Is It Date Night Yet?

I woke up today just really missing my husband. Even though we have not been apart other than for work, I missed him. We are finding it more and more difficult to make sure we get in our date nights. We both agreed last night we have got to do a better job of scheduling our date nights before other events take its place. We find ourselves having this conversation almost regularly. It’s so important that as a couple, and especially a couple with a child, that we do not forget who we are as just “James and Andrea”.

Riding to work the other morning I was listening to a Christian radio station and it was talking about marriage. It said one of the main reasons that some Christian marriages end in divorce is because couples are putting all of their efforts into the children and forgetting about each other. When couples no longer have their children to focus on, they realize they do not know the person in front of them. I think so many couples have the best of intentions in making sure they are being the best parents they can but forget that sometimes the best thing they can do is model to their children a healthy Christian marriage. I know for James and I, Madison is a huge part of us, and rightfully so. She is very special to us and such an amazing joy to have! But there has to be a middle ground. One of balance between time spent with the children and time spent alone with your spouse.

Having a child is such a wonderful thing, but you have to keep your priorities right. James and I both find it important that we model to Madison how a husband and wife should treat each other. So in my rambling tonight, I just want to make sure that you and your spouse take time for each other. James and I will very soon be planning a date night for just us. I woke up this morning and told him I was ready for a hot date! I am convinced I have the best husband in the world and I know that I am only blessed as much as I am because of God.

She's A Good Mom

I rediscovered my competitive side today!! Besides the fact that I am not very good at softball I did at least enjoy my day in the sun! Sunscreen and water and I was good to go. We had a church softball game today and a cookout afterwards. Love days like that! Lots of good conversations and just a chance to get to know everyone a little bit better. But I think my favorite part of the day was the short time I spent with my mom.

Madison spent the day with her grandma and had a blast. So I saw mom just prior to leaving the house and then returned home and Madison was sleeping. With Mother's Day coming up I find it good timing to say that I have a wonderful mom. I am blessed to have her. I look up to her like no other person. She is hardworking and giving. She has been such a good grandmother to Madison by spending time with her especially when we are needing someone to watch her. I spoke with a friend today who does not have her mom anymore but can remember when her mother would watch her kids for her and she spoke about cherishing that time. I could not imagine not having my mom. She is absolutely the world to me and I hope that I take advantage of my time with her. Madison loves her grandparents and especially enjoyed her day with her grandma. Not to mention grandma lets her eat all the cookies her little heart desires!! But that's what so great about being a grandma I guess!

I am looking forward to the big Mother's Day event that we have with all our family this coming weekend to spend with family and friends that we do not see everyday. Thank you Lord for my life and your timing. Thank you Lord for the people you place in my life especially my mom. I would not have picked anyone else for the spot :)

The Good Life

I live for evenings like this one. Yard work and grilling out!! Here are a few pics of Madison while we were outside this evening. She's such a blessing to James and I!! And she did a great job helping with yard work. She thought it was alot of fun pulling her wagon around while we picked up any sticks that were in the yard. Of course, we had to play a little hide and seek behind the trees too! I am so thankful for this little girl and will continue to pray that I will be the mother this girl deserves. Thank you God for blessing my life with this beautiful and smart little girl! I do not deserve all of these blessings that are constantly being poured out on me.

For The Working Mom

Feeling good about having the house clean before sitting down to relax tonight. Well, atleast some what clean that is. No scrubbing was involved but I did atleast get the dish washer loaded and started and the dryer is currently going as well!! The scrubbing will follow this weekend! I find that my day is filled with many different things that have to be done. Some days I choose not to get them all done and other's I accomplish it all! But how do we manage to get everything done and still have that time with our family.

