Family – Page 3 – All the things

Camper Living, Encouragement, Family, home sweet home, My Story, Uncategorized

Home Sweet Home: part 2

November 26, 2016November 26, 2016 Jessica

I am a little sad that I haven’t blogged more of our adventure. Camper living while Joel literally builds our house is an adventure to say the least. I am hoping to update on camper life soon, but this will be a long post updating construction over the last 2 months. Slowly but surely, we have chipped away and gotten this far!

When I last wrote about the house, we had just finished framing. Since then, a lot has happened but a lot of it wasn’t super noticeable so I didn’t even want to blog about it.

The windows went in and then then roof going up was the next thing. This took several weeks to complete because it is really hard to roof alone. Joel had to wait for help and when he didn’t have help, you can see he improvised. It was nerve wracking at times watching him up there!

Thankfully his dad, brother, Kamden, and our nephew all helped out several days. We chose a galvenized metal roof which I am excited about! I love the way it looks and can’t wait to see it with our siding and rock.

We wanted a very open floor plan and our kitchen, living, and dinning are all one big room. I was probably most excited about this part of our plans. But, when it came time to design the kitchen layout, I found it very hard to envision what the big open room was going to be like. I spent many mornings with my coffee, floor plans, Pinterest, and a tape measurer trying to make decisions.

I finally was able to communicate to Joel and my father-in-law (who is building the cabinets) what I was wanting! Joel was able to roughly draw up what I wanted and I showed lots of pictures and I am confident that I will love the end result! I am so excited to see them finished!

Over the next 2 months, lots of things happened. Electrical was ran, as well as plumbing. Joel did this mostly on his own with help and guidance from a few experts. Joel set bathtubs, installed outlet and switch boxes, and spent lots of time in the attic and under the house. He also has run all the duct work for the heat and air and the units in place.

Any time I got a chance I was in the house writing scripture on the walls. I knew I wanted to do this and had lists of scripture for every room. I enjoyed praying the scriptures in each room and dreaming about how they would be lived out within those walls.

In between each step we clean up. Kamden & Jade have been a huge help and we are so thankful they willingly help! Vera Jane spent lots of time supervising!

Our fireplace was installed and the exterior doors went in as well.

Insulation was up next and we did pay someone to do that. We decided to go with spray insulation. We have been impressed that the inside temperature of the house is pretty nice, even without any heat and air! It was so messy during the process but they came back through and cleaned all of their mess up!

After insulation we were ready for sheetrock! I was so excited for this step and to finally see what the walls would look like. We decided to pay someone to hang the sheetrock because they can get it done so much faster then we could. They got here at 8am and were gone by 2:15! I was impressed!

So here we are, sheetrock up! Finishing should start next week and then we will move on to paint and floors!

Joel fell through the ceiling a few nights ago. Luckily he caught himself and didn’t hit the ground, but there is a little patch job that will need to happen! I am thankful that he was ok and just a little sore!

We have all had to learn a little patience through this project. Each step has come with delays and unexpected things. We haven’t met the deadlines we put in place and I have especially had to learn to just go with it. I am not good at it by any means and I have spent more days disappointed then I would like to admit, but when this is over I know I will look back and be glad we chose to do things this way- even if it wasn’t the easiest way!

Encouragement, Family, My Story, Uncategorized

Not Measuring Up?

October 14, 2016December 29, 2016 Jessica

dsc_9374cc Being content in life can sometimes be a struggle, am I right? I find myself hating Thursdays because I run around a lot. Preschool drop off, then preschool pick up. Then dance, wait around for soccer to start, then soccer. All the running, with all the kids is exhausting and when you add in that all 3 little ones need to poop during all the running around- the baby exploded and I used about 20 wipes to clean up her and the carseat, Harvey pooped minutes after Garner used the lady bug potty in the van. (if you have small children and don’t have a potty training potty in your trunk, get one! It will save you from all kinds of bathroom situations!) By the time I get home on Thursdays I am at hot mess. Lets face it, hot mess is just my word for this season. I guess it is two words, but you know what I mean!

I seriously can find myself in a constant state of discontent if I am not careful. It is always something at this house, ummm I mean camper. I know that if I started listing all the things I would have lots of moms nodding their heads saying “yes girl, yes!” because the reality is, most of these things that are always happening are just part of it. I just reread what I typed and sighed big. My own words cause me to stop and sigh because sometimes I just wish that wasn’t the truth!

