Decision!

I have been a stay at home mom for the past 4years. I have been there with him for ALL of his moments! Big or little they have all been imprinted on my heart. Even when I fuss/whine/moan/ groan! About his eating habits, toileting set backs and wake up times that seem to be more in line with the birds than humans. Each moment is a joy, maybe not right away, but it's really a true joy to be able to be there always for him (excluding date nights or mom's night/day's out!!) But now I face a challenging decision, do I go "back to work"? There are several great things about working outside the home(I have a list of at least 5 pros!) I hold nothing against "working mom's" in fact I applaud them. Just the thought of "going back" terrifies me(I have 7 con's)?!!? It really strikes my heart with fear and sadness. And I am struggling to reflect why? What is it that causes me to tear up each time I think of working outside the home? Thus far I haven't been able to put my finger on it, only to be able to finger the actual emotions I feel inside each time the topic comes up. Terror....Sadness...Stress...Overwhelming... Tentative.... Its not the first time I've been at a loss of what to do, yet its the first time as a mommy. I was hoping it would be a little more clearer as to which path I should take, which opening I should pass through, what decision I should make. All I know for certain is "I'm gonna miss this!"http://youtu.be/lBDN8yWyNYU At least this moment will be captured in time for me to look back at as a mom of a teenager when I want to sell him to the zoo! Or pay the circus to take him!

Dream a little dream of...

http://youtu.be/oY6KMoioSog

Okay, I know that song has absolutely nothing to do with the thoughts I'm about to share with you but!!! It's the peppiest little tune and it has the phrase in it I used as my title so I figured I'd better throw my props out there:)

I'm sure you've noticed, by now, how "dreams" (future aspirations) have changed since you were about 5 years old/ understanding the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" What was your five year dreams? Did they differ from year to year? Who inspired those dreams? What inspired those dreams? How much different are your dreams now from then? For me... not so much... I mean sure, I had the occasional "I wanna be a ballerina" (I have two left feet, really, I do!), "I wanna be a princess/royal dignitary" (I'm thinking my story wouldn't have turned out as Cinderella with the "sassy sass" I dish out!), or the "I want to be a successful "business" woman" (now if I just liked sitting at a desk for extended periods of time....doh!) But through all those dreams I found one to ring true, when I grow up I want to be a mom! And guess what, I am!! Isn't that awesome? I am amazed every day I hear "Mommy!" and realize its me the small child is referring to I smile! (unless it's "mommy! mommy! mommy! mommy!" then it's more of a grimace but...who's counting?)

Now that the "Mom" dream is realized, I realize I have other dreams to chase! Here are a few of them...

1. Leaving a legacy behind me that my family/loved ones can celebrate
2. Knowing my child(ren) are believers of Jesus Christ
3. Finishing my Bachelors degree (and possibly a Masters)
4. Realizing my desire to create a welcoming daycare/preschool/re-source center for special abilities children and their families:)
5. Being a Proverbs 31 woman (at least close to one:)
6. Finishing my basement!!(and 2nd bathroom!)
7. Creating healthy habits (working out, eating right, daily devotions....)
8. Blogging regularly
9. Being a good friend
10. To have more babies!!(naturally or adopted:)
11. Self control to resist chocolate!

So what are your dreams? Or future aspirations ? Have you spoken them aloud? Do you pray about them? do you dare to dream a little dream?

Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Delay of game!!

Phew! Time fly's when your having fun! And when your stressing out about stuff! Either way it just keeps tick, tick, ticking away!POOF! A month has past and I haven't blogged, what is with that? I guess I figured laundry, dishes, cleaning, meals... were a little more important:) Or was it that REALLY good book? Or it could have been me enjoying the fleeting day's of summer! Literally they are, fleeting away right before my very eyes! I had to wear jeans 'the other day' really?!? I'm not ready for summer to be over! But I am, because with the end of summer come's a new adventure! PRESCHOOL (home schooling)!! I don't mean just the age group I mean my small child is actually ready to do some school work! I am so excited to be able to see him work at something and then.... **light bulb** those moments are so precious as a teacher and I'm sure more so now that I'm a mom! Time to start digging out ALL those teacher made resources I've been hording, transporting and collecting over the years. As soon as I figure out how to post pictures on here I will add a few of the resources, easily made, can be used in your home to enhance even a regular day! keeps the TV off and the child engaged! oh happy day!

