Category Archives: Story Time

Man or Wo-Man

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 19 June, 2014 None comments

Ever question why your son enjoys your perfume or why he wants to wear your necklace? Or maybe your little girl wants to dig in dirt or play with tools like daddy. Is it really something to question or are your kids simply being a kid and exploring all life has to hold?

The other night Cooper decided it would be fun to wear my shoes around the house. My husband watched the final game of the series for basketball and Cooper tromped around beyond gracefully. I thought it was so funny to watch him focus and concentrate so hard to walk around with them on his little tootsies. My husband began to laugh pretty hard while Cooper tried to step on him with the shoes on getting frustrated that they kept falling off. But, on the other hand, he thought Cooper shouldn’t be wearing girl shoes. :) I explained that the concept to Cooper was simply succeeding at the task that laid ahead. Cooper has no idea girl vs boy other than his ungraceful beating of the hammer, throwing things and digging in dirt. A true boy at heart while on the contrary my little niece does not partake in the loud chaos of Coopers activities but sits quietly with her dolls and princess.

The process begins.

They kept falling off and we had to get re-situated.

Finally, walking like a champ.

Successful concentration.

“Don’t interrupt me mommy!”

“I did it, I walked the whole room without them slipping off. Success!”

Michael and I got a good laugh out of our son enjoying the concept of walking in overly large shoes.

My son loves playing in my makeup bag twisting the caps off one by one, wearing my necklace and spraying perfume. Does this make him less of a man, absolutely not. It is pretty simple actually. He is home with me all day long and sees the things I partake in and wants to dabble as well. He also mimics everything daddy does in the evenings; digging in dirt, playing with tools, messing with the lawn mower and simply getting dirty. This is part of learning as a child how to do things and wanting to be like mommy and daddy. There is no need to worry in their little adventures.

Moment of Truth: I truly believe it is innately ingrained in all of our children that a boy will be a boy and a girl will be a girl.

My Growing Garden

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 17 June, 2014 None comments

My garden IS growing. I’m so happy. Watching piles of dirt being hauled away, to the roots and weeds over taking a large space. Clearing the space to only bury some seeds below ground in hopes something will occur.

Finally, not only are blossoms on my tomatoes and my seeds sprouted and growing wildly, but we got garden mulch to finish the look and bring everything together so beautifully.

I can’t explain the immense joy I take from watching my garden grow. From seeds to branches, it’s so fun to see that this is something I started from the ground up (literally)!

My green beans are the only seeds I soaked for 24 hours before planting. By doing so, I noticed an incredible difference in growth. They grew quickly and abundantly.

Green Beans

My cilantro is doing way better in the ground than the potted cilantro.

Cilantro

My squash not only has grown but is forming it’s leaves for production. :)

Squash

I planted watermelon a little bit later than the rest, it popped through within 3 days.

Watermelon

Kale was one of the first ones I planted. It’s growing quite well. I can’t wait for it to begin producing and feeding our bellies.

Kale

I also planted radishes, carrots, green bell peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers. Cucumbers are the only ones that did not survive. I will be attempting again this week as nothing tastes as good as a fresh cucumber. I bought the pre-started plant rather then starting from seeds as I was skeptical of whether I would receive an wealth from my garden. I will buy all produce in seeds next year.

I’ve become addicted to my garden. :)

Little Man Workouts

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 15 June, 2014 None comments

Oh how my son never ceases to amaze me. His sweet little personality in every step throughout the day is a constant reminder of thankfulness.

I believe Cooper has officially put himself in charge of daddy’s workouts and I believe that Cooper would make the best trainer out there.

He decided he wanted to work out with daddy and do his ab workout. His tiny little body lay next to daddy while he copies everything daddy does from P90X ab ripper x.

“Look Daddy, I can do them too!”

“Get to work daddy” as Cooper has happily put himself in charge of daddy’s workouts and keeps him going. He continues to ask for “one more” every time Michael stops to take a break. “One more” pull-up, “one more” sit up. Keep going daddy, it’s fun to watch! :)

Sweet baby was so proud of himself. I can’t believe this little guy is going to be 2 next Saturday the 21st. :( It’s been really hard on me as I am so happy he’s growing and developing his cute little personality, but I am also so sad the baby stage is officially gone.

