME.
If you can't breastfeed (and I know this is a topic all in itself) or you chose not to-AWESOME.
If a schedule dictated by parents works for you and your kids AWESOME
If you like to dictate your day based on your kids AWESOME
If you pushed that baby out of you with no drugs AWESOME
If you begged for drugs at the 1st contraction AWESOME
If you tried to get that baby out but it didn't work out for one reason or the other and you had a C-section AWESOME
If you sleep with your baby AWESOME
If your baby has slept in a crib since day 1 AWESOME
If you work AWESOME
If you stay home AWESOME
If you use a stroller AWESOME
If you use a front pack AWESOME
And the list could go on and on-most of those 'hot topics' are just about the 'baby years'-there are MANY more polarizing issues...
Why?? Because we can choose- because we all are doing what we are doing out of love for our kids and our family-because 99% of the time we have no clue why the people who have chosen opposite of us have picked what they do--because some days none of us choose...some days as parents we survive, because there is MUCH to pick at each other about...but there is MUCH MORE to learn from and praise-congratulate-celebrate-and embrace with each other about.
Parenting is a tough gig-we are tasked with figuring out a LOT-with every step there is a new learning curve, a new circumstance, a different kid, a new perspective and the list goes on.
We are all imperfect people-doing a really hard job-I would love if we had more grace for each other in the midst of it all.
I have 3 beautiful children-I did nothing to deserve them-but I have them and I am blessed. And I know that even on my best days I am messing up in one way or another...I know this because I am not perfect, therefore in many ways I am going to make mistakes along the way.
Don't we all feel that sense as a parent. If so then why must we go back and forth on these issues. It is a vicious circle that never ends up with both sides feeling good about their parenting choices. Why must we make each other feel guilty in order to feel okay about what we have chosen?
If you can and have chosen to breastfeed-AWESOME.
If you can't breastfeed (and I know this is a topic all in itself) or you chose not to-AWESOME.
If a schedule dictated by parents works for you and your kids AWESOME
If you like to dictate your day based on your kids AWESOME
If you pushed that baby out of you with no drugs AWESOME
If you begged for drugs at the 1st contraction AWESOME
If you tried to get that baby out but it didn't work out for one reason or the other and you had a C-section AWESOME
If you sleep with your baby AWESOME
If your baby has slept in a crib since day 1 AWESOME
If you work AWESOME
If you stay home AWESOME
If you use a stroller AWESOME
If you use a front pack AWESOME
And the list could go on and on-most of those 'hot topics' are just about the 'baby years'-there are MANY more polarizing issues...
Why?? Because we can choose- because we all are doing what we are doing out of love for our kids and our family-because 99% of the time we have no clue why the people who have chosen opposite of us have picked what they do--because some days none of us choose...some days as parents we survive, because there is MUCH to pick at each other about...but there is MUCH MORE to learn from and praise-congratulate-celebrate-and embrace with each other about.
Parenting is a tough gig-we are tasked with figuring out a LOT-with every step there is a new learning curve, a new circumstance, a different kid, a new perspective and the list goes on.
We are all imperfect people-doing a really hard job-I would love if we had more grace for each other in the midst of it all.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
This weekend...some thoughts on Mother's Day.
I have been thinking about this weekend a lot lately. Mother's Day falls on this weekend. This weekend will not be hard for me-it will be fun. My husband will come up with a way for my kids to celebrate me. I will wake up to 3 smiling lives who call me mom.
My journey to motherhood came fairly easy. For whatever reason I was given the undeserved gift of children without much struggle. We have suffered loss along the way with 2 miscarriages in between each of our kids...but each time I grieved, I remember being so grateful that my pregnancy with Blake came easy, and that the girls' came quickly after each loss...I understood that I had yet again been given a huge gift-for in the midst of figuring out how to grieve the loss of life-I got to still call myself mom.
I have been thinking the women I know for whom this is not the case. I know the face of longing to be a mom in a few. Each scenario different-each story is hard, for some the journey is over and they have kids now-but they will never forget the years of waiting, hoping, struggling, yearning. I hope that each woman who has this story is known by someone. Your stories may not be what people want to hear about tomorrow, but don't let that stop you from telling someone, your story is important, you are important.
Mother's Day is hard for those who long to be a mom.
I have also been thinking about my own mom-how I still get to have her on Earth-how we will talk on the phone tomorrow, we will laugh, she will giggle with her Grandkids, how even though this will be the 1st time in 32 years that I won't get to physically give my mom a hug on this day-I have a good relationship with her-she knows that I love and appreciate her. (Her gift will arrive on Monday:) )
This again is not the case for everyone. I know the face of some whose moms have died-instead of celebrating tomorrow, mother's day gives them another day where the grief is a little more sharp and the pain is bit more present. It does the same for adult children whose relationship with their mom is hard and for moms who long for a better relationship with their kids, mother's day reminds them not of what they have but rather of what they don't.
Mother's Day is hard for those who miss their mom's in one way or another. It is also hard for mom's who miss their children.
And finally I have been thinking about the moms who have lost a child, whose baby has died before them. I have a SMALL taste of what this is like as mentioned above. But no idea what it feels like when the pregnancy has gone on longer than 11 weeks or when the child has lived in this world for a time. For these mothers have a face to remember...some a personality to remember...all a loss to remember.
Mother's Day is hard for women whose children have died.
I am not saying we shouldn't celebrate moms-and tomorrow I will love my messy cards and slobbery kisses. I just wanted to take notice that while this 'holiday' will be fun for me-it is not fun for many-some scenarios I probably haven't mentioned I am sure-if you know someone for whom this is the case-take a moment to love them.
