Mom is...

Today was a typical day around here...maybe just a little crazier. {that means it was VERY CRAZY}.

Archer was definitely "testing" how far he could go, how many times I would warn him, would I follow through, and on and on.

So, after a {very annoying} trip to Target, I told him that when he got home, he was to go into his room and not say anything to me until I came in and talked to him.

He got on his computer. {No, it's not a real computer. It's a V-tech one.}

From his room I hear him yell, "Moooooom, how do you spell 'mom is'?" I tell him {hesitantly}.

This simple question led to a lot of thinking for me...What was he writing?  Am I mean? Am I in a bad mood? Am I unfair? Am I a "no fun" mommy?

After a few minutes, I went to go check on what he was typing.

"mom is 35 mom loves archer." 

I have to admit I was relieved when I saw this; however, I was still thinking {about 2 things}...

{1} What kind of mommy am I? Do my kids feel valued? Do they feel like they're walking on egg shells around me? Am I too strict? Am I fair? ...on and on. 

I AM {what} in his eyes? 

but then also got to thinking...

{2}  How resilient kids are. How structure makes them feel safe. How when they know their expectations...they also know their consequences. How smart they are.  ...on and on. 

So, I am going into another crazy day here {because those are the only days we have}. They are good crazy, though, because I wouldn't change it for a thing. I want to go into today with the thought of...

Who am I to my kids? I don't need to be their best friend, but I do want to be a good mommy. 

A mommy who is kind. 

A mommy who is fair.

A mommy who is loving.

A mommy who is not reactive.

A mommy who is patient.

...and, yes, I am a mommy who is 35 and a mommy who loves Archer. 

Real World Reality.

Archer. My 5 year old. Working. 14 hour days. 7 days a week.

I couldn't imagine it.

The sad reality is that there are moms who have no control over this nightmare. Roughly 7,000 of them. There are that many CHILDREN that have been trafficked into the fishing industry in Ghana.

These parents have a hard choice to make. They want their children taken care of. They know they won't be able to provide for them well. So, they sell them to people who promise to take care of them and provide a better life for them. Those promises aren't kept.

Many of these children, often 5 and 6 year olds, are taken to Lake Volta to begin a life of child slavery... hard physical labor, one meal a day, sleeping on dirt floors, and the saddest of all... no family.

Thankfully, a group called Mercy Project is working to break the cycles of trafficking around Lake Volta by providing alternate, more efficient, sustainable, fishing methods for villagers – ultimately eliminating the need for child slaves. Because of the work Mercy Project is doing in Ghana, the first group of children will be freed this month from Lake Volta!!!

A friend of mine sent me information about the Mercy Project and asked that I write a post about it. I couldn't say no. After reading about the horrible reality in Ghana and the promising future of the Mercy Project, I just had to write.

I don't know what I am supposed to do now that I know about this problem. I don't know what you are supposed to do. But let's pray about it and ask.

Take a few minutes to watch this video...

 If you'd like more information about Mercy Project, click on the links below.

 {website}  {facebook}  {twitter}

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I know, so often, I pass by posts like this. Ignorance seems like bliss. But, I don't think it really is... it's hurting someone.


On a lighter note...

Click here for this week's giveaway from Sew Sweet Patterns. Hurry... it ends today!

12 Minutes.

Do you have it?

I do. But, I have to say, sometimes, er,  a lot of the time... I feel like I don't.

It was Father's Day 2008. We were at an amazing house in Laguna Beach for the day. All I wanted to do was relax in the dreamy backyard, sip on my drink, and enjoy adult conversation.

{Enter 16 month old boy.}

All HE wanted to do was climb up and down the stairs over and over again.

The hostess of the house, Jill, sweetly came up to me and said, "Don't worry. Go sit down and hang out. Really... I mean it. I'll stay here with Archer and let him climb." She said it like it was no big deal. Yet, to me, inside I was annoyed at having to be in the house while Archer climbed up and down, up and down, up and down... like it was a big deal.

So, I enjoyed the break and she ENJOYED hanging out with Archer.

I haven't forgotten that.

Just this year on Father's Day, we talked about it. She told me a story... I don't remember word-for-word what she said, but it went something like this...


If we would just take the time to be with our kids and let them do the exploring they want, we {and they} would be so much happier. So many times if we just gave them about 12 minutes... that's all it takes. 


I have decided to take that as a challenge:

Spend {at least} 12 undivided minutes with each of my kids everyday. 

If you're anything like me, you tend to think the dishes can't wait... the floor has to be mopped... the laundry has to be changed... OR facebook needs to be checked... emails need to be checked... blogs need to be checked... and Instagram must be checked... you get the idea!

Will YOU join me? Will you challenge yourself to spending just 12 more minutes with your kids? Read a few extra books in one sitting? Color a picture next to your child as they color too? Play catch in the backyard? Push your baby in the swing? Build a fort AND sit in it? Take a walk around the block and talk? Play dolls or dinosaurs?

Let's do it! I'll check back next week... will you?

Lake Day.

We went here...

and did this...

and this...

It was a good day.

{except for the mosquito bites}

Keepin' It Real...

So... the other day I had a Facebook message from an old friend from college. This is what it said...

OMG! Reading your blog makes me want to have THREE kids. Not good birth control at all. Please tell me that the reality is that it is really hard.  

XOXO
Sarah


I thought I'd give you guys a quick look into the day-to day...

My sweet, smiley baby isn't always smiling. 

