Sunday, November 27, 2011

Perfect

Don't you ever feel like the blessings in your life, the ease at which your daily life unfolds is just too perfect? Sure we all have bad days, but for the MOST part, my life is very easy, very predictable, very uncomplicated, it's simple, and just the way I want it. I'm assuming the majority of my friends lives are the same.

We have no huge problems, we are not starving, we are not lacking, we are abundantly blessed. Even on the worst of days.....we are ABUNDANTLY blessed. It's almost scary at times for me. I don't believe we were put on this earth to be perfectly content, perfectly happy, to have everything nice and neat in a perfect little box. I don't think I even want that. Of course I enjoy it and cling to it with everything that I am but I don't think that is what I SHOULD be doing.

I need to step out of my perfectly wrapped box with a ribbon on top and do something! Do something better, make my actions matter, reach out and do more. Act on what plaques my heart. Don't you want to be the kind of person who makes a difference, somehow?? I'm not sure exactly what I should be doing or where or how. I just know that I need to do more for other people. I need to help people here in my town, here in my state, here in my country, here in my continent and here in my world. I want to be that extraordinary person who did something, anything to help. I want my children to be those people too. I want my girls to go and help when no one else will, to be kind, thoughtful, giving, to give hope to people who need it.

I'm really involved in my own life, I'm sure most of us are.  What do I make for dinner (925 million people do not have enough to eat — more than the populations of USA, Canada and the European Union combined.2), we have so much going on, I'm one busy Mama (Every five seconds, a child dies from hunger-related diseases ), We don't have a lot of money, I'm a stay at home mom and we are on a budget (1.4 billion people in developing countries live on $1.25 a day or less) I don't have time for another child (In 2009, there were 423,773 children in foster care in the USA)

I consider myself a "good person", most of the time, I have my flaws and my demons but I still am overall a good person, as are you. Would I ever, EVER drive by a child starving to death on the side of the road?? NOOOOOOO and NOOOOOO I would not and neither would you. I would pick that child up, bring them to my home, feed them, care for them and raise them like my own. If I had to look a mother in the face and tell her I could not help and leave her there with her starving, dying family, could I do it??  I would not do it. Not in a million years. I would then bring that family into my home and help them get on their feet, and so would you!! Would I deny a child to their face a home a family, NOPE, I wouldn't.

So why am I not doing more?? Because I'm not faced with it everyday. I do not see that child on the side of the road dying from no food or water. I see pictures but I do not see it with my own eyes. I do not see that child in America waiting and longing for a home, I see pictures but I do not see it with my own eyes. How silly of me really, to deny these people because I am blessed to not have to see it with my own eyes.


I will do more, I will help, I will give, I will think often of it and I will TRY to make a difference.
So just incase I want to bring attention some amazing people who ARE making a difference, who are stronger, braver and bigger hearted than myself.

Children available for adoptin right here in Kansas
https://www.adoptkskids.org/

Children from all over the world waiting for a family
http://www.rainbowkids.com/#

Organization helping mothers so their children will not become orphans
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Because-Every-Mother-Matters/106700199371912

Project 61
https://www.facebook.com/project61

Ordinary Hero-Doing some AMAZING things!!
http://ordinaryhero.org/Ordinary_Hero/Home/Home.html

It doesn't matter what touches your heart, what stirs your soul, whatever it is.....ACT on it. Do something. Do more. Be better, kinder, more generous and more thoughtful of the people around you.

My Little Pumkins

October is such a fun month! We always go to the Pumpkin Patch and this year was no exception.

And one of the best parts of October is HALLOWEEN!! Especially for little girls who like to dress up.





Thursday, October 13, 2011

Oh I'm just....

I read something similar to this a week or so ago and it really got me thinking.

How many times when asked what I do for a living I say, "Oh I'm just a mom". I down play my role as a mother. I down play what I do. I downplay it because, while I know what I do is important, sometimes others do not. Often I've felt like I must defend my choice to stay at home and prove my worth and my value.


Before I get to far on this subject, I want to say..... It doesn't matter if a mother decides to stay at home or work, at least not to me. I have no opinions on it one way or another. We are all built differently, have different situations, different needs, different opinions and no one is in the position to judge another. There is a happy middle and everyone has to find that in their own family. As long as our kids are loved, happy and cherished it doesn't matter what road we take to get there. I have much respect for working mother's, it's a balancing act and most working mom's do it beautifully!!

So back to the point :)......
I stay at home with my children because myself and my husband chose that. I actually wanted to go back to work (because I didn't want to be viewed as lazy, I'm a very social person, and generally a busy body, I always have to have something going on) and Jeff didn't like the idea of the girls in daycare and asked me to reconsider. I'm glad I did. I have worked since I was 13 and as soon as the kids are not so dependent on me I'll be working until I retire. So why not enjoy and cherish and live in the short amount of time my children need me the most and worry about making money later??

