Green Eggs and Ham are served...

March 2nd marked the birth date of a man who has had a great deal of influence over this household.

Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to the world as the beloved Dr. Seuss, was born in 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts.  He credited his mother with both his ability and desire to create the rhymes for which he became so well known; it is said that she often soothed her children to sleep by "chanting" rhymes remembered from her youth.  (just had to add that in, since I'm the Mom and I love to see the influence mothers have had on their children)

In honor of his birthday, we decided to have a little party...
I love a good reason for a party!!!
We started out the day in a most celebratory sort of way...
Green Eggs and Ham were prepared and served...
 
and then looked at and moved about on the plates.
"Sam I do not like them" applied very well. 
There was just something about food being turned GREEN that made it somewhat undesirable to put into our mouths.  (I have to admit that it was even a bit of a challenge for me)

Following our attempt at breakfast, we had a marathon reading day.  We took turns reading every book by Dr. Seuss that we own...then we moved on to our local library and checked out everything they had...we followed it all up by watching all of our Dr. Seuss videos.  And somewhere in the midst of all of our reading and watching we threw in some time to choose some of our favorite quotes by him.  We wrote the quotes out and decorated them accordingly and then scattered them throughout our home.  These quotes have been enjoyed over and over and over again as they've hung on our walls.  Some make you snicker and some have tremendous insight...following are some of our favorites:

(These are no particular order)

"Why fit in when you were born to Stand Out?"

"Step with care and great tact
 and remember that Life's a great balancing act. 
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft
and never mix up your right foot with your left."

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. 
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I've brought a BIG bat.  I'm all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!"

"Today you are you,
that is truer than true.
There in no one alive
who is YOU'er than YOU!"

"From there to here,
from here to there,
Funny things are everywhere!"

"Think and wonder,
wonder and think...."

"If things start happening,
don't worry, dont' stew,
just go right along
and you'll start happening too!"

"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction YOU choose!"

"Don't grumble! 
Don't stew!
Some critters are much-much,
Oh, ever so much-much,
So muchly much-much more unlucky
than you!"

"And will you succeed?
YES!  You will indeed!"

"Be who you are
and say what you feel
because those who mind
don't matter
and those who matter
don't mind."

"Don't cry because it's over,
SMILE because it happened."

"Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me NOW!
It is fun to have fun
But you have to know how!"

"We are all a little weird
and life's a little weird,
and when we find someone whose weirdness
is compatible with ours,
we join up with them
and fall in mutual weirdness
and call it Love."

"I like Nonsense,
it wakes up the brain cells.
Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living!"

"Just tell yourself,
Duckie, you're really quite Lucky!"

"When you're in love you can't sleep anymore,
because Reality is finally better
than your dreams!"

"You'll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut."

"My trouble was I had a mind
but couldn't make it up!"

"Unless someone like YOU
cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better.
It's not."


SO why do I care about Dr. Seuss? 
Why do I feel he was worthy of spending an entire homeschooling day on? 
(other than the fact that I love to have a good party) 
What lessons could be learned from this man?

To begin with, children find his stories delightful...
as you read along, your mouth can't help but have a little fun as it twists around all of his crazy words!
He is whimsical and nonsensical...
I find these charming qualities to share with children. 
I love the imagination he exemplifies. 
And that speaks nothing of his determination. 
While studying his life, we learned that his first book,
 
was rejected 27 times before it was finally accepted and published.
I love the example this teaches...NEVER give up...what would have happened if he had given up the first time or the 10th time or even the 25th time???  I loved having this discussion with our kids.

While I may not agree with everything about this man, I choose to focus on things that I found valuable to share with our kids.  We had a truly delightful day and have enjoyed the quotes hanging all about our home for the past few weeks.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss and thank you for ALL you have blessed us with!
You make for one great party day!

So grateful for amazing friends...

I have a friend (whom I will not give name to here) because I have not asked her permission prior to sharing this...

