A nEw MaMa

So over the last few weeks I have been following a blog about a little girl who is the exact same age, give or take a day or 2, as Liviana. This little 2 year old is at the end of her battle with cancer. Infact 2 nights ago her mom had her sisters tell her goodbye and sent them to her mother's house because they didn't think little Layla would make it through the night. She is still fighting though. Layla has rocked my world. I was reading the other night about some regrets that her mom had with her and as I sat at my computer BAWLING, I was completely convicted and then it quickly turned to thanks that my babies are healthy and I have time to change and love the little "inturruptions", while I cooking or whatever, that once made me angry. I don't know how many times I have thought, said outloud, said to others or even said to the girls such as these...

"Go watch the movie, Mommy is trying to work."

"I can't wait till naptime"

"Thank you for trying to help but Mommy will do it now"

"No, Mommy will stir it we have to hurry."

"No, we are only reading 1 book tonight."

Now I know that I am not a bad mom for saying these things once in awhile but it was almost getting routine, becoming my 'reflex' answer. Why can't I take a break and snuggle to watch the movie? Why can't she help stir the brownie mix?? Will it hurt me to spend 5 more minutes before bedtime to read 1 more story? I have decided enough is enough.

If you don't know me and you are reading this you may be thinking, "WOW! What is wrong with this lady??" But I don't think I am the only mom who has felt like this. Right?? I mean, surely??? So here I am laying it out there for everyone else who thinks they may be the only ones... You aren't the only ONE! There may be only 2 of us, LOL! But you aren't the only one!

Here is my new resolve, a new mommy.

I LOVE my girls and I don't ever want to take them for granite. NEVER, EVER take the for granite.Since I have 3 little helpers; I love that it takes me an hour to unload and load the dishwasher, I love that my white socks are pink because a red shirt was thrown in, I love crunching an egg shell in my waffles. (Ok, maybe not love, but you know what I mean :) I promise to hold them when they ask, no matter the task I am in the mist of. Too soon they won't want to be held. I will charish EVERY waking moment with my girls. I will take more time for playing games, dressing up and having teaparties. Cleaning can wait, sewing can wait, God knows FaceBook can wait. I don't want to regret a single day when I could have spent just 5 more min with the girls.

I know, I know, some of you are thinking well you need mommy time, you need mommy/daddy time. I know this! :) Trust me. There is time for it all, just all too often I find myself WASTING time that could be spent wisely.

SO I am rambling now... But here is the bottom line. What if something happened to my girls? Would I have regrets on how I spent my time with them? Will I question the importance of putting that load of laundry in RIGHT then when someone was pulling at my pant to show me the fort they built? Will I wonder if the bathtub needed to be scrubbed right that second when she wanted to play hide and seek? Will I cancel my FB because I am so mad at myself for needing to catch up on what everyone else was doing when they wanted me to sit with them and read a book?

This sweet Layla Grace has helped put my importants into a new clear and unwavering view.

God, I thank you for sweet Layla, I thank you that in the short time she is spending here on earth she has touched more lives, including my own, than most of us do in 80 years. I ask that you would give her family, her momma, an amazing, undeniable peace that passes everyone's understanding. I thank you that my babies are all healthy and happy. I refuse to take them for granite and above all I thank you that you choose me to raise up 3 beautiful women who will change the world around them through You.

Love you guys! I know I normally won't be the sobby but today my heart is breaking for the momma of this little girl.

Britanie

Do You Believe in Fairy Tales?

Well do you? Did you? When I first read this book, this first chapter, it was a huge sigh of relief! I realized that I wasn't the only one in this universe who felt like my prince turned into a frog. When we are engaged and so in love, everyone of us think... "Our marriage is going to be different than all the others" "My guy really is the best thing ever" No one can explain marriage until you are married. "Love will get us through everything" "We are just so in love" I remember thinking all of these things. I have to remind myself, more than I like to admit, that love is a feeling and a CHOICE! The book nails it on the head, "Her expectations for her husband were unrealistic." We very easily go from, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to "WHAT HAVE I DONE!" "I DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS!" I thought the circus quote on page 7 was funny and pretty much sums marriage up :)

Not giving up! Weather you have been married months or decades, we have to decide NOT to give up! The fairy tales that we have in our heads have to end so that our true love may begin.

When I first read this book it was shortly after Adrian and I decided together that we were going to make our marriage work. I had many, MANY moments when I went to pick up the book and thought I REALLY don't want to find the hero. I would much rather just keep seeing him the way I see him so I can continue to blame him. He has ruined my life, ( I was to blame too :) he should be reading a book about treating me like a princess should be treated. "Now she has a choice: to respond in anger to his weakness, or to invest with faith in his strength." I am so encouraged to be reading this book again with all of you. I know that no matter where you are in your marriage that this book will help each of us in AWESOME ways.

