Following Dreams Around

Raising children is challenging. Vividly I remember the day Will came home from the hospital thinking wait! they are just going to let me take him home? I have no idea what I'm doing here!

That sentiment has repeated itself over and over. There are plenty of opinions on the subject of rearing children, but no actual manual. No one told me I'd never sleep a full night again!

I have some friends with brand new babies who are in the same boat. My best friend is going to be a mom, too! I am excited and hopeful for them and I also know they will never sleep a full night again. Do I tell them? Not at first....why scare them while the baby is still novel and new. Once they realize the reality of being a parent, there is no turning back.

My children have gotten bigger, older and more fun as time passes! Here's what a day in our life kinda looks like....

We make pizzas! We all LOVE pizza! Ordering out is not always in the budget, so I get dough from Pipkin's and we make our own! This way, I know pepperoni fingers aren't touching all over my pizza and there is always the right amout of sauce. Kids like to make food.

Will checking portal to see what his home work is. Probably watching youtube, too...

Hannah loves rolling out dough!

See- perfect amount of sauce!

Our finished, delicious pizza!

This is my kitchen. I spend a lot of time in it, so it is full of things I adore. Like Ravens. Crows. Blackbirds. I dig 'em.

and lots and lots of skulls. See that Jack and Sally figure? That was our wedding cake topper. love!

MDH made this for me! It's a little shadow box with a skeleton singing to the moon! Isn't it dreamy? I love it so much!

You may think it looks Halloweenish in my kitchen right now, but I can assure you it's all year round....sometimes, I just can't bring myself to put it all away!

Hannah drawing in my art room/ bedroom!

Will painting a Robot!

This is Will's Robot he painted. When all the homework and chores are done, we go upstairs and make things. Each of them has a small table set up with paints and paper and fabric, They are allowed to make whatever they want to! Sometimes, they draw. Other times, they want to learn how to sew or paint and we do it together. I love it that they are like this- that their imaginations spin and whirl, they want to pull out those ideas and make them real. That's the best part of being a parent, the time we spend being ourselves, no yelling, no struggles, we just do something we all love together and enjoy each others company. Those moments spent are what makes 3 hours of math homework not so enraging.

Like all parents, I would like to think I am guiding and teaching my children in the ways of the world. More often, they are the ones teaching me- how to be patient and kind even when I want to scream! I have learned how to provide healthy meals, clean up our home, balance a checkbook, make better decisions for myself and them. I am more adept at choosing what's important over what's fun. I don't know if you can instill that in them any other way than by doing it myself.

I am leaving my job at Starbucks to be a full time mom and a full time fabric artist. The decision did not come easy and where there is change there is fear. I think Steve Jobs said it so well when he said your heart and intuition already know who you are. I want to follow my dreams! Please wish me luck on this endeavor, keep us lifted up in prayer and keep us in mind if you know anyone who would love a gift from a local artist. This is gonna be fun!

James 1:5, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." (NLT)