tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23137756962636307632024-03-13T13:05:58.364-04:00And then I saw a rainbow...Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-20303049865474335082013-03-25T10:09:00.000-04:002013-03-25T10:09:34.153-04:00Authentic Motherhood and Sufficient Grace<br />
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I realize often what a hot mess of a Christian I am. There are days I feel like a complete failure. I look at the seven little faces that I mother and wonder how I can teach them anything when I often feel like a <strike>dropout </strike>student myself. When I slip and say something I shouldn't; when I tell them to be kind, yet I'm quick to anger, when I tell them to have faith and then I doubt. Sometimes I feel like I mother by "do as I say, not as I do." Those are the days the Devil says to me, "you are not enough."<br />
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Motherhood is by far the toughest job out there. There is no Employee Manual to refer to, (for Pete's sake they just let us walk out of the hospital with human being!), no Human Resource Department to voice complaints. You won't get the opportunity to park in the "Employee of the Month" spot. Heck, you may not even get to park in your own garage if your teenager keeps forgetting to take out the trash. And we all feel the eyes of the critics out there. Like a societal Siskel and Ebert, critiquing our parenting abilities. Let's be honest, being a mama is hard and being a Christian mama is probably even harder. Yep, I just said that. It's harder because we know that one day we will give account for the children God gave us. We want to do right by God and by our kids.<br />
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I won't lie, I feel the pressure. I want so much for my kids. I want so much to please God and for my kids to please God. One day after I had totally not measured up to where I wanted to be/should have been/could have been as a mom and as a wife. I felt like I'd sort of hit rock bottom. It was then when Christ softly whispered to me, "my grace is sufficient."<br />
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Sufficient? Sufficient to mother 7 different kids and all their individual needs, all while falling short myself? Yep, sufficient enough for that. The cool (and scary) thing about kids is that they can smell a phony a mile away. They will call you out on your lack on integrity faster than instant oats. But your kids aren't expecting you to be perfect, they are expecting you to be authentic.<br />
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Authentic in how you live your life. They expect you to try every day to live what you say, even if you fall short. They expect you to apologize when you mess up. The expect you to expect THEM to walk the walk and talk the talk when you are living authentically yourself.<br />
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Authenticity isn't about measuring up to an unattainable bar of perfection. Which is a good thing, because I'm a weak and sinful person. I'm glad my Savior said, "my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor 12:9) When I'm covered in his grace and mercy, his love and kindness I am enough. Maybe I'm even the most "enough" when I'm at my weakest.<br />
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So, mama when you're feeling like you don't measure up, like you are not enough, remember that the Savior you fully trust in to take away your sins, is also the Savior that will cover you in his grace and mold you and make you in the mother he desires. Open up his word and let him fill you. His grace and mercy is enough. Through Him, YOU are enough.<br />
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Hang in there, your "Employee of the Month" parking spot is just around the corner....<br />
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<br />Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-19240710801754402512013-02-28T14:54:00.000-05:002013-02-28T14:55:17.700-05:00If You Love Something, Set It FreeWhat I'm about to share with you is nothing new. The Bible even tells us "there is nothing new under the sun." But a thought profoundly struck me today. People, Christian and not, often get angry at what God "allows." The evils and hurts of this world often are more than we can sometimes stomach.<br />
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The truth is, God has given us a free will. We can choose to seek Him and His ways or not. Sometimes when people choose the "not", it manifests itself in ugly ways. I've often contemplated why God gave us a choice to love Him or not, to follow Him or not, to obey Him or not.<br />
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Being a parent has opened my eyes in countless ways to how God must see us, must love us as our Heavenly Father. When I discipline my children and it hurts both me and them, I know how God must feel when he corrects us. When I see my child in pain from a shot, but know it's for their better good, I know how God must feel when he allows us to go through a painful life experience for our better good.<br />
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And today the concept of free will really took hold. My two year old daughter is a smart, witty and trying little girl, but her spirit and spunk is something I love so much about her. Yet, she is using every ounce of patience I have some days! I've often looked at people who had very obedient kids. Not just good kids, but almost robotic kids. Honestly, it made me more okay with the fact that I have strong willed kids! Here's why:<br />
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I don't want to just beat my kids into submission until there is no longer any semblance left of their beautiful, God-given traits. I don't want a child who tells me they love me because they've been told to or does nice things for me just because it's their duty. I want a child who has a choice, a free will.<br />
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Did you ever think that maybe God is the same? He wants us to CHOOSE to love him, honor him, give him good gifts and every part of ourselves, to willing love Him. When we tell God thank you, because we are truly thankful and not just because we are required to, it must be sweet music in His ears. A concept we know from raising our own children. Telling your child "say thank you" and them saying it, sure isn't the same as that sweet unprompted "thank you, mama!"<br />
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Sure free will and the resulting sin that God has allowed sometimes sucks eggs, but aren't you thankful He gave us a choice. So when the weight of sin and evil in this world seems to much to bear, tell God you are thankful for the choices He allows you to make and thankful that He gave you the choice to choose Him willing....<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 18px;"><i>If you love something, set it free; if it comes backs it's yours, if it doesn't, it never was. -Richard Bach</i></span>Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-49873756873095096942012-07-23T15:41:00.000-04:002012-07-23T15:43:30.067-04:00A little less talk, a lot more actionHang on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen, this is going to be a doozy of a blog post. I'm a little riled up and this blog may seem self serving, but it comes from a place of wanting no one else to go through the let down we've had. To say our family has been through the wringer would be a massive understatement. In the past couple of years we've had a child diagnosed with a severe physical disability and shortly after that diagnosis we almost lost him, my husband and I both lost our dads, my husband made a few job changes and was diagnosed with cancer, we had two babies and had heart condition scares with both, we've begun caring for my aging mother in law. Trust me the list goes on and some of the heartaches are far too personal to post.
Oftentimes in circumstances such as these, peoples faith in God is shaken. For me my faith in God became rock solid, but my faith in people was shattered into oblivion. Now don't get me wrong, there are people who have come out of the woodwork and went out of there way to be there for us. Those people I could never thank enough. But there are those who have let us down when we need them most and it was like a knife to the heart. I'm writing this post, because I've talked to so many others who have been through much in their lives and the story is often the same as ours. The disappointment and hurt of those around them not being there when needed most, hurt them as much as it has for us.
I'm going to be really blunt here. I believe there are a few "cop out" statements that people use. The first is "let me know if you need anything." Let's be honest, when is the last time someone called you up and said, "hey, remember you said if I ever need anything? Well, I need..." Seriously, 99.9% of people aren't going to tell you they need something, but 99.9% of people going through troublesome times need SOMETHING. SO, if you know someone is going through a hard time-just do something! Bring them a meal, babysit their kids, pick up the phone and call them, send them a note, give them a gift card or a bag of groceries and the list goes on. Do you know that when my dad passed NO ONE called me. Nope, no one. I got one sympathy card and my 90 year old aunt brought us a meal. That lack of caring hurt almost as much as my dad dying.
Second, "cop out" phrase-"I'll pray for you." Yep, I just said that. Don't get me wrong. I believe in the power of prayer probably more than most, but it seems to be the Christian pass to not do a dang thing. Sure prayers are appreciated, but they aren't the most practical thing to offer. People seem to think that they've done their part by offering a word of prayer, but let's pull out a Bible verse here. "1 Cor 13:13-And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." Charity in the Bible has often been defined as "love in action." So God says the "greatest" of these is charity or love in action. I have a feeling that he meant doing more than saying you'll pray for someone. People going through difficult times NEED people. Sure God is our rock, but even God needed people (that's is why he created them after all.) So, if you offer a word of prayer-great, but also offer something a little more tangible!
