Life With Alyssa

Dear Family & Friends,

Last weekend we had our First Annual Easter Egg Hunt on our property and it was a blast! I had no idea how much joy this would bring me as a parent, but seeing our kids running around in pure excitement while searching for hidden eggs touched my soul. Alyssa really got into it - at first she just loved finding the eggs and shaking them, but then she opened one and realized that chocolate was inside Yummy! She is a chocolate lover just like her parents:) Needless to say, she ate ALL of the chocolate in her basket in just two days!

We pray God’s abundant blessings upon you this Easter! May you find joy as you daily hunt for treasures found in God’s Word. When we read His Word and apply it to our lives- it is only then that we will experience true joy!

Love to each of you,

Mike, Tracy & Alyssa (and Noah-pups too:)

While at the grocery store today, a women stopped me and stated: “Excuse me, but your daughter is absolutely gorgeous. She should be on the cover of a magazine. You are truly blessed to have such a beautiful little girl.”

While the statement above is so true – Alyssa is a blessing and beautiful – but she is also a hand full at times. While our children are gifts from heaven, they at times can act like little devils from you know where! From crying fits to messing up the room that you just cleaned – parenting can be hard. I have learned that when I reach “that point” (you know, the point of wanting to join in with your child’s crying fit?), I need to take in a deep breath and pray. My prayer is something like this: “Holy Spirit, I need your help to love my child. I don’t know what he/she needs, but You do. Give me peace and help me to love them right now. Show me what I need to do to take care of him/her and don’t forget about me too, Lord.” I will let this prayer sink into the atmosphere a few moments and then it’s time to take action. I allow the Holy Spirit to lead me on what to do next. Sometimes we go outside and use to art of distraction and other times I may lay her down in her crib for a little quiet time. This in turn allows mommy to rest a few minutes. It is imperative during this rest time to receive from heaven.
No matter the age of our children, we are going from faith to faith and glory to glory in our parenting. I have learned more of God’s grace and mercy since becoming a mother. Honestly, working full time was easier than staying home with Alyssa. But, never did I receive such joy as I do watching Alyssa grow. She is my “full time client” right now and I am so grateful for the honor to be with her every day.

It is important for us to remember to cry out to God during our difficult “mommy” moments. God will direct us. He will comfort us. He will lead us in how to best handle the current situation. God is the answer to everything we need.

Blessings to all you mommies out there-
Grace & Peace to you all,

Tracy (a.k.a. mommy, wife, nurse, chef, housekeeper, counselor, friend, parent, taxi driver and the list goes on and on…)

Every parent needs a good laugh! After all, the Bible tells us that laughter is medicine for the soul!

My good friend, Angel Cope has a wonderful web site for moms: www.1smartmom.com. I read her blogs daily and they have brought me much encouragement as I begin my journey through motherhood. I couldn’t help myself, but to put a link to her blog from last week entitled, “Grease Baby.” I needed a good laugh and this was medicine to my spirit. Please check out her site and if you are a mom - I encourage you to subscribe.
To laugh hysterically: click here

May it bring a smile to your face this day!

Love and blessings,

Tracy Hurst

Image above is from: www.freefoto.com 

Dear “Life With Alyssa” Readers,

I am very sad today. I have had to make the decision to no longer post pictures of Alyssa on her site. I have been bombarded lately with triple “x” porn sites trying to get onto my web page and leave inappropriate comments. I wept this afternoon as I deleted the pictures of my precious little one. I know of the joy these pictures have brought to my family and friends all over the country. I am repenting on my behalf for thinking that this sweet site would be free of perpetrators. I truly did not think that my little site for moms would attract inappropriate material.
As I deleted the pictures, I prayed out loud:
“Lord, I forgive these people. You died for them too. May you reach their souls and bring them to you. They need you so desperately. May you bless them and I pray that something on my site brought them to know Your Love. I love them Lord - I know it sounds strange, but they are just looking for You, God. May they find what they are looking for - Jesus Christ. Once again I forgive and bless them.” Amen.

Will you join me in praying for those held captive in pornography today? Let’s believe that God will make something good out of this.

My love and blessings to each of you,

Tracy

Image above is from: www.freefoto.com

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thristy and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me.” Matthew 25:35-36

Ask any of my closest friends and they will tell you that one of my goals in life is to make Jesus smile! Since becoming a “mommy,” my days are filled with constant care for Alyssa Lyn. Yet as I bath her and feed her, I cannot help but think that even this is making Jesus smile. Low and behold, I read the paragrah below from my all time favorite book (Sacred Parenting - it is a must read in my opinion) this afternoon and it sealed the deal for me. May this word bring you joy today and know that by caring for your children, you are making Jesus smile!

“Any time we bring them (our children) joy, we bring a smile to God’s face…Mothers and fathers, when you give your tiny infant a bath, you are washing God’s baby. Pause a moment in your busy day and look up to heaven. When you minister to that youngster, can you imagine God smiling down on you? When you fix that hungry six-year-old a peanut butter sandwich, you are feeding one of God’s children. Listen carefully - you may hear God laughing in pleasure. When you hug an adolescent whom others have teased mercilessly at school, you are comforting God’s teenager. Are those God’s tears dampening your shoulder? In the process of caring and loving, you bring God great pleasure. At that very moment you become his provision, his comfort, his passion. Learn to swim in that joy, and you will never look at parenting the same way again.” (Sacred Parenting, page 221, by Gary Thomas)

Lots of love and joy,
Tracy

Alyssa is off…she’s speed crawling…she’s climbing the stairs…she’s standing up….she’s walking from one item to another…she’s talking non-stop…she’s more adorable than ever….she’s the sweetest girl in the whole wide world…she’s Alyssa Lyn Hurst!

Have a great week.

Love,
Alyssa Lyn

I was reminded yesterday at a birthday party of the fact that I am shaping a destiny for Christ. There are times when I feel as if the world is passing me by since I have become a stay-at-home mother. My days are consumed with changing diapers, cleaning bottles and picking up toys, but it is all going to be worth it! I have a strong sensing that my daughter is going to change the world! That may sound naive to you, but I believe that Alyssa will go farther than I could ever go. She will touch more lives, heal more people and speak for Jesus all of her days. I gladly lay down my life for a few short years that in return she will fulfill her destiny in Christ. The amazing thing is, through raising Alyssa; I am becoming more like Christ everyday.

I have come to a revelation that has changed me from the inside out: Life is not about me, it is about souls. It’s about people knowing Jesus and filling the God shaped hole in their soul. No person, thing or position can fill this hole or bring you joy and happiness like Christ. True life is only found in Christ.

I am truly grateful for God using Alyssa to change my life.

People may say that I am influencing her, but the truth of the matter is that she is greatly influencing me.
Eternally Grateful, Tracy

/>Leave on your PJ’s - It’s National Pajama Day!

No matter your age or state of life - everyone needs a National Pajama Day! It is a day filled with rest and warmth. Once the day was declared, Alyssa and I stayed at home to watch movies, play and simply enjoy being together. I cannot tell you how much fun this was! We can get so busy with life that we forget to stop and enjoy one another. Alyssa and I encourage you to do this real soon - you’ll be glad you did!
Have a wonderful day!

Love,
Alyssa & Tracy