My journey to motherhood came fairly easy. For whatever reason I was given the undeserved gift of children without much struggle. We have suffered loss along the way with 2 miscarriages in between each of our kids...but each time I grieved, I remember being so grateful that my pregnancy with Blake came easy, and that the girls' came quickly after each loss...I understood that I had yet again been given a huge gift-for in the midst of figuring out how to grieve the loss of life-I got to still call myself mom.
I have been thinking the women I know for whom this is not the case. I know the face of longing to be a mom in a few. Each scenario different-each story is hard, for some the journey is over and they have kids now-but they will never forget the years of waiting, hoping, struggling, yearning. I hope that each woman who has this story is known by someone. Your stories may not be what people want to hear about tomorrow, but don't let that stop you from telling someone, your story is important, you are important.
Mother's Day is hard for those who long to be a mom.
I have also been thinking about my own mom-how I still get to have her on Earth-how we will talk on the phone tomorrow, we will laugh, she will giggle with her Grandkids, how even though this will be the 1st time in 32 years that I won't get to physically give my mom a hug on this day-I have a good relationship with her-she knows that I love and appreciate her. (Her gift will arrive on Monday:) )
This again is not the case for everyone. I know the face of some whose moms have died-instead of celebrating tomorrow, mother's day gives them another day where the grief is a little more sharp and the pain is bit more present. It does the same for adult children whose relationship with their mom is hard and for moms who long for a better relationship with their kids, mother's day reminds them not of what they have but rather of what they don't.
Mother's Day is hard for those who miss their mom's in one way or another. It is also hard for mom's who miss their children.
And finally I have been thinking about the moms who have lost a child, whose baby has died before them. I have a SMALL taste of what this is like as mentioned above. But no idea what it feels like when the pregnancy has gone on longer than 11 weeks or when the child has lived in this world for a time. For these mothers have a face to remember...some a personality to remember...all a loss to remember.
Mother's Day is hard for women whose children have died.
I am not saying we shouldn't celebrate moms-and tomorrow I will love my messy cards and slobbery kisses. I just wanted to take notice that while this 'holiday' will be fun for me-it is not fun for many-some scenarios I probably haven't mentioned I am sure-if you know someone for whom this is the case-take a moment to love them.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
15 minutes until go time....
15 minutes until we have to leave...that is my buffer with 3 kids...I don't have to BE to the place in 15 minutes, but rather at 15 minutes before I need everyone in the car is when I try to start getting packed up. And almost always these days I look at the clock at 15 minutes until needing to leave-look at my 3 kids-and think, "I think we can do it this time." WHY do I think that...it is ALWAYS within seconds after I think that little thought that this happens...or a variation of this...
Nora simultaneously poops and pukes on me and her...thus needed to change her outfit completely and at least wipe my shirt of or change it if time...(this is also why a newborn adds a TON of laundry to your life they are not just puking on their tiny cute clothes but they are doing it on you, on the couch, on sheets, on blankets....), while changing #3 and dealing with the decision as to whether my shoulder and shirt are salvageable (and by that I mean will you see the poop and can you smell the puke if you got near me)...today the answer was no... Nora is clean and in her crib...10 minutes til go time..I run to grab a clean shirt...while changing #1 pops in my room (no privacy here) and says, "Mom I have go to the bathroom and it is going to take a while I think." Oh my-great-off he goes to the bathroom...meanwhile #2 has been alone for about 7 minutes and in this time she has managed to take off her socks and shoes, pull out her hair ties, crumble up the last of her lunch crackers and put them in her Easter basket...while trying to deal with the shoe issue #1 comes out of the potty and I think we are on our way! At that moment I have no clue where my keys are...5 minutes to go...I decide to put all of the little darlings in the the car, buckle them, so I can go and look for the keys in peace. Off we go downstairs...forgetting things along the way...running back up stairs...yelling about who gets to open the car door...buckle, buckle, snap! They are in 1 min to go...I run upstairs to find the keys...no luck...run around some more...try to come up with a way to tell Blake he isn't going to school because I can' t find my keys...look some more...go time has past. I head back down to the car to have said conversation to notice that #2...is rather quiet...and smiling at her Easter basket (which she brought with her in the car) and low and behold in the bottom of the grass and now cracker crumbs are my keys! Off we go...5 minutes late...but off none-the-less...whew...
We have 5 months to figure out this for Kindergarten...I am sure we will...at least on more days than not :) Three is quite a trip but we are enjoying the crazy!
Nora simultaneously poops and pukes on me and her...thus needed to change her outfit completely and at least wipe my shirt of or change it if time...(this is also why a newborn adds a TON of laundry to your life they are not just puking on their tiny cute clothes but they are doing it on you, on the couch, on sheets, on blankets....), while changing #3 and dealing with the decision as to whether my shoulder and shirt are salvageable (and by that I mean will you see the poop and can you smell the puke if you got near me)...today the answer was no... Nora is clean and in her crib...10 minutes til go time..I run to grab a clean shirt...while changing #1 pops in my room (no privacy here) and says, "Mom I have go to the bathroom and it is going to take a while I think." Oh my-great-off he goes to the bathroom...meanwhile #2 has been alone for about 7 minutes and in this time she has managed to take off her socks and shoes, pull out her hair ties, crumble up the last of her lunch crackers and put them in her Easter basket...while trying to deal with the shoe issue #1 comes out of the potty and I think we are on our way! At that moment I have no clue where my keys are...5 minutes to go...I decide to put all of the little darlings in the the car, buckle them, so I can go and look for the keys in peace. Off we go downstairs...forgetting things along the way...running back up stairs...yelling about who gets to open the car door...buckle, buckle, snap! They are in 1 min to go...I run upstairs to find the keys...no luck...run around some more...try to come up with a way to tell Blake he isn't going to school because I can' t find my keys...look some more...go time has past. I head back down to the car to have said conversation to notice that #2...is rather quiet...and smiling at her Easter basket (which she brought with her in the car) and low and behold in the bottom of the grass and now cracker crumbs are my keys! Off we go...5 minutes late...but off none-the-less...whew...
