I've discovered something strange in my kitchen...my table is a huge magnet for junk! Everything from fruit to Claire's tennis shoes seems to end up there. On the average week, I clean the thing about 15 times and still stuff appears on it. I was looking at it yesterday and simply had to chuckle at myself. I have a stack of expired coupons....not sure why they never made it to the trash! One of Claire's shoes...I think the other is in the garage, or maybe the car? Who knows! I have a bowl to keep fruit in, but half the time it contains coupons to places we swear we are going to eat at and never do.
What is the solution? I have no idea! I think I come up with some great organizational tool only to forget about it in a few months and end up with the same thing....a giant kitchen magnet!
Tales of my wonderful family and life.
25.9.11
3.8.11
Summer Fun
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Thank you Father for providing me with such amazing supoort during this time of my life. You know what I need much better than I do. Thank you for this time of fellowship and fun!
23.7.11
Cousins
Today, my cousin Kallye came in to town and brought her son Briley to visit today. I was so excited to see them and watch Claire and Briley played together. They were so sweet and considerate to each other the whole time he was here, Claire even sharing her toys willingly and happily!
Probably the most joy I had today came from watching my Grandma (their Gram)smile and sit contently watching her Great-Grandchildren play so perfectly together! She and my Pappy created such a lasting legacy for our family and being able to see her enjoy these two babies makes me so proud to be her granddaughter.
4.7.11
23.6.11
Summertime
As it was pointed out to me this week, I have not updated this in a LOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG time! The craziness of working and trying desperately to finish the school year took its toll on this little blog of mine and it got pushed to the furthest back burner I could find! (So far back, in fact...I had to go through several steps to reset the password which I had forgotten in the last 3 months!)
But, here I am. Refreshed from three whole weeks of summer vacation under my belt and ready to renew my blogging commitment!
A lot has happened since the last time I was on here. Patrick and I celebrated 6 years of marriage. I can honestly say it has flown by like the blink of an eye. It is so hard for me to imagine my life before we were married. I had one I know, but it seems like he has been there for everything!
We celebrated the wonderful some firsts with Claire. She started walking March 16 (while Mommy was home for Spring Break!!). She finally got her top two teeth, instead of just having her "fang" teeth in the top of here mouth (in fact, she now has 8 teeth!)
We also had the great joy of celebrating Claire's First Birthday. We tried to keep the party small, but even just family and our very closest friends, it was over 30 people crammed into our little house! It was such an amazing time for me to see her so loved and know everyone there was excited for her life and truly loves her for who she is. I am so blessed by my little girl, it leaves me speechless. To think God would give me such a perfect gift when I am so unworthy is mind blowing. Look at the life of a child and you will see how much out Father loves us. We do not deserve their innocence and laughter and joy and giggles and every other amazing thing from them, yet the are here and we have the great responsibility of raising them and loving them through this life.
Well, I could carry on all night with that train of thought! I will close this because I am tired and need to sleep before my sweetheart wakes me with her sweet singing in the morning.
I will close with this: I am committing to posting on this blog at least every two weeks. I have even put a reminder on the calendar in my phone!
Stay tuned for more fun and exciting tales of the Johnson Family!
Claire's Mommy
But, here I am. Refreshed from three whole weeks of summer vacation under my belt and ready to renew my blogging commitment!
A lot has happened since the last time I was on here. Patrick and I celebrated 6 years of marriage. I can honestly say it has flown by like the blink of an eye. It is so hard for me to imagine my life before we were married. I had one I know, but it seems like he has been there for everything!
We celebrated the wonderful some firsts with Claire. She started walking March 16 (while Mommy was home for Spring Break!!). She finally got her top two teeth, instead of just having her "fang" teeth in the top of here mouth (in fact, she now has 8 teeth!)
We also had the great joy of celebrating Claire's First Birthday. We tried to keep the party small, but even just family and our very closest friends, it was over 30 people crammed into our little house! It was such an amazing time for me to see her so loved and know everyone there was excited for her life and truly loves her for who she is. I am so blessed by my little girl, it leaves me speechless. To think God would give me such a perfect gift when I am so unworthy is mind blowing. Look at the life of a child and you will see how much out Father loves us. We do not deserve their innocence and laughter and joy and giggles and every other amazing thing from them, yet the are here and we have the great responsibility of raising them and loving them through this life.
Well, I could carry on all night with that train of thought! I will close this because I am tired and need to sleep before my sweetheart wakes me with her sweet singing in the morning.
I will close with this: I am committing to posting on this blog at least every two weeks. I have even put a reminder on the calendar in my phone!
Stay tuned for more fun and exciting tales of the Johnson Family!
