Motherhood is NOT for Sissies ...

I have officially decided that I need more time in each day the Lord blesses me with.

It seems like the older I get, along with the additional wisdom, I am not getting any better with time managment. And that is something I dearly need help with.

For the past few months I have been juggling a job, two children - one of whom started kindergarten this year and the other that has recently entered the "terrific two's" - marriage, friendships, a side job (candle sales), my daughter's school activities, my own school work, Christmas shopping and also trying to keep my home clean and running smooth.

Now I know that I am NOT the only woman that juggles all of these things. But it always seems to me that all of the other Mom's are Super-Mom's. They look well rested, they seem to be able to schedule time for "fun" activities and "girl" time. How do you do it? That is my question for the day.

I am a firm believer that Motherhood is NOT for Sissies. Period. I am a tough woman. I function on an average of 4-5 hours of sleep each night. And ... to top it off, I cannot seem to get it all done even at that. Frustration and stress? ... well, that has been replaced with twirling, which makes sense to those of you that read my previous blog. Maybe I should learn to multi-task and cook dinner, do laundry, shampoo carpets, clean bathrooms, treat wood floors, etc while twirling. ??? (smile)

My daughter, the sweetest girl on the planet, told me yeserday that she was going to ask Santa for something special for Christmas and then give it to me. When I asked her what she was wanting she told me, "Momma, I want Santa's elves to make you a pretty button to push when you need help doing all that you do to make us all so happy. That way it would just magically do itself for you." Super sweet kiddo!

It isn't like I put my children off to clean by any means. For those of you that have seen my house, you know that isn't happening. I enjoy my children each minute I have with them. I stay up super late doing homework and laundry so that I can enjoy them for the couple of hours I have with them before bedtime each night. So ... for her to sweetly think of such a thoughtful gift for Mommy ... well, I thought it was precious.

Now if I could just find me an elf that could make one of those things she speaks of ...

When in doubt. Twirl.

Today is one of those days that I simply need to reboot and start over. I need to empty my head and start fresh. Literally.

This morning started out with Lexi's sonogram appointment. Although I have every faith it will produce normal results, as a mother of a 6 year old daughter going through all of this, I am stressed to the max. I am worried about her and just want her to feel good and like a "normal kiddo".

Now, with all that has gone on with her and myself, my Papa is thrown in the mix. A few weeks ago they thought he was trying to have a heart-attack, while on a trip out of town. But the test results showed no signs of actual "attack" occuring. So after 48 hours in the hospital he was released and allowed to travel back home. He made an appointment with his local physician who referred him to a cardiologist in Amarillo, which in turn did a stress test and other testing on him. The stress test came back normal, but we found out last night that the visual exam, not so normal. So ... with that said we are now praying that the heart cath he will be having in December will produce normal results, or at least answers that we can then use to make decisions for repair and a fast recovery.

So ... with all that is going on I just wanna scream ... but my new motto is, "When in doubt. Twirl." I am going to learn to use my stress and direct it towards "twirling". Literally. One of my favorite quotes from a movie, Dazed and Confused, is "I just wanna dance". Well, I'm going to dance through all of this stress and mental mumbo-jumbo that Satan is throwing at my family. My kids twirl all the time instead of standing still. It makes them giggle. I'm going to use the same method as an adult. I'm going to giggle and twirl!

So ... good luck to all of you trying to commit me when you see me in the grocery store twirling in front of the canned veggies or the milk. It isn't shopping ... it is retail therapy. It isn't craziness ... it is de-stressed twirling.

And for those of you being fantastic prayer warriors for all that I am going through. I love each of you for being my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you a million times over!!!

A New Year ... Literally.

Well, it is officially my little man's birthday. It is 12:34 am and he is now the big TWO. Yesterday, Saturday, was a big day for the Taylor clan. After getting up and preparing the kiddos a little breakfast, and watching Space Chimps, which by the way is a super funny animated movie, we got dressed and started loading up the birthday goods to take to Popoo and Nana's house for Corbyn's birthday party.

