In sickness and health

     Almost 11 years ago my husband and I took each others hand in marriage. I recently heard that the choice you make when choosing your husband or wife is one if not THE most important decisions you make in your life.  I would add only second to choosing who or what you put your faith in. I had dated several but not many guys before Jay and I met. One was a nice guy and one was a extremely selfish guy... and then I met Jay.  I instantly fell in love with the way that he spoke with other people. I am sure one of the first things I noticed about him, while we were working together in a running shoe store, was the way he listened to people talk and tell their stories along with the way he responded to them. He was not self absorbed and this was evident from so early on in our relationship. One of the other things I remember from early on was when he stopped into the shoe store on a Friday evening before we were even dating. I think he was picking something up, he was in a white T-shirt and was on his way to go see his little sister's dance recital. So now, not only was he interested in strangers, he was supportive of his family.

     All this to say when you are 22 you don't think "sickness" will come if you've had a healthy childhood. You are still in the invincible stage of your life, your back is fine, your knees do not hurt, no chronic illnesses have come knocking on your door. You say the words during the wedding not knowing or really taking stake in the fact that one day, you'll be sick or your spouse will be ill. One day you may be helping them do things physically like tying their shoes, helping them put on deodorant, putting their hair in a pony tail along with taking much more of the responsibility in the house and with the kids, more laundry, more dishes, more meals. 

     When you make the choice at 24 or any age you are are choosing a personality and heart that will be either be selfish when you need them or selfless when you need them. I am so thankful and blessed that my heart connected with my husband and something in me told me (listen to that inner voice young ladies) not to settle for anything less than a selfless spouse because one day they might be putting on your shoes and socks and washing your hair after a bout of "sickness". 

New Years Goals

Every year for, well I'd have to look back at my journals but I'd guess 10 years at least I make a list of new years "goals". I am very set on them being goals with the knowledge that they may or may not get accomplished but I would like to have some sort of direction for the year. As the years have gone on I think this helps give me a direction in life. Also, if I have not already shared this tidbit about myself I am a serial journaler and love reminiscing and looking back on the past and analyzing it for the good, bad and in between.

In 2014 my goals were as follows (in this order): have a healthy pregnancy & baby (my side note states this more of a prayer than goal, as I believe, the control in this situation is not entirely of your own [not the trying part but the actually getting and maintaining part, as I learned in 2013]), learn to drive stick shift (Nope, did not happen), show my hubby more love (probably dependent on the day), go West for a trip (check, went to Seattle in the spring), make more recipe cards (barely did even a few), decorate living room (yes ma'am, even did a gallery wall), enjoy my sweet (and wild) child more, and send more letters, read 10 books, waste less money, start 529 fund for Hpants.
See...

My goals for 2015 were quite a bit fewer and well... you judge for yourself:
Give more positive feedback to people
Devotions
Don't take myself so seriously
Move back to TN (If you spoke to me at all in late 2014 or early 2015 you know I was serious about this one)
and one last one that said something similar to #1
I was in a rough place when these were written. Some where between the arctic,a degree of postpartum something or another and moving hell.

I guess my point is I don't think resolutions is the right term for what to expect of yourself when a day makes the last digit change in the year. Change takes time and its not an over night process for most of us. I think it is great to evaluate your past year and think "self, what can I do to make this year a little better, for myself and/or others?" (depending on your current life circumstance). Go from there, maybe you jot down 1 or 27 points as goals. I think writing them down somewhere helps me because I can go back and look as the year goes on and think "Now what did I want to do this year?" or I can go back 4 years later and say "What the heck, why have I not done that yet? Better get started now."

So Cheers to you and 2016 and I gotta go learn to drive my hubby's car!
Sara

SAHM mom here. Thankful for this time at home

Its not the most glamorous but its the best dang job I've ever had. Most days I spend quite a bit of time cleaning, cooking, picking up, shopping, running errands and even resting and right now it’s the perfect “job”.

    My top 5 things I love about being a SAHM

#1: I don’t have to ask someone how my child's day went. H1 goes to preschool which I am SO thankful for because his energy level is hard to keep up with, but he can tell me how his day went. I’m thankful I don’t have to wonder “Why is she grumpy today?” or “Did he really nap for 2 hours?” or “Where did that bump come from?”

#2: When my kiddo picks up a cold or illness I get to nurse her back to health in the comfort of our home and there is no question of school today or do I need to call work?

#3: I enjoy getting things done while H2 is napping and having that “me” time, again only possible because H1 is in school some days.

#4 I drink my coffee in a regular mug. No travel mug (most days) for this mama

#5 The pace of life is slower. I am so thankful I don’t need to rush from here to there and there to here and back again every day.

When Jay was in grad school, we were living in Pittsburgh and newly weds. We had no kids yet, none on the way and I was working full time. I remember thinking and probably saying out loud “I could NEVER (with a capital N) stay at home with kids. I would be so BORED”. Well I should know better because several years prior I said “I would never date someone I work with”. Guess where Jay and I met? At work. Not the normal work scenario but I think God has a sense of humor and both of these circumstances make me smile.

H1 was born when I was in school so I consider that working full time (kind of) and then I worked part time when he turned 2 until 3. Then H1 was born and I stayed home with no side work her first year and recently went back to work 8 hours a week. I love my job and am super thankful that there are part time opportunities without compromising my position. But I still consider myself a SAHM because well frankly I am mostly at home.

I know SAH is not for everyone and I know full time work is not for everyone and I think we should not judge what mamas choose because its such a personal and complex decision. It tends to make moms feel guilty no matter what they choose. Embrace your choice and if you’re not happy or your family life is suffering try a little change if you can and you may be surprised at the relief. In a few years I’ll probably be writing a “Top 5 things I love about working full time J”

Today seems quite appropriate for my first blog post. Exactly one year ago to date we finished packing our things, at least the belongings we thought we "needed" for the next few months and I, with my 3 month old, and my husband with our 3 year old made the trek from TN to OH.

As I drove in my car (actually a borrowed car from my in-laws) and my hubby in his there were thoughts swirling in my head. Was this a good idea? Did I forget the coffee maker? How was it going to work living with my parents again? Would our house sell quickly? Did I want our house to sell quickly? Where would I stop to nurse my daughter?
The questions were random. Some about the future and some about the present.
Then we crossed from KY to OH and the snow began to swirl just like my confusion and fears. The questions turned to statement. This was probably a bad idea. What the (insert curse word here) was I thinking! Oh crap.

November 15th will always hold a serious spot in my heart and mind. A big life change, definitely the hardest yet (and I say yet because from my experience so far life is as unpredictable as the weather in this crazy state of Ohio.)

I'll elaborate more on this journey, I'm sure, but the point of this post is to say that one year later, we made it. We are not miserable. I am happily typing away in the sunroom off the back of our house. OUR HOUSE, not my parents living room or our friends house or the rental (all of which we lived this past year). We are truly blessed beyond measure and I look forward to sharing some stories, and encouragement!
Thanks,
Sara