Getting Through It

I wanted to use this blog to only write about happy and positive things that are going on in my life; however, lately my family has been experiencing some hard times.  Actually I should say my husband is having a hard time after having both of his hips replaced.  At only 34 years old.  A lot of people keep saying, "he's just so young for that."  I guess you expect only old people to have hip replacement surgeries and only old people to suffer with arthritis.  Nope.  It could happen to anyone at any age.  It's unfortunate that this has had to happen to such a sweet and amazing man.  However, no matter how tough it gets and how much pain he's in, he gets through it with a good attitude.  I don't know how he does it. 

And as he recovers from surgery I'm doing all I can to take care of his needs as well as doing my regular duties as a mother and housewife.  It's not easy.  There are moments when I lose control but then I quickly remind myself that it will all be okay.  You see, I want to be a perfect wife and a perfect mother.  I'm not.  I'm only human.  I can only take so much.  I can only give so much.  If only I could solve all the problems in the world ... or at least in my home.  I guess that's why God calls us to lean on Him during these hard times.  These are the moments I'm so glad to have faith.  It gets me through.

Another thing that helps me get through is knowing that these two individuals need me ...

They need a mom who is always going to be there for them.  To love them.  Guide them.  Encourage them.  Nurture them.  Discipline them.  Give them the tools they need to learn and grow.  God has given me a big responsibility when He made me a mother.  I can't take it for granted.  He also wants me to be a good wife to my husband and see that his needs are met as well. 

Well, it's been a rough day but now it's time to turn off the lights and get a good night's rest and then do it all over again tomorrow ... with a BETTER attitude and another chance.  Good night friends! 

Weekend Ramblings

My apologies in regards to not keeping up with this blog regularly, especially lately.  It's been hectic.  The house is always a mess and no matter how much time I spend cleaning it always seems like it gets messier.  I'm trying to get through the laundry but every time I look at the hamper it looks as if it's getting more and more full instead of emptier.  The kids are always into something and always want attention.  My husband is home recovering from surgery and will be back in the hospital at the end of the week for another one.  It's been crazy.  Through it all I'm the one trying to hold it all together for everyone.  Whew!  Exhausting.  But it's worth it.  I do it all because I love my family.  I take my job as a wife and mother very seriously and hold my head up with pride no matter how tough it gets.  We'll get through this ... we always do. 

And it's also the start of baseball season for my son.  He did tball last year and then coach pitch in the fall but decided to go back to tball.  He's more confident with using the tee and it really shows.  I took him to his first practice last week and I was so proud to see how far he's come.  He's ready.  Unfortunately because of my husband's surgery he won't be able to coach the team like he did the last few seasons.  It will be hard for him to have to sit out and watch from the sidelines but I think my son works better when it's someone else teaching him (which is why I do not homeschool even though I've considered it).

 

We're also gearing up for Easter.  My favorite holiday next to Christmas.  We teach our children the true meaning of Easter but we also like to have a little fun in regards to egg hunts and the Easter Bunny.  A nearby park was holding an Easter egg hunt this morning so I was able to take the kids to that.  It was fun.  They did great with picking up lots of eggs.  

 

My husband is doing great with recovery.  A nurse and physical therapist come to the house and help him to learn exercises and how to get around.  He's been using a walker and cane and can get around a little here and there without any assistance.  He's been having trouble getting comfortable enough to sleep through the night but he's doing amazing.  It's soon time to have the other hip done so that will be more of a challenge getting around after that.  I am being the best and most patient wife I can be.  The children are doing amazing also with regards to how they help their daddy.  Our two year old is always asking if he's okay and if his hips feel better.  It's so sweet.  

I'm also happy to see the warmer weather is making it's appearance and hopefully will stay.  I'm so tired of the cold weather and so tired of the snow.  I'm happy spring is here, the start of baseball season and my son is getting closer to the end of his year at kindergarten.  He's been doing fantastic in school and brought home another perfect report card.  

Enjoy the weekend, readers!  

 

Happy Homemaker Monday - 3/31/14

 

Joining in with Diary of A Stay At Home Mom

As I look outside my window:

It's 50 degrees, sunny and just a little breezy.  This weather has been so inconsistent and weird.  Yesterday we had lots of rain, sleet and snow and today it's a perfect spring day.  Okay mother nature, get with it!

Right now I am:

Watching The Fresh Beat Band and having a snack with my two year old while my husband is taking a nap.  He had his surgery last week and has been doing well but isn't getting a full night of sleep because of not being able to get comfortable. 

