getting it together

I have posted several times about getting a handle on this hurricane called the Wilson household. Six people living under one roof, four being kids, is hard work. For so long I have been frustrated and have let so many things go. Tired of saying the same things over and over again. "Pick up your toys, clothes, dishes...trash!" Most of that falling on deaf ears until I am screaming at the top of my lungs. Then me defeated and just doing it myself. They broke me. Big Time!

Well, I am here to say, "No more!" This mama has turned a new leaf and it ain't going to be pretty...at first. I am picking myself up, dusting off, and laying down the law. Yes, you are probably thinking that it is long over due. Heck, I know it is. But as the saying goes...better late than never. I can be honest with all of you when I say that I had given up for so long. I had no idea what to do or how to get it together. Now I know:)

Our house got a thorough cleaning the weekend before last because I just couldn't take it any more. My husband deserves a clean house to come home to after a long day at work. I deserve not to work myself to death to have every thing I accomplished be destroyed after only an hour or two. My kids deserve to learn some responsibilities and appreciation for what they have.

So everyone has their own chores to do and items are picked up before bedtime. No longer am I the only one doing laundry or sweeping the floor. You make a mess...you clean it up. A good friend of mine had a great idea. She does it with her kids. I think my kids are the messiest eaters on this planet. It never fails that there is some spill on the floor after a meal. Multiple that by the three kids sitting there...yea...frustration level up.

Well, she said to give each of them an old toothbrush and spray the floor and tell 'em to get to work cleaning. Great idea. So that has been something we have been doing. Grape juice was spilled earlier and the twins were in trouble....I'm not going into details...but that was part of their punishment. Clean the floor *wherever there were spots* with toothbrushes. (I'm not that cruel to make them do the entire floor)So we are gradually getting some kind of order to this chaos over here.

I am hope full and encouraged...now I just need some accountability to keep it up.

not even close.....lol

OK, this post is mainly for my awesome mother in law, Susan. She has been getting the word out there for people to vote for my blog. She is the most wonderful, loving, encouraging MIL I could ever ask for. She is my biggest cheerleader and I love her.

Unfortunately.....the votes weren't even close to the winners. But I do have to say that most of them had all month to acquire votes. Oh well, the prizes weren't that good any way. *grin*

I didn't start this blog to win prizes or get hundreds of followers. Or to bestow my abundant amount of wisdom on you.(he-he)This is my journal, my way to vent, to let other wives and mothers know they aren't alone in there endeavors, and to glorify God in any and every way that I can....which isn't easy but so worth it.

So Susan, don't fret about the outcome of the blog competition. You worked very hard campaigning for you DIL and that makes me feel better than actually winning. I love you very much and am blessed to have you in my life.

blog nominated....wow...didn't see that coming

hi everyone. someone nominated my blog on this link below. i have no idea who did or why but am flattered:o). So if you enjoy my blurbs go vote. no pressure or any thing. but i do have to say that i NEVER win any thing when in a contest. lol.

http://bloginterviewer.com/page/2

i guess i should tell you to go to the link above, click on my blog and then you will see a vote now button. it took me a while to figure out how to vote*blush*.

overworked and underpaid

I have heard this many times from different people through out my 30 something years on this earth. I always thought that it only was meant for the 'business world' and not getting paid enough for the job done. Well it has recently been put on my heart that isn't entirely true.

I am a stay at home mom. I home school 3 out of 4 of my children. I try to take care of the needs of my husband, children and house. Most of the time I know I fall short and really struggle with that. I feel some what of a failure when things are chaotic and the house is destroyed, laundry is over flowing, dishes are in the sink calling to be cleaned, school work is put on the wayside, and the kids are turning deaf ears to my instructions. When my husband comes home and one or two things have been accomplished and his wife is a mess and almost in tears. Kids are running wild and.....well being kids.

I think of that saying so many people use. Am I overworked and underpaid for this 'job' God has blessed me with. Yes, you heard correctly...BLESSED me with. After the above paragraph I wrote I can honestly say that I am happy and blessed by my job. I have those days mentioned above and wonder if I am cut out for this. Then I am reassured when my kids tell me that they love me with a python hug and sweet kiss. Mo, my oldest, goes into her room and cleaning it when she knows that I am having an extra stressful day trying to get all my to do things accomplished. It makes me smile the moment I see all of my blessings sitting at the table helping one another with their school work. I especially feel overpaid when my husband comes home and smiles and gives me an appreciative squeeze for dinner being ready because he is starving.

