Usually at our house, we have a zucchini overload this time of year. Not as much this year, but in normal years, I have more than I think I can ever use. I love it! I love zucchini. I love all of the things you can make with it. So today I thought I would share a couple of my favorite zucchini recipes. Then, the next time you have more zucchini than you know what to do with, you can try one of these!
As a kid, my favorite part of zucchini season was zucchini pancakes. I have to warn you, these are not your standard pancakes. In fact, these are savory, cheesy, wonderful goodies that will leave your mouth watering. The recipe isn't exact. You will find that you have to vary it in order to get it work. A lot depends on how wet your zucchini ends up being. But here are the basic ingredients:
Shredded zucchini
finely diced onion
egg
bread crumb
cheese
salt and pepper
shredded cheese
For my little family, I usually need at least two zucchini's to make this as a meal. You mix everything together. You want the consistency to be thick enough to hold together in a frying pan, but not quite as thick as you would see a meatloaf. Then, place in a buttered frying pan (butter is best here)and form into a pancake shape. Let it fry away beautifully. Cook on each side until it is a dark brown. Golden brown looks good, but it won't hold together to flip it unless you go a little longer. Then, flip and cook through on the other side. These are so tasty. When I was in college, I made these all the time in the fall. My roommates even liked them! My husband likes to put salsa on his. Growing up, on put ketchup. As an adult, I love them just plain. Either way, they are AWESOME!! In fact, these might be dinner tonight.
One of my other favorites is a recipe I recently rediscovered. My Mom tells me she used to make it all of the time. I don't remember this. But a couple of years ago, I pulled it out of the family cookbook and made it. I loved it! Now we make it several times during the late summer/early fall. The best part about this recipe is that it freezes great. So make an extra pan of it and in the middle of winter, you can taste those fresh summer flavors.
Zucchini Casserole
1 lb. ground beef
1/4 c. sliced green onions
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. Chili powder
1 c. sour cream
1 large tomato, sliced
3 zucchini, diced
1 small can green chilies
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
3 c. cooked rice
2 c. grated monterey jack (can use cheddar, too)
salt and pepper to taste
Saute beef, zucchini, onions, and seasonings in a lightly greased skillet until meat is browned through and vegetables are tender. Add green chilies, rice, sour cream, and one cup of cheese. Turn into a buttered, shallow 2 quart casserole dish. Arrange tomato slices on top. Top with remaining cheese and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
Now, I have to be honest here. I'm not a big fan of the cooked tomatoes on top. Most of the time, I just skip that step. Especially if I'm going to freeze it. But I still love the recipe!! But dessert may be more your thing. Everyone knows about zucchini bread and zucchini cake and all of those lovely treats. But in my family, the only way to eat it was as Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread. Now you can see why we loved it, right? Chocolate. Lots of chocolate. So, when you need a chocolate fix, but still want it to be a little healthy, look no further.
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
3 eggs
1 c. vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 c. sugar
2 1/2 c. grated zucchini
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. cocoa
6 oz. chocolate chips
1 c. chopped nuts (opt)
Beat eggs until fluffy. Add sugar, oil, and remaining ingredients. Beat two minutes. Place in two greased and floured bread pans or one bundt pan and bake at 350 for about one hour.
Enjoy those zucchini. Now to decide which one to make first!
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Our Unexpected News
So, I've mentioned before that our little family experienced a miscarriage at the end of April, beginning of May. It was a really hard experience for me, as a mom. Especially as I'm nearing my mid thirties and I realize that the time is slowly slipping away. But about a month ago, we received some unexpected, but very happy news. We are expecting again! I'm happy to say that I have passed that lucky 12 week mark, so what better time to share it. Now that most of our immediate family knows, it is time to share it with all the rest of you!
This obviously isn't going to be a long blog post, but hopefully worth the read as you share in our wonderful joy!
This obviously isn't going to be a long blog post, but hopefully worth the read as you share in our wonderful joy!
Monday, August 5, 2013
Fun Weekend with Grandma and Grandpa
So, this weekend, my parents drove out to stay with us for a couple of nights. The kiddos were so excited! It is always so much fun when they come out to our house. We had a friend and neighbor tell us recently that we would discover that the road coming out to our house only goes one way. People generally expect us to drive to Salt Lake to visit them, not the other way around. So, whenever someone can come, it is always such a treat. Our house is very small, but we always make room for visitors. Anyway, Saturday ended up being one of those nearly perfect days.
