Good Fathers Make Good Sons

OK I'm going to admit it, I am a bit of reality show junky. Now with that said I was watching Celebrity Rehab today and on this episode they had children of addicts. It was really sad to hear their stories but what hit me the hardest is that none of them had their fathers in their lives or even knew who they were. I've heard it said that our nation is in the position that it is in because we have become a "fatherless nation" in more ways than one.
This is a quote that I read and couldn't agree with it more."Fatherlessness is the most harmful demographic trend of this generation. It is the leading cause of declining child well-being in our society. It is also the engine driving our most urgent social problems, from crime to adolescent pregnancy to child sexual abuse to domestic violence against women. Yet, despite its scale and social consequences, fatherlessness is a problem that is frequently ignored or denied. Especially within our elite discourse, it remains largely a problem with no name".
I can't explain how THANKFUL I am for my husband TJ. He works 60+ hours a week so that I can stay at home with AJ. He comes home everyday for lunch to see us and spend just a little bit of time with AJ in case when he gets home he's asleep. He Loves us and provides everything we need. There is no way I could ever (not that I have to) repay him for giving me the opportunity to be the one who raises our son instead of a nanny or daycare. Not only is he a Great Husband But He's an Awesome Dad. He loves AJ with every fiber of his being and I see it everyday.

Without the Rain there would be no Rainbow

We went over to Lake Defuniak to take a walk today BUT with all the rain the sidewalks were under water. So we visited with the ducks for a bit and enjoyed the sunshine and headed back to the house. Perfect timing too AJ was getting tired from only taking a 30 min nap earlier so he was ready for another nap. We will have to remember to bring some treats for the ducks next time. He loved them he would just squeal and smile. It was fun!

Home is Where you Park it!

This weekend My Dad Ron and Step mom Georgia came to visit us here in Defuniak. They pulled their 5th wheel and stayed at a nice little RV park across the lake from us. As soon as they got here and set up AJ and I went over to see them. When we first got there we were all excited to see each other and we talked about how big AJ had gotten since their last visit and caught up and laughed. After a while we went inside and opened a gift that didn't get mailed with AJ's other Christmas gifts and got it put together. This gift couldn't have came at a better time because BOY he sure likes it. He's just really sitting up good now and with this toy he can look in the mirror at himself and it plays music when the buttons are pressed and lights up.

We just spent quality time together and we did take a trip down to Destin to Destin Commons Outlet. Georgia wanted to buy AJ an outfit and ended up finding a SUPER cute one. I can't wait to get his pictures done in it.

All in all we had a Great time with Papa and Mimi. We were sad to see them go!

YALL COME BACK NOW, YA HEAR!

Proverbs 22:6

I was thinking tonight, what is the right way to raise a child? This is my personal POV(point of view).

I don't remember being raised so to speak. I think that's something that happens when your really not thinking about it. It's only since I've been thinking about the bring up of my son that I think of my own raising. I was raised in a christian home where at around 11 years old My Daddy prayed with me to receive Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I always knew Jesus was there for me and never stopped believing but did stray from my christian walk at times. Then later when I was about 25 I rededicated my life. Since then I have had my stumbles but hey no body's perfect. I Thank my parents for planting that seed because I don't believe I would be the person I am today without my belief system. Now that's just a little background.

When I think about being raised nothing comes to mind except for things like going to church, my mom teaching me to sew, fry chicken, make dressing for Thanksgiving and other recipes. My Dad teaching me to roller skate, making oyster stew at night and letting me have some (there for which my love of oyster stew came from). And My Gran and Poppy I learned differently from them. My Gran had sayings for example: "pretty is as pretty does" and "a women can throw away more on a teaspoon than a man can bring in on a shovel". That's a couple but there are many more(as I think of them I'm sure I'll talk about them). And My Poppy had this knack for building things from him I learned that you can always make your own "blue print".

What I've learned most from all of these influences in my life is that even though all of these little things add up and make life interesting the biggest impression that was made wasn't anything they told me or taught me but it was how they led by example. They didn't have to write a rule book and make us (My sister, brother and I) memorize it. It was just part of everyday life.

