Midland, Texas

I am exhausted but I just had to tell you about my day. Yesterday was awesome and Mom let me borrow her camera so I have like 500 pictures (from camera withdrawal). I am too tired to post about that and upload all the pics so I will tell you about that later.

We made a last minute decision to go to Midland with Josh. He was just taking a short trip and wanted us to meet his main distributor there. We left about 6am and got here about 11. We dropped Josh off and headed to the mall where we stayed for the next 5 hours. We played and walked around and ate lunch and did all that again (except the eating lunch part).

Sam had Dippin' Dots for the first time and LOVED them. They are ridiculously overpriced but I told her she deserved a treat for being so good and let her pick between cookies or ice cream and she chose the ice cream!

We both got our hair cut....pictures to come. She looks all grown up now and it makes me so sad!

We went to dinner with Josh's distributor and his family and we had a wonderful time. They have a 5 year old little girl and a 3 year old little boy so the kids had fun together! It was also a blessing for Josh to find out that they are Christians. It was awesome to hear the testimony of God's faithfulness with their tithe.

The kids were AMAZING all day. There was only ONE breakdown from Sami all day long and that was a completely valid one. While at the mall, Sam fell and down and a man walking along went to help her up and she FLIPPED out! I mean really lost it. I felt so bad for her....she was clearly frightened. I don't know what it is, but she has had several serious freak outs with guys she doesn't know touching her or getting in her space. I am actually very thankful for this!

Anyway, we are having a lot of fun....this is a good break from our regular routine!

What's up with Reagan?

So, what's going on with me right now?

Well, I am keeping up with 2 kiddos. Sam is still having some "sickness" and if it continues I will be taking her in for some testing. I am ready to deal with all this GI stuff......figure out what's going on. You can be praying about that. Oh....and Sam has been having LOTS of accidents. We think it may have to do with her bathroom sickness issues but please pray that she does not go back to diapers.

I am spending TONS of time outside with Sam and Maddie treasuring the wonderful weather.

I am enjoying Josh while he is home....which hasn't been much lately. I am amazed at how AWESOME he is at his job. Currently he is looking at a minimum of 2 months far exceeding his projected goals. Sales is hard but he makes it look like a piece of cake. God has really given Josh a gift and I am so blessed to have God work out his career so that he is able to use that gift on a daily basis. He is an INCREDIBLE speaker and I am praying that God will open up doors for him to use that gift as well.

I am trying to think of anything around this house I can sell to save up and buy that camera I am DYING for. I still have not found old faithful so I must buy something soon.....why waste any money on anything less than my dream?

We are in the process of completely making over our backyard.....not out of desire but out of necessity. We made a decision to drain and remove our pool for safety reasons. Between Foxy and the pool; my stress level was out of control. Worrying about a toddler and their antics is enough.....adding anything else is just silly. Finding Foxy a new home has been SUCH a relief. Now, to get rid of the pool....how nice it will be. Stepping out of the shower to a quiet house immediately turned my mind to my daughter floating in the pool.....not something to think about daily.

I am working on a Home Management Binder. I have been wanting to do this for some time and am finally getting around to actually doing it. I will post more about that when I am finished.

I am working through a Bible Study called "Seeking Him" by Nancy Leigh Demoss with some wonderful sisters. I am involved in a book club which is reading "Ruthless Trust" by Brennan Manning and am reading "Creative Counterpart" by Linda Dillow on my own.

My blogroll is steadily growing to a ridiculous number.....there are so many great blogs out there. I have found soooo many cool projects to make.....FUN!

I am working (slowly but surely) on improving this blog. If you have any suggestions I am open. I am also considering starting another blog.

Josh is enjoying the COWBOYS!

I am currently praying for healing for lots of people around me and am so THANKFUL that we are healthy (for the most part) at this house!

I am not watching any of the political debates because my mind has already been made.....I will be voting for life!

I am blessed!

Keeping God in Smiles

As I drove away, child screaming in the rear of the car, I was struck by the connection. Is this not how God feels about His children?

Since becoming a parent I have constantly been amazed by the likeness of God’s love for us and our love for our children. This was certainly no accident on God’s part; knowing that most of His children would come to know the love in the heart of a parent; another opportunity to reveal himself all the more. No matter the amount of times I am reminded that God’s love for us far exceeds the love we have for our own children…..each time I am taken aback….delighted at the thought. The clarity in this connection is insurmountable.

As I strolled the aisles of Target, a battle began….a battle of wills. Sam was not getting her way and she was letting all know. Her shrieking, tears and all out drama were lost on no one. Choosing to spare the other shoppers, we made our way to the car where the battle spiraled out of control. Not even discipline could break this gal. Screams continued to flood the car for a good 20 minutes until she realized that her efforts were unsuccessful; falling on deaf ears(or so I made her believe).