This very dear friend of mine was at the meeting I wrote about on my last post that I was preparing to attend.  She wrote me an email that I cannot quit thinking about...one that I feel will change the way I view myself for the remainder of my life.  I am so, so, so grateful and thankful to have her in my world.  She is openly honest about everything and is willing to go out there and just say how she feels.  Someday I will become more like her!

As a short re-cap or as in intro into what this whole "thing" is all about, let me just say it all revolves around the inability of women to see the amazing gifts they have been given in this life and to go a little further, our incessant need of downplaying the greatness we possess within ourselves...  I could say so much more about this, but for the moment, that will need to suffice.

I am going to share clips of this life-changing email...It is so thought-provoking!!!

"We take such joy in watching our children discover the world and discover their own interests/passions/talents.  But why are we so reluctant to take joy in those things within ourselves?   Just because we are moms does NOT mean that our personal journeys and personal discoveries and personal development is over.  Far from it.  Motherhood adds unfathomable depth and breadth to our personal experience and it is OKAY to admit that we are STILL on a PERSONAL journey of discovery (that’s why kids don’t come with instruction manuals—I’m convinced of it—because figuring out how to nurture them while we are still imperfect beings  IS a refining, “discovering” experience.)  Our personal salvation isn’t about the kids.  It’s about ourselves. Ultimately, we can only account for ourselves and how we used our time and our abilities and our choices.  Of course, temple ordinances bind all of us together—but ultimately—when we’re talking with Jesus at judgment day, He’s going to ask us to account for what we did with the tools He gave us to grow and develop ourselves."

I feel the need to interject some thoughts here...
This was a beautiful thing for me to read. 
I re-read it several times and have pondered my personal journey, my personal discoveries and my personal development...it is through all of these experiences that we are becoming "refined". 
As we go through this refining process,
we will endure the full measure of emotions...
I love this quote by Ezra Taft Benson: 
“some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.”  
Can't you relate to that? 
I have found that during those refining times in my life, it has felt like a battle being fought within myself...But I have a choice! 
I can choose to lose or I can choose to be the victor,
We must not allow ourselves to become defeated!
Each time I come out on top, I am a little closer to my refinement ~ one day I will sparkle and shine like the diamond I was created to be!
Furthermore, I whole-heartily agree that finding joy in our own interests/passions/talents is what keeps us vibrant...we cannot live through our children and I believe that the women who try to find themselves at a point in their lives where they need to "Find Themselves"
...it is such a blessed thing to be on this journey with our kids...I think it strengthens them to see that their Momma also has dreams and passions and that she is happier when she is nurturing them.

Back to some more insight from "my friend"...
"I know lots of women (probably most women) are dealing with various insecurities and feelings of inadequacy...it’s almost a cultural expectation to put yourself down and downplay your abilities, talents, and interests, so we don’t sound prideful. But there is a difference between being prideful and recognizing that you have something to contribute to the world at large—be it a voice to sing with or arms to snuggle a kid with. We confuse pride with recognizing and sharing what God has given us to work with. And just because we are not the best does not mean our contribution is worthless.



My mom used to tell me all the time “There will always be someone better at something than you. And you will always be better at something than someone else.” I never really understood why she would say something like that—it sounded kind of harsh and competitive. But it was really her way of sharing her philosophy of “Be who you are” and “God has a place for you.”


Satan’s best tool of destruction is to convince a woman that she isn’t “enough.” It’s also his most efficient tool, because once he plants that seed in a woman’s head and heart, she automatically takes over and begins to nurture it. And then the evil seedling thrives and chokes out the woman’s innate belief that she is a daughter of God and has something to contribute to His kingdom. Once that seedling has wrapped it’s twisted vines around a woman’s heart and mind, it feels nearly impossible to uproot.

In her email she continued saying how she wanted to "help women hack away at the weed of self worthlessness—but I see now how deep the roots can be and how tight the twining tendrils grasp. And it makes me want to hose everyone down with a bottle of spiritual Round Up."

