The Bigger Picture

I don't know when I became such a worrier. I remember, how at one time, I did not spend my life worrying about what may never happen, how things would come together, and the word "if" meant very little to me. At that point in my life God was bigger than anything I'd face. When did I make Him so small?

Life lately has presented many challenges and uncertainties. These types of things have always been a part of my life, but the amount of time I allowed my mind to wonder about such things was very little. I find myself missing those days and I also find myself searching for answers. My prayers seek His wisdom and I try to rest in His assurance and promises.

This weekend brought about a lot things that I could easily allow to consume me. It's easy to be frustrated, angry, overwhelmed and worried. Will any of these feelings add greatness or blessing to my life? Will they extend my days? Will they add quality to my moments? No. These feelings only serve to steal my happiness and suppress my joy.

In a moment of tears (and in my defense, these pregnancy hormones have been on overload lately) my sweet toddler came to me with a look of serious concern upon her face. The precious words, "Mommy, you okay?" overwhelmed my heart. I know as she gets older she'll begin to understand the meaning behind tears and adult concerns and I want her to be able to face these things as God calls and enables us to. I've realized I need a spiritual overhaul when it comes to fully putting my trust in His provision.

I know He will provide and I know His timing is perfect, and yet, my human nature allows for opportunities to question that, despite the limitless evidence of His work. He does provide a peace the surpasses our understanding, but we can't rely on how we "feel" to ensure that we recognize what He is doing in our lives. After all, the heart can be deceiving. We have to cling to what we know. My best friend has served as a wonderful reminder of this truth. She keeps this state of mind in perspective for me and I realize that I need to seek the blessing instead of the "what if" in our situations.

I've been thinking on Philippians 4:6-7 and the one part that has really been embedding itself in my head is when it says, "...and thank Him for all He has done." I know to bring my requests to Him and I know I should not worry, but it is becoming more and more clear that if I take time to focus on what I am thankful for and I spend those moments thanking Him for what He's done, I do not have time to worry. His peace comes when I reflect on all that He has done, which in turn ensures my head and heart that He will continue to do so now and in the future.

Linking up for Mommy Moments



Bump to Birth: 6 Months

I can't believe we're 6 months in!

Size:  Cantaloupe

Gender: It’s a boy!!!

Name: Much to the disappointment of many, we are keeping it a surprise, but we do have his whole name settled on.

Symptoms: achy teeth, sinus pressure, restless sleep, an increase in carpal tunnel pain, round ligament pain, fatigued, emotional, vivid dreams

Emotions: Very overwhelmed. My hubby has been gone ALOT lately and between the long work days and chasing a toddler in the evenings, I am exhausted.  You add to that work concerns, house matters and inadequate, restful sleep, I am an emotional, over sensitive mess. I've had a couple of good cries over the last couple of weeks. I am very excited, however about our upcoming ultrasound and our Spring Break vacation. I am trying to get pumped about redoing G's room but I'm struggling. Knowing that the two of them may have to share that room for the time that we are here presents some challenges. I'm trying to figure out a color palette and décor that will be gender friendly.

Doctor’s Visit: February 24th- I visited the dentist to have the achy teeth situation looked at. I was certain it was sinuses but of course, as luck would have it, I had a gigantic cavity in a wisdom tooth. This was not there at my last cleaning. Due to a number of unfortunate circumstances (and severe pain), I was sent to an oral surgeon two days later and had it removed. Once the pain from the surgery dissipated, I have been pain free since. (And did I mention the 24th was also my husband's birthday? What a crummy way to spend it.)

                         February 27th-measuring right on with a heart rate of 152bpm. I also had to complete an early glucose test (which I passed!)

                          March 11th-we got to see our super snuggly baby. His beautiful heart beat measured in at 154bpm. He would not uncurl to get adequate measurements so we'll have to return at the beginning of April. I am now being monitored for placenta previa. The specialist is very confident that the condition will resolve itself, but if not, a C-section will be scheduled to ensure that we avoid any serious complications.                     

Movement: lots of movement throughout the day

Cravings: cinnamon rolls, eggs (breakfast foods in general), McChicken sandwiches and chocolate donuts

Aversions:  lots of smells these days

According to Big Sister: G can often be found rocking her "baby" and giving her a bottle. While she is still very unhappy with us picking up other babies, she is making progress. Our friends came to visit the other weekend with their 5 month old and she tried to be helpful in caring for him (giving him his pacifier) and did not seem to mind when we were holding him.