It was UBIC weekend where we live. This is like our town days. It was even bigger because this year, our town is turning 100 years old. They had a free concert at the park followed by fireworks. It was so much fun to watch our Rally girl as she danced along to all of the singers and to watch Grandpa and G man play in between. What a relaxing evening! We got to listen to David Osmond and the Spin Doctors. There is something about sitting on a grassy hill, listening to a band, that is so relaxing. My Dad pointed out something to me that I haven't thought of before. "Only in a little town could they have this. In a big town, people wouldn't come or the city wouldn't pay for this kind of event so that everyone could participate." There are some great blessings to living out here! But more important than the concert was the great time we got to spend as a family. Both kids were so well behaved! It never happens that way. So, I thought I would share some of our fun pictures
It was UBIC weekend where we live. This is like our town days. It was even bigger because this year, our town is turning 100 years old. They had a free concert at the park followed by fireworks. It was so much fun to watch our Rally girl as she danced along to all of the singers and to watch Grandpa and G man play in between. What a relaxing evening! We got to listen to David Osmond and the Spin Doctors. There is something about sitting on a grassy hill, listening to a band, that is so relaxing. My Dad pointed out something to me that I haven't thought of before. "Only in a little town could they have this. In a big town, people wouldn't come or the city wouldn't pay for this kind of event so that everyone could participate." There are some great blessings to living out here! But more important than the concert was the great time we got to spend as a family. Both kids were so well behaved! It never happens that way. So, I thought I would share some of our fun pictures
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
My Husband, the Teacher
So, it is coming back to that time of year. We have enjoyed the summer, but it is slowly coming to an end. In 21 days, school starts again for my husband. We love having him be a teacher, but with it come some serious budgeting issues for our little family. Like on how to stick to one. The Handsome Hubby gets paid once a month. I thought I was the master budgeter (is that a word?), but I am finding that with only getting paid once a month, I am faltering. My basic plan has always been paying all of the bills first. That pretty much means most of the money. Then, after all of the necessary bills are paid, pulling out the expenses that aren't necessarily bills. But somehow, throughout the month, things come up. I do a monthly grocery menu and budget. I plan down to the dime what it will cost. I think I have everything needed for the month. Then this Mama remembers something she needs. Or more importantly, something she really wants. Like that bag of candy that seems to call my name. Or stuff to make guacamole because that sounds fabulous, too! Before I know it, my small amount of liquid cash is gone. Then we are using the money budgeted for other things to pay for those expenses.
Starting next pay period, I am switching to the envelope method for any monthly expenses that may need to be watched more carefully. Before I was married and working in the banking industry, I recommended this for any clients that were having a hard time keeping the little bills in check. So, next month we are creating three envelopes: Groceries, Gas, and Diapers. Yep, those are the only three monthly expenses that I don't have control over with a tight fist. So, after I pay for everything, if there is any cash left in those little envelopes, it can be applied to a bill or be used for that lovely treat that we have been wanting. The only rule for the envelopes is this: when the money is gone, you are done. This is hard for a lot of people, but I keep reminding myself that it is either that or be stuck doing the juggling act. I am a clutz and really can't juggle, so any way to avoid it would be helpful to me and to my poor husband who would have to handle the panic if we go over!
Why do I talk about this? Why would I share my budgeting woes? Because I can't be the only one living this tight. I can't be the only one who fumbles in a budget. But never fear. Next month is here. The great thing about budgets is that every month you get to start over. Work on the small things that will yield the quickest results, and start again. I find that this advice is something that we should all be using for most aspects in our life. Take a deep breath. Start over, and focus on the things that you can change. The things that we can't change just get in the way. So many things in our life are out of our control. Yet we worry about them constantly. I am probably the worst person with this. I can't control that my son isn't doing well with potty training. Much to this mother's chagrin, that is something that I can't make him master. I can't make the stresses of life go away. I can only change what is in my realm of influence. This a great lesson that my husband, The Teacher, has given me. He has taught me that I need to realize I can't be in control of everything. Sometimes, you need to share the burden. Sometimes you need to let the burden go all together. He is constantly reminding me of this. I swear, there are days that he wanders around our house, mumbling under his breath "Let it go." Not in the mean way that it might sound like, but in the gentle reminder way.
Let it go. Do the very best you can in life, change the things that you have control over, and let the rest go. Thank you, honey, for teaching me this. For teaching me that next month is a new month. Tomorrow is a new day. We will figure it out. All of us.
