Never Ruined...

This is too awesome not to share.  Well, for me anyway.  I am 26 weeks along and I have certainly gotten my share of "stripes". Not so much yet, although I am sure I will add a few, but with Beatrice and Madeline for sure.  But I love this way of looking at it.  After all, life isn't about perfection.  Not even close. Enjoy what you have been given and praise God for what lies ahead.  That's my plan anyway.

Hugs to all you mommies out there!

Progress ≠ Perfection

Posted this video a while back on my "old blog" before I got my act together and created this one.  But I wanted to give you all a chance to see it too.  Honestly, I was overwhelmed by the response I received because when I shot it I had no intention of people thinking about MY parenting.  (I was just proud of my baby girl (who was so proud of herself too).  Also, I like to document parts of our day for my hubby who is gone so much of time time.  He loves to get these little sneak peeks.  But I digress...

The comment that stood out the most was an email I received which said: "That video that you took of Beatrice folding towels was so positive and beautiful. You were encouraging her and building her up by focusing on what she could do rather than on focusing on whether she was doing it perfectly."  

Now I am NOT claiming to be a perfect mom.  No way.  But I am all about being as encouraging as possible with their particular strengths.  God gave me these specific kiddos and I want to help them become the best little people they can be.  It about progress, not perfection.  Hence the mess you see in the  background.  Yes, my living room floor is scattered with toys.  I have kids!!!

The World Through Sophia's Eyes

Here is something amazing that I have seen recently.  My niece is autistic and can not verbally express her thoughts and feelings.  She is however, learning to express them on canvas.  She is only two years old.  The pictures below were taken by my sister who describes the painting for us as Sophia would like.  Here is what my sister says: 

"Soph comes alive whenever she's drawing or coloring but I see it even more so when she's painting. She used to only fill up a corner of a piece of paper, or one side, but then something in her caught fire and page after page of blank paper became filled with bright scrawls and seemingly nonsensical designs. What always amazed me though was how deliberate Soph was with every placement of her pen or flick of her brush. After some time she would always step back, survey her work, add any last flourishes, and pronounce it "done." When I began to notice how her mood affected her pictures, how the days events seemed somehow manifested in the angry blotches or colorful bubbles, I realized painting was a way Soph could freely express herself. No words are needed. There is no right or wrong. There is only Soph and a blank canvas and something buried deep inside wanting to be shared with the world."

Alice in Wonderland (her, and my, favorite Disney movie). 

The colors aren't as bright in this picture as on the canvas.

I asked why she didn't paint in the middle of the picture... "down, down" she said...

Must be the rabbit hole.

Black marker smeared by paint. Why? "Not nice" she said...

There is that element to Wonderland after all.

I like this part of the painting the best. 

The cracking of the paint makes me think of Wonderland as being a place that seems real, but all of the layers it takes to create the illusion are what ultimately reveals that it is simply that in the end.

Amazing right?  This is a two year old who is expressing herself in one of the only ways she knows how. I am so impressed with her and wanted to share this side of Sophia with you all.  What have you seen recently that inspires you? Today, for me, this is it... maybe it can be fore you as well!