It has been a few years since I posted on this darn blog but I feel like I could really use a place to get out my thoughts. Being a SAHM (Stay at home mom) can be somewhat lonely. I'm extremely grateful to my hard working husband that works long hours so that I can be the one with our kids but there are days that I find myself missing having that routine adult interaction. So I thought what better place to get out some of my thoughts and maybe some of my frustrations then on the internet...right?

Right now my goal is to write on my blog about twice a week. I'm not much of a writer but who knows where this could go!

Today's topic:  Cues

I have read lots of books on parenting. There are countless books out there that can give you advice on how to handle certain situations with your child. However, I have found the best way to understand your child is to pick up on their cues. Sleeping is a mystery to any new parent. Trying to understand how to get your child to sleep through the night or how to get your child to take better, longer naps. Cues. Pick up on their cues. Josiah becomes so cranky. He will start crying over anything. That is how I know he needs to take a nap. However, at bedtime, he gets extremely hyper. Josiah is only 2 but I have watched him and watch him. I have picked up on his cues. I want to know when is he ready so that I can time it just right.

Same thing goes for Aubrey, my one year old. When she is tired she rubs her eyes (very common in babies), she also will get clumsy. Someone once told me that as parents we need to become students of our children. I believe this to be very true.

There are so many great resources out there to help parents better understand their children. I love I have many books that I can take pieces from and use them to help me be a more effective parent. All that said...I truly believe we need to be students of our children. Figure out what makes then who they are.

Drool Monster

I have always loved babies. They smell so good. They squeal with delight. They are cuddly and just darn cute. However, have you ever held one of those babies that is teething and they are drooling all over the place? I find myself making excuses for why I can't hold them. I don't want their drool all over me let alone my clothes. But then I look at my little man. He is everything I dreamed of. He is funny, smiley, cuddly, and drools like nobodies business! Josiah is teething right now. He is constantly chewing and drooling on everything! There are moments where I look at him and I think how could anybody not want to just love on him? But then I am reminded of how I feel towards those other drooly babies, and it all makes sense. So to you other moms out there: you keep your drooly baby and I'll keep mine! I love my little Josiah...drool and all.

My corner

It has been forever since I have blogged. Life just seemed to get away from me. But I am looking forward to using this space to share my thoughts and feelings. I'm excited to have my corner of the world. I tease my husband all the time that I don't have my personal space. Between toys and laundry it gets crazy around here. I'm excited to have a place to my self. So welcome! Welcome to my corner of the world!

2 lbs to go!!

I have been on a diet now for about 6 months. Its been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. But it has been the most rewarding! I was on Jenny Craig for the majority of my diet. The last 2 months I have been completely on my own. Loosing another 10 lbs. It's so hard doing this without a weigh in each week. You would think it would make the process more stressful, but for me it worked. I am now 2 lbs away from my 50 lb. goal. I can't believe it!

Back to work!!!

These last 3 weeks I have had a great vacation. Technically, I have been on vacation for 6 weeks but was working at Summer School part-time for 3 of those weeks. I have thoroughly enjoyed having this time off. I have been able to get so much done. This week I painted our bedroom. It is now a beautiful tan color. Along with painting I have also tried to make sense of our yard. It's apparent that the last tenets didn't take pride in the yard. So we are weekly trying to make it look like it should.


I think the greatest thing about the last couple of weeks has been the amount of time I have been able to spend with Joshua. Jareb is currently working a 9-5 job 5 days a week. This means Joshua and I have spent a great deal of time together. I can truly say I'm so blessed to have him in my life. He is such a joy to be around. God has really helped our relationship grow farther then I ever thought possible.


As I start another year of working at a school, I have to admit I'm nervous. I love what I do. I may not make much but what I get out of it is greater then a big paycheck. I'm going to be working with the same student...but a new teacher. I have come to love the teacher that I worked with last year. Hopefully this new teacher will have the same respect and support for me as I plan to have for her.



Until next time!

Sarah

Hope you enjoy this..let me know what you think.

Blessings,

Sarah

Farmers Market

Today we ventured to Denios which is a farmers market/flea market in Roseville. It was a lot of fun. I've started a diet that is pretty regimented. Lots of veggies and fruit. So we were able to get a ton of veggies and fruit that is locally grown and very fresh. Not to mention it was cheap. I really enjoy knowing that the produce that we buy is local. Growing up in Hughson we always had fruit stands and my mom would load up on fruit. I loved it. However, Elk Grove seems to only have one kind of fruit stand....strawberries. They are on every corner..ok not literally but close to it. So to be able to get all the yummy healthy food for my family, it was great. And you were able to barter with them. It was fun. I would totally recommend it.

I feel like there is so much to say about the last 3 months. Life has really changed...and I'm going to be honest. It is hard. We wanted to send out an email to friends and family but it seemed to get pushed back and back. So here I am. Writing about our journey and how I'm struggling to see God's plan for my family.

Most of you know that Jareb accepted a Pastor position in June '08. It was a small Southern Baptist church in Folsom (about 30 min from our house). I really thought that a year later we would be on the road to being a healthy growing church. However, God had different plans. After much prayer and long long conversations...LifeBridge Church closed it's doors in the beginning of February.

I think what has made it so hard for me was the way it ended. To know that we put a great deal of ourselves into this church and it wasn't enough. I hurt for Jareb. This was a huge step for him. And people were vicious. They say nasty lies and spread things that are just wrong. Those who we thought had our back...turned. It has been a long couple of months. We are struggling to understand what is next. Not to mention praying for a better job for Jareb...he has had to take anything because the job market sucks.

I'm sorry if this blog sounds so angry...I think I just needed to finally let it out. I know God has a plan..I just need to trust him to lead us.

Meet Clara! She is the new addition to our little family. We got her from a family that didn't want her anymore. Its hard to understand why not...but our gain! She is the sweetest thing. We think she is a cross between Black Lab and Border Collie.

We decided to go to a Dive-In movie a couple weeks ago. It was so much fun. Living in Hughson, we had one not too far from us. However, I never made it to a movie there. Well Jareb, Joshua and I piled in the car and headed off to see Madagascar 2 at the Bradshaw Drive-In. It was sooo much fun. We popped popcorn before we left and got some drinks. Then sat back and enjoyed the movie!