Picture Update

We have been super busy over the last few weeks. First came Easter, then last weekend we traveled to Evergreen, AL so Ellie could be the flower girl in my cousins wedding. Tomorrow we will celebrate Ellie's 4th birthday (pictures to follow). And in the middle of all that, we experienced some crazy weather. While Steven's mom was here, we spent some time in the closet during a tornado warning. There was golf ball size hail covering our deck. And then the following week, got hit with a gravity wave. I have never heard of it, but apparently it's a rare weather phenomenon that creates hurricane force winds. It did a number on our little town and we spent a couple of hours up during the night listening to trees falling all around us (one landed in our driveway). It was pretty scary! I wish I had more time to write but there is just not much spare time these days. Oh...I included a picture of Luke after he got into some baby powder. He is my sensitive little boy and so when I found him, I just gently said "Luke, did you know you weren't supposed to do that?" And he lost it. I had to snap a picture really fast.

My grandmother was one of four girls, just like me. This is the youngest of her sisters, Mary. She is the grandmother of the bride. Side note: This was also the same church my parents were married in.

I don't know if you can tell, but there are dirty diapers all over the yard. We had already put the garbage out the night before. So first thing in the morning, Steven got to clean this up. Fun, huh?

Challenging Days

This past weekend we had an Easter egg hunt at mom's house for all the kids at the church. We hit the weather just right, because it has been so crazy. (It will possibly be below freezing in the morning.) It was so great to have a fun Saturday activity for the kids and myself. It helps me so much when I am able to talk and interact with other adults (especially moms) during the day. I have realized since being a stay-at-home mom, that I am definitely an extrovert (I re-charge when I am around other people). It is very hard for me to be at home for several days on end with not much adult interaction. But now with three, it is so hard to get out and go, that I find myself at home quite a bit.

I have talked a lot with close friends and family about the loneliness and isolation that being a stay-at-home mom can bring. In our society (or at least in this small town) I haven't found a lot of moms who are in the same situation that I am in. I think around this time last year is when I really started getting into the blogworld. It has become such an outlet and a source of communication to other moms. If only some of you lived close by, so we could have real-live conversations about our struggles and joys of being a mom! In spite of this struggle-I am beyond thankful that the Lord is allowing me to stay home and raise my children! I am confident He has called me to do this and know that He will provide and see me through these days which can be lonely at times.

One of the most recent challenges I have run across is 1) Just getting to the grocery store-I don't think it would even be worth my time to take all three, so it's best for me to find a time when Steven is at home. 2) Planning well and getting what I need so that I don't need to go back every few days. 3) I need to go without Andrew because if I sit his carseat in the cart there isn't enough room for very many groceries...so this obviously means going in between feedings which then puts me on a time clock, and you know with Wal-Mart that isn't so easy! This week is going to be busy (Andrew has 2 doctor's appts. and Steven's mom is coming!) so I worked really hard to make a very efficient grocery list, managed to get to the store yesterday-all by myself!!! (I did almost knock a few people out with my cart trying to beat the feeding clock). But...I did it and I have 2 meals made and frozen already and will attempt to get one more done by evening so that I don't have any cooking to do this week! I'm hoping this system is going to work for me. The job of meal-planning, grocery shopping, and cooking (and doing it all on a budget) is one that never ends and at this stage of my life I haven't yet found a system that I really love. What do you do? I would love to hear!