I have enjoyed this time with my children more than any other time of my life. I haven't had to miss anything. Isn't that an amazing blessing??? I'm blessed to be able to stay at home with my girls. They are my priority, they are my life's work, they are my "job". I LOVE what I do. I love that I am always there for them and that I'm able to be so involved. I love that we can have adventures, go places, do what we want and I'm there for it all. Isn't that a good enough job??

What I do "IS" important. I DO have value and my "job" DOES  have worth. I'm not JUST a mom. I am the glue of  my family and I am A MOM, a pretty good one most of the time. I do have my flaws though and I do have my days, and I have my moments that I resemble more of a angry lion than that of a sweet gentle mother.  I'm sure they could cope without me but it wouldn't be as easy..lol. When someone doesn't see the value or worth in my "job" it saddens me....and ticks me off a little. :) I want to drag them back to my house and make them do my "job" for a week, a month, a year.

Every job that is done has a meaning.... a purpose. It doesn't matter if you are a CEO or a stay at home mom. What you do IS important, has worth, has value and makes a difference. Everyone should be able to step back and see the worth of another person's work....big or small. Have respect for hard work, sweat and tears that someone has put in and be supportive, encouraging and uplifting.

This week Randi had to turn in a paper about her family. It asked our address, city, state, country, the names of family members, what her chores were, what her dad's job was and what her mom's job was. She had everything filled out but what my job was. She said "what is your job mom??" so I asked her "What do you think my job is" she answered "Your my mom, you take care of me and get me everything I need, you take me places and teach me you drive me around and make me food". Then she wrote on the space provided beside the question, 
 Your mom's job is: Being my mom
Yup, that's good enough for me.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

First Day of School- Only a month late!!

So I know this is late.....A sure sign that school is back up and going along with dance, Awana's and all the other activities the girls do, my blog gets put on the back burner. But for the sake of this blog and what I'm meaning for it to be (for my girls) , I HAVE to do this. :) Soooooo Randi and Grace's first day of school!!!!!

I love this time of year. All the excitement, anticipation, and greatness that it brings is welcomed!! The girls love school, I know this won't last forever, but while it does, I'm soaking it up. School IS cool in this house :) Randi's first day was first and here she is on her big day


Yup, beautiful, smart, confident and happy!! Just the way I like her.



















Then Grace's first day a week later


And my sweet Grace!! Gorgeous, bright, proud and joyful!!

Sunday, September 4, 2011

And Then She Turned 6!!

My oldest princess turned 6 recently!!! 6 years of blessings courtesy of the one and only Randi!! I love how little ones take pride in turning another year older. She is no longer a little 5 year old but a independent, strong, and smart 6 year old. Ohhh what a difference a day can make, one day your 5, then the next your 6!!


 I'm pretty sure she's had us on our toes since the day she was born. But ohh what a sweet baby she was!










Yup, cute as can be












But before we knew it she was 1!!











And 2 came soon after












And then she was 3













Shortly after she become a beautiful 4 year old!











Birthday #5 seems like yesterday!













And now she is 6!!!! A bright, beautiful and promising 6 year old!!

Randi, we are beyond proud and in awe of the person you are. We look forward to watching you transform and grow everyday. You have grown into such a little lady. A little lady who is strong, independent, compassionate, a friend to all, and your wheels are ALWAYS turning. We are blessed and can't wait to see what the future brings you (rather what you create of your future!!). Happy 6th Birthday Randi! You are loved more than you know.









Monday, August 29, 2011

Perspective

If you find you don't have all the answers, which is the exact predicament I find myself in quite often, ask a young child.
When I'm feeling a little unmotivated, uninspired, down or weak, I go to a magnificent duo. They are honest, with pure intentions, have no ulterior motive, no preconceived notions, they don't mind telling it as it is and they don't mind showing compassion. These gems are Randi and Grace. They are my go to gals.

It's funny, I think us adults complicate things ya know?? We go through the what if's, the why's, the how's and then over complicate those as well. I'm not suggesting I listen and follow through with all of their ideas and advice, (but what a crazy life we would lead if I did.) We would have a rainbow colored house and eat ice cream and spaghetti for every meal, we'd go to the zoo everyday and spend the rest of the time playing, coloring, singing and dancing and.... well...actually this is sounding pretty nice, maybe I should follow their lead?? Anyway they simplify things and we as adults complicate things.

I used to think it was the other way around, but nope...... the kids are the ones that have it right. 




