So it’s been a while since I posted…so much has happened…we are in the process of buying a new home, renting our current home, and our dog got very sick…doesn’t seem like a lot…but oh my!…

We finally found a house! YAY! It does need some work but its a step up from our current home…it’s a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom!!! It’s under inspection now and we are just waiting for some final details…be praying…if it falls through, then we know that God has something bigger and better!!

Now to getting our rental ready…we are updating our basement bathroom, putting in a new basement door and finishing our main bathroom that we started years ago…and putting in a window and replacing two doors in the basement…WOW! Oh yeah and we are cleaning out our basement and a charity is coming Monday to get all the stuff…(making me not want to leave our current house yet with all the updates…)

Our Leia girl who is 8 1/2 got really sick 3 weeks ago, long days up all night some of the nights and  been the vet 2x (emergency fund…thank God!) and now she is on some medicine, so be praying that she will gain her appetite back…we have found that she reacts really strongly to medicine and has almost every symptom that comes with the medicine and 2 of the meds this week have a no appetite side effect and one gives a metallic taste in her mouth…so we are have struggled to get her to eat…Praise God she is still drinking and peeing…meds are done tonight…so hopefully we will see a change tomorrow or Monday…

So just weeks before all this happened, our sweet girl has the medical scare…and then my hubby sprained a muscle in his back and it took weeks to heal…been a long 6 weeks or so, but know that even through the storms, there is ALWAYS a rainbow because we follow the SON!

IMAGE: https://www.tumblr.com/search/v:%20when%20it%20rains%20it%20pours and http://quotesgram.com/after-the-rain-quotes/

So this actually happened earlier this week and I’m just getting around to posting it…(I’ll explain in the next post what’s been going on…)

I posted this post on FB when it was happening:

To the other Chick-fil-a moms in Winston: thanks for the judgment…so I took my two into chickfila waiting for an appt and Gid decides that he wants to play first instead of eat…so while standing in line, he starting wining and complaining and pitching a mini meltdown….an older gentleman came up and said, “its okay, I have 8 grandchildren and they all have done that…it will get easier.” (Thank you sir and to the sweet chickfila employees for bringing me our food to our table and not even being fazed)…as we are going to our seat (Gid is still standing in the the line)….I put our drinks down and walk back to pick him up ( they weren’t busy) so no one else was in line….I heard two moms talking about him standing up there screaming and I caught them….moms, you know that look you get on your face when you hear someone talking about your kid…well, I must of given her that look…because she shut up and gid came and sat down at the table, ate his food and now is playing with selah girl…really, moms….do we really show compassion and grace anymore or ever??? I guess not everyone has a kid (at 2) that has had a mini meltdown because he wants to play on the playground instead of eat…

IMAGE: http://life.paperblog.com/dear-judgmental-moms-587469/

So I’ve become one of those moms (now I’m pretty sure this happened with my sweet girl…but I noticed it today with my little man)….the mom that doesn’t care what others think (that’s a big deal for me)…so what happened…our little man wanted to wear his rain boots  on the wrong feet when it wasn’t raining to church and guess what…I let him (not a battle that I wanted or needed to face to get to church on time)…too many times moms judge other moms and don’t show grace…who cares if he has on his rain boots or hair isn’t perfect or doesn’t match (I strive to make sure they match) but we have to show grace and recapture it daily…maybe the other mom is going through something (do we ever ask…NO)..but then we judge or gossip about)…so take that time this week to give each other some grace!!!

I’m learning to be me! Yes, I’m 30 years old, been married 10+ years, have 2 amazing children, lived multiple places, served my country, and I’m just now learning who I am. I am a peacemaker. I like to stay in the shadows. I hate (all caps) being the center of attention.  I hate (all caps again) conflict and will avoid it at all costs…even when it affects me negatively. I love Jesus (I confess that I need to be more in the Word). I try to carry other people’s burdens. I worry. I procrastinate all the time. I love especially the unlovable. I smile especially when I’m nervous. I laugh at weird times. I cry while watching sad movies. I write especially when bad things happen. I will go over and above for you. I care too much at times. I over-analyze everything. I don’t wear makeup alot (one, I’m not comfortable putting it on and two, I don’t want the attention…I’m weird…I know). I almost never leave the house without my hair done (my mom is a hairdresser….so I get it honest) I love coffee especially on a mommy date with a close friend. I love pinterest (I need to do some of those 4000+ pins). I only have a couple close friends. I love my family. I love it when my hubby tells me I’m beautiful (sometimes I have a hard time believing it honestly…something I’m working on) I don’t have good depth perception. I love to coupon. I love to budget. I don’t bring cards, I normally don’t send cards. I love a good pair of flip flops (and would wear them all year). I’m patient (most of the time). I want to make sure people are happy and not mad at me…I strive with everything I have to make people like me…so is this a good thing?..not always! I’m sure I’m learned a lot more about myself that I just can’t remember at the moment (mommy brain). Oh yeah, my sweet little man’s smile can melt me (I think he is figuring that out…) and my sweet girl’s funny faces can make me laugh on the worst days (little man is picking up on that too)…

