My Sweet Logan is 1

1 year ago at this time, I was holding this beautiful    wrinkly pink baby boy. After enduring my worst pregnancy, but surprisingly, my easiest labor, my newest journey in life had started. Its hard to believe that time has passed so quickly!                                             

 We celebrated Logan's first birthday by taking a trip to the jungle. Everyone enjoyed snake sandwiches, wild boar meat, cheese bugs, ants on a log, safari snacks, alligator toes, & tiger tails. We washed it down with swamp juice. Oh & don't forget the sweets - lion cupcakes, a giraffe cake, & Logan's very own lion cake. 

After several meltdowns - including a broken oven, miscommunication, a cake mishap, crumbling cheese, lost decorations, no helium, a broken door, & the party starting an hour late -  everything turned out well in the end. Everyone had fun & Logan was happy. (at least until we took the cake away!) Thats what matters!

Happy Birthday Logan. Its a jungle out there!

No More Milk

Well, this has been a bittersweet moment. Logan is officially weaned.

I'm not sure whether to jump up & down because I have control of my body again or to cry because he doesn't need me as much. I guess I will just cherish those memories & take pride in the fact that we actually made it to his 1st birthday (minus 2 weeks). It wasn't easy in the beginning.

It still amazes me the way God created a mother's body with the ability to solely nourish her baby (if she chooses to)!

I wasn't going to start this process with him just quite yet. Don't get me wrong, we were staring at the door, we just hadn't decided to walk through it yet.

Logan moved into Austin's bedroom on Thursday May 24. I put it off this long because he STILL wasn't sleeping through the night. He still woke up every single night to nurse. By this time, this was the only time he was nursing & after moving him, I would have to sit on the corner of Austin's bed to feed him.

Well on Monday May 28, Logan Reece Bauguess slept ALL NIGHT LONG! I could count on 1 hand how many full nights of sleep I had gotten before this. I really think it was 2! I didn't think this kid would EVER sleep through the night!

When I woke up on Tuesday, it scared me to realize that he hadn't woken up. But when I crept into their (yes, I must say "their" now) bedroom, both of my boys were snoozing away.

Of course I figured it was a fluke, because Logan had also been pretty sick. He had been to the Emergency Room with a double ear infection on Friday, had a fever of over 102 all weekend, & had been diagnosed with a case of Roseola that day. NO WAY was I even considering weaning him!

BUT, he had other plans.

He has slept through the night ever since & hasn't bothered to attempt to nurse. This was easier than I thought it would be. And he likes his milk just fine from a sippy cup. 

I have certainly enjoyed the journey! And I know he will ALWAYS need me!

When Did He Grow Up?

I find myself looking at my kids all the time & thinking about how fast they are growing. It seems like only yesterday that they were all babies (well, ok, Logan is still a baby).

I worry over their health, their safety, their future, their happiness. I worry over whether we are doing a good enough job in raising them.

Austin has proven to me time & time again recently what a smart, well rounded young man he is becoming.

He has made several difficult decisions in the past week. Choices that I am PROUD of him for making!

First, he chose to step away from something he enjoyed doing because it would compromise worshipping God. He also realized that the leader of this activity had let him down. Austin was heartbroken at this man for going against his word, for treating certain kids better than others, & for allowing winning to cloud his judgement.

Secondly, Austin chose to step back into this activity after seeing a few wrongs righted. This choice amazed me because in order to go back into this, he had to decide to leave our vacation early & he had to deny himself another activity that he LOVES.

Then, on top of everything else, when things got ugly & I mean really ugly, Austin stayed true to who he is! He supported those other kids. He helped out in every way he could. He didn't complain. He didn't get angry. He walked away with his head held high & love still in his heart!

I have so much to learn from him.

Strength in Weakness

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

God has a purpose for each one of our lives. We may not fully understand everything we go through, but there is a reason for everything.
 
It's hard to keep this in perspective when we experience pain or tragedy. We sometimes wonder why things happen or how much more can one take.
 
My dear pastor Fellman Cheek just underwent open heart surgery. He had complications & still isn't back up to speed, but he is on the mend & he is still giving God the glory!

His precious wife Donna has stood by his side the whole time. She has been just as vigilant in watching over him as an eagle would over its young. She refuses to leave him or to take anytime for herself.

Unfortunately, they just found out that Donna's bladder cancer is back & she will have to have surgery soon to remove several tumors.

Yet again, it makes you wonder. Why them? Why now? They have just started out of one valley & now they are facing another one.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Continue to pray for Fellman & Donna! They need all the support they can get.

Time to Tend the Garden

As I was struggling yet again with my children's bad behavior & lack of respect, a thought struck me & I was immediately humbled for my foolishness.

God reminded me that children are similar to a garden.