Third, "cop out" and it's not a phrase, but an action. The Facebook cop-out. If you are a reasonably close friend or family member, sending your condolences on Facebook is NOT enough. Pick up the dern phone, stop by someone's house, something!! Facebook has changed the world and not for the better. We've become so impersonal and so inundated with information that we have become callous to the hurt right in front of us. People often get news out via Facebook, because it's a quick and easy way to inform the masses, but the return feedback needs to be more than a Facebook "comment."
Let me wrap it up by saying, if you are not going through a difficult circumstances yourself surely you can find a little bit of yourself to give. (And oftentimes, the even those going through their own difficulties find a way to help others.) Be willing to go out of your way, be RELIABLE (the last thing someone in difficult times needs is you to create another problem for them), be a listening ear (don't tell someone about your car trouble when they just told you their spouse has cancer.) If you can't do something big, then do something little. Almost anyone can send a card in the mail, pick up a gallon of milk for a family who just spend there entire day (week/month) at the hospital or make a phone call and say "how are ya?"
I'm writing this while my emotions are still raw and real in the midst of my husband's cancer ordeal. It is not meant to be a self-serving post, but a post that will hopefully open people's eyes to the hurting world around them and cause them to take action. Or as the song goes, "a little less talk and alot more action."Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-63199782220835822762011-12-14T13:45:00.005-05:002011-12-14T14:13:44.537-05:00Live Like You Were DyingOkay, so I didn't have a great title for this blog, so I stole the title of a Tim McGraw song. Have you ever read an obituary and thought to think what yours might say? Now, I know some people don't like to think about things they consider morbid, but a healthy dose of morbidity might just help us really live! (Think of someone who gets a terminal diagnosis of cancer or someone who's just lost a loved one. Death truly puts things in perspective.)<br /><br />I'm one of those quirky people who actually read the obituary section. It's always bittersweet to read a long, loving obit. Someone so amazing in life that the pain of their death is greater than normal. And then the sad obituaries where there really isn't much to be said. A life wasted, perhaps.<br /><br />I read a great article one time that included a line that said something to this effect, "I don't want my obituary to read, 'she kept a clean stove.'" It made me laugh, but how true! It really hit home with a Type A/OCD personality like me!<br /><br />When I kick the bucket, I want to have one humdinger of an obituary. You know something to the effect of, "Granny loved skydiving, made a mean chocolate cake and loved her family more than life itself."<br /><br />I think we should all take the time to think what would be said of us at our funeral or in our obituary. Will our kids remember us running through the backyard sprinkler with them or were we too busy manicuring our lawns? Will our husband have memories of a wife who made him the best birthday dinners or a lady that was always at a PTA meeting? Will our children remember our smiling faces at their school play or that mom was at the office working late to pay for that shiny, new car?<br /><br />As long as God gives me breath, I hope I can keep my priorities straight. It's a daily battle for most of us and definitely for me. I want to try to be part of everything I can for those I love. Babies being born, someone taking their last breathe, school plays, soccer games, you name it. May the "busyness" of life never get in the way of the truly important things. If my heart's going to give out may it be from laughing myself to death not stressing myself there. <br /><br />If we truly live life and ingrain ourselves in the lives of others, we will leave a mark on this world that even death itself cannot erase. I hope I "live like I was dying."Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-76184223106702794592011-10-25T14:36:00.003-04:002011-10-25T18:31:15.553-04:00Product Reviews and TipsHow many products do you use everyday? Probably more than you care to admit! I'm passionate about saving money, but also having products that work well. Sometimes cheaper is better and sometimes you are better off spending a little more on a product that gives better results. As you read on you will find tips for finding which product is best, stretching your dollar and a few product reviews!<br /><br />Let's start with household products. I go through a lot of cleaning type products with a family as large as mine, so I don't want to spend a lot and I want products to do double duty whenever possible. First, let's start with the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Seriously, this thing is a miracle worker! It works on practically everything-coffee and tea stains on the counter or in your mug, crayon and scuff marks on the wall, sinks, tubs, sneakers, even permanent marker and the list goes on! Because I use this product frequently I found that many stores carry an off brand. It still works great and is about half the cost. I also cut each eraser in half and they last much longer.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I also have a couple of laundry room favorites. (I do have to disclose that I am a "Purex Insider" and get free products to test.) I'm in love with Purex with Zout. It works on our toughest stains (and with six kids, baby I've got 'em!) It works as well as Tide and is considerably cheaper. It even takes grass stains out the first time! I also like the Purex Fabric Softener Crystals. A little goes a long way and the fragrance really lasts. Probably my best laundry room tip though is that most people use too much product. When I say "too much" I mean using what the manufacturer recommends. Detergent build up is hard on our clothes, so find out how little you can use for your water hardness (I find it's about a third of what's recommended) and use only that amount. One item you saved from a nasty stain is well worth the extra spent on a good detergent!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For all purpose cleaning I really like Murphy's Oil Soap. Walls, doors, wood furniture and floors, it does it all! I'm a minimalist when it comes to cleaning products. I need a few that work great and are multi-purpose. I don't have time to mess with 17 different cleaning products! I also use a blend of vinegar, water and a great smelling extract (I like Orange). Mix it in a spray bottle and voila a cheap and safe all purpose cleaner! Spray this in your toilet bowl, toss in some baking soda and again you have safe and inexpensive cleaner!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Some random household items I like are-Walmart brand drawstring trash bags. They are just as durable as the name brand and save you some dollars! I also like the off brand Swiffer pad refills. Way cheaper! We have hard water and I've found that Cascade Complete dishwasher tabs, although a little pricey, do the job and don't leave my dishes filmy! I'm loyal to Scott brand toilet paper. It goes on sale often and lasts forever. In this house we go through toilet paper like water and I don't want to change the roll every 5 minutes!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We've changed over to low flow shower and faucet heads. Don't let the "low flow" fool you. The water still comes out just fine, the only difference you'll notice is on your water bill! Another money saving change we've made is to energy efficient lightbulbs. I suggest doing this gradually because they are more expensive than traditional bulbs, but you will notice a savings on your electric bill sure to make you happy. A random product like-kitchen shears!! I use them for EVERYTHING! They are great for cutting up little ones food, cutting meat and even cutting pizza! Works better than a pizza cutter! I bought a cheap pair at the Dollar Tree for a buck and they are still going strong!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My favorite products to try are beauty products. I'm definitely a girls' girl and love beauty products. I really like the Suave Professionals line of hair care. From shampoo to conditioner to styling aids, they've got it covered! It's a line of salon quality products starting at around $1.50! I have a lot of hair products in my cupboard and shower and probably 80% is the Professionals line. It's so inexpensive that I don't mind my 3 preteen girls using "my" hair stuff! One to try is the Dry Shampoo Spray. It's great for mornings you don't have time to wash your hair. I'm the type that wants to wash her hair everyday and this even lets someone like me skip a day and feel happy with the results! I also like the heat protector spray and the Sleek line. The Suave mens line is great too and smells nice!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Flat iron addicts-heads up! I really wanted a Chi, but didn't want the Chi price tag. So, I was so happy to stumble across a Good Housekeeping article on flat irons. The pricey Chi was beat out by the $40 Remington Frizz Therapy flat iron. You better believe I picked one up at that price! I'm happy to say it does a marvelous job! And at $40, who can complain? Seriously, if you need a flat iron look up the reviews online for this baby! As a compliment to the flat iron, I really like Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy Flat Iron Spray (that's a mouthful of a name, huh?) It's about $6 at an big box or drugstore and it adds great shine and all day straightening power. And the smell is heavenly!