Being a Mom is Not Easy!!

Can I just say that being a mother is hard? I'm not talking about the work involved, the running around like a chicken with its head cut off...I'm talking about hard on the heart. There's one thing that I think is the most important to mothers...and that protecting their kids at all costs, whether it be physically or emotionally. The hard part is that you can't always protect them...even emotionally. There are hard lessons that have to be learned...and one of those is that not everyone is nice...not everyone will be your friend, some will even say things just to hurt your feelings because they think it's fun.

Hayden is a sensitive kid...I don't mean just about getting his feelings hurt...I mean in general he has the quality of sensitivity...he cares about other people and he can't understand why some kids say mean things...honestly, I can't either. We had that incident yesterday...and what really frustrates me is that Hayden was so excited for the first day of 1st grade...and then he comes home and tells us some kid was a jerk at recess (okay, he didn't call him a jerk--I did). I'll be honest...it's not very christ-like of me...but I want to beat the kid up. I do...I just want to sock it to him one time, unfortunately that is not what a lesson Hayden should learn. I think the most painful thing for a mom is to see her child hurting...and I want to fix it, but I can't.

So, please pray for Hayden...he's very shy and adjusting to new surroundings isn't easy. Pray for James and I as well, as we help Hayden learn these life lessons and not go after the bullies in the middle of the night (kidding, kidding). I know this seems trivial especially in light of the prayer requests we get from The Common Bond project...and I am thankful that this is what we're struggling with and not some sort of terminal illness...but none the less, my heart breaks for Hayden because I'm his mom.

Missing Teeth Of A Soon To Be Kindergartener and 1st Day of School for the 1st Grader in the House--Quite the Combination!!

This weekend Abby lost her first tooth...note the toothy grin below...

We had a lengthy discussion regarding how the tooth fairy knew she lost her tooth, how the tooth fairy was going to get in the house, how the tooth fairy could fly, was the tooth fairy a girl or a boy...how did the tooth fairy decide how much money to leave for a tooth?? Hayden never asked so many questions...of course, she was satisfied the next morning when the $5 happened to be under her pillow. (Notice the gray tooth on the top row...yes, she brushes her teeth...that's the tooth that died from her face planting on the cement driveway back in January...looks lovely, huh? I can't wait for that one to come out!!!)

Hayden's first day of 1st grade...he's so big!!!

Now this picture reminds me that my kids do love eachother...even when they fight, bicker, and pick at the other one...deep down their is sibling love!!

Chapman Family

Yesterday, I watched the interview Robin Roberts from Good Morning America conducted with Steven Curtis Chapman's family. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it...click on this link and then you can search for it under recent interviews www.goodmorningamerica.com


It is an excellent interview...I also watched the Larry King one too...but I like Robin Roberts better.

Kiss your kids...and listen to the Cinderella song I put on the blog. The message is so true...we just have the here and the now...

Twenty-nine...WOW!!!

First of all, it just doesn't seem possible that I have now entered my last year in my twenties...I feel like I should just be entering my twenties...now I'm down to one year left. Time flies by, I know it's said all the time...but really, how did this happen?

I have to say, I think this has been one of my favorite birthdays so far. Mostly, because the gifts I got were so thoughtful...first, my wonderful husband bought me some lotions, bath stuff, etc. I'm cheap, I buy the 1.99 stuff...but he got the good stuff...he's not cheap. But along with that he and Abby rubbed my feet. I also got a waffle maker...I have never had one as long as we've been married...and I wanted one...but it's not something I'd go out and get just because I could flip pancakes and save the $25. Did I mention I'm cheap? But along with my waffle maker, the boys made breakfast in bed. It was a great, wonderful day and I loved it very much. We got to hang out as a family and I played polly pockets with Abby...it was fun. (For all of you without kids playing polly pocket with a 5 year old probably doesn't sound like that big of a deal...but for you moms, you understand how much fun a 5 year old really can be!) :)
We went out to eat the night before at a Chinese Food place that was GREAT!!!! I love chinese...LOVE IT!!! And then ordered pizza and ate cake and ice cream on Friday night. I think it's the little moments like these that create the lasting memories. It was such a great day, I smile just thinking about it.

