Just was sitting here (amidst many braxton hicks)...down to 6 more weeks of work and 7 more weeks (although probably more like 8 knowing that my kiddos never arrive early)of pregnancy. What a blessing this pregnancy has been. This weekend we are having a "family" party - it's listed as a family shower...but that sounds weird! lol


Our 18 year old son got married this winter and they are expecting a baby girl in August..
Our 21 year old daughter is getting married this October.
We are excitedly awaiting our baby boy around the 4th of July!

So it's a double wedding shower, double baby shower!

I read a friend's blog and she was telling some of the "marriage advice" she has learned over many years of marriage.
This got me thinking....what are my "RULES" of a good marriage?
Here goes -

1. NEVER EVER threaten divorce. It is just hurtful and scaring to our hearts -and it even causes doubt in our own minds.

2. Love even when they are at their worst - because WE are often at ours!

3. Know that WE are not perfect and do NOT expect them to be!

4. Strive to tell them how much you love them (even in those bad times...and there WILL be bad times!)

5. Have sex. Work on keeping it exciting and even when it's something you think "REALLY? NOW? CAN'T I JUST SLEEP?" do it. It's important. It keeps your hearts tied to each other.

6. Do little things for each other. Sometimes you can do BIG things - but every day you can do SOMETHING!!

I tell my kids - It is NOT all just flowers and candy. You WILL wake up one morning (or perhaps many in a row) and look at the person next to you and think "UGH! Really? Forever?" but it's having the strength to LOVE through those times....till it all circles back around to flowers and candy and giggly love. That's marriage! That's commitment!!!
That is TRUE LOVE!

So...how bout you? What are your "rules" or "advice"??

Wait...WHAT day is it?

I find myself - OFTEN - having grand plans for things and then waking up and it being over.

I woke up this morning thinking..."But I wanted to do a wondeful pancake breakfast for my gang for Valentines day....I wanted to get the boys each a balloon and a card to tie to the end of their beds so that they'd see them when they first woke up....I planned to do something special...I don't know how it's now the day after!"

Do you do that? I mean...seriously - there are still things I'm thinking of that I had wanted to do back at the Christmas holidays! :)

I had wanted to do a birthday party for our littlest at his pre-school. (I was down with the flu)I even often pre-buy stuff (like the birthday hats and plates and cups that are STILL sitting in my closet) and it's a swift little guilt kick when I see them a month later (after the event has passed)

Maybe I should come up with a day each year that we bring all that out - and party. For no reason other than I either got too busy, sick, pregnant, tired or just plain forgot - and it NEEDS to be used up. it NEEDS to be brought out and quit haunting me in my closet!

I can think of things I fully intended to do with my daughter (who is now 21 and probably a bit beyond the age of most of it).

I try try TRY to get more organized - but often find that it takes me SOOOOOOO much time trying to organize, and list, and pre-menu, and grocery shop etc. etc. etc. that I don't have any time left.

The other night I was stressing (and I mean STRESSING) about doing a grocery list and STILL having to grocery shop. The family was out riding on the golf cart having a WONDERFUL time. They kept coming in and asking me to join them. Finally I put down the list and just joined in. I kept thinking - I can be (what I think is) A GOOD MOM or I can be A FUN MOM.

Do I really have to choose?
Isn't there a way to be both?
Does it require getting up at 4am and going to bed at 11pm to attempt it? (because really I don't think I can exist on 5 hours sleep!! :(

So - I'm 20 weeks pregnant now - and I worry that I'm gonna be neither a good OR a fun mom - and that even this little one will be doomed to a life with a less than acceptable parent! (is it hormones?)

How do YOU balance it?
(I'd love to know any and all secrets!! :)

Thank you for reading - thank you for commenting - thank you for "listening" to me ramble :)


~with all my heart~
Michelle

On December 31st - New Years Eve - My husband and I celebrated our 27th anniversary! I can't even believe so many years have gone by. When I stop and think of all that we have been through, all that we have accomplished - all that we have survived...I suppose it COULD feel like 27 years :)

But I am simply so thankful for the time we've had together.
I am so thankful for the love and yes even the arguments!
I am so thankful for the blessings we have had and yes...even the trials -
because it has made us stronger. It has brought us closer.
Now I understand why they say "older and wiser"!! lol

We have a HUGE year ahead in 2013~
Many surprises in store!!
Can't wait to tell you more - SOON!!!!!!!
Hopefully with PICTURES :)

Happy 2013 gang!!
May you be truly blessed beyond all measure!

