One of those days

Some days it is HARD to be a mom. And before you judge, I know that I only have on child and some of you have 32.

But some days are hard. 

They are sleepless. They are messy. I can't stop saying "no." I can't do anything right. I burn dinner. I rip a hold in the comforter that is in the dryer. They bathrooms haven't been cleaned in 3 months, my legs haven't been shaved in over a year and  I don't know the last time I showered. There are times where I have a teething, constipated, acid reflux suffering, tired child.

But not today.

Today was so good. 

So good, that I cannot even put into words what went on.

I loved on that little boy. I gave him kisses and hugs and we laughed and laughed and sang songs, and cuddled and I. LOVED. EVERY. SECOND. OF. IT.

The best part? He just learned this today: He takes my face in his hands, turns it to him, opens his mouth and plants a big, wet sloppy kiss on this lucky mamma's cheek.

Be still my beating heart. I am in love. I never knew a slobbery kiss to could melt my heart in .2 seconds.

The Memorization Challenge!

Over time I have come to love God's word. Really love it. I crave it, and want it to be a part of my life. It has helped me to grow in my faith, to grow in my love and my knowledge for God. 

This year, I have committed to memorizing the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119. 

Will you join me? Together we can memorize the word of God together and draw near to Him. 

Pick a passage (one that is challenging in length, yet one that is attainable). 

Ask someone to keep you accountable 

Start Memorizing 

Let me know what you are choosing to memorize this year!!! 

My Memorization Method! 

1. Read the verse out loud 10x. 

2. Say the verse out loud 10x, looking at the verse if you need to  

3.Meditate, journal on and pray through the verse.

4. The next day, repeat the verse 10x 

5. Start the cycle over with the next verse. 

Good luck friends!

 

No Caleb!!

"No, no Caleb." You can hear my say that phrase approximately 2,912 times in a day, and that is probably an understatement.

"No, Caleb." Sorry, he was just putting the vacuum cord in his mouth. Ok, back to this blog.

My 14 month is learning that there are things he can do and cannot do. He totally knows what "No," means, he just doesn't know if it is worth it to obey.

"No Caleb." Sorry, he was just playing with fire. Ok, maybe not, but it feels like that sometimes.

How in the world do you teach a 14 month old right and wrong? If you have any great parenting discipline tips, this is where you would tell me what to do.

Because I don't know what to do, it mostly making sure that my son is out of harms way. I will always say "No, Caleb," when he decides to put my Bath and Body works wallflower in his mouth. When he is adamant about not eating veggies, or wearing only one sock, or making crazy noises, or any of the thousands of things that happen in my day, we let it slide.

"No Caleb," I just went and took some chewed up, saliva filled paper out of his mouth. Where was I?

Oh yes. The balance of discipline when it comes to safety, and letting things slide when they are not so much of a big deal.

Need to go, gotta stop this 14 month old from running with knives.

When I post it on my blog, it suddenly becomes official

It all started with Jon's parents asking us to take a trip with them to Florida. Not that we haven't been thinking about it on our own, but somehow all of this trip talking made us sit down, talk and come to some conclusions.

Jon said something like, "If we say we are going to Florida in November, we are either starting the adoption process now so that we have a child by November, or we are saying that we are waiting until November." Wow. Really? Those are our only options?

Well, not really.

But we really did need to sit down and talk. Truth is, there are still orphans in the world. Lots of them. And it breaks God heart. Because it breaks God's heart, it is breaking our hearts as well. Who are we to put a timeline on giving a child a home? Is this really our calling? If it is, then we need to jump into our calling full force and become a father to the father-less.

It's true. We are working on adoption number 2. By "working," I mean that we will have our paper work into the state by the end of February.

This time things will be a little different. We are going to go through the state and become foster parents. We have chosen not to go through a private agency for several reasons, and have thought long and hard about how we would pursue adoption.

Ladies and Gentlemen, you heard it here. We are going to send in our application by the end of February in order to pursue adoption number 2.

Are we ready for the ride? Probably not.

Are we ready for the emotional rollercoaster? Yah, I can safely say that I am not excited about that.

But, this is our calling.

Come, Lord Jesus. Bring Your Kingdom!

My Valentine

Dear Valentine, 

I have never been one that is great with words. I have never been one that can clearly articulate my emotions, but I am going to try over a simple blog post to tell you how much I love you. 

I love you. A lot. Like, a lot a lot. Like, I never ever want to be a day away from you. We have been a part for travel and we will continue to have times away, but it doesn't mean that I enjoy being a part of you. I love you, every single day with you. 

It seems like ages ago that I dreamed of the man I would marry. I never thought that you would be the man that would fit me so well. You "get me." You understand what I need more than I do. You are a fabulous listener. 

This past year or so have been pretty crazy, huh? Can you believe all that we have been through? We are parents! Sometimes I still have to pinch myself and realize that we really are parenting together. Through good times and bad we are in this together. I can't imagine going through this year with anyone else but you. Thank you. Thank you for standing by me. Thank you allowing me in, and being vulnerable. 