On Monday, I came into work and my coworkers had all pitched in to get me a spa package!!! They truely are the greatest. I am so blessed to do something that I love to do...I can honestly say I love my job, but even more than that...I love the people I work with. They make everday life fun...we laugh probably more than we work. It's a great place and I'm so thankful for the relationships I have with these people.

I'll be updating The Common Bond blog later on today or tomorrow so check it out. There's a couple of new things going on.

Help!

If you are interested in The Common Bond (TCB) project I am working then I am asking for your help. Please visit the blog site (link on the right hand side) and read my post...I need some assistance.

Also, I'm plugging my favorite blog again--Bring the Rain--check out her latest post, Blink. (I can't remember if I already wrote this...I'm feeling a little de ja vu...maybe I'm just getting old--I'm almost 29 you know?!?!) Anyway, this post was amazingly insightful. I really do believe Angie Smith could be the next Beth Moore...you guys just wait and see. :) And she will have one of my bracelets. I feel honored.

One last thing, please keep praying about TCB...I'm scared to death at times because it seems like such a huge endeavor...sometimes it's very overwhelming. I love the song Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns, that's how I feel...right now...I want so badly that faith to step outside the boat--out of my comfort zone, but the waves are crashing--and I keep being reminded of all of the times I've failed....

Back to School...and Happy Belated Birthday, Cary!!

Well, I made it to Atlanta and from what I've heard the kids and James have almost made it thru a whole day and a half...I can't wait to get home. I know I sound cheesy, and next week I'll be wishing I was in my nice quiet hotel room with no responsibility but for myself...but right now, I miss my husband and kids.
Other than that...the training is going great! I'm learning so much and am very excited about how it will affect the job I do at the Credit Union. (I'm a nerd, I like learning...which is funny because I hated school--I digress)

I made it to Atlanta with no problems (except that I drove in circles for about 20 minutes before actually finding the hotel) so I guess I should say I made it here with very little problems. I love the drive down here. Chattanooga is one of my favorite places in TN (which for those of you not from around these parts you drive thru Chatt to get to Atlanta)....it's just so beautiful. On a side note...when you're driving and worshiping God to some great praise music (song happened to be You Are God Alone...one of mine and Hayden's favs) watch the speedometer...it's crazy how one minute you're going along 70mph...next minute your hitting 95mph. It seemed the more I got into the music the more my foot pressed down just a little more. Luckily, no radars in the area caught me so I made it with no tickets... :) Oh, and one more piece of advice...keep atleast one hand on the wheel and your eyes open!!! (Sounds simple, huh? I caught myself atleast twice raising both hands and closing eyes...I'm sure the people passing me thought I was crazy!!!!)


One last thing...this is a shout out (yes, I know how stupid I sound--'shout out'?!) to my father in law, who's birthday was yesterday and I forgot to call (I'm sorry!!!)...so, Cary this is for you--

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthddddddayyyyyyy dear, Caryyyyy! Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!"

(Aren't ya'll glad you couldn't really hear me singing???) Have a great week...

My Mother-In-Law...Joni!

Okay, so I'm not really blogging about my mother in law...she just told me yesterday that she really doesn't read the blogs...she just looks at pictures and listens to the music. I figure if I put this title on the post she might read it!! :) Just giving you a hard time, Joni...

Anyway, not too much going on here...I'm getting ready to leave for a seminar/conference on Sunday in Atlanta. I'll be coming home Thursday night...if you think about it this week, pray for my kids and husband...hopefully they won't starve while I'm gone. Oh, who am I kidding? They will be eating at McDs every night. :) I signed up for this seminar thinking it would be a "mini-break" while gaining some valuable knowledge that I need due to the position at work I am in...I reviewed the schedule...classes (YES, CLASSES) start at 8:00 am and do not conclude until 6:00pm every day...we eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together...and on top of that I thought I was going to atleast get to sleep in a little bit each morning...until James reminded me that Atlanta was Eastern Time zone...we're central...so I'm jumping ahead an hour...8am is really 7am my time...translation--no sleeping in for me! :)

Wish me luck...I haven't done "school" in over 10 years...this should be interesting.