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For shaving I use the cheapest conditioner I can find. Yep, hair conditioner. It's inexpensive and leaves your skin silky smooth!I've recently started using Colgate Optic White toothpaste and have seen great results (even though I've used whitening toothpaste for years). It's priced around $3 and you can most always find a coupon for an extra discount.I've also found that the store brand knock off of most facial products like lotions and cleansers works just as well and are often half the price.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For the diehards out there-I use an at home glycolic acid (alpha hydroxy) facial peel. I purchased mine through Amazon and use a brand called Skin Laboratory Gylcolic/35 Gel Peel. It's about $20 and the results are unbelievably smooth skin. It minimizes wrinkles, improves acne and discoloration and a list of other facial issues. I've never had a salon peel done, so I can't compare, but I love the results this product gives. I really think this is a product every woman should try. It's pretty amazing. It's a powerful product though and you must do a patch test first.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I've fallen in love with face primer. (I'm currently using Revlon brand.) Put it on after your moisturizer and before your makeup for a flawless, long lasting finish. I also like Revlon Photo Ready concealer (a must for a girl with hereditary dark circles and 6 kids) and L'Oreal Infallible foundation. Both provide long lasting, great coverage. There are so many great options out there, so play around with "drugstore" brands and ditch the pricey department store makeup counters.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Don't be afraid to try new beauty products! Walmart, CVS, and Rite Aid all have a no-risk return policy. If you try a product and don't like it for any reason, just return it with your receipt! It's really that simple and it allows you to test out a product without the fear of being stuck with it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I don't use a lot of baby products, but I have a couple I stick with. For me it's Luvs diapers, hands down. For about $16 bucks you get around 100 diapers (if you buy the box). They're virtually leak proof and a killer deal at that price. I also like most store brand wipes. Usually Walmart, Target, Giant Eagle's, etc. store brands are safe bets. The really cheap kind aren't a deal in my opinion, because they are so thin you end up using two instead of one. Definitely a case where cheaper isn't cheaper!<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm going to wrap it up with a few basic tips. If you are a name brand junkie, stop! Many off brands are produced by your favorite name brand. It's okay to have a few name brand favorites though (I'm a Jif loyalist!), but don't be a name brand snob. This can really add up at the grocery store! I buy almost storebrand everything! I love to cook and I'm pretty picky and still I'm happy with the products, so no excuses!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Probably my most favorite tip is to always, always, always reserach before making a bigger purchase. I'm cheap, so when I say bigger I'm talking $20 or more. Take a vacuum cleaner purchase, for example. Go online find the ones you like with whatever options you are looking for. Then see which model gets the best reviews for the lowest price. This can save you considerable amounts of money. Many, many, many times the more expensive products are the ones people have the most problems with. Usually that middle of the road brand will be your best bet. Cheap doesn't always save you money in the long run and the pricey brand isn't always all it's cracked up to be.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I hope you find the product reviews helpful and the tips useful. If you have a question about a particular product, I may be able to help. My whole idea is to be frugal, which in my mind is living BETTER for less!!Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-44599977325590620742011-10-18T13:39:00.005-04:002011-10-18T16:07:59.880-04:00The grass is always greener on the other side....There are days when this stay at home mom dreams of being a career girl. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, love my life, yada, yada, yada. But after a day of wiping butts, whining kids and spit up stained clothes, a girl starts to fantasize. I think what it would be like to get up in the morning and get ready to go to "the office." It even sounds cool. I'd put on my tailored power suit, pumps, jewelry, the whole bit. I'd drop the kids off, turn off Veggie Tales and put on some jamming tunes as I cruised into Starbucks for a Giant-Grande-Mocha-Frappe-Latte or whatever it is that they charge a pretty penny for. I'd pull up to work in my fancy car and strut into my comfy office building and do....stuff. I don't know what kind of stuff I'd do, but it wouldn't have anything to do with poop, that's a fact jack. I'd eat lunch out at a place that didn't sell Happy Meals and I'd even pick up take out for dinner. Man, that'd be the life! Or would it?<br /><br />Now you see, for every stay at home mom like me dreaming about "the other side", there's a mom sitting in an office wishing for what I've got. She'd give her right arm to trade in her Italian pumps for Nikes and the power suit for sweats. A Happy Meal with her kid would beat that overpriced gourmet stuff any day. She'd trade in her perfume for the smell of spit up.<br /><br />I think we all sometimes fall into the trap of thinking the grass is greener on the other side. We stay at home moms can especially get worn down when the other life seems so glam. So what that getting dressed up means waiting for the rare date with my hubby or that the only time I hit a Starbucks is well, never. I'm going to slip out of my imaginary Italian shoes and stick my feet in the grass, on MY side of the fence and realize that it feels pretty good. And you know what? I'll gladly munch on a Happy Meal any day!!!Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-84191481515499785832011-10-12T11:36:00.006-04:002011-10-12T12:12:35.769-04:00This side of things...After an emotionally draining day yesterday with Spencer that included two different ER's and a whole lot of prayer, I posted a Facebook status about how I believe in prayer. At the end of this lengthy status I said, "I'm thankful for a God who hears and although doesn't always answer the way we'd choose, always, always cares...." I included that last bit for those that might feel negatively about prayer. People who don't believe in God or have been turned off from prayer because God didn't answer them the way they wanted or the way they thought he should have.<br /><br />The thought of God always caring for us really got me to thinking how our relationship with Him is much like our relationship with our own children. Now, maybe you don't have children, but you are, of course, someone's child. As an adult now you can see things more clearer and realize that your parents did things in your best interest. So, I think we can all relate to this analogy. I think how often I do something in the best interest of my children that they don't understand. They think I'm mean or bossy. How many times have I said something and finished it with, "just because I said so!" Children in their tiny, naive minds can't understand why we as parents sometimes do the things we do. Why we say "no" or push them to do something they don't want. We see the big picture that they just can't see right now. We do it because we love them. Isn't God just the same? We can't not even fathom how much He loves us. As much as we love our children, He loves us even more. He wants what's best for us always, but we can't always see how that works out on this side of earth.<br /><br />My husband uses the best illustration for this. Have you ever seen someone doing needlepoint? To sit across from them it looks horrible, to be honest. You see the messy, seemingly pointless backside. It's not pretty and it certainly doesn't look them it's going to turn out they way you'd want. But the crafter sees the beautiful side, how each seemingly sloppy stitch works together and when you turn it around it's a masterpiece. Our lives are much the same. We see the backside of things. It's messy, it seems it couldn't possibly turn out to be anything good and we question what the "crafter" could possibly be doing. But God in His infinite wisdom sees the beautiful, finished side. How each prayer, answered in His way, works to the good of the finished work. Oftentimes, God allows us to see the finished work, how it all worked out, but sometimes it seems to be a mystery. I guess that's what faith is all about. Trusting in God and that He has a beautiful plan for each of our lives. If we can close our eyes and forget the messy side that we often see, He may just allow us to see a glimpse of the masterpiece He has in store.Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-24783270814887054852011-09-01T09:49:00.000-04:002011-10-12T12:12:04.762-04:00Vacationing with us, ain't for sissysVacationing with a big family is surely a test of your survival skills. I'm pretty sure it could be included in the Navy SEAL training or possibly a part of Marine combat training. Seriously, this is not for sissys. I must be a tough cookie though, because I survived and lived to tell about it.<br /><br />The last time we vacationed we only had four kids (yes, I said only four.) We were gone for about 5 days and it was pretty smooth sailing. This time around though we had six kids and had planned a nine day trip. The logistics of a trip like that are almost too many to list.