Blessings in family

I am blessed.  Not only am I blessed with an amazing husband and two gorgeous, loving, smart kiddos; but I am so blessed with extended family. 

I have 3 beautiful sisters that are funny and intelligent and always here for me.  In addition to my sweet sisters, I have 3 amazing sisters-in-law.  They are so good at making me feel like I can count on them for anything.  On top of my siblings, I am blessed with fabulous parents who are supportive and loving.  And it is true, that I have THE most incredible grandparents on this planet.  There are more...aunts, uncles, cousins, but today I am giving thanks for our extended immediate families.

I pray that I can be a blessing to all of my family members as they have blessed me.


Everyday I am going to try to record the blessings of that day.  All too often we focus on the worries of the world, and let that weigh us down.  We need to be buoyant in Christ.  One sure way to do that is to count our blessings and give God thanks and praise.  Wanna' try it with me?  I am going to use a little 5-star pocket notebook, keep it by my bed with a pencil and scribble away before bed.

What better way to lull yourself to sleep than with the peace of all the good things in your life.  Maybe I put a few on here once a week.











Blessed,
M

Books books books

I love books.  I love them too much.  When I start reading, I become compulsive.  I can't stop!  It really reeks havoc on my cleaning, parenting, wifing, etc.  I try to just read them when I am at the gym, or after my kiddos go to bed.  But...sometimes I just can't seem to stop; I have to know what happens next, and next, and next.

This compulsion is NOT something new.  I have always been pretty passionate about reading.  I can remember several times waiting in  a dr.'s room and reading the backs of medical bottles, ingredients on my gum/candy packs, etc.  I would read just about anything.  I guess it would be more appropriate to say that I have a passion for words.  (For those of you who know me, this should not come as surprise! ha!)

I find something so completely satisfying about reading words that someone else put together and seeing the pictures in my head that those words create.  Gobs of movies are based on books...and I always wonder if the screenwriters are really translating their experience with a book through their script, or if they are just commercializing it.  I would love to be a screenwriter.  Ha...I am sure there are a lot of those in the mid-west. : )  But, the truth is I would be a lousy screenwriter, my movies would be 12 hours long!!

All that being said:  Am I the only compulsive reader among mothers?  I sometimes feel like I am.  Is there anyone out there that enjoys reading more than just about any other hobby or time-waster?  If so...got any book recommendations? : )

loving words,
M

the way of the future

We have acquired an ipad.  I have an Android phone ordered and it should arrive any day.

I have NO idea what I am doing!  I am NOT a tech person, I need a lot of instruction.  BUT, today I did download a few "apps" on the ipad and let Lexi and Max play some pre-school games.  The were naturals.  They are genius babies, seriously.  Not only do they "get" how to use the iPad, they were killing the letter games I downloaded.  (One more argument for me keeping the iPad and getting a cheaper one for the hubs?)

Now, lets just see how I do with the Android phone...only time will tell.  Can you blog from your phone?  Maybe I will try that.

Loving this high tech world,
M

Just breathe

I am a nervous worrier - I have to tell myself all the time to relax, just breathe.  Just breathe.  Take a breathe.
This character flaw/trait would be why I am CONSTANTLY reading Philippians 4:6-8.

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, and right and pure and lively and admirable.  Think about things that are worthy of praise." NLT

And twice in the past 4 months I have had to say the same to my baby boy...Just Breathe...but for a whole different reason.

Max has had Croup twice in 4 months.  So the Dr. thought we should purchase a nebulizer and some meds just in case this happens again.  I am glad he did, as this is a much less expensive route than a trip to the ER every time!  But how nerve racking to have to be the nurse!  OK, OK, for those of you who know me, I love "nursing."  I love helping people feel better, and I LOVE looking at gross and disgusting wounds and fixing them up...I have a problem. : )  But still, when it comes to breathing - a live or die human action - I get a little nervous.  Prayers for proper administration - or rather, prayers for NOT having to use it at all, but if need be, then proper administration, and successful results.

But, the little guy is feeling fine now!  So hopefully this will not be necessary any time soon.

The weather has been so gorgeous lately, it has been hard to be cooped up in the house.  But before this little bout with croup we had a fun time with some cousins:

So glad that my kiddos have a ton of cousins that they adore.  God has truly blessed us.


