Five Minute Friday: {motherhood should come with}

I'm joining Five Minute Friday over at the Gypsy Mama. The rules for the post are that it only has to take you five minutes to write. This week's topic is...

Motherhood should come with...

When I became a mother, I really wish I would have received a few helpful items.

1. The ability to adjust the volume in my ears, making myself immune to noisy toys and annoying songs on kids shows.

2. Special goggles to wear that would make impervious to Brandon's cute faces when he gets in trouble.

3. A time out button that would allow me to google, read a Dobson book, or go ask my mom what I should to in a certain situation.

4. A way to slow time down, because for some reason my kids seem to be growing up quicker than other kids.

5. An extra set of arms, that could hold the baby, cook, and put away dishes all at the same time.

However, most of the time I have the lyrics to "John Deere Country" in my head. I melt when Brandon gives me certain looks. I have to make many split second decisions, and my kids continue to grow like weeds. One thing that seems to come with motherhood though, is the ability to love someone more than I ever thought possible. Your heart has to grow two sizes when a new baby comes, and I guess that will have to do until I invent that extra set of arms.

Five Minute Friday: the hard love...

I'm joining Five Minute Friday over at the Gypsy Mama. The rules for the post are that it only has to take you five minutes to write. This week's topic is...

the hard love...

It's Good Friday, and my mind has been thinking today about what Christ did for me on the cross. Truly, Christ experienced "hard love" becuase He did a hard thing for a hard person.

He gave Himself, for me. Me, the girl that found Him early in life, but often takes Him for granted. Me, the woman that likes to take credit for things He gave me. Me, the woman who is "so busy," I struggle to find time for Him. With all my failures, I truly was "the hard love," but still, He loved me.

Five Minute Friday: If you met me...

I'm joining Five Minute Friday over at the Gypsy Mama. The rules for the post are that it only has to take you five minutes to write. This week's topic is...


If you met me...


If you met me, you would probably be surprised at how different I sound in real life. Recently, Shad and I were having a serious conversation and when I couldn't get my thoughts together, he said, "I want to talk to internet Stephanie!" It's not that I am any different on my blog,(I try to be very genuine in my writings), but it's just that I suffer from a 15 minute delay brain.


I've talked about this before on facebook, but 15 minute brain is a condition that causes me to think of the perfect thing to say 15 minutes after a conversation ends. I always think of the perfect example or comeback 15 minutes too late, and by that time my insights are useless.


On Calculating Blessings or facebook, I get the chance to take time and put my thoughts together, and my 15 minute delay brain thrives. I guess I'm witty, but not QUICK witted. If only five minute Friday were twenty Minute Friday.

Five minute Friday: a few of my favorite things...

I'm joining Five Minute Friday over at the Gypsy Mama. The rules for the post are that it only has to take you five minutes to write. This week's topic is...


A few of my favorite things...


Ball jars, and flowers, and old Pyrex dishes.

bright colored purses and Lisa Leonard jewelry

finding "You have a package" slip in our PO box

These are a few of my favorite things.

BBQ, twangy accents, and all things southern.

horses, corn, the Bay and all things eastern shore.

These are a few of my favorite things .

Brandon when he first wakes up, and is still kind of sleepy.

Collin when he rolls around squealing all over our floor.

Shad when he plays with our boys.

These are a few of my favorite things.

Five Minute Friday- {waking up...}

I'm joining Five Minute Friday over at the Gypsy Mama. The rules for the post are that it only has to take you five minutes to write. This week's topic is...

Waking up...

For the past year, waking up has been my favorite part of the day. I usually try to get up about an hour before the boys do. This is absolutely my favorite time of the day. Some people can wake right up and hit the ground running, but this hour gives me a chance to wake up slowly and take a few minutes to breath before I start my crazy day.

Five Minute Friday- {on waiting...}

I'm joining Five Minute Friday over at the Gypsy Mama. The rules for the post are that it only has to take you five minutes to write. This week's topic is...

On Waiting....

When I saw the topic for this week, I thought, "Why this topic?"

Waiting is a sensitive subject for our family. We've been waiting for a certain prayer request for four years. Shad surrendered to preach four years ago. Four years ago, I thought, "In a few months, Shad will be pastoring." Four years later, and I have to laugh at that.

In the beginning, Shad pastoring was all we thought or talked about. Life all seemed to hang on that one puzzle piece. Now, four years later, we both realize that Shad pastoring is just one piece of our lives, and we are waiting on God to work out the details.

The major lesson I have learned in this time of waiting is, God is still good even if he doesn't answer that major prayer request. His hand is still at work in our lives, in His daily handfuls of blessings He give to us.

5 Minute Friday- I feel most loved when...

I don't normally post twice in one day, but I found Five Minute Friday over at the Gypsy Mama, thanks to this new blogger friend. The rules for the post are that it only has to take you five minutes to write. (There's also a small prize involved, and I can't resist a prize.) This week's topic is...

I feel most loved when...

Earlier this week, I was going about my normal business when Shad stopped me. He looked me straight in the eyes and told me, "I have been thinking about you today at work, and how lucky I am." He then went on to say several things that he loved about me. The things he loved about me focused on who I was as a person. Who I am at my heart, and not just the things that I do for him. I know he loves my cooking, and I know he loves that I take care of the boys, but I feel most loved when he reminds me that he loves me for who I am not just what I do.