I find that I have a passion to encourage working mothers to be proud of the choice they have made to work outside of the home. I am not saying that staying home with your child is not commendable, in fact, it's a great thing. I would be a stay at home mother myself atleast in the early years if finances allowed it. However, that is not the case and I find myself working 40 hours a week. I remember feeling guilty in the beginning when Madison was first born. It broke my heart to leave her and go to the office but as I spent MUCH time in prayer about it I found that though I still longed to be with her during the day I was also finding God's purpose for me at work. I've always had the type of job where it involved helping people. It's been my passion and I have always had the passion to help other's find the good in themselves when no one else seemed to care. So I find it necessary to fulfill God's many passions in me.

So I encourage you as a working mother who has found herself in a situation where working is a must. Do not feel guilty for not being at home all day with your child. Find peace in knowing that you have found trust worthy child care. Next find that purpose in your job no matter what it is. Figure out how you can make your time away from home count. Sure, one way it will count is the paycheck that comes but I mean for it to REALLY count. If I am going to be away from home 40 hours a week it has to be in a job that I am busy helping people. Simply working for the pay check would not sustain my joy. So I have prayed continuously that God would use me no matter where I am at. Finding that joy has helped me transform from the working mother who felt guilty about being away from her child to the working mother who is confident in her decision to work outside of the home and knows that God is pleased with my life.

You become confident when you find a balance. God provided that balance for me. Though there were many trying times during my decision to work outside of the home, God carried me through those times and grew my passion to be a dedicated mother, a faithful wife, and a hard working employee. Do not let anyone put you down because you are not with your children at all times. Do not automatically think that because you are not a stay at home mom that you are not giving your best to your child.

Sometimes life throws us in directions that maybe we would rather not take but it's up to us the attitude we take with that. I have chosen to find joy in my work when I am not with my child but I have also chosen to find joy in my child at all times. I do not carry my work home because there has to be boundaries. But I do carry the thoughts of my child everywhere. There are days I am at work and I wonder what she is doing or if she is eating her lunch like she needs to. Sometimes I call just to check on her. I know that she is being taken care of and that our time will come just after work. There are responsibilities that come with being a working mother. You have to choose to get off that couch after coming home from work and play with your child despite that lack of energy. True, you've been working all day, but that's even more the reason to give all of your attention to that child. Besides, you will get your time once your child's bedtime is here. Take advantage of your evenings home with your child after work. Just because you have been gone all day doesn't mean you can't take off that evening too! We will on occasion take Madison out to the park after work to have supper there at the picnic tables. Sometimes we just decide to take her to the waterfront to let her walk. She loves that! And most evenings we stay home and make sure we are interacting with her and showing her that we love her. Then there is the weekend which we focus on making it family time as much as possible. Be proud of your decision to work outside of the home. Take confidence in the plans God has for you and trust him. Make God number one and your family next and everything else will fall into place.

Just a few pictures from today. Madison is really growing to like football. You can thank James for that! Madison decided this morning that she would like to wear her jersey and run around the house like she was playing football! The picture of her on the tricycle was taken this afternoon at a birthday/anniversary party.






Thankful for such a great day! We were so blessed to spend the afternoon with some wonderful friends! Madison had such a great time with her bff!! I am thankful for how God has brought some very special people into our lives in the last 6 months. Thankful for the little things that make such a big difference. Madison played until she was completely wore out today! She loved every minute she had playing with the kids.

I have been going through Madison's clothes over the past few nights and realizing that she is out growing almost all of her clothes!! So I was prepared to go shopping for summer clothes for her until I remembered tonight there was a bag of clothes a lady had given us not too long ago when her child grew out of her size 3 and 4s!! Thank you God for the ways you provide allowing us to save that money!! We will still need to purchase clothing for her but not near as much as we would have if it wasn't for the blessing of receiving the clothing from someone else.

Looking forward to the rest of my weekend. We have a busy day planned for tomorrow. I've been working on some last minute planning for my lessons for Kid Zone tomorrow and looking forward to our evening we have planned with the youth group! Thank you God for how you are using our family and thank you for your daily blessings!