The Power of a Positive Mom!!

Today I begin reading something other than Biscuit or The Little Red Hen.  The Power of a Positive Mom is written by mom Karol Ladd from her own personal experiences and from sound biblical principals.  The Introduction is titled "You Can Do It!  Making a positive difference."  Taken from the Intro..."As Moms, we have the opportunity every day to boost our children onward and upward...Unfortunately, in the day-to-day struggles of motherhood, our good intentions towards our kids can seem to fly out the window.  We may start off the day with a fresh outlook and high expectations but midway though the second temper tantrum of the morning...we somehow lose our handle on the uplifting encouragement we intended to share.  How can we be positive when we often feel like the greatest portion of our day is spent correcting, scolding and trying to advert major disaster?" 

I don't know about you but I have been battling this for many years.  As a mom we have to play so many sides.  With three running around I feel like I have split personalities.  One second I am scolding one for taking a pen to my couch and in the next I am holding one in my arms after they have fallen and hurt their knee.  All the while trying to keep up with dinner, laundry, the dishes, the rooms, closets, bathrooms, dogs, garage, school, Dr's appointments, bills and trying to keep up with friends and what is going on in their lives.  Which are just as crazy as mine.  I am not trying to complain, we are so blessed with everything we have.  We are thankful to have to many clothes and food in the pantry.  But life is crazy.  I am hoping this book will help me learn how to talk with my kids, learn to correct them in a more positive way.  Because the Lord knows I am always getting onto one of them:)  The whole reason for correcting them is to teach them something.  But what else am I teaching them with a negative, frustrated sometimes down right angry voice?  I am looking forward to learning from Karol and hope you follow me on my journey. 

What do you do when all your dreams have come true?

Make new ones!
A friend of mine blogged asking what is a dream you had before you had children that you never completed.  I had to sit and think for a moment.  That chapter in my life is very fuzzy.  So much has happened and so much of me has changed.  I always knew I wanted to get married and have children.  I also wanted to graduate from college, travel, get lost for a while.  Thankfully, our God is a God of timing.  He led me right to my husband and I have never looked back. 
Mark and I have been talking a lot about our future.  There is a beautiful Country song that says "Who are you when I'm not around..."  It has been years since I have looked at myself as anyone other than a wife and a mother. I know that is my job and I cherish every moment of it. The first time my husband listened to the song it opened up a wonderful conversation. I thought about college, if I would have finished and/or changed my degree. Would I even still be in Missouri or would I have gone to the West Coast, maybe Paris. We have talked about me going back to school and what I would want to do now. It has been very exciting for me to think about and Mark sees' a side of me he hasn't seen in years.  
There are many dreams we have now that include us both going back to school, starting up a restaurant and building a beautiful home to grow old together in and retire.  Seeing our children grow up healthy and happy, graduate college, get married and have children.  We pray we are the parents our children need to succed in this life.  Our dreams have changed, gotten bigger and better.  That is what dreams are supposed to do:  Motivate you, excite you, give you something to look forward too, to work towards.  But some dreams will never be reached and some will be broken.   That is the beautiful part of dreams, a new one can always be made.  Sometimes even better than the original.  Life would be empty and boring without them.  You're never to old, grown up or mature.  So go ahead and DREAM!!

My husband is 30!!

Today is a special day in our house.  My husband of 7 years turned 30!  This has been a big deal for the last couple years for us.  I will be turning 30 at the end of this year as well.  Why is it such a big deal?  Why is leaving your 20's behind so hard??  Many milestones occur in your 20's I guess.  Lots of wonderful joyous times and many times we would just rather forget.  We are looking forward to our 30's in a way that we want to really focus on our health and our family.  To slow down a little, relax and focus.  We know our children will go through many changes in the next 10 years and we want to be ready for them.  I know we have a lot to look forward too.  Many more milestones just as wonderful as those we have already reached.  It is just so hard to watch the clock go by, the kids getting bigger, and the wrinkles setting in.  I guess there is really nothing else to do but jump in head first and enjoy the ride.  All the while trying to slow down and savor the moments as we can.  I do know there is noone I would rather be doing this with than my husband.  Here's to the next 30 years!

Happy New Year!

What is the right way to start one of these out??  It is kind of like a Sarah Jessica Parker moment.  Hearing yourself vocalize what you are typing on the screen.  I am not sure how this whole blog thing will work out but it is intriguing.  I am the mother of two beautiful children and a wonderful step-daughter.  I have an amazing husband who our life would not work without.  We are learning Christians and members of the First Baptist church in our small town.  I am a stay-at-home mom and also a DVT survivor.  This month it will be one year since my last clot that was my worst and I am still recouperating from.  It was definatley a life changing experience.  We found out recentley that my blood condition is hereditary and that has put a lot on my mind.  Unfortunatley there are not a lot of groups for me to lean on and my drs are showing no interest in my condition so we feel very alone.  This year I want to find somewhere I can go to help find an answer and hopefully a cure so my children never have to suffer the way I did. 
In a more light hearted direction, because of my condition I have learned to say no more to others and say yes more to my children.  We have spent more time at home together and don't take forgranted that tomorrow may not come.  Our children have grown up so quickly and we learn more from them than school ever did.  They have taught us what is really important...Family.  I am hoping this blog will help me work through my days of being a mom and being a wife.  Some days I like to just get lost in thought.  Tomorrow is our last day of Christmas break which is very sad for me.  I have spent the last week really working on focusing of my kids and not the messes or the laundry.  When they asked me to put together a new toy I made sure to say yes and help them learn how to use it.  I overheard my daughter telling someone when they asked her how their break was going that they were having a wonderful time with mommy.  It felt so good.  Here is to a year full of those responses.  Good night.