BUT- when I go to my trusty bible and start digging into what it has to say about being a mother and wife I find all kinds of fun stuff. Like Proverbs 31. Who is this lady? She makes clothes and sells them. She cooks good food, she keeps the affairs of her house in order. She speaks wisdom and faithful instruction. She opens her arms to the poor and needy. She makes profitable trades, she works vigorously, she gets up early. Her husband praises her. GOOD-NESS…… ummmm, I don’t sew. Right now I don’t cook anything except toaster waffles (totally the campers fault), the affairs of my house are far from in order. wisdom? faithful instruction? how about speaking pleas to the 2 year old? does that count? I am in survival mode most days so I know I am not extending anything to anyone. Everyday I am awoken by a tiny human screaming “Mommy get me a waffle and milk” and I say “ugh, I should have gotten up earlier”. Needless to say, I am so not living up to that Proverbs 31 woman.

Most days, if you ask me, I would say I fail at more than I succeed at. Through prayer I feel like God has encouraged me to see things differently though. I hear His voice saying “you have what it takes.” I am reminded that I need to quit focusing on where I don’t feel I am measuring up, and focus more on where I am getting it right, even if it seems like it isn’t much. I need to extend myself some grace- enough grace to get me through the bad days so I can keep going and not give up! In fact, something that has helped me in giving myself grace is this: Stop- think about the situation different. If this were someone else telling you the same story your are currently beating yourself up over, what would you tell them? Would you be quick to encourage them to give themselves a little grace? If I take myself out of the equation, I am usually quick to see it different. If you would extend others grace in the same situation, give yourself grace too!

When I was looking though all the verses on the subject of motherhood and caring for our families, I saw over and over again the message that God is with us in our time of need. “I call on the Lord in my distress, and He answers me” Psalm 120:1 So many times throughout my days, I try to take it all on myself. I try to do it alone and don’t call out to Him and ask Him for help. But oh when I do, it can make the craziest of situations ok!

1 Chronicles 28:10 says “Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” Although this passage is David talking to Solomon about building the temple, it really reminded me that God has chosen ME to be where I am now. To be a mother and wife, and build this household up in Him. Again in 1 Chronicles 28:20, David is encouraging Solomon- be strong and courageous, do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, For the Lord God is with you, He will not fail you or forsake you until the work is finished. I find this so encouraging where I am right now. Sometimes the work of keeping our homes running is difficult and frustrating but we can’t stop working at it. We can’t allow ourselves to feel discouraged. God is with us, He does promise us that!

I love that The Lord doesn’t leave us to do this alone. I have been entrusted with a mighty calling in motherhood and caring for this household. It truly is a BIG responsibility and I am ever thankful that His grace, love & mercy are covering it all! Today I am clinging to the reminders that it isn’t about perfection or always getting it right, but it is more about continuing to fight the good fight for our family and choosing to not give up! I hope this finds you encouraged today!

Camper Living, Family, My Story, Uncategorized

If you give a mouse popcorn

September 26, 2016December 29, 2016 Jessica

Everyday seems like a new adventure in the camper. I discover something daily. Now, not all of the things I discover are monumental or worth documenting, but a few are. Lets see, at times, there is the realization that the camper is really small. When you are trying to get ready for church and all the little people want to play and run, but there is really only a small space to do that, and you can’t send them outside or their Sunday best will be a mess. So in the end, mom looses her mind and yells at everyone because she can’t seem to get ready when little people keep running her over while she tries to curl her hair.

Or maybe the lesson of “if you give a mouse popcorn….” is one I should share….. Have you ever been in a camper? If you have, you will know that the sleeping quarters are close to the kitchen because everything is close! In our case, the stove sits on the wall to our bedroom. From my bed to the stove is literally 2 steps away. A few nights ago I woke up to a strange sound. I couldn’t identify it right away. I sat up and listened and thought one of my kids was out of bed for sure. I used my handy iPhone flashlight to shine into the living room and no one was up. By then the sound was gone so I laid back down. As I settled back into bed I hear the noise again and I suddenly realize that sound is likely a critter. My heart starts racing a little bit because I am scared of critters. I slowly slide out of bed and creep around the corner with my flashlight on. I see that there is a bag of Stirred popcorn (it is covered in sugar) that was upright against the wall when I went to bed, is now laying on its side and moved over. I knew then that there was for sure a critter. I jumped back in bed fast and debated what to do. Where is my brave husband? If you have read this blog before you know where he is- at the fire station! After what felt like an eternity of listening to that MOUSE eat through the bag of popcorn, I finally caved and called Joel.

