One month until I'm 32

I'd like to say I can commit to blogging everyday tip my 32nd... But I can not commit to anything other than my husband and my kids. Man I love those people.  

Nora. You are so rotten and crazy and moody and angry. And sweet and lovable. All at once. You hate bedtime. Why? Sleep is great!

Ella. You are starting to be a big girl. You are getting so good at taking care of yourself and at being a big sister for your siblings. That's awesome. You are still quite messy. We need to work on that. 

Graham. You are so sweet. Every bit of you. Those blue eyes and your silly grunts get me every time. You are really starting to talk and I love hearing you yell "Mamo" and "Papa" and "Meee".

Clinton. I love you. No one is perfect.  Together I think we are. 

Xxoo,

Frootie!

1 of 30 (we'll how it goes) 

Number Ones

I was thinking the other day about the Number One thing I miss about not having kids...and it got me started on a bunch of others...

The #1 thing I miss about not having kids: Naps.  Anytime I want Naps. Seriously.

#1 thing I miss about living in Indiana: Rachel

#1 favorite place to eat: Windy Corner

I know there were more things...But I can't think of them now.  

xxoo,

Frootie!

Nora is three

How is it possible that my girl is 3 already?!?!  

Here are a few questions I asked her last night and her answers:

What's your favorite color, Nora?

Um, I'm ready go my birthday party on Sunday!

But, what's your favorite color?

Birthday Party, Sunday!

Hey, what shirt do you love to wear the most?

Um, Gowns!

What do you want to be when you grow up? (2 answers)

I grow up and I wanna hold Graham!

I will grow big and go to school just like Ella.

Who is your best friend?

Lana (Leana) at Miss Ree's!  

What do you do all day while Mommy works?

Mama, you go work AGAIN?  I play my friends at Miss Ree's!

Do you love Graham?

NO.  I don't like him.  I like him later?

What's your favorite thing to eat?

Fruit.

What's your favorite fruit?

Juice!
What are you thankful for Nora?
Um, Apples.  And Jesus!

Right now, you love to sing WHeels on the Bus and Twinkle Twinkle.  You are sweet and perfect and lovable.  You are so conversational and you make us laugh!

xxoo,

Frootie!

resolutions 2013

2013
Already? Anyone other than me still questioning how y2k already came and went? 13 years ago....

In 2013 I resolve to:
Be nicer
Complain less
Put less junk into my body
More fun with the kids
Less worry about the little things that are out of my control
A new job?
More Church involvement


Xxoo,
Frootie!

on being a mother

being a mother is the hardest job i can imagine having.  i love my children to the moon and back again around the world and up and down - and loving them is a tough gig.  i worry.  i fret.  

i tend to believe that i worry to an unhealthy extent.  i am fragile.  i am broken.  i have good days and i have bad days, but daily i worry and worry and worry.  i exhaust myself thinking about all the what ifs and what nots that could happen to make my children unhappy or unhealthy.  

i spend most nights praying constantly that they stay well and stay asleep.  i lose sleep praying that they will sleep.  i stay awake praying that they rest.  i hear a cough and i fly awake and begin praying again.  my air or heat kicks on or off and i pop awake and start to worry.  there are a few hours each day when i am not worrying.  if i had to guess i would say it was between the hours of noon and 4.  

i can't imagine my life without these little humans.  i don't have any idea how people make it through the loss or serious illness with a child.  my life would be destroyed.  i couldn't go on.  i cry just thinking about it.  

i dread becoming a mother to adults.  how does that even work?  when they are making their own decisions and they live on their own...what will i do then?

i will pray.  i will pray like i do now and i will work hard to make sure that i don't damage them.  i will work hard from then until now to make sure they do a better job than i do at being a christian.  i will push them to be a better human than me.  i will encourage them to make the world a better place through their work and their philanthropy.

i love them.  

Fear Not

Today in Church Pastor Greg preached a spin, a good spin, on the Christmas story.  In Luke 2:9-10 the Angel of the Lord comes to the shephards of the field and they are terrified.  The angel tells them to not be afraid because today is born Christ Jesus our Savior.  The point of his message is that this tiny passage in the Bible is something that all of us worriers can rest our fears on. 

His message hit pretty close to home with this Mama.  Man, I worry with the best of them.  I cannot imagine what my life would be like without worry.  I worry mainly about my children.  I pray nightly for some semblance of peace and rest without being concerned about my babies.  I trust in God above all and I know that there are Angels watching over my children every second of the day - but the CRAZY part of me - causes fear and worry to be my constant companion.  

I need some serious prayer and guidance.  I will pray more and worry less.  I will rest my fear in the Lord.  

xxoo,

Frootie!

Christmas Traditions

at Dad's on Christmas Eve he reads the Christmas Story after dinner and before gift exchange.  I want to start reading it on Christmas Eve before bed too.  

Luke 2:7-14 (NIV-ish)

7...and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and peace on earth goodwill toward men."