All is better now

Favorite moment of this weekend:

Our family dancing to praise and worship music in the living room on Saturday night.  Our babies think Jared and I have great dance moves (we've already started discussing when they will realize that we cannot dance).  At one point, I looked at Addi and she was copying every move I made.  It was so sweet. She looked at me and said, "You're a princess!"  As I watched her and Brogan (who was so content dancing in his own unique way) and looked at Jared, I had to sit down for a minute as my emotions overwhelmed me.  I started to cry and quickly assured everyone my tears were happy tears.  There are moments that I still cannot believe all that God has blessed me with.  My husband adores me and treats me so well and my children are healthy and happy.  Addi thinks I'm a princess and daddy is a superhero (which she tells him every night now). :)  Brogan is just happy all the time (Except for when I'm cooking dinner and he suddenly thinks that I need to hold him right that moment.  This happens every night and he is not content if Jared tries to hold him.  It has to be me and I have to do it while standing in the kitchen.  I think he just wants to be close to the food.)   Life is good.

Anyway, as you can see, I feel much better about everything tonight than I did on Friday night.  Phew...parenting truly brings out the emotional roller coaster at times!

Here's to the week....expecting it to be a great one for all of you and for us!

Taking an Extended Break

So I am taking an extended break from Facebook, Pinterest and most blogs (except for one that is very important right now due to events that will be happening soon...Shannon). ;)  The main reason for my sabbatical...I am driving myself CRAZY comparing myself to other people, my children to other children, and our lives to others lives.  We are blessed...blessed beyond measure.  I know this.  We love deeply around here and have fun every single day.  Yet, I look at Facebook and think, "I wish Addi had that outfit.  I wish Brogan had that toy.  I wish we were going on a date.", etc.  It's getting ridiculous.  I look at Pinterest and feel guilty for not coming up with a new craft to do with the kids every day, for not creating my living room to look like something that should be in a magazine, for not being able to sew quilts and make four course gourmet dinners on a whim.  I read a lot of blogs - mommy blogs mostly that are very beneficial usually, but for some reason right now make me feel bad for not having more time for devotions, for not saving more money on my weekly grocery trip, etc.  I don't like this comparison phase I'm in.  Sure, we all compare ourselves to each other at times, but I've gone a bit crazy.  I realized this tonight as I was feverishly serving the internet for where Addi should be at academically by the time she is three all because a friend on Facebook said her two-year-old knows that the city they live in contains multiple stores and that  her grandparents live in the country which contains tractors and farms.  Addi doesn't know the difference between the city and the country, and it literally freaked me out.  She knows what state we live in, what state our relatives live in and even what country we live in (she also knows the name of the country our friends are adopting from).  Yet, I still freaked out.  I was in tears thinking about what I have failed to teach her so far.  I found a developmental chart...realized she knows everything on the chart (mentally and physically), but I was still worried.  While I was conducting my "research," Brogan was crying, yes crying because I had stopped playing cars with him to do this research.  Addi was watching television and talking, yes talking to the television show.  It hit me, I had my priorities ALL wrong.  When what my child is learning becomes more important than enjoying the hear and the now, I've got it all wrong.  When finding crafts for my children to do becomes more important than having fun with them while we simply color, write, paint, etc, I've got it all wrong.  When I would rather read status updates on Facebook than read a few verses in the Bible, I've got it all wrong.  When I would rather complain to my husband about not getting to go on a date because someone else got a date tonight than spend time with him while the kids are sleeping, I've got it all wrong.

Anyway, just thought I'd post this to hold myself accountable.  I plan on updating this blog...just not Facebook.  I think I'll aim for all of February.  We shall see how it goes.  ;)

Happy Weekend!!

I never want to forget (Brogan)...

I never want to forget how Brogan loves to assume that his sister is in time-out.  Whenever he wakes up before her, or when she is in the other room playing, he asks, "Addi time-out?"  He gets great joy in thinking she is in time-out and it is adorable.  Sometimes he tells me that she needs to go to time-out, too.  Usually, Addi ignores him or laughs...I think deep down, she even thinks it's cute. :)

I never want to forget how he willingly hands over his paci after naptime and in the mornings.  He now knows that his paci is only for sleeping.  When he's done sleeping, he'll hand it over and say, "All done, paci! All gone!" 

I never want to forget how he loves to kiss his daddy before daddy leaves the house, how he wants me to sing "hush baby" (Hush Little Baby) before he goes to sleep, how he loves to sing, "Our God is Awesome," how he loves reading books (the same ones, over and over again), and how he wants to do everything his sister does.  

I never want to forget how he likes to run away from me every.single.time I go to change his diaper or put clothes on him, how he says, "I excited!" when it's time to eat, how he closes his hands to say his prayers, how he eagerly assists with cleaning up his toys and how he has a new found interest in coloring (for no more than a minute at a time though).

I never want to forget how he says, "I love you, Mommy" multiple times a day, gives me the sweetest hugs and kisses, and laughs uncontrollably over the goofiest things that I do.

