My Delights!!

In class on Sunday morning, the person was teaching about how God delights in us. He started talking about what that meant to really delight in something. He compared God's delighting in us to delighting in our children. The teacher then went through and listed alot of things that he delights in with his kids so it got me thinking about what I delight in. Here is what I can come up with:

Madison

• the way she gets so excited about picking out a present for someone
• the way that when she gets a card in the mail, she then writes on the card too
• her crinkly face in the mornings when she doesn't want to wake up
• the funny songs that she makes up
• listening to her playing when she thinks no one is listening
• when she hugs me for no reason and says "I love you, Mommy!"
• when she gets my heels out of my closet and prances around the house
• how she thinks that my slips are elegant dresses for her to wear around the house
• priceless things that she says such as while at my grandmothers funeral and she said "why is Grandmother so dressed up?" and "Do her privates go to Heaven?"
• the way she sings songs even when she doesnt' know the words
• her big blue eyes
• the many interesting dance moves that she has (ok, so she does look a bit like a stripper with her moves but she is still cute)
  

Tucker

• his swollen face first thing in the morning
• the smell when he first gets out of the bathtub
• the way he claps for himself
• when he shakes in excitement when he sees food of any kind
• the way he snuggles up in my arms so perfectly
• each and every little fat roll on his body
• watching him explore everything around the house
• the way he lights up when his sister comes in the room
• when he starts bouncing when ever he hears music
  

My wonderful husband

• that he manages the finances so I don't have to stress about it
  
• that he always pumps the gas when we stop at the gas station
• watching him play with our kiddos
• that he always says "sleep sweet" when I go to bed
• that he knows exactly how to make the kids and me laugh at any given moment
• that he always lets me have the remote if I want it
• that he lets me play the fun word games on his phone even though I know that he really wants to play them

I will stop with these delights because I list all day long in regard to all of my family. A few other things that I do delight in:

• a good hot bath
  
• a stormy day with a good movie
• a good glass of sweet iced tea
  
• my potato salad
• a homemade meal by my mom (she is the best cook ever)
• a clean kitchen
• a good haircut
• an awesome outfit that fits me just right
• making someone smile

Now the teacher of our class said if you DELIGHT in these things....just take a moment and think about how God DELIGHTS in each and everyone of his children. The teacher went on to explain that besides just delighting in us, God actively PURSUES each and every one of us. He pursues each and every one of us to be HIS son or daughter. The teacher said, if you actually go into each day approaching God as he delights in you and is pursuing you, it will make a huge difference.

(Nathan Bland was the teacher on Sunday and did an amazing job.)

On a side note - Happy Memorial Day. I hope everyone had a great day with their families and thanking God for all of the men and women who have ever put themselves in harms way to fight for our country. GOD BLESS THE USA.

Summer, Preschool, crawling and other things

Well life has been busy and that is why I have not posted in a couple of months.

I have signed Madison up for Preschool full time starting August 9th. I was very torn about this decision as I only wanted her to go part time but things did not work out we signed her up for full-time preschool. I did not like this decision but it had to be made. Fast forward one week....Madison has been getting very bored over at the babysitters house each day so I now know that I have made the right decision to sign her up for school full time. (Thanks Nick for telling me that this is what we should do.) I know that Madison is ready to start school and she will have a blast but I am not so sure that her mom is ready for her to start school. It seems like I just brought my sweet baby girl home from the hospital, but now she is 4 years old and about to start school. I am sure that I will be a basket case on that first day.

With that said, Summer break is here. Nick has one more day of work and then he will be home with the kids for the summer. I hope that he is looking forward to it. I know that even as much as Madison complains, she loves to be home with her daddy....and this year they get to add sweet Tucker to the daily mix. They will have their hands full.