I wrote back to her and told her to please let me stand first in line while she hosed us down!

"Imagine how freeing it would be, if we could accept that we are neither THE BEST nor THE WORST of anything in the world and just used whatever imperfect thing we had to uplift and bring joy to others and to ourselves! Imagine how much joy we could feel if we could get over the feelings of shame and inadequacy and could learn to truly accept and appreciate what OTHERS have to offer. Why do we feel so competitive (and feeling like you don’t measure up IS a competitive thought—because you feel defeated—and defeat is a result of losing a competition!)


"... I wish I could get it into every woman’s head that she’s WORTHY of being loved, she is WORTHY of sharing who she is and what she loves with others—even if she’s not the best, even if she’s not the showiest, even if she struggles. I have no patience with defeatism. I have no patience with misplaced guilt and misplaced inadequacy. How much do we really understand the Atonement if we are still hanging our heads, thinking we suck at everything?

The truth is, Jesus died for every one of us. He took upon Himself ALL OUR sins—that means MINE too. If He was willing to do that for me, that means He thinks I’m pretty darn important. Important enough to die for. Since that’s the case, it is my responsibility to show Him that I GET IT. Feelings of inadequacy about WHO I AM are not an option. It is my responsibility to search out and accept the abilities, passions, talents, and interests He gave me and make me the unique person I am---and USE them—even imperfectly.
Constantly apologizing for our perceived lack of talent is unattractive and offensive...
 ...I hate it when women constantly berate themselves. It’s as prideful to do that as it would be to be crowing about how wonderful they are—it’s just on the opposite end of the pride spectrum.


It’s okay to admit you’re not the best at something (most people will have already figured that out so I think it’s generally unnecessary to point it out) but if you have to say it--say it once and get on with things. And when you get a compliment—just accept the damn thing. Say THANK YOU, and leave it at that—or express appreciation for the compliment, and then MOVE ON.


... I think—no, I KNOW, every one of the ladies at the meeting last night is awesome and has much to offer not only her family, but her friends and the world at large—that their offerings are quiet, small, scratchy, or lumpy doesn’t mean they aren’t significant. I wish I could get that into everyone’s heads. Sigh."

Well...
ladies (and gentlemen) I think it's time we take a deep look at ourselves.
*Be who you are.
*God has a place for you. (I might add in that while you are there you might as well "Bloom Where You're Planted!")
*Your Personal Discoveries are beautiful...find joy in them...seek them out...allow yourself the freedom to explore and discover YOU and while you're at it, realize just how much YOU ROCK!
*YOU are worthy of being loved.
*YOU are worthy of sharing who you are, show the world the beautiful gifts you've been blessed with...you were given them for a reason ~ TO SHARE and BLESS others!
*Never let anything stand in the way of remembering WHO YOU ARE ~ we each have a contribution to make and we should stand tall, confident in ourselves that we do make a difference!
*YOU are ENOUGH...Focus on bringing all that you have been given to uplift and bring joy to others and to yourself!
*I think we would all do better if we took the time to truly understand The Atonement...we need to "GET IT", just as my friend stated, when we do we will spend our lives living up to our potential and will forget all the silly doubting of ourselves that we become so wrapped up in.
*Let's stop apologizing for being us...
Good grief ~ we are nothing to be sorry for...
Have you looked in the mirror lately, do you love that person, do you see the miraculous creation YOU are?  Be happy to share who you are with the world because YOU make it a better place to be!
*Let's all be a little more willing to graciously accept compliments as they come...stick 'em in your back pocket for one of those self-doubting days and you'll pull yourself right back out and be BLOOMING for all to see!
I could add so very much more to this...but I think I will just say THANK YOU to a woman who has become a great blessing in my life.  Thank you for sharing your wisdom and your counsel...
thank you for opening my eyes a little wider. 

What do I "DO"???

I think I will forever be surprised by myself and by little things that scare, intimidate or frighten me...