Appreciating my lungs,
M

Do you ever get the feeling...

Do you ever get the feeling that you could do SO much more than you are doing?  I do NOT mean more laundry, more dishes, more cooking, cleaning, etc.  I mean more intellectually or creatively.  In the last year, I have been struck several times with the idea that I should/could be doing more...following a dream.

I have a lot on my plate already (kids, husband, bookkeeping for our small business, maintaining a social life), but I just feel like I have been lazy about pursuing some dream.  This may sound silly, but I have ALWAYS wanted to sing.  Be a singer, be known for singing...be FAMOUS for singing!  Haha.  I realize at this point in my life, that is probably NOT going to happen.  I suppose I could record a video, throw it up on Youtube and watch the world view it only to mock a 31 year old wannabe.  This is just not going to happen...But I have had other dreams, ones that are probably more attainable.

I love to write.  It comes easy to me, it is enjoyable, and it is incredibly freeing.  You can say so much more when you are writing.  There is no emotion to choke your sentence short, or interruption from another party.  (unless you count my kids who have interrupted me writing this blog 4 times now.)  What is God's plan for me?  Is there something I could be doing with this desire?  Is there a purpose?  I am praying for God to show me a direction.  I am begging for Him to guide me, to support me, and to inspire me in the way He wants me to go.  For instance, what should I write about?  What forum should I write in?  How much of my time should be dedicated to this desire?

I ask the few readers of this blog to pray for this.  I know it is little and insignificant compared to the much more intense problems of those reading this and those we are already praying for.

On a side note:  Here are the 2 cuties that take up most of my time!

Lexi taking our new "hog" for a spin.

Best dressed bad dude in town.

Checking out some antique tractors and equipment.

My brave chick on the Ferris Wheel...the girl loves a thrill.

Riding the roller coaster at a local carnival.  Max kept sliding down...a little scary.

enjoying the thrill of the unknown,
M

Out with the old

Two of my sisters-in-law and I had a 3 day garage sale.  I would say it was fairly successful.  I would also say it was fairly EXHAUSTING.  But it is nice having less "stuff" in the house and basement.  Now maybe I will be motivated to organize my house?  We shall see.

It was such a wonderful 3 days though.  It was fun hanging out with my sisters-in-law and seeing my nieces and nephews play with my children.  What a blessing :)  I have the cutest nieces and nephews on the planet, that is for sure.

It was such a fun few days I didn't even think twice about selling my "stuff."  Except for one thing.  A lady bought a bib that I really did not mean to put out.  I cried a little bit after she walked off.  It was a handmade bib, and it was used by both of my babes.  I am still sad about it.  But other than that, no tears were shed.

I hope that this garage sale will just continue my purging process so I can get more organized and do a better job at all my "jobs" (ie. Otto Max, mothering, housework, friendships, etc)

Loving my less cluttered life,
M

The perfect summer day.

 A perfect summer day.  The other day the kids and I met some of our friends at the Fondulac Farm Park.  It was perfect for my preschool age kids!  I would highly recommend it.  Also, it has SEVERAL playgrounds inside the farm park.  Outside their are several MORE playgrounds, picnic areas, etc.  It was a perfect place for those of us with young kiddos!

Lexi feeding the miniature horse

Max loved this kid!  He kept feeding it one pellet of feed at a time.

Those cones in their hand are filled with animal food...clever, right?

Posing with our friends, Emma and Evan, as farm animals.  I think Lexi and Max should have switched places!!

 We ate a picnic lunch at the Farm Park, and then played on the playground.  After we headed home and had LONG naps, we decided it was perfect weather for a swim.

Lexi demonstrating her swimming skills.

It was a little cold after a while, so we had to have a cuddle : )

Then Max was ready to go...play that is!

Lexi held out longer in the pool...but eventually she needed a little snuggling, too.

 After swimming we played on our swing set.  Check out Max's superman swinging skills.

Max is showing us how wide he can stretch his arms.  Yes, stretching does require silly faces!

Lexi demonstrating her stretch.

You got it, girl!  Lexi can officially swing on her own.  She has got that pumping thing DOWN!  Way to go, Lex!

We wrapped up the day with dinner on the patio.  All in all, it was the perfect summer day!

Enjoying my babies,
M