-you cannot function or think in the morning without a cup of coffee, no matter how many hours of sleep you had.
-your clothes have food and snot all over them, and you know that it was not from you.
-you look forward to nap time, some days more than others.
-your toddler brings you a bag of cheetos and you contemplate serving them for breakfast.
-you say things like "don't lick the shopping cart" - "we are not eating uncooked spaghetti noodles for snack"
-at the request of your toddler, you turn on the Halloween lights, even though it is daylight and no one can see them.
-you thought that you were the CEO of house, but clearly the one wearing diapers is calling the shots.
-you questioned your intelligence because you cannot figure out why a toilet paper roll us so much fun to unravel.
-you are tempted to watch "The Polar Express" everyday because you know that your toddler won't move during it.
-you don't know what "me time" is and are wondering where to buy some of it.
-taking a shower is the highlight of your day.
-the sight of left over pizza in the fridge makes you smile.
-it takes you 2 hours to leave the house, on a good day.
-your toddler poops between changing his diaper and loading him in the van.
-you drive a van.
-tickle fights are a part of your daily routine.
-you believe that the person who decided to put DVD players in vehicles should rank right up there with the President.
-you have spent many days in your pj's.
-you only know that the weekend is here because you see "Garage Sale" signs everywhere.
-you let your toddler play with his Christmas present in the store to keep him quiet.
And finally, you know that you are a stay at home mom if, you would not change your job for the world.
Thanks Grant for keeping life interesting!
All Things Possible,
Stephanie
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Fourteen Percent
So, I have been sick for a long time. To be exact, I have been sick for about 21 months - since Grant was born. I have not been sick non-stop, but pretty often.
This summer has been terrible. I have been sick a lot. For the most part, I know which foods make me sick....but I have also come across some mystery foods. These "mystery foods" may make me sick one day, but other days I am able to eat them.
Why would I let this go for so long? I am stubborn. VERY stubborn. However, in August I gave in and went to the doctor. I simply could not take the pain any longer and I was sick of being sick. I was also sick of not being able to eat what I wanted.....sick of trying to eat healthy. I just wanted to eat a giant banana split...and move on with my life......you know what I mean??
After a blood test and ultrasound I found out that nothing was wrong.
A couple of weeks ago I had some strange attack thing happen to me while in Home Depot. It hurt to breathe....it hurt to walk....it hurt to talk......it hurt to think. I must add that although I was in horrible pain - Alisha and I still managed to pick out an awesome paint color and some other supplies for her basement.....we are just good like that :)
After that wonderful adventure, I requested to have another test done. I must add that my wonderful mom pushed for this test - mothers know everything!!!
Anyhoo, the doctor's office called this afternoon with some GREAT news.....my gallbladder is not functioning properly.....it is functioning at a whopping 14%.
This is great news to me because I knew that something was wrong. AND I am very excited to start feeling better. AND I am very excited to possibly eat a big, fat, banana split - or something just as unhealthy!!!!!
I go to the doctor on Monday to get more information about my disobedient gallbladder. I will post more information when I know more. I'm sure that ALL of you are dying to know more and that you won't sleep until you know more details.
Yeah....there is something wrong with me ;)
All Things Are Possible,
Stephanie
This summer has been terrible. I have been sick a lot. For the most part, I know which foods make me sick....but I have also come across some mystery foods. These "mystery foods" may make me sick one day, but other days I am able to eat them.
Why would I let this go for so long? I am stubborn. VERY stubborn. However, in August I gave in and went to the doctor. I simply could not take the pain any longer and I was sick of being sick. I was also sick of not being able to eat what I wanted.....sick of trying to eat healthy. I just wanted to eat a giant banana split...and move on with my life......you know what I mean??
After a blood test and ultrasound I found out that nothing was wrong.
A couple of weeks ago I had some strange attack thing happen to me while in Home Depot. It hurt to breathe....it hurt to walk....it hurt to talk......it hurt to think. I must add that although I was in horrible pain - Alisha and I still managed to pick out an awesome paint color and some other supplies for her basement.....we are just good like that :)
After that wonderful adventure, I requested to have another test done. I must add that my wonderful mom pushed for this test - mothers know everything!!!
Anyhoo, the doctor's office called this afternoon with some GREAT news.....my gallbladder is not functioning properly.....it is functioning at a whopping 14%.
This is great news to me because I knew that something was wrong. AND I am very excited to start feeling better. AND I am very excited to possibly eat a big, fat, banana split - or something just as unhealthy!!!!!
I go to the doctor on Monday to get more information about my disobedient gallbladder. I will post more information when I know more. I'm sure that ALL of you are dying to know more and that you won't sleep until you know more details.
Yeah....there is something wrong with me ;)
All Things Are Possible,
Stephanie
Friday, October 8, 2010
Keep Your Arms And Hands Inside Of The Ride......