Yep ~ I AM a baby through and through!

Tonight I will be amongst a group of women that I love and adore...it is a Mothers Meeting night for the homeschooling community...yippee!  I know most of these women (if not all of them), they are my friends, I love them, and I share so many things in common with them.

So what does this have anything to do with my first statement?  It has EVERYTHING to do with it!

This evening as we gather together...we will each have a few minutes to highlight WHO we are, WHAT we do; essentially the things we love (outside of our family and our homeschooling world)...

So, why am I being a baby about this whole topic?
I haven't exactly put my finger on it quite yet...I'm thinking of the "things I do" or  the "things I love";
are any of them special or significant or exciting or, or, or...
Is there anything?  REALLY? 

My first response is "No, nothing too fabulous to shout about!  I'm just me, I just do the things I do."  

I find myself wishing that I could arrive and WOW everyone with some amazing piece of instrumental music, or show off a beautiful creation I've just completed, or leave them spell-bound as I share eloquent thoughts on something extraordinary... 
There really isn't anything that magnificent that I could share. 

As I write that I wonder how many other women feel and think similar thoughts
(Probably JUST ME...I'm a little wacko!) 
Sometimes I wonder why I even write the things I do...
I guess just so I can get my thoughts together and out of me...
it's much cheaper than therapy.  :0) 
Moving on ~

Most of these women (any of them who have known me for any deal of time) know about the things I do outside of my homeschooling world.
Why? Well, because much of it involves them...
HOW? Well, because I guess I've "chosen" them to try to pamper and validate and uplift when they are doubtful. I love to put on events that make other Mommas happy, that lift their spirits, that make them want to go back home and keep doing their "life".  These things fill my cup!

Outside of doing those sorts of things, I hang out with my family, I am the Mom, I do "Mom things"...
Luckily I find a great deal of joy in most of those Mom things...
I LOVE to cook ~ I'm thinking I love this because it makes others happy, it fills their bellies and if it's yummy enough I believe it fills their hearts as well...we can truly find JOY in a scrumptious treat or a deliciously satisfying meal.  I love to hear my family as they "ooh and ah" over something they are enjoying.
I LOVE to play with my family and my friends...being outdoors is really the best; whether it is on our motorcycles, snowmobiles, 4 wheelers, or just on our feet as we go tullying around. 
I LOVE to read, but find most of the reading I do is with my kiddos...if it is for myself, I am always in the middle of 4 or 5 books, usually having something to do with learning...I LOVE to be learning!
What else do I DO?  Well, I run our business...if you haven't seen what we do, here is our website...http://www.superiorcarpetcleaningboise.com/
I spend a lot of time doing networking and marketing. 
I am the voice on the end of the phone when someone calls to schedule, I really do enjoy this...

I guess I just LOVE people...especially Happy People.
I think I have this personal challenge ~ I REALLY, Really, really wish for people to be happy and I do all that I possibly can to bring a little touch of Joy to everyone I meet each day.
If I go to a grocery store and the person helping me out is "less-than-happy" I can almost always bring a smile to their face before I leave.  I often have clients comment to me that I've made their day by answering the phone.  I even had one client who used to say, "I love to listen to your message, it makes me smile every time I hear your voice!" 

So...guess what...I feel a little better now.
I don't do any ONE THING really fabulously...I just do a whole bunch of little things the very best I can and ya know what???  I am pretty happy with that...

This little therapy session has been quite productive!  Tonight is going to be fantastic...cannot wait!

He answers me...

Today, my husband and two friends went out for the day to have a little fun on their snowbikes.

I was a tad surprised to have not heard from Chad at some point during the day, but not too worried. 

Around 7:00 p.m., I found out they had been "stuck in a hole"...not a good thing to have happen, but it sounded to me like that was an earlier occurrence and had been resolved and they were good.

Around 9:00 p.m., the next communication was that they were walking out and had many hours to go.  So my assumption that all was good just flew right out the window...walking out and leaving 3 bikes behind is never a good thing...it is the very last choice, so things were obviously "yucky" in their world. 

