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.

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.

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!!

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.

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. 

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.