It's the big reveal day! I had a blast this month joining the foodie pen pal group! What a fun thing to both send and receive yummy stuff in the mail!

My "foodie pal" Rachel sent me tons of yummy stuff! My kids danced around like it was Christmas when they saw the apple butter! We had waffles one cooler morning topped with it and it was delightful!

Other treats included granola bars (those I tucked into my purse to take to work for a mid-day snack!) and a lovely assortment of tea!

Fresh granola from a farmers market! Crackers that clearly my husband LOVED (because I got all of ONE! He sure didn't share well with others! humph!)
It really was such a delight! What fun! I highly recommend you join up! What a great way to meet, bless and be blessed by new people!!!
Many Many thanks to Rachel Gergely! While you're here - zip over to THE LEAN GREEN BEAN and check out all the other goodie boxes that people received!

It's that time of year again..............it's a super fast slide right into the Holidays........
I always get to this time of the year and the war begins.
The war between who I am and who I feel I should be.
Maybe even "who I wish I was" joins in a bit...
This...I can tell you... causes many sleepless nights.
Many very tired mornings.
Maybe it's because my memory is so/so...but with MAJOR events like Holidays - I have linked memories of the kids....the home....the traditions...
I feel like I am running in 100 different directions at once - and yet I feel soooo guilty for not adding to it. There are SOOOO many things I'm just NOT accomplishing and really should be.
Yet I don't even know how to accomplish what i am already "signed up for".
I woke this morning with the feeling that you just can't plan ahead.
I KNOW where this feeling is rooted.....
we were supposed to go to a great aunt's 100th birthday party this Saturday.....
she died yesterday.
My first reaction was "why would they plan a 100th birthday party MONTHS in advance....why didn't they celebrate RIGHT AWAY?" Life's too short (even at 99.9 years old!) why didn't we just have a party for her at 99?

The time to hug is now.
The time to love is now.
The time for dinners and laughter and family time and holding hands and good times is NOW.
Because really - who knows where we'll be tomorrow?

How bout you? do you have a war going on? maybe just a small conflict?

I'd love to hear about it!

~with all my heart~
Michelle

stories...

I remember as a child - hearing the story of how the people - when Moses went up on the mountain - how they almost immediately FORGOT the goodness and provision of God. And I was amazed at how quickly they forgot. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I remember hearing the story of Mana...and how the people had NO doubt that it was from God...but soon grew tired of the blessing...and wanted MORE.MORE.MORE. And I was amazed at how quickly they grew selfish. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I remember hearing story after story about how pride, selfishness, anger, etc... can cause SO much damage. And I remember thinking I "GOT IT" when the story ended. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ But now..... As a mother. As a wife. As a woman. As an adult. I know in my heart and in my life - How quickly I can forget the blessings. How quickly I can grow selfish/angry/prideful/forgetful/demanding.......wanting MORE. Today my prayer is that I remember to STOP and give thanks. NO matter how things are. NO matter how finances are. NO matter what my kids are up to. NO matter what life brings.... Because GOD is still working - He doesn't have the "blessing amnesia" that I often have. He is still LOVING. He is still working all things for good. Some days.... I just need to step back and look for the mana :)

Happy Fall Y'all! :)

Well - We live WAY down south - and we really don't get much in the way of weather changes. So I have to live vicariously through many other "blog friends" posts - those wonderful colorful leaves....the recipes for hot soups, chowders and stews....the mention of crisp mornings and warm jackets leaves me longing for a change of season. Down here we have summer with a bit of cooler weather. Thats it! I will tell you that I am making more and more crock pot meals. and I'm introverting a bit more. I feel like I'm pulling those near and dear to me - a bit closer.... I am at that point where I am focusing more and more on family events (perhaps it's the holidays coming up that makes me do that) And I am focusing less and less on all the other "noise" that often interferes with the peace. I sooooo want to hear what you're doing - the little things that truly tell you it's autumn (even if the weather outside isn't telling you anything yet ;) As always - I love to see comments :) It lets me know someone out there is still reading :) Happy Fall Y'all! With all my heart~ Michelle