I am going to post a few questions just as a jumping board for your responses, don't feel like you have to answer all of them! I have been candid in this post, as I will continue to be, and the questions reflect that.

1. Did you feel like me and the ladies in the book that after you got married "Your fairy tale had ended or started in devistation??

2. Have you ever had one of those "the grass is greener..." moments?

3. Have you ever looked at someone else's marriage and thought, "Man, she has it all."

4. How do you feel about the concept of finding the hero in your husband?

Please check back even after you post cause you might have a response to someone elses or they may respond to yours!

I hope you all have a ROCKIN' Day! :)

Off to the parade for us!

Britanie

Landyn Rose

Yesterday I took Landy to my aunt's house for the night while Adrian and I went to a wedding and the sweet little baby got sick. So I was driving to Grandview, MO at 11:30 but remember last night was the time change so it was really like 12:30 :( Of course I didn't even question jumping in my car and going to her rescue. My poor baby... she is the middle child and she would for sure fit right into what you think of when you think of a middle child. She is the sweetest, most loving but extremely active and when she doesn't get her way it is over. Although she is getting better about that. I just love her so much and would NEVER EVER want her to feel like the middle child, you know?? We charish our time with her, ever moment. She makes us laugh and smile constantly. She is our sunshine, a true reward from Heaven. " ...children a reward from Him" Psalm 127:3 She is the best eater. She eats anything and everything you put in front of her... I think she will be like my brother, Chance, who can eat anything and everything and not gain an ounce. Ok, timeout! Lauren Case is over here right now interviewing Leila for a class and Landyn is sitting at the table with us. Landyn just said... "Hey, I farted!" She just cracks me up all of the time, that is what I am talking about. And then she said, "No, I didn't, you did!" Talking to Lauren... HA! She is so sweet too, if Liv is crying she is the first to run to find out what the problem is. She is fearless, brave, sweet, loving, active, encouraging, honery, fun, and crazy. She is everything and more than we could ever think to ask for. We love her with everything that we are and we hope that we raise her right in the way of the Lord. We pray that she will never question who she is and if she does question that she would find her way only in the Way. It does take an village to raise children and I really love and appreciate everyone who has their hand in on our family. You are what makes this a fantastic journey! We love you Landy and I hope that there never comes a time that you question that. You have all of us; all of our energy, all of our patience, all of our love, and all of our prayers. Even though you just mooned Lauren... :)

81 degrees? What??!?! Not that we're complaining!

So today was AWESOME! We had so much fun and I wish everyday was just like today. We woke up late! That is how you know it is going to be a fantastic day... Then daddy let Landy and Liv play in the bath tub and Leila helped PaPa put up the gate. They were cracking me up while I was cutting out fabric for some hospital gowns. I kept hearing Leila say, "PaPa, this is how you need to do this" Whatever the this was. I am talking multiple times and everytime he was like, "Leila we have to look at the directions... Oh, You were exactly right..." I mean what did he expect she is her mother's daughter :) We ALWAYS know what we are talking about. LOL! Then we went to the park with some of our best friends, Andrea, Luke, Preston, and Austin Douglas. Luke and Leila, they are quite a pair and we have already started taking pictures for their picture video at their wedding :) And by already started I mean from their First Christmas, on! :) Then we came home and were blessed because someone had left us a monetary gift... :) We were so touched by that and I just wish we could say thanks in person. Some of you may not know but Adrian was Laid Off about a month ago so something like that was just a HUGE blessing to us. God is so GOOD! We haven't ever had to depend completely on Him, you know truely where there was nothing else we could do and He is so FAITHFUL. I love Him and depend on Him more than I ever had before. Through this time we could be depressed and down but our God has given us HIGH SPIRITS and we know that there is an answer on its way! Anyways, after the girls napped we went back to the park! This time with Daddy... The girls are just so wonderful to eachother, you should have seen them playing out there always watching out. You know one of those, I can pick on her cause she is my sister but you better step off. :) I love being their mom and wife. Life is Golden!

Our New Family Blog!

If you had been keeping up with my other blog you should have gotten email that I was getting rid of that one and making a FAMILY one! My business is going well and I have decided that anything that I would want on a business blog could just be put on the website, right?? If I am going to take the time to be doing this I want to do it about the people who mean the world to me and let you keep up with my family. They are growing too fast and the say and do the funniest, sweetest, greatest, most fun, amazing, thoughtful, smartest things ever. I write down quotes that the girls say that just crack me up to pieces and the things that make me realize how big they are getting, etc. But I decided to start keeping track on here and there so I can share! Just for a quicky... today we are watching a movie and a guy on here has HUGE ears... Leila said, "Hey Mommy, why are your ears big like his?" No laughing, no joking, she was completely serious... SO, NOW I am worried about my ears :) Who thought a 3 year old could make me feel self conscience...