Addendum to previous blog

I found this on another blog today and thought how appropriate.  I need to keep this close to remind myself.

Remembering thankfulness

I just got done reading my friend Jill's blog @ http://www.durangopalmers.blogspot.com/ .  She had a great post about having a change of heart and remembering to be thankful.  This is ironic b/c last night I had another conversation with myself about the frustration of wants.  I don't know about you guys but it gets pretty frustrating when you work and still can't do the things that you really want to do.  I think sometimes we get disillusioned b/c as growing up you think when I get a "good" job then I can start traveling or I can get _____ that I have always wanted.  Wrong!!!  For some that may be true but for us that has not been the case.

I find that I have to constantly remind myself that we have enough.  I am thankful for a home and the means to keep all the utilities on.  But then frustration creeps in b/c we don't have room for a dining room table or to store our stuff at our home.  Then you start asking God, why does it have to be so complicated.  I am thankful for my job and that it provides for the family but then I start wondering why I feel so stuck at this particular job and wondering if it is adding to my life or taking away.  Then I find that I get resentful towards it b/c it takes away from my time with my family.  You know in your head and heart that God is providing but you see others getting new clothes or new cars or going somewhere and you wonder.  I often think to myself if my client's realize that all the clothes that I am wearing to work are either gifts or hand me downs.  I find it ironic at times.

I think the dilemma that we face is that we are told to dream.  We are told that the sky is the limit.  So you dream and then life happens.  It is hard to remember to stay thankful during those times of struggle.  It is hard to remember to be thankful when you feel like you are being picked on.  It is hard not to get resentful when you want to go do something "fun" and realize that you don't have enough gas in the car.

But the thing about it is you can stay thankful.  You can keep prospective even in America.  You can be content even when you live without surplus.  I have found that I have been more content in this season that in times before even though now I have much more at stake in regards to responsibilities.  It is ok.  God has a plan.  God knows our needs and our desires.  I know that someday I will have a home that we can have guests and we can sit around the table to have meals. I know that someday that God will make a way for me to stay home with my children or at least have more flexibility in a job.  And in knowing, I can remember thankfulness in the present.

Thinking...

So if you noticed I changed the title of my blog.  I have been reading more blogs and they all seem to be mom's that are staying home with their children and homeschooling or something else.  I know that I have written about this before but I feel like my side of the story is lost.  I feel that there is this assumption that if you are working and a mother that it was your choice and that you are choosing your "career" over your children especially in Christian circles.  I would like to set the record straight.  I would just like to say that most of the working mother's that I know it is b/c they have to not because they want to.  Sure I could choose to quit my job but that would mean going onto welfare, foreclosing on our home, food stamps, and medicaid.  To me that is not much of a choice and not teaching my children the values that we hold dear.

So for you working mother's out there, I am there with you.  You are not alone.  You are not any less of a mother b/c you are working and you are no less of a Christian.  We as working mother's have very little support.  We don't have time.  We are not affording mother's day out, MOPS or any of the other activities that are scheduled during the work week. You are not failing if you can't keep the house clean, the laundry done, and cook dinner every night.  It does feel like we are barely keeping our heads above water but it will get better.  It will not always be like this.  One thing that I do realize is that when you are working, is that you cherish every second that you have with your child.  I never have the thought of needing a break and there is no way I am having my child go anywhere without me on the weekends.

Ok, that is enough of my soapbox right now but I feel that there is more to come...

Thankful Thursday

I have realized that I have not done this for several weeks.  There is much to be thankful for...

1) God's provision for us while Rusty is going back to school...we are still praying that he will find a part time job
2) Health...we all have remained healthy while a lot of yucky stuff is going around
3)Family...enjoyed being around family over the holidays and them stepping up to help us wherever they could

9 months old

It is hard to believe that he is nine months old.  As you can see, we are sitting pretty darn good.  We are busy crawling everywhere but still find it easier to be on our elbows rather than our hands.  He has just started pulling up on things and has figured out how to get his feet under him.  Just this morning, we had our first significant wreck from pulling up.  I have a feeling there is much of that to come.  He is saying Dada and Moma more consistantly.  We have the first signs of teeth trying to come through but on the top.  My mom is convinced this is a sign of him being left handed b/c it is backwards :)  He continues to be a happy, easy going little boy with a smile that melts your heart. His trick now is when you say no he turns and smiles.  All his dad can do is smile back, pick him up and give him a big kiss.  Can we say softey ;)  He continues to be a good eater and likes his veggies and fruit.

Sledding and horseback riding

I am not sure about this

Umm what is happening

Oh I think that this may be fun

I am still not sure about this but Dad had fun

Yeehaw

This is pretty darn fun

Can you tell me what we are doing?

Christmas 2010

Christmas Eve service

Santa is so generous

Look I got plastic to play with

Oh wait carboard is even better

Mom are you sure these are for you?

