Choo Choo

We had a busy Saturday! After Sam's friend Emma's 1st birthday party( which had a really cute cake) we went to Ashland to catch a few trains before the sun went down. Two really nice men came out of the train store and talked to us and one gave Sam a Thomas book- how sweet was that? I love Ashland and the small town feel it has, and the nice people. I could name a few places that could use some more friendly people! By the end of the day, Sam was a tired little boy, but even more obsessed with trains.

A fun find

A few weeks ago, I was at Michael's and found these ca-yute flowers for our dining room. I would love to fill the vase with them, but for now 4 will do! I love our dining room out of all the rooms in the house because it is a different color than I would normally choose and different furniture too..and the only place I could work polka dots in and it not look like a preschool room!

A Year Ago

Don't worry I am not writing a profound post today, I was just thinking back to where I was this time last year. Sam was about 9 months old and I had this itching desire to stay at home. The economy was (and is) crappy and it was something that we never really thought would happen or consider after our first child. Jarrett started a new job and the list of why nots was LONG. But the one reason of WHY was not...I just felt that was what I was supposed to do it. I loved being a counselor. I liked helping kids feel better when they left my office. It really was a perfect fit for me. But after Sam was born, I realized I spent so much time worrying about other peoples children (who's parents rarely said thanks to me after helping) and not enough about my own. When I shared my hopes with some people, I got supportive "DO IT" responses, you will never regret it. Some gave me other responses less supportive. But it would be my family making sacrafices, not them. So, I took a LEAP of FAITH and trusted that God would provide for us and help me to have peace about my decision. So...how am I feeling about it? I had to make changes in my life. No 3 x's a week trips to Starbucks, budgeting for groceries, and saying no to some invites to do things, being creative about things to do and no more impulse buying at Target! Is it worth it? Most days I am so thankful that I get to do this and that my husband is supportive of my choice- thanks Jarrett! Yes, I get frustrated sometimes and it is an endless list of things to do all the time and I wash clothes like no ones business, but I am helping my family and serving them and I feel good about that. Pedicure each month? Yes, I have withdrawls but it is worth it. I miss seeing work friends and gossip and being productive with projects, but not as much as I would miss the things I get to do now. You can be a good mom working and you can be a good mom not working. All have its plus and minuses! We may never take trips to the Carribean or drive brand new cars. We may not have thousands in our savings but we are happy- and isn't that a great thing!

Help!

Ok people, I have a music player at the bottom of my blog and I want it to play the last song "You and Me" when my blog opens but it wont'...any ideas of how to do this?- Updated! I made new player- so challenged in the technology dept!

Samuel 1:27

I just love the name Sam and did for sometime, but when I found out I was pregnant, we weren't sure what name we were going for. I was so confused about what name our son was going to carry for his whole life! Jarrett liked Gabriel and we would call him Gabe. I did like that name a lot, but if I didn't have it embroidered on something, I knew I wasn't sold. Then one day I was looking at a picture frame I got for a baby gift and the bottom of it said " for this child I prayed and the Lord answered my request" it was from the book of Samuel 1:27. I felt this tingle of "that's it!" So then I showed it to Jarrett and with a firmness he said "then that is our sons name." This was about 2 weeks before he was born. It took 19 months for God to bless us with Sam. Those were some very hard months in many ways, it was unfair that people got pregnant and didn't want to, it was unfair people were giving their children up, it was unfair that we had to spend so much money out of pocket for medication, it was unfair that I lived my life in months. Some friendships changed because people didn't get it. It was not that I was not happy for them, I was, it was just hard for me to know that I wanted to be a mom so badly and it just wasn't happening. I stopped all the medication I was taking and just gave it over to God. In early October, I felt overwhelmed by it all and I decided to drive around before I went to the grocery store listening to some Christian songs that gave me peace and I just talked to God like he was sitting in a chair across from me. No fancy words, I probably let my ADD get in the way making my grocery list in between my talk. I just gave my worries to God. "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you". Peter 5:7

I had made an appointment for November 4 to see a fertility specialist. On November 2, on a fluke I decided to take a pregnancy test honestly because it was a daily thing I did (confessions, confessions-and can you imagine how much money I gave to CVS?). It looked positive and I thought that it was just to blurry to read. So the next day I got up early, got a digital one- can't mess that up-lol- and took it in the bathroom at work. It is such a weird feeling getting that positive- like a happy, scared, OMG my life just changed this very minute kinda feeling. God can do anything! Anyway, I have been very frustrated with my little miracle lately and I thought that thinking back to how blessed we are and that wonderful day, I would find some peace today with a very busy little boy named Sam.

Sunday Fun

Happy Sunday!

Today the weather was FANTASTIC so after church- which I have to tell you about too- we went to Maymont a great park near by. It was sunny and breezy and fun! We walked around and I took a few pics of the toddler. The hills are my least fav part of the place, but I probably should walk more hills on a daily basis.