Claire's Mommy
28.2.11
Working Mom
Life has a way of changing your plans. From the time Patrick and I got married and started talking about having kids, it was assumed I would stay home. Things seemed promising for this goal to be achieved.....until life changed the plans. Blame the economy, I am not sure, but I am a working mom.
I try to find the best places for her be and it is hard for me to come to grips with the fact the best place for her to be is home with me, but that is not the possible place for her to be.
All of this is coming up in me because we went and visited a new MDO program for her today. The one we have her in part of the week is great and comfortable. The other is great, but not comfortable. I wonder about her future. Is being in two different places OK? Will she have a multiple personalities because she is in multiple places?? (slightly joking here!) She will start new Wednesday and be in two loving, Christ-centered environmenst from now til the end of school. She will be with women who are upbeat and excited to have the jobs they have. They feel called to work with kids and have a passion for babies. I cannot ask for more.
At the end of it all, I have to recognize this one point: I am doing to best I am able with the place I am in now. I have to stop beating myself up over these little things. I have come to realize the more time and energy I spend on these points, the less time and energy I have to give to her. And she needs all the time and energy I have to give!
I certainly do not know what the next year or two or beyond holds for me. I am going to see this time as me being the hardest working Mommy I can be and praying Claire to the feet of Jesus to help her with growing up. I can only do what I can do, no more and no less. I will remember this point: I CAN DO all things through Christ who strengthens ME!! Phil 4:13
Claire's Mommy
I try to find the best places for her be and it is hard for me to come to grips with the fact the best place for her to be is home with me, but that is not the possible place for her to be.
All of this is coming up in me because we went and visited a new MDO program for her today. The one we have her in part of the week is great and comfortable. The other is great, but not comfortable. I wonder about her future. Is being in two different places OK? Will she have a multiple personalities because she is in multiple places?? (slightly joking here!) She will start new Wednesday and be in two loving, Christ-centered environmenst from now til the end of school. She will be with women who are upbeat and excited to have the jobs they have. They feel called to work with kids and have a passion for babies. I cannot ask for more.
At the end of it all, I have to recognize this one point: I am doing to best I am able with the place I am in now. I have to stop beating myself up over these little things. I have come to realize the more time and energy I spend on these points, the less time and energy I have to give to her. And she needs all the time and energy I have to give!
I certainly do not know what the next year or two or beyond holds for me. I am going to see this time as me being the hardest working Mommy I can be and praying Claire to the feet of Jesus to help her with growing up. I can only do what I can do, no more and no less. I will remember this point: I CAN DO all things through Christ who strengthens ME!! Phil 4:13
Claire's Mommy
19.2.11
Nap Time
Why is nap time so hard? Claire is now 10 months old and it seems nap time is getting harder and harder. I am thinking it is mostly because for the first 8 1/2 months of her life, we mainly relied on the swing and rocking her to sleep both for naps and bed time.
As a Mommy, I am torn because I want to hold her all the time and keep her a baby forever, but I know she is growing up. I am so excited to see her become a little girl who talks and walks with us, but does that mean she will not want me to cuddle her and rock her? That thought makes me sad...almost wanting to cry!
On the flip side, here I am posting on my blog while she is napping...guess it is not so bad after all :)
Claire's Mommy
As a Mommy, I am torn because I want to hold her all the time and keep her a baby forever, but I know she is growing up. I am so excited to see her become a little girl who talks and walks with us, but does that mean she will not want me to cuddle her and rock her? That thought makes me sad...almost wanting to cry!
On the flip side, here I am posting on my blog while she is napping...guess it is not so bad after all :)
Claire's Mommy
13.2.11
Driver's Seat
At church today, our Pastor asked an interesting question...who is in your driver's seat. It got me thinking....who is in control of my life. I give God credit (of course) but do I really let him "drive" my life. Growing up in a Christian home and attending Christian college solidified in me the deep need I have for my Savior. However, my day to day life might not be so solid in Him.
I look at my marriage and think how amazingly blessed I have been with such a wonderful husband. His desire is to provide and lead our family in the best way he can. He is funny (in his own way!), supportive, sacrificing.
I look at my daughter and I am so amazed. Not only is she the most beautiful child ever created (am I biased???!), but I am constantly in awe of God giving her to me. What have I ever done to deserve such a gift? Multiple times a day I do things that are so against what God desires for me.
So the question about who is in my driver's seat really hits me. If He will give me these AMAZING gifts when I am driving...what is He waiting to give me when I let him drive. I think I am going to put him in the driver's seat for a while and find out!
Who is in your driver's seat?
Claire's Mommy
I look at my marriage and think how amazingly blessed I have been with such a wonderful husband. His desire is to provide and lead our family in the best way he can. He is funny (in his own way!), supportive, sacrificing.