Speaking of Tucker, he is now 8 1/2 months old. I really don't know how that happened. He has been crawling for the past 2 weeks now and now he is trying to pull up. He can clap his hands, say "mama" and bounce to music. I just know that i am going to turn around one day and both him and Madison are going to be grown up with families of their own. I am not ready for that and I don't want time to go by too fast. Each stage of their growth is so precious and amazing (yes it can be a pain in the neck too) and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Now to get the house clean so I can go spend some much needed time playing with the kiddos, while they still think I am fun.

A moment to stop and remember my Papa

Yesterday, March 8th would have been my Papa's birthday but this is the second one that he has not been around for. He passed away in February of last year. My Papa was the most biggest, awesomest, most loving, tallest man I have ever known (at least that was always my impression growing up)...My Papa was an amazing man. He married his wife of many many years when they were only teenagers and he worked very hard all of his life to provide for his family. My Papa took great pride in his family (including his grandchildren - especially me). He called me Tweety Bird because I always like to come sit in his lap and watch Tweety Bird cartoons. My Papa could either be found in one of several places at any given time 1) in his recliner in the den (where it was so hot because he liked to have the heat on) 2) in the garden - he grew the best sweet corn that I have ever tasted...nothing like eating your Papa's corn that he worked to grow 3) somewhere on his boat, spending the day fishing 4) at church. I remember that Papa loved playing music...he was amazing on his electric guitars. There were so many family gatherings where all the men would get out their guitars, saxophones, drums, etc and really bring down the house with some good ole music...the walls on the house must have been shaking from all the noise but we all had a great time.

Several of my fondest memories of Papa 1) convincing me that if I put salt on the rabbits tail that was running around the garden, then I could hold the rabbit....little did I konw that he was standing on the porch doubled over in laughter from watching me chase that stupid rabbit with a salt shaker in hand trying my hardest to get to. I ended up heartbroken each time when the rabbit got away. 2) me sitting in his lap and reading Little Red Riding Hood. I had that book memorized and he would change words and I would catch him everytime and I would tell him "no, no Papa...that isn't right." and then I would say it all correctly from memory. 3) sitting in his lap reading the book Crispin and then us making up the song which I still sing at times and now I tear up just thinking about him when I sing it. (Crispin, Crispin. I been thinkin. What a hound dog you would be. If you kept all your milkbones and didn't share any of them with me)...we would sing and he would play his guitar and we would just laugh. 4) sitting at the kitchen table and I always got "stuck" sitting by him and he would pinch me under the table with his finger like toes thus getting me in trouble for screaming 5) sitting in his lap "helping" him play hearts, spades and dominoes. 6) brushing his silver hair with his hand comb 7) his countless magic tricks, I still don't know the secrets to those tricks 8) best of all I remember asking my mom if I could take Papa to school with me for show and tell because he was the best toy that I ever had.

All these memories of a wonderful man, a wonderful Christian and the best Papa EVER....I would love to be able to see his face one more time and tell him that I love him and hear him call me Tweety Bird.

I will never forget going to sit on his bedside the day that he would pass away. I sat there and told him how much I loved him and that so much was made possible because of him, our family was made possible because of him and grandmother. I am a Christian because he took my father to church and trained him up, who then took me to church. I told him that he should be very proud and know that he was leaving the world a better place then he found it just by being him. He lived an amazing life, married an amazing woman, and left a true legacy for people to follow. I am glad I had that last time to say my goodbyes to him. I will see him again one day and I hope that he is looking down on me and happy with what he sees.

I love you Papa!

Forever Your Tweety Bird

Spring is here!!!

Birds are singing.
Flowers are blooming.
The sun is out longer each day.
Kids get to play outside.
Warmer weather....Yippee!!!
Springtime is here!!! Hooray!

