Babies, Brownies and Blessings

There's a saying in the medical field that goes something like "if you didn't chart it, it didn't happen". Basically it's saying if you don't write it down no one will know you did it and they'll assume you didn't. I find myself subscribing to a similar statement that goes something like this: if you don't complain about it, you didn't do it. Ever get caught in that trap? Start believing the lie that all you do will be overlooked if you don't draw attention to you troubles, real or perceived,  and make a fuss? Feel the need to chime in when someone else starts talking about the things they have to do, the obligations in life, schedules to keep? Listening to other people talk about their busy lives pulls me into this unproductive mode of complaining. It seems that complaining, for me, has turned into the "Great Equalizer". You want to tell me about how hard your life is, I'll see your trouble and raise you! W...

BabyGirl keeps us on our toes. I'm about to rename her "Little Miss Thang". She is something. Her favorite show is Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, a PBS spin-off of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Each episode features a little jingle that gets stuck in your head worse than Feliz Navidad. Big Boy #1 thinks the show should be banned, he gets so mad when one of those songs get stuck in his head!   Today's song had some little actions to it and as I was wandering around the house I heard Little Miss Thang singing...     When something seems bad turn it around and find something good.   Not bad advice and hard to ignore coming from my blinged out, double-fisting 2 year old! 

We finally have the beginnings of a roof! The building and eventual completion of our home has been a consuming project in the last many months. What we had hoped to be a 3-4 month ordeal has now turned into no less than 6. The delays have been numerous from an overworked drafter, to a harvesting lumber quoter, to backordered floor trusses to finally a flu-ridden carpentry crew. Uffda! As we are nearing the start of our 4th month here with my extremely patient and loving in-laws, I'm amazed at how time has flown and somehow inched by at the same time. If you had told us at the start that we would be without a home for 6 months we would never have gone down this road. NEVER. Being homeless is a crazy feeling even when you have a wonderful place to temporarily call home. I wasn't prepared for these feelings. I sort of pride myself on my flexibility. ...,pride does come before the fall... As it turns out, I really do like a place to call my own. Someplace to leav...

At times in life the way ahead seems clear. No turns in sight, only a hill or valley who's resolution is apparent and predictable. The prayers of my heart have produced resounding consistency in answers and I am at ease with where I am headed. But then...     Here I stand, knowing that there is a grand design in this journey but uncertain why this road is necessary. What is He saying? Why this landscape? Why the extra miles? The extra hours? The frustration, the tears, the confusion?   Didn't I hear correctly? Weren't You saying this is the way?   And then a glimpse of the lesson. An appreciation for what is now amidst the yearning for what will be . The realization that this will change me forever... Make me more grateful, more aware, more reliant on Him. Because it's not about the destination, it's about the expedition. He is in this place, this fork in the road. He is walking with me,...

Have you heard about Ebates.com? It's a website that pays you a percentage back for using them to shop at your favorite stores. I ran across it just before Black Friday and am I glad I did!! When doing all my shopping I just clicked on the store I wanted to shop at from their website and they tracked my purchases resulting in CASH BACK! If you do a lot of shopping online, be sure to check it out. They send you a check every three months or so (so they can account for what things you returned) but just for signing up and spending your first $25 through them you get a free $10 gift card to one of several stores like Macy's, Walmart, Target, Kohl's . You can follow this link from which I'll get referral credit or feel free to just go to the website, too. I'm more excited for you to start getting cash back than for me to get the $5 referral bonus. :) I LOVE getting money back for shopping I was going to day anyways, it's almost like using a coupon and...

Thanksgiving begs reflection and this year I decided to give ample thought to all it held. A year ago we were cozied up in our sweet little home where we had celebrated every holiday since we wed. No thoughts of moving, building, temporary housing. Simply content that our family was complete, I finally had no more longings of pregnancy or babies and we were satisfied. Then came February. The month of cyclic dissatisfaction and discontentment. Every.Single.Year. Somehow the house starts to feel small and inadequate that time of year. This year, we contacted a realtor. Long story short, we sold our home in a month and a half and here we sit...homeless and building and grateful. When we got out of debt last year we felt God calling us to give of our finances. There are tons of teachings on giving and tithing and I'm not an expert on the topic. We decided to follow God's nudging and have been giving back to Him. Funny thing, since we've been giving we have not ...

7 years and about 45 minutes ago we met the little boy that changed us forever. He made me love more and know less with his entry into the world. The story of his birth brings back floods of memories as I think about the myriad of emotions, feelings and pains such as I'd never known before. Oh and his beautiful little face... The birth of a child is nothing short of miraculous. The birth of a firstborn alters your world forever. BigBoy #1 was so excited about his birthday that he was literally up most of the night. Thoughts of Pokemon and ice cream cake and whatever other unknown presents floated through his mind all night. Happy birthday, Man-Child...may this year be full of lost teeth, new Pokemon, adventures and the continued molding of your life into the man God has made you to be. I love you and am so proud of who you are. Love, Mom