Holly Moya made the cake, and as always she outdid herself. It was fabulous! Just what I imagined for his John Deere party. The kids had cake, helped Corbyn open his gifts, swang, jumped on the trampoline and then rode in the John Deere gator. They were all so cute running around and playing. Little people that are growing up way to fast.

When the party was done, I loaded all of the goodies he was blessed with from his friends and family. He literally hit the motherload in the gift department. I think he got every John Deere toy, tractor, book and clothing item made, as well as lots of handsome clothes from Popoo and Nana to go along with the toys. He will be styling and profiling while he plays with his big green tractors.

He had such a great time today. And ... he fought bedtime until he finally crashed about 11:45. Just to go to sleep with a handful of his new tractors.

So, happy birthday my little prince, the little man that completely stole the last half of my heart (because his sister stole the first half). I love you, Corbyn Talbert! With that said ... may we have the Terrific Two's.

A Weekend of Preperation and Fun ...

After a long week, the weekend is upon me and I pray that all of the preperations I have done are enough. November always starts a busy time for me all the way around. Not only is it the time of year we start getting really busy at work (which is a great thing) but it is also the first of a string of birthdays in with the holidays.
Today we celebrated my Dad's birthday. After work, my family went to my parents house, where we joined a couple of dear family friends, for a delicious meal my Momma cooked. Mexican cornbread, beans, salad, tacos and pound cake with fresh strawberries. Yum! Dad received some really nice gifts and we had a wonderful time visiting. The kids were so excited it was Popoo's birthday. They were so cute with him.
For the past week, I have been getting things situated at work for our Open House this Saturday. After dinner at my parents, I went back to work to finish setting up a few things, and placing food in the fridge so that I don't have to rush as bad in the morning. I know that tomorrow will be a huge success, as it always is, I am just a little stressed about it because although I know how Sharon wants things done, she isn't there to say "yes" or "not so much" to me. I am so grateful that she has so much trust and faith in me, but I still like her approval and it is her business. I hope that after taking pictures of all that we have done she can enjoy it as if she were there.
After tomorrow's busy day at work, we will be attending my next door neighbor's sweet little girl's first birthday party. She is such a little princess. Adorable. I am so excited that we get to be there for the celebration. First birthday's are always so sweet.
Tomorrow is also the annual Christmas in the Park for our community. So, tonight I helped my Mom and her best friend put together their center piece for the table they are hosting. I wish I could be there to support them and enjoy the evening ... but maybe next year.
Then on to Sunday ... the big day for my son's birthday party. He is turning 2 on Monday. I can't believe it. Where has time gone? And of course he has to have a John Deere party. I'm looking forward to seeing a bunch of little toddlers running around and playing hard, and of course the cake that Holly is making as well. Yum! It will be lots of fun I'm sure.
So ... hence the title of this blog, "A Weekend of Preperation and Fun ..." because that is exactly what this weekend is. Lots of preperation, planning and fun!

This is A Day to Rejoice in Him!

My daughter, Lexi, who is 6 years old has always been a child of God. Literally. She is constantly amazing me in her faith and even at times reminding me of the better way to live and the direction to look in. I honestly believe that without a doubt this child, my very own daughter, is destined by our Savior to do amazing things in this world.

She prays daily, and without prompting or reminders to do so, and she will tell you without hesitation that God talks back to her. I for one, long to hear God talk back to me. I listen and have decided that when His timing is right (as it always is) He will tell me what I need to hear. But with Lexi, she will tell me things that only God could tell her.

For example, and this was our first encounter with her relationship with God stepping into this level of faith and communication. Two years ago, she was 4 years old, her and my mother were leaving Dallas from a visit with my father and heading home. She kept telling my mother that they shouldn't leave, it wasn't time for them to leave. My mom thought, as any adult would, that she just didn't want to leave her Popoo and the swimming at the hotel. Further down the road to home, they made it just almost to Vernon and a storm hit them. Mom was driving on the highway and Lexi was in the backseat covered by a blanket due to the hail busting out the windshield on them. After making it Vernon, my mom called me and I got into my car to go get them. When I got there, Lexi wasn't scared anymore. She was quite calm, actually. My mother drove her car on home with my father in law with her, and Lexi got into the car with me. Once on the road she told me out of the blue that "daddy" was going to get a new job and would be home with us every night one day soon. Now ... the only people that knew my husband had a job interview for such a position was the two of us. The interview was going on as I was driving to Vernon and I was informed of it only an hour before. Nobody knew but the two of us! I then asked her who told her such a thing and she told me, "God did, Mommy. He told me that we needed to stay with Popoo, too. So that bad storm wouldn't scare me and Nana. But we're okay."

