If Motherhood Came With Report Cards ...

...my report card would have showed a BIG,RED, N! - "N" for 'needs improvement.' Or maybe an 'F' for failed!


It seems almost everything I did today could have used lots of improvement.

My mothering skills lacked, my "wifely skills" lacked, my diy projects lacked ... even my cooking skills lacked (ok, that wasn't really my fault but we'll get there later.)

(And I know that this post already sounds so negative, but it's not. Hang in there with me! :-) )

I started my morning late...again...and that in itself is never a good thing...ever :-(  It's something I've been trying to work on, but my bed feels so,so cozy every morning  :-) So, I'll keep trying till I get an 'E' for excellent in this area! :-)

When my morning starts late there is so much that just goes 'down the drain'...good attitudes included!

So when two of my cuties :-) got into a ridiculous fight about who's oatmeal had more sugar, it escalated and became an intense "discussion" that raised this mama's blood pressure.
If there's anything that makes me want to run away crying, it's this - These crazy little cat fights that are totally ridiculous and unnecessary and leave me with absolutely no idea what to do and how to resolve them at that moment.

And I really don't know how it happened but my day just went down hill.

I was not a Proverbs 31 woman in any stretch of the imagination.

My lamp shade that I tried to re-do gave me more grief than relief. (I think it's really cute - but only when the light isn't on ;-) ) It definitely didn't go the way I dreamed it would!

Frustration and selfishness,snappiness and crabbiness took over until I felt the need to "disappear" and put myself in timeout for awhile (my children found me, and thought it was incredibly funny that they snuck into my bathroom and found me - yep, that's a mom's life)

Why am I telling you this?

Because I believe in real life...I know what real life is.
It's laughter and fun, silliness, love,smiles & giggles,happiness - oatmeal with just the right amount of sugar.

But real life is also, tears and crabbiness, bad attitudes,selfishness and frustration.

 And the reason I'm telling you all of this is because here at my house we do real life. 

We do love and laughter but we also do tears and crabbiness. 

And here on my blog you will NOT only find the love and laughter. You will also see days that we get big, fat, red "Ns" ! Days that we fail.The truth.

We are not perfect but we are perfectly happy being a family. A family doing real life.

And tonight I'm so thankful for grace and second chances. Tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow I get a second chance. Today I saw God's grace.

And now, on to my cooking!

 Tonight I made chili soup. It wasn't a hit. It wasn't great! And it really wasn't my fault. It was a new recipe, a recipe I won't be going back to :-) A recipe that I would say gets an "N" for needs improvement.

But let me tell you what did hit me a BIG 'E' for today - 'E' for EXCELLENT! So excellent in fact, I wanted to share it with you! :-)

Around here we love cornbread!! And I found a recipe...on pinterest of course... that is absolutely irresistible!

(I am TERRIBLE at food photography!! So just trust me! This was DELICIOUS!) 

You can find the recipe here. You will also find a beautiful photo of the cornbread! :-) And you really,really need to use the cast iron skillet!

The "blob" beside the cornbread...well, it's just a "little bit of heaven" you can put in your mouth!! It will forever change your life. Your kids will LOVE you extra, and you may or may not get an extra kiss from your husband if you serve this at your next meal ;-) So if you're in need of a kiss, it's worth a try!! :-D But even if you don't need a kiss, do you and your family a favor, a BIG FAT favor and make this! :-)

 It's good on fresh baked rolls, toast and just about anything!! and yes, yes, on cornbread. It takes cornbread to a whole 'nother level! (we will refrain from saying just how much I put on my bread) You will find the recipe for this amazing, Cinnamon Honey Butter here.

 There's snow! I know, amazing!!! The kids excitement is so cute! Tonight after we had them tucked in for the night, miss Hailey crawled out of her bed (without us knowing) in anticipation to see if there's any snow! Of course she had to call me back to her room and she told me she wants to show me something out her window. Her eyes shining with wonder was too adorable! Of course we had to call Braxton over and show him too.His reaction was pretty much the same. They were waiting for this snow ALL DAY! To bad it waited to come till bedtime!  This is one reason I have to be ready to roll in the morning.Their excitement will have them up bright and early I'm sure! :-)

Anyway, I'm signing out for tonight. I'm going to rest my body and start fresh tomorrow. If you've had a day that feels like you got a big fat "N" - I encourage you to take heart! Everyone has those days! Don't sit in the dread of your failure. Stand up strong, God is good at giving second chances!

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

                                                                                                   2 Corinthians 12:9

Dear Madi

Photo Credits to heidimastphotography.com

Heidi did a great job at capturing Madi's personality. She does so well working with kids that don't think picture taking is really that great. Thank you to Heidi, I have some great 1 year old pictures celebrating Madi.

Happy Birthday to our sweet baby girl!

Dear Madi,

I hope you grow up to be smart,tough and wise

but I also hope that you always have

the same innocence in your eyes.

It's hard to believe that you, our little Madi are one already! You actually turned 1 on November 28 already but  mommy seems to always be behind on blogging these days :) :)

You have brought a lot of life into our family.

