Count your blessings

Today has been crazy, an emotional rollercoaster you could say. Life is just so crazy. I've heard it gets worse before it gets better but as R says "they never say how long you go through the worst before it gets better." Does the craziness just go away? Or does it just have less of an affect as you grow and learn and experience the ups and downs? 

I've watched family and friends go through life altering situations; cancer, sickness, losing a loved one, a miscarriage, divorce, rape, theft and more. The things you can't believe are evening happening. The situations you wish you could wake up from and realize it was just a bad dream.

The key words there are: go through. Because even the situations that make us question if we can go on any longer are the same ones we make it through. We come out on the other end stronger and more awake than we were before. 

I hate to admit that I haven't been going to church much lately but this passed Sunday I went and felt, as I usually do, welcomed home. 

I read something during the praise that said, the circumstances we ask God to change are often the same circumstances God is using to change us. (Max Lucado)

In difficult and trying situations I always wonder if God gives certain situations to people because he knows they can handle them. I also remember that in all things he has a reason.

I usually don't write or talk about God but when I can't make sense of the craziness of this life and can't answer the why I leave it in His hands. 

After all this I know there are so many things to be thankful for. After all Thanksgiving is right around the corner. 

1. My sisters. I couldn't get through motherhood or life without them.

2. My mother-in-law. She has the biggest giving heart. And she cleaned the whole house today!

3. The right to vote. Because at one point  in time women didn't even have the choice to vote. Today we have a voice and an opportunity.

4. My husband. His perseverance and patience amazes me.

5. My job. There's days that's crazy too but I love that I continue to learn, do new things and keep my creativity flowing through design.

The list will go on. 

I urge you to count your blessings. Even just a few. Especially in times of struggle and despair.

Keep loving. Xoxo 

Untangled hangers

For the first time in my entire life laundry was enjoyable. Yes, I said it. I enjoyed folding my laundry today. Are you in shock? I am, once again. I am in shock at the surprises parenting brings to me on a daily basis. Little reminders that life is short. These surprises really do make me count my blessing and live every moment like it's my last. Cliche, I know. But, these words are perfect to describe a good, even okay, day of what being a Mom is like.

So, I am sure you are wondering what is so great about doing laundry?? I'll tell you.

The mountain of disorderly, wrinkled and tangled clothes sitting on the recliner chair from Saturday starred at me with it's button eyes and zipper mouths. It was taunting me as I zipped around the living room picking up toys left scattered about from the night before. R was helpful in loading and unloading the washer and dryer and hauling a few baskets up and down the stairs over the weekend but I was just to tired to fold laundry. I left it waiting. However, the clothes heaped onto of the recliner were clean. Thankfully.

Due to the fact I really, really didn't want to look at them all evening I dove right in and started folding them. I couldn't bare the site anymore. I brought a pile of hangers out to the living room to hang the hang-ables, which i already had set aside from the sorted piles of R clothes, M clothes, my clothes and E itty bitty clothes. Sounds like a normal, mundane chore, right?

This is when it gets better.

I remembered, as E is ran towards my nice neat stack of hangers: SHOOT! this kid loves hangers. I was just waiting to have to untangle a mess of hangers once she's had her fun. I hate tangled hangers. It frustrates me like losing my keys or wearing mismatched socks.

But to my surprise, instead of grabbing and running E took one off the stack and handed it to me. I took it, hung my shirt and turned and she was ready with another. I took it and hung a second shirt. I'm sure my mouth was hanging open already. I couldn't believe it! We continued on this way until all the hangers were gone AND all the shirts were hung up and my, or should I say our, chore was done.

Children amaze me. If you let them they really do begin teaching you life's biggest lessons.

I love my little helper.

Keep Loving.

Where do I begin?

Where do I begin? Where did I leave off? How do I find all the right words to tell you the story of our lives over the months that have passed?

I've been contemplating how to begin writing again for a couple days now and it was keeping me from doing just that. And still I sit here wondering how I begin again....just do it! Right?

First, life for the Millers has changed and continues to change. Each little change is an improvement, that brings us closer to our goals. Ryan has a strong sense of improving our quality of life. Therefore, so do I. And why not? So, change is always occuring.

Secondly, I'm officially working two jobs. I switched to a day time job, part-time, so I can spend more time with Ryan and Edee at the same time. We also needed more consistency in my income for budgeting purposes. But, I pick up shifts at the restaurant at night, which we can treat as extra income. It's not forever, just for a short time. But, technically, that's two jobs right? (And that doesn't count being a mommy too.)

While I'm on the work topic: Ryan is still thoroughly enjoying his job. This is on our list when we count our blessings every night. He's worked really hard to find a job where his labor and efforts are appreciated. And they definitely are at this place. He continues to impress me with how much effort he puts in at work everyday, and I know I am unaware of half of what he does.

Third, the girls continue to amaze us. I'm so proud to have such great kids. Maddi is reading two grade levels above her own. Her vocabulary continues to grow. And so does the rest of her. She decided to grow her hair out again. It's down to the middle of her back. Blonde and beautiful as ever. We still, can't get enough time with this smart, sassy, pretty little girl.

Edee spends 75% of her day on her belly. She's almost five months old and is wearing 6-9 month clothes. She loves tummy time, her fingers, story time, The Backyardigans, kicking in the bath tub and her baby sitter Stacey. I so often here, "she is such a good baby," and "she is so happy." This is another item on our blessings counted list. Happy baby makes for a happy momma makes for a happy home. *wink*

I can't wait to share more about the changes we've made and the ones we will make, the latest happenings with the girls and family and anything else related. I think you'll enjoy what is yet to come for The Plain Side.

Keep loving.