When I was younger my dad, uncle, cousin, and I would go to Cedar Point each year. This was not, however, your average Cedar Point trip. We would wake up early, leave the house early, and arrive to the park early. This trip only happened once a year and it was very important to us that it was done right.
When it came to our annual trip we followed a couple of rules:
1. Water rides are over-rated: "we can stay at home and play with the hose" -Dad
2. Spinney rides are a waste of time: "we can just spin in a circle at home" -Dad
3. Never enter the park on Father's Day: No comment.......
Each year we packed into a car, stopped at McDonald's for breakfast, and drove non-stop the rest of the way to the park. We always arrived to the park as it was opening. As we pulled in we could see the tops of coasters as they started their day. We could see a handful of lucky folks who managed to make it on the rides first, without waiting in line.
After setting our cooler on a picnic table, and turning our tickets in, the day began. We walked through the gate - telling the photographer that we did not want a souvenir picture taken - my dad mostly likely said something to the tune of "we can get our pictures taken at home."
On the other side of the gate - wonderful. The sight of people scrambling to their ride of choice, the sound of roars coming from the top of hills, and the smell of corn dogs in the air - a recipe for an awesome day.
We always rode the Blue Streak first. It was tempting to jump to the bigger and better coasters, but we enjoyed starting small and working our way up to the big thrills. My dad enjoyed the history behind the Blue Streak and I looked at the coaster as an appetizer.
Sometimes the lines were very long. Sometimes the lines were short. Sometimes the lines seemed long, but moved quickly. If you were lucky there was a cool mist blowing and plenty of shade. As we zig-zagged through the line - watching the same people zig-zag along with you - the anticipation for the ride grew.
We would ride non-stop for the entire day. Food and bathroom breaks were quick and we never visited a shop or played carnival games. Not only did we arrive when they opened - we stayed until they closed. There was a reason why my uncle and cousin would come with us - they were also serious. They were not there for "sissy-ness" and giggles. Their agenda match ours and they followed our 3 rules :)
The days at Cedar Point always exceeded our expectations. We loved spending the day bouncing from coaster to coaster - thrill to thrill. There was nothing better than feeling the wind in your face and your stomach drop. There was nothing better than waving your hands in the air and coming to a screeching halt at the conclusion of the ride. There was nothing better than screaming at the top of your lungs and hearing "click, click, click" as you climbed a hill.
As I grew older, went to college, and got married our Cedar Point trips became less and less. We were able to go here and there, but did not go each year. We did take a trip together after Brad and I got married. At the beginning of our wedding ceremony my dad gave us two Cedar Point tickets and whispered in our ears "life is a roller coaster, enjoy the ride."
Six and a half years later we are on "the ride" or should I say another ride.
Over the years we have made the drive, turned in tickets, pack coolers, and waited in line. Brad and I struggled early in our marriage with employment. It took us 3 years to find jobs that we enjoyed and that were stable. As our friends found jobs, moved into homes - we wondered why we could not find jobs and only dreamed of owning a home one day.
God answered our prayers. He blessed us with jobs, a home, and a wonderful - beautiful - amazing son. We thought that our ride was over. We thought that the park had closed. We thought that it was time to reminisce about "our day."
Perhaps I was distracted by the fact that it was our wedding day, perhaps I was so excited to receive Cedar Point tickets, perhaps I just didn't listen. I somehow missed the part when my Dad said "life is a roller coaster....."
I have mentioned before that I feel like we are on a roller coaster. I have felt so up and down about quitting my job, I have felt up and down about staying at home, and I most certainly have felt up and down about playing the "one income" game.
Lately I have realized that quitting my job, staying at home, and following a path that God has laid before me is just the beginning of this ride.
Our annual Cedar Point trip parallels our current situation. We have asked people to join our ride in prayer and support......we want to jump to the big thrill, but know that we need wait and be patient......we hope that the line to a solution is short.
For the most part, this ride is better than our first ride. We have grown in our faith and have a better understanding of what we stand for.
The most enjoyable part of this ride is knowing that God is in the first car. We have put our faith in His coaster and have jumped in for the ride.
There have been, and I assume there will still be, parts of the ride that we do not like. There are moments in this ride that are not full of thrills, there are tunnels on this ride and we cannot always see what is going to happen next.
There are also parts of the ride that we enjoy. It is a thrill to know that we are living in His will - doing what we believe He is asking us to do.
In the moments that I want to bail off this coaster - I realize what I am about to do and jump back into my car. This ride is SO FULL of ups and downs, but it feels safe.
It the meantime, we hold tight and hold on. A good friend reminded me last night "where He takes you, He will meet your needs." I am a little concerned about "meeting our needs," but I am most concerned about where He is taking us. We know that He is taking us somewhere - we have faith that our needs will be met once we arrive.
