Simply Sara

One shelf in the bookcase in our den is dedicated to books that I have started and not finished. I'm embarrassed to say that there are quite a few books on it! If you know me, this shelf should be empty because I love to read and typically devour a book in a day or two! Give me a Karen Kingsbury or Francine Rivers novel, and I will neglect laundry, cleaning, and even sleep to get it finished! I am a Christian Fiction junkie. (Please don't roll your eyes at me!) It started with Robin Jones Gunn's Christy Miller series back when I was a preteen. I was spellbound by the relationship between Todd and Christy. I then moved on to Lisa Tawn Bergren and Francine Rivers. When Karen Kingsbury burst on to the scene I was obsessed. I've read every single one of her books, many times over. So you're probably wondering what's sitting on my shelf unread, right? Here's the list: The Mission of Motherhood Prayer Just Walk Across the Room Discerning the Voice of God Healing...

Our Wyatt is 6 months old today! Can you believe it? I sure can't! I can't believe we're here already! He's rolling over, pulling himself to his knees and today he tried his first vegetable! Our little baby is growing so fast! Wyatt has found his voice! He laughs, coos and shrieks with delight! When he sees someone he loves, his smile starts in his eyes, then spreads all the way down to his toes! He smiles with his whole body! Hooray for green pea puree! He ate it all! Wyatt has brought a wonderful feeling of completion to our family. He's our caboose! Both Ava and Lucas are crazy about him. They love to hold him, feed him, and they will even throw away his dirty diapers! Wyatt is fascinated with his feet and hands! They are like constant entertainment! He sleeps on his tummy or side all night long! His head is so soft! I must kiss it at least 200 times a day! This boy is so beautiful and kissable! I am so thankful that the Lord heard our prayers for another baby an...

It's been kind of a crummy day. I'm not going to lie to you. I woke up tired. And my mood went downhill from here. I was snappy with the kids, distant from Matt and just downright ugly. It wasn't until tonight when the house is quiet and everyone else is asleep that I finally got my attitude adjustment. I struggle with wanting so badly for life to be easy and pretty and rosy all the time. I want my words to always be gentle; for wisdom and creativity to be my constant companions. I want to be diligent in my work as a homemaker and be all that my family needs me to be. For years I have put pressure on myself to be a certain way (i.e. perfect), and then I carried around the disappointment and shame for not meeting up to my own (unrealistic) standards. It wasn't until this past year when my eyes were opened to the self-destructive path I was on (and still struggle with) that I realized what I was doing to myself and the people around me. I was rejecting grace and withholdi...

Everyday I wrestle with wanting more time for myself, by myself. I wake up when the kids get up (before 8:00) and then it's the usual business of the day. The kids exercise along with me, Ava and I take showers together most mornings and since we started potty training, I never get to do that alone either. Most of the time, I'm okay with it my lack of alone time. But there are some days.... some days that I really, really want to be alone. Days when I want to do nothing more then close the bedroom door and curl up in bed with a good book and the t.v. remote. Growing up, I can remember sitting in the bathroom talking to my Momma while she was in the bathtub. Poor lady! I had no idea that she probably wanted just a few minutes to herself! She was never alone because someone was always talking with Momma. (She's a really great listener!) Naptime is no longer alone time for me, since Wyatt is on a different schedule from Ava and Lucas no longer naps. I do require Lucas to stay ...

Today I woke up feeling behind. That's never a good start to the day. And I didn't seem to catch up until about 8:00 tonight. (I'm okay with leaving the load of clothes in the dryer overnight.) This is pretty typical for me, being it's a Thursday. Thursdays are now my Fridays and Mondays are my favorite days. Don't ask me why, but I always have more energy, more umph on a Monday. Cold weather kept us in for most of the day. We did take a walk to the mailboxes at the front of our apartment complex. It's so weird not being able to scurry out of my house in my pjs minutes before the mailman arrives with a bill that's due soon. Not that I did that, too often. I've never lived in an apartment before. Most of the time I forget that we do. That is until the family who lives above us wakes up at 5:45 - every week day morning - and starts stomping around and rearranging furniture. As far as apartments go, our place is wonderful! Of course, I have nothing to compa...