Monthly Archives: May 2009

I just gave my 4-1/2 yo a hug.  The cool part?  He kind of laughed and sweetly said, “I love you, too!” as he bopped away with a smile.

Nothing could be better!

~~~

Celebrate the finer things in your life at Finer Things Friday.

I have found myself musing about who I am and who I really want to be a great deal during my life.  Lately, I have been on an quest of sorts to find out who I really want to be.  There are so many aspects of my personality that it is hard to be clear about who exactly I am.  The major roles that I fulfill are wife, lover, mother, friend, homemaker, and homeschool educator.   But, these roles are only a portion of who I am.  What about my emotional and intellectual needs and interests?  Who is it that I really am?  But, better yet, who is it that I really want to be?  I have begun asking myself some questions to help me develop into the best person that I can be.

When do I feel the happiest?  When do I feel the most content?  When do I feel the most fulfilled?  When do I feel the best about myself?  How can I change from the person that I am to the best person that I can be?  I can’t address every facet of my life at once – yet it is a journey of growth and self-discovery.  Therefore, I have to determine which portions of my life can be rather easily adjusted to obtain the largest impact on my happiness and which tasks will take more work and are longer term goals.

I can’t become the person that I really want to be without effort on my part.  Sitting here contemplating the changes that I need to implement is only the beginning.  Now, I must continue along my path with diligence and faith.  Faith that I can be whatever or whoever I set my mind to be.

I hope that you are the person you desire to be.  If you aren’t, only you can make the decision to make small changes in your life to help you come closer to that person.  I would love to walk beside you in your journey to be the best you as I hope you will join me on my path to a better me!

Today, more than 12 million children in the United States do not know when their next meal will come.  Unfortunately, this number continues to rise as these difficult economic times times are leaving more and more people jobless, without homes, and unable to provide food for their families.  What can you do?

1. Sign-up to host a bake sale: http://www.GreatAmericanBakeSale.org/vgabs
2. Buy the virtual Great American Bake Sale eBook: http://StolenMomentsCooking.com/virtual-gabs
3. Post a ChipIn widget or banner on your blog: http://www.GreatAmericanBakeSale.org/bloggers

Make a difference in a child’s life by signing up and purchasing a virtual cookbook today! 100% of the proceeds from this eBook will benefit Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale, which is a national effort that encourages Americans to host bake sales in their communities to help end childhood hunger.  Funds raised support summer and after-school feeding programs in your community that thousands of kids depend on.

Once you have purchased your virtual Great American Bake Sale cookbook, double your impact and use the recipes to host your own Great American Bake Sale! Hosting a Bake Sale is a fun and easy way to make a big impact!  To register your Bake Sale or for more information, please visit http://GreatAmericanBakeSale.org

For the past two weeks, our family has been blessed by the addition of small toddler to our family as I was watching a friend’s little one.  Our little visitor is only 15 months old and is a delight!  He has helped our family to grow.

• I have learned that if I get up earlier in the morning, I am able to accomplish so much more! I also was reminded that arising anytime before 7 AM is not good for my body.  (He arrives just before seven o’clock in the morning.  Unfortunately, I haven’t been very good at getting out of bed to my alarm instead awaking to the sound of the doorbell when he arrives with his mom bright and early in the morning.)  However, I will continue to get up around 7 AM – just not much earlier than that.  (I am a night person and would much prefer staying up at night and sleeping late in the morning.)

• Our boys’ ability to share has been stretched. They have found sharing their toys much easier than sharing their mommy.

• Because of the very limited time that I have to accomplish certain tasks without a tiny one in tow, I have become much better about not procrastinating and getting my chores done early.  This has also helped my mood as I don’t feel the stress of the tasks I have waiting for me to complete.

• We have been reminded of the amount of freedom that we have as a family as our almost-preschooler only takes an afternoon nap – instead of two naps daily  – which really makes scheduling errands and activities so much easier!  He even skips his nap frequently allowing us complete scheduling freedom.

We have enjoyed his weekday visits.  I hope he has learn as many positive things from us as we have from him!

Join Amy at The Finer Things in Life celebrating Finer Things Friday!

My older son (5 yo) pulling out a reader to read aloud to me in order to receive “extra” books being read to him by me in the morning.

The hugs and kisses of my little boys.

The gentle comfort of a friend reminding me that we are not alone in our walk – that others have gone before us and can help us find our way.

The knowledge that tomorrow is my day to sleep in (DH gets up with the kids on Saturday mornings).The comfort of a cat curled up in my lap purring.

My little ones sitting in my lap while listening to me read them a book.

My little ones wanting to continue reading because they truly enjoy it. I love the fact that they enjoy reading/being read to!

These are the Finer Things in my life this Friday.