We have 5 months to figure out this for Kindergarten...I am sure we will...at least on more days than not :) Three is quite a trip but we are enjoying the crazy!
Monday, March 11, 2013
We had a moment....
This morning while this was coming out of the oven we had a moment....
All three kids where "playing" together, Nora had just eaten and was happily laying on her floor gym soaking up some Vitamin D from a near by window and Blake and Claire were playing Lego's next to her. :)
I post this not because I want people to feel like this is how it is always at our house-me getting to bake something while the kids just calmly take care of themselves...-IT IS NOT-...quite the opposite actually.
In fact right after these pictures, Claire got a hold of one of Blake's ships and broke it to pieces, leading to crying from him and a timeout + crying for her...at that exact moment is when Nora puked on herself and started screaming....that is MOSTLY what is happening in our home these days...
BUT rather I post this to remind myself that we did have A MOMENT where I felt like we had settled into our new rhythm of 3 kids with 1 mom for 12 hours a day...that is what I want to try to challenge myself to remember during the other moments-the ones that can whisper that we will never find our grove.
These moments remind me that with grace and love from Jesus we will hopefully have more and more of them as the days and weeks go on...and on the days we don't...they will help remind me that it is possible, I am not failing, we are figuring this out together and I am loved in the midst of this crazy, wonderful, difficult job we call motherhood. :)
In fact right after these pictures, Claire got a hold of one of Blake's ships and broke it to pieces, leading to crying from him and a timeout + crying for her...at that exact moment is when Nora puked on herself and started screaming....that is MOSTLY what is happening in our home these days...
BUT rather I post this to remind myself that we did have A MOMENT where I felt like we had settled into our new rhythm of 3 kids with 1 mom for 12 hours a day...that is what I want to try to challenge myself to remember during the other moments-the ones that can whisper that we will never find our grove.
These moments remind me that with grace and love from Jesus we will hopefully have more and more of them as the days and weeks go on...and on the days we don't...they will help remind me that it is possible, I am not failing, we are figuring this out together and I am loved in the midst of this crazy, wonderful, difficult job we call motherhood. :)
***Please note too these pictures were taken at 11am and we ALL are in our PJs*** :)
Monday, February 25, 2013
Claire...Happy 3rd!
Today Claire Rachel Dobbins turns 3! I can hardly believe that she is 3 years old. She is such a joy and adds quite the spirit and spunk to the Dobbins crew.
Claire has a special place in our family-the only person who gets to be both a little and big sister! Both Justin and I are eldest kiddos as is Blake, and little Nora gets to be our littlest. But Claire gets the fun job of being a Little Sister to Blake and a Big Sister to Nora. :)
She is my little spunky lady-who keeps me praying hard for the teenage years;) and builds my faith that someday she will follow Jesus with the same abandon that she lives life now. She, more than myself as a rule follower and worrier by nature, has the potential to follow Jesus with such a joy for adventure it makes me excited for what is ahead for her. Her willingness to go at things with such excitement and minimal worry makes me smile.
She hopefully will be our only kid that lets us know when she is upset that she will "shake her bottom at us" but at the same time will likely teach her sister the art of being a comedian in the midst of getting in trouble;). She makes me thankful that we have years to work on helping her grasp that spirit in a good and productive way-and teach her that obedience to mom and dad (and eventually Jesus) really does have her best interest in mind. :)
Today we celebrate Claire! Her tiny little body packs quite the personality-I am blessed to be her mom and can't imagine our family and lives without her in them!
Claire has a special place in our family-the only person who gets to be both a little and big sister! Both Justin and I are eldest kiddos as is Blake, and little Nora gets to be our littlest. But Claire gets the fun job of being a Little Sister to Blake and a Big Sister to Nora. :)
She is my little spunky lady-who keeps me praying hard for the teenage years;) and builds my faith that someday she will follow Jesus with the same abandon that she lives life now. She, more than myself as a rule follower and worrier by nature, has the potential to follow Jesus with such a joy for adventure it makes me excited for what is ahead for her. Her willingness to go at things with such excitement and minimal worry makes me smile.
She hopefully will be our only kid that lets us know when she is upset that she will "shake her bottom at us" but at the same time will likely teach her sister the art of being a comedian in the midst of getting in trouble;). She makes me thankful that we have years to work on helping her grasp that spirit in a good and productive way-and teach her that obedience to mom and dad (and eventually Jesus) really does have her best interest in mind. :)
Today we celebrate Claire! Her tiny little body packs quite the personality-I am blessed to be her mom and can't imagine our family and lives without her in them!
Waiting...wrote this the morning that Nora decided to make her entrance... :)
Written around 6:30 am on 2/9/2013...1 hour later my water broke...
Waiting is something that I have never really be fond of, something that I have figured out how to do with practice, and something that still sharpens my trust in Jesus.
Today we are still waiting for #3 to decide to enter this world. I have done this once before, Claire was 5 days late, I was okay at it then, but this time seems harder. Maybe it is because I had somehow convinced myself that since I had already been late with 1 kid, surely I wouldn't have to do that again. Or maybe it is because with each passing day I worry a little more about what is going on in there with my little one. Whatever the reason it reminds me that waiting is still hard for me, letting go of control is still not something I love, and that patience is still a fruit that is ripening on my tree.