In the last year, I have found who my real supporters and friends are, the ones who know who I am and are good with it. I’ve had to quit some relationships while growing others….that’s hard for me because like I said, I want to be friends with all. I’ve learned to quit putting my everything into a relationship when it is not reciprocated. It is hard, most definitely! Do I drive myself crazy with it (I use too)….but I’ve finally learned that being me is perfect for me…

IMAGE: http://shauntee.com/tag/falling-in-love/

So how many times, have you worked hard on something and see no results from a project, to cleaning the house (impossible with kids at times…i know…you should see my living room…toys and laundry) or the in my case, the GYM!! In January, I joined the gym! I’ve been going pretty much 3x a week (thanks to a HUGE push from the Hubby)…I’m not a gym person and I don’t enjoy going honestly! Although, I had to tell you that I have seen a difference in myself. I’ve seen a few physical changes (I still have the baby bump as I call it from my two kiddo’s c-sections…but I can definitely see a small change)

(One AMAZING Step in this Gym Journey: When I first started the second week of January, I could only due this one butt machine at 45 lbs and I was struggling…guess what TONIGHT I DID THE SAME MACHINE at 100 lbs!!! It was awesome for me to see me accomplish this!)

So many times (I don’t know if you are like me) but you start a project and never finish or get side tracked or just give up….I’m working this year to follow through, not just at the gym, but in every area from organizing my house, to friendships, and so on…

(Maybe the gym isn’t for you…but why not? I know the gym at times could not fit into your budget, I TOTALLY get that…but you can do things at home too…)

Find something to do for you this year…something you enjoy…and go for it!!! Let me know what it is, so I pray for you or help you on your journey…

IMAGE: http://quotesgram.com/couples-exercising-quotes/

So many times, I know for me (I think I’ve spoken about this in earlier posts too…so I’m guessing this is heavy on my heart) this is something that I deal with…I won’t say “keeping up with the Jones”…but maybe “keeping up with the other moms” who seem to have it all together, know all the “tricks of the trade”, make all their own natural products, coupon like couponing queens, have an amazing meal plan, kids always look their best, they always look their best, dinner is on the table when the hubby gets home, dishes are done, laundry is put away, house is spotless…you know…”those moms”…guess what, in REALITY, THEY DON’T EXIST! Do you know how long it has taken me to figure this out? YEARS! I’m always wondering if I’m doing it “right” and what is right…honestly, what is the truth…if there are moms out there that can truly take that trophy for the BEST MOM in the WORLD…I want to meet her!

(I’ll let you in on a little secret…THAT’S YOU!) Let me explain…you might be a stay-at-home mom or work out of the home mom, your house is a mess, dishes are piled up, laundry has created a mountain in your home, toys have taken over, you never know what you going to be eating for dinner (that’s me), couponing sometimes happens (most of the time, NOT), you took a shower (YAY! forget makeup and oh yeah, brushing you hair that’s as far as you go as to dressing up), kids are bathed and so what if they have on their pjs when you go to the grocery store…did you find herself in any of those…I found me and you know what…that’s OKAY!

Give yourself some grace, put on some pretty lipstick (or chapstick), your cutest outfit (or most comfortable pjs), hold your head up high and know that YOU ROCK! (You’re kids think so, your hubby thinks so and guess what…GOD KNOWS SO…that’s all the matters)

IMAGE: http://nobellagrace.blogspot.com/2015_04_01_archive.html and http://www.todaysthebestday.com/motivating-mother-julie-clark/