Biggest news is that we're now a family of 4 not 3! Kayla made her arrival this past November and we couldn't have asked for a better baby. She is so laid back and happy all the time. She'll be 7 months tomorrow, weighs about 16 lbs, has 3 teeth, with about 3 more coming in :) I know we're biased in this house, but seriously this kid has the best smile ever. Makes my day every time I see her, and unlike Ryleigh, Kayla isn't old enough to have an attitude...so she's always smiling! Ryleigh turns 4 on Sunday (still a little in denial about that one) and she's great. She can be quite a handful, but overall she's a great kid. She's super smart and talks ALL.THE.TIME. I feel so bad for my parents because I know without a doubt she got this from me. Endless talking and at the speed of light to top it off! :)
Kyle and I are both doing well, Kyle's still working at JB Hunt and I'm still at Tyson. On the work front, the last time I posted I mentioned that I'd gotten a new opportunity at work and took a different job. My favorite one so far in fact. Love the job, and love the people. But, after about 18 months, I was approached about applying for an accounting position at one of our local plants. So, as of the last couple of weeks, I've taken yet another job at Tyson and am leaving the corporate office to work in a plant. I'm excited, but nervous, as this is a side of the company that I've never been exposed to, so I'll have lots to learn!
That's a short update and I'll post again later this week with more pictures since that's what most people really want to see!
So on to what really prompted me to write this particular update.
Honesty. Such a simple word and yet I struggle with this sometimes. Oh, I'm honest and don't tell lies, but wonder if I'm ever as transparent as I could be. I find myself walking through life so often with the "Yep, I'm great and everything's fine" face on. When in all reality that's not how all days or seasons of life go. I'm in a season right now that is hard. I mean really hard. Parenting is hard, and although people tell you that, its not usually until after you've already got those babies home! Don't misunderstand me here, children are precious and a gift from God and I love mine dearly, but they wear me out. Physically, emotionally, and almost every other possible way. I've got a 4 year old and a 7 month old, and both Kyle and I work, so some days I feel like its like climbing Mt. Everest just to make it to bedtime. We're having some behavioral issues with Ryleigh - she just likes to do her own thing and has an opinion about everything. So it seems like every day we're battling with her over something or another. Wears me out. Sometimes it'd be nice to have a day where we can just have fun and laugh and get along and not be sent to our room, have to sit in time out, or get spanked. And we do have those days, but right now it seems they are few and far between. I have such a new found respect for stay at home moms right now. There are some days when I'm not sure that Ryleigh and I would both survive all day with each other. But I love that precious child and it seems like when I'm about at my breaking point she'll say or do something that just brings a smile to my face. It's in these moments, that I whisper a prayer of thanks for these precious gifts called children. Parenting is hard, but is so rewarding in those moments.
So, I've seen some other moms either posting on twitter, facebook, blogs, etc about some of their struggles and I've been encouraged because I'm not the only mom who struggles with raising her kids. Sometimes I have the kid that fusses all through Walmart during our shopping trip, or who I have to drag out of church crying because she didn't get her candy during Sunday school, or who pitches the world's biggest fit because she doesn't have the "right" skirt to wear to school, or the right shoes for that matter. Sometimes I have the kids that gives us ugly, defiant looks when we tell her to do something, who screams no when she doesn't want to obey, who refuses to nap or go to bed at bedtime, the one who is found hitting her friends at daycare when they aren't playing the way she wants them to. And in those moments, its really nice to know that I"m not alone and that other moms have those kids too. So its here that I have to be honest with myself and admit that I don't have (or ever will) perfect kids. Just like my parents didn't either. I'm trusting God to lead me to raise my kids the right way and the rest is in His hands.
So - if you're a mom with "one of those kids," be encouraged. I know this just a phase in the life of a mom with young children, and instead of wishing that they would grow up and out of these phases quickly, I'm trying so hard to cherish the good days and get through the not so good days with God's help!
That is the best thing you can do is pray over your children as well as pray for God's guidance. I can tell you it works. I have two beautiful daughters to show that it does.
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