Pride Wreaks Havoc

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 14 June, 2014 None comments

Pride wreaks havoc on your own life and those around you. Are you drawing people near or pushing people away. Do you have good solid relationships or shaky, rocky acquaintances?

Our pride as humans is out of control. Anger and pride are our own worst enemies. We do not know how to love the unlovable and how to do the impossible. We are better than everyone and it’s always someone else’s fault, cutting you off in traffic or always someone else’s pride; never your own.

The person that is freed, is the one who can lay down their pride no matter the cost, no matter the outcome and no matter if you get a positive response. We all want to feel wanted and when we are hurt our pride steps in and says they aren’t worth it anyway.

What a sad way to live. What a sad mentality. What a sad outlook on life. We are so quick to place the blame and make it someone else’s fault to make ourselves look better, be the lucky one or simply portray ourselves as “above it all.”

But why? You gain nothing from pride but a bitter heart, resentment to the world and an unhappy self. Striving for something that will never please you but will only take you further down the rabbit hole.

I’ve seen pride take over peoples lives and literally hold them hostage. Are you headed down this path? Are you aware of your “Achilles heel” and what will always trip you up?

Moment of Truth: Be aware of your weakness, strive against it, seek to become a humble woman of Christ rather than portraying yourself to be above others. Set aside “Christianity” and live Biblically.

5 Minutes Inside a Mom’s Head…

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 13 June, 2014 None comments

What does five minutes inside a mom’s head really look like? I saw this article and laughed to myself while crying over the harsh reality that it is beyond true in every mom’s life.

The comforting thing is we all know what one another is going through while men sit on the sidelines contemplating the next win in basketball or whose going to get drafted to which team.

Some people may think 5 minutes is nothing but a long relaxed deep breath. These five minutes are anything and everything but a deep breath. More like gasping for air, panting as if you just ran a marathon or simply drowning and still making your mental checklist.

I saw this article and it was a must share. Any and all of you who have children will relate to this article while every man reading this may think we’ve lost our minds and have our “job” so easy. “Easy?” You want to talk about easy? My life is everything but easy. Yes I may stay home with the kids and not get up at 6 and get to work by 8, work all day to have an hour lunch to enjoy the sun, take a walk or even go out to eat with the dudes to only get home at 6 pm. Dinners made for you and your kids bathed and ready for bed. “Yes, I stay home with the kids, yes MY job is easy!”

Sometimes I want to yell this to every man out there who complains about there regimen of working to support the family. I 100% appreciate and support any man who is willing to care for their family so the wife can take the opportunity to hold the house together and raise the children with good morals and standards while keeping them in a family environment rather then childcare. I also appreciate the simple fact that my husband can earn triple if not quadruple the income I could earn in a given year. Yes, I support you and greatly appreciate you and all the hard work it takes in our society these days to have a one income family! Thank you!

On the other hand, learn to appreciate your wife. Appreciate your child learning manners, learning their alphabet, getting socialized on play dates, having educational toys and activities to participate in. Appreciate that your child and wife are probably happy when you reach home at the end of the day. Appreciate that you probably don’t partake in most the household chores, errands, grocery shopping, laundry and bills that’s been taken care of for you! Appreciate that when an outburst happens at home, your wife probably knows how to handle the situation and guide you through it!

This may make you laugh at the harsh reality of it, but lets be honest, a man wants respect and appreciation so badly. This is what makes a man a man. We all long for respect and appreciation as well. We may long to receive it in different ways than our spouse but oh how true it is to feel that respect for what you do on a daily basis. Both men and women need to bot give respect and receive respect. We work our jobs because that’s the job we’ve been given at that point in time and we need to be thankful and appreciative of one another. Households are no easy to run and we all know earning an income to support a family is a challenge in and of itself. No need to put one another down and compare our job tasks, simply appreciate them and love them for what they do!

For a little humor read this article: 5 Minutes inside a moms head

Thanks to: huffingtonpost.com

Moment of Truth: Multi-tasking is the essence of a mother’s life. Learning how to manage her family to get everyone where they need to be, projects done, bills paid and fresh clothes to wear is the essence of a mother who cares. All you mom’s out there, you do a great job even though it is often a thankless job! Keep it up!

Thought of the Day

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 12 June, 2014 None comments

“Forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision to release that person to Christ.”