True Friends

Who are your friends? When I say "friend" I don't mean the people that you just chat with and occassionally do things with. A true friend is much more than that. A true friend is the person that you laugh with and cry with. A true friend can lift your spirits when you are so very far down in the dumps. With a true friend, you can laugh your heads off even when you are in the midst of a not so pleasurable experience (Joyce - you know what I am referring to). With a true friend, they know when something is wrong just by the look in your eye. With a true friend, you never have to apologize for how you look. A true friend can stop by your house without calling at odd hours and they don't even have to knock and you don't panick that they are seeing your house looking a mess. True friends are the people that will tell you that you are being an idiot when you are and will force you to better yourself. A true friend knows your real struggles that you are too ashamed to tell others about. A true friend loves your family as much as you do and will keep your kids in a heartbeat and will even volunteer to keep them. True friends are those people in your life who will do things for you that no one else in the world would dream of doing for you.

So to all my TRUE FRIENDS, thank you for being you. Thank you for standing by me and shoving me in the right direction when I need it. Thank you for putting up with me and loving me despite my many flaws (yes I do admit that I have flaws).

So to my friends here are the lyrics to a great song about friends:

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
we all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong
and I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
if I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don't let show

Lean on me, when you're not stong
and I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me

So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I jus might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on.

Lean on me when you're not strong
and I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on.

Lean on me......

Stay at home mom....I don't think so.

So since Saturday our house has been plagued by the stomach flu and it has not been pretty. First Madison had it. Then Nick and I got it but Madison was ok by then. Then while we were still sick, Tucker got it. Then once we all got better, Madison got it again. AHHH!!! First let me say that I think it should be illegal for both parents to get deathly ill at the same time. When both parents are sick, who is supposed to take care of the kids? I don't know the answer to that but somehow we managed to make it through. With that said, Nick and I were home yesterday with the kids then today I am home with both of the kids.

I used to always think that I wanted to be a stay at home mom. Spending all day playing with my wonderful children, cooking a scrumptious meal for my family, getting all the chores for the house done and basically being suzie homemaker....well I know that is not me. Now don't get me wrong, I love my sweet kids, I love to cook and take care of my family but my brain needs a rest. I think I am a much better person for leaving the house and dropping off my kiddos and going to work some days. Now I would love to be able to only work part time and have the best of both worlds but that just is not possible right now. If we did not have a WONDERFUL babysitter who loves our kids so much, I would have to quit work but I know that she takes such good care of them.

I don't know how someone can stay at home all day and listen to kids complain, whine, gripe, play "I want that" when commercials come on television and so on....after so long...it gets really old. Yes I know that if I did stay at home full time I would be out and about with the kids but still I would be home ALOT. I can not for the life of me keep my house clean with the kids here. Yes I know, a clean house is not that important but I get that trait from my mom, Thanks Mom! I can not stand for my house to be a mess...and as I have cleaned up one thing over the past 2 days then there are little hands behind me messing it up. Yes Madison will help clean up and yes there are rules in my house but at some point in time I like to have a break from being "mom" and I just get to be an adult....I get to be "me".

Well I don't know about you all but I vented and I feel better.

Disclaimer: This post in no way insinuates that being a stay at home mom is harder than working outside the home....I am just saying that it has its challenges as well as working outside the home.

2 Things on my mind today.

There are two things on my mind today so I will share both....one thing has nothing to do with the other.

First- If you have not ever thanked your spouse for not being physically abusive, stop reading and do so right now. Last night we saw our neighbor punch his girlfriend/spouse in the face so hard that she hit the ground. Nick called the police and they responded but by the time the police came out our neighbors had already made up. The police ended up leaving and the couple went back into their house. Crazy! Sad! When this happened last night I gave Nick a kiss and told him thankyou for never hitting me.

Second - I am a real adult....this milestone has nothing to do with me turning 30 next month or anything like that. Today for the first time I did something that I have been putting off for a long long time. Are you ready for this.....I willingly made and ate a meatloaf...the strangest part was that it was really good. I will have to admit that it still looked as nasty as it always did when I remember seeing meatloafs growing up but I am an adult so I got passed the terrible sight and chowed down and it was delicious.....no I do not have a reciepe for it because I cheated and used a seasoning packet where I just had to add the meat, eggs and bread crumbs but all in all, I have to admit that I was impressed with myself.

I hereby declare myself a real adult!