Who We Are

I believe we are constantly changing and growing and thank goodness for that. Even though I am not a fan of change, it is necessary. As I watch Nora, Ana and Ethan grow into the person God designed them to be I am thankful for change.

Last night we were driving home from church and I asked what they were thankful for. Ana responded; "I am thankful for God and I'm also thankful for you and Daddy". My heart melted. Ethan replied that he was thankful for God and how he made everything. And he went on to say this: "You know what I learned at church?That the more we go to church the more we learn about God and that is totally cool." And in my mind I was thinking that as much as I did not want to leave "our old church" because it was familiar to me and it was a huge change God had a perfect plan for our family. And in the middle of complaining about the change, He still has blessed me with these conversations with my children. Who I wanted to be was not who God had in mind- it is much greater. I have no idea what God has designed for Nora, Ana and Ethan but what I do know is that I will be praying for them daily and hourly if need be. I want them to understand that being who we are is allowing God to have complete control over our lives, our mind, our body and spirit. How amazing to know that I can do ALL things through Christ. But how many times did I do all things through me. More than I can count, I can tell you that. How easier it would have been if I had followed His truths and been obedient. Going forward this year I want more for my family. I desire to control less and allow God's guidance to lead the way. I get nowhere successful without Him. And with this wisdom I want to show by example, I will follow God with all my heart and for Him to make who we are.

Ephesians 1:17-18 "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.."

Seriously!

I have no idea why I put blogging on my New Years resolution list! I have great memories written down of Ana and Ethan but I feel as though I need to blog. Who knows why! But when I blog I feel guilty of the things that I should be doing or the time I should be spending with the kiddos. Oh well.

I shall again, say that I am going to blog this year, turn it into a book for my parents for Christmas and never do it. Maybe I'll surprise even myself with this silly resolution.

Halloween 2011

This past Halloween was so much fun! Ana was five years old and Ethan was three. Halloween costumes can be either really "slutty" (yes, I went there) or too generic. With the kids being able to know and understand I wanted to really out thought into their attire. Ana was a Candy Corn Princess- although she called herself a Candy Corn "witch" and Ethan was our fierce pirate. They were so adorable. I took them to Portrait Innovations to have a picture of them in their costumes and to try to remember this special time. As Halloween quickly approached I began thinking; "all dressed up and nowhere to go". I didn't want to just settle for the traditional door to door but I was running out of time and options. The day of Halloween we picked my husband up from work and were going to go Trick or Treating in Thompson Station. As we were driving (and I am so wishing I could have done more) we looked and a local church was having a carnival free to the public. It was perfect! We ended up going, they had inflatables for the kids to play on, more candy than we have ever seen and we even managed to squeeze pizza in the Ana and Ethan. The church had hundreds of boxes of Dominos Pizza- so we bought a large, sat around and ate as a family and then went back to the action. The night was so much fun. Each room of the children's and preschool area had a game, activity or something for the kids to do. And as you were leaving you got to "trick or treat". Ana and Ethan returned home with 20 pounds of candy. It was hilarious. It was a crazy time with children running everywhere and not to mention on a sugar high. But as we were driving home, looking into the sugar induced Pirate and Candy Corn Princess I would not have changed one thing about our night. It was one that I will always remember and be thankful for.

I love you Ana and Ethan! You rock my world!

Sticky Fingers and Broken Robots

Our new year has begun in full motion. No stopping this family!

