The Smell of Freshly Cut Grass and a Cool, Gentle Breeze

Two weeks ago, when the girls were in school, I took Little Man to the park.  I want to spend as much alone time and fun time with him as possible before his little brother arrives.  I have enjoyed spending alone, quality time with each child through out the last several years.  Each of my children have their own special personality.

Anyways, we arrived at the park on one gorgeous Friday morning.  It was simply gorgeous!  Little Man played on the playground for just a few minutes and then he wanted to go for a walk around the small pond.  Everywhere we walked he wanted to hold my hand.  It was so nice and I enjoyed every single moment.  We came up upon picnic tables, where Little Man sat down and insisted on having a snack.  I quickly pulled out his snack and sat down right beside him.  He started talking like crazy as my mind wondered for a few minutes. 

I looked around and soaked everything in.  I heard him chatting away; I smelled the freshly cut grass; I heard the breeze moving through the leaves of the trees; I felt the cool, gentle breeze hit my body and I saw how the sun glissoned through the moving branches.  I then took a few quiet moments to thank the Lord for His creation around me and for providing me with the means to be a stay-at-home mom.  Such a blessing and a gift to be able to excuse myself from the hustle and bustle of a working life and mom, and to be able to have moments like these with my children and to just be able to slow down is just surreal to me; and I simply refuse to take that opportunity for granted.

With four kids, it really doesn't make sense for me to work.  By the time my pay check would come in and after we paid for childcare, there really wouldn't be much leftover.  I would simply be paying to send my kids to be watched by somebody else besides me; and in the end, that just wouldn't be worth it on so many levels.  Even after I had my first child, Scot and I made the decision that I would be a stay-at-home mom.  First of all, I had worked in the daycare setting for nine months and decided that that was no environment I was willing to put my child(ren) in.  Secondly, we wanted to raise our children and simply did not want anyone else to do so; therefore, we made the decision to make sacrifices and adjustments.

It isn't always easy being a stay-at-home mom.  Often times, you feel like you can lose your identity and perhaps a little bit of your mind being with children all day and you may find yourself longing for some adult interaction as I often do; HOWEVER, it is worth all of that and more.  True, perhaps being a stay-at-home mom and lacking an additional paycheck can bring about sacrifices, like a smaller house, less dinners out; no private schools and high tuitions; or the need for some consignment clothes shopping may arise, but those are all minor in the great scheme of things for Scot and myself.  As I am quickly learning, your babies...your children...are only going to be young and little for only so long, and before you know it they will be growing up and you will discover how very precious every moment spent with your kids was worth it and needed.  They grow-up so very fast.

Now I do understand that some parents have to work in order to make ends meet.  I also understand that there are single parents out there who have no choice but to work; but I also believe that there are some parents (get ready because I just may ruffle some feathers here) work because they don't believe they can stay home with their children and are too afraid to even try.  Some refuse to try because they have decided that their kids would drive them too crazy if they did stay home.  While others simply do not wish to make the sacrifices it would take to become a stay-at-home parent.  They are either only concerned about their own perceived needs and beliefs, or they are way to concerned about keeping up with the "Jones" to even give it a try because a wealthier lifestyle and/or toys and money mean more to them than their own kids and being with their kids.  It is true.  There are people like that out there; whether you wish to believe it or not.

Sacrificing those comfort things make you more aware of God's goodness in your life and you recognize His provisions for you and your family in your life.  You learn more about trust and faith in regards to God.  In a few short years, your kids will grow and be gone, right before your very eyes.  For Scot and myself, we have concluded that those empty treasures of this world are simply that--nice but empty--and we much rather have our children get the most of us while we can.

God fills my cup; My cup overflows...

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. Psalm 16:5 (Kids or no kids, apply this scripture to your life.)

A Couple of Brown Paper Bags

So this year I have two kiddos heading off to elementary school.  Some day, we will have all four kiddos attending school.  So what I did and used this year will most definitely come in handy in the future.

With a larger family, it helps NOT to purchase all of the school supplies at once.  Scot and I like to purchase various items through out the month of July through mid to late August, in order to prevent a huge chunk of change being taken out of our pocket purse all at once.  With this shopping style in mind, I pulled out paper bags this year and labeled each paper bag with each girls' name (but for the sake of privacy, I have turned the bags around for this picture).  As we shopped and came home with the various items, we placed them in the correct bag and marked the item(s) off the supply lists that were placed under the correct and corresponding paper bag. 

True, for some of you this could be considered a bit of an eye-sore for a month or so, but I kept the bags up in my master bedroom and out of the way.  And it really helped me keep things sorted and in order until the day came to take the supplies to school.  Therefore, a little mess didn't bother me much; especially when I plan on doing the same thing next year!