Memories:

-I became an official surgical patient when I had my wisdom tooth cut out.

-Multiple snow days

-We celebrated my hubby's birthday with friends and family.

-Hubby felt the baby move for the first time.

-The Bartley's came over for dinner and some playtime.

-We enjoyed some beautiful Spring weather.
      

The Back Story// Months 1-3// Month 4 //Month 5

Linking up with Home of Malones

I Don't Want to be a "Teacher-Mom"

We were sitting at the pediatrician’s office due to G’s unexplained fever (which turned out to be connected to a virus) and we were conversing with the pediatrician. She was not our regular pediatrician but she was very personable, very professional and we liked her very much. As we continued our conversation and she interacted with G, she commented on her level of vocabulary. She indicated that it was pretty extensive for a child her age. Her love of books was also noticeable as she continually flipped through the pages of the books in the room. The pediatrician asked what I did as a profession and I told her that I was a teacher…”Ah, that explains a lot.” The comment didn’t mean much to me at the time but on my way home it got me thinking…I don’t want to be a “teacher-mom”.

I am intentional about leaving work at work and I’d like to think that I’d invest as much time and energy as I do into my daughter despite my profession. I have personally always had a love for learning, books and the outdoors. These passions have carried on through adulthood and I am fairly certain that no matter what the Lord calls me to do with my life, I would share these interests with my children. I don’t want our children to have the label “teacher’s kid” and be faced with expectations that might not otherwise be placed on them. I see it all the time. It is just assumed that the children of teachers will be at least on target academically and come prepared knowing everything they need to know. These expectations are placed despite the fact that there may be various factors involved that contribute to why these expectations may not be met.

I want to enjoy watching my daughter learn about the world around her, not drill her on her colors and ABC’s. Because of this, I choose to help her learn the way I feel any child should at this age.

We play. We incorporate the learning of colors and numbers by exploring the world around us. She not only develops her motor skills this way, but there is a lot that can be developed in the way of intellect as well…not to mention that I want to keep her as imaginative as possible.

We read. Reading is something that she and I both enjoy at this point. She can be found quietly sitting in random places around the house “reading” her books. It makes my heart sing.

We spend time together as Mommy and Daughter and as a whole family. I want to her to know that she is important to us and we make a point to spend special time with her. I love taking her to a new place just to watch her explore and fall in love with something new.

I hone in on her interests. When she takes a real interest in something, I want to encourage her in that area. For instance, she is currently all about the idea of coloring. I’ve invested in a couple types of crayons, some paint and markers. She loves to see the color come upon the page. It’s little things like this that can develop things she’ll love to do when she’s older.

Encourage independence. This is probably one of my most loved and hated areas of parenthood. I feel it is so important to raise a child that will become an independent, contributing person of society. She naturally has an independent spirit and does well to do for herself most of the time. As her mom, it’s sometimes hard to let her do things on her own because I love that she needs me. I remember the first time she rejected my hand and said, “No hand, I got it.” Ouch. I wanted to cry. When did she get so big?! This independence will serve her well though and I look forward to seeing how she continues to grow and develop.

I want to commend every parent that invests in his or her child. As an educator, I frequently see the exact opposite. Character, morals, and interests are cast to the side for whatever reason and the results are heartbreaking. Raising a child is more than preparing them for Kindergarten or achieving various milestones. Raising a child is an intentional act of love that encompasses every aspect of their precious little lives. So thank you for loving your child enough to teach them the best way you can. In doing so, we are all not just a mom or dad; we are a teacher…which is very different than being a “Teacher-Mom”.

Linking up for Mommy Moments

Tasty Tuesday: Grilled Citrus-Glazed Chicken Salad

Grilled Citrus-Glazed Chicken Salad

I’ve been meaning to share this recipe for quite some time. It takes me back to just a couple of months ago when, while the weather was cold, we did not have snow on the ground and we used our grill from time to time. Since Valentine’s Day it has been far too cold and snowy for such things.

The original chicken recipe came from McCormick’s 3-StepCooking with Flavor cookbook.

Grilled Citrus-Glazed Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

1 ½ c orange juice

2tbsp honey

1tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

1 clove minced garlic

1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning

½ tsp ground mustard

1lb boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Directions:

1. Combine the orange juice, honey, soy sauce, garlic, lemon pepper, and mustard in a gallon size plastic resealable bag. Add chicken, seal and squeeze to coat the chicken. Allow to sit in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

2. Pre-heat the grill to medium-high heat.

3. Remove the chicken and discard the remaining marinade. Grill for about 12 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

4. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes and then cut into cubes or strips. Place on top of a bed of fresh greens.

