No. I won't. Nope. Uh-uh. Noooooooo!

Request denied is the status quo these days. The tantrums are louder and even in public now - talk about humiliating. The whimpers and whines have replaced "big kid voices" and it's making Chris and I want to beat our heads against the wall. And isn't it funny how this works? These unpleasant seasons always last longer and cut deeper when God has a bigger lesson that he's been trying to teach me while I was too busy trying to get some naughty little toddlers to listen to me.

So the lesson this time? As often as I hear my kids say no, I am telling God the same thing. It was so loud and clear one day that it had me laughing out loud. I was asking the kids to wear some cute, coordinating outfits that I'd picked out for them that day and they absolutely would not put them on. They were throwing themselves on the floor in full tantrum mode. They were not having it and I wasn't either. I was so tired of fighting over every. little. thing. I flipped into my 'freak out mommy' mode and yelled, "Listen to me! You need to obey me when I ask you to do something, do you hear me?" It was like God spoke right into my ear and said, "Exactly." It instantly made me start laughing at how hypocritical I was being. I expected, without fail , for our kids to listen and obey us yet I can't do that even half of the time with God. In an instant I felt the tiniest bit of what He must feel when I constantly deny His nudges. I'm too busy, too tired, too comforted by something else to just follow some simple things He is asking me to do.

These days I'm trying harder to say yes more and as I do, I have more energy, more patience, more yes's from my four little teachers. I can't tell you how much better I feel when I stop fighting Him over every. little. thing.

"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck." Proverbs 1:7-9

We're ALL growing up so fast!!

Noah Sporting His New Helmet

Noah & Sophia - Best Buds Lately

Finn & Cohen Show Some Brotherly Love

Sophia - Our Little Goofball

Washing Jaz - So Doggone Fun! (For Them)

Cohen Taking Daddies Longboard For A Spin

Finn Showing His Excitement Over the New Helmets!

The Two Musketeers (Noah & Sophia) Going for A Ride