Just Be A Mom

All day yesterday my thoughts kept returning to this random thought about "just being a mom". I don't know where it came from and why it consumed my day, but it was rather wonderful and offered solice in moments of chaos and stress. Just be a mom. How great is that? To only have to worry about the happiness and wellbeing of your children. To have the one and only focus of your day be their growth, health, and smiles. To be completely available to whatever whim their curiousities met. What could possibly be more important than that?....laundry? dishes? naptime? a phone call? "mom time"? projects? deadlines? I'm not saying these things aren't important. They are and they are necessary tasks. But all too often I think we get consumed with fulfilling our tasks, staying busy, moving down the ever growing checklist, etc and we miss out on the most beautiful and innocent moments of our children's day. I have taken to stopping before answering any question with a decisive NO.....what is it I'm saying NO to? Can I stop for a moment and help? Can I drop what I'm doing for just a second and give Hayden that "big hug" he's asking for every 30 minutes? Why can't Yvette help me with the dishes or play with my hair? And Wyatt.....all he wants lately is to be in the action. How hard is that? We can make room. Life really isn't that hard. Most of the time what makes it hard is WE get in the way....WE get selfish. Life isn't that hard.....it is simple (and exhausting most days)....and beautiful.

I woke up and got John off to work this morning. I wanted to go back to sleep but got sucked into the computer instead. And I found this. Such a beautiful post.

Such Character!

"Yvette, go get some underwear on."

 "Got it, Mom!"

Crazy For Cloth

 
We invested in cloth diapers with Hayden. When I say "invest", I mean it. At the time it was a hit of about $375 in one fell swoop. And that kinda hurts when you don't have much to begin with. But $375 got us 24 adjustable sized diapers. And those 24 diapers are now on baby #3. They've been stained, reinforced, and literally been through the ringer. But they are STILL in fantastic shape and are perfectly useable. With the cost of disposable diapers ranging anywhere from .20-.45 EACH, cloth diapering is most certainly a great economical and environmentally friendly way to go.

Top 10 Reasons To Cloth Diaper:
1. saves loads of money
2. so much softer on baby's bottom
3. environmentally friendly
4. cute
5. less garbage....less stink
6. supports local/small business owners
7. does NOT cater to societies "disposable" mentality. ;-)
8. it is EASY! and simple
9. no more diaper creams
10. husbands LOVE the fact it is easy on the pocketbook and quickly pays for itself.

*If you have any questions regarding cloth diapering please don't hesitate to ask. Or you can email me at tjback(at)charter(dot)net
*I have many friends who are cloth diapering junkies as well.......if you guys have any comments to add or tips to share please post!
*My favorite go-to site for cloth diapering is Cotton Babies. Also, I have a friend who makes fantastic diapers at reasonable prices: Chelory.com

Is Spring Coming?

It was 51 degrees today with a bright sun and a beautiful breeze all day. Perfect for airing out the down comforters before packing them away for a few months.

I hope it stays like this. I absolutely LOVE the smell of clean laundry off the clothes line.

Please, oh please stay beautiful weather!

My Own Homemade Birthday

I am 29. I've never been one to freak out about age or getting older. And though I still think of myself as 23-24ish, 30 IS right around the corner and that IS shocking. Not scary. Not sad. Shocking.

Anyway, it was a simple birthday and a seemingly normal day. John worked. We stayed home and played. My brother and his daughter were here which made the day fantastic!

What did I receive, you ask? Something I never expected or even thought I'd want. An ice cream maker. And yes, we tried it out. YUMMY! Homemade ice cream is like homemade jelly - once you've had it, you never ever think to consider buying it off the shelf ever again! THAT is how absolutely scrumptious it is. Of course it is probably 10x as fattening as Dove or Breyers, but seriously?.....who cares! It is way better!. I asked my husband why he got it for me or what made him think of getting it. His response was so sweet, "To slow life down a little and enjoy the process. Plus I thought it would be fun for the kids to help and enjoy this as a 'past time' they love. 'Homemade ice cream on the farm.'"

Does my hubby know me or what?!

So I did what every other stay at home mom with 3 kids and a working husband does on her birthday. I made my own delicious birthday cake and churned my own ice cream. ;-)

Strawberry Ice Cream:
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups half and half
5 cups whipping cream
5 cups pureed strawberries (add to chilled mixture before freezing)

Scald milk until bubbles form around edge of pan. Remove from heat. Add sugar and salt. Stir until dissolved. Stif in half and half, vanilla extract, and whipping cream. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. Freeze as directed (on your ice cream maker).

The cake is a personal recipe NOT to be shared at the moment. ;-)

Project Knit 13:52

This pattern is from JoJoland titled "Wine Tasting". I used the recommended yarn of JoJoland Melody Superwash color ms18. It requires 2 skeins and US4 needles with a cable needle.

GREAT yarn to work with. I've made hats from this stuff and it is fantastic. Soft, elastic, beautiful!

Tuesdays With Him (week 3)

The Midwives, Jochabed, and Rahab

It brought tears to my eyes as I read through this chapter. I love this Bible study for the simple fact that it brings to life the most beautiful examples of faith, femininity, and motherhood. I suppose I'm stating the obvious, but it just has to be said.
All I could think about were the little souls God has placed in our care. The little lives we have been blessed with to raise and form. Oh the responsibility!! I love parenthood. I do. It trials...the ups and downs...the never-the-same days....the joy and humor these kiddos bring to everyday life through their innocence and childishness. I love it!! I beg God every single stinking day for the grace to do right...to do His Will. I beg for the grace for myself during these formative years and for the children in the future as they begin to choose for themselves.

Life! I just don't understand how people can snuff it out. I just don't understand how people can say NO to it. I just don't understand how society has made it into this disposable object that can be brought about and/or killed according to convenience. I just don't understand!!!

I love Rahab and her story. Her life, her person, her virtue humbles me.

Tuesdays With Him (week 2)

 I'm sorry this didn't post yesterday. I had it written and preset to post at a certain time. Obviously never happened. 

Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel: Wives of the Patriarchs

As I began reading this chapter I found myself stopping and chuckling to myself. I knew exactly the direction this one would go. And I chuckled because it is exactly what someone like me needs to be reminded of.
It has been so long since I’ve read of these women. The humanness!…..the femininity!!!……oh how we can all relate! We see in each a call to holiness…..a side of insecurity and jealousy…..a “need” to please….a longing for motherhood….all ending with peace in His Will. Not always an easy route, often confusing, many many mistakes along the way with consequences…..
THAT is what I can relate to. THAT is what jumped out at me. The humanness of these women. The innate femininity of these women: the trust and respect for their husbands, their service and strength, their humility and silence, their faith and hope in God, their motherhood and sacrifice. And their love stories! How beautiful!
I can honestly say that this is the first time EVER that I’ve seen these women as the role models they ought to been seen as. They’ve always just been stories…people in the Bible…..not much else for me. Perhaps it is just reading with different eyes, seeking with a different heart. Life circumstance removes blinders sometimes.
I am grateful for that.

This chapter as a whole was wonderful!!! Absolutely beautiful.

What stood out for you? Was there one in particular that you can relate to? Is there are specific point or insight that jumped out at you?

How Faithful He Is!

Last night I went to bed with a very specific question consuming my thoughts. A question that had neither a right nor a wrong answer.......just in a very indecisive one. This morning I got John off to work, filled my mug with coffee and said my morning prayers in silence as the sun came up. My petition?....Lord please make your will clear for me....how should we handle this? I opened my prayer book and read the gospel passage assigned for today.....BAM! The answer, clear as a bell, literally spelled out for me.

God is SO FAITHFUL!!!!