The "Great PACI Takeaway"

Yesterday we began the "great PACI takeaway" at our house! It was time for Aiden to not have the paci anymore and I had come up with every excuse since he turned 1 to not take it away! First we moved from Mississippi to Texas in August...not a good time to takeaway his security, then the holidays quickly approached and we had lots of traveling to do...not a good time take it away for Aiden Mommy and Daddy! If I am truly honest I think I was hesitant because I didn't want Aiden to grow up...I want him to be a baby forever...come on if you have kids then you understand...be honest!! Aiden did great yesterday...naptime and nighttime were rough, but after about 30 minutes each time he fell asleep! After a short time, Aiden will no longer crave the security he once knew with a paci and it will be for his best...I promise we do have his best interest at heart!

As I was getting ready for bed last night, Reid and I were talking over the screams of Aiden over the monitor about how this is a life lesson for all of us! Doesn't God take away things from us a little at time sometimes? We think that we need whatever it is, but doesn't God know better and even though we fuss and scream when we look back it is always for the best in our life! Just like Aiden will no longer crave the security of his paci, after a time we also will no longer crave whatever God took from us. I have never been good at making and keeping New Year's resolutions, but I do try every year to try something different in my life...which is usually read my bible more and spend more time with the Lord! This year I am discovering what things in my life God has been trying to take away that I have been holding tightly to and my prayer is that I allow him to remove them from my life...no matter how much I scream and fuss!!! What things in your life does God want to show you that need to be removed???

Even though I want to scream and fuss about what God is showing me...I know that once removed I will find my security with the Lord! There truly is no place like home in His presence!

Going Home

Yesterday, Sunday September 18, 2011, my sweet 92 year old grandmother, Geggy, went home to be with our Savior.  My mom woke yesterday with a feeling she needed to go to the nursing home so we got ready and off we went. We were just planning on staying a minute to check on her and come back later to stay awhile, but everything completely changed after we arrived. My mom walked into see her and her eye was slightly open which her eyes had not been open for over a week. My mom went to go talk to the nurse and when she got back I went into see her and both of her eyes were open. I called my mom in there then the sweet nurse came into the room and about 5 minutes later we watched her take her last breath. I was standing at the door way with my 17 month old son, Aiden, and as she was taking her last breath Aiden in his innocent, sweet voice said "bye". It was as if he knew that it was time to say bye to Geggy. His goodbye was not forever though since we will once again see Geggy welcoming us into Heaven with our grandfather, Papa. It was difficult to watch Geggy take her last breath, but I have hope and faith that she is singing and humming to our Savior as well as dancing (well maybe swaying side to side...she was baptist after all :))!! I love Geggy very much but I know she is in a much better place with no pain and with a healthy body.  Geggy left this earthly home for a much sweeter home in Heaven...she experienced that there truly is no place like home!

A Home for Mommy and Toddler

I pride myself in being a very organized person who enjoys a very clean house. As a child, I would organize everything even going as far as putting my colored socks in rainbow order (did I just admit that for the entire world to see?)...seriously just ask my mom! Before my son, Aiden, was born I would take all Saturday morning to clean every nook and cranny in my house and I would do all the laundry in one day...but then came Aiden and everything changed. I was always behind on laundry and cleaning just never happened so I decided things had to change. I could not stand having laundry, dust, dirt, grime, and soap scum staring me in the face any longer so I came up with a plan. I would complete one chore and one load of laundry per day (This was not ideal for my OCD, but with a baby it was better than nothing!) 


Here was my schedule:
Monday: Wash colored clothes and Dust
Tuesday: Wash white clothes and Clean guest bath
Wednesday: Wash towels and Clean kitchen
Thursday: Wash jeans and Vacuum
Friday: Wash sheets and Clean master bath
Saturday and Sunday: No chores There is always something to be done but I try to take a break!!


All of this was well and good until Aiden became a toddler and once again my schedule was spun out of control. Aiden decided he only needed one nap per day and he really started playing with his toys every single one of his toys in the entire apartment! 

So a plan was formed again...I would continue to complete my one chore and one load of laundry a day, but I had to completely forget about everything being organized until Aiden is asleep for the night! I have a few short hours of organization and a clean house! Oh life with a toddler! I am learning to give up what I want for what is best for Aiden! Aiden does not need to live in a perfect house....a semi-perfect house is okay as long as he has quality time with me everyday! I know you may all think I am crazy and maybe I am, but I am learning to live with a toddler and have what I want too! There is no place like home...even if it isn't perfect according to my standards! 

Our new home...

No matter where I have lived there has been no place like home! I love being at home with my loved ones spending quality time together. When I am away from home for a long period of time, I am always ready to get back to the familiar...my bed, my shower, my kitchen, my comfy chair! I have only had a few homes in my life...two houses with my family, a college dorm room, two college apartments, one apartment after college, one apartment with my husband, one house with my husband and son, and now we are onto a new adventure in another apartment. Last week, my husband, son and I loaded up all our belongings a wonderful moving company packed and loaded all our belongings and we headed from our home in Mississippi to our new home in Texas. It was hard to leave our home in Mississippi because it was the first house my husband and I bought, we brought our son home from the hospital to that house, and we learned many lessons in that house about life, finances, each other, and parenting. Even though I will miss our first house, I am finding my place in my new home! A house is not characterized by the four walls, but by the people who live in it. As we are unpacking boxes and making our new apartment a home I am reminded that my time on earth is limited for I have an eternal home in Heaven. There truly is no place like home!