Encouragement for Moms

I saw this posted on a friend's blog and it really struck my heart and just had to share it.  IF you are a mom of young child or children it's a must read to be encouraged.  If your children are older or you have grandchildren it's also a must read to encourage you and for you to be able to encourage your daughter, daughter-in-law, or granddaughter.

For the days we are running on empty. For the days we just don't think we have it in us to read one more story, play one more game of Uno, wash one more round of sheets. For the days when we think everyone else has it together. For the days we're sure anyone else would do this job better.

For those days. You know the ones.

Repeat after me:

1. I shall not judge my house, my kid's summer activities or my crafting skills by Pinterest's standards.

2. I shall not measure what I've accomplished today by the loads of unfolded laundry but by the assurance of deep love I've tickled into my kids.

3. I shall say yes to blanket forts and see past the chaos to the memories we're building.

4. I shall surprise my kids with trips to get ice cream when they're already in their pajamas.

5. I shall not compare myself to other mothers but find my identity in the God who trusted me with these kids in the first place.

6. I shall remember that a messy house at peace is better than an immaculate house tied up in knots.

7. I shall play music loudly and teach my kids the joy of wildly uncoordinated dance.

8. I shall remind myself that perfect is simply a street sign at the intersection of impossible and frustration in Never Never land.

9. I shall embrace the fact that in becoming a mom I traded perfect for a house full of real.

10. I shall promise to love this body that bore these three children out loud, especially in front of my daughter.

11. I shall give my other mother friends the gift of guilt-free friendship.

12. I shall do my best to admit to my people my unfine moments.

13. I shall say sorry when sorry is necessary.

14. I pray God I shall never be too proud, angry or stubborn to ask for my children's forgiveness.

15. I shall make space in my grown-up world for goofball moments with my kids.

16. I shall love their father and make sure they know I love him.

17. I shall model kind words to kids and grown-ups alike.

18. I shall not be intimidated by the inside of my car this season of chip bags, goldfish crackers and discarded socks too shall pass.

19. I shall always make time to encourage new moms.

20. I shall not resent that last call for kisses and cups of water but remember instead that when I blink they'll all be in college.

... with love from one tired mother to another.

My Lil' Rae of Sunshine and Me

Silly Girl

 

Love my Lil' Rae

 

Fishy Face

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today

Today is Friday! Today is the last day for my first full week at home since school has ended. This week has gone by so fast.  It's also the last Friday in June, wow! Where does the time go?  In a month I'll be back at school...ok, happier thoughts now.  Here are some pictures of the events that happened today.

First, Wingo was treated to a "Doggie Spa Day" by the Washin Waggin and is now such a pretty boy.  He is so soft and looks so good. They did a great job on him, it took them two hours. The lady told me she had enough fur in the van to make another complete dog.  And I believe it! He has the thickest fur.  He was badly matted and desperately needed this months ago, but I just had not had the time to be home to get it done.  He's ready to celebrate the 4th already.  I know he didn't enjoy his "spa" day, but I'm sure he has got to feel better now.

 

 

 On Thursday, I had to take Madalyn to the doctor.  Tuesday night she started coughing and running a fever.  She continued Wednesday and started having trouble breathing.  She has croup and they put her on steroids for three days.  She's better with her breathing but still coughing a good bit.  So we have been inside for the last few days instead of going outside to play.

 

Since I have been home this week; I have been trying out some of the recipes that I have pinned on Pinterest along with some of the crafts or toddler things that I had pinned.

 

Here's one new activity we tried today...sorting pom-poms by color.  I would put a pom-pom in each cup, then ask her to find a "blue" and she would find one.  Then I would tell her to put it with the other blue pom-poms and she would. This was how we played today...but there are so many possibilities with this activity.  (And I did buy her a new muffin tin for this that will be used just for her.  Mine that I use to cook with isn't as shiny and clean as this one is. And yes I wash my muffin tin, but you know how years of use, you have burn stains that just don't come off any more.)

 

 

 

 



 

 

Our last adventure today, came at bedtime. I was getting ready to put Madalyn to bed, when one of Kevin's workers called saying he was coming by to pick up his check.  He pulled in the driveway and in a few minutes Kevin came in the house telling us to come outside he had something to show us.

 

 

A Fawn-just a few days old

 

 

He found the baby deer on the side of the road, no mama deer in sight.  So he caught it and is taking care of it for right now until it can be on it's own.

 

What did Madalyn think of the deer? "Baby cute!" and she also wanted it to come inside the house. But that wasn't going to happen. :0)

 



 

 

 

Ormond Beach, Florida Anniversary Trip

On Friday, June 21, 2013, Kevin and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary.  Last summer we decided that we wanted to go somewhere and do something special, just the two of us, to celebrate.  We started planning and looking into places to go.  We decided on Florida, because we didn't want to go too far away from Madalyn.  A lady that works with my mom has awesome connections with getting hotels and things and was able to book us this great hotel right on the beach for half the cost.  We left on Wednesday, June 19th and we came home Sunday, June 23rd. We really enjoyed our time together.  It was so nice not to have the stress of work and it was nice to be able to just sit on the beach instead of chasing after a two year old for a change.  However, by Saturday night we were both missing our little girl and ready to come home to see her.

My parents, her "Nana" and "G-dad aka "G" to Madalyn" came down and took care of Madalyn and Wingo at our house while we were gone.  Madalyn was great while we were gone and my parents really enjoyed keeping her. One day Madalyn was suppose to be taking a nap and they went into check on her and somehow, she was still in her crib, but she had pulled all her clothes out of the dirty clothes basket and wipes out of the wipe container and they were on the floor. When my parents asked Madalyn why she did this, her response was "Puppy did it." (Which she was talking about her stuffed puppy.)

 

 

Ormond Beach is located right outside of Daytona, Florida.  We really enjoyed our trip and it was a wonderful way to spend our fifth wedding anniversary.  Here's to many, many more years together!

 

 

Our Hotel: The Tropic Sun Towers



 

This was our tower, Phase II. We were on the 4th floor, corner room on the left.

 

Inside our Condo

 

The view from our condo

 

 

The Beach

 

 

 

The pelicans were constantly flying over head and Thursday morning we saw a pod of dolphins go up the beach.

 

However, we never got in the ocean more than to just get our feet wet because the water was ice cold.

 

Here's something you don't see on every beach.  People drive on the beach and park their cars and then unload from there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eating Out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a little friend join us for dinner.

 

 

Friday, we went to the Kennedy Space Center. Neither Kevin or myself had ever been before.

 

 

 

 

 

The rocket garden

 

Rocket Launch Room

 

This is the part of the spaceship that the astronauts re-enter the Earth in.

 

Moon Buggy

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the launch pads that they have. This launch pad will be used in 2017 when they launch the next rocket.  They are currently making some updates and changes on it.

 

The gray doors will roll all the way up for a rocket to roll out.

 

Apollo 11

 

 

 

 

 

After we left the space center we did some exploring to try and find some Florida wildlife.  We were very successful in finding this boat landing with about 6 to 7 manatees; that we could see, there may have been more.  They were really playing around, but it was hard to capture them on camera. They were so quick when they came to the surface. I got a few short movies of them.  It was a really neat sight to see.

 

 

Some air bubbles, the darker spot in the water is the manatee.

 

The manatee quickly came up for some air. They just barely get their nose out of the water and go back down.

 

Our last morning

A beautiful sunrise to send us on our way home.

 

 

 And back at home, here's our little Miss Hollywood with her favorite puppy.