Slugs and Snails, and Puppy-dog Tails

I think I can honestly say I am not a parent who plays favorites.  I love all my children uniquely, and try to treat them equally. 

I love Gracey for her "mothering" heart and her artistic flair. 

I love Lissie for her spunk and sense of humor. 

But, I will say, there is something extra special about a mother's bond with her son.  If you don't have a son, it's almost hard to even understand.  It's like he makes me feel special for being his mommy.  He is the one who will NOT go to bed without giving me a kiss and hug.  He is the one who needs my approval.  He is just my little man!

Last Thursday night, we had a "mini date night".  It consisted of us going to pick out a birthday present for a friend of his for this weekend, and going to the grocery store.  We were riding home in the van, when he suddenly grabbed my hand and asked me to turn down the radio because he "had something serious he needed to talk to me about" (his words- not mine).  After I turned down the radio, he started asking me questions about marriage.

"Why do people get married?"

"What kinds of people get married?"

"Can boys marry their mommies?"

"What things can you do after your married?"

"Do I have to kiss her after I get married?"

"Why do you kiss daddy?"

After I had satisfied his curiosity, he then told me that he had decided that he wanted to be a police officer (yeah, my heart lept a little in fear on that one), then get married, and then be a daddy.  At that point I felt a little relief in the fact that he at least got the sequence of events in the right order.  He then told me that he was sorry he was going to get married and leave me, but that it would be ok because he would live next door to me and I could watch his kids!

And that's just fine with me!

 

 

 

Little Boys

Little boys come in all shapes and sizes,
Shy and adventurous, full of surprises,
With misshapen halos and mischievous grins,
Small dirty faces, and sweet, sticky chins.
They'll keep you so busy, and yet all the while
Nothing can brighten the world like their smile.
And no greater treasure has brought homes more joy
Than a curious, active, and lovable boy!

 

15 Years and Counting

For some reason, it's so weird to me to think that next month on February 10th, Chris and I will have been together 15 years- half our lives!  We dated 6 years before we got married, and have been married for 9 years this past December.  We literally grew up together.  You hear a lot of times of how when people grow up, they grow apart.  I feel truly blessed that that did not happen to us.

The Bethothed Couple

I was dating someone else when I went on a mission trip with our church youth group to Noblesville, IN in 1996, and was honestly not looking to date anyone else at the time. That mission trip was the first time I really spent any time with Chris.  We were lovingly "pushed together" by two friends who we are still close with today, and Thayne happens to be betrothed to their daughter.  :)

We dated other people for about 6 months before we started dating each other, but Chris was right in the end.  We knew right from the beginnning that this was it.  We never even really discussed getting married- we just knew it was a given right from the start.  And yes, 16 year-olds really can meet "the one"!

Mission Trip, 2001

I have learned so much over these last 15 years, but here is my top 5 lessons learned when it comes to marriage...(from the funny to the serious, in no particular order)

Ginny's Prom, 2000

1.  You can not change the other person just because your want them to.  You will both change and grow when you're supposed to.  For example, he still puts the toilet paper on wrong, and it took a lonnnngggg time for me to get him to close the cabinet doors in the kitchen in our apartment when we first got married.  And my tendancy to rearrange furniture at the drop of a hat drives him crazy!

2.  Admit when you're wrong and move on.

3.  Don't get mad when he has to travel out of town out for work (even if he did have to go out of town for a week after each baby was born!!!).  He is doing it for you (but he will probably come home to a house of rearranged furniture).

4.  Have date nights as often as possible and don't feel guilty about it- you will be a better parent because of it!

5.  Christ really does need to be the CENTER OF IT ALL for it to work.  If your relationship with Christ isn't where it needs to be, your relationship with your spouse won't be either.

 (Sorry about the quality of the pics- I took pictures of the pictures with my Iphone- I still haven't invested in a scanner!)

And that, people, is probably the mushiest entry I will ever post!!!

2013 Goals

I finally made it back!  It took me two weeks to find what kind of blog I had, and then to remember my log in and password, but I finally made it! What better way to kick-start my blog back into action than by sharing my goals for this year?  None that I could think of, so I'm just going to jump right back into it, so here we go....

(Btw, these have no order of importance- my brain doesn't tend to think that way when I am doodling my notes!  And this is a lengthy list, so read on, or you may want to wait till the next post to join back with me!)


1. Blog at least once a week.  Why?  Because I think the world wants to know what's going on in my life every day? No.  Simply because it is theraputic for me (and it's soooo much cheaper than shopping!). I love to read other mom's blogs, if for no other reason than to see that "I am not the only one who....", and hopefully this can do the same for some other mom out there.  If someone thinks this is ridiculous, then don't read! :)

2.  Let my house be messy once in a while without flippin' my lid- God bless my hubby who has dealt with enough flipped lids to last many lifetimes.

3. Be healthy-  1 Corinthians 6:19---- no other words needed!

4. I realized about a month ago that I am really bad at looking people in the eye when I am talking to them.  I try to multi-task at every available moment, but it all boils down to me being present.  Whomever I am speaking to deserves all my attention, and that includes eye contact.

5.  Friendships...this will be a hard one for me.  I tend not to be a big "friend" person.  I'm sure there is some deep, dark reason that some psychologist would have a hay-day with, but I want to be a better friend to those who I have not connected so well with lately, and to those I have reconnected with.  I am looking forward to some girl days where we can sit and talk and watch our kids play.  I am looking forward to some girls days that include studying the Word and praying over each other.  I know God wants me to have more out of my friendships, and I am ready!

6.  Date night once a month- and this is more complicated that it sounds!  My best, and most favorite babysitter, for my kids is my sister Katie, because I know she wants to spend time with my kids and loves them as much as I do.  But, Katie is currently growing up and away at college (I know- the nerve!), so I need to trust some new people with my babies and learn to let go a little so me and the hubs can have some fun.  Easier to type than to do.

7.  Participate in the Lay renewal my church is having in March.  To be honest, I'm not sure what all this entails, but I know God is going to do big things with it, so I want to be a part of it!

8.  Sing a solo at church.  I used to do this all the time.  I used to sing with a group almost every Sunday in front of the church.  But, for some reason, I have let a deep-seated fear grow in me the last year about doing this.  I know its a fear to keep me from doing something I love, so I am determined to whoop it!

9.  I desperately want to re-do my bedroom.  It has never been completed finished since the house was built.  It has all the bones- it just needs some love and style.  It is my inside house project this year.

10.  Have a youth girl's bible study at my house this summer.

11.  Write out and share Lissie's story - may be the single hardest thing on my list, because it's really my story too, but there is so much that goes with it that it will be gut wrenching, ugly, and the one of the most beautiful things I can do for myself. 

12.  Start reading chapter books with Gracey- she loves to read and I want to share with her the childhood stories that took me to another time and place.  (Did anyone else have an old, old Sandy Patty song go through their mind when they read "another time and place"?  If not please ignore because you are wayyyyy to young to even know who I am talking about!)

13.  Go to ALL Thayne's tball games this year- last year I think I only went to a handful of games, for many different reasons, but I felt the loss and I know he did too.  He needs to see his mama in the stand cheering him on!

I know it's a long list, but I have 11 months left, right?  I can do it!