Tuesdays Thoughts

Another catchy title :) But I just have some things on my heart that I would like to write out...

I take life for granted. I think we all do at times, but I'll admit that I do it more then I should. I take my children for granted. I take my husband for granted. I take my family for granted. Shewwww, that's hard! I love them all to death and I wouldn't be me without them, but sometimes I just assume they'll be there, and clearly that's not the case.

Is my life perfect? Oh my goodness NO! Far from it! But I am blessed beyond measure with aspects of my life and it takes certain moments to make you really sit back and think. I have come across amazing blogs in the short time that I've been a "blogger" (I use that term loosely, because really, is posting pictures of your children and writing random stories about them really blogging? Probably not, but I digress! :) I have read stories of triumph and tragedy, highs and lows, life and death, and read about people having gone through circumstances in life that I can't even BEGIN to imagine on my worst of worst days. Now, don't get me wrong, I've been through my fair share of struggles in life...my dads drug and alcohol abuse, my parents divorce in the prime of my teenage years, the death of my sisters best from from cancer a mere month after my parents divorced, my mom losing our house due to financial struggles out of her control, a pretty nasty span of my early 20's that included heavy drinking and the occasional (or not so occasional, more like regular basis) drug use, my husbands struggle with addiction and stay in rehab, the loss of my triplet nephews in May 2008, my dads unexpected (or expected depending upon how you look at the big picture) stroke which killed him, and I'm sure the list could go on. None of that ever "broke" me, although it probably should have. I will say that the alcohol and drug use probably would have killed me, BUT my angel came along on June 9, 2005 and saved my soul (that is the day I found out I was unexpectedly pregnant with my son). There is only one thing that I can say got me through all of this, and that is God. I didn't really "know" God until November 2007 but clearly He was in my life long before that! But there is one thing that I think when I come across a blog about loss and that is losing my children or my husband...how would I EVER get through that, even with God? Which brings me back to the whole point of the amazing families I've come across through blogging that have lost childrens, husbands and wives. How in the world do you EVER move on after that!??!?!?!? Thinking about it brings tears to my eyes and a literal pain to my heart. I am in awe of the families I come across who have experienced such TREMENDOUS loss and are still here, smiling, picking up the pieces and moving forward (I won't say "moving on" because I can't imagine that you EVER "move on.")

So you may be thinking...where did this come from? And to be honest, I'm not really sure. I know it's a build up of months and months of reading about these types of stories and then I just read a blog of a family who's son was born premature, fought valiantly in the NICU for 2 months, everything seemed promising and then the little boy passed away!!! They seemed SOOO hopeful! Or the families who's sweet children were stillborn or passed of SIDS, and sadly the list goes on and on. I just follow so many blogs where families have suffered an unimaginable loss and I needed to write this out, think about my children and my husband and realize how fortunate I am because you never know, in an instant, it can all change.

Thank you to all those blogs out there that honestly, poignantly document loss because you make me want to be a better mother, a better wife, and when I take the time to stop and think, you make me not take life for granted. Thank you!

Too Cute Tuesday :)

How's that for a catchy title? :) At the end of July we had our family picture taken for our church directory. Of course the kind folks at Olan Mills took several pics of the kids and here are my 3 favs...

Not Me Monday

*Edit: Had I "continued reading" like MckMama suggested I would have found the button! :) Here it is...



Click on the button below to join MckMama's "Not Me Monday" link up! :)


(I can't find the code for her "Not Me Monday" post, so we'll just have to settle on the button to her blog :)

I certainly did not come to the conclusion that my almost 7 month old is uncapable of napping during the day unless she is being held. Nope, not me! I am WAY more experienced in parenting then that, and I would never be one of "those parents." I would have nipped this in the bud along time ago and she would be able to sleep ANYWHERE!

I did not cry when my husband told me on Friday, "Manuel is moving to KR (Kindergarten Readiness, at his preschool) at the end of the month" Nah, not me! I am very mature and EXCELLENT at the thought of change. The thought of my first born growing up does not make me cry, nope! I CAN HANDLE THIS! :) (and to think if I"m like this now, how will I be next September (2011) when he actually starts KINDERGARTEN! AHHHH!