Starting next pay period, I am switching to the envelope method for any monthly expenses that may need to be watched more carefully. Before I was married and working in the banking industry, I recommended this for any clients that were having a hard time keeping the little bills in check. So, next month we are creating three envelopes: Groceries, Gas, and Diapers. Yep, those are the only three monthly expenses that I don't have control over with a tight fist. So, after I pay for everything, if there is any cash left in those little envelopes, it can be applied to a bill or be used for that lovely treat that we have been wanting. The only rule for the envelopes is this: when the money is gone, you are done. This is hard for a lot of people, but I keep reminding myself that it is either that or be stuck doing the juggling act. I am a clutz and really can't juggle, so any way to avoid it would be helpful to me and to my poor husband who would have to handle the panic if we go over!
Why do I talk about this? Why would I share my budgeting woes? Because I can't be the only one living this tight. I can't be the only one who fumbles in a budget. But never fear. Next month is here. The great thing about budgets is that every month you get to start over. Work on the small things that will yield the quickest results, and start again. I find that this advice is something that we should all be using for most aspects in our life. Take a deep breath. Start over, and focus on the things that you can change. The things that we can't change just get in the way. So many things in our life are out of our control. Yet we worry about them constantly. I am probably the worst person with this. I can't control that my son isn't doing well with potty training. Much to this mother's chagrin, that is something that I can't make him master. I can't make the stresses of life go away. I can only change what is in my realm of influence. This a great lesson that my husband, The Teacher, has given me. He has taught me that I need to realize I can't be in control of everything. Sometimes, you need to share the burden. Sometimes you need to let the burden go all together. He is constantly reminding me of this. I swear, there are days that he wanders around our house, mumbling under his breath "Let it go." Not in the mean way that it might sound like, but in the gentle reminder way.
Let it go. Do the very best you can in life, change the things that you have control over, and let the rest go. Thank you, honey, for teaching me this. For teaching me that next month is a new month. Tomorrow is a new day. We will figure it out. All of us.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
My Daughter the Killer
We are trying very hard to grow a garden this year. Our yard is huge, though (compared to our previous yard). We are having some weed issues and have been spending a lot of time outside in the evenings, trying to weed and get our garden in good shape. This week, though, we have discovered that our daughter is a killer. She can't be left anywhere near any of the plants. She has feet of destruction. She will smash a plant in one single bound. She has mad throwing skills and thinks that those cool balls on the tomato plants are perfect for throwing. She pulled four tomatoes off the plants on Saturday. One was just getting big. This Mom had to have a moment of silence for the tomatoes. Or maybe that was so I would remember it's just a tomato plant. Then, when we were weeding last night, she pulled out three of our green bean plants. This girl is a destroyer of anything that Mom wants to can.
She is so curious. She wants to be a part of everything. I just wish that didn't include the garden. I feel bad closing the chain link fence around the garden while all of us are in there and she isn't. But if I want any of my plants to survive her toddlerhood, it may be a necessary. I thought the biggest problems that we would have would be the deer and rabbits. Nope. It is the Rally girl of doom. She is adorable as she is doing, it, too. When she smiles at you, calling Mommy, as she pulls out the plant, it's hard to get mad. It's just impossible to be happy about it either. So, tonight, we are going to put both kids in the sandbox while Mom and Dad weed. Now, just to remember to close the gate!!
She is so curious. She wants to be a part of everything. I just wish that didn't include the garden. I feel bad closing the chain link fence around the garden while all of us are in there and she isn't. But if I want any of my plants to survive her toddlerhood, it may be a necessary. I thought the biggest problems that we would have would be the deer and rabbits. Nope. It is the Rally girl of doom. She is adorable as she is doing, it, too. When she smiles at you, calling Mommy, as she pulls out the plant, it's hard to get mad. It's just impossible to be happy about it either. So, tonight, we are going to put both kids in the sandbox while Mom and Dad weed. Now, just to remember to close the gate!!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Menu Planning
So, I have addressed this before, but I love menu planning. I LOVE MENU PLANNING. It is weird of me. I enjoy going through cookbooks and finding recipes that I want to try. I enjoy finding recipes that use items that I regularly have in my cupboards. It is especially gratifying when I find a recipe that fits the above criteria AND my kiddos will eat! But mostly, I love menu planning because it is the answer to a lot of prayers in our family. I love being a stay at home mom. I love being the person to raise my two little monsters and I look forward to raising more kids as they join our family. The problem arises in the fact that our grocery budget is extremely small. My husband is a school teacher and doesn't make a ton of money (okay, let's be honest, even that is an overstatement). We have bills like every family. So we live frugal. Part of living frugal is menu planning. When I plan a menu, I find that I spend about $100 to $150 less a month than when I wing it.
