Just like you

Yes, I know it's been a long time since I've blogged about anything but, please keep in mind we were on a road trip to Texas and back that took about a week!
 They said so many things that were hilarious on that trip but, of course, I forgot to write anything down!  And there's no way I could remember it.

Something that's become a little bit of a tradition for me in the past few years is making cinnamon rolls for Thanksgiving and Christmas and selling them to friends and family.  Usually it takes me a whole day to get all the orders done and, in years past my in-laws have graciously taken the girls so I could focus on baking.
This year, because of the aforementioned "vacation" I didn't plan on having that many orders and decided to save my "babysitting request" for something more important. :)

Thank God my children were all fairly well behaved because I did end up with orders for about 6 dozen rolls!  While making them I wear an apron because it is a messy process.  My kitchen, dining room and self usually end up completely covered in flour.  Today, my precious, Emma, kept saying, "Mommy, you a chef" and was calling me "Chef Mommy".  (such a cute little girl)  After one of these comments she went running to her room and returned with her apron (that she just got for her birthday) in hand and exclaimed, "Mommy, I be a maker just like you!!  I'm Emma chef!"

So adorable!  So thought provoking!  I hope that that is something she will always want to say about me.  I hope that I'm an example that she will want to follow!

Dead Fish...

Yesterday morning,  I could have sworn that we had a dead fish on our hands.  I was debating on whether or not to tell the girls that our fish was dead or just to take care of it without them realizing what was going on.  I decided to go ahead and tell them.

I explained to them that our beloved "Dory" was sick and had died.  Also, I explained to them about the burial process of a fish a.k.a. flushing them down the potty.

My very tender-hearted four year old started to get teary eyed.  It quite nearly broke my heart.  Then through tears she sweetly asked, "Now can we get a chameleon??"

It took everything I had not to burst out laughing.  How fickle children can be sometimes....crying over a dead fish and in the next second moving on to the new pet.

When I went to check again, the dead fish moved and started swimming.  I am happy to report it was a false alarm and after changing her water and some fresh food our "Dory" is very alive.  Although, we might start calling her "Lazarus" :)

One of the best yet!

Sometimes, it seems the ones that give you the hardest time can turn around and be the sweetest ones ever!  Emma completely embodies that old nursery rhyme, "There was a girl who had a curl right in the middle of her forehead, and when she was good, she was very, very good, but when she was bad she was horrid".

Yesterday, was some-what of a rough day for her but, today she was so loving and sweet!  At one point today she threw her arms around my neck and gave me a big, giant hug and said, "Mommy, you're my favorite, best friend, ever!"  Talk about melting my heart!

This brought tears to my eyes, and a smile to my lips...all I could do was squeeze her!
Love that girl!

Mama, You're making me cry

This statement came from our beautiful three year old, Emma, today.  We've been having a serious struggle with her about going on the potty.  

Now, before you start telling me that she's not ready and to give her time (yada, yada, yada), she KNOWS what she's doing.  It's just that she doesn't want to stop whatever she may be doing to go.  Also, I think she still wants to hold onto being a baby for a little while longer.

Anyway, we've started disciplining her when she goes in her pants because we can tell it's not because she doesn't know any better.  Today, while I was dealing with this situation, she looked up at me with a pitiful, tearful expression and said these words, "Mama, you're making me cry".  It was so heart-wrenching, and it broke my heart but, I knew I was doing the right thing.  I thought to myself, "No, Emma, you chose the punishment, when you chose your behavior."

Isn't that just like us as Christians in our relationship with God, our Father??  We choose to disobey God.  We choose to ignore Him because we're just too busy.  Then, when things don't turn out the way we want...we blame Him.  

Having children has, in so many ways, made me look at my relationship with God in a completely different light.  God, please help me to make time for You!  

"You're the mom that knows everything"

This morning while riding in the car with my three little kiddos, we were singing along to Patch the Pirate "Down Under".  Every time they're in the missile, Hope asks me, "Mommy, what's wrong with Captain Patch and PeeWee?"  Usually, I respond with telling her that they're scared or something like that.  Today, I responded, "I don't know...you tell me."  to which she replied, "Well, you're the mommy who knows everything...you tell me."

My mind immediately said, "I wish I knew everything".

I don't know everything and I would never claim that I did but, I'm glad that she thinks that I do.  I hope she keeps that attitude. I hope she keeps seeking my advice in her life.  Not that I again, know everything but, there's so many things that a girl can learn from her mother.

Also,  I may not know everything but, I have a God who does.  I love that song, "I don't know about tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand".  God knows EVERYTHING and He's the one that's in control.

Thank you, Hope, for the reminder that God is my heavenly Father who truly knows everything that lies before us.  And thank you for thinking that I know everything!

what do I have that's worth writing about?

As a girl, growing up, I always dreamed of being a wife and mother. I dreamed of being the wife of someone in the ministry with our little brood following behind us, in perfect order (of course).  Needless to say, for anyone who has little ones....nothing is ever in "perfect order".
A few months ago on a particularly crazy day, I sat in tears and it dawned on me..."Why am I not the mother I always imagined being?"  "Why am I not happy as I thought I would be?"  Then I realized the answer..."because you're not choosing to enjoy what God's given you".
Thus, the inspiration for this began. I don't want to be one of those moms.  I don't want to look back in regret to the times I failed to enjoy my children when they were small.  I don't want to waste my time looking back.  I want to enjoy each moment, each day I have with them because, as every mom has heard "Enjoy it....it goes by so fast."
There are so many "Mommy blogs" out there that are just complaining about their kids.  I'm choosing to have joy in my children.  They are truly the inspiration for me to be a better person.
So, Hope, Emma, Liam...I love you with all my heart!  Keep saying those funny little things and Mommy will write them down so everyone can enjoy them!