Laugh Often

Here is the scene…a mother and toddler at the kitchen sink together, both still in their pajamas at 10:00 in the morning.   Mother is attempting to do the dishes and the toddler is going after every chance to catch the running water, tipping cups while spilling water all over.  To many this would look like a disaster and the scene of someone who is struggling, but it just hit me how amazing it all is.

This is my beautiful disaster, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

The books maybe prepare you for what to expect physically when you have a child, but nothing can prepare you for the emotional, beautiful disaster that happens when you become a mama.  Turning down the millionth request for cheese, the billionth “lay down and go to sleep” or “please sit down” and too many “out of your mouths” to count.  The constant tornado that comes through your house, the battle of going back inside the house after playing outside, and of course, the loss of any regular sleep schedule can take its toll on you.Beautiful Disaster.jpg

At times you wonder if you will make it, if you are strong enough. And then comes the “couch mama” followed by a pull at your leg and a pat on the couch when he just wants to snuggle, tiny arms and hands that reach up as you hear “hold you.” A toddler rubbing your arm for comfort as he falls asleep and the occasional kiss from those little lips.

While pregnant, you get the warnings from those who have been there.  They say motherhood changes things. And from the moment your child is placed in your arms, you feel it – love like no one could ever explain.  There are absolutely no words to describe how beautiful this love is.  With the right mindset, there are moments every day that will reveal how absolutely blessed you are.  Often times that beauty can be hidden beneath a disaster, if you look at it from the correct angle, suddenly you see that beautiful disaster appear in front you.

Find the patience and creativity to view the mother and toddler at the kitchen sink from a different angle.  Instead of looking at the water on the floor and the soaked PJs they are still wearing at 10:00, listen to the laughs. Watch as that child learns to say “Where are you?” while putting his hands up, frantically looking for the brush that has disappeared under the suds.  These are the moments where you will find the beautiful disaster.

Everyone has at least one best friend in their life that helps to complete them.  Terryn, My Honey, is that for me.  After Bo (and maybe sometimes before Bo), she is the first person I go to about anything and it is rare that we don’t chat at least once daily.  She starting her amazing blog Faith Family and Beef 2 years ago and has taken me under her blogging wing as I start my new adventure.

T and I
Terryn, My Honey (on the right) and I

Last week she was invited by a fellow blogger, Baby on the Brehm, to answer these Fifty Nifty Questions and extended the invitation along to me.

I was happy to accept the invitation so here you go, some things you may or may not know about me!

  1. Are you a morning or night person? I am not a morning person or night person but rock 11:30am like nobody’s business!
  2. Do you prefer, sweet or salty foods? Sweets are my weak spot, if they are in the house I will eat them.
  3. Ninjas or pirates? Ninjas.
  4. Ninjas vs pirates, discuss… The pirate life is not for me!
  5. Autobots or Decepticons? What?!?!
  6. What was your favorite childhood television program? Full House, every day after school.
  7. Are you a collector of anything? Nope, but my husband makes up for it with his Jersey and Lego collections.
  8. If you could be any animal, what would you be? Bird, it would be pretty awesome to fly.
  9. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Super Speed, for sh*ts and giggles sometimes I try to sprint at the track to feel fast, but I am sure it would be pretty comical for someone else to watch!
  10. What is usually your first thought when you wake up? “Back to Bed?!?!” unless for some reason it happens to be 11:30 (which doesn’t happen often), refer to Question #1
  11. What do you usually think about right before falling asleep? First, I thank the Lord for my blessings and then I hope that my kid sleeps all night.
  12. What’s your favorite color? Blue
  13. What’s your favorite animal? Horse, of course.  Someday, Someday!
  14. Do you believe in extraterrestrials or life on other planets? Nope.
  15. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes, but I prefer to call them spirits.
  16. Ever been addicted to a video/computer game? Which one(s)? Growing up we played a lot of Super Mario Bros and in college I played a lot of Guitar Hero while Bo was at work but not sure I would say I was addicted to either one of those.
  17. If you were given 1 million dollars, what do you spend it on? Pay off our mortgage, take a few family trips and donate some.
  18. Have any bad habits? Leaving clothes or items where they get taken off at or set down. See Question #30
  19. Which bad habits, if any, drive you crazy? Drivers that don’t pay attention.
  20. List 3 of your best personality traits: Independence, Logic, and Passion
  21. List 3 of your worst personality traits: Stubborn, Impatient, and an Overthinker
  22. Have any celebrity crushes? Matthew McConaughey, Alright, Alright, Alright!
  23. List 1 thing you wish you could change about yourself? My height, I would like wear long dresses more but they normally are too long.
  24. Any tattoos or piercings? Four piercings: ear lobes, right tragus and left cartilage
  25. What’s the first thing you notice in the opposite sex? Overall appearance
  26. What’s your dream date? Something that includes activity, Putt Putt golf, ice skating, etc.
  27. What personality traits do you look for in a partner? Supportive and Caring but also Humorous
  28. What personality traits do you dislike in other people? The inability to politely agree to disagree.
  29. Do you see yourself getting married in the next 5 years? Nope, already taken!
  30. Are you mostly a clean or messy person? Meh, Not tidy is more what I am.  I generally keep things wiped clean but have a hard time keeping things picked up.  If that makes any sense?!?
  31. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? “BS Ranch”, right where the heck I am.
  32. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? Back to Hawaii, the colors are beautiful there.
  33. List 5 goals on your life’s to-do list: Be an Inspiration, enjoy the little things in life, never stop learning, raise polite and responsible children, and stay active.
  34. Name 1 regret you have: No regrets, just situations to learn from.
  35. Name 1 thing you miss about being a kid: Naptime, who doesn’t love a good afternoon nap!
  36. Name 1 thing you love about being an adult: Now it would be setting my own schedule, I get to decide when I want to work and when I want to play (for the most part)
  37. What’s your favorite song of the moment? Tim McGraw, Humble and Kind
  38. What’s your favorite song of all time? Gary Allen The One, everytime I hear it I immediately can feel Bo and I dancing.
  39. What’s your favorite thing to do on a Saturday night? Spend the night at home with the fam.
  40. What’s your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon? Relax with the fam.
  41. Have any hidden talents? During college I learned how to rope a steer, for a city girl I would say that is pretty neat!
  42. You’re about to walk the green mile, what do you have as your last meal? Homemade Chicken Tacos with a softshell, refried beans, and then a hard shell inside and cucumbers instead of lettuce.
  43. What would be your dream job? Help inspire people (which is what I am getting to finally do!)
  44. Which would you rather have, 100 million dollars or true love? Are you kidding me? True Love.
  45. If you could have 3 wishes granted, what would they be? Healthy kids and family, that all children feel loved, and world peace.
  46. Ever wish you were born the opposite sex? The thought has crossed my mind, there would be times that it would be nice to not have to deal with boobs.
  47. Name 1 thing not many people know about you: I am a Clown, although I haven’t dressed up for years.  My Clown name is “Love” and I can do a few tricks on the Diablo.
  48. If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to? I like that my name is unique but most people spell it wrong.  If I had to change it I would go with Alexis.
  49. Do you believe in the afterlife? You bet I do.
  50. How do you feel about cookies? Yum! (See Question #2)