I just hope that all of this happens before the park closes...... :)
All Things Are Possible,
Stephanie Miller
When it came to our annual trip we followed a couple of rules:
1. Water rides are over-rated: "we can stay at home and play with the hose" -Dad
2. Spinney rides are a waste of time: "we can just spin in a circle at home" -Dad
3. Never enter the park on Father's Day: No comment.......
Each year we packed into a car, stopped at McDonald's for breakfast, and drove non-stop the rest of the way to the park. We always arrived to the park as it was opening. As we pulled in we could see the tops of coasters as they started their day. We could see a handful of lucky folks who managed to make it on the rides first, without waiting in line.
After setting our cooler on a picnic table, and turning our tickets in, the day began. We walked through the gate - telling the photographer that we did not want a souvenir picture taken - my dad mostly likely said something to the tune of "we can get our pictures taken at home."
On the other side of the gate - wonderful. The sight of people scrambling to their ride of choice, the sound of roars coming from the top of hills, and the smell of corn dogs in the air - a recipe for an awesome day.
We always rode the Blue Streak first. It was tempting to jump to the bigger and better coasters, but we enjoyed starting small and working our way up to the big thrills. My dad enjoyed the history behind the Blue Streak and I looked at the coaster as an appetizer.
Sometimes the lines were very long. Sometimes the lines were short. Sometimes the lines seemed long, but moved quickly. If you were lucky there was a cool mist blowing and plenty of shade. As we zig-zagged through the line - watching the same people zig-zag along with you - the anticipation for the ride grew.
We would ride non-stop for the entire day. Food and bathroom breaks were quick and we never visited a shop or played carnival games. Not only did we arrive when they opened - we stayed until they closed. There was a reason why my uncle and cousin would come with us - they were also serious. They were not there for "sissy-ness" and giggles. Their agenda match ours and they followed our 3 rules :)
The days at Cedar Point always exceeded our expectations. We loved spending the day bouncing from coaster to coaster - thrill to thrill. There was nothing better than feeling the wind in your face and your stomach drop. There was nothing better than waving your hands in the air and coming to a screeching halt at the conclusion of the ride. There was nothing better than screaming at the top of your lungs and hearing "click, click, click" as you climbed a hill.
As I grew older, went to college, and got married our Cedar Point trips became less and less. We were able to go here and there, but did not go each year. We did take a trip together after Brad and I got married. At the beginning of our wedding ceremony my dad gave us two Cedar Point tickets and whispered in our ears "life is a roller coaster, enjoy the ride."
Six and a half years later we are on "the ride" or should I say another ride.
Over the years we have made the drive, turned in tickets, pack coolers, and waited in line. Brad and I struggled early in our marriage with employment. It took us 3 years to find jobs that we enjoyed and that were stable. As our friends found jobs, moved into homes - we wondered why we could not find jobs and only dreamed of owning a home one day.
God answered our prayers. He blessed us with jobs, a home, and a wonderful - beautiful - amazing son. We thought that our ride was over. We thought that the park had closed. We thought that it was time to reminisce about "our day."
Perhaps I was distracted by the fact that it was our wedding day, perhaps I was so excited to receive Cedar Point tickets, perhaps I just didn't listen. I somehow missed the part when my Dad said "life is a roller coaster....."
I have mentioned before that I feel like we are on a roller coaster. I have felt so up and down about quitting my job, I have felt up and down about staying at home, and I most certainly have felt up and down about playing the "one income" game.
Lately I have realized that quitting my job, staying at home, and following a path that God has laid before me is just the beginning of this ride.
Our annual Cedar Point trip parallels our current situation. We have asked people to join our ride in prayer and support......we want to jump to the big thrill, but know that we need wait and be patient......we hope that the line to a solution is short.
For the most part, this ride is better than our first ride. We have grown in our faith and have a better understanding of what we stand for.
The most enjoyable part of this ride is knowing that God is in the first car. We have put our faith in His coaster and have jumped in for the ride.
There have been, and I assume there will still be, parts of the ride that we do not like. There are moments in this ride that are not full of thrills, there are tunnels on this ride and we cannot always see what is going to happen next.
There are also parts of the ride that we enjoy. It is a thrill to know that we are living in His will - doing what we believe He is asking us to do.
In the moments that I want to bail off this coaster - I realize what I am about to do and jump back into my car. This ride is SO FULL of ups and downs, but it feels safe.
It the meantime, we hold tight and hold on. A good friend reminded me last night "where He takes you, He will meet your needs." I am a little concerned about "meeting our needs," but I am most concerned about where He is taking us. We know that He is taking us somewhere - we have faith that our needs will be met once we arrive.
I just hope that all of this happens before the park closes...... :)
All Things Are Possible,
Stephanie Miller
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