Secrets of Being a Good Mommy -- Revisited...

I once wrote for the blog, Realities of a SAHM (Stay at Home Mom).

These three blogs were my most favorites.  They reveal the secrets of being a good mommy...

• Secrets of Being a Good Mommy {part 1}
• Secrets of Being a Good Mommy {part 2}
• Secrets of Being a Good Mommy {part 3}

Enjoy!

An open letter to President Donald J. Trump

Dear Mr. President,

I don't like you.  I don't like the things you have said towards and about women.  I don't like your arrogant personality.  I don't like that you were a candidate for President of the USA.  It still blows my mind.

However, I believe in not only second and third chances, but in endless chances.  I believe in forgiveness and change.  I believe that someone can be humbled and come to their senses.  I believe that most people are good.

Here's the thing, I don't want you to fail at this.  I want you to succeed.  I want you to be the greatest POTUS ever!  I want everyone to be shocked and eat their words in 4 years.  I want you to be so amazing at this gig, that we all vote you back in for another term.

Watching so many people fight against each other, and be divided, has caused my heart to almost break.  This is not the world I want to raise my three amazing children in. They deserve better than what we are giving them.  With that being said, I know that how they treat others is a direct reflection on how they've been parented, especially at these young ages.

I want you to know that even though I don't like you, I will be praying for your success as you serve this great country.  Even though I don't like the things you have said towards and about women, I will forgive you and hope that your apology was sincere.  Even though I don't like your arrogant personality, I will humble myself and realize that your personality may be exactly what this country needs.  I will put my trust in God.  I know that you becoming POTUS was not a surprise to the Almighty God, no matter how shocking it was to the rest of the world.  I trust that He will guide His people.

My prayer is that you will live up to your promises, and that you will truly have a desire to serve and bring together this land of divided citizens.  I pray that you will think of those who are less fortunate than you, and that you will use this position to lift them higher.  I pray that you will be calm and rational before you tweet the first thing that comes to your mind.  I pray that you can recognize what this country needs.

I keep hearing that we need to stop complaining and come forward with solutions.  I cannot come up with a solution that will change the world, but I can come up with one that will change my heart.  I will pray for you everyday.  I will pray for those who are by your side making serious decisions.  I will pray for the people who are hurting.  I will do good to and for others.  I will do what I can in my community to include everyone and make them feel wanted.  I will no longer bash you and put you down...pinky promise.  I will tolerate others I disagree with by listening and respecting their opinions.  I will stand with those who feel they have no voice.  And lastly, I will try to help you make America and Americans great (Notice that "again" is left out on purpose, because let's face it, when has it truly been great for everyone?! #AmIRight) by showing genuine love to everyone I meet without judgment.

Sincerely,
A very nervous but hopeful woman!

WHAT?! An UPDATE?!

Don't have a heart attack!!  YES!!  I'm blogging!!  Can you believe it?!  


So...here is our family update!


We have a little one on the way!  I'm 27 weeks pregnant!  We are all pretty excited about this!  This is our "baby surprise" because we aren't finding out what we are having until it's here!  There are a few names we like, but we are waiting until we see it's face to name it!  Not everyone likes our idea of waiting...and by "our" I mean mine!  But I don't care!  =)  It's still so exciting...


We are getting ready to make a big change...not only adding one to the family, but moving the family...  We are moving to the Raleigh area for Brooks' job!  He will no longer be working at good ole CFP!  He will miss working side by side with his father, but the time has come.  We are grateful for this opportunity to grow and move forward with life!


Speaking of life, the children are full of it!  They are amazing!  They keep us going!  It's ironic...they give us the strength to live everyday...but take all that strength away by wearing us out!  Their perfect day would consist of:  Grandma Reece's pool, popsicles, Chuck E. Cheese, and playing with cousins and Uncle John John!  

Donnie is done with Kindergarten!  He did WONDERFUL!  His teachers were sad to see him go...he made them candy leis and painted cute frames for them!  He cried when we left his classroom...He said, "Goodbye Kindergarten."...it was pitiful.  

Layne is SO VERY excited to be a big sissy!  She said she will do everything for the baby...even change diapers!  I'd say something like, "Yeah right, we'll see how long that lasts"...but with this little girl, I'm almost positive she will!!  

We also have a sweet puppy!  His name(s) is(are) Milkbone (Milkie, Whiteboy, or Monkey)...everyone loves him...everyone does not include Brooks!

Well, that's our update...Not very long...that's why I haven't blogged in forever...not much to blog about!  But we hope everyone is having a great summer!  Stay safe!  We love you all!  I will probably update after the baby is born...so don't expect anything before then!  =)  

Who's got a birthday?!