Now thinking about raising AJ...knowing how I learned I know that I have to play "monkey see, monkey do". I can't expect anymore from him than I do myself. No rule books just life lessons and I have trust that even when he may stray he'll come back because the"seed" was planted.

When the seed is planted I have to water and give it lots of sunshine to help it grow. When it gets out of had and is growing so fast before it has that strong root system I'm going to have to cut it back some so it doesn't get top heavy and fall over. Then at last when I know that the tree is grounded and has a strong root system I'll be able to sit back and watch it flourish and bloom!

It just Clicked

TJ and I have had a few struggles with this amazing and wonderful change in the last 6 months. Since just before AJ arrived I have only been working 1 weekend a month. This was the most sensible thing given the situation. Babysitters are expensive and being a money making cosmetologist takes a little time in a new town. We've had to sacrifice "things" but that's really all they are is "things". We have a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, heat in our house when it's been sooo cold outside, clean clothes, and the list goes on and on. When it's all said and done I'm not going to look back and remember the name or mega pixels of the latest gizmo that I could afford if I was working full time. However on the other hand I'm looking at my life as a Mother...this is not a "dress rehearsal" this is the real deal. NO REWIND BUTTON!

Tonight I was reading my cousins Blog, The Life of a Firefly. She has 4 children and is a stay-at-home, home schooling Mom. The thing is, She is a certified teacher. I looked at her home schooling as being like my doing hair. If my son wants to learn how to do hair, I can teach him. What I'm trying to say is I have NO confidence in myself to be a homeschooling mom.

Until...It CLICKED!

In her blog she talked about reevaluating. For some reason that never entered my mind. Maybe I CAN do this, with an open mind, a network, a head start and good communication with AJ along the way. In talking with my sister, who has been doing a lot of research to help in her decision about homeschooling, she told me, "Ya know if you think about it...From the time our children are born we are teaching them". Well in those 6 amazing and wonderful months I have seen so many "light bulbs" turn on. We're learning together in someways.

SO this is what I have came to...

Who more than Myself would enjoy teaching, facilitating, encouraging, empowering and watching AJ have those "Ah-Ha" moments. I have the perfect career that I can pick my hours and when the time comes for me to work , I will BUT not at a sacrifice to AJ. I have about 3-4 years to research and make sure I'm equipped with the necessary goods to do the job and do it well. I'm sure it will not always be easy but I know it will be rewarding to know that "My Little Acorn" did grow into a "Great, Strong, Tall Oak" because he did grow "slowly and well".

And so another Adventure Begins : )

I Woof You!

Today is Valentines Day and My Wonderful Husband is a work, unfortunately BUT...Fortunately I have a New Valentine this year : )

LOVE has a totally new meaning this year. When I was a youngster I couldn't imagine loving anybody as much as I Love my Mom, Dad, Gran and Poppy. Then as an Adult I met TJ and that love is a different love, a love that makes me feel as though we are in this world for each other. Still yet there is this love that I have for AJ that is like no other. A love that makes me feel stronger yet weak all at the same time. In short, I feel so fortunate to have so much love in my life...My Cup truly runneth over!

Happy Valentines Day ♥

Great things come from small beginnings

Today I finally took the plunge and decide to start a blog about My life as AJ's Mom, TJ's Wife and Everything in between. AJ is a little over 6 months old now and I feel as though every day that passes that he learns something new, I'm forgetting those times when he did little more than lay there cooing. I thought back today about how tiny he was when we brought him home and how I felt the car seat was going to swallow him whole. Well the reason I was recalling all of these memories is because in the mail yesterday I received a little blue box. TJ and I are always buying things from ebay and I thought this is another on of his fishing lures or maybe a necklace or something that I had gotten. SURPRISE-SURPRISE! I opened the little blue box and inside was a porcelain baby shoe with AJ's name, date and time of birth, weight and length. I thought...Oh this must be from My Dad and Georgia because We had also received Valentine Day Cards but to My surprise it was from Dr. Graham. My Doctor and the Doctor who delivered AJ. What a nice keepsake that just made my DAY!