Saturday, August 20, 2011

Toy Room Overhaul -Part II

We finally got it done!!! But we had a change of plans after the big paint spill
 The toy room is now the guest bedroom and the guest bedroom is now the toy room. We figured the bed would probably hide the HUGE paint spot a little better. lol..Such is life though. Making due with what your given. We are flexible and worked with it. :) So the guest bed room pictures......(sorry for the bad quality..bad light and the camera on my phone just don't mix) The color the walls appear to be is not at all the color it actually is..lol
And the new toy room pictures
So, it got done after all. Of course just like everything it was harder than we thought, there were bumps and it took way longer than expected but IT'S DONE!!!! Happy Saturday.



Thursday, August 18, 2011

Raising the Ransom

“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.” Albert Schwitzer




Please take a moment to read Liliana's story and see what millions of orphans must endure.


http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2011/08/because-it-is-our-problem.html










Friday, August 12, 2011

Toy Room Overhaul

Our toy room is getting a makeover!! I should point out this is in no way shape or form Jeff's idea. In fact he REALLY doesn't want to do it. However I had to empty out the toy room yesterday to shampoo the carpet and my crazy thinking mind went overboard. But... emptying the toy room is a once every 6 months ordeal so while it's empty we might as well....Right?? Right??? Or am I crazy?? Never mind, please don't answer that. Sooo the toy room is now empty....well besides the toys that the girls have ALREADY drug back in there. So I'm posting a before picture and hopefully by tonight I can post a after picture. There are a thousand things I need to get done besides this but sometimes you have to have some fun....wait, this won't be fun...Ummmmm...Sometimes you just have to do what you don't want to do in order for things to get done...Yup that sounds more accurate. Here is a snap shot of the toy room BEFORE


Wish me luck and patience and the ability to accept what I can not change and the ability to not go overboard with this make over. If it were up to me this would take a week and consist of us building new shelves and wall art and maybe painting a whole wall with chalk board paint and all kind of crazy things but I have ONE night... so paint and rearranging will go along way.....I hope. ;)

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Something Special

I'm finding that all the moments that seem like "nothing special" are when I find myself in awe of my girls and my husband. All those tiny moments that make me smile. While walking to the laundry room to switch out wash, I spotted Randi and Grace in the kitchen with the radio on dancing their hearts out. While I'm cooking dinner and I peek into the living room to find all 3 of my loves are cuddled up in the recliner together watching a Disney movie. Such sweet tiny moments!! I really wish I could remember all of these "nothing special" moments when I'm stopped in my tracks and reminded how blessed and lucky I am. Turns out that all those nothing special moments are anything but. Soooo here are some random pictures of our very special "nothing special" moments.










Thursday, July 28, 2011

Can You Even Imagine

See..... there is this little girl, thousands of miles away, that is tugging at my heart and needing help.


I'm not sure why I feel SO compelled to help her..... but I do. I can NOT get her sweet face out of my mind. I think of her often and my heart is breaking for her. I do know there are sad stories everywhere, everyday, but for some reason, she has stuck with me. I may not be able to do much, but I WILL do what I can. The sinking in my stomach and the aching of my heart after seeing her picture won't allow me to ignore her or forget about her. Her name is Tatiana. Sometime this month she turned 8 years old. Tatiana used to have a family, with a home and a mother to love her. Then Tatiana's mother died. No father was listed on her birth certificate..... and now she lives in an institution.

CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE?? She lost the only person she had, and now she's alone, without a family to call her own. I just keep thinking about MY sweet little gifts from God and how ANY child can be without a family. What if this were Randi or Grace. What if my babies were without me, their dad and all the amazing people they have in their lives. Nobody telling them how amazingly wonderful they are, how beautiful and special they are, nobody whispering in their ear as they get hugged how much they are loved. How different their lives would be, how sad, alone and broken they would feel.  It seriously makes me sick to my stomach to think about.

Tatiana needs a family. She, like every child needs to be held and hugged and kissed and told how amazing she is. Tatiana needs stories read to her, a family to tuck her in at night and to let her know that she is a gift, a blessing! Tatiana needs a chance. How different her life would be if she could get that.

You see. I HAVE to help her. I HAVE to. My heart is heavy and I can't live with that. I know with %100 certainty that there IS a family out there for her. A perfect family that was, from the beginning, meant for her. I do believe there is a divine plan for this little blessing, I just want to help.

This is what I know. Tatiana is in Russia, she is 8, This is her description on the waiting children's list

(Tatiana's birthmother has died. No father was indicated on her birth certificate. Additional photos are available - she makes the sweetest facial expressions and looks a bit shy in front of the camera. She is a good girl, active, assists others, not capricious and strong willed. She was a family girl before living in the institution.)