I go grocery shopping once a month. I go grocery shopping following my menu. I don't buy extra's. I don't buy much in snacks. I save money for produce for the rest of the month. But the majority of our grocery shopping occurs in one fell swoop. I take my husband with me to make sure that we are on the same page. It sounds odd, but when either one of us go alone, we spend more money. Suddenly, that bag of chips looks really good. Those cookies are on sale. We really needed that soda. So we go together. When we have the list and both of us are on the same page, we can keep on track. I also do a TON of canning in the fall. I haven't purchased canned tomatoes since we got married. I can salsa, peaches, pears, juices, vegetables, jams, and as many other items as I can lay my hands on. It is a lot of money at one time, but I can get better quality for a lot less money. My kids love it. I love it. I always know that I have those things in my pantry. I plan a huge garden, too. If I can grow what I need to can, I didn't have to buy it. I currently have 36 tomato plants growing in my garden. They are the most expensive item I can, so if I can grow it, I just saved myself a ton of money!
Will I ever go back to the type of cooking I did before? No way. I enjoy making a menu. I enjoy not having the added stress every night of trying to figure out what's for dinner. I enjoy knowing that my family has a nice, home cooked meal every night. I even enjoy knowing that if I can't cook for some reason, my husband knows exactly where to go to find out what is for dinner. Here is how I do it:
I have made a list of recipes that I enjoy or want to try. I add new things as I find recipes that seem good. On this list, I include where the recipe is or I print out the recipe and attach it to my list. They are all together. Then, when I am ready, I pull out my spare calendar and figure out what nights I want each thing. I try to mix things up and not have too much hamburger, chicken, or any other meat all together. I take into account weekends, when sometimes I don't want to spend as much time cooking. I take into account holidays, birthdays, or church events. Those all impact my menu and budget. For example, my Handsome Hubby had his birthday last week. We had steak. That is not something I normally buy. Way too expensive for our little budget. But it is his favorite and sometimes we have to budget things like that into our menu. The same can be said about going to family events. When we go visit Grandma and Grandpa, the majority of our meals are things that I don't buy. But I do have to take into account things like taking a salad to a church party or taking a meal into someone that is sick or just had a baby. I build in two extra meals a month for that.
After I plan out my menu, I go through all the recipes and my cupboards with a fine tooth comb. I mark very clearly what I need to buy to make those meals. I also mark down anything that is getting low that I may need to replace. At the end of the shopping, if I have extra money, I will pick those up. It makes it a lot easier to make sure that I don't run out of the staples. I hate going to the store to pick up one or two things. I have never walked out without purchasing several extra items, even if it is the candy bar that I used to bribe my son into good behavior ( I know, I know. That's a whole different blog entry. I also plan out anything that I need to buy from a big store that isn't close by. When I go down to Salt Lake City, I take my trip to Costco to get the things that I can only get there. I make a list for everything!
I can't guarantee that this will work for everyone. It is a lot easier for my family right now. I have two little kids who don't eat much. When I make a meal, it usually lasts for two nights and I usually have enough left overs to send the Handsome Hubby with a nice lunch every day. Someday, this won't be the case. Someday, my kids will eat every single thing I put on the table. There will not be leftovers. But I am hoping that by making and keeping these habits now, we will be able to keep our budget reasonable. If I could convince people who are tight on money to do one thing, it would be menu planning. Try it. You might learn to like it as much as I do!
I go grocery shopping once a month. I go grocery shopping following my menu. I don't buy extra's. I don't buy much in snacks. I save money for produce for the rest of the month. But the majority of our grocery shopping occurs in one fell swoop. I take my husband with me to make sure that we are on the same page. It sounds odd, but when either one of us go alone, we spend more money. Suddenly, that bag of chips looks really good. Those cookies are on sale. We really needed that soda. So we go together. When we have the list and both of us are on the same page, we can keep on track. I also do a TON of canning in the fall. I haven't purchased canned tomatoes since we got married. I can salsa, peaches, pears, juices, vegetables, jams, and as many other items as I can lay my hands on. It is a lot of money at one time, but I can get better quality for a lot less money. My kids love it. I love it. I always know that I have those things in my pantry. I plan a huge garden, too. If I can grow what I need to can, I didn't have to buy it. I currently have 36 tomato plants growing in my garden. They are the most expensive item I can, so if I can grow it, I just saved myself a ton of money!
