I Hope I Never Forget…
I hope I never forget the way Addie talks all day in her little four month old way - with a long string of "ah-goos" and raspberries. I hope I never forget the way she lights up when anyone she loves is near, smiles a big, toothless smile and squeals with delight. I hope I never forget how she looks on her big brother with a longing to be right in the middle of whatever he is doing. I hope
It Just Takes a Little Discipline
For those of you who are parents out there, you know first-hand that it's not very easy. Kids can get the best of us when we're not looking and throw a wrench in even the most pleasant of occasions. Those of you who are parents of toddlers are keenly aware of this fact. But I'm no first-time mom now. I'm a mother of two. It's a whole new ball game these days. My attention is divided. My time is cut
You Know You’re a Tired Mom When…
As a follow up to yesterday's post, I thought I'd make a list of some of the silly things I've done as a tired mom. I have to admit I've been guilty of some pretty ridiculous mom laziness in my time, moreso lately it seems. Some of them, when I think about them, make me literally laugh out loud. So I thought I'd compile a list of my lazies in hopes that it will serve to remind me someday of
Mother of the Year
I've been quite tired lately. Tired, cranky, incessantly hungry, so much so that for a few terrifying days I thought I might be pregnant again. Don't get me wrong, we want more kids. Just not yet. Dear sweet Jesus, not yet. I love being a mom. It is far and above the best thing I've ever done. I'm no super mom. But I love my babies and they bring me more joy than I ever could have imagined. But they
Miracles Still Happen
It was a Monday like any other Monday during the end of my pregnancy. I woke up that morning one day past my due date and about ten days past my wit's end. Yes, I was mentally and emotionally done being pregnant. But I was apparently not physically done. Now before you go judging me for my ungrateful attitude, please let me explain that I am a relatively complaint-free pregnant woman, up until the last few weeks. Being that I'm
Star-shaped Quesadillas and the Resiliency of a Two Year Old
There are no pearls to offer on this particular blog entry. I have no divine wisdom to impart on you after countless hours of observation and months of postulation. What I have for this entry is the right hand of motherly camaraderie, extended from me, the first time mom, to you, my faithful reader-mom, to remind you that you're not crazy, you're not alone, and you aren't failing as a mother. A friend of mine said wisely, "In comparing ourselves
It’s a Hot Spiced Tea Kind of Day
I'm in Texas. It's November 12 and we're just now cooling off. Such is life in the Lone Star State. But I can't complain. It's gorgeous and crisp outside, the perfect weather for my mom's hot spiced tea. And since I love this time of year so much, I thought I'd share the love... and the recipe. It's delicious! Ingredients: 1/3 c. Tang 1/3 c. Instant tea w/ lemon (I use decaf so that I can drink it at night
It’s My Favorite Time of Year
Fall. It's the best. When you live in Texas like I do, it's the best for a lot of reasons. Namely, you've just come out of what was quite possibly the hottest summer you've ever experienced (even though you say that every year) and you're so desperate for relief that when it finally comes, all you can say is, "Thank you, Jesus!" But aside from the falling temps, there is something so magical about this time of year to me.
$1.58 Later, Dinner for the Whole Family
I'm all about using what I have on hand. I'm also all about saving every dollar possible. Some might call me cheap. I call it thrifty. I like to think of myself as The Frugal Wanna-be Gourmet. So on on tonight's menu: dinner for the whole family for a whopping $1.58. Now that I have your undivided attention, I shall reveal my magical goddess of the kitchen secrets to you. 😉 The other night I didn't feel like putting a
This is not a competition
I've been a part of many churches over the years, but after over six years of being a part of my current church, I have to say that I have never seen a church grow and thrive as healthily as Gateway. It blows my mind how it has practically exploded over the last 12 years (yes, it's only 12 years old and it is already in the top five largest churches in the country.) I'm not saying all of this
I’ll Never Underestimate a Toddler Again
I was in my room putting on my make-up at my dressing table - my typical morning routine. My son was playing around the house, in and out of my room with random toys and gadgets he found impressive - his typical morning routine. He walked up to me with his winning smile, the one and only remote control to our precious, smart 3D HDTV in his hand. That was the last time I saw the remote control. Honestly, I
For everything, there is a season
Recently, my husband and I made a huge decision. After several years (yes, years) of praying, considering, questioning, and praying some more, we decided that it's time to say goodbye to the band, Lately. I've been playing in a band since I was sixteen years old, starting off in my little youth band at the Baptist church I grew up in. A band is a lot like a marriage - a lot of ups and downs, a lot of good