I have to make a conscious effort to trust in the timing of this kiddos arrival. Part of what is helping me do this is the reminder that this is the last time I will do this...that is right...our family is complete after this baby. Never again will I anxiously await a 1st ultrasound praying that a heartbeat is found, never again will I feel the flutter of movement from the inside, never again will I watch my belly grow praying for no stretch marks along the way.
The day I go into labor will be the last time I get to be the first person to meet someone.
This baby has special place in our family, they get to finish the Dobbins Crew. Justin and I got to start it almost 9 year ago, Blake was picked to be our eldest 5 years ago, and almost 3 years ago Claire entered the family with her role a little unclear (middle or last)-it has been an adventure figuring that out and now that she is going to be our middle child she has settled into the role quiet nicely:). This baby gets to be our last.
So as we wait (hopefully not much longer) ;) it is good to remember that this really amazing season of life is coming to an end with the birthday of Baby D #3. A chapter is closing...and a new one is beginning.
Waiting is something that I have never really be fond of, something that I have figured out how to do with practice, and something that still sharpens my trust in Jesus.
Today we are still waiting for #3 to decide to enter this world. I have done this once before, Claire was 5 days late, I was okay at it then, but this time seems harder. Maybe it is because I had somehow convinced myself that since I had already been late with 1 kid, surely I wouldn't have to do that again. Or maybe it is because with each passing day I worry a little more about what is going on in there with my little one. Whatever the reason it reminds me that waiting is still hard for me, letting go of control is still not something I love, and that patience is still a fruit that is ripening on my tree.
I have to make a conscious effort to trust in the timing of this kiddos arrival. Part of what is helping me do this is the reminder that this is the last time I will do this...that is right...our family is complete after this baby. Never again will I anxiously await a 1st ultrasound praying that a heartbeat is found, never again will I feel the flutter of movement from the inside, never again will I watch my belly grow praying for no stretch marks along the way.
The day I go into labor will be the last time I get to be the first person to meet someone.
This baby has special place in our family, they get to finish the Dobbins Crew. Justin and I got to start it almost 9 year ago, Blake was picked to be our eldest 5 years ago, and almost 3 years ago Claire entered the family with her role a little unclear (middle or last)-it has been an adventure figuring that out and now that she is going to be our middle child she has settled into the role quiet nicely:). This baby gets to be our last.
So as we wait (hopefully not much longer) ;) it is good to remember that this really amazing season of life is coming to an end with the birthday of Baby D #3. A chapter is closing...and a new one is beginning.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Minimal Mondays
Happy New Year!
This past year has been a year-one that I look back on and in many ways am so thankful for yet in the same breath don't really know how we did it (well the secret is that we didn't do it alone-Jesus helped QUITE a bit) ;).
Looking back on 2012-the moving, the packing, the re-locating, the un-packing, the settling, helping with a new church plant, the meeting new people, working on new friendships, making room to keep up with old friendships, navigating a new town, new job, new schedule, basically getting used to our NEW LIFE...has left us busy.
It is funny-while on the Westside of the state I was AT least 15-30 minutes away from MOST of my friendships (I was blessed with a few right down the road...but not many). This distance seemed daunting on some days, knowing that to do a playdate or go to a mom's group I would be on the road for 45 minutes to an hour...but that was life over there so we rolled with it:)
Moving to Pullman-this is no longer the case, and I have quickly found that I have even settled into the lifestyle so much so that Moscow (a mere 15 minute drive) seems far...and I really have to NEED to go there to make the trek;). Initially when we got here I thought, "This is great! The kids and I will have much more down time! and Soo much less time in the the car!"
While the less time in the car has proven to be true...the down time has not. By nature I am a do-er-and extrovert you might say-resting is something I don't often think about-but I know that is is good and right for me to rest. I got to have LOTS of down time this Christmas as my parents came into town and we just kind of stopped life (the town of Pullman becomes pretty quiet too during the holidays so that helps) :)-and hung out with my family-did stuff to prepare for baby and rested. It was GREAT!
During that time I realized what was different out here for me...that distance from friends that seemed hard...KEPT me from doing stuff on everyday...especially MONDAYS (Sunday's were busy with church being one of those things that was about 20-25 minutes from us and some Sunday's we would make the drive 2 times)...therefore me an the kids RARELY did stuff on Mondays...we hung out, maybe watched a little more TV, read books, stayed in our pjs, and rested. :)
Even though Sunday's are still busy I had forgotten that boundary I had set-mostly because I didn't really know I had set it for us until placed in a new environment.
So here we are-still in our PJs-the kids are playing some board games and I am writing this (mostly for myself). Just because everything is only 5 minutes away...doesn't mean I have to go do something :).
Here is to a New Year and re-instating old habits in a new location-welcome back Minimal Mondays!
This past year has been a year-one that I look back on and in many ways am so thankful for yet in the same breath don't really know how we did it (well the secret is that we didn't do it alone-Jesus helped QUITE a bit) ;).
Looking back on 2012-the moving, the packing, the re-locating, the un-packing, the settling, helping with a new church plant, the meeting new people, working on new friendships, making room to keep up with old friendships, navigating a new town, new job, new schedule, basically getting used to our NEW LIFE...has left us busy.
It is funny-while on the Westside of the state I was AT least 15-30 minutes away from MOST of my friendships (I was blessed with a few right down the road...but not many). This distance seemed daunting on some days, knowing that to do a playdate or go to a mom's group I would be on the road for 45 minutes to an hour...but that was life over there so we rolled with it:)
Moving to Pullman-this is no longer the case, and I have quickly found that I have even settled into the lifestyle so much so that Moscow (a mere 15 minute drive) seems far...and I really have to NEED to go there to make the trek;). Initially when we got here I thought, "This is great! The kids and I will have much more down time! and Soo much less time in the the car!"