Jimbo had Ana and Ethan for the day so I could enjoy a quiet home all to myself. I was dealing with an awful headache and he thought a day home would be just what the doctor ordered. So he took the kids to breakfast, to Family Dollar and bought them a (cheap) toy and finally reached Mimi's house to let them play with their new (cheap) toy. Ethan is destructive with everything he plays with as well as looks at. He's our child that will take it apart to see why and how it works. So with his new purchased transformer robot toy it was no different. He ended up breaking part of it and so his big sister said; "let me see it". She tried but failed and ended up breaking it even more. So by this point, Jimbo was frustrated with them both and the fact that the (cheap) toy was so cheaply made. Go figure. He ended up (in anger) taking the toy and throwing it against the wall and it shattered into a million, zillion pieces. (Yes, zillion is a word when you have children) And what happened? Well, both Ana and Ethan burst into tears and were sobbing. I only know this part because I just happened to call to check on them. Call it a "Mom's intuition". Jimbo knew he was wrong and he did feel just horrible about overreacting. But he was tired of them breaking everything they get. So to make up for his "tantrum" he took them to Dollar General to get Ethan a new robot. He didn't want to go back to the same store in one day. At the register, Ethan handed the lady his toy and she said; "Oh how sweet you're getting a new toy". And Ethan replied; "Yep, Daddy got really mad and threw my other toy across Mimi's wall and it broke in a ton of pieces". Jimbo quickly stepped in with a bright red face and said; Oh, he tells tales all the time". Ana immediately said: No, Daddy Ehtan's right that did happen!". All I can say is "the truth will set you free". I am still laughing over this one and will for a long time.

So the next day (after the broken robot incident) you'd think life would go back to "our normal". Perhaps its because I spent too much time laughing at the Jimbo and the robot. Or how I asked him if we needed to paint Mimi's wall from robot scars.

Ethan was beyond tired but I wanted to wait a little longer before I put him down for a nap. Even at three years old Ethan still needs a nap some days. Looking back its one of those times I wish I had just put him in his bed. But again, I thought things would be fine. There weren't. I was in my bedroom folding laundry and I had left Ana and Ethan on the couch watching TV. Pretty simple. So in a few minutes Ethan comes into my bedroom and his hands are so shiney. And he keeps saying; Mama, help me. I have sticky glue on me". Just looking at him I thought he had some type of lotion. But I wondered where he could have gotten it. So I reached down (with both hands) and touched his hands. When I tried to break free I couldn't!! I squealed and instantly realized he had somehow gotten into super glue! I love this child but there ain't no way I'm going to be stuck to him. So I rushed us to the bathroom where I ran cold water over our hands and we broke loose. I was speechless for a minute of so. The next three hours Ana and I picked and pealed his hands from all the glue. He was absolutely tormented over the fact the glue would not come off. And I know how frustrating that feels because I had my own to try and get off. And while I wish this was all that to deal with its not. I still have to figure how I'm going to get the super glue off my kitchen and dining room floor. But that's for another day. That night, Ethan looked up at me and asked; "Mama, you mad at me?" I giggled and said: "No, son, I'm not. I love you both very much. God gave me you and I'm so happy you are my son and Ana is my daughter." And that is the truth. But from here on out all glue is now locked up. The kids were in the bed by the time Jimbo got home. I was in bed reading when he sat down next to me and said; "You wouldn't believe the day I had today- it was crazy".

I laughed and said; "Really? Huh, I wouldn't know about that".

New Year with New Adventures

How many times do we begin on a "new year high"? We're going to exercise, get that perfect job or just be a better person. I have come to realize that I will break my resolution(s) every time and for that I do not make them- anymore. This year I want to spend more time reading to my children; to instill that God loves them and His love with never fail. I've already seen families lose loved ones and this is just the second day of 2012. I was shown this morning that loving people is the best gift you can give them. You see, loving, is the kindest act there is. I can go out and buy Ana and Ethan gifts all day. But what is that "teaching" them? Nothing. I want them to see how much they can give just by loving others. Love produces acts of kindness, generosity, selfishness and so on. As we go about our day today it will consist of drawing pictures to cheer our family and friends up, baking cookies for a dear friend and continuing to pray for those that need it. I want them to be "Tebow" of their generation. Happy 2012!

