7 Quick Takes

 

Linking up with Kelly...

- 1 -

My kids love to draw. Because I am a lousy mom I keep about 5% of their art. Before you award me with the "Worst Mom Ever" trophy please understand that on average my kids produce about 8 to 10 two-sided pages of drawings per day. I'm pretty sure the forests out there are plotting our demise as I write this. At any rate there is a folder that I put some of the art and my 4 year old son has some real winners. 

Existential crises abound in the Egg People...

- 2 -

 As Leo was drawing the other day we had this exchange...

Leo : Mom! Come over here and look at this creature! But don't look there because those are his private parts...

Me: What?! Draw some clothes on your creature!

Leo (chuckling) : He can't wear clothes - he's way too fat!

Me : Leo, we do NOT draw private parts

Censored by the artist

- 3 -

The weather has been beautiful over the past week so we have been spending lots of time outside. The kids still aren't sure what to make of having a big yard. Pretty sure they don't think we are the actual owners.

Perhaps the best photo I've ever taken

Nothing like a pleasant drive in the grass..

Some days she lives in this dress

My little beauty

Tess didn't want to leave that tree

- 5 -

Us country folk have burn piles. Most people use them to burn leaves, branches that fall from trees, etc. We inherited a burn pile from the previous owners. I say "burn pile" but really I mean "burn mountain"

 

For the sake of scope

I don't look forward to dealing with this. We have an acquaintance who has offered to help us burn it safely and thank goodness because I don't think we had any idea just how out of our depth we were until we started talking strategy. On the upside, the pyro in me is like 

- 6 -

We started preschool the other day and it's hard to stress how not structured or serious we are about it. The only thing that we have real lessons for is the alphabet (we've tackled the short vowel sounds for "a" and "e"). This may or not be sticking. It does help fill the time a little and at least it exposes the kids to the alphabet so hey, small victories. One hilarious byproduct is that Leo has taken to asking Tessa and me to repeat things after him with no context whatsoever, asking me to correctly identify things in his drawings, and congratulate me when I say something he deems accurate. 

- 7 -

If you happen to have competitive toddlers I highly suggest buying this game. Actually I just recommend the game. My kids have been having a blast playing it and since it's cooperative we end each game with highfives instead of tears. We bought it so that my 2 year old would have a game that she could play with us without feeling left out or confused. It arrived the day of her special night of the month and she was tickled pink to be able to stay up playing a real actual game with mommy and daddy (and the sleepless wonder)

~ Happy Friday ~

I Am Not Enough

I was never someone who struggled with figuring out what my vocation was. WHO my vocation was? Yeah sure that took longer than I expected. But the whole "wife and mom" thing was on my radar for forever. I don't say this because I think I'm a rarity here - plenty, if not the majority, of women have felt similarly. What has come as a shock is how much I struggle in this vocation. I like to joke that I was a much better mom before I had kids.

↑

I know the blogosphere is FULL of posts about how hard motherhood is, how tough marriage can be, how there isn't enough support, etc. etc. etc. But while any number of those speak to how I feel none of them have been in my own words so what's one more? 

I am not enough. There. I said it. This is the refrain that I hear in my head almost all day and the majority of my nights thanks to The Sleepless Wonder 

John AKA The Sleepless Wonder

I am not enough. I am not patient enough. I am not selfless enough. I am not loving enough. I am not kind enough. I am not good enough. I am not holy enough. I am not smart enough. I am not strong enough. I am not talented enough. I am not woman enough. God made a mistake. I am not the mom these beautiful children deserve. I am not the wife my amazing husband deserves. I AM NOT ENOUGH.

I can't do it. I can't make another meal plan. I can't do another load of laundry. I can't wash the same dishes one more time. I can't keep my temper in check. I can't survive on the consistent lack of good sleep. I can't be touched by one more person. I can't handle one more temper tantrum. I can't keep the house clean. I can't let anyone see how inadequate I am. I CAN'T DO IT.

Before you start with the words of encouragement or disapproval I need you to understand that that is not what I am looking for. I need your prayers. Because whatever you might think the truth of the matter is that I am right - I am not enough and I can't do it. Maybe these thoughts begin as seeds sown by the Devil, thoughts that are meant to make me despair. Sometimes it feels like that. But our God is a Father and He does not abandon His children, even if it might feel like it sometimes. So I can sit here and say these things and find consolation because even though I am not enough, He is. Even though I can't do it, He can. And today that is enough.