I forgot how busy a baby seems to keep me.And you seem extra busy and some days you very nearly have me in tears! :)

But I'm so thankful that God has blessed us with you, a happy,healthy baby even though you have the ability to make our house look like a tornado zone :) We'd never trade you for a cleaner more organized house! I think you are one way God is teaching me about what's really important in life.

You have taught me so much...even in just the last week.

Today I was watching you walk.

You were walking through leaves that were thick and hard for you to navigate.

You took  one little step and then you'd fall over.You'd try again and fall over...and again,and again...

Until I came to your rescue, held your little hand in mine and helped you out of the "rough terrain."

When I was watching you try and try again I was reminded of myself, and how when I try to take a step forward in life, and I "fall over" again and again.

And how Jesus comes and takes my hand and helps me along.

Watching you fail to walk through the leaves but never give up,just reminded me that even when I fail so often in life, I should never,ever even think of quitting.

Jesus is always right there, watching me and helping me along.

You are an inspiration my darling!

There was never a child so lovely but his  her mother was glad to get him her to sleep.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nap-time is always a highlight at this house :) It gives me the time to recharge a little and to be again fully equipped with strength to make it through the rest of the day :) Energy to keep up with you :)

When my husband comes home,and if the kids are still alive, I figure I've done my job.

-Rosanne Barr

Some days keeping you children alive is maybe all that I get done.But that is enough.That is why I'm here, to take care of you and love you.

Motherhood is a rewarding job,a job that I wouldn't ever trade.

If all I ever get in return are those hugs and wet kisses, that is enough!Traces of your innocent love.Things that make me all fuzzy inside.

Having the privilege to be your mommy is a gift straight from heaven. I'm so thankful for the blessing that you and your brother and sister are to me and your daddy.

My prayer is that you grow up to be passionate about God. Use that 

energy and determination of yours for His Kingdom.

 Happy Birthday again my sweet Madi .

Thank you for all the life lessons you have taught me in these 12 short months.

You are a blessing!

You were prayed for!

I thank God for you!

With all my love, mommy

Looking Back On 2013

Philippians 3:13,14   Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  As I look back on 2013 I don't wish to relive this year! I know, that sounds negative :) But 2013 has probably been one of the toughest years I've lived.And its funny how I hear that coming from so many people.If I'd believe in bad luck, I say maybe it was the number 13...but since I don't I'll just believe it was a year that God gave me some extra loving :)  I take to heart Philippians 3:13,14. Remembering the lessons I learned but leaving behind the things that do not benefit me, and starting fresh, pressing toward the mark. It probably is also the year that I have been reminded the most about all the beautiful blessings I have in life but how, so often I tend to take them for granted! Friends and family.How easy to just assume that we have them for always, when actually...we never know how long. It's been a year of change.Lots of change. To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. – Henri Bergson It's also been a year of learning - hard life lessons. ~ A year that has brought me closer to God and at the same time stretched me till I really thought I couldn't stretch anymore! ~ A year of tears, lots of tears.And I thank God he cares enough, so much actually that he "bottles every tear!"  ~ Its also been a year of much laughter and happiness. ~ It's the year that marked 7 years with an incredibly handsome man.A quiet but stable man.A man whos desire is to serve his Lord.A man whom I have learned so much from.And I see how blessed I am.  ~ It's been a year where I saw so many young men, their life taken in an instant, leaving behind their wives and children. ~ A year that made me realize even more than before that every year I have with the man I love, is a blessing, never to be taken for granted! ~ It's been a year of learning who I really and what my priorities are. ~ A year of seeing myself ... through God's eyes.How ugly I sometimes am on the inside.But how God's forgiveness knows no end.And I'm slowly beginning to understand the fullness of God's Love.And how undeserving I am, and yet how endless God's mercy is. Seeing how I can be changed.But only through God, for His glory.Seeing how much my life, and the lives of those around me affect God's Kingdom.How valuable we can be, but yet how sometimes we choose destruction.  ~ A year that has taught me how everything I do, should have some kind of eternal value. ~ A year of learning that my true identity lies in Christ. Not in what I do or don't do, or have or don't have,or even who I please or don't please. My identity is in Christ alone. ~ A year of realizing that people...people are the most valuable in God's eyes.Not things...people.Something I always knew, but was reminded of in a fresh new way.A year of God teaching me about relationships. ~ A year of seeing how my fears and selfishness have kept me and sometimes still keep me from living life to it's fullest.And how easy it would be to quit trying.But remembering how faithful God is in helping us grow and go forward...one baby-step at a time. ~ A year of sifting through the plans God has for me. Waiting and wondering...but always knowing deep within that there's a special place for me to fill.A reason I am where I am. "our sense of worth is not a question of giftedness,talent,intelligence or beauty. Your sense of personal worth comes from knowing who you are as a child of God and your growth in character." I am happy to be a Child of the King!  So as I look forward to 2014, I want to leave all my mistakes and regret behind.Because I realize the more I remember my mistakes and regrets, the less I move forward. I never want to forget the faithfulness of God. And I want to always remember that with God anything is possible. Happy New Year to all my friends and family! May 2014 bring you much happiness and many blessings. Thank you especially to God for helping me through this year. Thank you to my husband for being there and showing me what unconditional love is. And thank you to my friends, especially those who have stuck with me through this year :)I am blessed!