It's That Time

Summer break is coming to a close. It has gone by so quickly! We have new friends two town homes down from us. It has been a blessing to have someone to talk to when the husbands are at work. Our kids play together pretty well. There was the normal fighting and bickering. The little ones do it more, but it is now a joke. We take bets on how long it will be until the next argument will break out.

Jonaya has completed her summer reading at the library. We still have the month of August to finish the one for Barnes and Noble. We didn't get to do our summer sewing lessons. The machine that I had bought at Good Will didn't work right. I did teach her how to make friendship bracelets. Remember, doing a bunch of knots with embroidery thread? She loved that!

She re-pierced her own ears with a pair of earrings. I promised I would buy her some more grown up earring that hang. So, last week we went on a shopping spree.

Dad got a bonus at work, so she also got a new bike. It was promised to here once she learned how to ride her other one.

Ian has lost his first two teeth this summer. He has also learned how to ride a bike. He has completed his summer reading, also.

He has spent a lot of time outside this summer. He is so brown...lol

We have a couple of more weeks to hang out while I work on school assignments. Jonaya will be entering 4Th grade and Ian will be Kindergartner.

In many subjects we will just be continuing where we left off back in May. I want to find a few new things to add and some things for us to do as a group. Bible, for one.

I am actually looking forward to getting back to our routine. The kids, not so much...lol

Now that things are settling down, I will try to post more often.

Just a Wife

As you read this post, keep in my mind my reasons for starting this blog. In really life I am a quiet person until I get to know you. I have lived in Iowa just over a year now and still don't feel any really bonds with the woman around me. I use this blog as an outlet. Sometimes, I will type things like nobody is watching. 

In response to today's 31 days to love post, I do feel like I am I kind wife. I may be too kind. My own self esteem suffers from it. My home is no where near perfectly clean and/or decorated, but it's mine. I spend my days home schooling my children and don't always get everything done that I want to. I usually have meals cooked and bread baked. Not a big fan of treats in the house because I eat it. I know, selfish. 

A new thing that I have been doing on the evenings my husband is home from work early is have the kids greet him at the door. They usually would say hi and go back to what they were doing. Now, electronics are banned until later in the evening. We sit in the living room and focus all of our attention on dad. Has he noticed?  I'm not really sure. Usually within 15 minutes the remote is in hand and he is in his own world. 

I understand that he has to decompress. I got that, but I don't understand that he calls this spending time together. The tv stays on until we go to "bed." Then the bedroom tv goes on or the laptop is open. In other words, when he is at work he is not here and when he is home, he is not here. 

I love my husband dearly and I guess you are wondering if I have spoken to him about this. The answer is no. I don't plan to either. I feel that he is an adult and that is obviously how he wants to spend his time. Who am I to tell him different. Will this put a strain on our marriage? I don't know. 

Life is so Precious

I have learned a lot this week. I need to take better care of myself and to take life or people for granted. I was officially diagnosed with asthma this week. I am on two different medicines. One is for everyday use and the other is for emergencies. I've know that I had issues for a while, but it was always something that I could deal with on my own. Now, that I am getting older things aren't so easy anymore.

That is not what scared me straight. I had pretty much a great day on Tuesday. I started out by going for my jog in the morning. Then we took the kids to breakfast. After that we surprised them with a trip to the zoo. A good time was had by all. We came home and relaxed for a bit and all was good. Right around dinner time I had the worst head ache on one side of my head. I didn't even want to eat, but I did anyway. Then a bit after that I went to my room to lay down. My head hurt so bad that I couldn't even fall asleep.

John had to leave to go help his store with inventory, so I was still in bed when he left. I was laying in bed and all of a sudden I didn't feel so good. The room started spinning. I thought I was going to pass out. I couldn't find the bedroom phone so I went for the one in the hallway. NO DIAL TONE! I yelled for Jonaya to get me my cell, which was downstairs in the living room. I was telling her I didn't feel good without scaring her. I almost asked her if she knew how to dial 911, but I didn't. I held on and called John. He turned around immediately and came home. He said it sounded like my blood sugar had bottomed out. I had eaten pretty healthy that day. I got some sugar under my tongue and the feeling started to go away. More happened throughout the night, but I will spare you the details. I didn't have to go to the hospital and was feeling better by the next evening.

Even after John was back home I had a couple more episodes. I held on for my children. I thought if I passed out, I would miss something from their precious little lives. I wasn't sure how long it would take me to wake up. I thought about what would my husband do without me.

I have always under estimated my self worth. I always put myself last and says it didn't matter. Tuesday night, I realized that it does. My family needs me and I have to be here for them. This makes me appreciate the fact that they are here for me. It goes both ways. I have taken advantage of that and I want to change that.

I have been asking God what my purpose in life was. It is hard getting involved in a lot of church activities and other event going on with just one car and John working an odd schedule. God told me that I can start in my own house. Pour into my own children. Nurture them even more. Spend less time online. Take care of this house.

Well, two days later I was given even bigger plans. A neighbor that I have only met once before called me. I sold some Avon to her. She is a single mom with tow kids. She teaches at one of the local colleges once a week and her babysitter bailed. She asked me to go and get her kids. It was such an honor. I was glad to be able to take that stress away from her, so that she can do what she needed to do. I also told her they can come anytime, so she doesn't have to worry anymore.

