Thankfulness

Dear Jesus, 

I never really believed in the term soul mates.  I always felt that term was really silly.  And at times, I still do...but...well...you knew 39 years ago as you formed my Beau and knit him together perfectly in his mothers womb, you knew JUST how much I would need him now...

Lord, things haven't always been easy or good for me or my Beau...we've both been through a lot of heartache...we've both experienced pain and hurt and frustration that I know you wish we hadn't had to go through...a lot of it because of our own bad choices....but I can thank you for those things and times...because now we have each other to share with.  

When you couldn't be here in physical form to hold me, comfort me and love me Jesus, my Beau has been...for you.  When you couldn't verbally tell me I was loved and valued and needed still, my Beau was here...for you.  And when the hardest days of talking and telling difficult things to others have come around..and I needed a hug and I needed peace and comfort...you provided it...often times...by nudging my Beau to come over and hold me...comfort me and redirect my eyes to you.

I have been given a blessing I don't deserve.  A man who loves me, who provides for me, encourages me and mostly...never fails to remind me of where my hope comes from.  YOU.  And he doesn't even realize he is doing it...and the times he does so on purpose - pointedly - he does so with such love...that it doesn't make me mad...it gets through my thick skull and makes me realize how silly I am being and how much I take YOU for granted. 

Thank you Jesus.  Thank you for loving me so much that you gave me the chance to love and be loved by this man.  Thank you for loving me so much to die for me...to tolerate me & my stupidity...to keep forgiving me...and to provide for me in ways I can't fathom...

What do YOU do?

How do other women out there cope with being a SAHM after working full time for years?  

This is a question I have asked myself thousands of times over the last few months.  After working full time for years, I suddenly became a stay at home mother to my 3 year old son.  I have loved it.  It has been such a blessing to be home and care for him and my Beau...to be able to literally watch him grow and learn.  I have so enjoyed teaching him new things.  I've enjoyed relaxing and watching cartoons and movies with him in my pajamas all day too. 

But I do so miss adult conversation.  I fear I drive my Beau crazy with my constant talking from the second he gets home until the second our heads hit the pillow at night.  

I have a handful of friends that live locally I talk to...but so many work full time and don't have time to get together during the week (been there myself).  I just miss working...yet I love being home. 

Catch 22 huh? 

So...what do other SAHM's do to keep their sanity day after day?  My house is kept clean, laundry done, cook all the time and am homeschooling my son...but still...I have time on my hands and a lack of adult conversation.  

Give me some ideas ladies!  And since my transportation varies, I can't always go somewhere far.  

Then Sings My Soul Book Review

I LOVE doing book reviews for Book Sneeze!  I have only done a few thus far but look forward to many to come.  I get to read great quality Christian books and I get them for FREE!  All I have to do is take a few minutes here to offer my review!  

What's Not to like about that???

I recently received my copy of Then Sings My Soul by Robert Morgan.  This book is a compilation of various famous hymns common to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Patriotic Hymns and other commonly sung well known hymns.  Not only do you receive the hymns (and sheet music as if a hymn book in itself) but along with the hymn itself, you get a wonderful story behind each hymn. 

I personally grew up in a small country church that sang only hymns.  It wasn't until my early teen years that I was really introduced to what is more common in worship now as the praise songs and contemporary Christian music.  So many (if not nearly all) of the hymns in this book are near and dear to my heart.  They are songs that when sung or heard remind me of my childhood and especially the small country church my grandparents still attend.  The Sunday mornings listening to the 4 part harmonies in that building to me IS the definition of worship!  

So, as I sat down with this book and thumbed through it the first time, I immediately thought of my grandparents and was filled with warmth and comfort.  I enjoyed reading stories I already knew from Music History classes in my small Christian school...and loved reading and learning new stories behind some of the songs I have sang over and over again.  

This book is a wonderful book to use as a gift for a music lover...I personally will most likely give this to my grandmother as I know she will thoroughly enjoy reading about all the hymns she has played and sang in church for years.  But I may also have to go purchase another copy for myself, as I believe it would make a great Music History curriculum book for my son as he gets older.  

3 Men and a Baby? Nope..3 Kitties & a Wee Child

Wow...the last few months have just been a whirlwind of changes for me and my little family...well....if you want to get technical..this whole year has been!  

In October, I sold my house and my Beau purchased a home for the 3 of us to move into.  My 3 year old son, myself and my Beau...a nice..not too large...comfortable home in a beautiful area on the outskirts of the city I was raised in.  Easy adjustment?  Sure!  

Did I mention we went from having one outside cat...to 3 indoor cats in this transition???

I love cats, my Beau loves cats...and my wee little son loves cats.  So, I didn't worry about the changes...now...I can honestly say I've had a few moments of "what was I thinking?!"

Hehe....I am blessed with a fabulous Beau who loves me and my son more than I ever thought possible.  I am very unworthy of his love and feel blessed to know that he loves my son as if he were his own.  But along with that love, he also loves his cats...2 of which have been his longtime "roomies" and now my outdoor cat..well..he has been turned into an INDOOR cat.  

That hit movie of the late 80's Three Men and A Baby???  Well, I think I could make a movie called Three Kitties and a Wee Child.  

OH MY SOUL!  My son, he LOVES those cats...the cats...they just aren't so sure.  They have always led a fairly peaceful quiet lifestyle.  Been fed, pampered, loved on daily...never had much noise or change...and suddenly...all in one fell swoop...our kitties have been bathed (what cat likes water? ::snort:: oh yeah...I forgot..one of MINE does!), moved across town to a new house...had their belongings (toys, cat trees & even the bed they shared with Daddy) moved and some even disappeared...and add to that...

A WEE CHILD!  

Full of noise...laughter...giggles...squeals of delight...cries of fright...whining because he didn't get his way...Oh yes...

BIG CHANGES!!!

Poor kitties...we've been moved in for about a month now and one of the cats has just FINALLY made his way out from under the bed during daylight hours.  He was coming out only to eat and potty...but this week he has made his presence known throughout the house.  Today even with a brief visit to the living room to watch the squirrels out the window...of course...sigh...the wee child came barreling through at light speed hollering about something...and that precious big love able kitty...he hightailed it out of there faster than you could imagine.  

I spent some time today laying on the floor, doing what most would shake their heads if they overheard or saw...comforting..reassuring...coaxing that kitty out from under the bed...and then as he got comfy almost in my lap (head on leg, but not quite IN my lap)...I introduced him properly to the wee child...who sat quietly watching...waiting to get to pet him...and he did...and my big ole kitty...he purred...

Just like in the movie with men and a baby...it was tough at first...a few rocky days of uncertainty and questions....but in the end...all 3 of the men knew they'd do anything for that foreign object...that crying baby; all 3 of my kitties...although shaking their heads and occasionally sighing (oh yes folks, cats CAN sigh!)...they too love this new foreign object....

shocking....but true...

:-)

I'm BACK!

I have been gone far too long.  But in the midst of moving, getting somewhat settled and continuing to adjust to life with my Beau and son in a different place...rekindling my relationships with family and old friends...it's been quite an adventure the last few months and unfortunately, I have let my blog become lost in the shuffle.

I am excited about getting back into blogging and in the coming days will be revamping all 3 of my blogs and kick starting for the Holiday Season.  Here I'll post more frugal tips and more links to great deals and samples and more notes about my new family and our life together in the beautiful resort community we just moved into. 

So - thanks for being faithful readers and sticking it out with me as I wipe of the cobwebs and start doing some remodels here...sit back...brew a cup of tea and hear all about how my life is going these days....