Last year, for Christmas, my two year old received a tickle me Elmo from her papa. Since then she has been slightly obsessed with Elmo. So when it came time to decide what to make for her birthday it was a no brainer. Plus, I just love how she says Elmo in her sweet little voice `el-o` 🙂

These cupcakes are super easy to make (although I do have to warn you they are fairly time consuming)

Want to see how I did it?
Alrighty.

Sweet angel,
Do you know how much you are loved?
And what a crazy joy you are?
Do you have any idea how you have changed this family?
Changed me?

Do you know how much Jesus loves you?
Can you feel His presence?

Do you realize your potential?
Can you even imagine how He will use you?

So have we solved the secret of happiness?

“I believe so” he said
Are you going to tell me?
“Yes. Ready?”
Ready.
“Be satisfied.”
That’s it?
“Be grateful”
That’s it?
“For what you have. For the love you receive. And for what God has given you.”
That’s it?
He looked me in the eye. Then he sighed deeply.
“That’s it.”
(excerpt from the book ‘have a little faith’ by Mitch Albom)

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in life.
Wrapped up in self.
In wanting more.
It’s also easy to forget to see blessings.
To be ungrateful. Unsatisfied.

I have been so guilty of this.
I want with all my heart to be aware of what is right in front of me.
What I’ve been given.

As a family we are going to try to focus on being thankful.
One way we have decided to do this is by making a Blessing Box.

Being a mom is harder than I thought it was going to be.
A lot harder.

Please hear my heart friends, it is also amazing and wonderful and inspiring and fun and awesome. It makes you feel like you will explode from all the love you have for these little people… but if I’m being honest, it’s also so much harder than I ever dreamed it would be when I starred excitedly at that pregnancy test and let out a yelp of praise over the two pink lines I saw.

I am crazy blessed with a 6, 3 and 2 year old. Crazy blessed. I completely love them to pieces. Seriously, I don’t think it’s even possible to love them anymore than I do, and yet it grows daily.

And I know that no one is perfect but I still find myself hitting the pillow with a thousand confessions each night. I was {insert one or more of the following} impatient, angry, lazy, resentful, prideful today. Oh Lord, please forgive me…..