Note: I had hoped to do a recap of Hudson’s birthday and to tell you all about our amazing week at the beach. But I am teaching VBS this week and we still weren’t ready to officially be “back” from vacation, so those things will have to wait.

But I am so very excited to introduce all of you to the wonderful Courtney DeFeo from Lil Light O’ Mine. Courtney has a huge heart for children, families, and especially the Lord. Courtney believes that we can raise up a generation of children that light up the world and shine their light for Jesus. She is the creative genius behind the Lil Light O’ Mine ABC scripture cards I mentioned in a vlog recently.

Courtney is a beautiful writer and I asked her to please share some words of wisdom with all of you today. Please chime in and see what surprise Courtney has for you today! 

One of the biggest blessings of becoming a mother is seeing a TINY GLIMPSE of how God must see His children.

Have you ever just stared at your children as babies or 5-year-olds and just cried? I know I have when they are sleeping or just in a zone playing and I just watch.

Pinch me – this angel is MINE.

I could close my eyes and tell you every trace of her. I know exactly the spot where she has the tiniest freckle near her belly button. I know exactly where her arms and legs are the most ticklish. I know which hairs are going to get curly with humidity and which will turn blonde with sun.

She is the prettiest human – but I’m her mom. Don’t we all feel like that about our kids?

She was sitting in my room the other day and had my “destroy face with tweezers mirror.” You know, the up close one that reminds you that you’re not 21 … and was just staring at herself.

She said, “Mom, I really like me and just how God made me.”

OH MY HEART! It almost melted and then it sunk. Because I know the time is coming. I have to let her out of the house and off to school and the reality is she will begin doubting her beauty. Ads, other kids looks, others comments, what I SAY in the home, magazines and more will all communicate there is a standard of beauty that she isn’t meeting.

She’ll never see herself the way her heavenly Father sees her and the way her parents see her. I don’t want to settle with “oh well, that’s life.”

So, what do we do as parents? I don’t know the answer – so please chime in below!

I have a few ideas and thoughts.

• HIDE TRUTH DEEP. We say this verse A LOT. I have to do my part in helping her heart grasp the OUTWARD APPEARANCE is not the source of her beauty.

• We try to catch ourselves from complimenting only their looks – they are smart, courageous, funny, creative, imaginative, fast, etc.

This was a fun “spa day” we did the other day for fun. DO NOT try the shaving cream on the mirror – go with a shower or tub. Holy cleaning for days.  We wrote what makes us pretty (matters of the heart) on the mirror.

• We try to say those things FIRST to other kids over “how cute!” or “I love that outfit” – notice something about their character and affirm it.

• We’re going to pray protection and confidence over her heart diligently. It’s brutal being female and we know it. I’m begging God to make her so comfy in her shoes yet humble.

• Teaching them to encourage others and never ever speak unkind words to others. I don’t want to assume my kids won’t be the ones to speak the hurtful words or mention someone’s differences (i.e. Ella’s glasses). They need to understand even the smallest comment might stick with someone for life.

 

 

I am so thankful for the truth of God’s word. It guides me as a mom. It gives me comfort and our kids unbelievable comfort and security to know the TRUTH. To know they are made in His image.

Tell me your thoughts on BEAUTY and how you will teach your kids about this issue. (or how you’ve faced this in the past if you have older kids – or not a mom).

If you do, you’ll be entered to win ONE SET OF ABC SCRIPTURE Cards!

Giveaway ends on Friday at midnight.

Random winner announced on Saturday morning.

 

We’ve been at Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms, South Carolina this week.

My parents and Todd’s parents are here with us and we are just having the most fun with everyone. The boys are so happy to have all of their “people” in one spot.

Hudson hasn’t complained or whined about a single thing since we got here. He even fell asleep in a beach chair for a little bit on Sunday. He absolutely loves the ocean and the beach.

We did have to remind him a few times to take a break to warm up. The ocean isn’t exactly warm right now.

And of course he loves just throwing himself into the swimming pool over and over again as he jumps in and climbs back out. And then jumps in and climbs back out.

We walked out to the beach early yesterday morning and noticed that some turtle rescue volunteers had discovered a sea turtle’s nest of eggs, and they were digging up the eggs to relocate them. I had heard about this before, but it was really exciting to see it in person and see all the turtle eggs. The bucket had 38 eggs in it and they were still digging up more!

We’re cooking favorite meals, eating lots of yummy summer food and just enjoying the company.

I have a tendency to forget reality when I’m on vacation like this and then start to worry that I’m forgetting something important or neglecting something. But I am trying to remind myself to just relax and not worry about anything at home this week.

We celebrated Hudson’s birthday in a very simple way. No big party or theme. Just a dinosaur cake, bow tie fiesta, and presents! I loved every second of it. We put three little candles in an Eggo waffle for Hudson’s birthday breakfast. He was impressed.

It has also rained a lot since we’ve been here. It’s a little disappointing because I want to make the most of my time here, but maybe making the most of my time here involves stretching out in a hammock and listening to the rain fall. And reading more and more out of Twilight.

And I completely melt when a certain little boy climbs up into the hammock with me and whispers, “I love you, too, Mommy.”

Today’s post is part of the series of posts I’m doing with Huggies to discuss pregnancy and baby’s first year. I wanted to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of getting so much advice when you’re pregnant and after your baby is born.

What kind of advice did you receive when you were pregnant or when your baby was born? How did you weed through the good advice and the advice that drove you crazy?

Check out the Huggies Mommy Answers Facebook app!

Find more posts from bloggers sharing their experiences of motherhood on the Huggies page on BlogHer.com.