Our Crazy Life

Life is always busy...there is always "something" happening and I think I am learning to function fairly fluidly in spite of the "somethings"

It seems there is always a reason to wait to begin something; waiting to start a project, putting things on hold, etc. but in reality there really is always a reason to wait.

As a wife and a mom of 3 I try to get to the gym at least 3-4x/week, I am a full time student (15 credit hours this semester), and I am a doula on the side plus a little photography here and there as well as private in-home education prior to delivery for families. That sounds like a LOT! It is a lot. I hear all the time "you're superwoman!" "Wow, that' nuts" "Your life is so crazy" and "Girl, you've got your hands full" and sometimes I take it as encouragement and wonder what it would be like to have much less filling our lives. We have moved 3 times in the past 2 years as the result of unexpected job changes, etc. (thank you economy!) which is NOT our style at all! Still, I have to say in all honesty, even moving with a 2 week old, this has been fairly doable and not overwhelming for the most part.

Sure, we have our moments but, doesn't everyone?

If you take a step back...it's amazing...God has continually provided for us...Eric's career has grown and we have lacked for nothing. I have maintained a 3.8 gpa (darn A&P!!) and am on track to begin clinicals this fall! Let me clarify that there is no bragging here...this is the result of the pure, unequaled grace of God and His blessings in our lives.

Speaking of blessings...here are my 4 favorite :)...

Mini update

My laptop died...cannot find my cable to download photos (thus no new pics)...house is getting in order...new semester starts next week...Olivia has her surgery to remove adeniods scheduled for next week, Eric's new job is going well, the new house is great and we love the neighborhood...still dealing with old landlords (frustrating...you have NO idea...just ask my mother in law)...potty training the baby girl...training for my first 10k! :)

That's the short version...more to come - as soon as I find my photo cable!
T

I will miss this...

Such a good reminder for me today...the past 2 weeks home alone with 3 for the first time has been wonderful and challenging but I have found myself more focused on accomplishing tasks than enjoying time with my children. This was such a good reminder for me..well worth the read...

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2010/01/im-gonna-miss-this.html

T

A weathered smile...

Holy cow time is passing ffaaassst. Our littlest Smith is creeping up on 2 months already, Evelyn will be 2 in 2 months and Olivia is always fascinating me with how mature and grown up she is for 2 1/2 even.

I'm learning and growing as a wife and a mother and enjoying...well, mostly enjoying the process :).

I have been reflecting more and more on the process of raising children and what that means for them and for Eric & I. As a mother, it's so easy to get caught in a rut of "getting through"...sometimes it's just getting through lunch or the afternoon or a difficult naptime and other times it's "getting through" the day...or a particular season or situation.

I have felt a nudging in my heart and a good reminder to stop getting through anything...a reminder that my 'getting through' may cause me to miss the best of the moment. "Make the most of every opportunity" comes to mind - such a great scripture and so true. The days are evil...time keeps tickin'...my kids keep growing...and we have but one life.

Yesterday I saw this on someone's facebook status update and it fit in line perfectly with my introspection

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'WOW What a Ride!'"

Good reminder, right? Looking at these photos makes me smile...there is something innately beautiful about a weathered face beaming with a smile.

The goal of life, or my experience here, or God's intent for me...isn't pleasure, relaxation or even my own happiness...but to know Him, to be sure those He has entrusted me with know him, and to love Him. I'm still learning what that means in so many ways.

For me, and in my home, that means training my children to live Godly lives that are successful by a Biblical scale and not a wall street scale....it means serving my husband when I'm frustrated at how he has done something or feel he has ignored me.

It means remembering that my sacrifices, however large or small, are seen by God and that is enough.

*sigh*

T

No words...

There really are no words that fully encompass the day I have had :) This is a pretty good snapshot though lol.

What you are seeing:

Evelyn, my sweetheart with the Cindy Lou Who eyes :)

What's on her face:

Mascara....waterproof...brand new...complements of L'Oreal. The stuff DOES NOT COME OFF.

Time it took for her to accomplish this:

The time it took for her father and I to figure out what to do for dinner...less than 10 mins on the phone in the same room as me...

Talent, people...that's talent. It also got her into trouble...this is definitely the most dramatic makeup look she's come up with albeit not the first. While the 'correction' did not stifle her creativity with makeup, it did circumvent it for another 12 or so years, I hope.

I think we have an artist on our hands :)

T

Win an HP Touchsmart

I don't know about you but having one of these would be kid-style Christmas for me!! You know...the kind where you are super excited to open the box, try it out, play with it, read the manual even :)

Good luck!!!

Enter to win here!!

Welcome to the world sweet baby boy

Seconds old!!

Daddy meets Levi

Weighed and measured

A perfect treasure

Snuggles with daddy




3 hrs old!!

Our precious Levi

Baby Levi arrived the day before Thanksgiving and we couldn't be more delighted.

Labor started around 7:30 in the morning and Levi was here in time for lunch!

He weighs 8lbs 1oz and is 21" long!