What was he going to do? I don’t have a clue but I needed another adult to talk me off the ledge. “what are you afraid of?” UMMMM Hello? There is a mouse, a few feet away from me, eating a bag of popcorn. “I know but what do you think is going to happen?” All I am picturing is Ratatouille, you know that cute rat cartoon, and I am picturing that mouse calling all his friends to come eat the popcorn with him. I don’t know what i think might happen but I just want the mouse to go away. My sweet husband suggests I go get the bag of popcorn and throw it out. No way is that happening. I just can’t.

So, apparently camper living comes with friends. Friends I don’t care for. Friends I would like to leave. And if you give a mouse popcorn, he will probably stick around to see what else you have, in case you are wondering.

Look, I live in a camper with 7 people and at least one mouse. Life is a mess most days. Please don’t be offended if I invite myself over or show up unannounced at your house. I know it is rude, but I am just asking for grace in advance. If you feel so inclined, just invite us over before I show up at your doorstep without warning. I am normally all about bringing gifts of homemade bread and desserts as thank you for having us, but since my camper oven over cooks in one 1/2 and undercooks on the other, I don’t know if you will want to eat anything I bring, so I will spare you that.

So here I am, 5 weeks into camper living, thinking to myself, When is this house going to be done?

Today at church, I had the sweetest lady tell me “well you just have it all together!” In case it appears that way, I will first say I absolutely do not! The other day I took this picture of myself (yes, a selfie) and I thought Wow, I actually look pretty good right now! Then about 5 minutes later I found BBQ sauce in my hair. Moral of the story, not everything looks as it appears. Ok friends, don’t forget to high five your mommy friends you see out in public with their kids. It really is work to get there! Happy Monday!

Camper Living, Encouragement, Family, My Story, Uncategorized

Camper Fever

September 19, 2016December 29, 2016 Jessica

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Camper Fever- just like cabin fever, you know, but for a camper.

It started with a stomach bug. Some how this bug managed to strike me when the husband is at the fire department. (actually, everything bad happens when he is at the fire station, I bet any fire fighters wife will agree!) So I am sick something awful, trying to nurse the baby and keep up but I have no strength left in me. I guess the good news is the camper is small so the bathroom is close! After a few days of being in the camper because the stomach bug was being passed around, it rained. Maybe some people are excited for rain. Me, not so much! Rain means the kids are inside. the tiny camper. ALL.DAY.LONG

By the time Joel is home for the day, I am in a unique mood. I remember sitting on the couch in a daze staring off into no where land as I hear the baby crying, a 2 year old jumping on my back, a 4 year old dramatically telling me why she should change clothes, and 2 preteens impatiently waiting to get to where they were going. It was my first glimpse of camper reality. All 7 of us, in this tiny space, all fighting for what they need. In that moment I thought no way this will ever get better. I will have to live this way forever! The inner drama I was creating was close the the 4 year old’s drama- unrealistic and ridiculous, but none the less, I just sat there in my moment.

*Just for fun, when the dramatic 4 year old was complaining about her inability to change outfits, I decided to sing a little song “you can’t always get what you want….. but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need” With arms crossed, head turned slightly sideways, she replies in a very sarcastic tone “thanks for that, mom” If you need me, I will be trying to figure out how to parent a 4 year old teenager.

In the mix of my camper reality there is camper cooking. I am not sure if we got a reject oven or if maybe camper oven’s are just wonky. I can’t figure ours out. Sometimes it takes forever for stuff to cook. Like the time says 10 minutes but it takes 25 minutes. But this particular day, 8 minutes into the 29 minute cook time, I smell burning. I open the oven to see that 3 of the 7 personal pizza’s in the oven have a burning crust. How do I reconfigure that? Trying to save the pizza’s by quickly pulling them from the oven, one falls between the grates making a melty cheesy mess that quickly turned into a burning cheesy mess. I have about given up on the camper oven. Not to mention I have to get half way in the oven to light the pilot every time I need to use it. Sounds like next time we want pizza, its Dominos!

