the good, the bad, and the ugly...

 

i am the mom that says she'll blog 3x a week and then a month goes by.

oops.

i am the mom that doesn't flinch when her kids decide they need marker tattoos and end up scribbled head to toe in neon green.

i am the mom that freaks out when shoes get left hither and yon when there are no less than 3 shoe buckets on the premises.

i am the mom that screams at her children to be quiet because i am trying to read a book about being being a more present mom.

i am the mom that spends extra money we don't have to buy organic milk and eggs at the grocery store, only to hit up Mc D's on the way home because there is NO way i'm cooking lunch after shopping.

i am the mom who will sweep and do dishes 5x a day.

but not fold the 5 piles of laundry sitting in my living room.

i am the mom who sees nothing wrong whatsoever with still needing to sleep with a 3year old monkey to get him to sleep.

i am the mom that would love to get a breast lift and lypo,

but would not get my stretch marks removed, believing they are part of a very special story.

i am also the mom against plastic surgery.

i am the mom that will remind my kids how essential modesty is,

then walk by and grab my husband.

i am the mom that fasts for her children in prayer, then realizes there are mint kisses in the pantry, and thinks God will overlook fasting for the sake of mint kisses.

i am the mom who has amazing ideas and intentions,

but lacks the follow through on 90%.

i am the mom whose children would never talk that way,

whose children now constantly use such language as idiot and shut up.

i am the mom who doesn't balk at crayon on the walls or new white furniture, but cried like a baby at the first "i hate you!"

i am the mom who has now grown accustomed to those i hate yous and simply says "well i love you"

i am the mom who has nursed four babies,

co-slept with those babies,

and never let them cry it out.

i am the mom who doesn't believe in having huge birthday parties every year.

i am the mom who too often says one thing and does another.

i am the mom that once stood on my front porch, baby on a boob, phone to the ear, while shooting at a deer with a bebe gun in our veggie garden.

and i'm the mom who didn't think that was weird til i retold the story.

i am the mom that went through thinking two of her babies had cancer/tumors,

and rejoiced when they did not.

i am the mom who thinks it's perfectly acceptable to bribe your kids

(God bribed Moses to the promised land with milk and honey right?)

i am also the mom that second guesses everything she does and feels guilt about nearly all of it.

i'm the mom who never left her kids, even to run to the grocery store by myself.

so now i'm the mom that feels weird having bunco or a girl's day out every month.

i'm the mom who never once considered working outside the home, regardless of financial situations.

i'm the mom who likes to get all dolled up.

and wear a pony tail and yoga pants the other 5 days.

i'm a mom who plays her music so loud in the car, i fear for my children's ear drums when i get back in the car and realize how loud it was.

i am the mom who sings off key, ridiculous songs to annoy my kids.

i'm the mom who sometimes 'fights' the fit by throwing myself on the floor and screaming too.

i'm the mom with cracker crumbs in the van, the couch cushions and in my cleavage.

i'm the mom that knows how very blessed i am to have 4 little loveys.

i am the mom blessed to have such an easy time getting pregnant and easy pregnancies.

i'm the mom who was quiet and graceful through all my labors.

(if you can be graceful spread full eagle with sweat dripping down your face).

i am the mom who gives way too many lectures and gets drawn into the arguments.

i am the mom who is usually patient and kind during potty accidents, broken things and owies.

but i'm the mom who yells for everyone to just stop yelling.

i'm the mom who has forgotten to shut public restroom doors because i just forgot they shut.

i'm the mom who loves my monkeys unconditionally.

i'm the mom trusting God to help me enjoy this beautiful and crazy ride i'm on.

because life is good...

tis the season.

there  are moments when i am simply overwhelmed by how good and blessed my life truly is.

i am always thankful, but it seems sad that this overflowing awe only comes ever so often.

my gratitude is first and foremost always to the God who created it all.

i heard a pastor say once,

that if the only thing we were ever given was salvation...

no family,friends,outward blessings, that alone would be worth all our praise.

how much more should we be thankful for the many blessings we're surrounded by everyday.

i am thankful for the same things i'm sure everyone else is, but let us not make it seem trite by glazing over how truly wonderful each of these gifts are.

thankful

my Lord and Savior.

thankful for my husband.

a husband who loves, provides for, and is an amazing man.

thankful for my children.

kids that bless me with their individual personalities, each purposed for the glory of God .

treasuring each hug,  each funny word, even each 'teachable' moment that i am privileged to be present for. 

thankful for this homeschooling adventure that we're on.

the privilege of getting every day with them.

thankful for health.

so easy to overlook when you have it, and so scary when in doubt.  we've had 2 cancer scares with our kids, some issues with me, my husband's chronic illness.  moments of health are ones to be praised for!

thankful for good friends.

old  friends new.

women who bless me, laugh with me (occasionally at me;)) , pray for me, act stupid with me, share with me and put up with me!

thankful for a warm home, food on the table, beds to rest our heads.

and all the many luxuries that many before us, and around us don't have.

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty famine injustice in the world when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid He might ask me the same question."-anonymous

i hope you all have a beautiful thanksgiving day...

Blessings,

Mandy

still alive ya'all...

still not up to blogging,

but thought i'd hop on share a picture:

this is mr.buggie boo.

when i hear rocks being crashed upon my dining table i yell

"What the heck are you doing ?!  Why are there rocks on the table?"

looking very irritated he says ,

"MOM, i'm playing rock, paper, scissors."

sheesh.

i should have known that!

:D

Blessings,

Mandy