Now with that long story being told, I will let you know that a month later my husband got the job he interviewed for that day and has since been home with us everyday and has not missed anything the kids have done. Previously he was working in Oklahoma and was gone for 2-3 weeks at a time just to be home for 1-2 weeks before leaving again.

Since this day, my daughter, over the course of two years now, has continually amazed me with her communication with the Lord. Which progressed into her overly sensitive and sympathetic personality towards all people. She honestly and openly loves every person she meets. She believes that they are each friends that God has sent to her.

I know that this has been a long blog, and it does have a conclusion. A glorious one! Since my children were born I have prayed with them each day and we have read bible stories together as well. My daughter has recently started attending a bible study for children at our church and is absolutely loving it. Well ... tonight when I picked her up, she asked me if I knew what being baptisted meant. When I told her that I did and that I made that decision a long time ago, I asked her if she knew what it meant. She told me, "Momma, it means that you let God into your heart forever. That you want to live like Jesus did. That your heart has a door and that if you let God open it your heart turns to gold. It even means that you are saved and that you go to Heaven."

WOW! Right? Such big words for such a small person. I was utterly amazed in my precious daughter. And then she said it. She tells me, "Momma. If I am old enough, I have made up my mind to be baptised. Can I get baptised while being 6?" Praise God! My daughter has just made a huge decision all on her own. She understands as much as she can for her age, and in most cases more than she should be able to understand. My prayers have been answered and my daughter is truely an Angel of Him.

For those of you that have shared in my joy tonight. I love each of you. Thank you for praying for my family as I have yours. Thank you for being a part of my daughters walk with the Lord.

11-02-09 will forever be a blessed day in my calendar! Now, we must visit with the church in making arrangments for her baptism!

Halloween, Halloween Trick or Treat!

Well, yesterday was yet another busy day for Momma Taylor and the little munchkins. After working at the store and starting the decorating process for Christmas (yes it is that time of year for businesses), I did Lexi's makeup for the kids to go to my nieces birthday party (because that just isn't something that Daddy's can do you know) and off the kids went for cake and fun.

After closing the store and a quick refresh at home on the kids, who were the Queen of Egypt and a Cowboy, off we went for trick-or-treating and fun at the Pumpkin Palooza.
They had a great time going to the few homes we tricked for treats and then after getting to the church, and trick or treating the vehicles we went inside for fun games and more tricks.

The kids both threw hoops over pumpkin stacks, threw hacky-sacs into hanging buckets and did the cake walk. Then they had their pics taken with their favorite Bobcat Senior, Sarah Jo, before Lexi had her fortune read by a fortune teller. This certain "teller" was amazing. Lexi was in complete awe of her. She told her that she could see in her crystal ball that Lexi was a big sister to a little brother and that she helped take care of him and teach him how to be nice and good. She said she could also see that she loved school and was a good student. By this time Lexi was a firm believer that this woman could see her life in that fantastic clear ball with a light flickering inside. After reading her fortune she handed her a "seeing eye" to look into the crystal ball with. When Lexi did, the fortune teller asked her if she could see the light shining bright. Of course Lexi could ... so the fortune teller then informs her that the light she sees is the Light of the World, which is Jesus, and that Jesus shines a bright light in all of us. It was amazing how this wonderful woman was sharing the light of Jesus with all the children in such a fun way. They will never forget that message!
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I hope all of you had a fabulous, spooktacular and safe Halloween. May you all find creative ways to enjoy all of the candy that now fills your homes