<br /><br />First off is packing for our giant crew. I managed to pack the bare minimum, but this still equates to an amount of items that would rival Walmart. Packing our van took a mix of skills that might included a UPS guy, Santa and the Clampetts from the Beverly Hillbillies. The end result made you sympathetic for those poor sardines stuffed in those tiny cans. But we did it. I paid one of the kids a dollar to open the back hatch for the first time. I was fully expecting an avalanche. For once in my life I was happy to be wrong.<br /><br />The ten hour drive began and in true fashion of our crew it was not uneventful. Don't get me wrong, those six kids travelled great. They kept each other entertained and the giggles were almost non-stop. Well, except through West Virginia. About four hours into our trip, we made our third stop. Yep, three stops in four hours. We have a two year old who is freshly potty trained, what can I say? But here is where West Virginia comes in and it has to do with Dramamine. Yep, we had three carsick kids. And let me say, God bless Dramamine. It knocked them out and we survived the rolling hills of the fine state of West Virginia.<br /><br />Let's talk food. I think those kids knocked out $30 of snacks in about 45 minutes. I'm a numbers cruncher and my brain never shuts off. This led me to the unfortunate discovery that eight people and three meals a day for nine days would equal 216 meals. Yep, 216 meals. Add snacks in there for six hungry kids and feeding this crew on the road became quite the task. I channeled my ancestors who at one time foraged for food. Thankfully, this meant using the GPS to find the nearest Taco Bell. It also meant that at the beach condo when the kids asked for cereal for dinner, I played "cool mom" and said, "yeah, we're on vacation, WHATEVER you want." Obviously, it was more lazy mom than cool mom, but I've got to play the cool card whenever I can.<br /><br />Vacationing with a big family means that mom is never really on vacation. I think I did 17 loads of laundry. on. vacation. We stayed in a condo, so I did dishes, swept, even cleaned the bathroom. But if I'm going to scrub the toilet, it might as well be at the beach!<br /><br />Vacationing with our crew means that 12 tons of sand came home with us. It means that the call to the pediatrician nurse line is almost not even worth mentioning. Because not going to the ER is a small miracle, not even going to Urgent Care is definitely a miracle and the fact that we didn't have to ask anyone if they had a first-aid kit is nothing short of divine intervention.<br /><br />With our large family the possibilities for disaster are endless, everything we do is a major undertaking and there is never a dull moment. It also means that it's six times the joy, six times the fun and six times the laughs! I never in my wildest dreams imagined my vacations would be this "big", but I wouldn't change it for the world!!!<br />.<br />Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-69124251461088016322011-05-18T09:50:00.003-04:002011-10-12T12:12:04.766-04:00Organizing Small Spaces<div><div> This is my first ever "link up" post and I'm doing it as part of the "Organizing Small Spaces" series at Hall of Fame Moms. For those who don't know me, I'm Bri, mom to six kids ages five months to eleven years. We are a big family living in a small-ish ranch house, so organization is not optional, it's mandatory for survival! As a stay-at-home mom, I'm on a tight budget, so my ideas are simple and inexpensive. But they can't be tacky either! Hey, I like HGTV as much as the next girl, so it's got to be stylish!</div><div> </div><div> Before we dive in though I have to say, you can't organize clutter!! Seriously, just watch an episode of Hoarders and you will get my point! So, purge whatever you can as you organize an area or an the very least store items that are not frequently used. Also, buy an inexpensive label maker. I label everything possible! My kids are just lucky I haven't labeled them yet.... Alright, the tips are going to come rapid-fire, so hang on!</div><div> </div><div> Let's start with a girl's best friend. No, not diamonds. Shoes! I love over the door shoe bags! Not the tacky plastic kind your grandmother had either. You can find stylish, fabric ones even at Wal-mart. (In fact, they carry the exact same one as the Container Store for half the price.) Now, aside from the obvious of organizing shoes, they are great for organizing craft supplies or storing small toys or even socks and undies in a child's room. Put one on the back of any door for instant added storage and organization! On the subject of kids' rooms, use that space under their beds for great, hidden storage! We had a trundle built to fit under our twins' bunk bed and it stores extra blankets and all those stuffed animals that drive me crazy! (Seriously, stuffed animals give me a nervous twitch.) It could also be used for the obvious of storing an extra mattress for guests, but I love that I can store bulky blankets out of sight! You can also buy bed risers if you have low beds and this will allow for under-the-bed boxes.</div><div> </div><div> We are limited in our closet space here and so I have to get the most out of every inch. We have a craft and game closet in the dining room and it has to be perfectly organized for everything to fit. I have hooks on the inside of the door for backpacks and the kids coats. (Let me take a moment to shout the praises of hooks. Again, put them anywhere you can and definitely have some on your child's level, so there are no excuses for not hanging up towels, coats, etc.) I have various medium sized plastic containers (all labeled, of course) to hold craft supplies, puzzles, coloring books, etc. I've also used baby wipe containers for small items like beads, glue sticks and bottles, etc. Just use the same brand container for easy stacking. I also have one unconventional tip. We have lots and lots (and lots and lots) of board games. We literally ran out of room to store all those boxes! So, any game that was just a flat board with game pieces (ex. Monopoly, Sorry, etc.; not a bulky game like Operation or Trouble) I ditched the box and put all the game pieces into individual baggies. The boards stack neatly and take up a lot less space than all those boxes and I store the game piece baggies in one small container. This saved an immense amount of room!</div><div> </div><div> A few tips for small items: shoe boxes work great inside big dresser drawers to divide small items. In one drawer I have several boxes to separate my youngest's socks, hairbows, bibs and onesies. Now more digging through a drawer in search of something and no expensive organizer to buy! Always have a couple of decorative baskets or crates by entrance ways as catchalls. Hats, gloves, keys, cell phones, etc., always look better thrown in a basket than just thrown on the table or counter. I use a dish pan to store all the lids to my food storage containers (i.e. Rubbermaid or Tupperware.) It's easy to just pull out that dishpan and find the lid I need for any container. Use flat containers where ever possible to store items. You'll be amazed at how much you can stack and store this way. When I'm tackling a new project, I just buy a couple of containers every time I go to Wal-mart, so as not to break the bank! I've found rectangular Rubbermaid containers that I LOVE for storing all our snack items in the snack cupboard. Everything fits so much better now and food stays fresh longer. Plus, it's easy to grab a container or two as I walk out the door and the kids (or mama!) need a snack. </div><div> </div><div> Paper clutter is a constant challenge here. I think the kids kill their own section of the rainforest with all the papers they bring home from school! And the mailman does his part, too! I have baskets in the kitchen in my buffet (you could use a cupboard or drawers too) and I tackle it immediately. I recycle what I can and then file papers accordingly. School papers get tossed in the school basket (surprise-lol) and bills in the bill basket. It's not super organized immediately, but we (read-kids and hubby, too) always, always know where things are! I also have a bulletin board in the kitchen right beside the calendar. So, when I stumble bleary-eyed to the kitchen in the morning I can easily see what's important that day. All permission slips or important informational sheets go on the bulletin board. No digging through any basket to find those important items!!!</div><div> </div><div> Again, I cannot stress the fact that clutter and just plain "too much stuff" cannot be organized. So, pare down, buy less and organize as you go. I promise you it will decrease your stress! I hope some of these tips have been helpful to you and bless your family! (P.S. I'm glad I'm getting a mansion in heaven, because some days I get tired of organizing this stuff!)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div></div>Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-22369410733167461312011-04-18T09:26:00.002-04:002011-04-19T19:33:01.520-04:00When He was on the cross, I was on His mind<div><div> Easter. Whoa, wait a minute. Didn't we just have Christmas? Easter falls late this year, but it seems to have crept up on me yet again. We are literally reminded the day after Halloween that Christmas is coming. Commercials, e-mails, flyers, you name it, we are bombarded with the fact that Christmas is coming, but Easter is a quieter holiday. I've always found it ironic that Christmas gets so much more attention than Easter. Sure they are both important Christian holidays and don't get me wrong the birth of Christ was amazing. I mean I get it, we wouldn't have Easter if there hadn't been a "Christmas." But Easter truly is the pivitol holiday for Christians. Seriously, Easter changed the entire course of <em>the world! </em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em> </em>When I take the time to think about the intimate details of the Easter story, I'm amazed. I'm talking have to sit down amazed. Christ died for me. Christ died for me? Yes, a statement always followed by a question. