Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more...

I woke up this morning to something sweet that my sister wrote that I would like to share.  So feel free to leave a comment and show some love to our guest blogger :)

                                                    

You know the Grinch says, “Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.” Not that I didn't think that before, but this Christmas really proved that for me. A few days before Christmas, my oldest sister went into the hospital and ended up being admitted and had surgery. My brother-in-law said he didn't think he would need help, and he would be okay caring for my one year old niece (it is his daughter after all), and I totally respect him for that. He was caring for my niece and taking stuff to my sister. The night of her surgery, December 23^rd he called and said he may need someone after all. So around 6:30 PM my mom called and asked if I would go. I immediately got my stuff together and went to my aunt’s house. We left that night and didn't arrive till around 11:30 PM. She left the next morning and my sister also came home from the hospital that same morning. I really saw my brother-in-law step up and show what a husband is supposed to be. He was being so sweet to my sister and all without a single complaint.  

During the day I helped my brother-in-law wrap their Christmas presents. I had obviously thought about how different this Christmas Eve would be, but didn't realize what an impact it would have. All of my Christmas presents were left at home, which is no problem. We grew up in a Christian home, believing in the birth of Jesus. So yes, gifts are nice but we also knew the real reason for the season. However, we still did Santa Claus in my house, and still do for my youngest brother. This year I was looking forward to waking up and actually being able to come down stairs and see the excitement in his face, especially since I think this may be the last year or so believing in Santa. As I won’t be there to experience this, I hope this is a very memorable Christmas for him, and well, everyone in my family.

With all that being said, I will finally get to the point of writing this. I've heard several times, and in many ways, to appreciate the small things in life. Boy did I really learn this the past few days. I learned just how blessed I am to even receive gifts and have a Christmas because some never can. I enjoyed wrapping and setting things out for my sister’s family. I know they were looking forward to this being their first Christmas alone as a family, but I’m kind of glad I get to experience A’s first Christmas. I know this will be a good Christmas and they will do their best to make it a good one for me as well. For instance, my sister felt bad I won’t have any presents to open so she first offered to let me help open some of hers. But before she went to bed, I came in here to find her putting my gift from them (which I had already seen) in her own stocking, and laying it out so I would have something to open. That was very thoughtful and one of the nicest things anyone’s ever done for me. It really is the smallest things that make you thankful, even stepping out of the shower to see my niece’s tiny hand prints all over the steamy mirror made me smile. The events of these past few days have really made me think about a lot, and made me realize I have so much more to be thankful for. I pray my family and friends have a wonderful day and enjoy the holidays; and to anyone who reads this, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

                                         ~ 

What is Love?

Sometimes my husband drives me crazy.  He leaves his socks and shoes in the living room when he gets home from work. He's loud, he moves around too much in bed and he's a cover hog. But this weekend he really stepped it up and made me a proud wife. 
Wednesday I started having abdominal pains and by Saturday they were severe. He ended up taking me to the ER, where I was admitted and ended up having surgery to remove my appendix.  All of this was a whirlwind. We thought I would be examined and sent home with some medication. No muss, no fuss. We are both from the same hometown, so the closest of any family members is 4 1/2 hours away. But this post is not about me...It's about my best friend that I get to call my wonderful husband :)
Saturday while I was being seen and tested in the ER, M had our daughter in the lobby because they don't allow anyone under 16 unless they are a patient them self.  He tried to keep her occupied but ended up taking her home, feeding her supper, and walking into my ER room.  He said he couldn't sit at home not knowing what was going on so he had to come back. They only let him and her come in briefly so back out to the lobby they went. He ended up taking A home around 11:45pm.  The next morning he bathed her, fed her breakfast and came back to the hospital.  Later that night he took her on a "date" to Wendy's while I was in surgery. He called my mom to see if anyone could come down and help us out this week and my sister gladly accepted. Around 11pm I finally woke up and called him and he had cleaned the house and was making the beds for my aunt and sister that were coming in that night.  He did everything that I normally do whenever we have friends or family coming in to stay with us, but with our baby in tow right behind him every step.  He brought me a change of clothes, deodorant, and my toothbrush to the hospital without my asking.  He had thought of everything.
There are days that I wish he would be a hopeless romantic like myself and randomly bring home some flowers or a card. But he's not. He speaks a different love language than myself, he's more of an acts of service kind of guy. However this weekend he did so much better than a bouquet of flowers. He played Momma and Daddy to our little girl, nurse/caregiver to me, and hospitable in-law to my family. He is Love :)

"⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

Call of Duty

Webster's Dictionary defines duty as obligatory tasks, conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position. There were many teachers on duty that December morning when a gunman decided to force his way into an elementary school and kill several teachers and many children. Sweet, innocent children.

