Hi friends! Just a quick, virtual coffee date today, as I'm hitting the road bright and early to drop off Banks and Raleigh for a long weekend visit with their Nana and Pop and cousins. They are SO excited for all the fun that lies ahead, and I am SO excited to give my Harrison a little one-on-one attention after being away at Disney last week.
Were we meeting for coffee, I'd want to hear about how you celebrated Valentine's Day last weekend and what you have planned for this weekend. I'd want to know if you had any of the FRIGID temps we have had this week and whether you capitalized on the cold weather by ice sledding or hibernating in front of a warm fire or both. I would then share the following tidbits about moi:
...That I just need to share a real God moment that I experienced this week: I was having a challenging day. While wrestling Harrison for the umpteenth time that day during our bajillionth diaper-and-clothes-changing and nose-wiping session (the kid is strong, fast, and persistent in his strong dislike for said sessions), I became frustrated. I was just physically exhausted from wrestling him all day. And I work very hard, every day, to be a hands-on, present, actively involved momma. This is my job. And I love it. I also spend a good deal of time most weeks helping other mommas out, trying to make this momma-ing journey easier and more enjoyable for them. Yes, I absolutely love it. But. My momma job can be thankless at times. And that's fine: I don't need a pat on the back for every boo-boo I kiss, every load of laundry I put away, every preschool social calendar I fill, every letter sound I teach, every momma I help. BUT. I had a moment of weakness the other day. I was sweating. I was tired. I was exasperated. I felt unappreciated. I felt like I was doing my best to help everyone around me but was selfishly wanting a little "Good job!" in return. Silly isn't it? I don't deserve applause for doing my job. I am paid in laughs and smiles and snuggles and joy. But, if I'm being honest, I wanted it in that moment. Without thinking, I pleaded, out loud, while sweating in the middle of yet anotherwrestling diaper changing session: "God, I just need someone to say thank you. I just want someone to appreciate all that I'm doing, every day, for everyone else that I can. 'Cause this is hard. I just need a little thank you." I literally said that out loud, in the middle of Harrison's nursery. Isn't that silly? Isn't that selfish? Superficial? But it was a tough day. And I was desperate for a little praise. And then. Guess what happened. Are you ready for this?
The next day, the VERY next day, after I selfishly pleaded for God for just a small little bit of completely undeserved gratitude, I received the most beautiful and completely unexpected letter in the mail, from someone who is very special and very, very important to me. It was a THANK YOU letter. Not only that, it was the best thank you letter I have ever received in my entire life. It was beautifully written and so genuine and just so lovely. There were tears. Followed by a fist pound to the Big Guy upstairs. You can't make this stuff up. God is listening. Even when requests may seem silly or small or selfish. He is listening.
...That we had a fun Valentine's last weekend: We surprised the kiddos with some fun treats, festive decorations, and a special breakfast first thing in the morning. Raleigh and I then ventured right up the street to go to an adorable princess birthday party for one of her sweet friends, and Banks and his daddy went on a hike in the woods after that. Once they returned, several girlfriends and I hit up Pure Barre for an afternoon workout. OhmydearLord. I was sore for three days. It was the BEST workout, and I'll be hitting it hard over the next 4 weeks. If you've never been to PB but have one near you, go, go, go!!! It is so fun and the most amazing toning, burning workout! Anywho, we concluded our Valentine's with my sweet hub making me a full platter of crab legs while he and the kiddos dined on some scrumptious steak. I, being the wild party animal that I am, was asleep on the couch before 10:00 pm. You can take the girl out of the party... ;) Seriously, though, it was a great day, and we concluded the weekend by hosting some awesome friends and their kiddos for dinner.
...That I was able to spend extra time with my kiddos this week, seeing as how we had President's Day holiday on Monday, no school due to ice on Tuesday, and delayed school opening (again, due to ice) on Wednesday AND Thursday (and today, as well, but the kids are skipping school today!). We basically hibernated and had so much fun doing it together: playing with this month's Kiwi Crate, reading lots of books, doing puzzles, practicing walking, playing marbles, having a special, non-Friday-night movie showing, playing Peter Pan, having dance parties, wearing princess dresses, etc. You name it, we did it.
