*giggly boys
*excited boys
*happy boys
*bunk beds
*cabin
*outdoor air
*gravel roads
*coffee in the morning
*wine at night
*Charlie Brown
*deer in the yard
*picnics
*hiking
*Mickelson Trail
*rock hunting
*track finding
*pre-bike week
*Reptile Gardens
*crocodile show
*petting a baby croc
*46 year old tortises
*Storybook island
*choo choo train
*Prairie Berry
*sleepy boys
*smell of sunscreen
*snuggly boys
*tired of driving
*baseball caps and boonie hats
*Love
*Marriage
*remember why I like you
*Wyoming
*trampoline gymnastics
*campfire
*smores and peanut butter
*Family
*reading and snuggling
*nieces and nephews
*uncles and aunties
*hugs and kisses
*turtle pool
*all our clothes on
*all our clothes off
*make the neighbors wonder
*a beer or two
*telling stories
*short on sleep
*playground fun
*leftovers
*long drive home
*need caffeine
*out of good snacks
*pit stop
*pick up puppies
*panic attack
*finally home!
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
Swimming Lessons
My biggest little man started swimming lessons this week. Real swimming lessons; Don't need mom to swim with me; I can do it all by myself; swimming lessons. I won't lie, I had to swallow my tears and dab my eyes as I watched him happily march off with his preschool swimming class and teacher. Gulp. My baby is growing up. Tear. Sniff. Sniff.
There is a certain feeling of helpless, sadness in watching your children grow. However, watching my son walk away reminds me I am doing something right. He is secure enough in himself to know he can take this next step toward independence. Besides that, he never once stopped checking to be sure I was still there! I am doing something right..roots and wings.
I am so proud of the brilliant, vivacious, funny little boy he is growing into, but I am also mourning the baby years. Lately he has been wanting me to "read" his baby book to him. I can't believe he is three and a half already! Seriously now, where does the time go!?! The passage of time is inevitable, but experiencing these little moments reminds me to slow down and enjoy the here and now becase the truth is, my babies will grow up. The truth is, they will get older. I will get older. The truth is, every moment counts, even the bad ones. The truth is, I won't enjoy the bad moments. The truth is, I do need to be thankful for and praise God for the ALL the moments I have with my children.
Fly my little man, fly!
There is a certain feeling of helpless, sadness in watching your children grow. However, watching my son walk away reminds me I am doing something right. He is secure enough in himself to know he can take this next step toward independence. Besides that, he never once stopped checking to be sure I was still there! I am doing something right..roots and wings.
I am so proud of the brilliant, vivacious, funny little boy he is growing into, but I am also mourning the baby years. Lately he has been wanting me to "read" his baby book to him. I can't believe he is three and a half already! Seriously now, where does the time go!?! The passage of time is inevitable, but experiencing these little moments reminds me to slow down and enjoy the here and now becase the truth is, my babies will grow up. The truth is, they will get older. I will get older. The truth is, every moment counts, even the bad ones. The truth is, I won't enjoy the bad moments. The truth is, I do need to be thankful for and praise God for the ALL the moments I have with my children.
Fly my little man, fly!
Blip
My husband and I are currently working through a blip in our marriage. A blip, as defined by me, is not quite a bump in the road, but more like a strong pull toward the ditch, a pull that wakes you up and reminds you to keep your eyes on the road, slow down, enjoy the ride and know that there is a rest stop just ahead.
I wish that we were not experiencing this challenge right now, but I know from the past that when (not if) we make it through, we will come out stronger, better, more unified. I thank God for the gift of this challenge and the tools he is given me to overcome it. I thank God that I have a marriage worth sticking around and working for. I thank God for pushing my husband to be an honest man (though it took awhile, and hearts - specifically mine, were hurt in the process). I thank God for giving me this time to reflect on what I have done in the past to hurt our relationship as well as what I can do in the future to make our marriage stronger.
The truth is, there are blips in the road. The truth is, we are all human, and we all make mistakes. The truth is, this situation is NOT my fault. The truth is, this situation is not a reflection of my own self worth. The truth is internalizing this hurt, will only hurt me and our marriage more. The truth is, this will most certainly not be the last blip in our road.