It was during this screaming session that God whispered in my ear…..”this is you, my dear.” And so I began to associate my feelings for Sami to God’s feelings for me.

I realized that during all of this “fit throwing” I never once loved her any less…..in fact, that never even crossed my mind. However, I most assuredly was not enjoying her at the moment. Oh, how many times have I left God unable to enjoy his daughter?

And isn’t it the parent that cares for the child and guides and disciplines because they know best? Why is it that I am so arrogant to think that I know better than God? Why do we fight so hard for what we want when we know God is wiser? If I can take any hints from my daughter, it has something to do with a strong will.

I have to tell you that perspective has made all the difference once again. God will ALWAYS love me, no matter how foolish, arrogant and selfish I act. God may NOT always enjoy me! Off to work on keeping God in smiles!

No Cool Cuts 4 Kids

Oh wait.....I thought of something......Cool Cuts 4 Kids. I wanted to get Sami's hair cut today. Jenna, Maddie's X-Mommy, posted a before & after of her little 23 month old. WOW is all I can say. It inspired me.

I have been procrastinating .....I am afraid of a bad cut. Josh is adamant that if I get it cut it has to be a swing bob (which is good because that's what I like also). Anyway, this is a hard cut to do and I am so terrified that she is going to have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad haircut! (if you can call the reference you get a cookie ; )

I needed to go to 1/2 Price Books today and guess what is also in the same shopping center.....Cool Cuts 4 Kids. I figured I ought to just give 'em a chance. I showed up.....not a single person acknowledged that we were there. How nice!

There were like 6 kids ahead of her, 1 person cutting hair and 1 person styling hair (weird!). Anyway..... one of the people waiting had an "appointment" but apparently all that really means is that when you get there, you are the next in line. She finally asked someone when she might get her "turn" and explained she had an appointment. You would have thought she just put this lady in her place the way she responded......man was she pleasant! YIPEE.....I was excited to get my kid in her chair!

Oh my! I was outta there! Soooooo, no haircut for Sami today!

Does anyone know of a good stylist that cuts a mad swing bob?

Uninspired & Just Plain Tired

I just thought I would let you know that I have absolutely nothing to tell you. My brain has seemed to shut down. I am exhausted. I can't really attribute that to much except the monthly joys of being a woman but it is hitting me like a ton of bricks. I hope to have something of any worth to contribute in the near future!

As for now.....I thought I would leave you with my dream......

Do you see the drool???? BEAUTIFUL isn't it!
(Thanks a whole stinkin' lot Daddio)

A Picture & Sadness

I made a shout out to my Dad yesterday for his 60th but I got to thinkin' that you might want to see him, so here is a pic of us (several years ago)......

Awww, doesn't he look like a big ball of love ; ) (and kinda a lumberjack in this pic.....but hey)

Life without a camera is not life at all......ok, so that's a little dramatic but it certainly isn't the same!

The Law of Datelessness

Are you aware that dates are completely irrelevant to a stay-at-home Mom? It is the strangest phenomenon.

I can look at a calendar and yet all I see is....Doc appt next Tues., Date night 3 Fridays from now, _______'s B-Day next Thursday!

You can rest assured that if I have not added your event to my calendar, it will be forgotten. And that even applies to dates that I know that I know that I know(those are the WORST) because I actually have no idea of today's date.

And God forbid (really) that I don't peek at my calendar, you can bet that I will miss something. It has, it seems, become part of my brain.

I am certain I have forgotten more events in my 18 or so months as a SAHM than in all of my life. I know I have received the judgement of, "she stays at home.....it's not like she is too busy to call, be here, shoot an e-mail, etc." and yet, it is not about that at all.

I am trying something new. An online calendar that will text message me events a week, day, hour ahead of time! Too bad I actually have to remember to add the events to the calendar.

Before staying home full time you could not have convinced me that it would be this way. I would have said it was all excuses.......that you would remember the things that are important to you. Oh, I remember the date, but dates are irrelevant.......tell me a day and I will be golden!

Birthday Boy!

(Little Man happens to be 3 months old today also)

CRAZY changes!

How bout it! I finally did it! It's not just a header and a background, but the whole shebang!

It likely won't stay this way......I have already designed another outfit.....much scrappier.....but I just had to load it up because I was so proud of myself.

Were you wondering if you had come to the right place?

Divine Appointment with Humilty!

I left the house this evening for a short trip to Wally World to get my papers and return a movie. I made it all the way to Walmart before realizing that I didn't have my wallet. This was not because I had left it at the house, it was because Josh had taken it out of my purse and had not returned it. Needless to say, I was not happy. In fact, I was thinking about how I was going to go about making him feel guilty for causing me so much trouble!

