Help a Momma Out

Wow, it's been a LOOOONNNNGGGG time since I've written something.  So, why not just get right back at it and let you know about something that happened to me that was simply awesome.  I just wanted to write a quick little something for you guys today.  It is so simple; yet so profound you’re going to think, “Why didn’t I think of that?”  Ladies and gentlemen, let me elaborate. 

Little Boy and I made a trip to the ‘ol Wal-Mart this morning.  I didn’t have anything that I needed to buy, just trying to kill some time before lunch.  As we’re walking around the store, Little Boy is making all kinds of flirty faces with any lady that passes by us; and saying hello to any gentleman who speaks to him.  (Yup, Little Boy is amazing AND friendly).

Long story short, I purchased a new laundry basket and a clearance summer toy for my little.  As we were walking out of the store and to the truck, Little Boy and I were just chatting away.  We continued this conversation as I put the laundry basket and toy in the back of our vehicle.  I then proceeded to place Little Boy in his car seat…

You won’t believe what happened next…

A gentleman, I don’t know how old, came up to me as I was closing Little Boy’s door; and asked if I wanted him to take my cart back in the store for me!  Cue The Hallelujah Chorus.  “Why, yes…I would greatly appreciate that.”  …And you know what- he wasn’t even a Wal-Mart employee.  He was just a generous man who wanted to help out a Momma who was trying to pack up and leave a parking lot.

I can’t even begin to tell you how this kind gesture helped me out.  Was it simple, yes?  But I can’t emphasize enough how the simple things can help a Momma out.  Taking a cart back into the store is easy.  Not condemning a Momma with a judgmental look while her almost two-year old screams in line at Qdoba is easy.  Looking a Momma in the eye, smiling and saying, it’s OK is easy. 

I’m just writing a little note to all of you to ask you, if you see a Momma- show her some compassion.  Take her cart back into the store for her.  If you see a Momma- show her some love and let her know that this is just a season and all will be all right.  If you see a Momma and her little is being amazing, tell her!  Mommas need that reassurance; Mommas just need to hear that they are making a difference, and this little that they are pushing around is just as sweet as they come. 

If this really isn’t your thing- I get it.  I am coming from a place where my heart is grateful.  I just challenge you to do one simple little thing this up coming weekend for a Momma.  Even if you just go up to a Momma who is packing up and trying to leave a parking lot…ask her if you can return her cart to the store for her.  I promise, it won’t go unnoticed. 

What Would You Say?

A friend of mine made a Facebook status asking, “What would you say to your 19-23 year old self if you could?”  Some people had the logical responses: save, listen to your parents, and give warnings to friends who we lost too early in life.  So this got me thinking…if I could travel back in time, what would I say to my 19-year-old self?

First off, at 19, I was a sophomore in college.  I would look myself in the face and say, “Buy the bikini!”  I was never one that was much on two-piece bathing suits.  I maybe owned two binkies in my entire life?  If I could go back in time, I’d defiantly tell myself to rock the bikini and don’t be afraid to show off what you’ve got!  Because today, I would kill to have my 19-year-old body back- you know, because I didn’t have to watch what I ate or work for it!

I would tell my 10-year younger self that those college friends I think I have wouldn’t be around when I’m 29.  I’ll explain that you’ll try to Facebook friend them, email them, text them- and you’ll get nothing in return.  I’d tell myself that out of that ‘group of friends’ there will only be one person who you still talk to from time to time, but pick right back up where you left off the last time you met.  I’d tell my younger self to invest more time into that relationship and tell the others thanks for the support you gave me during my college years.

I would tell myself that when I’m 23 you’d marry your high school sweetheart and have the most amazing wedding you could have dreamed of.  I’d tell myself to spend more on my wedding dress, and nix a couple of people from the invite list.  Don’t worry about inviting everyone just because you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.  I’d tell myself to be a bridezilla, because it’s the only time in a girl’s life when you’re allowed to be stubborn, materialistic, and self-centered. 

I’d tell my younger self that the ride of life is going to get harder.  I’d have to tell myself to cherish the time I have at home with my family- because being a grown-up and paying a mortgage is not fun!  I’d tell myself that I’m going to lose some very important people in my life, but I will get through those losses with family and about five real-true friends.  I’d tell myself that there will be a time in my life where I turn my back on God and there are some really dark and scary days ahead without Him allowed in my life.

BUT, I would say to my 19 year old self that once you own up to the situation where you let go of God, and come back to Him- you’ll be one of the strongest women you know, you’ll be one of the most happiest women you know, and you’ll be the most blessed women you know.  I’d tell myself that I’m not perfect- that I have a son who I get to stay at home with, that I don’t fix my hair or put make-up on much anymore, or that I have no real clothes to wear; because the little boy my husband and me are raising makes the most beautiful messes you’ll ever see.