Just as we ready a garden for its new plants, there are things we must do to prepare a child in this world. We want to secure the tender plants in the rich dirt deep enough for its roots to take hold, but not so deep that it will be smothered. We need to water the plants the right amounts & at the right time. Too little water & they will thirst & die. Too much water, they will be swamped & not survive. If we water in the heat of the day, they will become scorched & shrivel up. Sometimes stakes or twine are needed to help the flimsy plants grow tall. Continuous tending is needed to ensure the plant is not overtaken by strange weeds. Occasional fertilization is necessary to a slow plant. Don't forget the scarecrow to ward off hungry scavengers. Before long, with lots of love you will have a garden that will give back to you just as you gave to it.

We experience every emotion imaginable as we prepare for the new little lives that will soon be entrusted to us, whether by pregnancy, adoption, or foster care. We are excited about the new adventure we are facing. We fear for their safety. We take pride in wondering what their future holds. We hurt because we know that one day they will hurt. Above all else, we love unconditionally.

When they are young, we teach them our beliefs & values. We share our hopes & dreams. We nurture them continually trying to make them into solid, moral, trustworthy, respectable young people.

We hold their hands through both joyous & sad times. We pick them up & dust them off when they stumble on the path. We reassure them through difficult decisions.


We try to shield them from the evils of the world. We watch out for their mistakes & help them learn from them. We detour them from bad influences & wrong choices.
 
We help them stand up for their own convictions. We help them carry their own burdens. We encourage them to pursue their own dreams.
 
We stand guard against bad dreams. We stand guard against untrustworthy people. We stand guard against harmful situations. We stand guard because they are watching us!
 

Any plant can grow & produce fruit for a little while. But if its left alone, if its neglected, if it has to fight too long for survival - it will fail!
 
Before long, there isn't enough water. Before long, the fruit has weighed it down. Before long, the sun has scorched it. Before long, the cold will freeze it. Before long, the bugs have infested it. Before long, the weeds have over taken it. Before long, the animals have stripped it bare.
 
Before long, it's too late!

Who Needs Normal

If the past few days are any indication of how this summer is going to go, I think I will crawl back in bed now & refuse to come out until August.

Really, how can two seemingly normal, sometimes loving, & relatively smart kids fight & complain so much? Because they are NORMAL! That doesn't mean I have to like it, or allow it to continue in the immense proportion that it has been happening.

My kids aren't perfect, nor do I expect perfection. What I do expect is respect, tolerance, & kindness to each other & to others as well. I also expect for them to act somewhat civilized while in public. That's not too much to ask, is it? Somedays, obviously it is!

Just as Satan started to drag me down that road of failure, I was IMMEDIATELY reminded that I haven't failed these children. The bickering is their sin nature. There isn't much I can do to stop it. BUT (don't you just love "but"s when God is involved) I can choose to use the situation as a teaching tool.

Conflict is going to arise, disobedience is going to happen, & mean words are going to be said. Its life. We are human. And we all fall short because Adam & Eve sinned. The only thing we can do is look to God, ask forgiveness, & try better next time.

What Are We Teaching Our Children

My kids have always had a wide variety of hobbies. We try to support & encourage them to pursue whatever interests that they might have. My philosophy, you never know until you try it! And if, after trying something, they decide that they don't like it, no big deal - but they have to finish it.

We have tried soccer, karate, baseball, football, cheer leading, dirt bikes, guitar, scouts, church activities, & countless other things. We will add piano & gymnastics soon. It doesn't really matter what my kids are involved in (to an extint), I just want them to be passionate, have fun, & do their best!

My kids know (even though they don't always agree) that no matter what, God comes first. He is more important than some practice, an awards ceremony, a race, or a ballgame. We have had to make some of those tough decisions before, & I'm sure we will have to make them in the future.

We had to make one tonight. Austin's baseball team is starting their tournament this week. We've had a good season & the team still looks promising. BUT, the league has chosen to start the tournament on Wednesday night.

Even though it looks like we might have to forfeit the game because several of the boys will not be there. I'm sorry! I had to stand firm in my beliefs!

What would I be teaching my kids if I have told them all of their lives that God comes first, but then I let them skip church to play a ballgame? It would counter EVERYTHING that we stand for, EVERYTHING that we have taught.

What is wrong with our world today?

People used to respect church. People turned down their radios when passing the house of God. Even the town drunk showed up for Sunday morning service.

I understand that not everyone goes to church. That's their right. I respect that decision. I have an opinion, but my opinion isn't important. Since I respect their rights, WHY can't people respect my rights?! WHY can't people respect the fact that others will be forced to make this same decision?!

Sadly, not everyone will make the choice that they know in their heart is right. Sadly, not everyone will have the courage to stand up for their beliefs.

THAT is what is wrong with our world today! Too many Christians people have stood by & let the world have its say. If we would just stand up for what we know to be true & right, we would no longer be the underdog.

CHRISTIANS REMEMBER WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR!!!!!!!!