While the less time in the car has proven to be true...the down time has not. By nature I am a do-er-and extrovert you might say-resting is something I don't often think about-but I know that is is good and right for me to rest. I got to have LOTS of down time this Christmas as my parents came into town and we just kind of stopped life (the town of Pullman becomes pretty quiet too during the holidays so that helps) :)-and hung out with my family-did stuff to prepare for baby and rested. It was GREAT!
During that time I realized what was different out here for me...that distance from friends that seemed hard...KEPT me from doing stuff on everyday...especially MONDAYS (Sunday's were busy with church being one of those things that was about 20-25 minutes from us and some Sunday's we would make the drive 2 times)...therefore me an the kids RARELY did stuff on Mondays...we hung out, maybe watched a little more TV, read books, stayed in our pjs, and rested. :)
Even though Sunday's are still busy I had forgotten that boundary I had set-mostly because I didn't really know I had set it for us until placed in a new environment.
So here we are-still in our PJs-the kids are playing some board games and I am writing this (mostly for myself). Just because everything is only 5 minutes away...doesn't mean I have to go do something :).
Here is to a New Year and re-instating old habits in a new location-welcome back Minimal Mondays!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Happy Birthday Blake!
10 minutes away...in 10 minutes I will have known you (in the outside world that is) for 5 whole years. Where did the time go! What an amazing little boy you are turning out to be son-one that I have faith will turn into an amazing older boy, teenager, young man, and eventually man. I am just a few minutes from seeing you wake up for the 1st time as a 5 year-old, and today is going to be fun!
When you wake up you will get to see that your dad and I decorated the dining room with one of your favorite characters this year-Spiderman-your cake for tonight is done and ready to be seen (eaten later). After your breakfast of muffins and sausage (which you requested) we will go pick up your surprise gift from the airport-your Nana has flown into surprise you for your birthday and before Christmas:)
You get to celebrate with your preschool class in the afternoon AND put on a Christmas Concert:) And tonight when dad gets home we will have a quite evening eating your favorite dinner (pizza) and opening gifts.
The funny thing is Blake, no matter how fun and great all of those things are to you (and I hope they are amazing), I (and your dad) already got the best gift today...you. A gift we did nothing to receive, a blessing we didn't deserve, a gift we are forever thankful to Jesus for giving us.
When you wake up you will get to see that your dad and I decorated the dining room with one of your favorite characters this year-Spiderman-your cake for tonight is done and ready to be seen (eaten later). After your breakfast of muffins and sausage (which you requested) we will go pick up your surprise gift from the airport-your Nana has flown into surprise you for your birthday and before Christmas:)
You get to celebrate with your preschool class in the afternoon AND put on a Christmas Concert:) And tonight when dad gets home we will have a quite evening eating your favorite dinner (pizza) and opening gifts.
The funny thing is Blake, no matter how fun and great all of those things are to you (and I hope they are amazing), I (and your dad) already got the best gift today...you. A gift we did nothing to receive, a blessing we didn't deserve, a gift we are forever thankful to Jesus for giving us.
Today I am thankful that Jesus gives good gifts...one of those being my son Blake Carter.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Glimpse into my life..
I think my kids are pretty funny on a regular basis but every once in awhile they "out do themselves." Saturday morning was one of those times. We are getting ready to eat breakfast and Claire says "Mommy? Why you getting SOOOO big??" Before I can even respond (due to Justin and I laughing) Blake chimes in with "Because that baby is getting soo big, and I just have no idea how it is getting out of there!!!"
Oh my word! I am pretty sure Justin had to spit is coffee out in the sink-and I got a cramp in my leg due to the laughter.
Thought you might enjoy a glimpse into our world with Blake and Claire. :) The do fill our lives with much joy!
Oh my word! I am pretty sure Justin had to spit is coffee out in the sink-and I got a cramp in my leg due to the laughter.
Thought you might enjoy a glimpse into our world with Blake and Claire. :) The do fill our lives with much joy!
Advent #2 and #3
For Day #2 we decorated the tree-that process lasted about 10 minutes of chaos before it ended...but we got some pics and the kids had fun:) I will be doing the rest during nap times to avoid breaking and ripping ornaments along the way:). And that night we lit the 1st Advent Candle:) Kids had fun!
Day #3-We took Christmas pictures by the tree. Decided to do it early rather than later in the month-it was fun...they were goofy...but I think we got a couple of good ones! :)
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Advent-Day #1
Claire and her paper chain!
Blake and his (cut out all by himself!)
Timber! By the tree we got:)
My little runner!
