Sacrifice

Dear Readers Who Still Read This Blog,

I have missed you. Here at the Johnson house, we were blessed with a 10lb, 15 oz baby boy on November 9th. We signed adoption papers and brought him home on November 12th. This last month has given me a lot to reflect upon, especially as it relates to sacrifice.
Probably not many of us have made the decision to place a baby for adoption, but I know that being a mother and father calls for daily sacrifice. We make sacrifices to stay home with our children, or to miss a work meeting so we can be at their activities.

At the Johnson house, I have learned a lot of lessons about sacrifice. Mostly, I have started understandinh the sacrifices that my parents made, in order to give us the best life they could. My dad worked two or three jobs and went to school in order to get an education and support our family. My mom never once in my entire life missed any activity I ever did. That's including the small awards ceremonies, and the 5 minute singing moments of my life. She went to school at nights and has since gotten degrees in higher education.

I have always wanted to be a mother, and getting children to our home has come as a bit of a trial, but we have been so richly blessed. We have been blessed twice by the sacrifices of two young women; both who said they were taking their mistakes and making them good. By them making a good choice we have been blessed with two of our three sons.

At this point I ask:

WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM SACRIFICE DURING YOUR TIME AS A PARENT? What have you had to sacrifice? What has sacrificing taught you?

Finally,  I'd like to touch on the ultimate sacrifice; the gift that a loving God gave us through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. I believe in a Supreme Being; a Creator of the Universe, and a Heavenly Father who wants us to be happy. In order for us to enjoy the blessings of eternity, we had to have a perfect way that could only be provded through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Tuesdays in tucson
Humbled by the gift of sacrifice,

Brandi

the Middle Place

"The Middle Place is about calling home. Instinctively. Even when all the paperwork-a marriage license, a notarized deed, birth certificates, and years of tax returns - clearly indicates you are an adult, but all the same, there you are, clutching the phone and thanking God that you're still somebody's daughter."

I'm reading this book called the Middle Place about a mother who is diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoes treatment. While she is taking care of her family and fighting the battle of cancer, she learns her father was just diagnosed with cancer for a second time. She shares an incredible relationship with her dad and experiences this 'middle place' where you balance the role of being an adult and raising children of your own while still being very much a child yourself.

It's an incredible book based on true events of Kelly Corrigan's life. She tells an amazing story about how sometimes we fall short in a quest to be everything our family needs. I have felt so enlightened by her story and wanted to share it with you.

What are some of your favorite books about moms or motherhood?

Let Us Give Thanks...

I know it's been almost a week since Thanksgiving, but I am wondering what about being a mother are you most thankful for. For me, I am most thankful that God entrusted me with such an incredible spirit and I hope I don't disappoint Him.

The Things Kids Say...

I have been amazed at the things Sara has been saying lately. She turned 2 about a month ago. Here are just a few of the funny things she says:

"Mark, set, go!"
"1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9"
"That's enough."
"Almost ready for night night"
"Yellow apple juice"
"I want green gum too"
"You 1, I'm 2"
"S-A-R-A is Yara!"
"I'm cute too?"
"I pick, I choose"
"Money in my pocket, Momma?"

Here is a conversation I had with her yesterday:
ME: Sara, what is your daddy's name?
Sara: Cameron
ME: What is your momma's name?
Sara: Karen
ME: Who is your best friend?
Sara: Chloe
ME: Where do you live?
Sara: Hot!

Here is a conversation I have with her on most mornings:
Sara: Where's Daddy?
ME: Daddy is at work.
Sara: In a meeting?
ME: Maybe, I don't know.
Sara: Meeting at church.
ME: No, not at church. Daddy is at work.
Sara: Meeting at work.

And she has discovered "why". She now asks why to almost everything I say. This is going to be a lovely stage, I can just tell. What are some of the funny things your kids say?

Trust Me

I am constantly amazed at the amount of trust children have for their parents. I guess it's their only option, considering we take care of them. But still, and okay, maybe I'm the only parent that ever thinks of things like this, but how is it that when Sara is in totally mismatched shirt and pants she doesn't say something? And how when I take her to the store with sucker on her face and Cheetos on her shirt, she doesn't asked to be cleaned off first to save herself some embarrassment? I'm not embarrassed for her, but I would be if I were the one with sucker on my face and Cheetos on my shirt.

She lets me swing her on the swing and play on the play ground without so much ask asking for me to sign a waiver of protection. She jumps to me from the stairs and asks me to hold her hand to cross the street. She knows that I am going to be there when she wakes up and to feed her 3 meals a day. She knows that when we get in the car, I'm going to drive as safely as I can to protect her and that if anyone tried to hurt her, they'd have to get through me first. (I've been taking combat, I'm a lot tougher than I look)

Our children know that we want the best for them, would do anything for them, and love them unconditionally. Isn't it amazing that they trust us in spite of our imperfections? Well, mine at least. I feel so lucky that Sara trusts me so much. And maybe I'll try and match her clothes more often. I don't want her looking like a complete ragga-muffin.