Everyday someone asks me at least one of two questions. “How is life in the camper?” or “How is life with 5 kids?” Not sure if people are cheering me on or secretly hoping I have some really good story to tell. Maybe both! You want the truth? I have no clue which aspect of my life makes it feel overwhelming right now, but life is overwhelming. If you ask how life in the camper is, it really isn’t that bad! There have been very few moments I that the camper, by itself, makes me wonder what on earth we are doing. If you ask me how life with 5 kids is I will tell you good for the most part. Adding #5 hasn’t really shaken things up too terribly much. BUT when we add, less sleep + nursing baby + 2 teen/preteens who are busy and need to be taken everywhere + building a house + 2 & 4 year olds + the rest of life I am not listing, I am overwhelmed some. So if you see me out with all the kids doing all the things, my hair is fixed and I am smiling, just high five me and know that even then, I am probably feeling like a hot mess. If you see me out in the same situation but my hair is a mess, I have spit up on my shirt, and I look frazzled, high five me any way because I am showing you my hot mess!

Family, home sweet home, My Story, Uncategorized

Home Sweet Home: part 1

September 13, 2016September 13, 2016 Jessica

We have just gotten started with our house and we already get lots of questions! If you haven’t ever built a house the details are probably pretty foreign. I have decided to blog the process in sections so those curious minds can see and understand a little more and so I can look back at our timeline!

Building a house is something that we have been dreaming about for a long time. We have been looking for land and trying to find that perfect place to call home. In May we made an offer on what is now our beautiful land.

The first week of July we closed on that land!

The first thing that had to be done was pick a building site and start clearing and getting the pad ready. This was happening around the end of July and first of August. After this the footings were dug and poured. Joel did all of this with help from friends and family. fullsizerender

Then we had to take a small break to have a baby! We welcomed baby #5 on August 9, 2016

Block work was done on August 19th and since we had just had a new baby Joel decided to contract out the block work so this was the first part in the building process that Joel didn’t do himself. fullsizerender-1

Next there is subfloor and again Joel did this himself with the help of some amazing friends! This was happening at the end of August.

First week of September the decking was put on. Once again, friends and family helped Joel knock this out!

Here comes everyones favorite part! The framing! It goes up fast, (1 week) and so everyone suddenly sees the shape of a house and it feels like things are going to be happening quick. Good news is, it is another step done, bad news is, you won’t see a ton of changes in the next few steps! This first picture is day 1 of framing.

I can’t remember if this is day 2 or 3

Day 4

Day 6 framing is done! We did contract out the framing and if you need a framer let us know and we will send a great one your way! This gets us current in construction because this happened today!

Joel up in the rafters!

Joel and I in the window that will be in the dinning room.

Harvey in his room. He gets so excited to go in there and tells anyone who will listen that it is his room!

The girls in their room. All 3 girls will share a room at the request of Jade. Don’t worry, they have a massive closet!

Kamden reluctantly posing in his window. He has helped with every step of this house so far. I am so proud of the work he has put into it!

That is it so far! We have really just gotten started and have a long way to go but we are excited to have the bones of the house! Joel works so hard everyday doing something, even if it isn’t noticeable. There is always something to be done at a construction site and when you are building yourself you have to be willing to do all the little things (that can become big things) like clean up! This house is being built with love labor for sure!

Camper Living, Family, My Story, Uncategorized

Just jumping in

September 5, 2016September 5, 2016 Jessica

With our first 2 weeks down in the camper, there are few things I have to note. Let me start by saying I went into this somewhat blindly. I had never stayed in a camper until the first night here. I really had no idea what to expect. If you are reading this and you frequently stay in a camper you may roll your eyes at some of my findings, but for this newbie, there were a few things I wasn’t ready for.

