I just (this means she sweetly gave it to me awhile back but I am just now getting to it) received a sweet award from a bloggy friend. She is Tricia over at A Future and A Hope.
1. I wanted 12 kids before I was married. Then I vomited so much during the first pregnancy that I decide that one was enough. Obviously the Lord worked on my heart and each one is such a blessing.
2. I suffered from PPD with my fifth child. I had no idea what was going on until I finally shared it with someone and they were able to direct me in the right direction. I am so thankful that I humbled myself and let someone know what was going on.
3. I live in a small house, in a neighborhood that is getting a little more rundown and it doesn't really bother me. Break-ins happen to rich people too. They have more to lose I guess.
4. I started blogging because I couldn't stop talking and wanted another way to share all of our family stories. Now I hardly blog at all. But not for lack of stories, just lack of time.
5. I wear a size 11 shoe. I have the biggest foot, for a women, on my mom's side of the family. I used to come home from school and cry because the girls would make fun of me for my big feet. Couple that with the glasses and a mean nickname I received in the second grade and it was about enough to crush me. I think that I pretended I was sick for a couple of days before my dad made me go back to school.
6. I care too much what people think. I am big and bad on the outside, but on the inside there are lots of scares and worries and cares that weigh me down. I need to turn them over to my Lord and let Him take care of them for me.
7. I love my husband more today than I did 14 years ago. It just gets better and better. Seriously! He says that is what is suppose to happen when we listen to each other and put them first. I say it is because we grew up. hmm....maybe it is the same.
8. I have a journal that I list things I am thankful for in. Sometimes I do it here too. I try to do it about 4 times a week. It helps me focus on what is important and let the rest go.
9. I used to HATE sewing and cooking. Now my mom says I am a better cook than her. I am certainly not a better seamstress yet, but I am enjoying it now and realizes how much money it can save us.
10. I have a serious sugar addiction that needs to be broken NOW! I would eat sugary stuff all day long and not stop until I ran out. Oh and bread and good food, but not veggies. I need to work on it because I really want to set a good example for my children. Habits formed now can last a lifetime. They are so hard to break too.
Thanks again for nominating me for this award.
If you are reading this you are nominated. Especially Mrs. Troop and Life Learning (Cindy).
Chaos is our middle name
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Whining is over-rated
Yesterday we loaded up the kids, some hot wings, water bottles, and lots of other goodies and headed out to see some Christmas lights. (Yes we are crazy to have all that food in the car, but we are crazy like that).
We went to the "rich" part of town. First we made a stop at a local business, who had their campus decorated so gorgeous. The trees were wrapped in breath-taking colors. Pinks, blues, silver, and greens. I haven't ever seen anything so pretty. I wish I had taken the camera with us. But of course I left it at home.
Then we continued on, meandering through the classy neighborhood. The houses were huge and nicely decorated. The kids were in awe and kept going on about how awesome the houses were. Size and decoration. We spent about an hour driving through there. I must admit that I was a little jealous. Some of the houses actually had parking spaces in front of them.
As I looked at each house though I noticed something a little sad. Most of the houses had lights on, with big beautiful windows open for you to see right into their house, and I never saw a single person. They had so much going on that they didn't have time for each other. It made me re-consider my life and appreciate what I had right then. Instead of whining about needing more room, I was thankful that we were forced to be together so much. (hehe) Seriously we spend most of our time together.
Finally we headed home and on the way saw some beautiful lights just off the highway, so we decided to investigate. We exited and headed into the old part of downtown. They had hung lights in long strings down the front of the buildings. It looked like waterfalls. So pretty!
As we made the final pass down the street, we noticed a police car pull up to the sidewalk and turn on his lights. We all turned to look and what I saw made me realize that I whine far too much. Keep in mind that the thermometer, on our rear view mirror, inside our toasty warm Suburban, read 22 degrees and that wasn't including the wind chill. The police stepped out of his car and went to check on a homeless man asleep in a doorway. The man was sitting up, but covered with several blankets and coats.
I instantly had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Thankfully the man responded and the police man left. I honestly felt like I had been punched. Here I was complaining because of all that I had to do that week and this man was just trying to stay alive and warm.
I can't describe to you how I felt the rest of the evening. We live in a society that promotes whining and "me-time". Materialism and accumulating stuff is at the top of everyone lists. And yet I see that I really have nothing to whine about. I am so blessed that I couldn't even begin to list it all. I have never, ever had to sleep in the cold, except by choice, and I have never, ever had to worry about where I was going to get some food for my kids.
I am praying that this will have a lasting impression on me. That I will not take for granted all the things that I have and I will live more intentionally and more joyfully!
In this season of giving and receiving, don't forget all that we have been blessed with and maybe be able to bless someone else.
Merry Christmas!
We went to the "rich" part of town. First we made a stop at a local business, who had their campus decorated so gorgeous. The trees were wrapped in breath-taking colors. Pinks, blues, silver, and greens. I haven't ever seen anything so pretty. I wish I had taken the camera with us. But of course I left it at home.
