I've heard this term thrown around lately, a couple of moms have called me "super mom." I usually laugh and say something like "yeah right." Honestly though, I feel the need to set the record straight.
What I want to say to the woman who just called me "super mom" is this...
You weren't here tonight when she refused her supper, shoving it across the table to me screaming only seconds after I set it in front of her. You didn't see me sigh REALLY big because it's the end of a very long day that started at 5:30am. I really would like to just coast from now until bedtime. If you were here, you would have seen tired in my eyes and in my spirit. I'm pretty sure "super mom" doesn't get weary.
You probably wouldn't approve of the yelling I did to FINALLY get my girls into bed either. Hmmm. Or that while I was giving the baby a bath in the big tub she toppled over and I was just a second to slow in my catch. I snuggled my naked, wet, little peanut though, and kissed her bumped little head (that might be the most "super mom" thing I did today.)
Unfortunately, my 'super mom' moment ended when I found miss "I don't want my supper" eating a bag of puppy chow...on the couch...covering herself and said couch...with puppy chow. As I drug her to the sink for a complete scrubbing, I lectured her on where we eat and what she is allowed to eat. I'm sure 'super mom' would have a better way of convincing than the scolding I did.
I caught myself wallowing in self-pity for a bit there in the puppy-chow moment. It started simple about cleaning up chocolate and powdered sugar from the furniture and little hands and face. It got complex quickly, thinking about five years from now...probably still cleaning puppy chow from bigger hands and face. Thinking about how to curb the pinching, kicking and scratching before then.
I'm betting 'super mom' never stresses or feels sorry for herself.
About the time everyone started to settle the oldest asked me if I wanted a hug. It caught me off guard because I thought she was about to ask for one my thing to extend bedtime and I almost said no, before quickly saying YES! What a great thing to ask your mom! Then, while I took one potty, I listened to another one singing to herself in her bed. What a sweet heart she has, I thought to myself as she sang a song about Jesus that she's heard on klove.com. I sat down to nurse and snuggle the baby and listened as she sang for about twenty minutes until she drifted off to sleep. I thought about this girl and how God has really used our totally out of the ordinary life to shape these precious girls. I'm setting her thinking how each one is being prepared for a special purpose and calling that God has set before them.
You know what I think, it's those last moments before bed. It's the hugs and snuggles and stories and listening that make a woman 'super mom'. Those are never the moments when I hear this. It's the busy, here and there, doing WAY TOO much moments that I hear the words 'super mom' and I think that's just totally backwards! So just so ya know...I was 'super mom' today but it definitely wasn't in the moment that you saw me in!
Monday, December 15, 2014
Monday, October 27, 2014
Fall 2014
The last time I posted here was just prior to the Step Up Event. Seems like so long ago and yet I'm just finally wrapping up all the details from the event. We raised about $4300 for Rett Research (Girls Power 2 Cure)! I'm so grateful for the people that supported the event and who donated their own hard-earned money towards Rett Research. Amazing.
A lot has been going on in our corner of the world since the race. We purchased another rental house and then decided it'd make a better "flip" than a rental. Esther and I have spent the last 30 days working on it. We're blessed to have such a happy, easy to entertain baby! If you've been past and seen me doing the song and dance on the roof, in a lift or out in the yard... I promise I have not lost my mind completely...it's baby entertainment! It's been so much work but it's so rewarding to see each piece come together! I can't wait for it to be done and have a few days to do the normal things 'stay at home' momma's do!