Yes, I am overworked with the every day mundane tasks of being a SAH mom...well mom for that matter. But I wouldn't say that I am underpaid. My family pays me with their gratitude and affection. To be honest I do have those days when I feel burned out and underpaid, then one of my little ones comes up to me and tells me I'm beautiful, even in my old sweats, hair a mess, knee deep in dirty laundry. You see that is my job. To raise children to love no matter what or who you are. To help one another no matter what the circumstance. I could go on and on but you get the point.

Now in a few days or weeks I may come on here and post a venting rampage about a horrible, tantrum filled day when nothing got done or everyone one was in a bad mood and I need some mommy time....but that doesn't mean I have changed my mind. lol. Everyone has moments to regroup and take a few for themselves. I just need a listening ear to get it all out, get some perspective and remember why I do the job that I have.

never a dull moment

The last 2 days have been interesting to say the least. Even though I only had 2 of my 4 kids, we had 2 incidents more than normal. Yes, it wouldn't be the same if something didn't happen.

First of all Wednesday night Addison fell asleep in Todd's lap. No that isn't the thing I am referring to. I pick her up to take her to bed. I get her settled in and cozy under the covers. I turn to leave the room and spot it. Her and her 6 yo sibling had got into the maxi pads and stuck one to the wall. It was clean...I promise. And just to make it interesting they tie a yo-yo to it. I guess it needed some decoration or something. I am up for any thing now. I don't think they can top that one.

Yesterday, was not a funny one. Payton tells me that her younger sibling has drawn on the wall with marker. I go to investigate and Addison is rounding the corner because she heard the tattler. I couldn't miss the masterpiece. Dark blue scribbles outside our bedroom door. No it wasn't a small area by all means. This isn't the first time and I lost it a little and sent her to her room. Then I notice that there are 3 drawings of animals that Addison's 3 yo hand could not have done. So the tattler had told on her younger sibling to keep from getting into trouble herself. That did it. Miss Princess had a date with her room as well.

So the next 5 to 10 minutes I spend scrubbing their portfolio off the wall. Steam coming from my ears and trying not to get madder as I cleaned. (Well, my arms did get a good workout.) I just got frustrated because this isn't the first, second or third time they've done this. They always seem to find some writing utensil that I've missed putting away. Plus, my 6 yo knows better by now. Just needed to vent on that one. I guess I will end with the funny one next time. No I am not so naive that I don't expect something like this to happen again. Hopefully it won't be blue marker on a white wall.

score one for dad.....actually more than that

O.K. since yesterday's post was such a downer, I thought that I better do another one that is less depressing. I can't promise any thing. LOL.

I realized again how blessed I am last night. Unfortunately the twinkies got whatever Addison had the other day. Some kind of stomach bug. Thankfully it only lasts about 24 hours. That isn't the reason I am blessed. Todd is such a wonderful father. Payton got sick earlier in the evening while I was in the shower. By the time I was finished he had every thing cleaned up and had her sitting with him giving lots of loving. Score one for Daddy.

Later at bedtime, we got them all tucked into bed and started our night together. At around 11:45pm Jacob got sick in his bed. Todd jumped right in to help me. All right, not literally. Who would in that situation. Any way he got both twinkies out of bed because Payton was up by then. He cleaned our son up while I changed the sheets and gave them some water. We snuggled them back in to Payton's bed.

At around 2am, Jacob got sick again and he dealt with it. Then he tells me he isn't feeling too well himself. Way to go Todd, dealt with yucky stuff while he wasn't 100%. What a man! Well, at about 4:30 this morning my poor, wonderful, loving husband got sick.

Yes, it doesn't sound so great that almost everyone in this family is under the weather. But this wife and mama is thanking God that I have such a great family....especially my husband who would clean up 'you know what' while trying not to do the same.

I love you Todd! You are appreciated and loved very much.

crummy weather, crummy mood

It has rained here for 3 days. It is cold, wet and miserable. Kinda like my mood today. Every thing has rubbed me the wrong way. The normal goings on have irritated me and my patience has been worse for the wear. Poor kids. Poor hubby. I'll be honest, I can't stand myself today. That is sad. Am I alone in this? Can any one else relate?? I am pleading that someone else will say, "Girl, I have been there and done that?" Just so I don't feel like such a horrible wife and mom.