I look at my daughter and I am so amazed. Not only is she the most beautiful child ever created (am I biased???!), but I am constantly in awe of God giving her to me. What have I ever done to deserve such a gift? Multiple times a day I do things that are so against what God desires for me.
So the question about who is in my driver's seat really hits me. If He will give me these AMAZING gifts when I am driving...what is He waiting to give me when I let him drive. I think I am going to put him in the driver's seat for a while and find out!
Who is in your driver's seat?
Claire's Mommy
5.2.11
Salsa Music
In being cooped up for 5 days, I have made a discovery....my 9 month old LOVES SALSA music. We discovered this randomly Wednesday when we were trying to get her down for her morning nap. Rachel Ray was on and playing the DWTS music. Patrick (my husband) started dancing with her and she put her head on his shoulder and within minutes was asleep. We found a CD at home that is salsa music and have tried it the last two days....it puts her to sleep! So strange, yet so funny!
I will say this, he is the only one she will dance with ...I guess Mommy is to "rhythmically challenged" to sweep her off to dream land. Today, I tried dancing her to sleep and she laughed and giggled, but no sleep. I finally had to lay down on the couch and give her bottle to her and she drifted off. I have known she is a "Daddy's girl", but I have a new appreciation for his dancing skills.
So.... Salsa Anyone?
Claire's Mommy
I will say this, he is the only one she will dance with ...I guess Mommy is to "rhythmically challenged" to sweep her off to dream land. Today, I tried dancing her to sleep and she laughed and giggled, but no sleep. I finally had to lay down on the couch and give her bottle to her and she drifted off. I have known she is a "Daddy's girl", but I have a new appreciation for his dancing skills.
So.... Salsa Anyone?
Claire's Mommy
4.2.11
Day 4!
Well, here we are again with day four of our winter weather! We finally got out yesterday to visit some friends and mom and dad. Claire is not a fan of this weather, I think she prefers our indoor pajama days.
I am loving being home with her, but two things are heavy on my heart. One I will have to be gone from her next week and I am not sure how I will handle it. Two, she will be away from me and I know she will not handle it well. I think it is safe to say we are in to the separation anxiety stage of her development. She cries when I drop her off at church and even when I leave the room here at the house. It is not so bad because I know she stops once I am gone and she is playing or once I return to the room at home, but still my heart is heavy.
I always assumed I would be able to be a stay at home mom. That is what our moms had done as well as our grandmothers. It just seemed like a done deal. However, life has different plans for you sometimes. I love being a teacher and watching my students learn and discover and grow, but I wonder is my love of others kids growing hurting my own daughter?
I feel like I give her my all when I am with her, but what do I really have to give? I pour out so much of me at school that the drive home has to recharge me to be all I can be for her. Do any other working moms struggle with this? I am sure you do.
These are (a few) of the thoughts floating through my head on our fourth snow day!
Hope you are staying warm where ever you may be!
Claire's Mommy
I am loving being home with her, but two things are heavy on my heart. One I will have to be gone from her next week and I am not sure how I will handle it. Two, she will be away from me and I know she will not handle it well. I think it is safe to say we are in to the separation anxiety stage of her development. She cries when I drop her off at church and even when I leave the room here at the house. It is not so bad because I know she stops once I am gone and she is playing or once I return to the room at home, but still my heart is heavy.
I always assumed I would be able to be a stay at home mom. That is what our moms had done as well as our grandmothers. It just seemed like a done deal. However, life has different plans for you sometimes. I love being a teacher and watching my students learn and discover and grow, but I wonder is my love of others kids growing hurting my own daughter?
I feel like I give her my all when I am with her, but what do I really have to give? I pour out so much of me at school that the drive home has to recharge me to be all I can be for her. Do any other working moms struggle with this? I am sure you do.
These are (a few) of the thoughts floating through my head on our fourth snow day!
Hope you are staying warm where ever you may be!
Claire's Mommy
3.2.11
Something new
I have tried journaling before and never got past the first few days. I have wanted to find a place to express myself and I think this might be it.
So many others I know have a blog and I enjoy reading theirs, so here it goes!
I am a Christian, wife, mom and full time teacher. I love my life but some days I think I will lose my mind before the sun goes down. No matter what I am doing, I constantly feel like I am juggling too much and one wrong move away from dropping everything! Does anyone else feel that way? Maybe I am CRAZY!
Really, I think I am OK with being crazy....it keeps things interesting :)
Here we go!
So many others I know have a blog and I enjoy reading theirs, so here it goes!
I am a Christian, wife, mom and full time teacher. I love my life but some days I think I will lose my mind before the sun goes down. No matter what I am doing, I constantly feel like I am juggling too much and one wrong move away from dropping everything! Does anyone else feel that way? Maybe I am CRAZY!
Really, I think I am OK with being crazy....it keeps things interesting :)
Here we go!
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