Project 52:30 | Simple

Project 52:30

Motherhood is:

SIMPLE.
Said no mother ever.

I could probably come up with a handful of excuses why I was so far behind on my blog this month, but I must confess the real reason. Every bit of alone time after the kiddos were tucked tight in their beds at night was devoted to Pinterest and Pinterest DIY projects. Can I get an AMEN?!?
I just couldn't help myself!

My mind has been continually occupied with paint colors, designs and wall decor for our new home. You see we close on our house on Wednesday and I get four days to paint (well, have someone else paint), clean and prepare for the big moving day.
It's every woman's dream! Right?!?!

The pictures in the upper left corner are not my creation, but rather pieces I've found for the house. My first DIY canvas picture in the upper right corner turned out fairly well! I chose a lyric from a James Taylor tune and am hoping it fits perfect in the living room along with a few other pieces of "inspiration" I recently found. Sadie created the second DIY project with just a little help. She painted a picture we plan to hang in her room.

I say all of this to say that right now my brain is split in a million different directions and my blog has obviously been neglected.

Anyone else out there enjoying an addiction, errr I mean pastime, to Pinterest and DIY projects?
I know some of you are with me cause I like your pins every evening! HA!

Notice: This post is actually EARLY! I knew I better get caught up as much as possible before moving day. Hopefully I won't get behind by another month, but I am making no promises at this point.  My track record doesn't look good. : )
I should have an abundance to share by the next time I sit down to write.

Project 52:29 | Stunning

Project 52:29

Motherhood is:

STUNNING
& so are her children.
Priceless facial expressions
 - as they learn, grow & explore -
are captured by the camera,
but stored deep in mama's heart.

Elam has fallen in love with tractors, trucks, lawn mowers and combines. Speak one of these words and you get this adorable smile and head shake that jiggles his entire body. Living this last month with Pop and Papa Gary has surely spoiled him rotten. During our last visit to northern Missouri he took a ride in Papa Gary's tractor and spent time in his combine that is sitting ready for harvest. 

I'm not sure what we will do when we move to our house and don't have access to one of these riding machines in the garage.

None the less, we are thankful that family is now only a short day trip away.

And ... it looks like Papa Gary just might have a new riding partner come September.  

Project 52:28 | Sacrificing

Project 52:28

Motherhood is: 

SACRIFICING
your own wants & plans
for the needs of your babe's.

Unfortunately, the end of our 4th of July travels commenced with an unwelcome hospital stay. Elam came down with what we now think was an intestinal virus, but with his fever spiking above 105 and an extremely high white blood count the doctors wanted to make sure it wasn't something else.

Not only do we not have a pediatrician to call our own right now, but we weren't even at our home away from "home." After weathering out the illness a few days we decided to try Urgent Care. We left that visit with a finger prick, a chest x-ray and extremely irritated at the standoffish doctor.

Finally, the following day we resorted to a cousin's pediatrician. I HIGHLY recommend going this route if you are traveling with a sick child and have any connections in the area. The doctors were very attentive and suggested we hospitalize Elam to make sure we weren't dealing with a larger issue. We also felt this was best. The poor little guy ended up with an IV, three more finger pricks (mostly due to human error) and another x-ray. He would scream anytime an unfamiliar face walked into the room and literally wore himself out!

As you can tell he loved seeing Granna and Pop that evening. Pop went a bought him some tea (he's a TEA lover) and promised him a lawn mower ride. Thankfully, with fluids, meds and lots of prayer he improved overnight and we were able to leave the hospital. We headed back to Joplin the following day.

Joel and I were supposed to celebrate our anniversary at a St. Louis Cardinal's game the night Elam went to the hospital.  When it comes to your children and their needs everything else just takes the back seat. It worked out in the end and we celebrated a few weeks later with Sushi and a James Taylor concert.

And now, all are happy and well.

Project 52:27 | Sharing

Project 52:27

Motherhood is:

SHARING
time, family, belongings & lessons learned with others
& teaching your little ones to do the same.

I hope you all had a fabulous 4th of July. Ours was spent at a home away from our "home." It was spent with family and so it was delightful. We enjoyed a small town parade, snow cones and fireworks in southeast Missouri. I thought we would escape the dreaded heat when we left Texas, but I'm afraid we drug it north instead. 

Happy Hot July!

Project 52:26 | All In

Project 52:26

Motherhood is:

ALL IN
At times everyone is worn out
& completely spent.
Take a short rest & get back to work.

I am certain our little children were just as exhausted as we were during the moving process. All of their toys and belongings being packed into box after box is so difficult to understand. I'm not sure they know how to comprehend life transitions such as these at their young age. But, it's been done by many before and they will survive.
Children are resilient.

The kids, Granna and myself left Texas with all the essentials we could cram into the car. We left daddy behind to help the movers. Sadie was so excited to get to spend time at Granna and Pop's house. Little did she know it would be a month long stay!

Thank goodness for the book, Berenstain Bears' Moving Day. We've already worn out the pages. Sadie has every word memorized and now correct me while I read.
I love it!

As Papa Bear says, "It's moving day!"

Project 52:25 | Dazed

Project 52:25
Motherhood is:

DAZED

from time to time.

Exhaustion sucks the brain dry of all creativity.

End of story.

Long story short, we decided to use PODS for our moving and storage during this transition. It was a last minute decision, but it has worked tremendously well. They have been very accomodating and even packed the PODS for us. 

Thank goodness for this blessing!

I can't remember the last time I was so mentally exhausted. Packing your house in general is exhausting, but packing with the intention of living out of a suitcase for an indefinite amount of time wracks the brain. 

There are many things I rather do than pack up and move. 

And the list begins with . . . birthing a child. 

Okay, I'm finished complaining now. 

Good bye.

Project 52:24 | Amicable

Project 52:24

Motherhood is:

AMICABLE
because without good friends & neighbors
life would be much more difficult.

We bid farewell to our neighbors the day we departed for Missouri. Sadie spent hours of "bike" riding and playing with her neighbors across the street this past year. I'm sure these precious faces didn't understand the full meaning of "good bye" as they hugged and shared sweet words that morning.
We promised to keep in touch and Skype.

Thank goodness for good friends!