I believe children are angels sent to show the rest of us people how to live. I believe they are indeed a reward from the Lord, and that they are the reason many of us are who we are today. I'm not talking about you're a "Mom" because you have a child. That's now the "who you are" I'm talking about. I'm talking about your character; your beliefs; your value system. Children really do help shape that. When I'm in the car and an inappropriate song comes on, I'm ashamed if my son has to tell me it's inappropriate in order before I change it. I just hope they won't hear or understand the "naughty" parts. But they know, and it has edited what I listen to, and I believe the same goes for my husband. I re-think my urges to go out and hit the town whenever I think of it-what if they wake up sick and need me? What if there's a fire and I'm not there to save them? You start thinking a little more clearly and hyper-sensit...

Today was terrible. I'm sitting now finally having gotten through it, with "Sex and the City: The Movie" playing in the background, my hair damp from an aromatic shower, and my honesty about to boil over and burn your lap. After a nearly two-week streak of overwhelming joy and happiness, hope for new possibilities in my life, today I crashed, and I mean h-a-r-d. Today mommy-ing was so rough. My son seems to never stop calling me. The cat never stops play-biting. My daughter gets clingy and whiny from getting up too early and wanting to nap before lunch. The long list of things to do on my day off (written by me, of course) is slowly being completed, but my fatigue isn't melting away. In fact, even after 9 hours of sleep, I was so tired today I was disappointed in my body, of all things. This is not an ordinary tired. This is a I've-been-trying-to-figure-out-why-I've-been-fatigued-for-over-a-year-and-my-doctors-don't-seem-to-care-or-know-anything-and-I...

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."-Bible Today I was overcome with gratitude. I may be a tired, busy-dreaming-mama, but I am an extremely grateful one. I opened my fridge today to pour my kids milk, and thanked God for having food inside of it. I pay rent today, but I am grateful to have a comfortable and safe place for my family to live. I am grateful for the simple antics of Kittle, our 5-wk-old kitten because He exercises our command to take care of the creatures we are given dominion over. I got my period today (!) tmi? But I am grateful because although I secretly hoped for our third child, I know God is in control of the numbers He desires for our family, and will extend it when He sees fit. I am glad with the two beautiful children I now have. I am grateful to be a mother, and for awareness in my parenting. I am grateful to have a committed partner, although we have definitely fought to get where we are now. I am grateful for the cou...

Dear Friends, I know you along with me have seen the homeless men and women standing right off the highway exits with signs like this: "Homeless, disabled, please help. God bless." In our world, we never  know who is honestly in need or not. My husband told me of a news coverage where a "homeless" man was followed after begging at the side of the road, and actually lived in a nice neighborhood and had a very nice house! Talk about shameful! I also have my doubts when I pull up to these people. I often rationalize that if they are truly homeless, they brought it upon themselves. Everyone else has to work hard to have things, why do they get off so easily? I thought that homelessness was really nothing more than a disorder of sorts, where money management and irresponsibility were the real culprits for their situations. But I have been reading a LOT of verses in the Bible lately that talk about charity and giving to the poor. Jesus says we will ALWAYS have the...

If I could capture a picture right now of the inside of my home, it would look like this: Toys, books, and scattered random objects on the living room floor, courtesy of my kids; Open patio door, listening to the fountain outside; Kids playing in their room, me calling the occasional time-out for not listening; Our brand new baby kitty, Kittle, lying on the soft brown rug in the bathroom, asleep; Fading flowers in a vase spread out in different directions, with the pink rose having the biggest, most beautiful bloom. If I could capture a picture of the inside of my thoughts right now, you would see: The anxious anticipation of my husband's return home from his 'man-cation." My dread of the approaching late hour as I wrangle four beings to bed; My reluctancy to pick up all the objects on the floor; My laziness (and frugality) to go turn on the air even though I'm roasting; My wishing my kids had tape over their mouths so they can't call my name ...

I was born and raised in Lansing, MI. I was born on August 23, 1986 at St. Lawrence Hospital. When I was 2 I was taken in by my daycare providers while my parents tried to get on their feet in order to provide for me. When they couldn't, I was adopted at age 5. I don't remember a lot of happiness between 7 and 18, but when I was a sophomore in college I packed my bags and left for school and wiped the dust of that town off my feet. Today I hardly ever return. It is, to me, a ghost town. Every blue moon when I go to visit, I may drive past my old house, they one I was raised in as a child. I see myself playing on the driveway, being careful not to trip on the raised crack. I remember shaking the ant off my shoe while howling loudly as my sister laughed from inside the house. I remember pretending to re-enact the stories of Cinderella in the backyard. And I remember how I used to pretend the giant gnarly tree in the backyard of the house next door (which my pare...

My friends, I have something great to announce: I am happy! Yet I have a twinge in my chest as I announce that, because I am wise enough to know that such a feeling is usually fleeting in such a world as this, but what I resume to say that I have made certain changes and goals for myself that allow me to reach towards happiness on a daily minutia basis. My reservations about happiness include the knowledge that: *The Christian life is not always filled with happiness, but instead pain, constant searching, a denial of self, and giving up of human urges to defend oneself and fight back for the sake of being Christ-like. *Marriage does not = ultimate, immediate, or long-lasting happiness; nor do children. *Family often produces more feelings of pain and heartache, and happiness regarding family is fleeting (in my case anyways) *Opening your heart to friends and family is not always a happy experience, but if your goal is to do so, you must be confident in your feelings ...