Beating Boredom This Season

I can't believe the cold weather is here again! It's Fall! Almost Winter! Well, it feels like Winter some days anyway. Doesn't it seem like it wasn't that long ago that we finally got rid of the snow?

Although this tends to be my favourite season, with its beautiful leaves, my birthday (heehee), Halloween and comfy clothes, it's usually the most boring season. With colder weather brings more days of being stuck inside. The kids go stir crazy (okay, okay. I go stir crazy.) But this means I have to come up with things to keep me busy. Keep us busy.

Here's an idea of some things on my list to keep us away from boredom:

1. Crochet.
Every Fall/Winter I tend to try out crocheting. Sometimes I'm successful. Last year I made a couple baby hats for when James was born. And a hat for Leah. Although they were super cute they all ended up being too small. Huge bummer. The year before I attempted a pillow. haha. It's stuffed and stays hidden on our bed (And it will never leave the bedroom). I suppose each year I'm getting better.

2. Crafts.
Pinterest got me all ambitious.

3. Bake! I love baking! And I haven't been doing any lately. I got an itch to bake something.

4. Workout.
I really need to get in shape again. I'm secretly hoping it'll get give me energy as well.

5. Spend more one on one time with the children.
The summer months, Leah tends to be so absent from home. She's just constantly outside. And then school starts up and I'm still not seeing much of her. So basically, its just one on one time with her that I'm craving. I miss that special time with her.

Let's see where this list gets me. Maybe I'll actually accomplish stuff? Haha

I Went and Got Snarky. Oops.



I've got this lady on Facebook who uploads close to 40 photos a day of her two children. Half of them are the same, just different expressions. The other half show all kinds of new things they get daily. Toys, hair clips/headbands, a scooter, a helmet, running shoes, a dress, clothes etc. It's extremely excessive.

I'm sure you know the kind of people I'm talking about.

This morning I went on Facebook to find yet another forty-something photos added to her "Halloween 2014" album. I couldn't help but comment:

"WOW!! Halloween?? ....Christmas must of come early at your place! This girl gets new stuff every day! She has tons of frozen stuff! Lol and i thought Leah was spoiled. She's one extremely lucky girl."

 

Snarky? A little.
Rude? Maybe.
Necessary? No, not really.

Her photos and the obscene amount of things she gets given is just annoying. It's compulsive. It's extreme. And frankly, there's no need of it. I don't usually like to stir things up and cause drama but this is just plain irritating. I mean, I like to get Leah new things. A new toy here and there or a trip to the corner store to pick out some goodies, but I don't go full out nuts. 

Yeah, sometimes it's exciting, getting to re-live some childhood fun, buying new toys, but when is it enough?

Christmas for example, Leah usually gets spoiled. My family sends a package for her with presents, my mom usually has a mini Christmas over at her place for her, then "Santa" comes, and Boxing Day we are usually with Matt's family who gives her a little something too. Her birthday is just a week later so maybe its just the incredible amount of "stuff" that December brings. 

 

Anyways, I'm going to admit, half of what she gets given she barely plays with. It sits in her room or in the basement not getting played with. Maybe some kids play with everything that they've been given but my daughter doesn't. She's not a home-body though either...she spends a lot of time outside.

But how in the world can the kids even find time to play with all that stuff? I find its just a waste. A waste of money and space.

This whole situation reminded me of this scripture:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21 

 

Why not use that money to put into a savings account or just put aside for their schooling? Or use it to buy something for a child whose family can't afford it.

This year we are filling a shoebox with some things like hygiene items, school supplies, toys, and candy. It gets sent to hurting children around the world. You can find out more about here. I'm looking forward to spreading the love of God and teaching Leah all about the joy in giving. I would rather her be more glad to give than to get.

That's a hard characteristic to come across.

 

Mom's Night Out

Lets just be brutally honest. And i know theres probably a zillion and one posts out there about this but i just wanna get this out. Because often times, its satisfying and even gratifying to hear about someone doing just a bad or worse than you are. Admit it, thats what you're looking for when you turn to social media to vent. You dont want people telling you it will all be okay in 5 years. Or a "hugs!! Hang in there" (YOU HAVE NO IDEA, SHUT IT, LADY!) You want someone to tell you how bad THEY have it, then you realize that your situation is not actually all that bad.

 

Its no lie that being a mother is the hardest job out there. And being a stay-at-home-mom, you barely ever get a break. There's always laundry to be washed, toys to be cleaned up off the floor, surfaces sanitized, floors swept/mopped/vacuumed, diapers to be changed, baths to be given, food to be made, screaming or fighting children to attend to etc. etc.

 

Its REALLY hard. REALLY stressful. REALLY exhausting.

This is daily life for me.

 

I love my kids. And i, too, feel like there's no one out there that loves their children as much as i love mine.