It is bedtime and we are all nestled in our little bed, when all of the sudden the entire camper is shaking and I am sitting up in bed asking if someone is breaking in. Joel informs me one of our kids rolled over in their bed. oh. all that shaking for a shift in position? well, ok then!
The toilet room is extremely small. I mean, I know you aren’t suppose to be doing a lot of moving around but goodness. Also, it kind of feels like a port-a-potty, which doesn’t feel fabulous. I am getting use to it now but will be extra happy to have normal toilets in the new house!
When your water is ran from a hose to the camper, when you take a shower it really makes you feel like you are showering from the garden hose. Essentially, you are, but just inside. You know how water smells coming out of the hose outside? Or is that just me and my overly sensitive nose? Any way, it is a thing, at least for me!
Speaking of shower, when you have 7 people who need to be bathed, and your husband says “oh by the way, you will have to wait at least 20 minutes between each shower because the hot water tank isn’t very big” you realize that showers will now have to be scheduled and no one is allowed to get dirty unless their scheduled shower is next.
While blow drying my hair in the middle of the day, all electricity goes off. I realize I have thrown a breaker. After I threw the breaker 3 more times I realized I wasn’t going to get to blow dry my hair. Apparently when it is 98 degrees outside the camper is working really hard to stay cool and can’t handle my blow dryer. My shower is now scheduled first thing before it gets hot.

It is funny how we get use to certain things and even though there really isn’t anything to complain about living here (we have a roof over our head, electricity, running water, indoor potty), but it still takes some getting use to. I am so thankful for this opportunity and right now I am welcoming the challenges the camper brings. (ask me again in a month or two!) Now if I could just get excited the challenges that the 2 & 4 year old are currently bringing…….

We have had so many people ask us how it is going living in the camper and I must say that so far, it really hasn’t been bad. It has only been 2 weeks of staying here and we have a long ways to go still. I am happy to have less to clean and I am enjoying the simplicity living in the camper has brought.

Here’s to another week of camper living, coffee, & Jesus!

Camper Living, Family, Uncategorized

Adventure Awaits!

August 29, 2016 Jessica

It has been a very long time since I sat down to write. I miss it because it is so therapeutic to me! A lot has happened since I blogged last. We have started a new adventure and I thought this was a great time for me to get back to the blog.

Entrepreneurs, parents to 5 kids, homeschooling, hobby farmers (this is on the back burner but will be happening again), we are dreamers for sure. For the last year we have been searching for land and finally found the perfect piece! In July we closed on the land and started the process of building our new house! Our lives seem to be ever changing as we create new chapters and sometimes that seems overwhelming and chaotic.

But just when you thought we couldn’t get any crazier…… We decided it would be best for our family to move while we build the house. So with our 2 week old brand new baby and other 4 kiddo’s in tow, we moved…. into a camper! Yep, you read that right! We moved our family of 7 into a camper on our land.

We have been asked “Are you crazy? Why would you do that?” When we made the offer of the land, we had not planned to move into a camper. But as time went on and we were getting closer to starting the house, I begain thinking about all the time that Joel would be here working on the house and we would be 25 minutes away at our house. I would be trying to drive back and forth to take dinner to Joel and make sure he didn’t need anything. I knew I would be trying to keep up with our big house with 5 kids (one of which would be a newborn) and I knew we would feel torn between the two properties. When I came to Joel and suggested the camper idea he was shocked and excited because he thought it was a great idea but couldn’t believe I would be willing to do it!

In the end we knew that building a house ourselves would present plenty of obstacles and that either way, staying in our house or moving to a camper, we would be challenged. We just decided that having us all in one location was the challenge that would work best for us!

So if you are up for some funny stories, keep reading because I plan to try to blog this adventure regularly. Life inside a camper with 7 people living in it is guaranteed to never be dull!

Here is our Home Sweet Home, for now!

Family, My Story, Uncategorized

Just Celebrate!

June 4, 2015February 3, 2016 Jessica

Tomorrow I turn 30. I hear lots of comments on aging all the time. Most of them are of dread. I know lots of people who have turned 30 and more who see that birthday fast approaching. “Don’t remind me!” they say. But I don’t get it. Yes, I am getting older, but isn’t that much better then the alternative? If you aren’t getting older, you are dead to put it bluntly.

In my opinion, old and young are relevant terms that serve a purpose at times, but aren’t necessary or accurate in categorizing yourself on a whole. Age is just a record keeping number. Now, with age comes things that people dislike, such as wrinkles, slower metabolisms, and aching bodies, and I do understand a dislike for those things, but the number of years you have been alive should be a celebration every.single.year!