SNAP OUT OF IT!!

Addison turns 3

I am a little sad. Addison turned 3 years old yesterday. She is my last one and is growing out of the baby stage. Who am I kidding, she came out grown. This little person thinks she is a big kid. I guess since she has 3 older siblings that is to be expected.

The morning she was born, I remember the dr. placing her on my stomach and it was love at first site. Corny I know but oh so true. I told Todd that she didn't look like the other kiddos. YES, she looks like ME. I was so excited that one of them resembled me. I mean, come on, I do all the work and Dad gets all the glory.

Addison is such a character. Nicknamed Queen A (as in queen b) she tries to run the show...ok she does a lot of the time. One of her most used phrases is " you're not the boss...I the boss." I hear this often when she is playing with the twinkies. It doesn't help that they normally give into her. She is just too darn cute not to when she bats her eyes and looks all innocent. We are in trouble!!

We are blessed with the last addition to our family. She continuously makes us laugh and gives awesome BIG hugs. Happy Birthday Addison!! We love you!!

On Facebook of all places

Before I got out of bed this morning I had my quiet time. I have struggled with forgiving for about a year now. I just can't seem to let this go with this person. My head knows that I am to forgive as God does but my heart is bitter toward this person and what was done to me. So that was at the top of my prayer time. I desperately want to let this go because it is hindering my relationship with my Lord. I can't grow in my faith if this isn't resolved. Some times I feel consumed by it. I don't want to feel this way any more.

I asked God to give me a verse for what is going on with my forgiving. What is His take on all of this mess. I got up from bed and went on with my day not thinking that He would get back to me right then. You know that it could take some time when God is working on us.*grin*

Around noon I got on Facebook to check on everyone and my messages. As I am scanning over posts my eyes catch a phrase. "Has anyone hurt you???" Now usually I skip over that stuff but it was from a Christian site so I bit and went to the page. OMgoodness, as I read I knew that God had given me my verse. ON FACEBOOK OF ALL PLACES!!

"There is only one law giver and judge, the One who is able to save and destroy." James 4:12

Now the scenario of how that person was hurt was completely different than mine but the feelings were the same. As a christian, I know I am to forgive but my heart is not wanting to because of my hurt. It is not my place to judge this person or their actions. It is not my place to be judge, jury and executioner. That is then my sin!! I need to hand this over to God to handle and ask for mercy on that person. That is when my heart and head will connect to forgive.

Wow, I never thought in a million years that I would hear from God on Facebook. LOL. It is true that HE is every where but I have to chuckle about this one.

Making changes

They say it takes 3 weeks to make a habit. I am determined to make good ones this year. Our life around here is mostly chaotic. Which I hate to admit is a lot of my fault. I am the biggest procrastinator you will find and that isn't good. But at least I realize it and am working to change it.

I am GOING to have a schedule and stick with it! Yes, I know that there has to be some give and take on it since we do homeschool. That doesn't mean that it has to happen often and whenever I think I need an excuse to just be lazy.

The first weeks in January have been hairy. I will say that with the holidays and all the family being at my house has been part of it. I was ready to pull my hair out and scream like a maniac just looking around at the clutter and mess. I made a commitment a few years ago that I wouldn't continue screaming at the top of my lungs to get the kids to do their chores or whatever it was that I told them to do. I am ashamed to confess...it happened... too much for my liking.

So changes are coming in the Wilson house. Good ones. Yes there will be trial and error, maybe too many for my liking, but it will happen. I know not to set my expectations too high because it will not happen over night. There will be many tears and tantrums on both sides. So, feel free to ask how it is going. You may want to wait a month or more so you don't get you head bit off. *grin*

see you soon sister

Saturday was the one year anniversary of Gwen's passing. She was a wonderful caring person who wanted to take care of everyone. Sometimes neglecting herself. She was taken from this earth earlier than all of us wanted but God has given us a peace that passes all understanding. She is missed tremendously but we know that one day we will meet up with her again and rejoice in our Saviors love for us all.

I wish that I had a picture of her to post so that you all could see what a beautiful person she was not only on the inside. She had a smile that would lite up her face and make you smile too. We love her dearly and would liked to have her here for our own selfishness but know that there were reasons beyond us that her life was shorter that we wanted. May you rest in peace sister and we will see you soon.