Mama’s Journal

Their Best Days

08/31/2011

Kat from Inspired to Action shared this Taylor Swift video recently and having never seen it before I was moved to tears. Not only is it a beautiful tribute to Taylor’s mom but the words of the song can be meaningful for any parent.

A family friend just lost her newborn twins, another has been diagnosed with cancer at only 11. I am too often reminded that these children are not guaranteed to me forever. I can only give them my very best and try to make each day their best day.

Being their mother is what I wanted most, deep inside my heart and I get one chance to do this dream job of mine right. While they may be too small to remember actual events, this stage in their lives will leave an imprint on their soul. They will forever carry with them how I made them feel.

Did I light up when I saw them?
Did I look them in the eyes and squeeze them tight?
Did I walk with patience and grant them grace?
Did I love them well?

Some days aren’t easy. There are days filled with one unexpected twist after another. Then there are the weeks when everyday feels like one of those days. The weeks we barely get through.

Those days will happen. Those weeks will too. Chaos will come our way, but the beauty is in the effort. Perhaps, the best thing we can give them are memories of a childhood filled with the pursuit of best days.

Filed Under: Music

‘Round Here

08/27/2011

Get ready for a photo heavy post! Mostly taken with my phone, which explains the poor quality. I read on another blog recently that the best camera is the one you have with you. So true. I’m trying to stop saying I wish I had my camera and starting to just get out my phone. A phone quality photo is better than no photo at all.

Introducing mad baby. A face I see a lot. Poor little man’s belly hurts. : (

I was cleaning out the coat closet and and she found her winter coat from last year. Despite my attempts to explain that it’s August and still too hot she insisted on wearing it and zipping it up. All. The. Way. Up.

This is our new big bear friend. Emphasis on BIG. We live in a small townhome and Big Bear is 5 feet tall! He was given to us recently by my best friend’s mom. Although he is in the way and takes up space equivalent to an extra person, she is smitten with him so we’re making it work. Notice she’s still wearing the coat? Yep, she wore it all day.

My sweet boy at 1 month old, deep in thought. We went out to lunch this week for the first time since he was born. My Dad took us to our favorite local place. My usual there was an egg or tuna salad sandwich so I actually had to read the menu this time and hunt for a dairy free option. In the end I enjoyed a salad with cranberries and almonds that was delicious.

Bath time last night.
When I told you she always wears her sunglasses, I meant she ALWAYS wears her sunglasses.

This beauty showed up at my door yesterday and I’ve been anxiously awaiting it’s arrival. I checked and double checked on it’s location all week as it headed my way from Sacramento.

Let me just tell you the 9 tray with the 26 hour timer is huge! When they say it is the size of a microwave they mean it is the size of a microwave. As soon as I opened it I loaded it up with apples. They finished this morning and we love them. We’re thinking about trying pineapple next. More info and photos to come!

There’s a crazy storm brewing outside due to the approaching hurricane. We are pretty stocked up on food and we picked up diapers, wipes and nursing pads this morning. The essentials. Hopefully Irene doesn’t stay too long and calms herself down as she heads farther north.

Happy weekend friends! And for all you east coasters, stay safe and dry!

Filed Under: Mama's Journal, Photobook

5 Minute Friday: If You Met Me

04/08/2011

Lisa – Jo at The Gypsy Mama hosts a weekly writing challenge called 5 minute Friday where she encourages us to “just write and not worry if it’s just right“. Today I decided to join in for the first time. If you met me today I’d tell you that by the time my 5 minutes were over a certain 21 month old had dipped pickle spears in her yogurt and “painted” the kitchen table with them. It’s amazing what one can write and do in 5 minutes with no restrictions!

Here’s how it works…
1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Go leave some comment props for the five minuter who linked up before you.

This weeks prompt: If you met me…

Go:

You may notice that I currently look like I’m wearing a basketball around my middle. You may ask how far along I am. To which I’d answer 25 weeks.

25 weeks that have flown by and oh my goodness are we really going to have a baby boy around here in around 3 months? I still have a hard time believing it.

You may notice that I look nervous. I probably am, but not any less happy to meet you.

If you met me…

I hope you feel listened to because often I am distracted and worry how I make others feel when I come off that way. Really I want to listen to you and hear all that you have to say… I just have a lot on my mind or perhaps a wild toddler pulling on my pants.

I hope that I ask about you and say something that makes you feel good because that’s where my heart is. But so often I find myself walking away and thinking did I even ask about them?

If you met me…

I hope I put makeup on that day. If I did well we must have met on a good day.

If you met me…

I’d say isn’t this bloggy world amazing? How we are meeting people we never thought we would.

If you met me… I’d be happy because now I can tell my husband that you are an IRL friend instead of just someone pretend on the internet! ; )

Stop.

Filed Under: Mama's Journal

The MamaZine’s 2011 Reading List

01/11/2011

photo credit

In an effort to get back to my passion for the written word and my heart for books, I’ve decided to make a list of those I wish to read this year. I should note that I often get excited and start a few books at once, only to realize a few months later that I never finished any of them. This year I want to focus on one at a time and really take in all that they have to offer. You may notice that I especially love books that teach me something!

1. The Bible (in 90 days)

2. I Will Carry You – Angie Smith

3. Educating The WholeHearted Child – Sally and Clay Clarkson

4. One Thousand Gifts – Ann Voskamp

5. Love & Respect – Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

6. The Mission of Motherhood – Sally Clarkson

8. Outlive Your Life – Max Lucado

9. A Charlotte Mason Companion – Karen Andreola

10. Grace Is For Sinners – Serena Woods

Have you read any of these? I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas. If you know of a great one on marriage, homemaking, or parenting that’s not on my list, please tell me about it!

Just for fun here are a few more on my list to check out this year:

Tell Your Time

Organized Simplicity

The Pioneer Woman Cooks

5 Dollar Dinners and 5 Dollar Breakfast and Lunch Cookbook

*The Amazon links above are affiliate links.

Filed Under: Mama's Journal

Listening and Loving – JJ Heller

07/11/2010

This is what I am listening to and loving right now.
I’ve watched the video over again and again, and will probably listen many times more.
It makes my heart happy so I thought I’d pass it on. Enjoy!