*I added toasted pecans, dried cranberries and a light walnut balsamic dressing. Enjoy!

Any leftover chicken can be used for additional salads or sandwiches.

Linking up with Green Fashionista

Mealtimes With a Toddler

Meal time with a toddler can occasionally be challenging…especially when the transition from a high chair to a regular dining chair is concerned. We’ve recently entered into this new face with our daughter who will be 2 in April. Our biggest obstacle is having her remain in her seat throughout the meal. When she was in her high chair, she had no choice but to stay put. While we work on reasonable expectations (e.g. allowing her to get down when she is done and cleaned up as opposed to getting up and down and grazing), we’ve been continuing to work on toddler table manners.

1. Washing hands before the meal. We are trying to make sure that washing her hands eventually becomes second nature. Working with 6 and 7 year olds has taught me the importance of starting this habit super young. It is not something you want them overlooking before meals or after the bathroom. If she does not head straight to the bathroom to wash her hands when we call the meal, we gently remind her and it has not been a problem.

2. Prayer. In our home, praying and giving thanks before our meal is of utmost importance. She eagerly repeats after us at this point and will sometimes jump ahead. Hearing her precious little mouth say “Jesus” and “Amen” melts my heart every time. I feel we are making headway since lately she’ll even say “amen” when she is given a snack.

3. Patience. I personally feel people underestimate the ability of toddlers. G is clearly learning right from wrong and what it means to say “please” and “thank you”. (And then I think, if my toddler can do this, why can’t so many adults? Anyway…) One skill we’re working on is patience. Toddlers can naturally be very egocentric, which is age appropriate. Even so, they can be taught what is appropriate. With this comes the virtue of patience. She is learning that yelling or demanding will not get her the things that she wants. If Mommy or Daddy is in the middle of something, she is learning that she may have to wait to get what she wants. She is also learning that saying please may not always result in getting what she wants (e.g. a cookie for breakfast). This is important for even meal times. We want her to learn that even at mealtime she may have to wait her turn and may not be able to have what she wants at the exact moment she wants it. I’m pleased to say that we’ve seen so much good from working through this difficult concept.

4. Trying food. I was raised by a mother who, because of her raising, was taught that if it’s on your plate, it will be eaten. It did not matter if you did not like. It did not matter how much there was. If it was thrown away, that was considered being wasteful and that was not okay. I completely appreciate the thoughts behind this premise but it is something I have had to change since becoming an adult. The idea of eating everything that is on your plate can be detrimental when trying to be healthy. It makes more sense to put leftovers in the fridge and focus on portion size. I want G to be adventurous when trying new foods, but I do not want to force her to eat something that she completely dislikes. We encourage her to at least try something new, which she typically does. She lets us know immediately whether or not it is something she likes. Because of this, I feel we have a really good eater. We have not dealt with too many picky-eater moments. We also re-introduce the foods that she originally didn’t like from time to time just to see if her tastes have changed.  

5. Clean up. I’m not sure when G got so tall, but she easily puts things in the sink and on the counter. Because of this, we’ve been having her take her plate and silverware into the kitchen and placing it on the counter or in the sink. If her plate has been cleared of all food, she puts it in the sink. Otherwise it goes on the counter. She loves the chance to be such a big girl and will even sometimes get to help with washing the dishes.

I know every parent has a way of doing things and this is just ours. Parenthood is one episode of trial and error after another. If you have any creative ways of maintaining toddler mealtime, I’d love to hear them!

Mommy Moments Link-up

March 2015 Goals

I’ve been revisiting my February Goals and I’m very pleased with our success. The only room that did not get completely purged was the kitchen. We’re still working on that. There are also a couple little odds and ends in each room (primarily deep cleaning tasks) that we’re still working on. I want to keep the momentum going so we’re adding some new goals for March.

March Goals

Week 1-2: G’s room

While we’re in this house, G’s room will also serve as the nursery. The baby will be with us until he’s sleeping most of the night so that she’ll have fewer interruptions at night. We’re hoping for the same success that we had with G. She was moved into her own room at a month old (trust me, we all slept better…) and she was sleeping through the night by 2 months old. With that being said, I’m  trying to decide what to do about decorating, painting, etc. The walls are currently a pretty spring green color with white trim. I’ve found an adorable theme that I’m longing to use but I’m not sure if it will be worth it considering we don’t know how long we’ll be in this house. While painting would not be a major undertaking, we’re just trying to decide if it would make a huge difference when it comes time to sell. Thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.