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around someone dying for me. There are only a few people I'd lay my life down for, yet Christ did it for the world. Yep, <em>the world.</em> People who loved him, people who hated him. People who followed him, people who ran from him. Even those who nailed him to the cross. Even me. When He was on the cross, I was on His mind. </div><div> </div><div> He was humilated. He was beaten, whipped, tortured. His hands were nailed to a cross and his feet, too. They made him a crown of thorns and they mocked him. And Christ took it all <em>willingly</em>, because when He was on the cross, I was on His mind. He could have, at anytime, called a legion of angels and stopped it all. But on that cross beaten and bruised, I was on the his mind. My sin put him on that cross, but his love for me kept him there. </div><div> </div><div> So this Easter season take some time and think about the story. The intimate, personal story. The one that involves just you and Christ. If you or I had been the only one to die for, he still would have. That's how much he loves us. A line from one of my favorite songs says, "The nails in your hands, the nails in your feet, they tell me how much you love me." That day on the cross, long before you were born, you were on his mind. Today as you think about Easter, let Him be on your mind, too.</div></div>Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-20354469612657134392011-01-25T12:36:00.004-05:002011-01-25T13:10:07.392-05:00Good enoughThe question was recently posed in an online group that I'm apart of, "how do you balance it all?" You know, the cooking the cleaning, the "me" time. Well, motherhood is a little bit like walking a balance beam, except you have one leg, and you're blindfolded, and your arms are tied behind your back. Oh yeah, and this is the OLYMPICS, so all eyes are on you and the pressure is on to do it right.<br /><br />Seriously though, isn't that what motherhood feels like? Trying to do it right with lots of things going against you? You feel like you are in the spotlight and you're expect to do it all.<br /><br />But maybe this is where we go wrong. The pressure, that is. You know that feeling when you are trying to do something just perfect and you're nervous? Hands shaking. Butterflies in your tummy. And you mess up. Why? Because you were trying too hard! You have put so much pressure on yourself that you're a nervous wreck. And you fail....<br /><br />We pressure ourselves as moms (and wives) to do it all. The house must be spotless, each child must have had an equal amount of personal attention, cookies must be in the oven, dinner on the table and then we still have to have time to volunteer at the school and go to the spa with "the girls."<br /><br />Really? I could clone myself and still not get my to-do list done everyday. And guess what? That's okay! Somedays I come pretty close to "having it all." But most days if I feel accomplished in one area, it's because I've let another one go. Sure I've played board games with the kids all day, but my house is such a wreck you probably need a tetanus shot just to walk through the front door.<br /><br />So repeat after me, "good enough." Yep, it's that simple. No, I didn't get the bathroom Martha Stewart clean today, but I scraped the toothpaste off the mirror and rinsed the ring out of the bathtub. "Good enough." I didn't have time to make a gourmet dinner, but that simple chicken and rice really hit the spot. "Good enough." I didn't get to the spa today, but I caught up with an old friend on the telephone. "Good enough." Oh, and helping out at the school consisted of sending in a bag of Oreos, instead of staying up all night making perfectly decorated cupcakes. "Good enough." Seriously, Martha Stewart tried that whole perfect homemaker thing and look where it got HER!<br /><br />And tonight as my head hits the pillow, I don't feel as guilty as when I was trying to walk that balance beam and just couldn't do it. My kids are tucked in bed and they are happy. My hubby doesn't have a stressed out wife. I don't feel like a frazzled, train wreck of a person. No, tonight as I lay my head down, on my pillowcase (that I forgot to wash), I say to myself "good enough."Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-35634270956948731542010-07-29T16:34:00.002-04:002010-07-29T20:39:04.905-04:00Mommy's day at the spaWhat woman doesn't enjoy a day at the spa, right? Massages, facials, hair treatments, I could go on and on. But after kids those days can be a thing of the past or at least a rare treat. I'm an optismist though and realize that most days I have my own version of the spa right here at home. I have five kids and throughout the day they seem to give me plenty of "spa time" whether I want it or not.<br /><br />Take for instance that pricey hot stone foot massage. I have a cheap version of that everytime my toddler takes off and I chase him across the gravel driveway in my bare feet. A mud mask is another option with said toddler. Showing off his new found throwing skills, he reaches the end of the muddy drive and chucks a handful my way. Nice shot buddy! A nice, steamy facial? As I slave over yet another sink full of dish, my makeup drips off and my pores open up. Optimism, remember? Who needs that professional manicure? As I sit nervously at my son's spelling bee or anxiously await a phone call from the doctor, I can bite my nails into perfect shape. Seriously, I could put a manicurist to shame.<br /><br />A good hair mask from the spa leaves your hair shiny and vibrant. At my house I get the occasional unplanned hair mask. Daddy thinks it's funny to play rough with the baby right after a feeding and hands him to mommy. Well, I think you know where this is headed. I have to say that though baby vomit may not smell as good as the spa stuff, it definitely adds some shine!<br /><br />What about those salt scrubs? Now those are a treat! The closest I come these days is running out in my sleep shorts to get the trash to the curb before the garbage truck comes, slipping on the ice and sliding down the sidewalk that was just freshly salted. Ah, just like the spa......well, almost.<br /><br />But my favorite is always a good back massage. I mean really nothing beats a good massage. When my six year old wakes up in the car after her nap was cut short, here comes the back massage. As she angrily kicks the back of my carseat, I grip the steering wheel a little tighter and pretend I'm enjoying a professional massage, as she rages on.<br /><br />I love being a mom more than anything, but sometimes I miss those pre-kid luxuries. Why let motherhood take away those little pleasures like a day at the spa? Just slip on your rose-colored glasses and you can have a spa day, too!Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-43427433422329543902010-06-15T09:33:00.002-04:002010-06-15T09:43:40.809-04:00Welcome to Holland<em><span style="font-family:verdana;">This is an amazing description of how I feel and I wish I could take credit for it!! I'm glad to say that I think I've already "graduated" to part two. I think this not only describes parents of special needs kids, but anyone who's life has taken an unexpected journey.</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></em><br /><b> <p>"Welcome to Holland" By Emily Perl Kingsley, 1987</p></b><p>I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this...... </p><p>When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. </p><p>After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland." </p><p>"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy." </p><p>But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. </p><p>The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.</p><p>So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.</p><p>It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.</p><p>But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." </p><p>And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.</p><b><p>Welcome to Holland (Part 2)" by Anonymous</p></b><p><br />I have been in Holland for over a decade now. It has become home. I have had time to catch my breath, to settle and adjust, to accept something different than I'd planned.</p><p><br />I reflect back on those years of past when I had first landed in Holland. I remember clearly my shock, my fear, my anger—the pain and uncertainty. In those first few years, I tried to get back to Italy as planned, but Holland was where I was to stay. </p><p>Today, I can say how far I have come on this unexpected journey. I have learned so much more. But, this too has been a journey of time. I worked hard. I bought new guidebooks. I learned a new language and I slowly found my way around this new land. </p><p>I have met others whose plans had changed like mine, and who could share my experience. We supported one another and some have become very special friends. Some of these fellow travelers had been in Holland longer than I and were seasoned guides, assisting me along the way. Many have encouraged me. Many have taught me to open my eyes to the wonder and gifts to behold in this new land. I have discovered a community of caring. Holland wasn't so bad.</p><p><br />I think that Holland is used to wayward travelers like me and grew to become a land of hospitality, reaching out to welcome, to assist and to support newcomers like me in this new land. Over the years, I've wondered what life would have been like if I'd landed in Italy as planned. Would life have been easier? Would it have been as rewarding? Would I have learned some of the important lessons I hold today?</p><p><br />Sure, this journey has been more challenging and at times I would (and still do) stomp my feet and cry out in frustration and protest. And, yes, Holland is slower paced than Italy and less flashy than Italy, but this too has been an unexpected gift. </p><p>I have learned to slow down in ways too and look closer at things, with a new appreciation for the remarkable beauty of Holland with its' tulips, windmills and Rembrandts.