Bath Tub Talk

This morning began as any other wild day beginning with Ana wanting to play dolls in the bath tub and Ethan wanting his "emergency truck" aka: fire truck. My mother-in-law, Jamie was going to be at our house at 9:00am to bring over a few things. I wanted to have coffee for us to (hopefully) enjoy and also wanted to make the kids muffins that they had been asking for. Everything was going smoothly until bath time. I had put Ana and Ethan in the bath tub together and had just gotten out Ana out when I realized I had forgotten to get her panties. I told her to begin getting her shirt on and I would run and get her socks and panties. Ethan, at this point was still in the bath tub and quiet. (that should have clued me in) I come right back and Ana looks at me and says; "Momma, you not going to be happy". I said; "What is it?" And she replied; "Ethan pooped in the bath tub". I began to laugh and asked her; "Well, will go in there and clean it for me?". She wrinkled her nose and said; "No, that is GROSS Mama". So I walked in the bathroom and there he was standing up in the bath tub holding a pile of poop- just for me. I said; "Oh, thank you, buddy". And Ethan replied; "You welcome. You mad Mama?I go poop. Here you go". Thank goodness it was solid because it could have been worse. And I know this from experience. So I get him out and he is still as a statue while I clean the tub and re-run him new bath water. It was an interesting start to a busy day. I have to say, we had a wonderful visit with Grandma Jamie and no poop in the world could have ruined that.

What's Your Name

Growing up my Dad had a nickname for everyone he ever met. My grandfather’s name was James Roth and he nicknamed him "hot rock". Why? My Dad explained to me that he had a hot temper and he was the most stubborn person you would ever meet. He also said that if my grandfather had it in his head that the stop sign was green he would argue with you that it was actually green. (Well, now I know where I get my stubbornness from.) My Dad also had a name for my grandmother and it was "granny franny". Not the best choice of names but then again, my grandmother would not expect any less from him. The list (of his victims) goes on but the one that has affected me the most is the one he gave me when I was 12 years old. How bad could it be, right? Well, it is so bad that is has gone through three generations and is still holding strong. My sister, Haley was having a hard time pronouncing my name. She was still really small and we were working with her on her words. My name came out one day as "Boo". And once Dad caught wind of it and the name Boo has stayed with me ever since. It has stayed so much that even my niece calls me Boo. My children actually call me that when they want to pick on me. (which is quite regularly) It’s the nickname that will never die. I can remember my father’s co-workers would also call me Boo and now my husband family also calls me Boo every once in awhile.

I began thinking today of all the nicknames I gave my family that have stayed. My grandfather that I was talking about earlier I named him "Pa". And my grandmother I called "Mom". And yes, it gets quite confusing when we are all together. My aunt, whose real name is Jennifer is now "Kiki" to all who know her. I'm trying to get her to change her facebook name to Kiki. My Dad is now "Papa" to his grandchildren and even me. I think that name fits him quite well. And my Mom is "Mimi". She makes a great Mimi.

My niece, Nora named my husband "Bubba". And of coarse, my Dad has kept it up. That one is really funny. So even our husbands are not without the curse of the nicknames. When you think about it, it says something for someone to give you a nickname; like that they feel comfortable enough to have a special "name" for you. It creates a family environment and that place you can call home. I am honored to carry the name that my sister gave me and my Dad will never let die- Boo.

Ana and Ethan have already changed the names of already some of our family members. Justin, my sister's husband (and my husband's brother) is now known as JJ. Ana was having a hard time saying Justin and it one day came to her that he was JJ. Justin will always be JJ to my kids. And Ethan does call my Dad, Papa but he is recently calling him, Rod-ger. (translation is Roger) Its funny that even though the nickname was decided on as Papa- my son is breaking all the rules! But what can I say; Ethan is turning out to be a lefty like his Papa Roger and is the spitting image of my Dad. I also envisioned myself as being called, Mom. But my kids call me "Mama". Once we finally got the gift of children I think I would have settled with Boo. I was so longing to be a Mom. And my husband is "Daddy". As it should be.

Nicknames will change or remain the same but as the person carrying the name we will be the blessed ones. For a child to be creative by selecting that one and special name is a memory that will last forever. So cherish what name your kids, grandkids selected for you because it could be the best gift you could ever get.