On Being Content

I'm about to get real serious on y'all. 

Lately, I have been hearing about a lot of pretty crappy things happening to a lot of my friends and family. I have friends who are literally desperate to have children and keep enduring loss after loss. I have one best friend who is losing her dear mother in law to a painful cancer. Another best friend just started the foreclosure process on her house because, after 2 years on the market, they just can't carry a mortgage and rent anymore. A sweet family member is dealing with a totally crazy illness which has sent her to the hospital for weeks at a time and she is only 16 years old. Another friend from high school had to watch her young baby go into open heart surgery recently. I mean, these people are going through some heart wrenching stuff. And some of them are going through it over and over and over again.

And yet.....

I have the nerve to ask my accountability group to pray for the discontent in my heart. I was feeling jealousy towards those who have things I want. A new car. A new home. Nicer clothes. A better looking booty. 

What the hell is wrong with me?

I asked my closest friends to pray that God would help me be content with what I have. Not just content, but to know and feel truly blessed by the things He has provided. And y'all....it worked. These are some serious prayer warriors in my accountability group. For real. Even for such a selfish, vain, disgusting request.

Over the past few weeks, I feel like the Lord has used story after story to slap me in the face and say, "look at what these people are dealing with. THEY have reason to be discontent....now, shut your mouth and love on your babies." So I have.

Would I like a newer car. Sure. Does my car work, keep me and my babies safe, allow me to get to work and home? Yes. 

Would I like a newer home with room for a game room and not as many projects on the to-do list? Yes. Does my home have a roof to keep us warm and safe at night? Do I get the honor of hearing my babies laugh and play in the back yard? Do I have a kitchen which allows me to make meals to nourish my babies? Yes.

Do I wish I could lose a little weight, look a little more toned, and have the newest clothes? Of course. Is my body strong and healthy? Does it allow me to take care of my babies? Does my husband think I am a hottie? Yes.

Are my kids a little loud, a little crazy, a little frustrating? Yes. Have I been given the biggest blessing that God can hand down? Are these little boys, MY little boys? Was I blessed to conceive them on my own and without medical intervention? Are the healthy? YES.

So, I am going to shut my mouth, accept these amazing blessings and praise God every.single.day. for them. 

A Day in the Life

I have been seeing these posts floating around the blogosphere a lot lately and, after a little debate, decided that it would be a fun way to document a day in our everyday lives. This is a pretty accurate description of a Monday or Friday at our house. We have school Tuesday-Thursday, so those days are their own type of crazy busy. But Monday and Friday are for relaxing, playing and running errands! So here you go, a day in the life of the Ley family!

6:45 am....Daniel Tiger and sippy cups of milk! Those creepy eyes behind them belong to their new Thomas tent....and it is just as creepy when it is open.

7:15....Our daily battle with food begins. Jonathan refused to eat his waffle (which was covered in honey) and blueberries...Seriously, who refuses a waffle?

8:05...I thought Jonathan's dentist appointment was at 11:00....when I called to confirm at 8:00, I learned the appointment was at 8:15. Awesome. So I literally threw the boys in the car without brushing their hair or teeth. We made it :)

9:15...hitting the gym!

11:00....playtime with Jonathan's new sand box and baseball bat. Who knew those two went together so well?

12:15....a quick walk. Notice that Jonathan doesn't have shoes on....this kid HATES wearing shoes. In fact, now that I think about it, they both hate shoes.

12:30....I can never get Matthew to eat anything....unless it's taco meat. Look how excited he is to be eating tacos....what a weird kid. And yes, I realize that looks like dog food....but I promise, it's legit.

1:30....TONS of laundry while the boys are napping.

3:00....quality time with Jonathan since he woke up before Matthew. So easily amused, this one.

4:00....snack time outside! Don't be fooled, he didn't eat that hummus. He just liked dipping his hand in it.

6:00....time for a rest and a show while Mommy makes dinner. I would say he was a little tired....

6:01....apparently, he found some energy.

6:30....They are actually eating!! YAY! Tortilla soup (just the chicken and corn) and brown rice. I think Matthew just likes anything seasoned with chili powder and cumin.

7:00.....bath time!

7:30....Daddy is home!! I hate that this one turned out so blurry....it is such a perfect representation of how they greet Zack every night! And for the record, my entryway isn't bright, lemon yellow. 

7:45....bedtime! I put Matthew down while Zack hung out with Jonathan. Once Zack has successfully riled him up, he attempts to put him to sleep. Isn't that what all Dads do??

So there you have it! A day in our crazy, hectic lives. This day was actually really nice and relaxing. The weather was beautiful, so we just hung out outside a whole lot. We did make a trip to Sams, Garden Ridge and Hobby Lobby, but that was it. And the dentist.....oh, the dentist. There was lots of stress there. For all of us. But all in all, a beautiful, blessed day!