I wish that we were not experiencing this challenge right now, but I know from the past that when (not if) we make it through, we will come out stronger, better, more unified. I thank God for the gift of this challenge and the tools he is given me to overcome it. I thank God that I have a marriage worth sticking around and working for. I thank God for pushing my husband to be an honest man (though it took awhile, and hearts - specifically mine, were hurt in the process). I thank God for giving me this time to reflect on what I have done in the past to hurt our relationship as well as what I can do in the future to make our marriage stronger.
The truth is, there are blips in the road. The truth is, we are all human, and we all make mistakes. The truth is, this situation is NOT my fault. The truth is, this situation is not a reflection of my own self worth. The truth is internalizing this hurt, will only hurt me and our marriage more. The truth is, this will most certainly not be the last blip in our road.
Happy Independence Day
On Saturday, my husband was explaining to our three year old the significance of Independence Day. As my baby and I came banging out the tornado tattered (4 years ago - not recent) screen door onto the back deck, my three year old proudly proclaimed, "Mom - Independence Day means we can swing in our own backyard whenever we want," and then happily continued swinging back and forth in the blue little tikes swing in OUR backyard.
***
A few days later, on the actual Fourth of July...our family of four cuddled close watching the ten o'clock fireworks. The boys were dressed in their jammies and sweats with red, white, and blue glow lights adorning their necks (great idea Grammie!!) We brought the old patchwork quilt, spread it on the tailgate, and with one boy by my side, one in my lap and my hubby behind me, I thanked God for freedom.
Happy Independence Day!
***
A few days later, on the actual Fourth of July...our family of four cuddled close watching the ten o'clock fireworks. The boys were dressed in their jammies and sweats with red, white, and blue glow lights adorning their necks (great idea Grammie!!) We brought the old patchwork quilt, spread it on the tailgate, and with one boy by my side, one in my lap and my hubby behind me, I thanked God for freedom.
Happy Independence Day!
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Proud to Be an American, Proud to Be a Mother
As a mother there are moments that take me to the brink of insanity. Moments when I look at the raging monster I helped create, laying on the floor kicking and screaming, and wonder what am I doing wrong. But then there are those blissful, wonderful, moments when I look at my children and know I am doing good (mostly this happens when they are sleeping.) One of these blissfully gratifying mother moments occurred last night.
My husband had the day off. My 3 year old and I had dentist appointments in the morning (his first, not my first) followed by a coffee date (is that bad parenting??). We then planned to take naps and head thirty miles west for a picnic, park play, and a wonderful outdoor musical that has become a family tradition (even though my husband has firmly stated makeup-ed, dancing, cowboys are not usually his thing). I love the feeling of pride and home the show gives us (and my husband, makeup-ed cowboys or not, agrees). After naps, my three year old was a wreck...the term "woke up on the wrong side of the bed" doesn't even really get close. However, we headed out anyway. I was determined to make the most of it and choose to have a positive attitude about how the remainder of the evening would unfold. We were a little rushed (as usual), but not to the point of being frazzled when we got there. The kids were a little sticky with jelly and sunscreen, but otherwise excited to see the big amphitheater and escalator. We made it to our seats just in time and only minutes after we settled in the National Anthem, signaling the start of the show, began. As I sang along with the familiar song letting my heart and mind rejoice in the gift of being an American, I looked down at my son...He was not signing (he's only three), but what he was doing was even better...he had both little hands placed on his chest and was quietly pondering the proceedings while honoring our country and our flag. I cried. In that moment, I knew I was doing something so right, and I was so so proud of the little man I helped create.
My husband had the day off. My 3 year old and I had dentist appointments in the morning (his first, not my first) followed by a coffee date (is that bad parenting??). We then planned to take naps and head thirty miles west for a picnic, park play, and a wonderful outdoor musical that has become a family tradition (even though my husband has firmly stated makeup-ed, dancing, cowboys are not usually his thing). I love the feeling of pride and home the show gives us (and my husband, makeup-ed cowboys or not, agrees). After naps, my three year old was a wreck...the term "woke up on the wrong side of the bed" doesn't even really get close. However, we headed out anyway. I was determined to make the most of it and choose to have a positive attitude about how the remainder of the evening would unfold. We were a little rushed (as usual), but not to the point of being frazzled when we got there. The kids were a little sticky with jelly and sunscreen, but otherwise excited to see the big amphitheater and escalator. We made it to our seats just in time and only minutes after we settled in the National Anthem, signaling the start of the show, began. As I sang along with the familiar song letting my heart and mind rejoice in the gift of being an American, I looked down at my son...He was not signing (he's only three), but what he was doing was even better...he had both little hands placed on his chest and was quietly pondering the proceedings while honoring our country and our flag. I cried. In that moment, I knew I was doing something so right, and I was so so proud of the little man I helped create.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Why?