Mom and kids:)
Dad and Claire at the Tree Lighting:)
Day #1 was a busy one! We went to a new tree farm-one in Moscow-about at 20 minute drive from our house in Pullman-we were a bit worried about the transport home as the tree farms we used to go to in Renton were about 5 minutes from our house;) Tree made it home, we made chains to count down the days until Christmas, and then were off to the tree lighting in downtown Pullman-which began with a fun run for the kids:) Enjoy some pics of our our fun day #1. :)
Friday, November 30, 2012
Advent 2011 Activities and Verses
| Date | Activity | Verse |
| 1-Dec | Make a paper chain to countdown | Isaiah 9:2-7 |
| 2-Dec | Decorate the tree | Isaiah 9:2-7 |
| 3-Dec | take a train ride | Luke 1:5-25 |
| 4-Dec | cut out paper snoflakes and tape to windows | Luke 1:26-38 |
| 5-Dec | put gel stickers on windows | Luke 1:26-38 |
| 6-Dec | make an ornament | Luke 1: 39-45 |
| 7-Dec | Read 7 christmas stories/books | Luke 1:46-56 |
| 8-Dec | bake cookies! (cranberry blondies) | Luke 1:57-80 |
| 9-Dec | make reindeer and angel art | Matthew 1:18-25 |
| 10-Dec | celebrate Blake! | Matthew 1:18-25 |
| 11-Dec | play outside in the cold | Matthew 1:18-25 |
| 12-Dec | build a fort in the den with pillows and blankets | Luke 2: 1-7 |
| 13-Dec | buy a present for a kid in need | Luke 2: 1-7 |
| 14-Dec | bake cookies! (popcorn balls) | Luke 2: 1-7 |
| 15-Dec | make an ornament | Luke 2: 1-7 |
| 16-Dec | family movie night | Luke 2: 1-7 |
| 17-Dec | ice skating | Luke 2: 8-20 |
| 18-Dec | make a Christmas sticker page | Luke 2: 8-20 |
| 19-Dec | stay up late and go look at lights | Luke 2: 8-20 |
| 20-Dec | make Christmas cards for family | Luke 2: 21-40 |
| 21-Dec | make sparkly juice for dinner (sparkling water and juice) | Matthew 2:1-12 |
| 22-Dec | bake cookies! | Matthew 2:1-12 |
| 23-Dec | family movie night | Matthew 2:1-12 |
| 24-Dec | sing songs at church tonight | Philipians 2:6-8 |
| 25-Dec | Christmas! |
Friday, October 5, 2012
Fun lesson from being late:)
Here we are 2 months into our life in Pullman-we turned the AC off about 3 weeks ago and this morning it was 21 degrees! Not used to those quick and drastic weather changes!
We are settling in and getting used to our new home in Eastern WA-part of this settling has been watching our kids learn what it means to move and adjust. In many ways they are better at it than we are-but in many I know they are longing for the same things we are-finding the comfort of home in a new place...and we are getting there...slowly. :)
Recently Blake has been processing how he has friends here but a lot of his friends are still in Seattle-we have been talking about how to make new friends, what friends he might want to invite to his new house, and how he will still get to see his old friends on special occasions:)
Thus bringing me to how being late gave me such joy today. If you know me well, you would know that being late is something I do not typically like-it is stressful to me and I often feel like I am letting people down when it happens. One of the things I am adjusting to in a smaller town is time management-it is funny-on the Eastside of Seattle I knew that things could ALWAYS take more time than they should and would plan accordingly for an extra 10 minutes in traffic for every outing...being here I QUICKLY have come to enjoy that most everything in Pullman is 5-10 minutes away and if you avoid the few times of day with traffic (we do have some!) you are good to go...my issue is I have lost my need for a buffer time...forgetting that kids ALWAYS need a buffer time:)...
But anyway...we were late to preschool today, and the funnest, sweetest thing happened when we opened the doors. There stood 5 of Blake's classmates already at the sensory table, which was filled with soapy water for the day, and ALL 5 of them turned and said "Yeah Blake is here!" Blake lit up-seeing that his presence was noticed and they were excited to see him. I cried when I got back to the car-touched to see that my little boy in the few weeks here is finding his place:) and is being welcomed here.
We are settling in and getting used to our new home in Eastern WA-part of this settling has been watching our kids learn what it means to move and adjust. In many ways they are better at it than we are-but in many I know they are longing for the same things we are-finding the comfort of home in a new place...and we are getting there...slowly. :)
Recently Blake has been processing how he has friends here but a lot of his friends are still in Seattle-we have been talking about how to make new friends, what friends he might want to invite to his new house, and how he will still get to see his old friends on special occasions:)
Thus bringing me to how being late gave me such joy today. If you know me well, you would know that being late is something I do not typically like-it is stressful to me and I often feel like I am letting people down when it happens. One of the things I am adjusting to in a smaller town is time management-it is funny-on the Eastside of Seattle I knew that things could ALWAYS take more time than they should and would plan accordingly for an extra 10 minutes in traffic for every outing...being here I QUICKLY have come to enjoy that most everything in Pullman is 5-10 minutes away and if you avoid the few times of day with traffic (we do have some!) you are good to go...my issue is I have lost my need for a buffer time...forgetting that kids ALWAYS need a buffer time:)...
But anyway...we were late to preschool today, and the funnest, sweetest thing happened when we opened the doors. There stood 5 of Blake's classmates already at the sensory table, which was filled with soapy water for the day, and ALL 5 of them turned and said "Yeah Blake is here!" Blake lit up-seeing that his presence was noticed and they were excited to see him. I cried when I got back to the car-touched to see that my little boy in the few weeks here is finding his place:) and is being welcomed here.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Saying Goodbye....
This week we say good-bye to our home for the past 7 years...we say good-bye to the first house Justin and I bought...the 1st home to both of our kiddos...the home where I finished my Masters Degree to teach...and where 5 years later I would gladly give up that gig for a new one as stay-at-home mama to Blake and Claire...it is the home where Blake and Claire performed all of those "1st milestones" that a parent aches to see in the 1st 2 years of life...it is where I got to see my little boy go to school for the first time...it is where we "cut our teeth" on house projects and improvements (getting better with time I would say) ;)....it is where we found our church family...it is where we kept and maintained old friendships and cultivated new ones...it is where we have celebrated and cried....it is where we lived.
