On the top is a picture of our bathroom before we began the remodeling process. It had been "remodeled" only about 3 years ago by the previous owners, but there were some mold problems we were not able to get rid of so we decided that it was time to tear things out and do things right! (I must admit I was glad to have an excuse to remodel. Although it was a nice bathroom, it was a little on the "country" side which is not really my style.) Thankfully we have a bathroom upstairs that we can use while this one is torn apart. The picture on the bottom is our bathroom as it sits now. Stan is doing an amazing job with the work. He has spent every evening for over a week plus some hours during the day, toiling in this small space. It will be great when it is finished, but there is much left to do! Exhaust fan, rewiring a new double light switch, finishing moisture rock around shower area, reinstalling shower base and bath panel, painting, tiling and of course reinstalling the sink, toilet and fixtures.... Can't wait to post a picture of the beautiful finished product. It will be more up to date, more us and best of all mold free!

I.LOVE.THIS.MAN.

There really is very little exciting about turning 28. Honestly, its just one year closer to 30 as far as I'm concerned! There are milestone birthdays...13, 16, 18, 21, 25 (big break on your car insurance!) but 28....not really anything special. However, today has been one of the best birthdays to date thanks to my husband. He really is wonderful and he always comes through when I least deserve it. (I've been a bit of a diva this week. )

Birthdays are a good time to reflect. Here's what I've been contemplating today...
1) It took me a LONG time to really know myself. I think I walked through life having no idea who I was for a very long time. Being a people-pleaser, I am fairly sure I was always just trying to be whoever everyone around me wanted me to be. Sad, but true. In my late twenties I am finally coming to terms with myself and realizing that its okay that I'm just me. Now if I can just get used to being myself around other people....something to work on before 30.
2) I am valuable to God. Heard a great illustration recently about value. A dollar bill is still worth $1 regardless of whether its brand new, crispy, straight from the mint or old, crumpled, filthy and straight from a greasy pocket. And I am worth God's only Son's life whether I'm brand new, crisp and clean or beat down, dirty and worn. Grace is an awesome thing.
3) I need to be a better friend. I get extremely wrapped up in my own world and forget to work on friendships. Then I wonder why I've lost touch with all the girls who have meant so much to me over the years. I'm terrible at writing and even worse at picking up the phone. This year I'm going to work on that. The old saying is true, "If you want a friend, you must first be one."

That's all for now. Going to go do some cleaning and laundry... but its okay because I'm looking forward to a dinner with my husband this evening!

Bathroom Chat

(The following conversation took place in the public bathroom at Olive Garden.)

me: Grant, are you finished?
Grant: Nope, I'm having trouble.
me: Sorry bud.
Grant: Yeah, maybe I need some more fruit. A banana, or an apple, or an olive...Mom, is an olive a fruit like a grape?
me: No Grant.
Grant: Oh.

This is what I get for encouraging my child to eat fruit based on how it will effect his bowels. Shame on me!