Then we continued on, meandering through the classy neighborhood. The houses were huge and nicely decorated. The kids were in awe and kept going on about how awesome the houses were. Size and decoration. We spent about an hour driving through there. I must admit that I was a little jealous. Some of the houses actually had parking spaces in front of them.
As I looked at each house though I noticed something a little sad. Most of the houses had lights on, with big beautiful windows open for you to see right into their house, and I never saw a single person. They had so much going on that they didn't have time for each other. It made me re-consider my life and appreciate what I had right then. Instead of whining about needing more room, I was thankful that we were forced to be together so much. (hehe) Seriously we spend most of our time together.
Finally we headed home and on the way saw some beautiful lights just off the highway, so we decided to investigate. We exited and headed into the old part of downtown. They had hung lights in long strings down the front of the buildings. It looked like waterfalls. So pretty!
As we made the final pass down the street, we noticed a police car pull up to the sidewalk and turn on his lights. We all turned to look and what I saw made me realize that I whine far too much. Keep in mind that the thermometer, on our rear view mirror, inside our toasty warm Suburban, read 22 degrees and that wasn't including the wind chill. The police stepped out of his car and went to check on a homeless man asleep in a doorway. The man was sitting up, but covered with several blankets and coats.
I instantly had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Thankfully the man responded and the police man left. I honestly felt like I had been punched. Here I was complaining because of all that I had to do that week and this man was just trying to stay alive and warm.
I can't describe to you how I felt the rest of the evening. We live in a society that promotes whining and "me-time". Materialism and accumulating stuff is at the top of everyone lists. And yet I see that I really have nothing to whine about. I am so blessed that I couldn't even begin to list it all. I have never, ever had to sleep in the cold, except by choice, and I have never, ever had to worry about where I was going to get some food for my kids.
I am praying that this will have a lasting impression on me. That I will not take for granted all the things that I have and I will live more intentionally and more joyfully!
In this season of giving and receiving, don't forget all that we have been blessed with and maybe be able to bless someone else.
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Laughter Today, Hope Tomorrow
Yesterday was a good day (mostly). There was still those moments of wondering why the kids can't get along or why they have to fight over the littlest things. But mostly it was a day of laughter.
The baby crawled up to the glass door and stared out at us. She then pressed her tongue and nose up to the glass. We probably spent 10 minutes laughing at her. She kept on doing it too. I actually told some jokes that the kids thought were funny. Like when parrot said a blockage was what happened when ships blocked a city from getting help. I said no that is what happens when you don't go to the bathroom for awhile. Funny, right? C'mon! You know it is!
Another sweet moment was taking Lion Cub to the store with me. He insisted that he needed to wear BB's gloves, while pushing the cart for me. So cute! He wore them the rest of the afternoon too. He even broke off 3 pieces of chocolate and shared with me. Melted, smooshed chocolate never tasted so good!
On the way home from gymnastics, Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace came on the radio. It was so precious to hear all those little voices joining in with his. After the song was over they all expressed how much they liked that song.
Those kind of days are the ones that remind me why I am doing what I am doing. The homeschooling, the constant training of their hearts, minds, and wills. It gives me hope for tomorrow and the day after that. A reminder that the Lord is working in their hearts and mine. We are a work in progress that will not be completed until we are standing before our glorious Saviour. I can't expect them to be perfect, when I am not and I have lived so much longer than them. I need those wonderful days to give me patience for the long ones. I just read on someone else's blog (I think Moms are for everyone) that during the parenting years the days are long , but the years are short. It is so true! I need to focus on that so I can also focus on the purpose of this mission that I have been placed on.
I am praying that all of you have one of those days and you are then energized and focused again!
The baby crawled up to the glass door and stared out at us. She then pressed her tongue and nose up to the glass. We probably spent 10 minutes laughing at her. She kept on doing it too. I actually told some jokes that the kids thought were funny. Like when parrot said a blockage was what happened when ships blocked a city from getting help. I said no that is what happens when you don't go to the bathroom for awhile. Funny, right? C'mon! You know it is!
Another sweet moment was taking Lion Cub to the store with me. He insisted that he needed to wear BB's gloves, while pushing the cart for me. So cute! He wore them the rest of the afternoon too. He even broke off 3 pieces of chocolate and shared with me. Melted, smooshed chocolate never tasted so good!
On the way home from gymnastics, Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace came on the radio. It was so precious to hear all those little voices joining in with his. After the song was over they all expressed how much they liked that song.
Those kind of days are the ones that remind me why I am doing what I am doing. The homeschooling, the constant training of their hearts, minds, and wills. It gives me hope for tomorrow and the day after that. A reminder that the Lord is working in their hearts and mine. We are a work in progress that will not be completed until we are standing before our glorious Saviour. I can't expect them to be perfect, when I am not and I have lived so much longer than them. I need those wonderful days to give me patience for the long ones. I just read on someone else's blog (I think Moms are for everyone) that during the parenting years the days are long , but the years are short. It is so true! I need to focus on that so I can also focus on the purpose of this mission that I have been placed on.
I am praying that all of you have one of those days and you are then energized and focused again!
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