I have wondered when it would "hit me" that 16101 is no longer where we live, when I would understand that probably only Blake will remember this place in adulthood and only those will be faint memories ones that he will grasp on to mostly through the stories Justin and I tell. It has been too busy up until now for me to really focus on, I thought maybe during packing-but even then it was busy...it happened as I was doing my final clean of this place-the last time I will mop these floors and vacuum this carpet is when I took a moment to be sad and to reflect on the life we have got to live here.
What a blessing this life has been-not without struggle or heartache but truly an amazing blessing and gift. I will miss these walls and the comfort they brought to our family. But I trust that as we move forward Jesus has good things planned for our family-there is a new home ready for us to make memories and messes in.
I leave with this thought. Buying this home was is one of the decsions that Justin and I both together felt strongly like Jesus was telling us to do....and our life has been wonderful here-better than I could have imagined. And now, leaving this home is another one of those times where both Justin and I know that Jesus is telling us to do this...it spurs me on and instills faith that what is to come will be wonderful...different yet wonderful.
I have wondered when it would "hit me" that 16101 is no longer where we live, when I would understand that probably only Blake will remember this place in adulthood and only those will be faint memories ones that he will grasp on to mostly through the stories Justin and I tell. It has been too busy up until now for me to really focus on, I thought maybe during packing-but even then it was busy...it happened as I was doing my final clean of this place-the last time I will mop these floors and vacuum this carpet is when I took a moment to be sad and to reflect on the life we have got to live here.
What a blessing this life has been-not without struggle or heartache but truly an amazing blessing and gift. I will miss these walls and the comfort they brought to our family. But I trust that as we move forward Jesus has good things planned for our family-there is a new home ready for us to make memories and messes in.
I leave with this thought. Buying this home was is one of the decsions that Justin and I both together felt strongly like Jesus was telling us to do....and our life has been wonderful here-better than I could have imagined. And now, leaving this home is another one of those times where both Justin and I know that Jesus is telling us to do this...it spurs me on and instills faith that what is to come will be wonderful...different yet wonderful.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A little discovery about the effects of DVR and Netflix/Hulu....
We got to get away for a few days a couple of weeks ago to Seaside OR. It is a great little place to go with the kiddos-not too far of a drive and lots of things for the family to do. It also doesn't have Netflix or DVR...while on this little trip Justin and I realized what these 2 seemingly innocent little "improvements" to our world of TV watching has created in our lovely kids.
While both have been great for practical reasons-like saving money by cancelling cable and allowing us to watch favorite shows even if our small group night is Thursday :)...one of the subtle side effects in this next generation is lack of patience/understanding that you don't always get what you want.
I hope that Justin and I are parents that discuss these 2 things with our kids-not rewarding them for whining or allowing them to always get there way, but I learned that with TV watching they have gotten pretty accustom to, during there two 30 minute time slots, being able to simply tell me what they want to watch (now learning how to compromise) and if it is an approved show watching it without commercials. Harmless...or so I thought...
This was not an option on vacation, during their time slots we had to watch what was on and a couple of times during the shows we had to watch commercials...it did get give me hope that our older kiddo was quickly able to understand that it was this or nothing-and that during commercials it was a good time to talk, go to the bathroom, grab something you wanted...it gave me hope that Claire too will learn the lesson of patience and not always getting to choose as she was a very UNHAPPY camper when "George" was not an option and during most commercial breaks she frantically was searching for the remote and saying "All done, All done!"
Funny how little changes in our lives....advances made to make life easier/better...have side effects that could often go un-noticed until they are taken away...
While both have been great for practical reasons-like saving money by cancelling cable and allowing us to watch favorite shows even if our small group night is Thursday :)...one of the subtle side effects in this next generation is lack of patience/understanding that you don't always get what you want.
I hope that Justin and I are parents that discuss these 2 things with our kids-not rewarding them for whining or allowing them to always get there way, but I learned that with TV watching they have gotten pretty accustom to, during there two 30 minute time slots, being able to simply tell me what they want to watch (now learning how to compromise) and if it is an approved show watching it without commercials. Harmless...or so I thought...
This was not an option on vacation, during their time slots we had to watch what was on and a couple of times during the shows we had to watch commercials...it did get give me hope that our older kiddo was quickly able to understand that it was this or nothing-and that during commercials it was a good time to talk, go to the bathroom, grab something you wanted...it gave me hope that Claire too will learn the lesson of patience and not always getting to choose as she was a very UNHAPPY camper when "George" was not an option and during most commercial breaks she frantically was searching for the remote and saying "All done, All done!"
Funny how little changes in our lives....advances made to make life easier/better...have side effects that could often go un-noticed until they are taken away...
Friday, April 27, 2012
And I am back...a little info on where we went :)
The year of 2012 has started off with a bang for the Dobbins crew! In January we survived the ice storm, with the help of friends Blake, Claire and I made it through the 3 days without power while Justin worked 4 overnight shifts to help make sure people weren't freezing to death! Whew!
February brought some hard news that at 11 weeks we had our 2nd miscarriage. I had one around 7 weeks in-between Blake and Claire and never thought that it would happen again...it did. We were amazed at the love and support we had during that time and the love and comfort we found in Jesus in the midst of something so awful. In the midst of this we got to celebrate our WONDERFUL Daughter's 2nd birthday! Where did the time go! Celebrating Claire proved to be such a great reminder to me as to God's kindness and grace, I know with all of my heart that we were meant to have her as a daughter and even though I would have loved to get to have her without having a miscarriage...that wasn't how it worked...just her presence reminds me that Jesus has such a good plan for us and He will finish our family perfectly.