I turned around, grabbed my wallet and headed back to the store. After grabbing my papers I surveyed the check stands gambling on the "fastest" (which always ends up being the slowest for me) line. I chose a "self check out" stand. There was only one person in line in front of me so I figured it wouldn't take long. I was wrong. This lady owed $20 and was paying for it in dimes! Yes, you heard me right.....DIMES!

Josh still wasn't feeling well so I had promised him a quick trip. This really put a damper on that quick trip. I was standing there grumbling in my head about how ridiculous it was for her to come to a grocery store and pay with change......and why didn't she go through a regular line so that she didn't have to break open her rolls and feed each dime individually, how rude.......and didn't she have any consideration for anyone besides herself? Seriously.......when did I get like this?

The line started backing up behind me until people realized what was going on, started rolling their eyes and quickly searching for a new line. Once I saw how ridiculous these people looked.....getting so upset over a few minutes, my perspective changed.

I then began going through all of the reasons why she would be paying with change and remembered all the people from Galveston who had lost everything and evacuated to North Texas.....could she be one of them? I wondered if she was a single Mom doing all she could to get the necessities for her kids and this was all she had.

While my mind was swarming she turned ever so slightly and quietly said, "I'm sorry" with an obvious shame covering her like a black cloud.

My emotions overwhelmed me at this point as I touched her arm and told her not to worry about what anyone thinks. She turned and thanked me, telling me that they would not accept her coins in a regular line. My heart broke.....not even as much for the lady as at my arrogance and hardened heart!

When did I become so much about myself that I don't even stop to think about the fact that everyone else out there actually has a life and doesn't live to please me? That other people out there have lives that aren't always peachy?

Only seconds after we exchanged words did I have a chance to redeem my thoughts and display the grace of God. The change box must have become full. It quit taking her change when she had about $8 left to go. She just kept trying over and over to make it work......clearly beginning to panic. It was OBVIOUS that she needed whatever she was getting and did not know how to make that happen.

I told her not to worry about it.....to take her stuff and go. The mix of relief and shame poured out in her demeanor. She did NOT want to let me help her but she also knew there was no other way. She threw the rest of her change on the counter, apologizing profusely and thanking me.

I really did nothing for her. She didn't even give me the opportunity to pay the bill for her. She did something for me......she gave me the opportunity to see myself as sick and selfish as I truly am.

As I drove home, pondering how God had so clearly worked out the perfect timing for our meeting, I realized how perspective can change everything! I also thought through all of my arrogant comments while driving or shopping or attending events. I am constantly wondering why people are driving like idiots or are so rude and won't smile, etc. etc.......while never considering their circumstances.

I am resolving today to stop and think before I make judgements......to give everyone the benefit of the doubt......to shower everyone with the grace that God gives to each of us even though we don't deserve it! I pray that you will choose to do the same.

First trip to the Fort Worth Zoo!

I realize it has been a few days since I have posted. There is a reason for this. At the beginning of the week Sami was sick (I may have mentioned that ????) I took her to the doctor for what I thought was an ear infection and he said that she had a virus on top of her allergies. Hmmmm. I honestly didn't believe him.

I found out a few days later just how right he was! YUCK! I thought she was getting better and we were in the clear when Spencer started puking his guts out! Poor guy......he couldn't keep anything down! What's crazy is that Sami didn't get so much as an ear infection until she was 8 months old. This is the 2nd time Little Man has been sick and he isn't even 3 months old yet. I guess that's what having an older sibling in the house will do for you (especially one who steals his paci, sticks it in her mouth and then back in his faster than I can even get to her)!

Unfortunately that wasn't the end of the sick drama. Spencer gave it to me and then one of us gave it to Josh. Josh really got a heck of deal.......come home to a house full of sick people and then get the junk worse than anyone else. I felt terrible for him! We are praying that it is over. This stuff is NO fun!

And on to other things......

I kept Levi on Wednesday......I wanted to do something because the weather was beautiful. Sam hadn't been to the zoo yet (I know, I know, we are neglectful parents.....2 yrs old never having been to the zoo......it's a shame) Apparently this wasn't the best idea because Sami wasn't feeling all that great. It was OK but not what I had expected!

As you can see from the pic of Little Man.....he had fun! (he is always smiling.....even when he was sick and pukey he was still smiley......it's fun!)


Sami got to feed the birds.

She was in awe of this elephant!

Mom being a saint by coming and helping out! I wouldn't have even tried it without her.

And here is the mixture of not feeling well and being 2!

haha.....if you think about this pic you would probably ask yourself why I was taking the pic rather than helping her. Sometimes their fits are just amusing and this was one of those times. Oh the drama of a 2 year old!


You like our stroller train?

This is was all of 2 minutes after we got in the car! Guess we wore them out!

And, FYI, if you take a drink into the zoo you have to throw away the lid and straw to protect the animals (uh, OK). Mom and I had bees swarming the strollers......NICE!

The Incongruity of our Nation!