</p><p><br />I have come to love Holland and call it Home.</p><p><br />I have become a world traveler and discovered that it doesn't matter where you land. What's more important is what you make of your journey and how you see and enjoy the very special, the very lovely, things that Holland, or any land, has to offer.</p><p>Yes, over a decade ago I landed in a place I hadn't planned. Yet I am thankful, for this destination has been richer than I could have imagined!</p><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Segoe Print;font-size:100%;"><span lang=""><p> </p></span></span></span>Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-33915619253310086712010-06-14T15:36:00.002-04:002010-06-14T18:05:02.104-04:00No Rain, No Rainbows<strong></strong><br /><br /><strong>This month marks one year since we were given Spencer's diagnosis. If you would have asked me a year ago where I'd be today, I honestly couldn't have given you an answer. But I know this, I am amazed at how far I've come and that I'm not just okay, I've found an incredible joy throughout this experience. I've matured in ways I could have never imagine, found what's really important in life and learned that life's short (no pun intended.) I've have found a truly spiritual meaning in the saying, "no rain, no rainbows."</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>I've taken some time to read back over emails I sent around this time a year ago and read the journal I kept in the early weeks. Don't get me wrong it was tough, but even then I had a sense of peace beneath it all. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>When I went through my prenatal records and Spencer's birth records, I was angry to find out that his diagnosis was so obvious and yet everyone missed it. I looked for someone to blame and any anger I had was pretty much directed at the medical profession. Over the last year, after hearing the emotional roller coaster so many other families had because they were given the diagnosis prenatally or at birth, has made me realize we were truly given a gift in some ways. By the time we found out about Spencer's condition we had already fallen deeply in love with him and discovered his dwarfism didn't have to define him in a negative way. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>The day we were given Spencer's diagnosis though I was up and I was down. I cried and cried some more and that night I didn't sleep much. I got up in the wee hours of the morning and held Spencer. As we sat in our big picture window, the light streamed in and I saw Spence look at me and smile. Yep, still the same old Spence. He was going to be okay and so was I. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Just a few weeks later, we were headed to our first appointment with the Skeletal <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dysplasia</span> clinic and ready to get some concrete answers. But we never made it to that appointment. When we arrived at the hospital, we found Spencer lifeless in his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">carseat</span>. We would later learn he had had a central <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">apnic</span> episode and it nearly took his life. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bam</span>! We were thrown into the not so fun side of dwarfism, the medical complications. Spencer had neurosurgery a few days later and we went through another roller coaster of emotions. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>The year went on and so did the rest of our lives. The four other kids were keeping us busy and Spencer's appointments filled in any spare time we had. Somewhere in all of the chaos though I changed. I relaxed, I matured, I loved deeper, I let things go, like unnecessary housework and grudges, I found a confidence in myself like never before and I think I became a better wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter and person. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>In all honesty, I don't care Spencer has dwarfism. Really I don't. I feel bad for the struggles and hurts that he'll face in life, but I know I wouldn't be the person I am today without him. And I'm not sure I would have reached the incredible level of joy in my life that I now experience. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>I feel like I haven't done justice writing about our experience the last year, but it's hard to describe the changes that have taken place in us, the growth and the peace we have about it all. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bottomline</span> though....no rain, no rainbows. </strong><br /><strong></strong>Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-24838252303059329972010-03-23T14:51:00.002-04:002010-03-23T15:48:39.416-04:00The Climb"The Climb" by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Miley</span> Cyrus was the first song I picked when I started this blog. It was popular around the time we started quite the climb ourselves. (If you haven't listened to the song recently, check it out before you read this.) Now I'm not the biggest <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Miley</span> Cyrus fan, but this song really got me. With Spencer's condition and the seemingly uphill climb, I feel like I could have written the song myself. Each verse seemed to speak to a different emotion I was feeling early on. Like the verse, "Every step I'm taking, every move I make feels lost with no direction, my faith is shaken", definitely described those first few days after Spencer's diagnosis. It was hard to even put one foot in front of the other walking out of the hospital that first day. I'm a very private person, but I didn't care, couldn't care that I was walking through the Cleveland Clinic bawling like a baby. I could hardly stand or think straight, but then I looked at Spencer's sweet face. Maybe it was then and there I decided it wasn't about what was on "the other side", it was about "the climb". Knowing that climb included my precious Spence made it okay.<br /><br /> "The struggles I'm <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">facin</span>', the chances I'm <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">takin</span>', sometimes might knock me down, but no I'm not breaking. I may not know it, but <strong>these</strong> are the moments I'm going to remember most." And it's true every milestone Spencer has reached is so etched in my mind. Maybe because it's been the start of his "climb". He has to work a little harder than the average kid and it makes everything a little more special. And "these" moments seem to be the ones defining me and making me a better person than I would have been without them.<br /><br />"There's always gonna be another mountain, I'm always gonna wanna make it move, always gonna be an uphill battle. Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose." Spencer is just a year, yet I know this may be the line that best describes things truthfully. It IS going to be an uphill battle for him, there IS always going to be another mountain and sometimes he IS going to lose. But the verse I want to define him is this "Ain't about how fast I get there, it ain't about what's waiting on the other side, it's the climb. Keep on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">movin</span>', keep <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">climbin</span>', keep the faith. It's all about the climb." Being a mom to Spence has taught me to not always look to what's on the other side of the mountain, but to enjoy the climb. The climb is often times the best part of life. If you don't enjoy it, you might miss the beauty along the way.Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-13768720975175803732009-12-10T10:25:00.003-05:002009-12-10T11:15:55.642-05:00Beautiful musicThe other night (lame as we are) my hubby Scott and I were listening to some beautiful stringed music on PBS. Scott made a comment that struck a chord deep within me. He said, "An instrument in the hands of the right person can be a beautiful thing, but put it in the wrong hands and watch out!".<br /><br /> Wow did that statement make me think. Now he said it with no deep meaning behind it, but it made me instantly apply it to so many areas of my life. First of all, it made me think of my children. They are truly like instruments given to us. If we do the right things with them they too can "play beautiful music". But in the wrong hands kids have a hard time playing the right notes. When we are given our children they are a perfect, unblemished instrument. We immediately begin to "practice" out of sheer force and fear. There are plenty of off notes at first, but then we seem to hit our stride as parents. Like even the best musicians we play off key at times, but all and all we do pretty well because we have put the needed time and effort in to it.<br /><br /> Then, just as we have begun to master one instrument, we are often handed another. And usually not an instrument similar to what we have already played, but one that may be more difficult or need to be played in a much different way. Occasionally, we get an instrument that is easier than the one we learned to play at first and we count our blessings!!<br /><br />I believe that it's our job as parents to make sure we "practice" everyday and not to slack off. Like Scott said, "an instrument in the <span style="font-style: italic;">right</span> hands can make beautiful music". I believe anyone's hands can be the <span style="font-style: italic;">right</span> hands. Like I've said before it's all a matter of choice. So, we have to put time and effort into our kids, even when it's tough.