Whenever we work on our houses, we always try to employ our renters. It's part of the project, part of the goal. This time around I have Lui helping me. Lui lives in one of our houses with his brother and family. He's lived in the US for a few years, originally from Micronesia; where he farmed bananas and yucca. I wish I knew more about him but this is pretty much all his brother told me. He can't tell me anything more about himself because he's deaf and doesn't speak. Lui uses a form of sign language but it's "Micronesian sign." From what I can understand, he was born deaf and since coming to the US has not been able to work. His brother told me that in Micronesia he never was inside. I cannot imagine what that must be like for him to come to the US and be trapped inside indefinitely with no hope for the future. I got Lui started working on the house they live in because he was always coming out to watch me work (which doesn't work for me! If you stand around, I put you to work!) One day I'd just had it and so went and got him a paint brush. I motioned for him to follow my lead in painting the foundation of the building. When we finished that job, I showed him a couple more things to do around the place. By the next morning he'd finished those! He loves to have something to do, which I totally understand! It's so fun to see his joy in working, in learning to do a job and completing it. He loves having my thumbs up and makes a point to show me each part he's completed. A lot of being around Lui is not so different than Ellie, in that I have to read his cues and facial expressions to guess at what he wants/needs. Sometimes we don't understand each other and we just have to leave it at that. The other day while we were mixing concrete, Lui was humming/singing to himself and it got me thinking what must it be like to try to make music when you've never heard music?! I wonder what it'd be like to live in a silent world. I really enjoy seeing Lui feel useful, giving him the satisfaction of having work to do, and the ability to earn his own money. I think that's something too many American people take for granted! I've thought so many times how I hope one day someone will give Ellie opportunities like this. It's not always the path of least resistance that we're called to. God puts people in our paths not only for us to serve, I've found often times He's also using them to work on us.
Speaking of using them to work on us...
Ellie's been working on my sleep issue lately. The base issue is that Momma needs sleep and Ellie does not. Apparently her system is telling her that anytime between midnight and 4am can be morning, totally her choice. This has been going on for a few weeks now. She doesn't seem to go back to sleep when I put her back in bed, usually talking to herself or saying 'momma' and tapping me every few minutes. With a baby AND Ellie in the house, sleep is a luxury this momma would like more of!
School conferences this week for the girls! I'm so pleased with all three of the school-girls and anticipate great conferences tomorrow. Ellie's been using a label-maker to complete homework and in-class work. It's nice because she can type things out and just print it on the spot on a little label sticker. It's a great idea except that she needs help peeling the backing from the labels b/c it's so tiny. She's doing so well sounding out words and phonetically spelling them. I love seeing the inventive spelling on her work! It's funny the things of hers that I'm keeping as keepsakes this year. I love seeing her own "writing" on her work. Something I take for granted with the other girls. I only wish we could get her communicating using her device more! I know she has SO MUCH in her head --- I want her to be able to get it out!
Baby Esther is 7 months old already. Crawling, sitting, beginning babblings and waving are filling her days. She's such a happy kid, amazed to sit in her bouncer outside watching squirrels, birds, leaves. She reminds me to take in the beauty of fall. She'll lay back in her playpen just watching the leaves move in the breeze, giggling. As Grandma Marilyn said in a letter to Eva this week, "it's so special having a baby in the house, everyone just seems happier." This is so true, the little things become amazing all over again when a baby does them.
I pray this update finds you all well.
Blessings to you.
~Angie
A lot has been going on in our corner of the world since the race. We purchased another rental house and then decided it'd make a better "flip" than a rental. Esther and I have spent the last 30 days working on it. We're blessed to have such a happy, easy to entertain baby! If you've been past and seen me doing the song and dance on the roof, in a lift or out in the yard... I promise I have not lost my mind completely...it's baby entertainment! It's been so much work but it's so rewarding to see each piece come together! I can't wait for it to be done and have a few days to do the normal things 'stay at home' momma's do!
Whenever we work on our houses, we always try to employ our renters. It's part of the project, part of the goal. This time around I have Lui helping me. Lui lives in one of our houses with his brother and family. He's lived in the US for a few years, originally from Micronesia; where he farmed bananas and yucca. I wish I knew more about him but this is pretty much all his brother told me. He can't tell me anything more about himself because he's deaf and doesn't speak. Lui uses a form of sign language but it's "Micronesian sign." From what I can understand, he was born deaf and since coming to the US has not been able to work. His brother told me that in Micronesia he never was inside. I cannot imagine what that must be like for him to come to the US and be trapped inside indefinitely with no hope for the future. I got Lui started working on the house they live in because he was always coming out to watch me work (which doesn't work for me! If you stand around, I put you to work!) One day I'd just had it and so went and got him a paint brush. I motioned for him to follow my lead in painting the foundation of the building. When we finished that job, I showed him a couple more things to do around the place. By the next morning he'd finished those! He loves to have something to do, which I totally understand! It's so fun to see his joy in working, in learning to do a job and completing it. He loves having my thumbs up and makes a point to show me each part he's completed. A lot of being around Lui is not so different than Ellie, in that I have to read his cues and facial expressions to guess at what he wants/needs. Sometimes we don't understand each other and we just have to leave it at that. The other day while we were mixing concrete, Lui was humming/singing to himself and it got me thinking what must it be like to try to make music when you've never heard music?! I wonder what it'd be like to live in a silent world. I really enjoy seeing Lui feel useful, giving him the satisfaction of having work to do, and the ability to earn his own money. I think that's something too many American people take for granted! I've thought so many times how I hope one day someone will give Ellie opportunities like this. It's not always the path of least resistance that we're called to. God puts people in our paths not only for us to serve, I've found often times He's also using them to work on us.
