Thursday, February 02, 2012

{ Embrace the Camera } - Feb. 2

 "It's not what we receive but what we give that heals us."  
 - Richard Paul Evans

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Sam + Lisa.  We make aWEsome!!!  I'm so glad to be married to my best friend who helps out so much with the kids.

Over the last couple months, I've pondered about my attitude.  My attitude in all areas of my life.  I feel like I haven't been myself.  I've become lazy and have let my mind wander and I ended up pretty much resenting the life I was leading.  To me, my attitude towards life, wife and motherhood, and towards others seemed kind of fake.  You know, like I was putting on a happy face for others, but then when I was left to my own thoughts,  I really wondered what was wrong with me.  I mean, come on... I have a husband who loves me, 3 adorable kids, great friends, and a lovely house.  But I took all of this for granted.  I yelled too much, purposefully stayed up late, got up in the mornings as late has possible... you get the picture.  It wasn't pretty.  I was doing the bare minimum to get through my day... survival mode.  


 Last week, I just so happened to read this fabulous article: 
(If you're a mom, read this.  It's worth a two minutes of your time.) 


I have three kids.  My oldest is practically 7 years old.  You'd think that I've had enough time to adjust to motherhood.  Motherhood is hard.  There are days that I still feel like a kid and I don't want to be the mom.  I want to ignore everyone else and just have "me time" all day.  As lovely as a full day of "me time" sounds, that's just not the way life as a mom works.  Sure you can get a babysitter, but even while I'm out grocery shopping alone or just enjoying some time to myself, my husband and kids are still on my mind.  I know that they are my first priority.  I just have to...

"Create and maintain a positive attitude toward your life, your position, your friends, your teachers, your parents, your environment, and your achievements.  When you are positive, you are more energetic, productive, and alert.  A positive person contributes to the productivity of others.  A negative person does not.  The kind of attitude you transmit to others will have a great deal to do with your success."   ~ Unknown

 A positive attitude can only get you so far.  I feel that I need to take things day by day.  Also, I need to quit being so selfish.  I am responsible for taking care of me and 4 other people.  Redefining success daily may be necessary.  At the end of the day, I should feel successful as long as I try my very best.  

I am happy to report that this girl considers me her favorite person:
 And she's my favorite girl.


 I'm trying hard not to take my life so seriously. 
 This boy sure helps out with that!
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5 comments:

Jessa said...

What a sweet family! We just added a baby girl to our 2 boy brood. You guys make it look like fun! We're super excited!

Taylin said...

I know exactly how you feel!! Sometimes I just want to do nothing but what I want to do. I do the late night thing too! Thanks for sharing! You are giving me motivation to go to bed early so I can be refreshed for my family tomorrow! (I came across your blog through Embrace the Camera.:)

Stephanie said...

Good stuff :) Sometimes behind my smile when I'm left alone to my thoughts, it aint pretty either! I have found the Philippians 4:8 to be a very helpful "standard" for what I allow myself to dwell on (with my thoughts). And oh boy...the staying up late and regretting it in the morning is a biggie for me too.

Lindsay said...

I'm really glad I got to see you and your kids the other day, but I it wasn't long enough. Sorry for that...so I'm gonna plan another trip down so we can have a whole day!! Hopefully before the baby comes!

Anth said...

Thanks for this post. It's very brave of you. I feel like this all too often, and it wears me out and wears me down. Especially since having the baby, I just feel so unmotivated. And so TIRED. I'm too tired to exercise, and just want to eat crap food. AND stay up too late because that's my only kid-free time! I posted that article you linked to on my FB wall so it could inspire other women as it did me. Thanks!!!!