Giving Thanks

I just want to say that I feel so blessed by the Lord today. I try to make a point every Thanksgiving of sitting down with my own quiet thoughts and truly "counting my blessings". It's something I've done ever since I was little, and today was no exception. I realized that I have so much that most of the world outside of our country only dreams of. Though,the truly sad thing is,I complain about a lot of my blessings on a daily basis; if not out loud, then in my thoughts. So, here follows a list of my blessings, and I offer up a true prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord who has so richly blessed me with things that I truly have not come even close to deserving.

*My Salvation

*My Beautiful Daughter

*My Honest, Hard-Working Husband

*My Snug Little House

*Plentiful Food to Eat

*More Good, Warm Clothing than we could ever wear out

*Caring Family who love us and help us, and always have our happiness and best interest at heart and in their prayers

* Friends who make me a priority in their lives, even when I'm "too busy" to make them a priority in mine

*A pleasant disposition that helps me look for the good in any situation (this was not always a trait of mine and I realize now how important it can be)

*The fact that even with all of the neglecting I give my body, I am in good health and I have a sound mind.

*The love of singing and dancing and just being silly sometimes

*The ability to laugh when things are going wrong or seem bad (even if it is at my own expense).

*The gift of prayer for myself and others, because it really works and I've never seen it hurt.

Most of all I'm thankful that I am me. With all of my flaws,shortcomings, and foibles, I'd still rather be me than anyone else.

Peanut's new funny face 

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My Peanut at One! 

Happy Birthday Peanut!

My little darling turned one today. She had milk for the first time, tried jello for the first time, learned to make a new funny face, had tooth number three break the surface, and got stuck in her potty. I'd say that's quite a full birthday for anyone!
To elaborate on the potty story; I was in the livingroom, folding laundry, when I hear this screeching coming from the bathroom. I jump up to see what she has gotten herself into. I take a step into the bathroom and turn right around and go get my camera. My daughter is stuck tushie first in her potty chair. The pieces come apart and she likes to play with them like some big puzzle. I guess this time she tried to take a seat after the seat was gone! When she saw the camera, she started laughing and making faces for me. Only my peanut!

Hours of the Day

I was having a chat with a good friend of mine on the phone the other day. She's a fun person and a great friend, but she's a "career" gal. She often works 50-60 hour weeks.
Anyway, we were on the subject of children, my favorite, and she tells me that she and her hubby are going to start trying to have a child in January. I of course was ecstatic, because even the idea of children is something to celebrate in my book. She and I began dreaming and planning. Then she pauses and says," I want to stay home with the baby but I'm worried." I assume she's worried about their finances but she stops me and says that's not it. "What do you do all day long? I can't imagine you can find enough to keep you busy with out a job."
I have to take a minute to keep my self from screaming with laughter before I assure her that things to do will never be a problem. I tell her that most days in the beginning, she will feel lucky if she manages to take a shower.
She is definitely the nicest person to ask me this question, but hardly alone. I get this from a lot of people. At first it was "When are you going back to work?" and then "It must be so wonderful to be contented to stay at home all day." with the intonation making it very clear that only imbeciles and lazy women would do such a thing.
It amazes me the negative feedback I sometimes get when I tell people that I am a stay-at-home mom. But I just smile and whip out pictures of my beautiful daughter while ignoring their rolling eyes and smug smirks. I love being a Mom!

Wise Little Peanut

My little daughter, we'll call her Peanut, just amazes me. She is just a day away from being one year old, but she is so smart. I plan on being a homeschooler, so I am always interested in watching how Peanut learns (I'm always on the lookout for signs of interest in anything in particular). She is so curious about the world around her. She is also very determined, and not very easily distracted (which can be good and bad!). She has always been interested in the people around her, even from day one in the hospital. Peanut was the biggest Grandparent watcher that you've ever seen. But her absolute favorites are other children. I can't wait for her to have some siblings because she is just so eager to play with other kids. It doesn't matter if we are at the park or in the Library, or even in a restaurant, she will walk right up to other kids and smile and screech and hold out her hands to be picked up. I've met numerous other new Moms this way! She is always friendly to anyone that she meets who is 12 and under. My family is convinced that she is going to be an outgoing "Chatty Cathy" like her long-winded Mother! But I think it is already a sign of how smart she is, as she can already tell that people are more interesting than things. Let's hope it's a trend that will continue.

Everything going well here in my little home. We are in full swing getting ready for my little Peanut's first birthday party. I can't believe that she has been here with us for a whole year. When did this happen? I feel as if I've only just come home from the hospital. I'm trying to finish the scrapbook of her first year so that I can pass it around to all of her family at the party this weekend. I still have all of the summer holidays and her first Easter to go. Going over all of these pictures has really brought home how much she has changed. I guess you don't always notice the difference when you see someone every day. I hope that I will always take the time to notice my family as they change, even if it is only when I sit down to preserve their pictures.

Good old days 

The Good Old Days?

As I was going about my usual daily business today, it came to mind to wonder about my foremothers. I was loading the dishwasher, emptying the dryer, and running the baby a nice warm bath, when it occurred to me that just a few decades ago, these appliances that I depend on every day would have been almost unheard of super-luxury items. How did our Great-Grandmothers do it all? I love my home and my family, but at the end of the day, I really need and enjoy the peace that comes when everyone else is asleep in their beds; and I only have a husband and one small daughter in my care. I'm convinced that I am pretty soft and weak. I love my hot soaks in the tub, and I love even more that they are provided with just a turn of the tap. I sometimes wonder how women of the past could not only give up the chance to care for home and family, but demand the right to leave and go off to work; but then I remember that homemaking was probably pretty brutal and mind-numbing for most women of the day (it's sometimes bad enough now with all of our modern conveniences and distractions).I wonder how I would measure up in a life like that of my dear Irish Great-Grandmother? Would she laugh to see the things that I find frustrating?

Shouting from the rooftops

Well, here it is, my first blog. This is a site that I hope to use in sharing my feelings on being a housewife and mother. I am very proud of being those two things, but I am honestly surprised to find myself attached to those feelings. When I was young, I never had plans of getting married, and I abhorred the idea of having children of my own. I grew up in the middle of a scarring divorce and subsequent issues, and I swore that I, myself, would never put a child through that sort of situation . I was going to move to a large city, find a great career, entertain my friends, and forget about my small-town upbringing. Fast forward ten years...

Now I have a husband and a lovely little daughter living in a snug little house in the same small town that I was determined to escape. I love my life and I am so glad it has turned out thusly. I have discovered a natural tendency towards all things homey and harthy. I am more shocked than anyone else.