Today, we will watch the same Barney movie he watches all the time, read the same book fifteen times over, we will sing songs, play basketball, color for a minute, chase each other around the house, throw pacifiers down after naptime, give lots of hugs, kisses, and high-fives (which he adores), cheer at dinner time, say our prayers and maybe even put his sister in time-out once or twice (though, don't worry...her time-outs are well deserved). Because I never want to forget how fast the time goes, but I never want to think about it either.  So for now, I'll cherish today...cherish my sweet, goofy, lovable, lively little boy who makes his mama smile a thousand times a day.

Water into Wine

Today at lunch, Addi took her water and started to pour it out onto her plate.  Her reasoning:  "I'm turning water into wine."  Glad to know she is listening in Children's Church. :)

Interview with Addi :)

Interview with Addi about her daddy (for his birthday):

Mommy:  How old is daddy?
Addi: One.
Mommy:  What color hair does daddy have?
Addi: Blue
Mommy:  Blue?  Actually it's brown.  What is the color of his eyes?
Addi: Brown.
Mommy:  Actually, they are blue.
Addi: Nope, they are brown.
Mommy:  No, they are not, but OK.  What is daddy's favorite color?
Addi: Green.
Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with daddy?
Addi: Play basketball.
Mommy:  What does daddy do for work?
Addi: Goes bye-bye.  (Actually he works from home, but has been working long hours outside of the home this week, so this is fresh on her mind.)
Mommy:  Does daddy like church?
Addi:  Yes, he goes to big church.  I go to little church.
Mommy:  That's right, you go to your class while we go to listen to the sermon. What is daddy's favorite song to listen to?
Addi: Our God is Awesome (she is right...he loves that song!)
Mommy: What is daddy's favorite food to eat?
Addi: Corn.
Mommy:  His favorite food is corn?
Addi:  Yes, that's right. It's corn. (It really isn't corn)
Mommy: What is daddy's favorite ice cream flavor?
Addi: A big, tall cone!
Mommy:  Does daddy like football or basketball better?
Addi: He likes basketball.
Mommy:  Does daddy like football or racing better?
Addi: Um, racing.
Mommy: Does daddy even like football?
Addi: Yes, he does.
Mommy:  Where did daddy go to college?
Addi: Um, I don't know.
Mommy:  Remember we went there?  It starts with Virginia.
Addi: North Carolina.
Mommy: No, Virginia Tech.
Addi: No, he didn't go to Virginia Tech, Mommy.
Mommy: Yes, he did.
Addi: Daddy did not go to school.
Mommy: He did go to school.  Anyway, how many hugs and kisses do you give to daddy every day?
Addi: 2 and 3.  No, 5 and 3.
Mommy:  Do you love your daddy?
Addi: Yes, I sure do.

Whisper His Name

"Does the month of January just hate us?  I am over 2013 already!"  These are the thoughts I've had for the last couple of days.  Honestly, 2013 has not started off for us very well (though the trials are not major) and I'm already frustrated.  I sort-of wish we could fast forward time.  However, I would then miss out on so many sweet and precious moments with my family.  So, for now, I'll be happy in January 2013.  I will be thankful for the good things, because they are very, very good.  I will be grateful for the bad things, because they could be a lot worse.  Through it all, I will call upon Jesus.

This song sort of sums it all up for me.  For those of you on FB, I posted it on my page as well.  You should take a listen.  I love it and it is so appropriate for such a time of this.  And yes, this is our church choir singing this song.  I am a little biased, I know...but I think they are definitely one of the best choirs in the country.

Here's to happier times in 2013...even in the trials, because really, without the trials would we ever want to Whisper His Name?

A Christmas Gift

It's been a sad week.  A man from our church passed away unexpectedly last Saturday leaving behind his wife and 6-year-old son.  A girl that used to be one of the regular cashiers I used while shopping at Wal-Mart was found dead in her car (2 months after she went missing).  She leaves behind a loving family and a three-year-old son.  A little boy that we know (same age as Addi) was diagnosed with Leukemia.  And, of course, the horrible tragedy in Sandy Hook.  It seems like sad news is more prevalent at Christmas time.  Maybe it's just that we are more aware.

I challenge you to look around at the faces of the people you come in contact with this week and really look into their eyes.  Will a smile make a difference?  Will God lead you to do more for an individual?  Will you grow keenly aware of the sadness that so many feel in this joyous season?  I don't know.  I don't know what difference I can make by looking at strangers with compassion. However, that's my prayer this week. That I see the hurt in others eyes and that I react the way God would have me to.  Maybe that's just a smile.  Maybe it's reacting with a whispered prayer. Maybe it's giving of my time, energy or finances.  I'm excited to see what's in store.

In closing, hug your family this week.  Keep them close.  Call those you love.  Tell them you care. Smile at strangers.  Help a friend.  Give the gift of compassion this season.  It might be the best gift we can give.