She is HIV+, before you come to any conclusions , I want you to watch this
http://www.projecthopeful.org/get-involved/truth-pandemic

Because adoption is expensive, because adoption can be stressful, and because Tatiana is an older child with HIV, she is getting passed over. I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS LITTLE GIRL TO BE FORGOTTEN! Please please please help her. Money is all to often the reason adoptable children NEVER find homes. I want to help raise funds for her adoption, basically raising her ransom. That way when the perfect family comes along MONEY is not standing in the way of Tatiana getting home. I've added a "button" (It's at the top right, it says donate, when you click it you will see Project Hopeful and Tatiana's name) to my blog. If your heart is touched at ALL by Tatiana, please considering giving what you can. $1.00, $5.00, $100.00, or whatever you can. Seriously every penny gives this girl some hope!! Right now her fund sits at $0.00 The money will go directly to her adoption fund. I want so badly for this little girl to have a wonderful home, a mom, a dad, brothers, sisters, or any one of those. I don't want her to get left behind or forgotten. I'm really hoping WE can make a difference, a difference for one sweet little miracle that is deserving and worthy of a family.
Please feel free to share and pass this along. I really want it to reach as MANY people as possible. You never know where it might end up and who might end up reading this. I know there is a family for her and they might not know it until they see her precious face and hear her story. So PLEASE forward, share and spread. :)
....once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act. Proverbs 24:12

Monday, June 27, 2011

What I Know to be True

It's so easy to get caught up in "it" all. "It", being whatever happens to be pressing, stressing or consuming my time at any given moment. "It", being school, bills, to do list, events, what we are going to have for dinner, what's on the calender for that day, I could go on and on and on.... but I know NOBODY wants to hear that.  I don't either but I can't turn my brain off so, I'm stuck with it..lol. I'm sure men don't understand this strange phenomenon of non stop thinking, worrying, and planning....or maybe they do and my husband just pretends he doesn't to get out of things...The verdict is still out on that one. Anyway, I'm easily distracted by what's NOT important.

The other day I was watching something or reading something, can't remember. But a doctor was saying that it's nearly impossible for humans to live "in the moment" on a constant basis because our brains do not function this way. We, as humans, are programmed to be constantly predicting, planning and looking to the future. While this is a great function, it has it's down falls. NO WONDER it's so hard for me to sit down and just be. Just be silent, still and enjoy what is right in front of me. I can be having a conversation with my daughter about why we shouldn't roller skate in the house but be thinking about cleaning the bathroom or getting to Walmart.

A week or two ago we were heading home after a t-ball game and a t-ball clinic. We had been there for 3 hours after an already long busy day. It was HOT, all 4 of us were cranky and tired. The kids were screaming and fighting in the back seats, the music was loud and I was about ready to lose it. I looked over at Jeff and he was smiling. What??? Why was this crazy man smiling! I was miserable and about to have a break down and he was smiling. That one smile changed my mood and my thoughts immediately. I didn't say anything and neither did he.  I just smiled back.

We are EXTREMELY blessed. Not just a little, A LOT!! Beautiful healthy children, happy stable marriage, we have everything that we need....everything! So while my crazy thinking continued after the smile, my thoughts (through the screaming, heat and music) were good and were about what matters.

So I'm making a list of things I know to be true. Things I should keep my mind on and concentrate on. Things that are most important and precious to me and things I want my children to know and live by. This is not a complete list at all but things that have been in my head and things I know to be true today. :)

  • Family is the single most important thing in my life and where my priority lies. No Exceptions. 
  • Kids are a TON of work. They are the only living thing that can suck the life out of you and give it back all in the same moment. 
  • Kids are loud, messy, crazy balls of energy all while being amazing, beautiful and life changing
  • My girls have taught me so many more lessons than I'll ever be able to teach them. 
  • If you are blessed with health, shelter and food or maybe even none of these. You should give back. 
  • You have to throw caution to the wind once in awhile.
  • If something presses on your heart, do something about it.
  • Fun should take priority over many more things than I allow it to. 
  • Show compassion when needed, courage when needed and weakness when needed.
  • There is no such thing as perfect, not even close. My family is perfectly imperfect.
  • Count your blessings often
  • Being happy is realizing what you have, whatever it may be, and being thankful for it 

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Swimming Lessons

My girls are fish. They love to swim and they are good at it. Jeff and I love the water so it makes sense that they do too. Swim lessons are one of their favorite things. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with being able to wake up and then start getting ready to go for a dip in ice cold water (weird I know, but I guess that's the cool part about being a kid, you don't mind ice cold water first thing in the morning)


Randi and Grace posing before a road trip.
 All the cousins!! Fun times at Papa Bill's and Nana Toni's house.
We've been having fun this summer and I am not ready for school to start at all!! Glad I still have 2 months with by girls before we get back into the school routine. Summers are fun and crazy around here! Just the way we like it.