Their duty was to protect their students and they did just that. They stood in front of their classroom and said take me. They laid down their lives for the sake of those children. We would all like to say we would have done the same, but thankfully we may not ever have that choice.

It's been a week since that horrible day and I still cannot believe what has happened. It was late Sunday night before I finally allowed myself to really take in what went on in Connecticut. I couldn't sleep that night so I turned on the news and listened and watched. The horror. The pain. The grief. I went into my babies room and wept. I watched her belly rise and fall with each little breath. I stroked her sweaty hair. I thanked God that my daughter was still a baby and not yet school-aged, because I wouldn't have the strength or faith to send her back to school.

I simply cannot imagine what the families are going through. Receiving that phone call, identifying their loved one, and laying them to rest. All of this with no answers and certainly no justice. This coward took 27 lives with no reservations and turned the gun on himself. But he's famous. Say his name in the grocery store or gas station or church on Sunday and everyone knows who it is you're talking about. He may not be famous in the way that most people would think of fame, but it is fame nonetheless. His name will be remembered and talked about for years to come.

Charlotte Bacon, Daniel Barden, Rachel Davino, Olivia Engel, Josephine Gay, Ana M. Marquez-Greene, Dylan Hockley, Dawn Hochsprung, Madeleine F. Hsu, Catherine V. Hubbard, Chase Kowalski, Jesse Lewis, James Mattioli , Grace McDonnell, Anne Marie Murphy, Emilie Parker, Jack Pinto, Noah Pozner, Caroline Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Avielle Richman, Lauren Rousseau, Mary Sherlach, Victoria Soto, Benjamin Wheeler, Allison N. Wyatt

These are the ones who should be remembered. The teachers and students. The students who had no choice that day and the teachers that did. The teachers that chose to answer the call of duty and literally put themselves on the front lines of education. The greatest casualty of this nightmarish tragedy is that these people are forgotten and the monster who created it all lives on forever.

My heart and prayers go out to the families of these people. I pray that God will wrap them in his everlasting love and give them the strength that they need right now.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted..."-Matthew 5:4

Birthday Presence

Today is my baby's first birthday. Of course she isn't really a baby anymore at all. She runs and plays and learns new things everyday. Nope, today my baby officially became a toddler. We started out our morning with number 1 applesauce pancakes, then we headed out to Toys R Us! She received a birthday crown and pink Happy Birthday balloon from Geoffrey. I let her walk around and explore some of the toys and she decided to climb into the toy Cadillac Escalade! Being a Miss frugal myself, I have no idea where she got her expensive taste :) She also tried out a few kiddie chairs and took a ride on a toy elephant! We then met her daddy for lunch and came home for a nap after a fun but busy morning.

A big reason in starting this blog is because even though I can remember today's events clearly I can't help but look at her and think where has the time gone? I look at pictures of her throughout this past year and ask myself where was I? I am a stay-at-home-momma and I feel like some days I miss so much. Whether it's paying bills or cleaning house, I feel as though I am absent sometimes. My blog may be titled Labor of Love, but  my hopes is that it's also a letter of love. A letter that I can one day show my child. A letter that to most might be full of mundane, ordinary things but to me they are amazing, extraordinary things! One day when she has her own baby's first birthday she can look back at these love letters and know that I felt that same feeling of awe towards her.
Today's post is my resolution to be here more. Not just physically, because I'm here all the time, but mentally and emotionally as well. I plan to take as many pictures as possible, let her make more messes, and live in the moment. I can always clean the house when she's in bed, but I can never get back that sugary sweet grin that's full of mischief...and probably guilt :)

 

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him." ~ Psalms 127:3

 

sticky kisses & dirty clothes

This is the beginning of a blog dedicated to all the stay-at-home-mommas out there. A place where doing dishes, laundry, and play dates is considered a job - because, well, it really is! Where else can you get overtime every day of the year and get paid in sweet, sticky kisses? Ever since I was a little girl playing house I knew that someday this would be my real job. I love waking up in the morning to iron my husband's clothes and send him off to work. I love changing diapers, making food for my daughter, cleaning up the same mess 5x a day, and trying to having supper ready when M gets home (notice I said try). Every day isn't the perfect, happy-go-lucky, Mrs. Cleaver schedule I would like it to be, but it's perfect to me and I wouldn't want to be doing anything else. A has somewhat figured out how to give kisses recently; Every time she takes my face in her chubby, sticky little fingers and plants one on me,  I melt ... I am a laborer of love and I get the biggest paycheck I could ever need.