Next to parenting we have been on a journey together towards weight loss and fitness. We are slowly but surely making headway. I am so proud of you. So so so so proud of you. You have turned into a runner, into a man that loves fitness, to a man that loves to eat healthy food. You are my inspiration. I am so proud of you sweet, sweet, valentine. 

You know that I hate getting flowers. 

You know that I ramble, and need to process with you. 

I love listening to you play guitar. 

I love sitting on the couch watching movies with you. 

Car rides are not the same without holding your hand and enjoying your sweet conversation. 

I love you, oh so much my valentine. 

I hope on this special day I can give you a glimpse of that love. 

"I want to be like you, Dad"

There is no escaping it....Caleb is a daddy's boy. Daddy can do no wrong. He is so excited when he hears daddy's voice. He races to daddy when he comes home from work. He. Loves. His. Daddy.

This weekend I snapped some pictures that clearly show Caleb following in his daddy's footsteps (clearly for the woman who lives with both of these boys.)

Jon is midly addicted to tortilla chips and salsa. If he was left on a desert island with one meal, er snack for the rest of his life, tortilla chips and salsa would be his choice, no contest.

Saturday, Jon was upstairs, I left Caleb in the living room and I ran to the bathrom. I know, what was I thinking? I came back to this:

In the 35 seconds that I was gone, he managed to take his daddy's bag of tortilla chips, dive face first into the bag, and contine to eating all of the chips from the floor. When I showed Jon this picture, he said, "Well at least you got a picture of it, instead of cleaning it up."  I'll have you know, that 2 minutes after this photo was taken, the chips were cleaned up.

Caleb also loves when his daddy plays guitar. I think he takes everything in as if he is getting lessons from his dad:)

Some days.......

Some days my job is rough. It is hard, I don't understand why God has called me to this, I feel like a failure...I want to give up. I don't see fruit.

Some days I love my job. I love the students. I have so much fun. I am so blessed that God has me here.

Somedays I am surprised that this is actually my job.

Yesterday was one of those days. I had so much fun with students!!!

Feb 3, 2010

One year ago today: 

We were anxiously awaiting the approval to take our boy home from the NICU 

In order to do that, we had to take a cpr class, LOTS of paper, Caleb had to pass the carseat test.....

We were scared to death. Our little 4lb boy didn't quite fit into the car seat. Apparently car seats aren't really made for 4lb babies. Apparently 4lb babies are rare. So are preemie diapers, and preemie clothes. 

We brought home our little boy. 

I was scared. I sat in the backseat with him the whole 2 hour drive home. I have never done that since then. 

Caleb's car seat test. Because he was hooked up to monitors and laying flat on his back for 6 weeks, they had to measure his levels while he was off monitors and propped upright. He passed!!! I think he is going to be a genius, seeing that his first test, he passed with flying colors:) A proud mama I am:)

We had our first visitors!!! Our dear friends and neighbors, came to visit and hold our baby Caleb. (Sorry Amber and Deanna.....you were also visitors that night, but I do not have pictures of you.) 

My oh my, how things have changed! One year ago, we had 4lb baby, eating every 3 hours, about 4 oz at a time. Last night, Jon and Caleb were sharing a box of cheez its. Oh great, he is taking after his daddy's salty snack cravings. 

Another major change from year to year: SLEEP!!!!! Last year at this time, we were not sleeping. This year......Caleb sleeps for 12 hours a night, and then takes a 2-4 hour nap every day. It's ok if you are jealous. I am already preparing for the next child who will probably never ever sleep. 

Happy Gotcha Day Caleb boy!

Snowday

Snowdays are good for.....

Baking apple bread

Hand scrubbing kitchen and bathroom floors

Finishing laundry

Staff Meeting via skype

Cleaning underneath the couch (*shudder*)

Cleaning underneath and behind the tv stand

Lots of snuggles and cuddles with a 13 month old

A glass of wine at night

Some sweet time in scripture and prayer

Thank you Lord for snowdays:)

The sorrow of the Superbowl

What comes to mind when you think of the Superbowl?

Parties

Salty, fattening, too much food

Chips

Halftime show

Wardrobe malfunction

Commercials

Budweiser commercials

Oh, and maybe a little football?

How about slavery?

Yah, it was a shocker for me too.

The Superbowl is one of the most trafficked events in the US. Pimps will bring thousands of girls to be sold into prostitution during the week leading up to the Superbowl (THIS WEEK). Most of these girls will be 14 and younger. 2 years ago at the Superbowl, it was estimated that over 10,000 children and young women were brought to the Superbowl for prostitution.

It is a supply and demand issue......people are willing to pay the price, so these women are "supplied." Is your stomach turning yet? Are you thinking about those girls? Is your heart breaking? Are you FURIOUS? What emotions do you go through when you hear this?

This news was new to me, but not shocking. I am all too aware of the slave industry in our country. I am aware that there are things that we turn our backs on, that we simply don't know about, or God forbid are ignoring.

Oh sleeping country, wake up!!!!! This is not the heart of our God.  I bet He is weeping over this and longing for His people to be redeemed.

The Dallas police and officials are aware of this situation and have said they will be taking extra precautions. I am not sure of what this means, but please be in prayer for the whole situation.