Almost together....

Brian went to visit the kiddos this past weekend. He left on Friday, picked the kids up from their last day of school, and came home on Tuesday. He was supposed to come home on Monday night but his flights were delayed, so Tuesday he was finally home! It was my birthday so it was a WONDERFUL birthday present!

Every time I talked to Brian on the phone it was the usual- "How are you? Tell the kids I say hi. Take LOTS of pictures!" haha So now I have some pictures to share with you!

So this is my almost complete family. Brian- my handsome husband. He is so charming and so funny. Instantly lovable. Izzy- My beautiful, strong-willed, talented step daughter. She is gonna be a great leader one day. And Vini- My mischievous, handsome, smart step son. He is probably gonna be a millionaire one day. lol I just can't wait until we are all together again. The next planned trip is September. The baby will be 3 months old, and we can have everyone together. I am planning on getting pictures of all the kids and of our whole family.

Being apart is challenging. Being a step mom is challenging. But it is also rewarding and I wouldn't have it any other way. All I can do is try to live my life in a manner that gives a good example to the kids, and that provides a happy home to all that enter.

I can't wait to meet my sweet baby girl. I can't wait to see the kiddos again. I can't wait for my family to be together again.

no plans

Woke up extra early this morning so that I could help Brian pack and get him to the airport. He is visiting the kiddos this weekend. He was gone all day today, will be gone all day Saturday, Sunday, AND Monday. I will pick him up around 10pm on Monday night. So this weekend I have plans to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! : ) Actually I plan to buy a few things that I still need for the baby, clean a little and relax a lot. I had a couple Braxton Hicks contractions this week so I am just going to rest, relax and put my feet up. Hopefully go to the pool and get a little sun?? We shall see...

As soon as Brian picked the kids up he said they asked for me. : ) You have no idea how happy that makes me. I miss them so much and really wish that I was there to take pictures and share in the fun. Their laughter is so contagious. While talking to Brian on the phone I heard their screams and laughter as they played with their cousins and it made my heart ache. I can't wait to see them. I can't wait to hold them and give them hugs and kisses. I can't wait to get a complete family picture. Hopefully we will be taking another trip to visit the kiddos in September. This way, we can see them and they can meet their little sister in person! I can't wait. I wish we lived in Colorado so that we could be closer to them all the time. Hopefully this will be a possibility in the future. HOPEFULLY!

Well, I have had a REALLY long day and am going to go home and relax. : ) peace out!

It just clicked...

Ever had that feeling you get when something that you have heard over and over just....clicks? You know, like just smacks you in the face to make you say, "Holy crap, I get it now." Well, today I posted on my facebook the following status:

I can't continue to do the same things and expect different results.

Yesterday, it just clicked for me. I can't even tell you how many times I have heard this phrase, or even told myself this phrase without it ever really clicking for me. I have been going over goals and ideas and things I want to do but I haven't been DOING anything about them. Dr. Phil actually said - and yes, I'm really quoting Dr. Phil haha - "Winners do what losers don't have the commitment or energy to do". Example 1- I look around my house that still has a little unpacking that needs to be done and I tell myself that I'm going to work on it. BUT I don't get up and unpack anything. THEN the next day I am disappointed that it still looks the same. Example 2- I want to strengthen my relationship with God and create a good support system. I was going to a church, but after a few weeks of trying to connect and get to know the people there, it wasn't the place that I needed to be. So instead of trying to go to another church, I just haven't gone. And yet I am disappointed that I don't have a strong group of friends or a "home" church. I strongly desire to have that fellowship and to be surrounded by people who will encourage me. I strongly desire to be involved and help serve God in any way I can. I strongly desire to start my little girl from the very beginning going to church and being introduced to God not only at home, but from the body of Christ as well. BUT I haven't DONE anything about it. So it just clicked....I am a loser. haha I don't REALLY think I'm a loser, but according to Dr. Phil's quote, I am currently a a loser. Well, I WAS a loser. I refuse to be a loser anymore. I will get my house ready. I will visit a new church. I will do all the things that I have wanted. With God's strength, I will not be overcome by stress, lack of energy or any doubts that may crowd my mind.

It just clicked....If I want different results, I have to DO something about it.

Keeping up with the Jones'

 ^{Proverbs 31:10-31}

¹⁰ An excellent wife who can find?
   She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,
   and he will have no lack of gain.
¹²She does him good, and not harm,
   all the days of her life.
¹³She seeks wool and flax,
   and works with willing hands.
¹⁴She is like the ships of the merchant;
   she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵She rises while it is yet night
   and provides food for her household
   and portions for her maidens.
¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;
   with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷She dresses herself with strength
   and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
   Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹She puts her hands to the distaff,
   and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰She opens her hand to the poor
   and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹She is not afraid of snow for her household,
   for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
²²She makes bed coverings for herself;
   her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³Her husband is known in the gates
   when he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them;
   she delivers sashes to the merchant.
²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing,
   and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom,
   and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹"Many women have done excellently,
   but you surpass them all."
³⁰Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands,
   and let her works praise her in the gates.


I have been reading a lot lately. A lot of maternity books, a lot of online articles about babies, marriage, health, fitness, decorating, etc. I love to read. I love to learn new things. But this morning, I didn't learn anything new, but was refreshingly reminded of why I do the things I do as a wife and soon to be mother. It's easy to get caught up in the aches and pains of pregnancy. It's easy to dread housework and responsibility. Lately it has been a struggle for me to find the joy in my responsibility. Ask anyone- I love being married. I love my husband. I love our little growing family. But lately I am finding myself quite overwhelmed. I read this passage in Proverbs and the first thing I think of is superwoman. She excels at all of these things and doesn't complain and it all seems so easy. When I examine my life, it's not easy. If I'm being honest, when I come home from my full day of work and take my dog outside and cook dinner, I REALLY don't want to stay in the kitchen and do dishes. Part of me feels guilty...like I'm not good enough. Like I'm a bad wife. Pair that with pregnancy hormones, and I'm not exactly the woman that her husband praises and her children rise up and call her blessed. I'm more like one of the trolls that sits under the bridge. Now, I still get up and do my dishes...don't worry, my home is not like an episode of Hoarders. There is no intervention needed as far as that goes, but I guess when I read this passage this morning, it was an intervention in and of itself. It was an intervention of reassurance from my heavenly father. I'm not perfect, nor will I ever be. I'm going to disappoint. I'm going to be tired. I'm going to fail. But my God created me in his image and is not worried about whether I do my dishes or not. He wants my attention. He wants my relationship. He wants my desires to be pleasing him and not trying to keep up with the Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. So today, May 3rd, 2011 that is exactly what I am going to try to do. It is not about me. It is not about having a perfect home. It is not about reading all the books or knowing all the answers. Life is about living to love and serving a wonderful Creator who wants a relationship with me. Love God - Love People. That simple.