Then came March...we had worked through the initial sadness and were coming out of the fog when all of a sudden BAM! The amazing church that we were lead to 5 years ago had announced in January that they would be planting a church the summer of 2013-who knew if we would go but 1 1/2 years away was such a safe distance that we didn't have to quite even think about it yet. Well March changed that for sure! Because that timeline was moved up to summer of 2012! Justin and I independently felt like we were supposed to go....then God made it clearer and clearer that he was asking us to do this...risk our really good life here...and follow Him to Pullman...
In the beginning and even now I catch myself saying "I have to do this or I have to do that" because Jesus asked me to go. But recently in quiet time I have realized that is not the truth. I GET to do this-I GET to give up things I really love to strengthen my trust in with Jesus has planned for me and my family. There are HARD things about this move-but I trust, even though at times it is hard, that this move IS good and will be good. I GET to let go of things I probably have been clinging a little to tightly to and follow Jesus.
Practically speaking though Jesus IS taking care of us:) I am excited to see how it all plays out...that is where we have been...sorry for our absences:)
February brought some hard news that at 11 weeks we had our 2nd miscarriage. I had one around 7 weeks in-between Blake and Claire and never thought that it would happen again...it did. We were amazed at the love and support we had during that time and the love and comfort we found in Jesus in the midst of something so awful. In the midst of this we got to celebrate our WONDERFUL Daughter's 2nd birthday! Where did the time go! Celebrating Claire proved to be such a great reminder to me as to God's kindness and grace, I know with all of my heart that we were meant to have her as a daughter and even though I would have loved to get to have her without having a miscarriage...that wasn't how it worked...just her presence reminds me that Jesus has such a good plan for us and He will finish our family perfectly.
Then came March...we had worked through the initial sadness and were coming out of the fog when all of a sudden BAM! The amazing church that we were lead to 5 years ago had announced in January that they would be planting a church the summer of 2013-who knew if we would go but 1 1/2 years away was such a safe distance that we didn't have to quite even think about it yet. Well March changed that for sure! Because that timeline was moved up to summer of 2012! Justin and I independently felt like we were supposed to go....then God made it clearer and clearer that he was asking us to do this...risk our really good life here...and follow Him to Pullman...
In the beginning and even now I catch myself saying "I have to do this or I have to do that" because Jesus asked me to go. But recently in quiet time I have realized that is not the truth. I GET to do this-I GET to give up things I really love to strengthen my trust in with Jesus has planned for me and my family. There are HARD things about this move-but I trust, even though at times it is hard, that this move IS good and will be good. I GET to let go of things I probably have been clinging a little to tightly to and follow Jesus.
Practically speaking though Jesus IS taking care of us:) I am excited to see how it all plays out...that is where we have been...sorry for our absences:)
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
I remember...
As people have been posting things on Facebook like "amazing Seattle weather in February...can't remember the last time it was like this then." I have been smiling because I do remember...it was February 2010...more towards the end of the month I guess...it is so clear in my mind even though it was 2 years ago. It is clear because I was waiting for Miss On her Own Time to arrive (5 days late is what she decided)...and I was SOOO thankful for the sunny days to take my then 26 month old little boy on walks and to the park.I can't believe that we are about 2 weeks away from knowing Claire for 2 years...she is the almost the age that Blake was when she was born...
Time has this amazing way of disappearing once you have children...taking a moment today to try to remember and slow it down...
And the work continues....
Honesty....that is what this post is about....
Some days in the midst of my life I realize how much work is still to be done in me. Especially in the area of truly LOVING how my God created me... I came out of my teens and twenties, thankfully, without the scars that an eating disorder can leave...but I certainly did not escape the message of the world to young women without distrust and shame creeping in.
Now on most days I have a handle on it (and when I say I I really mean "we" as in me and Jesus), especially since having a girl, I strive to focus less on that for myself and her...
Then there are some days in the midst of not finding anything to wear (which is ridiculous as I have a full closet)....not loving what the mirror speaks back to me that I realize I am not fully done with this war...there is more for me to surrender to Jesus...
Especially when the truth of the day is that...I have a husband who adores me and 2 kids who could CARE LESS... and most importantly a GOD who DESIGNED how He wanted me to look...this is when it hits me...that this battle makes NO sense...
That unless this gets worked out fully by God in me...there it sits...because in all logical arguments I shouldn't struggle with this anymore...but I do...confirming that nothing can reverse the lies that this world told me other than Jesus...
As I put these thoughts down this little thought comes to my mind... "Comparison is an unfair way to look at the world, because we were never meant to be the person which we are comparing ourselves to...we were meant to be our self..."
Some days in the midst of my life I realize how much work is still to be done in me. Especially in the area of truly LOVING how my God created me... I came out of my teens and twenties, thankfully, without the scars that an eating disorder can leave...but I certainly did not escape the message of the world to young women without distrust and shame creeping in.
Now on most days I have a handle on it (and when I say I I really mean "we" as in me and Jesus), especially since having a girl, I strive to focus less on that for myself and her...
Then there are some days in the midst of not finding anything to wear (which is ridiculous as I have a full closet)....not loving what the mirror speaks back to me that I realize I am not fully done with this war...there is more for me to surrender to Jesus...
Especially when the truth of the day is that...I have a husband who adores me and 2 kids who could CARE LESS... and most importantly a GOD who DESIGNED how He wanted me to look...this is when it hits me...that this battle makes NO sense...
That unless this gets worked out fully by God in me...there it sits...because in all logical arguments I shouldn't struggle with this anymore...but I do...confirming that nothing can reverse the lies that this world told me other than Jesus...
As I put these thoughts down this little thought comes to my mind... "Comparison is an unfair way to look at the world, because we were never meant to be the person which we are comparing ourselves to...we were meant to be our self..."
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