Mother's Day

Mother's Day Weekend in Pictures

How stressful is raising your child?

Every time we go to the doctors office we get a little sheet to fill out. They ask questions like can your child count to 10, do they know their alphabet,  do they use good eye contact,  etc....then there is that one question that you know they aren't screening your child they are screening you...the mother.....

HOW STRESSFUL IS RAISING YOUR CHILD?

I am preparing for this question for Monday. The only problem is I don't know that the nurse practitioner is prepared for the answer. I am already envisioning me having a total breakdown at the doctors office crying, huge tears just streaming down my face... very similar to the breakdown I just had in the van driving home from Cedar Falls.

All I can say is some days are stressful. .....very very stressful!

I feel like everyday is stressful when you are raising kids. Some days are just less stressful then others.  Being a Mother is hard work!!! Raising my daughters is the most Important job I have ever had. I want to raise them to be followers of Christ, to love others, to choose amazing husbands like their own daddy, and to love each other because they are sisters who will always be there for each other.

So what do I find stressful about that?  I am scared, scared I will screw it up, screw them up. 

So here I fall on my knees and Pray tears falling, giving it to God!

I'm Not 21 and I'm not 60

This is really just more like a pitty party so read along if you want, but just warning you ahead of time. :)

I turned 29 in April, I have 3 kids, and I am completely exhausted about 98 percent of the time. I usually have an hour or two during the day that I feel pretty good. But after that I am just tired. I am considering I need my thyroid checked but I think I've decided it's just my age.
I am no longer 21, I have responsibilities like a job and kids, a house to take care of, bills to pay, and my metabolism no longer lets me eat whatever I want.

But all this has put me in a funk. I don't feel all that great about myself.  I haven't had a hair cut since October partly because I am growing it out,  but also I don't have the time,  and I don't want to pay the money. Same reason I haven't got my eyebrows waxed.

I've started wearing make-up more but really it's just not me I would rather spend an extra 10 minutes in bed then take the time to do make-up. Plus I don't really know how.

And the clothing option well that's where it about puts me over the edge to complete funk. I try to go shopping with the little money I have and this is what I find it's either hey I am 21 and like to party or I am 60 headed to a retirement party. I can't seem to find that happy medium of hey I am a mom, and I am professional but I still have some style. I look around and a lot of my mom friends still got it.... for some reason I don't. I end up throwing on the same ol' sweatshirt with the same ol' jeans put my hair in the same ol' pony tail and out the door I go. Then I look around and wonder....why can't I have cute clothes? Then I start to get down on myself and I start to have my pitty party. But my question is this why? Who am I trying to impress?  And why do I care if you're not impressed?

The answer to this is as women we're always trying to impress other women. This is absolutely ridiculous!!
There is really only one earthly person that I should care about impressing and his name is Brandon. I call him my husband and he is who I should want to impress. 

Now not every husband or guy is the same they all find different things attractive but here is when Brandon tells me I am beautiful the most.....(Brandon can correct me if I am wrong) but it's when I am wearing a carhart coat with a pair of work boots and I am outside getting dirty.

So while I still want to find a style. I need to remind myself....who am I trying to impress?

May 5th

Friday we had a historical snow fall of almost a foot of snow on the ground.

Today, Sunday we had the most beautiful weather.  Brandon mowed the lawn for the first time.  Teagan scored a goal at her soccer game, we played at the park and now we are outside enjoying the last minutes of daylight.

Now this is what May should be about!

May 3rd and it's still snowing! !

May 3rd and it's still snowing!!!

I was expecting a dusting not an actual snow fall. But last night I woke up to our power going in and out and looked out to find even more snow had fallen and still going!

I have a co-worker who planned an outdoor wedding this weekend.  Who would have guessed you would have to worry about snow??!!

The girls are enjoying it and surprisingly Rudy Paws is too. Even with his new summer buzz.

The rain has not started and I am confident all this snow will be gone by tomorrow and by next week when it is 68 degrees this will all just seem like a crazy dream!!

I am ready to go back to taking pictures of green grass, dirty feet, swinging, and riding bikes!! WHERE IS SPRING??

Its been 4ever!

So I haven't blogged in forever so it is hard to know where to even start!!

We are coming out of a very cold and depressing winter but I am certain that things are looking up and the girls and I will be enjoying some 50 degree weather this week!!

I am currently reading The Strong-willed child by Dr. James Dobson. This will be my second time reading it.....wonder how many more times I will read it before the girls are out of the house :) I have highlighted a lot more this time around and I am starting to think the book will be all green by the time I am done! I keep being reminded that I do have a God who is control of my life and my children's lives and that is such a relief.

Teagan will be attending Kindergarten round up in two weeks!! Hard to believe how fast she is growing up. She will go to round up at Timothy Christian and then Brandon and I have a tough decision to make whether we will continue homeschooling or send her to kindergarten. Thier kindergarten is only 3 days a week so it would be a nice transition. However, we have felt a calling to continue to consider homeschooling and feel more led that way at this time. I feel a little bipolar about this decision and never really thought I would even consider homeschooling!  So if you think of it please say a prayer for us to make the best decision for TEAGAN.

Harper turned 4 in March and I was so excited to be out of the trying 3's....what do they call the 4's?? Harper is my "strong willed child" and she continues to amaze me!! I thought I was strong willed but Harper seems to take it to the next level.  I am excited to see how God works in her life and to use her strong will for his glory!! I have faith this will happen eventually and I am praying sooner rather then later :)

Blakely is 2 and is my laid back sensitive child who is pretty easy going and everything is the color blue :) However if she isn't snuggling with me or being held I have to keep a close eye on her because she has been known to leave the house and head for the barn to see the pigs or just to play outside. She likes to climb and explore. Our knives are now on top of the fridge and no candy or sweets can be in reach or she will have spotted it and have it gone. 

Hopefully I will start posting more about our spring adventures!

Better go find Blakely :)

Trying to get back to the Blog!!

I am going to make an effort to get back to my blogging :) I actually love to blog but it has been a busy fall and winter. Also I need to finish my thoughts about my trip to Africa and since I wasn't ready to do that (It's difficult to put into words) I didn't feel like I could blog until I had the Africa trip finished. So now that I am headed back to Africa on May 30th and I will be leading a team of 8 other nurses it is time for me to put into words those last few days in Zambia......and boy am I ready to head back!!!! I can't wait!!!

So check back and by the end of the week Africa 2012 will be complete :)