<br /><br /> I wish I could say that kids are an instrument that we as parents could master, but it seems just when we start to get good we are handed harder music! I do know one thing- though parenting kids can have plenty of off notes, the beautiful symphony we get most of the time makes it all worth it!!Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-8141702779960805752009-10-27T11:06:00.003-04:002009-10-27T11:28:56.979-04:00ChoicesThough we are still new to the game of having a "special needs" child, I've already heard a few comments pretty consistently. They all have the same theme and go something like this, "God must have chose you to be Spencer's family because he knew you could handle it" or "Spence was meant to be in your family because you're such wonderful, loving people" or "God knew what he was doing sending Spence to your family".<br /><br />Now don't get me wrong the compliments are wonderful! I'm glad people think so much of my family and believe that Spencer is going to be alright just because of the enviroment we are creating for him, BUT I've noticed a little flaw in the system. Many times when I am away from home I see children with varying special needs who were "given" to moms and dads who aren't so wonderful and aren't handling the situation so hot. There are plenty of people out there who I'd like to just smack because they aren't taking care of their kids the way they ought to. Did God mess up that time? I don't think so, but I think the parents definitely are missing a wonderful opportunity.<br /><br />I don't believe that God made a mistake by giving us Spencer or by giving any other family a kid who is a little more needy than the rest. But I also don't believe that God chose me because I'm some amazing, super mom. What I believe is that I wake up <em>everyday</em> with a <em>choice</em>. A choice that every other mom can choose to make too. I choose to be the mom that Spencer needs be to me. I choose to go the extra mile and make sure all of his needs are going to be taken care of whether financial, medical or emotional. I chose to put aside some of my needs to care for his. I choose to believe that God <strong>did</strong> "send" us Spencer, but not because he needed us, but because we needed him. I choose to believe that the day Spencer was created was one of God's better days.<br /><br />So, thanks for the compliments, but I'm not that great, I'm just a mom who wakes up with the same choice every other mom has each day. We all have choices and we all get thrown a curve ball every now and then. I've just decided I'm going to hit that ball out of the park instead of striking out.Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-37167631137093212062009-10-11T21:33:00.003-04:002009-10-11T22:03:03.670-04:00Remembering my prioritiesIt's been a long, tough week. So long and tough that I think I could just end the blog post there and go crawl in bed. I watched my grandma pass away this week. Now that was tough. I saw her lying there in a body that didn't look like hers anymore and with a mind that was no longer there. Then a little boy named Connor, that has <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">achondroplasia</span> like Spence, died from complications of the condition. It brought back all those emotions I had when we came so close to losing Spencer. And to top off an emotional week, my sister moved over an hour away from us.<br /><br />But I'm the type of person that always has to find meaning in it all. For me this week has meant putting my priorities in check...something I am continually having to do. I was reminded again this week that life is short and life is precious. So, I put a lot of things on hold this week to spend time with my family and to try and be there for my parents after losing my grandmother. I held Spence a little tighter and thanked God for allowing him to stay with us. In fact, I held all of the kids a little closer this week. I tried to say "not now" or "maybe later" a little less. So, my "to do" list didn't get done and I played more Monopoly games than another mother should ever have to, but it was probably the closest I've come to having my priorities in check in a long time.<br /><br />Life is constantly trying to get in the way of what really matters. I know that every day I wake up with choices. Choices about who's going to get my time and energy. Everyday I have to find a balance. Time for the kids, time for me, time to keep the house clean without being too <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">OCD</span> and, of course, balancing all the things other people ask of me without sacrificing family.<br /><br />I guess basically I'm saying that I'm just a work in progress and that we all probably need to check our priorities from time to time. Whoever said "stop and smell the roses" was probably on to something. So, quit reading this blog and go hug your babies or your hubby or literally go smell the roses. Life is short, might as well make the most of it!Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-77536964227528510862009-07-28T15:19:00.004-04:002009-07-28T16:04:21.821-04:00Just feelings...Yesterday was a rather weird day for me emotionally. Most of the time I don't feel bad about Spencer's condition, but every now and then I get a little twinge of sadness. A friend had posted a link to a blog about a baby with a serious heart condition. He has been sick since birth and there is no guarantee he will make it. Things were very touch and go for him yesterday. Crazy as it may sound those are the things that make me thank God that Spencer "only" has dwarfism. I mean really it could be so much worse. Yes, we almost lost Spence last month because of his foramen magnum compression and there will no doubt be more medical complications, but Spencer is going to be <em>okay.</em> That's what I have to cling to. My little guy really is going to be alright.<br /><br />But at the same time it can be tough. Little things seem to slap me in the face. We were swimming at the YMCA last night and there was a little girl the same age as Spence. The same age mind you and she was standing there (with her daddy's help of course) and jumping into the pool. But little Spencer can't even bear any weight on his legs, not even for a minute, because of his hypotonia. He'll get there someday, but it's gonna be a while. I don't know why exactly, but it made me sad that Spence wasn't able to do it, too. With that big personality and big spirit, his body still denied him. It was no big deal really, right? So what if she could stand there and Spence couldn't. But there was something melancholy about it for me and I remind myself that it's okay to feel that way. They're just feelings and I will NOT expect myself to be Prozac happy that he has dwarfism. But I am deep down in the very depths of my soul happy we have Spencer in our lives, no Prozac needed thank you.Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-89750453623485868992009-07-14T18:50:00.003-04:002009-07-14T19:09:46.374-04:00Cowboy boots, strut what ya got...Letting your kids be who they are can be tough, especially when it's the polar opposite of who you are. I'll be the first to admit that this is a challenge for me. The first time I remember really giving in was when the twins were about two. They had gotten cowboy boots as a birthday gift and they were in LOVE. Well, let's just say I'm not a cowboy boots kind of girl. I'm more the high heels type, if you know what I mean. I vividly remember how much I hated those boots!! But the first time I gave in and let them wear them out somewhere was a life changer. Watching them strut around in those boots with their little girlie dress no less, melted my heart!<br /><br />And with five kids God is constantly finding new was to stretch me in this area. Take my nine year old for instance who loves his 30+ stuffed animals. He is seriously pushing my anti-clutter buttons-hard!! Then there's the girls who love garage sale knicknacks. A gene they definitely did <strong>not </strong>get<strong> </strong>from me. Last, but not least is Jordan. My beautiful, baby girl who loves to dress like Punky Brewster (remember the old tv show?) A typical Jordan ensemble might be a crazy printed dress, mismatched striped tights that clash, of course with her ladybug mud boots, topped off with about 10 pieces of jewelry and her orange hat. I've learned to shrug off the funny looks at the grocery store. I know they are wondering if I was the one who dressed her like that.<br /><br />As different as they are though, I'm also reminded of the pieces of me they have in them, too. I catch Jake with his nose in a book and smile knowing I'd be doing the same thing if I could. Genna who loves everything organized, yep me again! Grace who cries along with me watching sappy movies or listening to tender songs. Then there's Spencer who would eat all day if he could-definitely inherited from me!! My kids are a mix of old and new and I wouldn't have it any other way! I've realized that God made them each unique in so many ways and I'm not about to be the one to put out the fire!Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-17919488864212092072009-07-14T13:09:00.004-04:002009-07-14T14:46:02.635-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQR0-JOOHQxPGc5h9_mZ4cfG6gAeaJfFT7aWvRqAmw9DrK8x8m-VPlp6On7Y2firtpV2b-37TnvJ4C7uriFloQaaStf6V97KYIqFXDgL5Xgd0FdtESPwasTO23HhBgHoaHus7onxPG4MJ/s1600-h/spencer+stitches+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358388963082906258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQR0-JOOHQxPGc5h9_mZ4cfG6gAeaJfFT7aWvRqAmw9DrK8x8m-VPlp6On7Y2firtpV2b-37TnvJ4C7uriFloQaaStf6V97KYIqFXDgL5Xgd0FdtESPwasTO23HhBgHoaHus7onxPG4MJ/s320/spencer+stitches+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So, here are the rest of the details of our scare with Spencer. After the code was called we were taken to the ER. Spencer had "come to", but was still not himself. I just wanted to see him smile and then I would know he was okay. He is such a charmer and ALWAYS smiling. So, to see him lying there so lethargic was very, very hard.