I will end this with two scripture passages that mean a great deal to me these days. Hopefully you will find consolation in them as well.

 

7 Quick Takes : Life Lately

 

Linking up with Kelly...

- 1 -

We bought a new house last week and moved in over the course of this past week. It's funny how that's such a simple sentence to type and such an absurdly difficult thing to accomplish in reality! I don't understand complicated things like Math so I am not going to hazard a guess as to how much my husband moved completely solo with the help of our trusty van but guys, it was A LOT. I am talking about a minimum of 8 separate trips with the Odyssey ENTIRELY LOADED (seats down/out). Who loaded and unloaded the van each time? My husband. Also, one trip involving a 16-foot moving truck. Forgot that one. Seriously insane.

- 2 -

We now live out in the country. Beforehand we lived literally one minute from downtown, was on city water/electric/trash, etc. We now have a well and septic system (I don't even know what that really means), are part of an electric cooperative (I DEFINITELY don't know what that means but I do know that we have power), and it takes a little more planning to go downtown. A slight shift in lifestyle shall we say.We aren't hardcore (or even medium-core really) like a lot of families and pay someone to come and pick up our trash. He is the quintessential mountain man - huge, bearded, deep voice, and a giant truck.

- 3 -  

Our property has 3 beautiful acres; our last one had .17 acres. There is a lot of responsibility that comes into owning land. While the lot is beautiful it is in need of a lot of reclamation. I am truly in awe of what has been accomplished already this week thanks to the amazing hard work of my father in law and my husband and I cannot wait to see what the next several months (years?) will bring. This brings me to...

- 4 - 

My in-laws visited this week to help us with unpacking and settling in. If you can have someone like them in your corner at a time like this you are pretty much set. After 2 1/2 days every box was unpacked, art was hung, windows were dressed, bathroom fixtures installed, play equipment for the kids put up, and the yard tackled with gusto. There are simply no words to describe the night and day difference. I am so blessed!

- 5 -

Our backyard butts up to a heavily wooded area and seems to be home to a number of deer. These deer frequent our backyard a few times every day and the kids absolutely geek out every time. It will be a lot of fun to see what it's like in springtime when there are fawns about.

- 6 -

We are starting small. Maybe someday down the road we will be living on a farmette with a ginormous garden, fruit trees and fruit bushes, chickens, dogs, cats, etc. but that is not in the cards for right now. I say this because I need this in writing. I need to have documentation that I said this, believed it strongly, and knew at the time I wrote it that trying to act differently would almost certainly result in me going crazy.

- 7 -

Tessa and Leo started sharing a room last night and while the older brother might not be as over the moon as the little sister, warm fuzzy feelings are generally felt by all. The original plan was not to start them in together so soon but once bedding and a mattress were bought and set up Tessa would not hear of anything else. The awesome thing about this (other than the inevitable loss of sleep) is that JOHN CAN NOW HAVE HIS OWN ROOM! That's right ladies and gentlemen - one of my children might actually have their own sleeping space before the 12 month mark! I'm pretty sure I can hear the angelic chorus joining me right now.

~ Happy Friday ~

7 Quick Takes : Music Edition

 

Linking up with Kelly for some quick takes with a musical spin. I am crazy about music, y'all! Before kids I would spend literally hours searching for new music - indie/folk, alternative, pop, techno (those were dark days), religious, instrumental, etc. I am the kind of person who dreams about going on a cross-country road trip for the sole purpose of listening to music with the windows down for hours on end. So anyways, I am not up on the musical scenes these days but here are a few that I have found over the past year or so that I love. Enjoy!

NOTE : I never watch the music videos (free listening purposes only) and only occasionally check out lyrics so if some of these songs are not 100% kosher... well, you've been forewarned 😜

- 1 -

SYML - Where's My Love (acoustic)

This is my most recent discovery. I have no idea what it's about and I don't care. I just love the melody and how mellow it is. 

- 2 -

The Lumineers - Holdin' Out

 

I have never seen Storks and I don't imagine I will ever see it but I love this song. 