Were we meeting for coffee, I'd want to hear about how you celebrated Valentine's Day last weekend and what you have planned for this weekend. I'd want to know if you had any of the FRIGID temps we have had this week and whether you capitalized on the cold weather by ice sledding or hibernating in front of a warm fire or both. I would then share the following tidbits about moi:
...That I just need to share a real God moment that I experienced this week: I was having a challenging day. While wrestling Harrison for the umpteenth time that day during our bajillionth diaper-and-clothes-changing and nose-wiping session (the kid is strong, fast, and persistent in his strong dislike for said sessions), I became frustrated. I was just physically exhausted from wrestling him all day. And I work very hard, every day, to be a hands-on, present, actively involved momma. This is my job. And I love it. I also spend a good deal of time most weeks helping other mommas out, trying to make this momma-ing journey easier and more enjoyable for them. Yes, I absolutely love it. But. My momma job can be thankless at times. And that's fine: I don't need a pat on the back for every boo-boo I kiss, every load of laundry I put away, every preschool social calendar I fill, every letter sound I teach, every momma I help. BUT. I had a moment of weakness the other day. I was sweating. I was tired. I was exasperated. I felt unappreciated. I felt like I was doing my best to help everyone around me but was selfishly wanting a little "Good job!" in return. Silly isn't it? I don't deserve applause for doing my job. I am paid in laughs and smiles and snuggles and joy. But, if I'm being honest, I wanted it in that moment. Without thinking, I pleaded, out loud, while sweating in the middle of yet another
The next day, the VERY next day, after I selfishly pleaded for God for just a small little bit of completely undeserved gratitude, I received the most beautiful and completely unexpected letter in the mail, from someone who is very special and very, very important to me. It was a THANK YOU letter. Not only that, it was the best thank you letter I have ever received in my entire life. It was beautifully written and so genuine and just so lovely. There were tears. Followed by a fist pound to the Big Guy upstairs. You can't make this stuff up. God is listening. Even when requests may seem silly or small or selfish. He is listening.
...That we had a fun Valentine's last weekend: We surprised the kiddos with some fun treats, festive decorations, and a special breakfast first thing in the morning. Raleigh and I then ventured right up the street to go to an adorable princess birthday party for one of her sweet friends, and Banks and his daddy went on a hike in the woods after that. Once they returned, several girlfriends and I hit up Pure Barre for an afternoon workout. OhmydearLord. I was sore for three days. It was the BEST workout, and I'll be hitting it hard over the next 4 weeks. If you've never been to PB but have one near you, go, go, go!!! It is so fun and the most amazing toning, burning workout! Anywho, we concluded our Valentine's with my sweet hub making me a full platter of crab legs while he and the kiddos dined on some scrumptious steak. I, being the wild party animal that I am, was asleep on the couch before 10:00 pm. You can take the girl out of the party... ;) Seriously, though, it was a great day, and we concluded the weekend by hosting some awesome friends and their kiddos for dinner.
...That I was able to spend extra time with my kiddos this week, seeing as how we had President's Day holiday on Monday, no school due to ice on Tuesday, and delayed school opening (again, due to ice) on Wednesday AND Thursday (and today, as well, but the kids are skipping school today!). We basically hibernated and had so much fun doing it together: playing with this month's Kiwi Crate, reading lots of books, doing puzzles, practicing walking, playing marbles, having a special, non-Friday-night movie showing, playing Peter Pan, having dance parties, wearing princess dresses, etc. You name it, we did it.
...That I have a SUPER-DUPER, fun, and exciting announcement coming soon! And it will benefit YOU, too, my dear friends and family, who are so kind to support me on my lil' 'ol blog. Stay tuned!
And that's it for me this week! We have plans to have dinner with friends tomorrow and keep the church nursery on Sunday, and I'll also be hitting up Pure Barre a couple times this weekend (have I yet mentioned I am in L.O.V.E. with this workout?! More on that in a future post). Above all, though, we'll be staying safe and cozy. And I hope you stay warm, enjoy that coffee, and I'll see you back next week!
Have a great weekend. <3
love it! it's always awesome when God "shows off" like that. ;-)
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