I plan to finish going through her closet and add any unnecessary items to the upcoming consignment sale. Everything will be dusted and wiped down and miscellaneous decorations and keepsakes will be boxed up. I want to get her room down to the basics.

Weeks 3-4: Master Bedroom

This will undoubtedly be a labor of love. I plan to go through ALL of our clothes and rid our drawers, closets and tubs of clothing that we no longer wear. I already have two full garbage bags. Our room will need to be repainted and the closet needs to be finished. The closets in our home were not finished when we moved in. Oddly enough the house was built in the late 60’s and apparently closets were not a big deal. They were nothing but rafters and exposed roofing. We insulated, dry walled, painted and put in flooring into the other bedroom closet. We just haven’t gotten around to ours…but now it is time. I want to try and sell or donate any furniture that we’re not planning on taking with us in the move.

It’s hard not to become overwhelmed in the process. Our goal is to have the house up for sale at the beginning of April. Some of the other things that we would like to have done or need to have done prior to doing so are…

-painting the hallway

-painting the stairwell

-finish repainting the ceilings

-wash the windows inside and out

- basic landscaping

-removing miscellaneous items from the back of the property

While my pregnant brain is already on overload, I’m trying to stay focused and do what I can. My husband has been a huge help and, while we have a lot left to do, we’re pushing on. We’ve been praying about this decision for a long time and we feel we’re doing what we should at this point (despite expecting a baby in about 4 months). God’s timing will be perfect. Part of our prayer is that the Lord is preparing the right family for our home. We know that we’re doing what we can with our budget and time and we believe that the right family will look past whatever flaws there may be and see the true country charm, stable foundation and beautiful setting that comes with our house.

Linking up with Andrea for Monthly Goals

It's a Big Day

It's Thursday and boy is Friday looking good.

G was proud to show me her sticker stash...

Today is going to be full. This morning we'll drive an hour in one direction to check in with my oral surgeon.  He'll make sure my incision is healing and that everything looks good. While still somewhat sore, I'm glad what will hopefully be the worst of this whole tooth extraction is behind me.

We'll then come home for a short time and then head an hour in the opposite direction for our 21 week ultrasound.  They'll be measuring all of his anatomy and we'll get to spend a good deal of time watching our miracle move about. He's become quite the bladder bouncer theses past couple of days and I'm ready to see him in action.

Today also marks yet another snow day...who knows when we'll have a full week of school. It's been a challenging two weeks for various reasons and I'm ready for Spring. I'm ready for the fresh air, fresh starts and the promise that the season brings.

Yesterday morning's God art

Happy thoughts to all of you and happy Thursday!

Linking up for Thoughts for Thursday!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

::via::

Snow days + pregnancy cravings + ample amounts of baking supplies equal good things (unless my obstetrician tells me otherwise at my upcoming appointment). Last week I had a ridiculous craving for chocolate chip cookies. Someone may or may not have demolished an entire package of chocolate chip cookies last week…can’t blame the hubby or toddler for that one. So naturally, when I was trying to decide what to make for my husband’s volunteer fire department’s annual dinner fundraiser, I knew what was going to be my contribution.

Each year the wives, along with some of the fire department’s auxiliary team, make desserts to go with the main meal. I opted to make some super delish chocolate chip cookie bars. Now, this recipe makes a lot…I cut 15 large (maybe giant is more appropriate) bars but you could easily double or triple that number by cutting them smaller.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

You can find Martha Stewart’s original recipe and directions here.

Ingredients:

1 ½ c (3 sticks) of butter at room temperature

4 c all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 c sugar

1 ½ c packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 12oz bag of chocolate chips (butterscotch or peanut butter would also work well)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350.

2. Cream together the butter and both sugars. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well. Add the vanilla.

3. Add the baking soda and then slowly add the flour. Mix until well combined (the mixture will be thick).

4. Add the chocolate chips. Mix until just combined.

5. Line a 9x13 pan with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Evenly spread the cookie dough batter into the pan (I found using a wooden spoon to work best).

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes and check. The top of the bars should be slightly browned. Over baking will make them dry and crumbly. I baked mine for almost 35 minutes and they turned out perfectly.

7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Remove from the pan, slice and serve. Yum!

These were delicious! It is a good thing that they are not staying in my house because I would be in some serious trouble. These are so good! Enjoy!

Linking up for Tasty Tuesdays!