Will I ever go back to the type of cooking I did before? No way. I enjoy making a menu. I enjoy not having the added stress every night of trying to figure out what's for dinner. I enjoy knowing that my family has a nice, home cooked meal every night. I even enjoy knowing that if I can't cook for some reason, my husband knows exactly where to go to find out what is for dinner. Here is how I do it:
I have made a list of recipes that I enjoy or want to try. I add new things as I find recipes that seem good. On this list, I include where the recipe is or I print out the recipe and attach it to my list. They are all together. Then, when I am ready, I pull out my spare calendar and figure out what nights I want each thing. I try to mix things up and not have too much hamburger, chicken, or any other meat all together. I take into account weekends, when sometimes I don't want to spend as much time cooking. I take into account holidays, birthdays, or church events. Those all impact my menu and budget. For example, my Handsome Hubby had his birthday last week. We had steak. That is not something I normally buy. Way too expensive for our little budget. But it is his favorite and sometimes we have to budget things like that into our menu. The same can be said about going to family events. When we go visit Grandma and Grandpa, the majority of our meals are things that I don't buy. But I do have to take into account things like taking a salad to a church party or taking a meal into someone that is sick or just had a baby. I build in two extra meals a month for that.
After I plan out my menu, I go through all the recipes and my cupboards with a fine tooth comb. I mark very clearly what I need to buy to make those meals. I also mark down anything that is getting low that I may need to replace. At the end of the shopping, if I have extra money, I will pick those up. It makes it a lot easier to make sure that I don't run out of the staples. I hate going to the store to pick up one or two things. I have never walked out without purchasing several extra items, even if it is the candy bar that I used to bribe my son into good behavior ( I know, I know. That's a whole different blog entry. I also plan out anything that I need to buy from a big store that isn't close by. When I go down to Salt Lake City, I take my trip to Costco to get the things that I can only get there. I make a list for everything!
I can't guarantee that this will work for everyone. It is a lot easier for my family right now. I have two little kids who don't eat much. When I make a meal, it usually lasts for two nights and I usually have enough left overs to send the Handsome Hubby with a nice lunch every day. Someday, this won't be the case. Someday, my kids will eat every single thing I put on the table. There will not be leftovers. But I am hoping that by making and keeping these habits now, we will be able to keep our budget reasonable. If I could convince people who are tight on money to do one thing, it would be menu planning. Try it. You might learn to like it as much as I do!
Friday, June 28, 2013
Too Little Sleep
I love my children. I really do. I'm sure that all moms have used this as a mantra before. Today is one of those mornings for me. I sometimes wonder if I will ever get to sleep until 8 again. Or if I will ever get a whole nights sleep. But I know that someday, when my kids are all out on their own, that I will look back on this with fondness. Just not today. Today, I am exhausted and it is not even eight o'clock. We've already had breakfast and diaper changes and potty runs. G man has already built a fort in the front room. I would have thought he would have slept later since he didn't fall to sleep last night until after midnight. But no, apparently he has decided to be an early riser today.
Sometimes, as a mom, we do things out of habit. It's how we survive. We run our errands in an exhausted haze, with the hope for nap time being the only thing holding us together. We decide that it's too much energy to make our own lunch. We'll just eat whatever they don't. We throw on those yoga pants, yank our hair into a pony tail, and try to conquer our own little corner of the universe. Sometimes we are successful. Sometimes we are not. But we keep trying. That is how my day was yesterday. When the Handsome Hubby got home from work, most of the house was clean. The kids were fed and changed. I'd done a load of laundry. I'd even taken a shower. I was feeling mighty successful. Until the subject of dinner came up. There were leftovers, but they didn't sound very good. Neither did making dinner, so the leftovers won.
It must be ingrained in mothers to feel guilt. Once that child is in your arms, you feel guilty for everything. For not reading enough stories. For not making gourmet meals or even meals that they will try. For bribing our kids at the grocery store. For not reading enough books and watching too much television. For yelling at them when it is probably a teaching moment. For crying for no apparent reason. We live in a world of guilt. There is so much to do and only one of us. We have work or school or soccer games. We have more than it feels like we can carry on our shoulders. So we feel guilty. I would love to promise myself every day that the guilt won't come. It inevitably does. It's part of being a mom. I am learning to be grateful for the guilt. It means I'm striving to be better. I'm striving to be the mom my kids deserve. I'm striving to be the wife my husband deserves. At times, I'm still striving to be the daughter my parents deserve. But I'm still trying.