 

But i have my moments. These terrible ugly awful moments where i feel like a monster. Like the meanest person. The most impatient mother ever. And i pray and i pray and i pray. All. The. Time. And i take it day by day.

 

A lot of times i refer back to scripture and just sit and talk to God. And i recite James 1:19 "Know this, my beloved brothers, let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

 

A few night's ago my husband and i sat down to watch a movie and decided on Mom's Night Out with Sarah Drew from Grey's Anatomy.

 

 

I seriously love that woman. Her acting, her faith, her hair (is amazing - always!!). Shes just very beautiful and extrmely talented. And this movie was completely and hilariously perfect. She portrayed a stressed out mother of three VERY well. I could relate to this woman so easily and im sure so many other women can as well. I highly recommend it. The ending was beautiful. Very touching and very profound. I love that it was a Christian movie and it was decent enough for me to sit down and watch with my daughter (i havent). Its not a children's movie but its alao not a movie that i would be uncomfortable with like most movies/tv shows.

I don't want to give too much away in respect to the people who haven't seen it. There were tons of good, encouraging lines in this movie, but one of my favourites was this:

 

 

And that's that. Just a great movie and a reminder that we can do anything through Christ who strengthens us.

Amen.

...now I have to go clean my bathroom before my baby wakes up. :)



I took a hiatus. Here's a brief Life Lately post.

I've been completely absent the last 5 months. But looking back on those five months... its been great. So many things have happened. We've done so many things. I'm not even going to start listing them all because it would take too long, and time is not something I'm very generous with. I'm pretty greedy with it actually.

But anyways. Back to what's been up. Life lately.

We recently got back from a beautiful vacation in Newfoundland with family. Just the kids and I went while my husband stayed home, working (bless him).



We were blessed with amazing weather the entire time.



So, Halloween. It kind of snuck up on me this year. Leah's been nagging to be a Lalaloopsy doll. She's not even that into them. She just thinks the wig is amazing. Well, She's not being a Lalaloopsy doll (sorry kiddo). Honestly, I'm convincing her to wear one of her dress-up dresses and call it a deal. OR maybe I can whip up a little something from the dollar store for them. I don't even know. I've got three days though. Ha.

Oh, and I'm also not on the ball with the pumpkins. I magically grew a pumpkin plant this year that only produced two small pumpkins and that's all we have. We didn't even carve them. I got the kids to paint them. Seriously, 10 minutes and it was done. The clean up was pretty sweet too. So I call that a win.

What are your kids being for Halloween? I'm curious how many Anna and Elsa's there's going to be.

Today's Treasures

The crisp, cool nighttime air. Fog laying low between trees. Its been raining all day and the earth is soaked with cloud water.

The breeze breathing through my open window. A busy road remains busy nearby. Sounds of transport trucks' tires slicing through puddled laneways.

The sky is an orange-kind-of-grey, keeping the stars hidden from our eyes. And I breathe in that chilly nocturnal air.

I smell the rain before I hear it but I listen for it anyway. The steady tiny drumming on the rooftop. Generously and faithfully nourishing the earth.

One does not need to hear the rain to know that it is there. One simply needs to inhale the fresh and poignant perfume of life. The waters of Noah dispersing here and there.

And just like Noah's waters a memory floods my mind. Driving from the farthest West to the farthest East. Nine days traveled and a dozen 7 year-old memories saved. 

The journeys and adventures God has guided me through are what makes appreciating life's details so easy. The memories He's helped create are constant reminders of today's treasures.

7 Months!

James is 7 months old! Now that the warm, beautiful weather is here I'm really looking forward to being outside more. He loves the outdoors! And gosh how I've missed the fresh air. The sunshine. What a long, cold winter we had. Leah is thrilled for this weather too, she's already gotten a sunburn! :( Now she doesn't leave the house without sunblock and a hat.

Some things im beginning to work on with James?
* cutting down on the number of feeds
* cutting out nighttime wake-ups all together

He's so close to crawling and can pull himself up to his knees holding onto things. Also, he weighs 22.2 lbs now!! Fewf!!

Happy 7 month birthday sweet boy!

One Year Married!

If you're not in the mood for sappy...move on. heh heh

One year ago, it was the most beautiful day in April. This year, I think its the coldest. Either way, it will always be the most beautiful day. One year ago, in front of God and our most closest friends and family, we officially went from being two to one. Bound together. Heart and soul. Forever. And ever. Although we've actually been together for 6 1/2 years, this day is still so special. And I love him now as much as I always have.

This year has been an amazingly blessed one. And I am so grateful. I thank God profusely for this man. This good hearted, easy going, mostly positive man. He's my hero and my rock. His arms know a good workin', how to use a rifle and throw grenades, and how to hold his babies. In his arms is the safest place I can ever be.

Thank you for making me your wife, Matthew. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'll choose you again and again.

(April 15, 2013)