There and Back

Cameron is taking a "guys trip" to South Bend this weekend to see the Utes play Notre Dame. After last weeks loss to TCU, let's hope they actually show up. He has been super excited about this trip and planning it for months. I decided I wouldn't let this opportunity pass me by. I made arrangements for Sara and I to travel about 2 hours North to Prescott, AZ. My cousin moved there recently and we always have a great time.

I packed the car up and we headed out yesterday around noon. Got to Prescott, hung out, went to Target, ate amazing pumpkin pancakes, watched my first cage fight, watched the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (seriously, Camille!) and chatted with my cousin. Sara went down for bed around 8 and I went to bed just after 10. I was woken up at 10:47pm to crying from the closet. (Sara sleeps in the closet when we go visit. Don't worry, it's not torture, it just so happens that her pack 'n play fits in there perfectly and it gives her a quiet space.) I went in and held her for a few minutes and put her back down. Again with the crying at 11:29pm. At my house I would have let her scream, but I couldn't let her wake up the whole house. I went in again and put her back down. I thought for sure that would be it, but no. More crying at 11:58pm. I couldn't fall asleep in the anticipation that she was going to wake up again, which she did. At 12:57 she was screaming "Mommy, Mommy go home".

By now, I was wide awake and it didn't look like either of us were going to get any sleep, so I loaded all our stuff back up in the car and we drove home. Sara fell asleep for the last 45mins of the 2 hour drive. We got home around 2:30 and I finally got to sleep around 3:30. So needless to say, I am exhausted. It wouldn't have been too too bad if Sara had decided to sleep in, but no. She was chipper as could be by 7am. Why do I torture myself by trying to travel with this little one?

Parents Picks

Nickelodeon released it's 2010 Parents' Picks of 2010. Check them out here. Top picks of everything from diapers bags to parenting tips, sippy cups to strollers. Check it out!

Miracles

Once, my husband and I had planned a two week trip to Europe.
Starting in Vienna, then headed to the Czech Republic, and flying back to The Promised Land of America.
Grandma was coming, tickets were bought, plans were made!

THEN

our social worker called us, and informed us that we had been chosen by a beauitful birth mother; Nicole, to adopt a baby girl due November 8th. Yes, this November 8th! (haha, I know, I actually had to double check my self, since it was sooo fast!)

Trip to Europe; cancelled
Trip to hospital; still awaiting a call with -"I'm in labor" status
Our family growing by two feet; PRICELESS.

Needless to say, I will be taking a few Tuesdays off, to readjust to life at home with a new tiny piece of heaven.

The Miracle of adOPTION,
Tuesdays in Tucson,

Brandi

Thinking Preschool

Since school started a few months ago, I've been thinking about what we should do in terms of Sara's education. I know she just turned 2, but it's never too early to start thinking about education, right? Her birthday is in October, which means she can will start kindergarten when she is 5 just a couple of months later. She may be older than some of her classmates, but it will also give her an opportunity to participate in 3 years of preschool.

There are a variety of preschools available, some in peoples home, through the public/private school system, some offered by church organizations. How do you know what preschool is right for your child or when your child is ready for preschool?

The state of Arizona offers a program for children called the Arizona Early Intervention Program. If you have concerns about how your child plays with others, learns, communicates, sees, hears, and moves you can contact them for more information. It is not necessarily a program for children with disabilities. In fact, I have a few friends whose children are in the program and have seen incredible results with speech development, social interaction, and behavior.

You know your child best and it's never too late to start planning for their bright future!

Pump it UP!

I joined the gym a couple of months ago. There were really 2 reasons why I joined the gym. 1) I thought it would be good for Sara to interact with other kids and get a break from me and 2) So I could burn some energy and hopefully relieve some stress. Prior to joining the gym, I hadn't worked out in years. Seriously, years!

I have been going to the gym pretty regulalry for the last 8 weeks or so. This past week/weekend was very busy and Cameron's parents were in town. I wasn't able to go to the gym for a few days and I noticed a HUGE difference. Isn't it amazing how you don't realize you need something until you don't have it anymore? Kind of like the DVR. I have decided that going to the gym is a really good thing for me and that I am much more patient mommy when I have had the chance to exercise.

So, if you are looking for a way to get out and relieve some stress... the gym is a great way to go! If you aren't able to go to the gym, are there little tricks you have to give yourself a break or check out for a bit?