<br /><br />They decided to do the some basic, routine tests-blood work, x-ray to check for pneumonia, and a nasal swab for RSV. We were almost immediately told that Spencer had an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ALTE</span> (an apparent life threatening event). I was nauseous hearing that Spence had something happen that had quote "threatened his life". In the meantime, they called over to the Skeletal <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Dysplaisa</span> Center where was Spencer was scheduled for an appointment. The specialists there had a pretty good idea of what had happened. It seems many kids with Spencer's form of dwarfism have something called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Foramen</span> Magnum Compression or in simpler terms his skull was pinching off his spinal cord. Apparently 2-5% of babies die from this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">complication</span>. It's still difficult to think we almost lost him right there in the parking garage.<br /><br />We weren't in the ER long before they decided to move us to a room for the night. Spencer would have an MRI in the morning to confirm that he had the compression. By that night Spencer was pretty much back to himself, except with a lot of extras wires and monitors!!<br /><br />Spencer slept pretty well that night, but mom and dad were another story! I don't think Scott and I slept at all that night. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Every time</span> a monitor beeped we practically knocked each other over getting to his crib.<br /><br />Because of the MRI Spencer couldn't nurse after midnight and it was really hard for him. He was such a trooper and really hung in there! The MRI in and of itself was nerve racking. He would have to be put under for it and from what I had already read little people (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">lp's</span>) need managed more during general anesthesia. One more thing to worry about!<br /><br />It seemed like an eternity that he was gone during the MRI, but he came through it just great! He was so sweet when he woke up! What a trooper!!<br /><br />We waited anxiously for the doctor to come in and tell us the results. Finally, the doc came in and asked us to come out to the nurses desk so he could show us the images <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">from</span> the MRI on the computer. Well, you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">didn't</span> have to be a rocket scientist (or even a doctor-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">lol</span>) to see right where his skull was pinching his spinal cord. He would need surgery, as soon as possible, to decompress the area. Basically, they would have to open him up from the base of the skull along the spine and remove the part of the skull pinching his spinal cord.<br /><br />Needless to say, we would not be going home anytime soon. It was Friday and the soonest they could schedule the surgery for was Tuesday. It was going to take a major team of people for this surgery and that was the earliest they could get them assembled. So, until then Spence would have to be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">constantly </span>monitored and we would have to pray he did not have another episode.<br /><br />It was a long, uneventful next 4 days. We saw various doctors, including a few we had been scheduled to see that fateful Thursday. Spencer had x-rays called a Skeletal Survey and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">bloodwork</span> done to see if he had the common mutation that caused his type of dwarfism.<br /><br />I also learned that I was my child's advocate. So, whatever it took to get him the best care possible I was going to do it. I learned Spencer was a "hard stick" and to ask for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">MedFlight</span>/transport team to do any <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">bloodwork</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">IV's</span>. I learned that it was okay to ask the nurses to wait to do vitals when Spencer was nursing. I learned being an advocate meant not sleep much!<br /><br />The day of Spencer's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">decompression</span> surgery came and I had a great sense of peace. Don't get me wrong I was still anxious, but I knew we literally had hundreds, if not thousands, of people praying for him from coast to coast.<br /><br />It was so hard to hand him over to the nurses in anesthesia though. After all we'd been through I guess I was scared to let him go. My awesome parents were there by our side and suggested we go to the cafeteria and try to relax. The funniest thing happened on the way there. We are rounding the corner and I see the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">neurosurgeon</span> walking out of the cafeteria with a cup of coffee in hand! I'm thinking, "hey my kid is in surgery, aren't you suppose to be there too??!!" But it was weirdly reassuring that to us what was major surgery was no big deal to him.<br /><br />So, here is the rest of our stay in a nutshell. The surgery went perfectly! The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">neurosurgeon's</span> wonderful (and I do mean WONDERFUL!) nurse Renee said it couldn't have went any better. I told her that was because we had so many people praying and she said she knew that without me even telling her! I thought that was so amazing!! More amazing yet was that Spencer never cried after his surgery. We would fuss a little when we got hungry, but that was it. All the nurses commented that he was the calmest, best baby they'd ever seen. He could not have handled it any better. I know he handled it better than I would have!!<br /><br />Three days later we were sent home! I'll admit it was little scary to leave the safety of the hospital. We'd had such a scare and I was operating on a serious lack of sleep, but I was so happy that our little guy was okay. One of the major hurdles of his condition was already down. It was hard to believe we'd only learned of his condition just 3 weeks earlier and he'd already been through so much.</div>Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-32103182785992196532009-07-05T12:34:00.002-04:002009-07-05T13:14:27.024-04:00Can life get any crazier?So, I start a blog and then I'm derailed! I'd planned on keeping up on this and not procrastinating (for once!). But then a 8 day hospital stay changed my plans. Yes, a 8 day hospital stay. We were planning on Spencer's first visit to the specialists at the Skeletal Dysplasia Center at Akron Children's hopsital. Spencer was getting fussy after being in the car way longer then we wanted to be. I checked on him and told him to hang in there because we were less than 10 minutes from the hospital. He was fussy, but he was fine.<br /><br />We arrived at the hospital, parked in the parking deck and got Spencer out of the car. That moment turned out to be the most terrifying, awful moment of my life. I looked down and Spencer was pale, foaming at the mouth, not breathing and totally non-responsive. I starting yelling his name and Scott was pinching his leg, but nothing. Not one single thing to reassure us that our precious little guy was okay.<br /><br />So, we ran into the hospital, but the floor we parked on actually entered the Professional Building, which is mainly just offices. I shouted to the first person I saw, "Do you work here?" She said no, but that the lady walking down the hall did. I called out to her and said, "We need help now! My son is not breathing and not responding!!" She stepped into one of the offices and called a code blue. Within minutes we had a slew of people surrounding us in response to the code being called. Thank God Spencer had started breathing again by this point. It was shallow and lethargic to say the least, but at least I saw some life in him again.<br /><br />They rushed us over to the main part of the hospital to the ER. I was on the verge of throwing up or passing out, but I knew I had to keep it together. The details of the next 8 days will be in the next blog. But re-living this, even just to write in here, is almost too much. All I know is holding your lifeless child is an experience I wouldn't wish on even my worst enemy.Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2313775696263630763.post-12988107863186927292009-06-16T13:12:00.000-04:002009-06-16T13:26:31.168-04:00All about us!Here I am posting my first blog post ever! I figure I'd better introduce my awesome family first! I'm Bri, a stay at home, homeschooling mom with 5 kids and married to the love of my life Scott. Scott sells insurance and is a sports fanatic! Our kids are Jake-9, Genna and Grace-7, Jordan-5 and Spencer born 12/31/08. Scott also has 3 kids-Bethany, Jared and Jason who are all grown up! We are one big family who loves our crazy life!!!<br /><br />We just found out that our son Spencer has achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. The shortened name for his condition is achon. It's pronounced "akon", yeah like the rapper-LOL!!<br /><br />This blog is dedicated to our journey through achondroplasia.<br /><br />I've learned alot in the last two weeks about this thing called achondroplasia. And I've found that God has provided me with an amazing peace about Spence's condition. <br /><br />I know one thing Spencer may have a little body, but this kid has one BIG personality!!!<br /><br />More about our crazy family coming soon!!!Briannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289871534235338980noreply@blogger.com16