Accountability

A few years ago we had a discussion in Sunday School about accountability partners and I remember commenting something like this:

"Your accountability partner has to be someone you respect and/or fear in some way. There has to be some characteristic they have in order to actually hold you accountable. If you just pick your best friend to keep you accountable and they don't have a backbone, are you really going to care if they call you on your lack of __________? (fill in the blank for what you want to be accountable to) "

I would like to know your thoughts on this matter. I might be wrong, there might be something one of you says that really makes sense to me in this area, but I have a hard time picking an accountability partner. I am a strong personality (shocking I know! ) I want someone to keep me accountable in being a godly wife and mother, but I am very good at excuses/reasoning/justifying etc and I need/want someone to call me on it in a loving manner so that I strive to do better. I don't want a drill Sargent b/c I want to be encouraged not discouraged. I want someone that leads by example and knows the right things to say to encourage me in my walk. Someone that cares enough about me to call me on things and loves me enough to do it gently.

As I'm writing this I came to a realization: I have accountability partners, lots of them-they just don't know it. :) (Can you have an accountability partner if they don't know it?) So many of my friends encourage me to be a better mother/wife, simply by sharing their lives. They lead by example. Maybe I don't want/need a specific person with the goal of changing me, maybe having a desire to be a godly wife/mother and having examples of what that means is enough to help me improve. Would having a specific person actually set me back? Would I be trying to improve for their sake and not mine/God's?



I just wrote a post about how much I appreciate the vulnerability of my friends and their willingness to post about their struggles as well as their triumphs and I have to say it is not easy. As I write this I think of all the ways it could be used against me or what people might think about me for sharing my thoughts, but if I want my friends to be open and vulnerable then I guess I should be to. So go easy on me:)

Thank You

I have been meaning to thank all my friends that have blogs. You are so genuine and honest. You share your good days and bad days, your fears, guilt's and failures. I have learned so much about myself by reading your blogs. There are times when I stop and think if I really want to post something because I don't want people to judge me or think less of me and at the same time when others post their "realness" I am so encouraged by it. I don't think less of any of you, in fact, I think more of you. That you can be open and share what is happening in your life without pretenses. I have such an amazing group of friends and I want you all to know that I thank God for you often.

It amazes me how woman are so alike. We are not the first woman to have babies and become moms, we are not the first to fear our children won't develop "on time" (when is that anyway?) and we certainly wont be the last. Our insecurities as moms aren't new and I guess there is something about knowing that, that helps me minimize the time I spend dwelling on my fears and insecurities.

I won't be a perfect mom and my kid(s) wont be perfect either, but it is the process of learning and trying to do our best that matters. We don't need to spend our time comparing ourselves or our kids, and I'm so thankful my group of friends doesn't' do that, but we help each other in the stage of life we are in. So again, thank you friends, for being godly mothers and wives and encouraging me in my endeavour to be the same.

"Teeth, Brush Teeth"

Brandon was just getting ready to brush Cayden's teeth when Grandma Peggy called. She asked him if he was getting ready for bed and he said, "no all done" and then she asked if he was going to get his pajama's on and he said, "teeth, brush teeth." He understands so much more than I expect:) It's fun that he's starting to communicate more.

"That's When I'm Happy"

This is my new favorite Childrens book:

and here are 3 reasons why:

#3 Cayden knows some of the words

#2 Cayden counts to 10

and the #1 reason...Cayden gives me lots of love

Booster Chair

Cayden has been asking to sit on the big chairs at every meal lately, so we turned his highchair into a booster chair; he was very excited and proud.

He's saying, "chair, booster chair, booster chair"

Playdate

Cayden just loves it when Madison and Noah come over. Here they are dancing to one of Madison's favorite CDs (hey Kristin, I bet you left it here:) ).

I'm very thankful Madison is such a sweet, polite young lady because Cayden loves to copy her and watch her. She was reading a book and he sat down as close as he could to her, just to be by her and then gave her kiss. He sure loves his friend Madison and would be devastated if she ever moved away!

Different Personalities

I just think it's so funny how different Noah and Cayden are. My son is 5 1/2 months older than Noah, but is such a chicken. At McDonalds Noah goes up the steps, through the tunnel and down the slide, alone, over and over again. Cayden is afraid to do it once, with help!

This is yet another example of Noah's fearlessness and my son's chickenness:) You'll notice Cayden doesn't climb up the "slide" and he goes feet first, only as far as his butt will reach, while Noah climbs into the toybox and then jumps head first down the slide over and over again:)

There are times when I wish my son would not be so scared of everything, but at the same time, when Noah is jumping out of trees and climbing to the roof, I'll probably be glad Cayden isn't quite so daring:)