Thinking and pondering:

About my husband and his surgery.  He's been recovering well.  Still in pain and is only able to walk with the help of a walker or cane.  A nurse visits once a week and a therapist comes a few times a week to help him learn how to walk and do things.  It's been a tough week but we're getting through.  Next week he will have surgery on the other hip so we'll be doing this all over again.  It's nice having him home but I wish it was under better circumstances. 

On my bedside table:

A Time To Dance by Karen Kingsbury

My Bible - I'm studying Proverbs 31

On my TV tonight:

I don't really know, but I never do on a Monday.  It's up to the kids and my husband.  

Listening to:

The Fresh Beat Band.  It's my daughter's favorite show.  

On the menu:

Right now I only have tonight figured out.  Salsbury steak and a side of mac and cheese.  

On my to do list:

Clean, clean, clean

Buy cleats for my son who is starting another season of baseball this week

Take hubby to his doctor appointment on Wednesday

Happening this week:

Take my son to baseball practice on Tuesday and Thursday

Doc appt for hubby on Wednesday

The rest of the week will be spent at home cleaning and taking care of my hubby

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:

Nothing this week.  No time.  

My simple pleasure:

Sipping on a hot cup of green tea while reading a book

Homemaking tips:

Ooooh this is new ... hmmm?  Let's see ... I try hard to keep the house clean but the house still looks messy.  I've come to learn to schedule what cleaning I will do each day and if it doesn't get done not to stress out.  Spending quality time with the family is most important.  

Looking around the house:

My daughter is singing along and dancing to her show.  The rocking chair has been moved from her room to the living room so we have an extra place to sit.  Toys are piled in the corner of the living room.  

From the camera:

Last Tuesday at the hospital.  Waiting for dinner so we could eat with Daddy.

Prayer list:

My husband as he recovers and preps for the next surgery

My stepmother-in-law who is having an issue with her heart.

Bible verse/Devotional:

"Be still and know that I am God." -- Psalm 46:10

Another Lonely Night

I'm sitting here alone in a quiet house as my mind is running in a million directions.  After going back and forth to the hospital today and then my son's teeball meeting after dinner me and the kids relaxed at home for a short time before they went to bed.  It's been a busy few days.  It's going to be a stressful week.  It will be a stressful month.  Maybe longer.  I need this quiet time. 

As for my husband he seems to be recovering from hip replacement surgery quite nicely.  He's sore, which is normal and he experiences some pain after they have him walking around (with a walker).  He'll be back home in a few days and then back to the hospital a few weeks later to have the right hip done. 

Only in his mid-thirties this man has been through so much in his life.  Arthritis which was discovered at a young age and lots of surgeries throughout the years.  I know it's cliché to ask this but why do bad things happen to good people?  He doesn't deserve any of this, yet he goes through it all and hardly complains about it. 

He's an amazing man and I'm so blessed that he wanted me to be his wife.  He has been a wonderful husband.  He is also a great father to our two little ones.  As you can see from this picture our daughter made sure she gave him lots of hugs the night before he went into the hospital.  She's a Daddy's girl for sure!

 

My kids have been wonderful through all of this.  Of course they are kids so running back and forth to the hospital and not having daddy home with us has been tough on them.  They can't completely understand what is going on but for a two year old and a six year old they are doing better than expected.  We joined Rob for dinner in his room tonight and that's something they enjoyed.  It will be nice when he is home and we can enjoy homemade meals again.  I look forward to being back in the kitchen where I can cook for him again.  Then in a few weeks we'll be doing this all over again.  

Faith is what is getting us all through.  

My kids are now tucked in bed for the night.  As you can see in this picture my daughter likes to sleep with books.  Silly girl.  I'm watching The Little Couple and will be heading to bed shortly after.  

Goodnight everyone. 

Happy Homemaker Monday - 3/24/14

Good evening readers.  I hope it's okay that I put my Happy Homemaker Monday up so late.  It's 9:30pm here on the east coast.  I've had a very busy and exhausting day but now that I've tucked the kids in bed I'm sitting here enjoying a glass of wine and settling down before I get to bed.  My husband had his hip surgery today.  I spent most of the day sitting in the lobby with his family and my precious little two year old who did fantastic.  It's not often you hear of a two year old who could be pleasurable and well behaved all day and what a long day it was.  His surgery went well but he's experiencing some pain and discomfort and feeling very tired.  Of course, that's to be expected.  It's going to be a rough few days/nights without him but I know God is here helping me get through.

My husband will be out of work for awhile so I'm not sure how often I'll get to write in my blog.  But for now on to HHM.

Joining in with Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

As I look outside my window:
It's dark ... and chilly.