Need I say more? I shouldn’t’ have to but due to our innate human quality of pride and bitterness, it is always a good reminder to forgive your neighbor and love with Christ’s love. It’s easy to get caught up in our own little world feeling justified for the life we live.

I realized yesterday when talking with my husband that life can be full of promises and you can have the world at your fingertips, but what does it matter when you choose to dwell on the past and not move ahead? Sometimes we get so caught up in the mundane of life that we forget the blessings we are currently holding and the blessings taking place today, tomorrow and the next.

download

Life is a blessing! Embrace it and do not let your blessings be overlooked by worthless concern. Sometimes our worries are so small but the shadow is so enlarged we lose focus.

Read more at: Forgiveness Breeds Bitterness or Forgiveness

Sometime I wonder…

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 10 June, 2014 None comments

Sometimes I wonder why I wake up in the morning and continue on the day of disastrous events. I end the day in a state of oblivion laughing at the messes that continue to come my way.

I find the only way to make it through crazy chaotic kid days, is to laugh at what takes place rather then get too uptight about it. Kids are kids and are innocent little people trying to make it through their own day in a big world being told “no” all the time.

I find it’s easier to laugh at the crazy responses rather then get upset as if they are an adult choosing to be ignorant. :)

My sweetie laying in the pile of clean clothes.

I wake up this morning to an early start with kids being here around 7:30.

Take Haylee to Preschool- out of gas and running late.

Leave gas station and ALL 16 oz of my coffee spill on the entire backseat floor.

Get to preschool in the nick of time.

Clean up coffee disaster

Spend time with a girlfriend while the boys play (relaxing)

Pick up kids- I have a tummy bug that persists all day long.

We have an accident in two of the kids pants while at the park.

Kids play in the sandbox and little Ian decides to chomp on seashells.

Kids leave for the day- make dinner and my husbands doesn’t eat due to not feeling good.

Husband came home with migrane

Cooper is crying, he wants his footie pajamas on and I put his foot-less pajamas on as it’s very hot in our house.

My husband and I cave in to our little son wanting footie pj’s and a muffin. We laugh to ourselves in utter oblivion of what this night consists of.

Nights not over– Cooper goes to bed late, I rush to the store for my prescription.

8:57- pharmacy closes at 9, I walk in the door with NO perscription.

8:58- Pharmacy calls, they found my prescription laying on the ground.

9 pm- try and dish up some granola for a snack, spill it everywhere. (Husband chuckles)

I begin to tell my husband this is how my ENTIRE day has gone while I accidentally puncture the container the granola is in, spilling the remainder amongst the rest.

Stare at the pile of clean clothes covering the floor while I wish my prescription was in hand, pj’s on, face washed and clothes were folded.

I refuse to fold the clothes tonight and will begin my day again tomorrow around 7.

Husband needs something printed and scanned. We both spend 30 minutes trying to figure out why the printer will not print the current document but prints 5 different items from three months ago.

Paper jam- try again.

Paper jam- finally we get duplicates of the item and we send it off.

10 pm- in bed

Moment of Truth: Some days you simply can’t wish them away and must laugh at the stupidity you discovered each hour. How are your days similar?

My Poor Baby!

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 6 June, 2014 None comments

My poor baby has been everything but healthy since he was born. He has continually been sick and I can’t seem to understand why. In and out of the Children’s hospital, doctors office and canceling many appointments to avoid the “hustle and bustle” of life to help get him back on track.

Here we are today and he has had a temperature ranging from 100.2-104 for the last four days. He starts off the day really cool and as the day progresses, he’s burning up. The next day, he starts off really hot and throughout the day it goes up and down but never away. The doctors office had me bring him in today to check him out. Two and half hours later, no cough, no cold, no ear infections, no nothing!!! How frustrating it is to sit there for 2 1/2 hours for what seems to be nothing except a high possibility of contracting some other sickness.

This time the trauma came from strapping a bag on his private parts to catch any output of urine. The little man hasn’t been drinking or eating so I have had to force fluids yet again. It took 2 hours for any output to come our way and finally my sweet baby was able to tell me when he did. I was so proud of him. We made a big deal about it as he was so scared about this foreign bag strapped to him; hoping this begins an exciting phase of potty training once he begins to feel better.

