One day at a time

This is something that I have been telling myself for about the last 2 months (probably longer but really living it now) and it has helped me become much calmer. God is revealing things daily on how i need to live and it is becoming easier to follow his will which most of the time means that the situation has not changed but my view has. I was told by a counselor a couple years ago that as long as I have one arm out and the other up my life will be complete, meaning that if I am always reaching for God and others than everything will be worked out for myself. I have to say that the last 2 months have proven that piece of advice more than any other advice I have ever received. This past Sundays sermon at church really convicted me..one part in particular which is that my body is the temple and what ever goes in needs to be worthy of that. It is a hard thing to think about because I have done some cleaning the last couple of of months but there is so much more that I know I need to be doing. The awesome thing is that I serve a God that loves me through it, he doesn't expect me to be perfect but as long as I am seeking him than he gives me the strength I need DAILY to get through my struggles! I was made aware twice the last two weeks how the things that Nathan and I have walked through have spoken to other people to better their lives and I totally (whether they do or not) believe that God is in all of that. Again I say I will tell more about the things we have been going through when I have the time to sit down and type it all out but not one second goes by that I do not regret the decisions I have made the last couple of weeks and not a second goes by that I am not giving God the GLORY for what he has done not only in me but my husband and our marriage.
On another note we have lots planned for the next couple of weeks..This weekend is a night at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth (all the thanks to Nana and Papa S. for giving a night there to everyone for Christmas) we get to go with Nikkie and her family and Joe and Erin (Jessica and Matt will be missed). The kids are so excited and so are we! Then Sunday on our way home we are stopping by Nana and Papa T.'s house for some pasta!! Then Tuesday next week is a huge thing that I am doing for myself that I have wanted to for so long...more on that next week :). Hope everyone has a great week!

Playdough

I am still so thankful for the time that I worked at Handprints CELC at our church because I have taken the things I have learned there as a teacher and used them with my own kids. Today after work (only had to go in for a half day) and came home to make homemade play dough! We had so much fun and it took all of 15 minutes to make 4 different batches.
Purple for Isabell

Blue for Sammy

Pink for Mariana

Green for Jordan


Here is the recipe if anyone wants to try to make it too!
1 c. flour
2 tsp. cream of tarter
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 c. water
1 drop food coloring (or a whole bottle according to Jordan lol)
1/2 cup salt

Mix dry ingredients thoroughly. Add food coloring, oil and water into dry ingredients. Stir over medium heat for several minutes until mixture forms a ball. Let it cool then knead until smooth. Store in airtight container. Play-dough will keep for 4-6 weeks and lose its greasiness after the first or second use.

We are all alike

While watching Jordan at Karate today (Traditional Karate in New Baltimore if you are interested my baby bro is the sensei) I was talking with a mom..Ok so I wasnt watching Jordan I was socializing but after working on fixing a mistake at work that took me 7 hours I needed some adult interaction :). I realized that we are all alike...Moms I mean. I have all this guilt all the time about if I am ruining my kids, My life is my kids life (back and forth to school, homework, after school activities and so on and so on), being a working mom, not reading to my kids enough I could go on and on. Some days I want to pull the covers over my head and sleep the day away but then I feel guilty for feeling that way. As a mom when you complain people always put their two sense in they say "It will go by quickly enjoy it now", "Do you know how lucky you are", "why did you have so many then" and this is my favorite "You shouldn't do so much then it really is your fault". In my head I am smaking them (yes I did just say that) but on the outside I am smiling. Then of course you have the moms who do everything bake all day, take their kids and their kids friends to activities, work, have playdates and all while doing laundry, running errands and bringing meals to people. I feel like so often as moms we feel like we cant voice what we are going through becuase we will feel like others will think we are failing. I realized today that is not true. After talking with this mom we both felt so much better she even said "I feel bad saying this because other moms would judge me". Why cant we all just allow each other to open up and not judge each other we judge ourselves enough right? not sure if this makes sense to other moms out there but it felt good to write it out :)

10 years

So it is 10 years today for us!! I can not believe how fast this decade has gone by...I guess having four kids in 10 years makes things go by pretty fast lol. This has been one heck of a ride so far and all I can say is that I would do everything the same. I know that our marriage is not perfect but if you think yours is than you really need to go to God for that. It is the struggles that make us stronger as long as we seek God in the midst of them. I have learned more about myself and my husband in these last 10 years..
1. I am a strong Italian woman that tends to be more independent so much that it drives Nathan crazy
2. He honestly does not see the dishes in the sink
3. He is only good at grilling which is good because I am only good at cooking indoors...the kids love to point these two things out :)
4. I love being a back seat driver sometimes I do not know I am doing it...other times I am doing it on purpose
5. He has amazing eyes that I can get lost in but forgot about it for awhile because I didn't stop long enough to look in them.
6. He has an amazing heart that when he opens up I loose mine more and more
7. He is an amazing father...like one that I always prayed my kids would have and I am so proud of him for that
8. He is really really good at playing video games ;)
9. I realize more and more that God placed us in the same spot 14 years ago for a reason. We are part of his magnificent plan and I am forever grateful for that day...one that I may have to share one day

I could go on and on but right now we are going out to lunch :) I know one thing for sure I am looking forward to not just the next 10 years but the next 50 with my husband and best friend.