Okay, I will be honest, I wanted to remain perfectly calm,
I know my husband is capable and strong and all...
BUT then the part of me that adores EVERYTHING about him decided to have a little freak out session! 
All the "WHAT-IF's" started crowding my mind and taking over...oh dear, this is never good!

I managed to get myself together again and reasoned what my husband would do in this situation and what he would want ME to do in this situation at home...
so I said my prayers FERVENTLY,
begging and pleading with the Lord
to watch over and protect him and to wrap His arms around my freezing cold husband to keep him warm and safe. 
I told Him how I trusted in Him and Believed in Him and knew that He would watch over and care for Chad and his friends.  (I think I needed to remind myself of what I believe)
...I really knew Chad would be okay...
I just really worried it might be the longest, most miserable night of his entire life...
I worried that they might not head in the right direction ~
only finding themselves deeper in the mountains,
BUT again, these are strong, capable men and I had to also believe in them. 
I felt much better after my prayer.

Just a few minutes later, I received a phone call that made my heart leap with joy!!!  They have found a snowmobile road and estimate being only about 2 miles away from the suburban.  They can make two miles...I know it and with any luck at all, a groomer may come by and pick them up.  (I now sit and wait to hear for that glorious moment when they arrive to a warm, dry spot...)

It is moments like these that I wonder why my dear, darling husband has to love the scary, adventurous, crazy things in life...why can't he be satisfied with a book, or a golf club or a chess piece??? 
Like I've said many times before,
I'll never ask him to give up what he loves doing, but it does cross my mind during moments like these.

Cannot wait for that sweet man of mine to call so I can hear his voice and I really cannot wait to be in his arms.  I hope your walk is not treacherous and I pray that your drive home will be free from any further "adventure"....I love you sooooo much!!! 
Now don't do this to my heart again, it's not good for me!!!
(and YES, I am pointing my finger at you! and YOU deserve it!)

Riding on Powdered Sugar!

BOYS, BOYS, BOYS...

Happy Birthday Wishes were in order

for My Hubby and one of our greatest friends, Rick!

Rick, Corrie, Chad and I headed to the mountains to enjoy a day of snowmobiling to celebrate the birth of these two wonderful men!.

The snow was lovely

and more snow was dropping from the skies above ~

Perfect day!

We found some pretty deep snow...

do you think this wonderful little hubby of mine could stay where it wasn't TOO deep? 

NO, how silly! 

When you are a BIG BOY,

you MUST show us how it is done. 

hehehehe

Just have to tease him...

If the truth be told, I was the one who dumped the snowmobile over twice! 

Both times with Corrie on the back of me...oops!

Couldn't believe it...going along just fine and then

WHAM...

It's kind of a funny thing, looking back on it, I can almost see it all in slow motion...crazy!

So glad snow is soft!

And this snow was amazingly perfect.

The best way to describe it...hmmm....

Picture yourself jumping right into a pile of powdered sugar

POOF!

The powder goes a flyin'

everywhere!

That is exactly what the snow was like on this perfect day...

powder just flying as we blew threw it all.

(I really wanted to be able to take a photo to capture the beauty of the snow flying off the sides of the snowmobiles ahead of me, BUT I was a little fearful I might crash into a tree if I was paying too close attention to a photography moment...so I missed out on that one...you'll just have to take my word for it...it was phenomenal!!!)

We took a little break and stopped in at Baumgartner Hot Springs...

Here's Chad warming his buns!

Crazy Man!!!!!

We had such a great time soaking in the hot water.

There is something pretty magical about being outside,

in the mountains,

and floating about in hot water

while snowflakes are dropping all around! 

I could get used to that...very, very happy place for me!!!

At one point in the day, Chad stopped and said, "Can we come again tomorrow?" 

He so reminds me of a little boy some days. 

Now fast forward just a few days...

This is a first!

