Home = Haven

When I was growing up my mom would always make it known that her bedroom had first priority in becoming a haven for her and my dad. In all of our moves it had priority in being one of the first rooms to be completely unpacked and a place for her and her husband. She turned that around to me and my sister in our own housekeeping and taught me that that should be the first room to be cleaned or organized. My husband is my priority in my family relations and he should feel that way in our bedroom. Women Living Well is hosting a challenge to  "Make Your Home a Haven" in the month of October. I'm joining up with them and I'm really looking forward to making my haven mindset reach out to the rest of my home and not just the bedroom! 

Sam's Seminary Graduation

Is this a little belated? Yes, but so important in our lives it cannot be left out of my blogging world! My husband graduated from Seminary! This is no little feat! With a wife and two kids at home, Sam did an amazing job balancing school and family this past year. So when my husband was hooded at his Baccalaureate, it was a day of GREAT rejoicing in our home. 

Not only did Sam graduate but he was also awarded the "Dr. Bob Domokos Excellency in Preaching Scholarship." Now who is oh so proud of her hubbie?? If I was wearing suspenders, they would have popped! (Fortunately, I wasn't because that would have been really odd!!)

So to my wonderful husband Sam, I am so proud of you with your accomplishments this past year. With all of the ups, downs, tears, and pains I would not trade them for the lessons of love we have learned. For all of you who have walked this path of seminary or college with spouse and kids, you will understand what I mean when I say I never want to go through that again but I would never trade those lessons for the world. 

I love you darling! 

So Thankful

I am thankful for so many things:

God, family, friends, children, time, provisions, blessings, love, wisdom, Bible, salvation, books, communication, sleep, food, apartment, parents, the list goes on. Today I am especially thankful for friends.

My best Friend of all is my God and what a Friend He is,

indescribable, holy, perfect - no earthly friends can compare.

My best earthly friend is my husband

The one that I can laugh, cry, play, work, serve and be served.

My friend that I go to when I need wisdom is my mom

I know when I am struggling or lost she is there to help me

I have many friends who are such an encouragement to me and are fun to be around and who I love but today I am mentioning these three friends because they are so very important to me and who I am. I can't imagine my life without these three people and their impact on my life. Thank you my great God

Thank you my wonderful husband

Thank you my sweet mom

No One Tells You

No one tells you about what it takes to be a mom.
No one tells you how difficult pregnancy is. How you can't sleep, eat or control your bodily functions anymore.
No one tells you how that little baby growing inside you will attach itself to your heart and will never release you ever again.
No one tells you that your body takes on a life of it's own and that body that you thought was horrid before is the same body you would kill to have back again.
No one tells you how exhilarating it is to feel that little one's butterfly movements for the first time.
No one tells you how terrible labor is and how you will never, ever, ever, want to do that ever again.
No one tells you how you will hold your sweet little bundle of joy and be the happiest mom on the planet.
No one tells you that nursing is painful and vanquishes your social life.
No one tells you how precious and special nursing your child is.
No one tells you that starting from that moment you will soon become the sleep-deprived and unkempt, unshowered person that you always swore you never would become.
No one tells you that the first time your child smiles at you will suddenly become the best day of your life and your heart will want to burst in love.
No one tells you that changing poopy diapers will be that disgusting.
No one tells you that you will suddenly love to dance across the room and wave your hands around like a mad woman only to hear those first tiny giggles.
No one tells you that worry now seems to possess your mind completely.
No one tells you that crawling suddenly equals giving your child the keys to the car and watching the child drive away.
No one tells you that going to a movie with your husband is next to impossible.
No one tells you that your child will only fall asleep in your arms which makes you feel so loved.
No one tells you that date night is a pipe dream because your child will only fall asleep in your arms.
No one tells you that your child will finally sleep through the night.
No one tells you that the next morning you will be scared to death your child died instead of just sleeping through the night.
No one tells you that weaning is a huge blessing and you may be able to have a tiny social life again.
No one tells you that you will miss nursing.
No one tells you that bribery will become second nature to your parenting skills.
No one tells you that bribery will help your child take their first steps.
No one tells you that discipline will become one of the biggest mysteries that seems to evade you and your child.
No one tells you that all of the books written about parenting did not include your child.
No one tells you the joy experienced when your child obeys you for the first time and makes the discipline all worth it.
No one tells you that you will get tired of discipling the right way and yell and scream at your child.
No one tells you that you will cry tears of sorrow at your actions and hug your child and your child hugs you back to let you know it's all right, he still loves you.
No one tells you how letting the doctors pinch, prick, or cut open your child will make you want to kill someone for the first time in your life.
No one tells you that if your child gets sick, your non-cuddler child will want to cuddle with the love of their life - you.
No one tells you that if you get sick no one cares.
No one tells you that you will victoriously potty-train your 18 month old in 2 weeks.
No one tells you that potty-training will go out the window the second you move to another location and it will be another year before you want to tackle it again.
No one tells you that potty-training is not that difficult!
No one tells you that poopy-training is another story.
No one tells you that your child will be the most talented child you have ever seen.
No one tells you that those talents will include finger-painting her poopy glory all over the nursery walls, bed, toys . . .
No one tells you that you will love your child so much that all of these bad things last only for a moment and the good things become precious memories that will last a lifetime.

That's why no one tells you.

by Ann Stringer

dedicated to my daughter Aimee who inspired me this morning when I walked into her room and discovered encrusted poop all over the walls, toys, and carpet and as I was cleaning it I was furious that no one tells you about these mom-things that will take over your life.
But yet, I understand why.