Speaking of using them to work on us...
Ellie's been working on my sleep issue lately. The base issue is that Momma needs sleep and Ellie does not. Apparently her system is telling her that anytime between midnight and 4am can be morning, totally her choice. This has been going on for a few weeks now. She doesn't seem to go back to sleep when I put her back in bed, usually talking to herself or saying 'momma' and tapping me every few minutes. With a baby AND Ellie in the house, sleep is a luxury this momma would like more of!
School conferences this week for the girls! I'm so pleased with all three of the school-girls and anticipate great conferences tomorrow. Ellie's been using a label-maker to complete homework and in-class work. It's nice because she can type things out and just print it on the spot on a little label sticker. It's a great idea except that she needs help peeling the backing from the labels b/c it's so tiny. She's doing so well sounding out words and phonetically spelling them. I love seeing the inventive spelling on her work! It's funny the things of hers that I'm keeping as keepsakes this year. I love seeing her own "writing" on her work. Something I take for granted with the other girls. I only wish we could get her communicating using her device more! I know she has SO MUCH in her head --- I want her to be able to get it out!
Baby Esther is 7 months old already. Crawling, sitting, beginning babblings and waving are filling her days. She's such a happy kid, amazed to sit in her bouncer outside watching squirrels, birds, leaves. She reminds me to take in the beauty of fall. She'll lay back in her playpen just watching the leaves move in the breeze, giggling. As Grandma Marilyn said in a letter to Eva this week, "it's so special having a baby in the house, everyone just seems happier." This is so true, the little things become amazing all over again when a baby does them.
I pray this update finds you all well.
Blessings to you.
~Angie
Monday, August 18, 2014
Life at breakneck speed...
Wow. Another school year is about to begin. I'm in awe of how the summer has flown by and how this year really is coming towards it's end. I'm sad for things that will be missed and for our summer freedom (while not really all that free) is coming to an end. Ellie & Eva will start first grade (in separate classrooms but in the same school.) My few years of teaching were in first grade at South and I remember fondly the happy progression of those little people. I can't believe our girls are about to embark. It makes them seem so big, and really they are so big!
Perspective I say, is an amazing thing. In March we welcomed our newest peanut, Esther Clara. Having a newborn and "big kids" is amazingly easier than having a newborn and little kids! Whoever said two years apart was the ticket -- they lied! It's actually the 6 year span that's perfect! We've been so delighted by the smooth transition from a family of 5 to a family of 6. Seriously, once you're outnumbered it's a wash! Really though, all of our girls LOVE being little mommies. Ellie despises a spitty face and is diligent about wiping Esther's face, much to her demise. She actually doesn't mind a spitty face! She's getting to the ripe age of 5 months, where she's going to let someone know when they've wronged her! What a joyful baby though. It's amazing to see how God gives each their unique personality and preferences. Esther LOVES music and bounces, laughs and dances in her bouncer, while Eva accompanies her on foot circling the bouncer. Ellie doesn't enjoy the song and dance in quite the same fashion and usually watches from a far off spot with hands over her ears. Emma loves the piano and is learning new songs at lightening speed! I'm thinking if our girls ever start a band, Ellie can be the one in the sound booth with the ear phones running all those BUTTONS!
Life is good. Even though there are never enough hours in the day or days in the week, we're learning to enjoy and embrace those that we have!
