Our Springfield Family

Our family is so increadibly blessed that some days I just feel overwhelmed by it all. Nick and I have a wonderful marriage and love each other more and more every single day. We have a little boy who brings us joy and laughter every day. And, we are awaiting the arrival of our precious baby girl! We have amazing family. My parents come visit us at least once a month and call all the time... sometimes just to talk to Max! He is so blessed to have Grandparents that love him so much and are so involved in his life! And of course Max has his Auntie M who loves him to death and even lets him play with her IPod! I have an amazing Grandma who still writes me letters and takes me shopping when I come to visit! There are just so many amazing people in our lives.
And then, to top it all off, we have this increadible Springfield family! Our family, The Jordan's, and The Jenkins' have kind of formed our own little family group and it is so increadible. We have even started having Sunday dinners together... thanks to the amazing hospitality of the Jordan's! It is so awesome to have people who we share our happiness and hardships with on a regular basis! They are the first ones to rejoice with us when we are excited and to cry with us when we are having a rough time. We are experiencing such Christ-like love through these friendships and it brings us so much happiness. Nick was telling me last night how amazing it is to have these kind of friendships where he feels loved and accepted by a family group for the first time in his life.
I just can't praise God enough for bringing us all together and for blessing us so abundantly. Especially as our family continues to grow (two new little members coming this summer!!).
Anyway, I will stop gushing. But, I feel like when your joy is this big it can be hard to hide it inside. Thank you Jenkins and Jordan families for taking us under your wing and for being a part of our lives. We can never thank you enough!

Do everything without complaining or arguing

As I am growing and learning at being a friend, wife, and mother I feel like I am constantly learning. I think one of the biggest lessons I am learning lately has to do with attitude. And not other people's.... my own. Until recently I had wrapped myself in a lie that told me that I should be "true to" whatever I am feeling. If I am angry, sad, annoyed, etc., people should know about it! This is just not true!
Now, don't get me wrong here. I am not saying by any means that I should hide all of my feelings and never show emotion. Absolutely not. If something is important to me I should talk about it. But, talking about it and grumbling, complaining, and pouting are totally different things.
My attitude effects me and it effects the people I am around. God's word in Phillipians says, "Do everything without complaining or arguing." He says, EVERYTHING. I guess that means even the things I don't want to do.
I have found the atmosphere in my home has completely changed as I have started to complain less. And, others have started complaining less too! When my husband would get home late from work I would complain or act annoyed. But, all that did was make him in no hurry to come home! So now, when he is late I don't say anything and welcome him home. And you know what? He is rarely late anymore! And if he is, he calls first and tells me when he will be home!
Life is not easy and sometimes I just want to sit and complain.l Having a busy toddler and being pregnant all while being a stay-at-home mom (which I truly believe is the most challenging job I have ever had!) can make me want to just sit and whine. And, since I am not perfect, sometimes I do. But, I NEVER feel any better after a session of complaining. I do feel better when I:

• Get in God's word and read His promises to me
• Pray to God and praise Him and thank Him for the abundance of blessings he has poured into my life
• Talk to a Godly friend about what I am having a difficult time with and together talk about some things I can do to make things better
• Get in the Word with a friend and learn together

God, I thank you that you are a God of patience and forgiveness. I test these things in you daily sometimes and for that I am sorry. You have lived as a man, so you understand the stress and difficulties we go through daily, and yet you carried them out without sin! Draw me closer to you, Father, that I can learn to be more like you! Help me to do all things without complaining and arguing but instead have a heart of joy and peace. Help me to see that all the daily tasks I do actually bring glory to you because it is the great task you have called me to at this season in my life. I love you, Father! Amen.