FYI

I just thought I'd let you know: those delicious coffee creamer (you know, international delights dark chocolate and MANY other delightful flavors) are FREEZE-able!! That means when there is a crazy good sale, or you have multiple coupons, or room to stock up on a discontinued favorite! Go ahead and keep one out and FREEZE the rest! Then take them out as needed!(the night before because going to make coffee and NOT having the creamer is sadness!!) They also make great gifts for the coffee drinker you visit:) As a "thank you for letting me crash here" gift!! Happy Monday!!

a thought to think...

The other day (which in my world could literally mean the OTHER day or it could mean weeks, months, years ago;) a friend of mine posted an article about how blogging was selfish. I was like "WHOA!!" and then like "Whoa" so I discontinued blogging for about 19 days to think and pray about what it was I am actually trying to do with this blog (BESIDES promoting my...*cough cough* own AWESOME ideas;) http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Famous-Blog Read point number 4, it will make you stop and think for a minute.. why am I blogging? what is my motivation? to be immortalized forever in this world or am I using it to glorify the Lord? So....why am I blogging? I know now:) It really is just a way for me to share the ideas that are inside my head, maybe they are helpful, maybe they are not, but it does leave me with a feeling of bountiful peace when the idea is out there. I wont lie, it makes me feel uber special when one of my friends/stalkers/admirers comments on my postings....oops! my human nature is showing again?!? This verse 2 Corinthians 3:5-6(MSG) "We wouldn't think of writing this kind of letter about ourselves. Only God can write such a letter. His letter authorizes us to carry out this new plan of action. The plan wasn't written out with in on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes, killing your spirit. it's written with Spirit on spirit, his live on our lives" No fair taking this out of context! I am not trying to say I am writing the Bible here... just a place I can write my thoughts down and share them with my friends and if they are helpful they can share them with their friends and so on... it's a better way of playing telephone because you can read what the original person wrote and not have to guess from the whispering's of others(nifty, another cool topic to explore!!!):) So with that said, I am going to try my best to keep this blog strictly to glorify my creator who created me to be; a bouncy ball, with all the flaws and imperfections that make for a uniquely effervescent ball bouncing along life's way!!

more BUGS!?!? in my food

Another twist on an old favorite! just to add texture in a non threatening way, also other forms of protein.

BUGS in noodles

Mac N cheese (how ever your family prepares it)

Black beans

1.) make your macaroni and cheese 2.) add black beans to the macaroni and cheese 3.) Serve BUGS in noodles and let the kids "play" with the theme:)

IDEA!! Make a center piece out of bugs and plants! Have a magnifier at the table so they can investigate their food. Maybe put on "safari" hats and be bug hunters! If your kiddo is as "picky" as mine, playing at the dinner table (in a respectable fashion) is a much needed thing! B always had 2-3 "meal time buddies" to help him eat his food! (just make sure they are dishwasher safe!)

BUGS!!in my food?!?

Soo.... another picky eater recipe! Finding way's to shorten the eating time (from 2hrs to 45/1hr) kept me on the hunt and forced me to be a little creative with food. I am sure I am not the first person to blog about this, "cook" this, or even think of this but! I figured I'd share it and maybe it's helpful to one.

Ant's On a Log/Frogs on a lily pad

bread/leftover pancakes

banana's(frogs)

peanut(other nut) butter

cinnamon sugar/ sprinkles

raisins(bugs/ants)

carrots(log)

1.) prep carrots into thin sticks, wide enough to spread peanut butter on 2.) spread peanut butter onto bread and carrots 3.) adorn peanut buttered carrot(log) with raisins(bugs) 4.) cut bread into four equal parts 5.) cut banana into circles 6.) place one banana circle (frog) on each lily pad (bread/peanut butter) 7.) sprinkle frog with cinnamon sugar/sprinkles 8.) serve with milk and you have a complete meal!!