I don't think I've ever had a shot of Chad on his birthday in a restaurant.

It was hysterical...

we're sitting across the table from our friends, The Millers,

and around the corner comes this big ol' band of El Gallo Giro Staff singin' away!!!

I think Chad turned every shade of red...

LOVED IT!  Priceless moment (thanks Robert!)

I'm thinking this adorable man of mine got plenty of spoiling this year...friends all over the place spending time celebrating what a fantastic man he is! 

Add a whole slew of kiddos in the picture and he had it made...

the homemade cards and drawings were a treasure for sure.

Happy Birthday Sweet Man of Mine ~ I LOVE YOU ~

thanks for making my heart pitter~patter after all these wonderful years!

Garden Fairies and Escalators...

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Casserific!!!!!! 

Oh how I love you and your beautiful blue eyes!

 When I think of this adorable little child of ours,

my heart is filled with everything that is sweet and simple and genuine and true...she is one precious little person!

When I am planning to make just the right cake for all these kiddos of mine,

I always think about what kinds of things they LOVE and what reminds me of them...

this little garden fairy cake so perfectly represents

the sweetness that Cassie possesses;

then add in a few beautiful flowers

and a couple delicate butterflies

and you have the complete picture of our little princess!!! 

As I made her cake I had to smile with the many thoughts I had of her...

she is such a gentle, kind little spirit; so happy, so loving and giving. 

She can be so quiet at times that I am afraid she gets overlooked and I worry that I may neglect giving the attention she deserves. 

I hope she always knows how special she is to me!

Each time a birthday rolls around in the Lytle Home...

the birthday boy or girl is treated to a special birthday breakfast with Mom and Dad...

Early on this little child's birthday,

she and her little sister come into our room pleading to let the little one come along,

"it just wouldn't be the same without having her there!"

(just one more example of Cassie's beautiful little ways)

So off to breakfast the four of us went. 

After our delicious meal, we dropped Daddy off and

then headed off ...to a little girl paradise!!!

~ BUILD A BEAR WORKSHOP in the Mall  ~

I had to laugh because as we were approaching the Mall, our birthday girl wanted so badly to just ride the escalators all day. 
Her exact words were, "Momma, do you think we can ride ALL the escalators today, they are so much fun and I haven't even seen one in like two years!!!"
(NOTE:  We really do not EVER go into the Mall, so it is a true treat to these little ones of mine to go on such an outing...)

So being the kind of momma I am...we did just exactly as was asked...we rode escalator after escalator after escalator...we rode up and down and then moved on to a new one and rode up and down again.  I was sure they would tire of it eventually, how wrong I was! 
It was a fabulous experience for them! 
FUNNY, Funny, girls!!!

We spent a Verrrryyyyyyyyyy Loonnnnnggggggggg time in Build a Bear...
So many decisions...
So much to think about...
First, which animal is just the right one?
After that BIG decision, in goes the stuffing and the heart to bring this wonderful little friend to life...
then the primping (AS shown in the above photo)...
all the hair must be brushed and blown and looking just so!
Oh dear...now the clothing choices...
Nearly every outfit should be tried on these little friends of ours;
oh, and let's not forget the very important shoes and hair bows!

Well...we finally finish up with all of this and then the final decision...
What is the most perfect name to give to this newly treasured friend???

We ended up with Sunny (a little yellow chick) and Lucky (a little green bear).

Happy Birthday to my sweet little girl ~ How I treasure every single little thing about YOU!!!
Thank you for lighting up my life!

Because I am the MOM...

I can have it all!!!


I can be all the things I ever dreamed of being… There is nothing I cannot be, nothing I cannot do, no dream I cannot dream…

At a BYU Women's Conference, Sister Beck said, "Women are like a lioness at the gate of a home... Nothing important happens in the home unless the lioness cares about it and makes it a priority... When our priorities are out of order, we loose our power."

