where have I been?

Life has been busy and my second job hasn't even started back up yet. I swear by the time Gabe goes to bed at night, I'm wiped. All I want to do is catch up on my 'programs' and play a little Words with Friends. Wiped.



Tonight we had an awesome dinner. Chipotle-esque carnita soft tacos, complete with the cilantro lime rice. It was fantastic! Greg loved them too.



Another wonderful thing that has been taking up my time has been The Hunger Games. Fantastic books. Fantastic. The first book was addicting... I couldn't stop reading it. The second book was good, and the third book started out slow but got very interesting about halfway through. Now that the series is over, I'm feeling a little bit lost. If you haven't read them, do it!!



Ahhh, yes, and this. (He's not pouting, I just made him bend his head down to show off his new 'do'). Gabe decided that he was going to become a hairstylist, I guess. I actually didn't freak out about this... I laughed. I had to hold the laughter back while I was in front of him. Obviously, we had to have a talk about the dangers of scissors and how you can only use them with an adult. But, inside I was just cracking up.

I started a new job a couple of weeks ago. I'm doing some internet-based plat mapping/proofing for an insurance agency in a nearby town. I really like it. I can't believe how much my work for my other job (with a farm chemical application business) helped to prepare me for this job. Both jobs really kind of fell into place... Scheduling and everything. Basically, I'll be working 40 hours a week during the chemical applicator's busy season (April through June/July and Oct & Nov) and the rest of the time, I'll be working fewer hours... depending on the insurance agency's needs. So, for a few months of the year, I'll be pretty busy.

I have to be honest... I don't know how working moms work 40+ hours a week. How they get all the laundry, dishes, dusting, vacuuming, etc... done? Then, add on the guilt. I always feel guilty, even when I'm working part time that I don't get Gabe to the park often enough, or he isn't outside much of the time. How does it happen??? When do these moms get their other work done? I mean, if they spend most of their day outside with their kids, how do they clean, do laundry, and put a hot meal on the table at the end of the day? I need to somehow find a balance.

It's reallllly easy to slip into the Mom Insecurity Zone. Do any of you fall into that? If so, how do you cope with it? Thankfully, my husband plays a lot with Gabe outside while I'm trying to get dinner ready. While I'm full time, there are gonna be a lot of crockpot meals. I guess I just gotta do the best that I can, and try not to feel guilty that I'm not doing enough.

I recently went to a mom's seminar in which they discussed 'true guilt' vs. 'false guilt'. True guilt is when you've done something to violate God's law or man's law - something you can repent for and try to mend either with God or man. False guilt is just the opposite. It's stuff you worry about that hasn't happened, or you haven't offended, and isn't supported by either of those requirements. I've been trying to let a lot of the false guilt go. I know I'm loving my child, working hard for my family, and honoring my husband. I'm doing my best to be a good friend, a good daughter, and a good sibling. Sure, I make mistakes every day and I do pray about those things. I ask God for help in being a good mother. I guess that is all I can do.

So, if you're a mom with false guilt, let it go. If you have true guilt, do what you can do (what God has asked us to do) to mend it. And, holy cow... it's tough for all of us, so let's be real! (Nothing irks me more than the moms with the perfect life, perfect balance, perfect kids.) C'mon, one of her kids had to have clogged her toilet with a decorative ball at least once, right? Not that it's happened to me... (Ok, so it happened at my parent's house, but it was still my kid).

75:365 Some of my Favorites

I am 75 days into my 365 project. I'm so glad I decided to take part in it. 75 days! I haven't missed one! It's been a really fun thing to do. When I started the project, I thought it would be fun to add text to each picture so I could remember what I was thinking when I took it. I have gone back and forth as to whether or not I like the text on the pictures. But, I started it, so I gotta finish it that way. Look at my Janx... isn't she sweet?



I really liked this picture of our class rings. Our high school dating days were wonderful. I had an excellent boyfriend. Accepting his marriage proposal was the best decision I've ever made in my life.



Ha! I love this picture of Dougie. What a sweetheart. I've been able to see him a lot in the last couple of weeks and have just really enjoyed that time with him.