I did not jump the gun and give my daughter Gerbers Puffs already. It clearly states on the canister that she should be a "crawler" (which she is not) therefore I'd NEVER go against the rules and start early. NEVER! And said child did not "gobble" them up like they were Thanksgiving dinner :) (side note...I basically took each puff and broke it in to four even tinier pieces just to avoid any chance of choking! :)

And lastly...I did not throw away my sons Sunday school project this morning when I walked out to the car and saw it sitting there. I would NEVER do such a thing. After all, who doesn't want a "gluey", glittery rice type project laying around their house??? Rice everywhere! Glue everywhere (it still wasn't dried from YESTERDAY!) Glitter everywhere! I'm much more carefree then that, and wouldn't mind those 3 items ALL over my house! :) (side note...I normally keep most of his school and church projects for a little while BUT some things are better left forgotten. And trust me, he already forgot! :)

And one more for good measure...I would never feel the need to put "side notes" on each of my points for fear of being judged harshly by others. Nope, not me! I stand firm in my actions! :)

Friday Funnies

<[/a>


Click on the button above and visit Triple Blessing to read other "Friday Funnies"

Now, here are a few of mine :) ...

I was driving Manuel and Mia home from Manuel's eye doctor appt this morning and Mia was coughing pretty hard. Manuel said, "Ohhh, that doesn't sound very good." I said, "No it doesn't bud, but she's okay. She just has a cold." Manuel said, "Oh, it sounds like she's about to barf. Maybe I should get a trashcan." Oh my! :)
**********************
It's been VERY warm this summer here on the East Coast. With that being said, we seldom ever take Mia outside for long periods of time because she is only 6 1/2 months old and really shouldn't be exposed to the EXTREME heat (100's +). Manuel is out front playing with his friends and he runs inside to go potty. He looks at me and says, "Mommy, don't take Mia outside because it's SO hot!" I said, "I know. I won't." He said, "Good! I can't believe I have to even go outside and play in this mess." I clearly explained to him that he didn't HAVE to go outside and play, but of course he went right back out with his buddies! :)
**********************
My husband was picking Manuel up from school last night. A an older "biker type" gentleman was trying to get in without entering "the code" (it's a secure entrance). My husband confronted him. Longer story short he was there to get his grandson and apparently super frustrated! He started cussing, my husband confronted him, and everything ended fine but as they were walking out Manuel said, "Sheww Daddy that was scary. That man looked like a werewolf and like he was going to eat you!" :)
**********************
We were at a stoplight and to the left us a policeman had a woman pulled over. I looked over and said, "Awww, he's cute" because the police officer was really young, and just the adorable type where you want to squeeze their cheeks. Manuel said, "Mommy! You can't say that! You're married!" Apparently he has some obsession with the fact that my husband and I are married. As if we didn't know! :)

I'm sure there's more, but that's all for now. Now go visit Triple Blessings and read more! :)

Have a great weekend!

Wordless(ish) Wednesday

I'm not really sure why EVERY wordless Wednesday post I do has to be pictures of my children, and I'm also not too sure why, for the most part, every time I post a pic of one of my children, I feel guilty if I don't also post a pic of the other, and I'm also sure that this is the longest run-on sentence EVER, but without further ado...

The worst cell phone quality pics in history, but too dang adorable not to share...

How's that for "wordless"??? ;)



**What, you don't let your children eat the newspaper??? :)

Adorable Giveway

I came across a blog today, That 22 yr old Housewife, and it's super cute and she posted about a great giveaway. Go visit and enter! :)

It's Monday...

BLAH! :) Normally Mondays don't bother me, but today I definitely have a case of the Mondays! :( I'm sure the fact that I'm "moody" (if you get my drift about an upcoming monthly event! :) certainly isn't helping the situation AT ALL! But you know what does make me smile...MY CHILDREN (and hubby, of course! :) And since my 4 year old told me the other day, "Stop it Mommy! I hate getting my picture taken" :( I'll share this adorable (poor cell phone quality) pic of my little rock star who can't verbalize whether or not she hates her picture being taken :) ...