In the April 2010 General Conference, Sister Beck also said, "A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do. Life is not calm for most women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment of a million things, most of which are important. A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. But with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently."

These quotes leave me with an assurance that the things my heart yearns to do can be happening each and every day, within the gates of my home…I am the lioness and therefore have the beautiful, powerful gift of deciding what is important in my home. I can nurture ALL the dreams that my children and I have…we can be ALL that we’ve ever wished or dreamed to be; we can have it all and be it all! Our dreams can and should be a priority because they make up who we are deep inside. When we are better able to recognize our dreams and priorities in our daily lives, we are less likely to fall prey to deceptive messages that can be destructive to ourselves and our families!

How many of you dreamed of becoming a singer, a dancer, an actress, a world traveler, a master chef, an artist, a historian, a photographer, a therapist, a ninja, a horticulturist, a nutritionist, a nurse, an accountant, a scientist, a writer, a daredevil, an inventor, a rock star, a doctor…

If you look at your life, do you feel regret? Not regret for what you have done, but possibly for the things you have not yet done? Do you feel you’ve had to leave your dreams behind for the life you must now live? Well…I would like to help you gain a new perspective. There is no need for regret and certainly no need of letting those dreams go by the wayside.

Each time I sing to my kiddos, I am on the stage.
Cranking up our favorite music brings out the dancer in each of us!
To become an actress, I need only open a book and perform for the crowd of children at my side.
Who wouldn’t wish to be a world traveler…I’ve rarely left my own home, yet we’ve traveled to country after country on our magic carpets, we’ve seen it, we’ve experienced it, we’ve tasted the foods and brought the cultures into our home.
I am lucky enough to practice my master chef skills on a daily basis…they can be as grand as I wish or as simplistic as necessary for the moment.
The day I became a homeschooling mother I also became a historian, a photographer, a horticulturist, a nutritionist, a scientist, and an inventor as well as a host of other amazing titles!
To live my dream of being an artist, I need only pull out a box of crayola’s or watercolors and let my imagination run wild.
Each time I kiss the hurt away or patch up a leg after a horrific biking accident I have become a nurse or doctor.
When my children feel as though their lives are falling apart and they’ve lost their best friend, I am the therapist.
When I dress up in black and learn all the moves…I am a ninja right beside my kiddos.
As I attempt to stretch those pennies each month, I play the role of an accountant.
I am the daredevil each time I decide to do something brave.
I am the writer as I write stories alongside my children or as I steal away little snippets of time in my very own blogging paradise.
That dream of becoming a Rock Star…yep…I had it ~ (maybe I still do)
Not too sure that one’s going to come to fruition, but I will say I’ve got it going on in the privacy of my car as I sing every word to every song ever sung by all my favorite “musicians.”

The point of all this crazy talk is that we don’t have to take time away from being the mom in our home; we don’t have to leave our first priority in this life to seek another in order to find ourselves, or to fulfill our dreams. Because we are the Mom, we can have it all!

Satan has done a wonderful job of attacking the root of the family…YOU, the Mom. He has convinced countless women that being a stay at home mom is second class and a waste of our precious time. I so strongly wish to support moms who make this choice…I wish to remind you that it is BECAUSE you are a mom that you can have it all. We may never receive a standing ovation or a fancy plaque to hang upon our wall, we may not even receive a pat on the back for a job well done…but what we will receive will be far more prized than anything; we will at some point hear the voice of a child saying, “Mom, YOU are the best Mommy ever, in the whole wide world!” Or, “Wow Mom, check you out, you can flat dance!” Or, “Mom, I’m glad you’re so cool…I love that you know how to have fun and that you like to have fun with us!” I wouldn’t trade anything in this world for the sweet, heartfelt comments of my children…those are the best rewards of this life.

Recognition from the world, or a validation of what we’ve become, is not a true sign of success. The true sign of success is found in our homes, found in our marriages, found in our children, found in our hearts. We, the lionesses of our homes, the Mothers of our families, can have it all…because we are the Mom!