My sweet boy! I love this picture of him. Bless his little heart for all the photography patience he has with his Mom!



Oh, and this one! Look at that face! I'm biased, but what a handsome little boy.



You know that dating website commercial that says "we laugh every day."? Greg and I really do. "We laugh every day" is a quote at our house that makes us laugh.

And, I love this picture of the Herrman boys. Braden has always been so great with Gabe.

I'm looking forward to the next 75 days. In just the little amount of time I feel like I've already learned quite a bit.

let the sun shine

I'm probably the only one in the surrounding area that isn't 100% happy about this awesome weather we've had. I'm just keeping it real. It is beautiful!! And, nighttime outside has been so lovely. However, daytime has been really hard on this hypo-thyroider. I know I should feel thankful when I see a beautiful forecast, but all I can seem to think about is how uncomfortable I'm going to be. Sleeping will be hot. Cooking will be hot. Housework and laundry will be hot. Work will be hot - they don't turn the air on until it's like 78 in there.

Last night, I had windows open and fans blowing. I was actually doing ok for me! Our thermostat said it was 76. In the summer time, our thermostat always reads 70. So, for me, I was doing pretty well. My husband went to a friend's house to visit last night, comes home after I'm asleep upstairs, lays on the couch, and turns the air on. WHAT! I woke up and all the windows upstairs were open, the kitchen window is open, and Greg's got the air at 71. He was like, "What? It was freaking hot in here when I got home." Yeah, I freaking know that. Here I am thinking, "Hey, you made it without turning the air on. You won't get made fun of by your husband and family for it feeling like a meat locker in this joint." I'm just a little miffed because we missed Winter. We didn't get much of one. Seasons come and go... I'll get through this one. I'll just be a hot, sweaty mess. :)

To totally change topics, last night we were able to stargaze from our backyard. It was so beautiful outside. The temperature was just right, there was a slight breeze, and the skies were totally clear. We were able to see Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Orion's Belt, and the Big Dipper thanks to Google Sky Maps on Greg's phone. What an amazing app! If you've never stargazed before, download this handy app and try it out. It's so cool. Gabe thought it was pretty sweet too. It's pretty amazing to look up and know that God created all those stars, planets, and galaxies and know that He still knows the number of hairs on our head and He knows each of us by name. I realize the beginning of this post is quite a downer compared to the end. I should be thankful for this beautiful weather - these beautiful days that the Lord has made.

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

-Luke 12:7

"But now, Oh Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. Oh Israel, the one who formed you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine."

-Isaiah 43:1

"He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns blackness into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land. The Lord is his name.

-Amos 5:8

The Amazing Star Wars!

Gabers is loving the Star Wars. The amazing Star Wars!! This week, we have watched A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Return of the Jedi is on the schedule for tonight. What has really surprised me is how much Gabe understands. When we started A New Hope, I missed the intro notes, so at the beginning of the movie I was pretty lost. Gabe had watched it once with Greg before and was able to tell me all about it.

I had never seen Star Wars... shocking, I know. These movies were really popular when I was growing up. I wasn't sure what to expect. Overall, I liked the movies! I'm not usually a sci-fi, fantasy type of movie person, but this was a classic, so I had to give it a chance. I'm really looking forward to Return of the Jedi tonight.

Last night, while watching The Empire Strikes Back, Gabe learned that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father. I had never seen such a shocked look on his face! "Is that REALLY true??" He was shocked! It's just gonna be one of those moments I never forget. He just couldn't believe the surprise. We thought Darth Vader's face was revealed in this one, so he was bummed that he didn't get to see what Darth really looked like. So, Greg had to YouTube that for him. Gabe thought that was pretty awesome.

I can see why little boys love these movies. Action, light sabers, Yoda, Chewy, etc... And, overall, fine content for a little boy.

And a little something for our Pawpaw:

Little Monday Updates.

Ok, forget Toddlers & Tiaras. Dance Moms is CRAZY!



I got my hair completely chopped off! I think I had like 3 inches taken off in the back. I like it... I wish I would've done my makeup in this picture though.

Just a couple of little updates for this Monday morning! Not much else too exciting going on!