Getting older is a BIG deal, and YOU should celebrate it! Each birthday, no matter what number is attached to it, is a blessing! I am excited to be 30 and to GET to celebrate it. My life is full of so many blessings I can’t even begin to list them. Sure, there are things in it and about it I do not love, but I am choosing to celebrate today!

{I have to take a minute and brag on these gorgeous pictures we had done a few weeks ago. Samantha Daniels Photography did them for us. I told her I wanted her to capture our relationships and she did just that!}

So here’s to another year, and I hope many many more! I hope the next time you have a birthday you will do the same, and just simply celebrate your life!

Encouragement, Family, My Story

The Perfection Infection

June 1, 2015June 1, 2015 Jessica

No more perfect Mom, Chapter 1 (These are my thoughts on the book “No More Perfect Mom by Jill Savage” along with quotes from the book)

I was introduced to this book after doing a 7 day devotional on YouVersion (bible app). I loved every day of the devotional and wanted more when the 7 days was over and that is when I discovered there was a book. The more I researched the book the more I knew I needed it and felt it was so timely for this season in my life.

Chapter 1, The Perfection Infection, hit home with me. What I found was, a lot of what she was saying I already knew, but still struggle with. I know that I can’t compare my life to ANYTHING I see on social media, but I still do it. I know the “highlight reel vs. blooper reel” thing. BUT, knowing doesn’t always make it easier. It makes me more aware but it doesn’t solve the problem. I am still tempted (and fall into the trap often) to compare myself- my appearance, my kids, my house, my craftiness, my pictures, and so on, to everyone else’s. Social media really makes that easy doesn’t it? I know we all wear masks that hide what we don’t want others to see and I know we generally only let out the pretty parts.

But, then there were a few things I had to break out my highlighter for and really think about. “The thing about masks is that they never bring us closer to who we were created to be. Masks always make shallow what God has intended to be deep.” This took me back and I had to stop there and read it again. Wow- I don’t know that I have ever viewed it in that light. She goes on to list Friendships, Marriages, Families, and Churches. What would happen if all of those relationships were deep, like God intended them to be instead of sheltered and shadowed by the masks that we put on? I can only imagine!

When she puts it in the context of “me” I really had to stop again and contemplate all I had read. Cheating myself in my relationships by wearing a mask? We live in a world that not only makes wearing a mask easy, but also makes it very normal. It is easy to say “Oh I am fine, thank you!” and move on when really we are hurting on the inside. For me, I fear that others don’t really want to hear what I have to say or that they really won’t care how I am doing, so I politely respond and leave it at that. But masks hide the truth. They allow us to stay alone in our pain, frustration, sadness, brokenness, sorrow. Wearing a mask keeps us from having the opportunity to be encouraged, loved, and held up by one another. It also keeps us from sharing our story with someone who may need to hear it. Who may be feeling just like we are but they feel so alone. “Not only that, but wearing masks breeds judgment. It keeps us judging ourselves and others instead of living in and loving through grace” That line right there- the judgment that comes from wearing a mask is real. I realize I do this and it makes me sad to think about. I wear a mask to protect myself but wearing that mask causes me to look at others different. That mask is a lie, and as long as I am wearing it I cant see the heart of anyone else.

Our world screams YOU MUST BE PERFECT IN EVERY WAY. I know I strive for it even though I don’t like to admit it and I am getting better at letting some areas of my life be just fine wherever they are. What happens when we let what others have, become who we think we should be? We may become discontent with our real lives. “Most of the time we don’t even realize that is what we are doing. It’s a subtle erosion of our satisfaction. If we don’t recognize it, the discontentment can turn into disappointment, and then the disappointment can eventually turn into disillusionment.” I have found myself in that place before. Where it seems like all I am ever saying is “I wish….. my house was, my kids were, my marriage was” Instead of looking at all the things I do have, I end up focused on the disappointments. There is no happiness in this.

