Seven Years

As my readers know, I am a fan of  The Pioneer Woman.  Lives in Oklahoma, has 4 kids, blogger, likes to Thunder up - all but the cooking (and the homeschooling), we have a lot in common!  Yesterday, Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, posted this post  about an old picture of her 4 kids from 7 years ago, and a new picture of them from this past weekend. Time flies. Like, really, REALLY flies.

While sharing the post with my husband over lunch, we talked about what our family look liked seven years ago. It was just him, and I, and two orange haired 3 year olds. Looked like this:

April 2006 - Britt, Emma (3), Betsey, Lara (3)

And now? Holy cow! 4 KIDS! 2 (almost) 11 year olds, a 6 year old, and a 17 month old. I am in shock that my tiny baby girls will be starting MIDDLE SCHOOL in the fall.  My sweet baby Jake - wise beyong hid years - is a total clown and keeps me on my toes with his wisecracking ways (just like his dad).  And Baby Finn?  Well, I guess I need to stop calling him that, even though he is MY baby and still a peanut, so it's easy to stick with the "baby" part! Time just got up and walked out the door while I wasn’t looking.

April 2013 - Lara (10), Britt, Jake (6), Betsey, Emma (10), Finn (17 mo)

I love how Ree put it:

You know what? I just had a revelation. Rather than do what I normally do when I’m faced with comparison photos such as these—which is cry, wail, weep, freak out, wig out, pass out, sob and stomp my feet over how quickly time is passing and how much my children have grown—I’m going to conduct a healthy exercise and instead smile, appreciate the fact that my children are older, wiser, and more learned now, and cherish the time I have left with them before they leave the house to move on with their adult lives.

Deep breath: In…out.

Ahhh. You know what? I actually feel better! 

An even scarier prospect? 7 years from now… Emma and Lara will be closing in on 17. Jake will be 13, and sweet baby Finn will be 8. WOW! Not to mention, Britt will be 55 and I will be 45. Seems so far away right now, but really, it’s just around the corner.

I love being a mom. I truly think that is my purpose. I just wish I could hold on to the (good) moments a little longer… *sigh* So blessed.

Friday One Liners

• ·         Oklahoma weather is schizophrenic

• ·         Whatever I have done to my right foot/ankle is making me limp.  Which messes up my left hip.  I may need to visit the Chiropractor

• ·         Ree Drummond, Pioneer Woman is my BLOGspiration.  But I don’t cook.  Or ranch.  Or have Basset Hounds.  But whatev’s!  She says to write like you are talking toyour sister.   I don’t have a sister.  But I write like I talk, so I guess I am good there.  Always wanted one (a sister).  Glad my girls have one each.  I had a brother for 36 years… (That was a lot more than one line…)

• ·         I am a big fan of the internet

• ·         Micro-preemies keep you on your toes and keep you learning new things.  I still want to learn sign language.  Just for fun – not because I need to…

• ·         My first son is six years old today.  I am going to have a hard time remembering to say 6 instead of 5.

• ·         “Scandal” and “College” seem to go hand in hand way too often

• ·         I’ve got a very understanding boss that lets me do what I need to do when it comes to my family.  So grateful for that.

• ·         Thankful that I have found a creative outlet.  May put that “learning to sew” thing on the back burner…

• ·         I’ve added more designs to my ETSY shop  – including CHALKBOARD ART for Valentine’s Day!! Readers – use the code LOVE14 at check out for 14% off your order now through February 14!

Welcome to 2013

We are 3 days in to the New Year.  2013 is  63 hours old for me.  Hubby and I are back at work, but the kids are still on break through the weekend.  So, Nana the Wonder Sitter is pulling quadruple duty!  So far, so good, but I can tell it is the 2^nd day – my phone has rung a LOT with One Directions “What Makes You Beautiful” (my ring tone for when the Twisters call me).  Silly questions.  About how to save files on USB drives.  And ice cream that’s been in the freezer “for months and no one has touched it.” And the dog’s birthday.  I’m not kidding.

When I was checking my email after lunch, I saw the ever popular Ree Drummond Pioneer Woman had a new blog post.  That I simply MUST check out.  I love her.  I love her writing.  And I love when my husband prepares her recipes for us.  YUM!  And, she responded to me on Twitter.  Once.  I have proof:

It is called “Resolutions” and I was glad I clicked.  I enjoyed her take on things. It inspired me.  I hate resolutions.  Promises I can’t keep.  Pledges I don’t stick to.  And since I can’t remember what I had for breakfast most days, it’s hard to even remember them.  But, I thought her idea was cute, so I thought I would give it a shot.  Here goes…

R ead my Bible daily (Thanks to YouVersion and amazing reading plans, this one will be easy!)

E at less. Exercise more.

S low and Steady wins the race. Rome wasn't built in a day. The longest journey starts with one step. Just Do It!

O wn less junk.  De-clutter. And don’t bring in new clutter!

L earn something new.  Like how to sew.  Or sign language! Anyone want to teach me (either?)

U nderstand my husband more. I love him.  All the time.  I don’t understand him all the time…

T alk less.  Listen more.  I am bad at that…

 I nvest in my children.  Time. Life. Lessons.

O vercome obstacles.  Don’t let them be walls.

N otice life around me.  Don’t get caught up in my own little world.

So, what do you think? Are those achievable?  Sound like good ones for me?  I am going to print this out and have it where I can see it daily to remind me of my goals.  What are yours?  I would love to hear what you can come up with using “resolution” as a guide!  Share them!