Then I realized that there are so many more neighbors that I can help out. So, I keep praying for opportunity to be a shining light in my neighborhood.

Best Coffee in the World

This is actually a Christmas present from my daughter. Sorry, it's not the greatest picture. As you can see, I didn't drink my coffee before I took the picture.

Jonaya is seven and never once has she given me anything that has said mom on it. So, this is the first thing that I own. Not only did I get the cup, it was filled with coffee flavored candy.

I had another favorite cup until this one. Now this is my go to cup everyday. It is the perfect size and the handle is comfortable, too.

I just wanted to share with you guys what a thoughtful daughter I have. My husband said that when she saw the cup, it was like light bulbs went off in her head.

I'm going to go enjoy another cup of coffee. You guys have a great day.

Broken Heart

My poor little girl had her heart broken yesterday. I felt so bad for her. I knew exactly how she felt because I was so used to rejection when I was a kid. She, on the other hand, is not used to it.

What happened was, Jonaya made a new friend down the street from our house on Friday. They didn't get to play much because both families had busy weekends.

She came by yesterday to see if Jonaya can play. John was on his way home with dinner, but I said to give me 10 minutes and she can come back. I was out working in the garden and had just gotten out of the shower.

So, I get myself together and got both kids outside. The little girl came over for about 5 minutes and swung on our swing set. Then got up and ran home. Jonaya started crying to I went to see what happened. She said that the little girl said that she was bored and was going home.

By the way, the other child is 8, so she is a little older than Naya. Anyway, what was the child expecting a circus?

The other girl did want Jonaya to come down to her house and I had said she couldn't until after dinner because her father was on his way home. Maybe, that made her mad. I don't know.

Jonaya was so upset, she didn't even eat dinner and it was one of her favorites. Usually when she gets upset about something she cries and is over it. This time she went up to her room, put a cold rag around her neck and was laying on her bed. I just went and laid next to her and held her. I didn't know what to do.

I did tell John that I think it is partially our fault. We keep her in such a sheltered environment that she hasn't had to deal with real world issues up until now. All of her friends are raised along the same belief system that we have and have always put others first. Well, more like J.O.Y., Jesus first, others second, yourself last.

I do plan on talking to her more about this when she is not upset to guide her if she plans to continue being friends with the girl. Maybe Jonaya can be a little light in her life.

Please, pray for my girl. She is growing up.

Best Dad and Husband Award!!

Here is one of my favorite pictures of John and Jonaya. This was back in 2003. It was Jonaya's first trip to the beach. I will never forget that day.

Most husbands don't cook or clean. I'm a stay at home mom and mine does both. He just takes the bull by the horns and does what needs to be done.

Back in December, before Christmas, John went shopping on his own. He bought all of the gifts for the kids. Initially, I was kind of disappointed because I missed out on picking the stuff out. In other years we had gotten a babysitter and went and did it together. Then, I snapped out of it and realized what a huge relief it what that I didn't have to worry about it. I wouldn't have spent as much money or bought as much, but that is besides the point...LOL



Here is another one of my favorite photos. This was taken last Spring at Briscoe Park.

Yesterday, we went to our favorite thrift store. John picked out Ian's entire summer wardrobe. He scored about 5 pairs of shorts and a bunch of t-shirts. The only thing I have to look for is some sandals. Do you know how much time this man has saved me?

I am so thankful for him. I don't know what I would do without him. He completes me. Where ever I fall short, he is there to pick me up.

Children

Becoming a mother is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me. Even though it is a tough job, I enjoy what I do.





Jonaya, my 6 year old, is becoming a little lady. It's so cute when we are sitting at the dinner table and I can see her from the corner of my eye trying to imitate me. That is such a big job. I have a lot to live up to. I can't believe the lord trusted me with such a huge responsibility.

Ian is my little man. I couldn't imagine my life without him. He is so attached to me and it makes me feel so special. It will beak my heart when he get older and is like, get off of me mom. When I leave him at the nursery at church and he cries for me, it just melts my heart. Jonaya has never once cried when I left her. She will usually shove me out the door. Boys and girls are so different.

When John and I first got married he had said that he wanted 5 children. Since I'm the one that has to do most of the work, I talked him down to 3. I thought that was a good compromise.

As you can see from the picture above, I still "owe" him one.

Our plan was to have them back to back. Things never go as planned, do they? It's a long story. Maybe, I will blog about it another day, but I have spent most of my adult life and marriage trying to get pregnant.

Right now is a time where I'm actually not trying. The only reason that I have been avoiding it is because things have been so stressful with day to day life stuff.

The question has recently come up. Are we or aren't we? Up until now, I have had mixed feelings. If I have another one is it going to make things more stressful for the family. We have been through a lot of changes and we are comfortable now. Then if I don't have another one, will I look back and think, "what if I had?"

It's a big step, but I think we are going to go for it! We only live once and we just have to take it day by day. I'm sure with us moving into our house and building a homestead with a mostly self sustained life will help. I have made it a hobby to try to get the most out of our money.

By the way, if we do have another one I want to experience a home water birth. That would be cool!