Just a Mom

Since I can remember my highest aspiration has been to be a wife and mother. Yes, there were times when I was young that I pretended to be a teacher...even a lawyer....but most of the time I was very happy dressing my cabbage patch dolls, giving them chores, making their beds, etc.. Throughout my life I have had people question my choice to be a stay-at-home Mom. I remember my high school counselor looking at me in disbelief when I explained to him that my greatest desire in life was to be a wife and mother. He stared at me and said "I didn't see you as that type...You have such potential." Since then I have had many critics and I admit, my feelings have been hurt a time or two. However, for the most part, I have not wavered from, what I feel, is my God given station in life.
I could spout off a lot of statistics about the importance of a Mom being home with her children, especially in the first three years, but ultimately that isn't why I choose to be an at-home Mommy. I believe that God has given each of us a purpose in this life. If God gives you children, rear them with your whole mind, soul and strength. If He has given you the talents to be an engineer, the same thing applies. But I am dubious that He would ever ask us to be fully both at one time. There seems to be a perception among women my age that we will have enough time and energy to do and be everything — full-time wife, mother and career woman all rolled into one. I agree that God wants us to use and enjoy the talents He's given us, but He never promised us inexhaustible resources. He created us with limitations and only placed 24 hours in a day. We cannot expect to juggle all the hats and be the best we can be at all of them. The reality is that if I choose to be full-time in a career, my husband and kids will only have me part time.
I can guess what most people think when they find out about my lack of career aspirations. I think most of them would be surprised that I graduated from college with honors, as salutatorian of my class. And when they think of my future, they picture me in 10 years: dressed in sweats doing laundry for my boys; my degree collecting dust somewhere on a bookshelf; living in a one-income-sized home; driving a used minivan. They imagine my peers, however, utilizing their education to the fullest. They will maintain a measure of independence that's not inhibited by family life, thanks to daycare, public schools and extracurricular activities. They will naturally be rewarded with great financial and material gain — but at what cost to their spouses and children?
The Christian life is about sacrifices, giving up certain things for the sake of greater long—term benefits. I know there could be times of financial strain in my marriage. I know I might encounter tension with the majority of my married female peers because of my choice to stay at home. I know I have given up the right to a lot of personal time — there will be nights that I am itching to read a Nicholas Sparks novel in one sitting instead of reciting Pat the Bunny for the fiftieth time to the kids. I'm not saying that I derive pleasure from changing diapers and cleaning up burpy blankets. But its only by sacrifice that we understand what true love, commitment and maturity really mean. Jesus was the embodiment of this. Being a wife and mother forces you to look outside yourself to the needs of others. As soon as I decided to become a mother, my children became my career. What better way to utilize my time and talents (and my degree in Christian education)? And if my choice to stay at home with my children means I drive a beater car and shop at thrift stores for the rest of my life, so be it. Children don't know the difference between Goodwill and GAP. I certainly didn't.
There will always be women who scoff at me, who are disappointed because they think I let myself down. There will always be the people who sigh because I am not living up to their idea of potential. But I know what makes me happy and I'm slowly learning not to feel guilty about sharing it with people. Mothering is a career choice that is rarely respected. We should recognize and affirm women who choose to invest time in their children. The Bible is clear that sons and daughters are among the greatest blessings we will ever receive.
I think most people would acknowledge that their desire in this life is to create something beautiful and lasting. I want to create a beautiful and lasting marriage and rear children, which are the most exquisite and eternal creations we humans can take part in fashioning. Architects design buildings that will someday fall, programmers construct computer software that will eventually be outdated — but mothers cultivate souls that will never die. How wonderful to experience just an inkling of what God feels as our Father.
Ultimately, when I am old and I look at my wrinkled hands, I want to know that the creases came from years of playing music, reading books, helping others, and taking care of my family. But my greatest hope is that those lines will remind me most of hours spent washing my babies' and grandbabies' tummies, tucking them into bed and teaching them what I have learned.

Touchy Subject

Surprising what subjects can bring out such emotion! A friend recently blogged about stay-at-home Moms. She was expressing frustration that she had read another blog which said Moms who stay at home have it easy. (I share her frustration with that comment.) Anyway, her blog seemed to bring out a lot of emotion on both sides. I guess I just didn't realize what a touchy subject that was! I stated on her blog, and I'll say it again, ALL MOMS have a tough job. Whether you are at home or at the workplace, you are working all day long. The job is never finished--its 24/7. I have more opinions, but I have a feeling I shouldn't share them for fear of starting a revolution so I'll just leave it at that. I enjoy debate but at a certain point it gets a bit uncomfortable. (I guess it hit a little too close to home!)

American Bandstand Pictures

Saturday our church sponsored an "American Bandstand" night at Gillmore's Cafe. It was an absolute blast! (And a side note--isn't my husband a hottie?)

5 second Rule

Beware: The following information could change your world view!!! Proceed with caution!!!
The "5 second rule" may simply be a myth! Apparently there isn't enough news in Springfield to fill the newspaper. This morning there was actually an article discussing the subject of whether or not the famous "5 second rule" was fact or fiction. Seriously, does anyone really believe in that saying? Sure, we all say it from time to time but we all know that whether food is on the floor for five seconds or five minutes, it has probably picked up something before we put it in our mouth. I was totally blown away at the seriousness of the article. As if there are people living their lives by this creed and they were doing the world a great favor by publishing the informatio--"WARNING-- food is in fact contaminated even after only 5 seconds on the floor"! Oh well, with all the terrible news we have to read in the newspaper I suppose this added a bit of comic relief! So don't forget, if you drop a piece of lunch meat on the floor today, even if its only there for 5 seconds, don't pick it up and put it in your mouth. You never know what sort of micro-organisms have made a home on your ham!

Feeling anxious...

Life is not simple. We are really needing some wisdom right now in how to deal with a difficult situation. It's hard for us to be strong and say what needs to be said. We're people pleasers and have a hard time standing up to people. Probably because when we are brutally honest it comes back to bite us in the butt. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. I need some training in conflict resolution. (Something they really ought to teach you when training for ministry!) Trying to seek God's wisdom in all of this but I think His voice is sometimes drowned out by all the other jibberish going on in this head of mine. Enough babbling.....