As summer rolls along, several tragedies have taken place in the small community and surrounding areas where my husband and I grew up. It seems so senseless, the taking of vibrant, young life, but who are we, mere mortals, to question that which God has planned. When tragedy strikes, the first question so many people ask is, "Why, God? Why?" I know, because I have been there. I have lost someone near and dear to me, long before I had deemed it her time to go. Asking why of God is a natural progression in the grief process. I have since grown in my faith and now my questions have changed.
As the news of a tragic accident or an untimely death reaches our ears, we are often bombarded with text messages, Facebook posts, and emails suggesting we hold our loved ones closer. My questions are, "Why now? Why weren't we already doing this? Why does someone else need to suffer lose and pain for us to realize that each day is a gift and what is important should be held close...everyday. But we do, we seem to need that tragic reminder to put down the laundry and run with our children, to leave the house unkept and read just one more story before bed. Why? It sounds as if I am on my soapbox, but I too am guilty of putting the urgent before the important, of needing that gruesome reality check to be a better person, a better mother, a better wife.
I try to remind myself daily to live as Jesus did, to put my life in his hands, follow his plans and not my own. I try not to dwell on the what ifs and live in the moment and I also know that I am human, a sinner, and God will forgive me and sent me straight when I don't.
So for yesterday, today, and all of the tomorrows...I will hold that which I love closer.
As the news of a tragic accident or an untimely death reaches our ears, we are often bombarded with text messages, Facebook posts, and emails suggesting we hold our loved ones closer. My questions are, "Why now? Why weren't we already doing this? Why does someone else need to suffer lose and pain for us to realize that each day is a gift and what is important should be held close...everyday. But we do, we seem to need that tragic reminder to put down the laundry and run with our children, to leave the house unkept and read just one more story before bed. Why? It sounds as if I am on my soapbox, but I too am guilty of putting the urgent before the important, of needing that gruesome reality check to be a better person, a better mother, a better wife.
I try to remind myself daily to live as Jesus did, to put my life in his hands, follow his plans and not my own. I try not to dwell on the what ifs and live in the moment and I also know that I am human, a sinner, and God will forgive me and sent me straight when I don't.
So for yesterday, today, and all of the tomorrows...I will hold that which I love closer.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Summer Reading
So far:
1. Splendors and Glooms (MG/YA novel) - fantastic, dark, magical mystery about the joy of finding "home."
2. Me Talk Pretty One Day - I slugged through...I found one bright spot. Thats all. Period.
3. The Lightning Thief - (MG novel) fantastic! Makes me want to study Greek History! Can't wait to read the rest of this series.
4. Reading Lolita in Tehran -
***
5. The Storyteller - fantastic fiction set during the Holocaust
6. Two Kisses for Maddy - sadly happy! www.mattlogelin.com
***
7. Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children
8. Moon over Manifest - Love, love, love - speakeasies, Spanish influenza, finding out where you came from, the bond between a father and daughter - excellent young adult read!
9. Redeeming Love - BEST. BOOK. EVER. God's love is sooo good!
10. Hattie Big Sky
More updates to come! So many on my "to read list" this summer!
11. The Diviners
12. Wonder
13. A Tangle of Knots
14. Glory Be
15. Wedding Night - hilarious and light!
1. Splendors and Glooms (MG/YA novel) - fantastic, dark, magical mystery about the joy of finding "home."
2. Me Talk Pretty One Day - I slugged through...I found one bright spot. Thats all. Period.
3. The Lightning Thief - (MG novel) fantastic! Makes me want to study Greek History! Can't wait to read the rest of this series.
4. Reading Lolita in Tehran -
***
5. The Storyteller - fantastic fiction set during the Holocaust
6. Two Kisses for Maddy - sadly happy! www.mattlogelin.com
***
7. Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children
8. Moon over Manifest - Love, love, love - speakeasies, Spanish influenza, finding out where you came from, the bond between a father and daughter - excellent young adult read!
9. Redeeming Love - BEST. BOOK. EVER. God's love is sooo good!
10. Hattie Big Sky
More updates to come! So many on my "to read list" this summer!
11. The Diviners
12. Wonder
13. A Tangle of Knots
14. Glory Be
15. Wedding Night - hilarious and light!
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