- 3 -

The Lumineers - Nobody Knows

 

Such a beautiful soulful song. Some day it will be blasting out of my rolled down windows with me singing along like an idiot.

- 4 -

The Lumineers - Angela 

OK yes I have a problem and it's called The Lumineers.

- 5 - 

 Modest Mouse - Float On

This song is perfect when my day needs a reset. I could be in the worst mood ever and this just makes me laugh. We all need one of those!

- 6 - 

Vance Joy - Mess is Mine

 

Vance Joy is hit or miss for me. I tend to like a good bit of his material but this song resonates with me in a big way because my husband is my rock and I, well, I am a bit of a mess most of the time.

- 7 - 

Rich Mullins - Step by Step

This song usually reduces me to tears. I <3 Rich Mullins. 

These are by no means by top 7 favorite songs of all time. Goodness knows you can't workout to most of 'em but they're often in rotation these days and I had to cut myself off somewhere. What are some of your favorite tunes? 

~ Happy Friday ~

7 Quick Takes

 

- 1 -

Grandma and Grandpa bought the kids Hungry Hungry Hippos over the weekend. In true Tessa form she eschewed the marbles for people and placed their heads delicately in the hippoes mouths. A bit macabre but props for realism...

Hungry Hippos Took a Dark Turn

- 2 -

Over the past few weeks I've forced myself to indulge in cuddle time with all three kids. It's always easiest with the baby as he loves to fall asleep with my chin tucked against his head and seriously, it's easy to allow myself to soak up those minute. Cuddle time with the older kids involves a little more refereeing and patience and frankly it's more of a sacrifice. BUT it's a very gratifying sacrifice that means a lot to them. It reminds me that they're still young and even if they are able to walk and talk they need love and attention too. And I need to give of myself - those few minutes of no phone or Internet, just content to be with each other and enjoy the time together. Which reminds me, John turned 4 months old this week and I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone!

My sweet baby

<3 <3 <3

- 3 -

I had my first night out with friends since well before the baby was born and it was amazing! My selfless husband watched John for almost two whole hours so I could eat French fries, try my first Mojito (!), and enjoy the company of two incredible friends. How good it is to laugh!

- 4 -

Our local Walmart just began online grocery shopping and local pickup and I am happier than a fat kid with a tub of ice cream! To be able to avoid the insanity of shopping with three kids four and under is worth it's weight in gold. No dirty looks, no temper tantrums, no space cadets colliding with unsuspecting shoppers, no more impulse purchases - just drive, load, return! Produce elsewhere but that's how things went before anyway. Thank you Walmart!

- 5 -

I've slowly been reintroducing dairy into my diet and the baby has not been having any noticeable reactions. Part of this could just be the fact that milk supply has dropped so much and supplementing I so high but I remain optimistic! And now the issue is how to reintroduce without going on an insane binge because oh dairy, how I missed you and all your glory!!!!

- 6 - 

House hunting is the pits. At least here in Virginia. And I know we don't have it nearly as bad as others do but I'm complaining here so for the moment let's just assume I do have it the worst. Of anyone. Anywhere. Ever. Because when something sucks sometimes perspective helps and sometimes you want to punch perspective in the throat. Seriously why does everything have to be so expensive?! And who is building these family un-friendly homes?! How hard is it to just build a house that allows for interaction and hosting but still has separate spaces so you're not on top of each other? Why is everything so flimsy? Where is the sense of permanence? We would build but guess what else is expensive - LAND! And that's if you can even find good usable build-able land that's for sale. Around here hundreds of acres are owned by a few individuals who either keep it or sell at extravagant prices. At the end of the day I know God will provide. He always does! I'm just so ready for Him to provide now 😜

- 7 -

Speaking of God, how is your relationship with Him? Before John arrived I tried very hard to get at least 15 minutes of prayer and reading the Bible in every day. Since John's birth I don't usually pray unless it's out of desperation. Most nights I sneak into bed and realize Oh brother I did it again! I went a whole day without talking to God or listening and just asked for stuff when it occurred to me. Short of getting up before kids (No. Just NO!) what do you do to foster your relationship with God and grow in virtue on a daily basis?