27 Things I've Learned About Motherhood

In no particular order...

27. I can't do everything.

26. When I say "no" I am not being an evil dictator, I am being a firm and loving mother who wants to bring my children up to be a blessing to others.

25. I can't please everyone. The sooner I accept this, the better.

24. Life is crazy, get used to it.

23. Don't take anything personally.

22. There's nothing sweeter than holding my newborn baby or kissing my child's cheeks or feeling my child's arms around my neck.

21. Motherhood is good and hard and yes it can be a little ugly at times.

20. It's ok to step outside for a 'breather'.

19. Ask for Forgiveness.

18. Love him.

17. Love them.

16. Do not compare. Ever.

15. It takes a whole village to raise children. Accept help when it's offered.

14. Choose the important battles.

13. Humility and Love avoid many conflicts. Discipline works, too.

12. Taking a break or sitting down for awhile is not being lazy.

11. Consistent is one of the hardest things to be.

10. Clean the house to stay healthy. Nothing more.

9. Any project that I may undertake will take 3 times longer than I expect it to.

8. There are no shortage of hugs available.

7. Most of the time, there is someone crying. If someone is not crying, then someone is being silly and about to get hurt and cry.

6. I am thankful for my faithful servants: the washing machine, the dishwasher, the hot water heater, the furnace, the dryer, the electric lights, running water, the internet, and the van. My life is insanely easier than it could be.

5. Be thankful for laundry and dishes. It simply means we have clothes to wear and food to eat.

4. Teaching my kids to clean up after themselves will keep me sane.

3. There is no such thing as a 'normal' or a 'typical' day.

2. Don't hurry and don't worry.

1. Have a sense of humor.

Swing Kid

Hudson loves the new baby swing! 

Hudson: A Musical

Hudson is a master at baby facial expressions. Here he demonstrates this ability among others...

Dance Away

Some friends of ours put on a dance to raise money for coffee farmers in Burundi. 

Here is a taste of that fine evening:

The Man With The Big Axe

About a month ago we went to visit some good friends. We had a wonderful time together, hiking and talking. Letting the kids hang out together.

One of the highlights was Joshua learning to ride a bike, which I've blogged about.

During this visit, we met Paul (in case you don't know yet, I have a thing for statues): 

Only Josh was brave enough to stand next to me. The other kids hid out in the van...

Unfortunately this particular Mr. Bunyan was unable to locate his blue friend. Although there was a Tiger Muskie not too far off...