As we look towards school starting, I started thinking about lugging all that "Ellie-stuff" into school. For the first time actually looked into a handicapped license plate. That's a really permanent and visual thing, that we've avoided until now. When Nicholas and I talked about it this week, he was totally supportive of the idea. It just makes sense he said. So, tomorrow I'll take my papers and drive down to our courthouse and pick up plates with the little wheelchair logo. A lot of my friends have the little cowboy for the cattleman's club or the apple for the teachers, those are all demonstrations of their support for those clubs and groups. This is a club I'd rather not be a part of and I guess have tried to hide in, until now. This year it's become clear to us that people know. We've been through all the phases, every book calls it something different. I think perhaps, now, we're moving towards acceptance. Acceptance ... and expectation.
In a little less than two weeks, I will put on the Step Up race. This is my third year coordinating the event. What started as the desire to keep the event alive, has now transitioned to a fundraiser for Rett Research. This year 100% of the profits will go to Girl Power 2 Cure, a charity dedicated to CURING Rett Syndrome. I like the sounds of that and that's something I'm willing to work for, to expect. We pray with our sincerest hearts that one day, a cure will come to unlock our sweet girl. I tear, thinking about the things she'll have to say when that day comes. So, if you're a friend or family, or close by come join us in a race for a cure. Half Marathon, Relay Half Marathon and 5k Events. August 30, 2014 Starting @ 7:30am King's Pointe Resort.
Register or donate here... www.stepupstormlake.webs.com . We can't thank you enough for your support!
~Angie
Perspective I say, is an amazing thing. In March we welcomed our newest peanut, Esther Clara. Having a newborn and "big kids" is amazingly easier than having a newborn and little kids! Whoever said two years apart was the ticket -- they lied! It's actually the 6 year span that's perfect! We've been so delighted by the smooth transition from a family of 5 to a family of 6. Seriously, once you're outnumbered it's a wash! Really though, all of our girls LOVE being little mommies. Ellie despises a spitty face and is diligent about wiping Esther's face, much to her demise. She actually doesn't mind a spitty face! She's getting to the ripe age of 5 months, where she's going to let someone know when they've wronged her! What a joyful baby though. It's amazing to see how God gives each their unique personality and preferences. Esther LOVES music and bounces, laughs and dances in her bouncer, while Eva accompanies her on foot circling the bouncer. Ellie doesn't enjoy the song and dance in quite the same fashion and usually watches from a far off spot with hands over her ears. Emma loves the piano and is learning new songs at lightening speed! I'm thinking if our girls ever start a band, Ellie can be the one in the sound booth with the ear phones running all those BUTTONS!
Life is good. Even though there are never enough hours in the day or days in the week, we're learning to enjoy and embrace those that we have!
As we look towards school starting, I started thinking about lugging all that "Ellie-stuff" into school. For the first time actually looked into a handicapped license plate. That's a really permanent and visual thing, that we've avoided until now. When Nicholas and I talked about it this week, he was totally supportive of the idea. It just makes sense he said. So, tomorrow I'll take my papers and drive down to our courthouse and pick up plates with the little wheelchair logo. A lot of my friends have the little cowboy for the cattleman's club or the apple for the teachers, those are all demonstrations of their support for those clubs and groups. This is a club I'd rather not be a part of and I guess have tried to hide in, until now. This year it's become clear to us that people know. We've been through all the phases, every book calls it something different. I think perhaps, now, we're moving towards acceptance. Acceptance ... and expectation.
In a little less than two weeks, I will put on the Step Up race. This is my third year coordinating the event. What started as the desire to keep the event alive, has now transitioned to a fundraiser for Rett Research. This year 100% of the profits will go to Girl Power 2 Cure, a charity dedicated to CURING Rett Syndrome. I like the sounds of that and that's something I'm willing to work for, to expect. We pray with our sincerest hearts that one day, a cure will come to unlock our sweet girl. I tear, thinking about the things she'll have to say when that day comes. So, if you're a friend or family, or close by come join us in a race for a cure. Half Marathon, Relay Half Marathon and 5k Events. August 30, 2014 Starting @ 7:30am King's Pointe Resort.
Register or donate here... www.stepupstormlake.webs.com . We can't thank you enough for your support!
~Angie
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