Right now I am:
Sitting on the couch watching a Duck Dynasty rerun while I sip on some wine.  Trying to relax after a very long day and a rough evening with the kids.  Soon I'll be heading to bed.

Thinking and pondering:
About my hubby.  I feel so bad that he has to go through this surgery but I know in the long run it will help him.  Soon he'll have relief from the pain he's experienced for a long time.  His recovery is going to be a tough and long road ahead but we'll get through.

On my bedside table:
My Bible

On my tv tonight:
Right now I'm watching a Duck Dynasty rerun.  That show cracks me up.

Listening to:
The tv and the ticking of the clock that hangs in our living room wall.

On the menu for this week:
So far it's consisted of restaurant and hospital food.  Tomorrow we will be eating at the hospital with Rob and I'm not sure about the rest of the week.  Once he's home I want to make him a lasagna, his favorite.  Maybe I'll even bake a cake.  I can't wait until I'm in the kitchen cooking regular meals again.

On my to do list:
I tried catching up on all the cleaning this weekend but the piles and piles of mess come back very easily around here.  I'll get to it during any free time I have.

Happening this week:
Lots of back and forth visits to the hospital until it's time to bring my husband home.
Tuesday night my son has a baseball meeting where he meets his new coach and teammates and hands in the fundraising money.  Mental note:  Don't forget to bring along the fundraising money.
From here on out it's just taking care of my husband until he's up and walking on his own completely.
What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:
Nothing.  No time.  I will have the kids make some pictures and decorations for their daddy when he comes home. 

My simple pleasure:
Quiet

Lesson learned the past week:
That no matter what others think of me that the only opinion that really matter's is God's.  Also, to keep remembering that no matter what happens that I need to put my trust in God.  He'll get us through the storms.

Looking around the house:
Clutter everywhere.  Even though I try so hard to keep it clean these kids know how to mess it up again.

From the camera:

My son's spring school picture.  I may be biased but I just think he's so cute!

Prayer list:
My husband, that he may have a quick and easy recovery.
My stepmother-in-law who is going through some heart issues right now

Bible verse/Devotional:
"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." -- Isaiah 12:2

Putting My Trust In God

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight," -- Proverbs 3:11 (NIV)

Lately whenever I pick up my Bible I somehow always seem to go back to this chapter and this verse.  I read it over and over again and the words from this verse linger in my mind.

Trust in the Lord.  With all my heart.  And lean not on my own understanding.  Trusting in God seems like it should be such an easy thing to follow and yet it's always been something I've overlooked.  Luckily I have a God who is understanding ... forgiving ... and always finds a way to remind me.  It's as if He says "Hey I'm here!  Don't worry about anything.  Trust me!" 

I heard those words late into the night after I woke up from a bad dream.  It was a dream about my husband's upcoming surgery.  I'm not going to lie, I've been worried about it.  I know my husband is relieved to finally get this taken care of so he will no longer have to deal with the pain he's been going through for awhile.  I'm happy about that too.  I don't like knowing this sweet man has to go through pain and suffering.  I'm also grateful for medicine and doctors and that they have a way of fixing this problem.  However, since I'm only human I can so easily fall into worry and fear.  Then God reveals Himself to me and assures me it's going to be okay.  "Trust me!" 

 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by giving prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" -- Philippians 4:6-7

I've also been having other issues for a long time in regards to being judged wrongly by others.  Sometimes I do have a tendency of saying or doing something out of anger or even just jokingly.  Again, I am only human.  These people have never understood much about me or why I have acted out in any way I have.  They have never come to me with questions or considered my feelings in the matter.  They have judged me as a person, as a Christian, as a wife and as a mother.  My husband tells me that I shouldn't worry about the views of those who don't even live with us.  I've come to realize that if someone hasn't spent every moment of every day with me then they don't know me.  If they can't read every thought in my mind then they don't know me.  If they haven't asked me what my feelings are towards certain things then they don't know me.  No one knows me like God knows me so He is the only opinion that matters first and foremost.  And so my trust needs to be in Him.  Always.

 

Of course as humans we want to be accepted by other humans.  We want others to see us as good people who do good in life.  We don't want to be judged.  We don't want to be criticized.  We want to be loved by people.  I feel all of those things.  It's human nature.  As important as it may be to have those people in our lives it's more important to understand and believe that God is the one and only opinion who should matter the most.   

It's funny, as I was walking around the house thinking of these things I've been going through I decided to jump on Facebook and in my newsfeed was this:

"God loves you constantly!  You belong to God.  In His eyes you have infinite worth and value.  If you have been rejected or treated badly, don't let resentment build up in your heart.  Keep your eyes on God and follow His instructions.  Always believe what God says about you above your own feelings or what others say about you.  God's opinion is the only one that matters." -- Joyce Meyer.  

