In High Demand...

Being a mom of little ones has to be the most demanding job there is. 

I know that there may be more challenging jobs. And even as a parent, there are difficult and challenging seasons and stages...

But with having 3 little ones that are ages 6 and under...the demands seem endless. 

Food has to be prepared for them. All of the time. And when 1 seems to be going through a growth spurt, the others follow suit and want to eat all of the things in the house all of the time.  

When one is sick, that one consumes my day by staying put in my lap. 

And there are many tears shed by that 1 when I get up to get food or anything else for the other ones. 

It is just straight up demanding. 

I try to breath slowly and calm my nerves as I am fixing something for one and getting asked repeatedly for something else by the others. 

It doesn't matter if I acknowledge them and let them know I am aware of their requests. They are only quiet when the requested thing is in front of them. Then they are satisfied for 5 minutes. Maybe.

I hear from my other mom friends who have older children (these amazing women in my life whom I love dearly) that this is a stage...it won't always look like this. 

It will look different as you wait with your teenager to see if he passed or failed his driving test...

It will look different as you hold your crying teenager who is suffering from a broken heart...

It will look different. 

I know that there will be a time when I will ask my kids if I can fix something for them to eat instead of hearing their demands from the moment they wake up until the moment they go to sleep.

I am doing my best to embrace this season of life. 

Lord, help me to appreciate the demands. Help me be thankful that I have happy, healthy children who are growing...and you've provided food for our family to ensure they continue to be healthy and full of life. 
Help me to continue to show them patience...that it is ok to wait...and appreciate that they know how and when to say "please" and "thank you." 

Just like any other job, it's a good thing when you are in high demand...it means you have a gift and a purpose to share with those who need you most. 

I want to be even more thankful that I am in high demand...

A Phone Call or a FaceTime Away...

I am feeling very blessed lately...

I am feeling God's favor and abundance...

My dad had open heart surgery a little over a week ago to remove some blockages that were found. He is doing great...He had a hard time sleeping in the hospital...but now he's home, and he's doing so much better. Much better!! He really is recovering well.

I am so thankful for all of the love and support that has been shown to my family during this time. It was a wonderful feeling knowing we have been (and will continue to be) covered by others' prayers.

It was hard being so far from them, but I know it would have caused more stress for me to be there. It would have been hard with the kids. My dad would have wanted to see us all, but that would have been hard on him. And it would have been CRAZY with us in their house when they got home.

And I'm so thankful for the Apple products we have...we were able to FaceTime my dad using my sister's iPad while he was in the hospital...which was much easier for him to hold and see us on than a small phone or a laptop...

We've been able to FaceTime a lot...which is wonderful...it's so good to SEE and HEAR him laugh! :)

I love my dad. He's a wonderful man of God who has worked hard to give us such a legacy...

My dad has read a chapter of Proverbs in the Bible every day for as long as I can remember. Literally.

Any time I ask for advice from him, there is a Proverbs involved in it.

So it is fitting today to read Proverbs chapter 17...

And verse 6 says, "Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children." 

This is so true of my dad!!

I am blessed with wonderful parents who did their best to shape me in to the woman God created me to be...and then released me to respond to the call of God on my life.

It is hard being so far from Louisiana...but I am thankful to know that I have their love and support across the miles...

And I'm also thankful that they are just a FaceTime away...

A Wish List Worth Saving For

I'm thankful for what we have. I know that we are blessed beyond measure. Really we are. 

All of our needs are met. We have never gone without...

Ever. 

But, just like everyone else...there are a few things that I'd really love to have that don't qualify in the "I need" department. 

I'm not in a rush to get these things...but someday, when I've saved up for them...I'm going to splurge!!! What a fun shopping rush that will be for me!!!!

1.) a new bedspread. 
Our current bedspread is 10+ years old. We've had it since a little before we were married. It's the perfect weight, and it's super comfy,  but it's looking pretty dingy. So, when I've saved enough, I'm going to get one at Anthropologie! I, of course, already have one picked out! 








2.) a neat receipts scanner
This will make my life easier. I know it. I will be able to scan all of our receipts and keep all of our tax records in order throughout the year instead of just when I'm working on our taxes. Honestly, this may come before the bedspread. I reeeealllllyyyyy want one of these things!!






3.) a family vacation
We haven't really been on a true family vacation since Bella was about 18 months old...and she's almost 5. We've been able to visit family and have fun with them...but I want our family to go to Disney World or the beach...experience sand...and have wonderful memories. 




I'm thankful that we are debt-free...(I've written about being Better Money Managers) and we will continue to be. There's something about delayed gratification...experiencing it with no regrets...no remorse...no having to pay for it later. It may take us a little while (or a long while) to save up for these things, but it will be completely worth it!!!