Watch out Super Mario

I love boxes

Thanks Santa

Rock on

Wait wrapping paper is the BEST

This was an attempt to see how much noise the wrapping paper would make

Thanks Grandpa for my blocks

Sweet an easel

Watch out!! Fully automatic means lots of bullets flying around my head

Thankful Thursday on Wednesday b/c I have tomorrow off :)

I am super thankful for...

1) the wonderful blessing of family being here for Christmas and that the weather did not keep them away
2) for the random money (ada God's provision) that came in that allowed us to get fun Christmas presents for everyone rather than just kids
3) for kiddos that make Christmas have so much more meaning
4) most of all for my Savior that makes all things possible.  Happy Birthday Jesus!!

December 2010

Blake and JT with Santa and Mrs. Claus...JT was more interested in her necklace than anything



JT at his first Christmas party

Mom is mean and made me eat my own food rather than the good stuff

Jumping on grandma's lap (therefore the blurriness)

Checking out Santa at the party

"I am not too sure about this dude, hurry dad"

Papa sitting on Santa's lap...Silly Grandpa

Investigating what the other kids are doing


I am 8 months old

Well he has aquired some new skills in the last month.  He is now crawling but only on his elbows and knees.  His arms are too long to crawl on his hands.  He is busy and all over.  He loves playing with all the toys at daycare and the kids love playing with him.  He is sitting by himself for longer periods of time and has good control when he falls over.  He is waving periodically.  His best skill at this point is that he is saying "mama".  He expecially likes to say it when he is upset and makes whatever is upsetting him that much more dramatic and of course Mama can't resist coming to the rescue.  He continues to get longer and we are having some challenges finding pant long enough and sleeves long enough.  I think this is what I have to look forward to forever :) 

Parade of Lights

We took JT to his first parade on Saturday.  He got to partake of the Parade of Lights down main street.  Here are pictures of him all bundled up and being a big boy in his stroller for the first time. He liked looking at everything and everyone.  He is a people watcher :)  Thankfully it was fairly warm (considering) and we didn't freeze and I didn't have to worry about him freezing.  Everytime we do anything I just keep thinking about how next year will be a whole new ballgame :)

First Thanksgiving

JT had his first Thanksgiving at Great Grandma Curfman's house.  He had his first experience of eating at the table and sitting in his chair that was actually attached to a chair. (I think that this may need further explanation.  Last February, we started doing updates on our home with the idea that we are going to try and sell it.  Part of that was decluttering which included taking the dining room table out and all of the chairs.  So that JT might oneday have a room to sleep in. That is the reason that we don't have a table or chairs at our house.) He got to eat sweet potatoes and pears.  Next year he will have the wonders of the Thanksgiving feast.  His grandma and his auntie were there.  It was a nice day.

Thankful Thursday

It is hard to believe that it has already been a week since Thanksgiving.  This last week has been one that has been full.  This Thursday I am thankful for an opportunity for Rusty to go back to school.  This being said I am also asking for prayer...Here is the full story...Rusty found a program in Grand Junction that is 15 mnths long but he could get an associates degree and several certification in automotive.  We went and looked at the shop and got a tour on Tuesday.  I want Rusty to be able to do this.  I think that it would be great for him and for our family.  The catch is that he would have to stop his job and we would have to find someway of making up that $ b/c his job covers daycare, gas, and food.  We need prayer to know if this is the thing to do and step out in faith or if we are being unwise.  This Thursday I am thankful for those people that are praying for us and for a God that cares enough to lead us and guide us through this life.

Thankful Thursday on Thanksgiving

This year I am thankful for...

1) a healthy baby boy who is a joy and delight
2) a faithful husband who has a heart to be a good husband and father
3) a family who is healthy body, mind, and spirit
4) a God who is faithful and good throughout
5) the challenges that happen in life that remind us of what is important and challenges our faith to grow

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

1) My baby getting rid of his nasty little cough...the trick was saline solution and sucking before every feeding
2) Feeling better and my cough getting better (not so thankful for the asthma diagnosis I got in relation to the cough)
3) An extra day with my dad due to nasty weather earlier in the week
4) Fun new tupperware I got for hosting a party (Rusty equated Tupperware as my jewelry since I don't wear jewelry and error on practicality)

7 months old

Working on crawling

JT is now seven months old.  The floor is where he likes to spend his time rolling around and trying to get his arm and legs coordinated to crawl.  He is able to get up on all fours and rock so it won't be long.  His next favorite activity is jumping on your lap.  As you can see in the pictures he has some good faces that he makes.  He is such a fun little boy.  He is enjoying the new foods.  He seems to enjoy all the fruits, sweet potatoes, and squash.  He tolerates grean beans and doesn't seem to want anything to do with peas and carrots at this time.  His new sound is "ba".  So you will just hear him going "bababa" to anyone that will listen.  He is now at around 15 pounds 7 ounces and is 28 1/2 inches long.  We are wearing nine month stuff b/c of his long arms and legs.  He continues to be a joy and we are enjoying every minute with him.