The first thing I heard this morning was, "Mama!  I'm 4!!"...I couldn't help but smile.  Indeed, my Princess was officially FOUR YEARS OLD!  Where did the time go?! 

I'm afraid I've waisted it.
I'm afraid I've jipped (is that even a word?!) my babygirl of an awesome four years!
For someone so small and sweet, she has been through much more than you could imagine!

In four years she has:

Been born...(we all know how rough that is!)
Learned to walk...
Learned to talk...

Lived in 2 different states...
Broken a leg...

Had to go through 3 1/2 years of her parent's marital issues...
Lived in 6 different houses...
Learned to Tahitian dance & made quite a few stage appearances...

Been to preschool...
Attended 3 different wards/nurseries...
Traveled across the country more than once...

Wow!!  What a life!!  I can say with all my heart that she was truly heaven sent!!  She was perfect timing for my life (as well as everyone's!)...  Right when I needed to feel the Savior's love the most, the Lord sent her to our family!  She has the most contagious laugh!  She has the most beautiful eyes that change from blue to green!  She has the most beautiful porcelain skin.  She has the most beautiful long hair that we can't even decide what color it is!!  She's feisty, loud, funny, tender, happy, and giving!  She loves her brother more than life itself!  He is her best friend!  She has a personality all her own!  She knows exactly what she wants and how she is gonna get it!!  She is even pretty when she cries! 

Through these last four years, I, her mother, have never thrown her a birthday party...like, a REAL birthday party!  Her first bday luau was thrown by her nana because we were living in Missouri...so we came to NC to have it...  Her second bday was also thrown by her nana because I was working in Ohio...however, on her actual bday she was with me in Ohio and we went to a water park!!  Her third bday we didn't do much...clearly because neither her father or mother can seem to remember it! 

So this year, life seems to be as it always should have been!  So that means, SHE GETS A PARTY!!  That's right!!  We are having an "Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter's Tea Party"!!  She is so excited!!  We sent out invitations to her friends and cousins, we bought the decorations, and we have started the countdown to Saturday!!  She LOVES the 2010 "Alice in Wonderland"...so that was her theme!!  I'll be sure to post pictures after the party!!

I'm so grateful that the Lord trusts me enough to be her mother.  I know that she is destined for greatest!!  I know every mother must feel this way about their children, but seriously, there is just something about her!  What other child prays for the devil?!  LOL

I can speak for her father when I say that she holds our heart in the palm of her hands.  She makes us smile.  She is our comic relief when the realities of life set in.  She is our angel!  We love her more than she will ever know. 

Fun fact:  Layne was born on the same day as my father's paternal grandmother!!  So, Happy Birthday Gram!  We love you and miss you so much!!  I'm so honored that the Lord saw fit that my oldest daughter was born on the same day as you!  I pray she is just as wonderful a woman!!

Maybe a tad bit stubborn?!

Last night, after scripture study & family prayer, we piggy-backed the kids to their beds.  We couldn't find Layne's blankie...(She likes to sleep on top of her blanket with her blankie covering her, because she does not like to ruin her bed!  Needless to say, she's a bit of a perfectionist/OCD!!)...so she had to sleep underneath her actual blanket!!

It would be an understatement to say she was freaking out about it!!  She did NOT want to mess up her bed!!  She did NOT want to mess up her bed!!  She did NOT want to mess up her bed!! 

Oh, did I tell you that she did NOT want to mess up her bed?! 

Another blanket just wouldn't do.

After explaining that it was okay to use her blanket, and after promising I would make her bed in the morning she still refused!!  She gave me one of her "looks"...you know, those, "THIS IS THE WORST NIGHT OF MY LIFE AND I HATE THIS!  I HATE THIS!  I HATE THIS!  I HATE THIS!"...Her breathing was getting huffier and puffier!!  Her face was red, and I was trying so hard not to laugh!! 

It sounds terrible, but it was so funny!! 

I told her she could just go to bed.  She was fine and she needed to just sleep under her blanket.  Seriously, if you knew the day I had, you would have agreed that she could get over it!! 

Brooks and I were in the kitchen talking about his day, and we weren't paying much attention...I guess because things got quiet!  I just appreciated the fact that they went to sleep and she listened to me and just fell asleep under her blanket...without her blankie...

Then, about 30 minutes later Brooks and I decided to go to bed...
When I walked down the hall, this is what I saw...

Yup, that's right!!  She said, "What the heck ever, mom!!  I'm RE-making my bed and sleeping on TOP!!  By the way, I do NOT want to mess up my bed!"...