What a great opportunity we have every day. Every day starts fresh and clean. If today is starting off rough, tomorrow will be better. I have the chance to make it that way. I have the chance to change my life every day. I recently read another blog where they talked about being negative and the impact that it had on their life. It's true. The other truth is that we get to choose. We get to choose to look at the glass half full or half empty. We will slip up. We will fail. Trials will come and the world will not seem full of sunshine. It is up to us, however, to decide how to handle it. We can wallow in it permanently or we can take our five minutes of crying, straighten our shoulders, and try again.
So when you are having one of those, know you are not alone. When you hit your knees in prayer, feeling like there is nothing else you can do, you are not alone. There is an army of moms out there. They have t-shirts with stains on them. They have tired hair. They haven't worn makeup in a week. They pray for nap time and bedtime. But they have your back. They smile at the grocery store when your three year old throws a temper tantrum. Been there yesterday, have the trophy. Remember, you are part of a great and glorious tradition. A tradition of imperfection. None of them could do it all. You can't do it all. I most definitely can't do it all. So I'm giving myself a break today. I'm realizing that it's going to be a deep breath, counting the hours sort of day. It might be for all of us. We are not alone and if you feel like it, look around. We exhausted mothers are everywhere. If we could, we would give each other a high five, or a big hug and say "You can do it." And you can. Because you are a Mom.
Sometimes, as a mom, we do things out of habit. It's how we survive. We run our errands in an exhausted haze, with the hope for nap time being the only thing holding us together. We decide that it's too much energy to make our own lunch. We'll just eat whatever they don't. We throw on those yoga pants, yank our hair into a pony tail, and try to conquer our own little corner of the universe. Sometimes we are successful. Sometimes we are not. But we keep trying. That is how my day was yesterday. When the Handsome Hubby got home from work, most of the house was clean. The kids were fed and changed. I'd done a load of laundry. I'd even taken a shower. I was feeling mighty successful. Until the subject of dinner came up. There were leftovers, but they didn't sound very good. Neither did making dinner, so the leftovers won.
It must be ingrained in mothers to feel guilt. Once that child is in your arms, you feel guilty for everything. For not reading enough stories. For not making gourmet meals or even meals that they will try. For bribing our kids at the grocery store. For not reading enough books and watching too much television. For yelling at them when it is probably a teaching moment. For crying for no apparent reason. We live in a world of guilt. There is so much to do and only one of us. We have work or school or soccer games. We have more than it feels like we can carry on our shoulders. So we feel guilty. I would love to promise myself every day that the guilt won't come. It inevitably does. It's part of being a mom. I am learning to be grateful for the guilt. It means I'm striving to be better. I'm striving to be the mom my kids deserve. I'm striving to be the wife my husband deserves. At times, I'm still striving to be the daughter my parents deserve. But I'm still trying.
What a great opportunity we have every day. Every day starts fresh and clean. If today is starting off rough, tomorrow will be better. I have the chance to make it that way. I have the chance to change my life every day. I recently read another blog where they talked about being negative and the impact that it had on their life. It's true. The other truth is that we get to choose. We get to choose to look at the glass half full or half empty. We will slip up. We will fail. Trials will come and the world will not seem full of sunshine. It is up to us, however, to decide how to handle it. We can wallow in it permanently or we can take our five minutes of crying, straighten our shoulders, and try again.
So when you are having one of those, know you are not alone. When you hit your knees in prayer, feeling like there is nothing else you can do, you are not alone. There is an army of moms out there. They have t-shirts with stains on them. They have tired hair. They haven't worn makeup in a week. They pray for nap time and bedtime. But they have your back. They smile at the grocery store when your three year old throws a temper tantrum. Been there yesterday, have the trophy. Remember, you are part of a great and glorious tradition. A tradition of imperfection. None of them could do it all. You can't do it all. I most definitely can't do it all. So I'm giving myself a break today. I'm realizing that it's going to be a deep breath, counting the hours sort of day. It might be for all of us. We are not alone and if you feel like it, look around. We exhausted mothers are everywhere. If we could, we would give each other a high five, or a big hug and say "You can do it." And you can. Because you are a Mom.
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