Motherhood

People say that before you have kids you should try raising a puppy. That wasn't our intention when we got the newest member of our family, but it's turning into some good learning experiences.

It's the little things like cleaning up waste and listen to the yelping that tend to drive you crazy. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Bo! She is so cute, but still learning that going potty in the house is NOT acceptable. Learning patience and a balance of discipline and love has been fun.

I do have a confession to make about losing my patience with Bo. She refuses to go to the bathroom when it's raining. She sits under the tiny overhang on the house and waits for you to come let her in. Trust me, I watch. One potty break though, I didn't watch for one reason or another. So not even a minute later in walk the dogs and a puddle of pee on the carpet. I lost it! She had been going to the bathroom in the house all day and I was stressed out from something else; aka not in a good mood. I literally had to put Bo down and scream before doing anything! If I had not I would have disciplined her out of anger and not to correct her behavior.

I was so shocked that I felt that way. I can count on my hand the number of times that I've lost my temper like that. It was scary, but very eye-opening. Oh my goodness I'm not ready for children! I know if God provides them He will also provide the necessary skills to raise them. I just don't think now is that time!

On a lighter note, I LOVE the weather today! It's finally feeling like fall! So I went outside and did some yard work. I really don't like yard work, especially because it's a lot right now since the owners before us didn't take care of it. Now I have four very large piles of leaves to pack up. :)

I took a break to get back to my Betty Crocker side of being a wife. It was time to put the lasagna together for dinner tonight. I'm falling in love with my crock pot! I planned meals for two weeks and I think we'll have food for four weeks! PTL! I'm not the best cook and crock pots make the cooking beyond easy. You mix together whatever you're cooking and leave it for hours to cook itself! I think it's the best invention ever for those of us who are no good at cooking!

Well, this is very long and props to those of you that have read the whole post.

For such a time as this....

Death can really change people. This can be for worse or better. I have an old high school friend, Raymond, who passed away today. I'm still in the shocked phase and not believing it yet. I probably won't until the funeral, if I get to go. I haven't seen him in...well it's been a couple years, but I'll never forget him.

Raymond could always put a smile on your face. He was part of the "group" I hung out with during those four years of my life. He truly had a great smile that you couldn't help but smile too. It was a sudden medical emergency that took his life so it's not something anyone could plan for. How young! He graduated with my older brother and most of my friends. :)

I haven't seen many high school friends since parting ways for college and it will be so nice to see them again. Please pray with me that God works in their lives and mine. That instead of getting mad and turning their backs on God they look to Him for strength and comfort. This could be a great opportunity for God to show His compassion and love through Christians. Pray that people will be saved, because we know God has the power. Many of my friends know what I believe but haven't chosen that path for themselves. I long for God to use this to save them.

I have a deep desire for God to show me who He is in more spectacular ways than I have known. I yearn for others to experience Him as well. To know what I feel. To know you're NEVER alone, no matter how much it feels like it. That there is someone who will listen to you cry and comfort you. Lord, be with me, be with us through this season in our lives.

Saturdays

I love Saturdays. Mostly because Matt doesn't work and we have time to catch up. Some Saturdays are spent doing literally nothing and then there are ones like today. What a productive day so far!

We've cleaned the house, together, and I've started my first meal in my crock pot. I'm so exited! We're having friends over so I hope it turns out well! I'm going easy and making BBQ Sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

I'm still frustrated with some of the layout of our house, but it can't change until we have more furniture. Our front room, that's an entrance into our home, is a room I can't figure out what I want to do with. It's not closed off and is split with the room next to it with some pillars. I've thought about making the first room a sitting room and the one next to it for kids. Most of our family has kids and it would be easy to sit and have "grown-up time" and be able to keep an eye on them. We could even watch them from the kitchen. Well, we have plenty of time to figure it out because I have to get a job before we spend more money. :)

I hope you have a great and productive Saturday today!

Coffee?

Sometimes I wish I were a coffee drinker. Even something like cappuccino, frapucino (I can't even spell it!), latte, whatever. The taste of coffee is just not comforting to me. I'm partially grateful; it's one less food or beverage to get addicted to. The downside is that I don't go to places like Starbucks much. I LOVE the setting, but can't pay $3 for some hot chocolate I could make myself, ya know?

If I had to point to something that pushed me away from coffee, it would definitely be my parents. You can ask any one of my brothers. They were either turned on or off of coffee because of our Dad and Mom. EVERY morning they would have a cup with breakfast and another on the road. Often their work place would have coffee so yet another cup was gained. And living in Michigan it is cold 80% of the time and coffee is a warm beverage... so naturally they would have it in the afternoon or evening as well.

With that said there was always the coffee breath smell they could never rid of. Oh and Mom would reheat her drink in the microwave and forget it. We would later go to heat up something else and laugh or roll our eyes when we would find her coffee mug still there. Sometimes we even would leave it next to the microwave and she wouldn't notice until hours later! And the memories of Dad leaving his mugs under the driver's seat of the car. Some people pill up trash, never would Dad. He would however have up to four mugs at a time under his seat. I guess there would be more except he probably ran out of room!

Oh my coffee woes! Maybe my taste buds will change, but until that day, coffee shops will be a rare and special occasion for me.

The First

I've never been big on blogs. Why would someone want to read about my life? Well, I've become very interested in other people's blogs and have found it to be a great way to keep people updated when I can't talk to them regularly.
So if you have a blog and know me, feel free to follow along as I follow you.