The Lord is good in letting us make choices- good, bad…right, wrong.  Without The Lord, I don’t think this 29 year old woman would have been able to sit here and reflect on how blessed I have been over the last ten years of my life. 

So…to my Facebook friend- PJ!  Thanks for your status update- it made me reflect on how good my life is, and how much I still need Jesus to this day.  Now, my question to you all of you who read this, what would you say to your 10 year younger self if you could sit and talk with you?

Home Improvement: Chapter One- The Hall Bath

Well, well, well…it seems that this blog has gotten pretty dusty.  To be honest, I haven’t really been stimulated to compose a blog piece.  We’ve had some pretty nasty weather in my old Kentucky home, and I have become a hermit wrapped up in a blanket, watching Once Upon a Time on Netflix, cuddling my sweet Little Boy.

That being said, a friend from high school basically called me out and said she wanted to read something.  So…here is my something.  I know that I documented our journey with selling our first home.  The thought occurred that I should document the remodeling/updates we are making to our dream home.  I don’t know how long this will take.  I finally feel like we have accomplished a finished product that I am comfortable sharing with you all. 

Our New Hall Bathroom!

Well.  First let me show you how it looked when we bought the house.

The hall bath was straight up 1997, from the oak cabinet with gold accents, to the pink painted walls, to the flowered boarder accenting the top of the walls.  Everything had to go!

We painted the bathroom Valspar’s Vintage Grey, I wanted something warm and neutral- I think this paint color was a win.  We ended up getting this paint from Lowes.  With the tile we ended up buying, it hand some gray tones, in it- therefore I wanted to make sure the paint was gray to accent the tile.

This is the flooring we ended up ripping out.  (Yes, this flooring is all throughout the other bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room.  Vintage 1997.)  We ended up replacing it with this beautiful ceramic tile we found at Lowes called Leonia Silver. 

 After laying the tile, and it was completely ready to walk on- we put in our new toilet and brand new vanity we got from Lowes as well.  It’s from Style Selections, and the finished is called Java.  We had a quartz countertop made for it, created by Design in Stone Louisville. 

To finish off the look, we are using Oil Rubbed Bronze finishes- the vanity knobs, the faucet, and shower curtain rod- all bought from Lowes.

The shower curtain was bought at Target, as well as the soap dispenser, and toothbrush holder.  The clock was purchased at Bed, Bath, and Beyond; and the sweet-framed quote was purchased at Hobby Lobby.

All in all, we could have paid thousands of dollars to have some professionals come in and redo our hall bathroom, but I can take pride in saying that Mr. and I did it ourselves.  With some guidance from my personal interior designer (Mr.’s Sister), I think our hall bath turned out beautifully!

Currently we are working on our kitchen; hopefully I’ll have an update for you in a few weeks!  Thanks for taking time to read this…I know it probably doesn’t matter to a lot of people, but this was a great way to get back in touch with you!

I’m a Survivor!

Did you know that the third Sunday of January is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday?  It sure is!  Ronald Reagan declared it on January 13, 1984.  Sanctity of Human Life Sunday was created on the 11^th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision of legalizing abortion due to the Roe v. Wade (1973) decision.

A conservative estimate is about 55 million unborn babies have been aborted in the US alone since this Supreme Court decision.  55 million.  55 MILLION AMERICAN BABIES!  That’s baby boys who never grew to throw a ball with their dad.  Baby girls who never grew up and planned their fairy tale wedding.  55 million Americans, who never laughed, played, walked or talked.

These are babies who could have been born and found the cure for cancer.  Babies who could have been born and ended World Hunger.  Or babies that could have been a productive member of our society and made this world a less crazy place.

This January 22, 2015 will mark the 42^nd anniversary of the legalization of abortion.  You may stand with this decision.  I on the other hand do not!  I believe a baby is a baby from the time of conception to their arrival into this world, via delivery room, home births, or any other form of delivery. 

If you’re reading this and are pro-life, you understand where I’m coming from.  If you’re pro-choice, you’re probably thinking that I’m an idiot.  So…if that’s the case, I do have a few questions for you.

1. How can you fight to save baby animals, but not baby humans?

2. How can you fight for the rights of the environment, but not the rights to protect human life?

3. You fight for ‘equal rights’ for everyone, right?  Why does that exclude the unborn human, growing, inside a woman? 

4. Have you ever been to a baby shower?  I have.  Have you ever been to a fetus shower?  I’ve never even seen fetus shower decorations available at retailers.  Therefore, if party supply companies and party supply distributors celebrate a new life- why don’t you?  

If you’re reading this- you’re a survivor of Roe v. Wade.  The people in your home, your family, your friends- they’re survivors too.  Take a moment to let that sink in.  How much different would your life be if they wouldn’t have survived this decision?  Are you so thankful that they were not aborted?