Shopping is not for the faint-hearted... 

 or overactive children. 

Any given night, dinner can look like this...

or like this. 

Bath time, more often than not, means a flood on the bathroom floor. 

This is just a small glimpse into my crazy days. Some days I want to pull my hair out. Some days I want to run far, far away. But, I do have to say...

I wouldn't trade them for anything. 

So, Sarah, I am going to have to say... GO FOR THREE! And,  to make sure I'm keepin' it real... It definitely has been the hardest transition for me. Things are non-stop around here. But the good outweighs the crazy. FOR SURE!




What is the crazy in your house like? Please share so that I know I am not alone!

I'm excited!

For a lot of things.

{To dedicate Cole at church on Sunday}

{To go camping next week and visit family in Angels Camp}


{To be getting closer to introducing you to my new idea.}

{To finally be fitting in my pre-pregnancy clothes}

{To host a CPR/Choking Class tonight b/c of what happened to Beau}

{To celebrate my niece's 3rd birthday}

{To go to the Dave Matthews concert}



...and do you know what I am REALLY excited for?

I am hosting a giveaway tomorrow!!! Here's a little teaser...

Be sure to come back tomorrow, especially if you're feeling lucky...

and want {or need} a new neon clutch!

Pictures.

Family.

Love. 

Miracle.

According to the Orange County Fire Authority, drowning rates rise by 89% between the months of May and August. Already, the Fire Authority has responded to eight near-drownings in 2012. Six of them occurred in the past week. All of the victims belonged to the 12 and under age group.


If I read this statistic a week ago, I would've said, "I just don't get how it can go up by that much. How do that many parents not know that their child is missing...?"


This all changed last weekend. 


I was one of "those" parents. Except my story had a good ending. 


We were in Palm Desert with my parents for the weekend. We went down the street to friends' house for dinner. On the way there, we let the boys play with a remote controlled boat that they had gotten for Christmas in the nearby golf course lake (with supervision, of course).

Everyone was called in for dinner. Cooper brought the boat back up to the house. People were dishing up. I had just given Beau a piece of chicken...so I knew he was near... or so I thought. 


A few minutes later, we all heard the cry of a child that just didn't sound right. I jumped out of my chair, looked outside, and had a clear view of Beau coming up from the lake, soaking wet from head to toe, crying... "I fall in. Scaaawy." (scary)


He had fallen in...and gotten out. ON. HIS. OWN. 


For the record, he doesn't know how to swim. AT ALL. 


I can't tell you how this rocked me to the core. 


How did this happen? What happened? What was he thinking when he went in and I wasn't there to help him? What if he hadn't gotten his bearings in the water? How could I have not known he wasn't in the house anymore? How did he know to open the gate? What if? What if? What if? 


I had to stop. Cooper said it perfectly.


This just once again confirms that we serve a God who is watching over our children even  when we are not there. 


I have to let go of the what-ifs and hold on to that truth. It is so hard. 


So, today... we signed Beau up for swim lessons and I have started planning a CPR/ Choking Class that I will be hosting.


And, for the record, I can no longer question other parents. I am responsible. I watch over my kids. I don't let them run wild with no supervision. 


And "it" almost happened to me. 

How Do You...?

keep your mail/ bills/ kids' crafts organized? ... my counter collects it all!

keep up with your laundry? ... I clearly can't.

keep your toy basket from being a toy catch-all? ... I clearly can't do this either.

keep your family from starving? having the same meals all the time? ... please do tell.

Tell me your secrets, won't you?!?!

Leave a comment and tell me what you do to make your house go 'round...

Hodge Podge.

Lately I've had a hard time organizing my thoughts. What to say. What to write.

So...here's a little hodge podge...


Not sure if this "know-it-all" thing comes with turning 5, but I have to say it bugs...
"Mom, what does fh spell?"
Well, it doesn't really spell anything. 
"Yes, it does."

 ... really?


Archer was sleeping through the night at 8 weeks.  In his own room at 6 months.
Beau was sleeping through the night at 4 months. In his own room at 5 months.
Cole, on the other hand...
NOT sleeping through the night at 6 months and NOT in his own room.
So, tonight he gets to sleep with "Mama" (aka. Mama's Pillow).
I'll let you know how it goes...

Here are three of my favorite posts I've read lately. They actually made me laugh out loud.
Hand Food Mouth by The Hippo Brigade (she's my favorite right now. she makes me laugh.)
Why I'm Not on Pinterest by Wendy Hagan
Not a Mascara Ad by JoysHope



You know how when you first get married the advice that every older couple gives you is: Always keep a date night. Make it a priority. Well, I can't say that we have done that, but we do it seasonally. Wanna hear what we do? Frozen Yogurt and the Bachelor(ette). (Cooper will kill me for selling him out.) But we do. And we BOTH look forward to it.

I love snuggling my baby.

That's all, folks.

Horses.

A great way to spend a Saturday morning...

... with horses!

Just What the Doctor Ordered...

So... life has been pretty tough lately.

 Tight Finances, tough. 

 Family Sickness, tough. 

Long Days without Daddy, tough.

Stressed out Mommy, tough.

Sunday night as we were going to bed, Cooper said, "Let's go do something as a family tomorrow morning. Let's not talk about finances, family, or our to-do list. Let's just BE together."

To be honest, it sounded great but I felt like it would be impossible to turn my mind off.

Well, I did, and I'm so glad I did...

This was EXACTLY what the doctor ordered!