I don’t have anything figured out but one thing I do know is we are not alone. Being a mom is hard. There are days that I say more then once “I don’t think I can do this any more”. I dream of being on the beach alone often. My kids don’t always do what they are suppose to. I yell at them and then have to apologize. There are times when I am so tired I can’t seem to function properly and I feel so guilty that I can’t shake the exhaustion. I have lost it over missing shoes, sippy cups, brushing teeth, and so many other things that seem so silly. My house does not stay clean and I can’t seem to keep it organized like I use to. The laundry falls behind. I haven’t successfully meal planned in months or gone to the grocery store with a solid list. We eat out more then we should because I fail to plan. But I bet that I am not alone. Moms- we need each other. We need to be able to say “I am having a horrible day” and not fear judgment. We need to be able to stick together. To love each other with grace.

I am so excited about this book! The next Chapter is The Antidote. THANK YOU for that, because I need it! We are reading a chapter a week over the summer, so feel free to grab a copy and join us!

Cleft Lip, Family, My Story

Harvey, 365 days later

April 1, 2015April 1, 2015 Jessica

Harvey is ONE! I never shared his birth story, even though I typed it out a few weeks after he was born so I have decided to share it now!

March 31, 2014…. It is Kamden’s birthday! I woke up feeling a little like labor was in the air. But I wasn’t really sure. I had been in pain for weeks and sweet baby boys position had just made me miserable. I had an appointment that morning. I found out at the appointment I was progressing, and was in between a 3-4 and 50% thinned. (sorry for all of you who that is way too much info for, but this a child birth post).

I left and went to pick up a few last minute birthday gifts for Kam. Then I ran to Walmart and picked up a few groceries. By the time I got to the house to eat lunch with the fam, I told Joel I was really thinking I might go into labor that day. He reminded me that I had all the others at 38 weeks and 2 days, and waiting until Friday (it was Monday) was much better for his schedule. Of course we both laughed at that, knowing we don’t have any control.

I had already been praying that I could wait until AFTER Kamden’s birthday. I did not want to miss his day. I was able to go to dinner and Goody’s for dessert. I was having a few contractions throughout the evening but they were not consistent however by 8:45 when we were at Goody’s they were pretty strong. When we got home we got the kids ready for bed and I went ahead and made sure all the bags were ready. By 11:00 I laid down hoping that I could just sleep. I had contractions 10 min apart for an hour and decided I should wake Joel up. By the time he was awake enough to know what was going on, my contractions were now 3 minutes apart and we both knew we had to hurry! We got to the hospital at about 1:00am (had to wait for someone to get here, then we had to drive to the hospital)

It was a very rushed process with lots of skipped procedure (like being admitted before stuff starts happening) But I was between an 8 and 9. They called my doctor and by the time he got there I was ready to have a baby! We will skip all the fun stuff, and jump ahead to 2:20am, when this perfect little boy arrived! He was so gorgeous and wonderful! Funny how all the chaos disappears and you just fall madly in love with this tiny baby they just laid on your chest! He came into this world 2 hours after his big brothers birthday ended, on April fools day! We didn’t text too many people at 2am but I just knew when we told people the next day they would think it was a joke! We sent photo proof with our text the next morning!

For those of you who may not know, Harvey was born with a incomplete unilateral cleft lip and a notch in his gum line. He had surgery July 2014 to repair his lip. He was so incredibly perfect before and I love looking at all of these pictures of him before his surgery! He is just as perfect now though and I kind of feel blessed he has two smiles! Melts my heart!

This boy is so funny! He loves to play with his big brother and sisters! Everyone spoils him rotten though! He is not walking yet, but crawling and climbing on everything he can get to. He has not been a big fan of baby food, table food, bottle OR sippy cup (mom is his favorite!) but he is finally coming around to table food as long as we let him feed himself. He loves pizza, peanutbutter sandwiches, and ice cream. He is obviously a health nut!

I have said it so many times over the last year, but this boy has taught me SO much about life! I don’t know if I will ever be able to express all of the things he has helped me to see. All I know today, is that I am honored to be his mommy. To watch him grow and learn. To be his teacher and guide through life. I look forward to holding his hand as he walks, helping him memorize scripture and showing him what it means to love Jesus.

My prayers are big for this little guy. I pray God gives me all the strength and wisdom I need to be the best mommy I can be for him. That he knows our love for him always and knows he came into this world perfect in our eyes. I pray that he knows Jesus deeply and knows how loved he is by Him.

I’m ending it with this picture, because right now, he points at everything and says “dat” but it is also a good reminder that he is really ONE! Look how smart he is, holding up one finger- hehehe!