Wow!  God really has a way of getting through to me.  The moment I started thinking about the people who have recently hurt me with their harsh words and judgement this quote from Joyce Meyer pops up.  I love when God speaks to me in these ways.  He is so amazing and it's more proof that he exists and hears my prayers and knows my heart.  He knows exactly what I need to hear at the perfect time.   I am grateful for His unfailing love and I need to remember to always trust in Him.  

"Hey I'm here!  Don't worry about anything.  Trust me!"  Thank you God! 

 "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped" -- Psalm 28:7

Happy Homemaker Monday - 3/17/14

Hello everyone!  HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!  We are all wearing green and a certain little leprechaun came by at some point through the night and left a mess of green crepe paper, confetti, skittles and chocolate coins everywhere.  This is the first year the leprechaun paid us a visit and the kids LOVED it.  I guess this is a new tradition I'm going to have to add to the list of traditions.

I hope you had a great weekend.  For us it was good.  Busy.  On Saturday we decided to have a no electronics day.  Which meant no internet, no video games and no television.  I wanted us to focus on each other as a family instead of being consumed in tv or internet.  It was good.  I hope to do it again.  We went to a St. Patrick's Day parade in the city and then stopped for ice cream on the way home.  Yesterday I was supposed to meet some friends for breakfast but they had to cancel.  I ended up coming home and crashing.  I don't know what happened but I just felt so tired and worn down.  While my daughter was napping I fell asleep as well.  I'm so glad my husband allowed me to take the much needed nap.  I felt good.  Then in the evening we went to see The Lego Movie.  Great movie!

Okay, okay, enough chit chat.  Time for this week's Happy Homemaker Monday.

 Joining in with the creator Diary of A Stay At Home Mom.

As I look outside my window:
Snow is covering the ground.  Yes that's right.  As soon as the snow went away more fell over night and just stopped.  However the sun is shining and melting it all already.  3 days until spring ... can we please be done with snow now?

Right now I am:
Typing up this post and taking breaks as I fold towels.  Waiting for more laundry to finish as well as the dishes in the dishwasher.

Thinking and pondering:
About so many things.  Mostly about my husband's surgery next week.  I can't believe it's one week away.  There is so much to do around the house beforehand.  He seems so calm about the surgery.  I guess because this is something he's used to.  He's been through a lot of pain and a lot of surgeries in the past.  I'm also sure he's relieved to know the surgery will help ease some of the pain he's been having.

I also need to update the look of my blog.  Coming soon!

I started an exercise blog which I will add the link to here soon.  I've been thinking of making a separate photography page.  My husband bought me a new camera for Christmas and I'm still in the process of learning it.  Waiting for warmer weather to arrive so I can go outside and snap some great pictures. 

On my bedside table:
My Bible ... and it's actually on the end table in my living room.

On my tv tonight:
I have no idea.  It's totally up to my husband.

Listening to:
A commercial on tv and the dishwasher.

On the menu:
Tonight I am making an Irish recipe called 'Bangers and Mash' also known as sausage and potatoes.  Growing up my mom always made corned beef and cabbage and I miss the tradition but my husband does not like cabbage so I make Bangers and Mash instead.

On my to do list:
Figure out dinner for the rest of the week/grocery shop
Housework
Again I say, run my daughter's clothes to my friends house, and I seriously plan to do so TOMORROW

Happening this week:
Meeting my husband for lunch tomorrow
VOTE Tuesday
Taking an out of state trip
Getting my engagement ring cleaned and inspected
Have lots of fun, fun, fun before my hubby's surgery

What I am sewing, knitting, crocheting or creating:
I just finished making a "no bake" oreo pie for dessert.  I added some green food coloring for St. Patrick's Day.

My simple pleasure:
Having some quiet time.

Lesson learned the past week:
A reminder in how precious my children are and that they won't always be little so I need to treasure every moment I have with them and make the best of it.

Looking around the house:
I cleaned up the mess from the leprechaun aside from some crepe paper here and there.  A basket of unfolded towels sit on the floor beside me.  Toys all over the living room.

From the camera:

Prayer list:
My husband as he prepares for surgery next week.  I find myself constantly praying for him.
I just found out a girl I went to high school with passed away unexpectedly last night.  Praying for her family and friends.  She was such a sweet girl.

Bible verse/Devotional:
"If God is for us who can be against us?" -- Romans 8:31