I am baffled. This is absurd and honestly makes no sense. If you can shed some light; please do.

Are you aware that in 25 states you would be charged with homicide for killing a fetus (knowingly killing an unborn child, whether by assault or murder of the pregnant woman)? The only exclusion to this is if the mother kills the baby herself. Oh, yes, of course, that makes sense! In 10 more states you can be charged the same way at a certain point in the pregnancy (typically the average "viable" age)?

Is this not incredulous! In the federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act it specifically states, "The law defines "child in utero" as "a member of the species homo sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb."

I am certainly not against this ruling I am just confused at the polarity of the laws in our nation.

Expanding Judiciously

16 She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. ~ Proverbs 31:16 (Amplified)

I don't know about you, but I have never read this passage in this way. It has never occurred to me to think of it like this. I always thought it was talking about making wise financial decisions. The NASB reads, "16She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard." While I am certain that is a topic of importance here, I do not think it is all there is to gain.

I am going to go out on a limb here and make a general assumption that mothers tend to put too much on their plate. Many times we feel that if something is "good" then we should do it, help with it, etc. I think this scripture gives us the answer to what we should take on and what we should not.

This Godly woman expands her activities wisely; making sure that taking on something new will not take away from the responsibilities with which she is currently involved. WOW! AND, on top of that, it also tells us that the activities she is involved in are fruitful because of the wise decisions she has made! Don't we all want our activities to be fruitful?

Can you imagine how effective the church would be if we all took on what God has apportioned for us? We would not have burned out ladies trying to do 5 different things being ineffective at all 5! I encourage you to find what God is calling you to do and do it.....allow everyone the opportunity to be fruitful! (this is just another way that God has designed the church as a body)

I would also like to encourage all of you SAHM's with small children. A large part of your portion is being at home, leading your child in the ways of the Lord. I think we sometimes feel like we are not doing enough if we are mostly just being a MOM but that is a lie straight from Satan. He wants us to fill ourselves with good stuff so that we don't have enough time or energy for the best stuff! You are fulfilling a ministry that many Mom's don't have the privilege of doing!

Mean Mommy!

I am getting very tired of not having any pictures to post but even more tired of not having my camera when I need it! Just to make you happy I decided to look at some recent videos to see if there were any worth showing. I found one that I (as you will be able to tell) think is pretty funny! I must preface the video by telling you that this was a complete accident on her part and the only reason I even saw her was because she was crying and yelling for my help. I am such a mean Mom and went and got the camera instead of helping her! What can I say?



I am exhausted tonight. I don't know if it's because of the day or if I am getting sick! Sami has been telling me for over a week now that her ear hurts. I never know what is real and what is "play" so I shrugged it off because there haven't been any other symptoms.....UNTIL TODAY! It was obvious that she did not feel well today so I decided to take her to the doc. He says he thinks she has a virus on top of her bad allergies! UGH! Apparently she is not the only one....I have heard of at least 3 families with sick folk! Is it that time again?

The weather has been AMAZING! Yesterday we spent most of the day outside. Sam, Spencer, Maddie and I took a walk around the park. Once we got home I put Spencer to bed and Sam, Maddie and I went back outside! I was actually surprised that she had any energy left after the park......oh to be little again!

She made me laugh yesterday when the old people across the street got home. The old lady comes over occasionally and visits so, Sam has gotten to know her a bit. When they pulled in the driveway Sam yelled, "PAWPAW!" I guess she thinks all old people have the same name!

Please pray that the medication they gave us for Sami helps heal her.....it makes me sad when she feels bad, plus it was soooo expensive!

Procrastination

HILARIOUS......it was one of those moments where you are supposed to be mad and stern with your kiddos but it is so stinkin' hard because you are trying desperately not to laugh. I failed tonight and not only laughed at Sami's antics but I also woke up Spencer in the process!

So, Josh left town tonight right before Sam's bedtime. He has been here for almost a week and a half so I didn't expect things to go too well. She was pretty fussy so I put her down about 7:30. Usually she will open the door a time or two trying to procrastinate but tonight, WOW! It must have been like 15 times. She wanted me to tell her goodnight, close her door, get her more juice, etc. each time she opened the door. The second to last time I told her that she better go get in bed and if she opened the door again, she was getting a spankin'! (typically this is all it takes to get her to mind)

I hear her in her room talking to herself (which is not unusual) but then I hear the door creep open and she says "S-A-M-I" and then, "S-A-M-I" louder and then, "Mommy, S-A-M-I" with total excitement! It was hilarious! She knew that I would be so proud of her that I wouldn't be able to smack her! She was right! I tried to just pretend like I couldn't hear her while I was in the living room cracking up but after about the 10th, "Mommy S-A-M-I" at the top of her lungs I thought I better tell her "good job!" in hopes that she would just shut the door and go to bed......it worked!