They tested his urine and all came back good. They have no area to pinpoint why he has such high fevers other than he simple is that child who gets sick all the time. My natural reaction as a mom is to assume something bigger is taking place that they haven’t yet caught. Two trips to the children’s hospital, many doctor visits and continual sicknesses make me a bit curious. They reassured me yet again today that it must be a viral infection. Hoping this is true but annoyed I keep visiting the doctors for no reason but to waste my sick child’s time.

The doctor did reassure me that at some point in a child’s life they will experience sickness on a very frequent basis, whether the first three years of their life or once they reach kindergarten. That comforted me slightly.

So….our fourth day of fevers is almost over. They advised me to push through tomorrow forcing fluids. If by Saturday or Sunday, the fever still persists than we must return for more testings. Praying for him to wake up with no fever and an appetite is all I can hope for right now. After no sleep last night and dealing with an unhappy child, I am ready for some good times to come!

Moment of Truth: The healthy times with your child often make you forget how blessed you are to truly have a healthy baby. Sickness and disease is running rampant throughout the world and the healthy little ones need to be embraced and we as parents need to be thankful. Our prayers need to go towards the sick babies and families that are suffering emotionally, physically, mentally and financially. Our family has only begun to taste what this really looks like and I pray we don’t continue down this road with frequent hospitalizations.

Zoo Bliss

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 5 June, 2014 None comments

We went to the zoo during Memorial weekend and had the best weather possible. Not too hot, not too cold and NOT too many people. It was fabulous. Although Cooper loved the large Seal, he was more interested in the construction taking place to enlarge the Elephants area. Our son loves tractors and trucks more than words can describe. He lights up like a Christmas tree and wont stop shouting “trac-or, truck” until you finally repeat him and acknowledge you see it as well!

In the midst of all the construction going on, he did enjoy betting the little pygmy goats.

Standing in the back of a Safari Truck…
Daddy and me time!

Cooper taking us on a wild safari ride.

Enjoying the large “fish” or seal.

“Trac-or, Trac-or” Loving the construction.

Who would have thought that in the midst of all the construction you would have a good time with your son? I didn’t think it would be that enjoyable as the tractors were everywhere but I quickly forgot how much Cooper is obsessed with tractors and could watch them all day if given the opportunity. We had a really good time, he enjoyed himself and hopefully one day my little man can sit in a tractor with his Papa.

Thought of the day

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 1 June, 2014 None comments

We all know trials and tribulations are to bring about perseverance which brings about faith, but what about the simple reality that in the midst of the trail you are pleading with Christ to change your circumstances. “Please remove me from the situation and lets move on with life.” Maybe there’s more that needs to be learned….

Sometimes I plead with the Lord to “PLEASE, please change my circumstances!” Frustration sets in due to my continual prayer and seeking the Lord for wisdom yet my trials still remain afloat. I can hold it together pretty well, but when things tend to fly off the handle, I can feel the anger build up within me. “Why God?” as I beg for my devotion to begin to change the current mess I am in.

Realizing that God’s time frame is utterly different than mine, I have to remind myself why I beleive in God and His promises. Well– God’s promises never fail while mine often do. Looking back, God has always proven to be faithful. God has taught me many lessons in the midst of trial. God is there even in pain. God always provides a way out of sin. God wants the best for me and God loves me. When I repeat God’s promises, I can refocus my thoughts more positively. If I simply let the negative feelings reside, then I will continue to remain in the mess I am with no hope. I’ve found as I’ve gone through a lot of trials the past few years of life, that God can still bring hope and peace even when the situation remains the same or even gets worse.

This often resembles the moments I feel alone and afraid….lost in the desert with nowhere to turn. God’s path still lays straight ahead paving the way for hope.

That is faith in and of itself. Recognizing the things God is providing while in the midst of pain and agony; hope! I have heard it said many times and yet today for some reason, it was as if I heard it for the first time: When God does not change our circumstances, He is trying to change our heart.

How profound is that? It’s definitely not a new concept and often a piece of advice I give dear friends. Hmm, this must be God reminding me to practice what I preach! :) It was such perfect timing to hear this as I was once again reminded that God has not forgot about me when I often feel I am drowning.

Moment of Truth: Let Truth be your guide, not your mind! Truth often speaks entirely different than our own minds.