Embrace the Mess

Not long ago I came across a quote that instantly spoke to me, "Embrace the Mess!" These 3 words nearly slapped me in the face when I read them. You see, I'm a bit of a neat freak. Okay, maybe not just a bit; I'm a total neat freak! (I get it from my mom, she's the same way.) Some people would call it OCD. I like things to be in their place and for everything to be clean, picked up, and neat. While this can be a good quality to have, it can also sometimes drive a person crazy. As other moms know, it's almost impossible for everything to be in order all the time when you've got a busy toddler at home.

So, I decided to make this "embrace the mess" a new goal for myself. I even had the above print made to hang in our gallery wall in the living room as a reminder. I'm slowly trying to teach myself to embrace the mess. It's often much easier said than done, especially when you prefer things to be in their proper places. My husband often reminds me that Southern Living isn't coming for our home photo-shoot. The fingerprints on the doors, stainless steel appliances, and windows, along with the toys in the floor, are little reminders that our house is filled with joy and love. These little things are also reminders that we are blessed with the gift of being parents to a healthy and precious child. Once every other week, the fingerprints and smears are gone for maybe a day or two after the housekeeper makes her stop by our house. During the time in between her visits, I'm learning to let it go and embrace it all. Our house is a home, and it's the place where we live. I want Mac and our other future children to have good memories from home. I want them to feel like we lived in our home, and have fond memories of it. I want them to remember the times that their mama played with them or cooked their favorite meals, not all the times she spent cleaning up their messes.

Now don't get me wrong, I am still a neat freak. I struggle with embracing the mess almost daily. At the end of the evening before I go to bed, I pick things up and put them in their proper places. We're also teaching Mac how to pick up after himself, and put things away once he's finished with it. I'm just trying to loosen up and live in the moment instead of worrying about the house being in perfect condition all of the time. Because as much I hate to think about, I know deep down that far too soon this little boy will be a big boy and one day our house be too neat and too quiet, so for now we will embrace the mess.

A Letter to Myself...10 years later

This year, 2015, marks 10 years ago we graduated high school. Tis the season of reunions, so I wrote a letter to my high school graduate self. 

Dear Lyndi,

You just finished high school, and you feel like you have accomplished one of the biggest goals in life. Yes, you have as graduating high school is major milestone. There were days you thought you'd never not have to see the walls of Muskogee High but those days are now gone. You're on the verge of opening a brand new chapter. The days ahead of you will bring home sickness, sleepless nights of studying, and new friendships. On the days you want to move back home, just listen to your mother. You're getting an opportunity of a lifetime and you should cherish every minute of it.

If you knew today what I know now, you would be way more appreciative than you are today for the opportunity you're being given. There are other 18 year-olds that would give anything to be your shoes.

In 10 years you'll look back and think about how fast the time went by. You'll be in at a place in life you never imagined you'd be in just 10 years. You and Clete are married for over 4 years, you have a beautiful home, and the most adorable little toddler boy. Your heart and home are filled with joy, and lots of love!  You earned your degree from OU in less than 4 years and now have a successful career in the world of accounting, I know it sounds bizzare.

There will be days that you ask God, why me? And there will be some decisions you make that you'll question if they were the right ones. But you'll later learn that someone out there is always fighting a bigger battle than you are, and heartache and hurt are just a part of this life.

There isn't anything we would change. All the things we've gone through are what have made us who we are today.

So when the days get hard, hang in there! There are better days ahead, and great things in store for you. "You can do all things through Him that gives us strength."

XOXO

Your Best is Good Enough.

I've only been a mother for a short almost 9 months, but I've learned a whole lot more in these 9 months that I ever thought I would. You see, I have always wanted to be a mother. I knew without a doubt growing up that I wanted babies of my own. It was no question between Clete and I that one day we would have a family. Becoming a mama is the most difficult and the best task I've ever been given. I'm perfectly satisfied with having the label, Mac's Mom. It has the perfect ring to it! ;) However, being a mama this day in age is often overwhelming. Everyone has to put in their two cents on Facebook, or voice their opinion on why they think it's better to breastfeed or use cloth diapers, etc. But let me tell you, don't compare yourself to others because your best if good enough.

There aren't too many things that make me more upset than when I hear women judging how other mothers choose to do things. If anyone should know how us mamas need encouragement and support it should be another mother. I believe we as women should lift each other up and encourage one another. A mom should be the very last person to criticize another mom for how she does things for her family. Some of us breastfeed and some of us use formula; and then there are also those of us like myself that wanted to breastfeed and even tried to but encountered problems so we chose formula because it was what seemed best for our babies. Some of us choose regular diapers, and others of us choose cloth diapers. Some of us opt for pain meds during the birth process, and others of us go all natural, but either way we're all brave. Some of us co-sleep, and others of us let the baby cry it out; some of us stay home with our babies and others of us send them to daycare while we also have a career. Some of us let our babies eat food out of a jar or pouch, and others of us make everything our baby eats. No matter how you may do things, know that your best is good enough mama.

Your best is good enough. Don't you let anyone, not one single person tell you anything different. Your best is good enough, always remember that. Whatever works for me and my family may not work you, and that's okay. My way only needs to work for me. Every baby is completely different. There are no two babies that are alike. It's all about finding whatever works for you and your little one. Your happy medium only has to work for you, no one else. So the next time your little one looks up at you with their sweet smile let it be a reminder that your best is good enough. You will always be super mom in your child eyes!

New Year, New Goals!

Happy New Year, friends! We are welcoming 2015 with open arms, and can't wait to see what all is in store for us in the year that lies ahead. Just like most of you, the new year brings about new goals and resolutions for me. I sat down during my time off over Christmas and made a list of my goals for 2015. I have several different goals, but my ultimate goal is to be able to mark each of these off my list before we bring 2015 to a close. I may elaborate on this list of goals in a later post, but for now I'm just going to list them out. I know what they mean, and that's what really matters. 

Goals for 2015

1. Grow closer to the Lord.

2. Save more, spend less.

3. Eat healthier (clean). 

4. Be more active.

5. Blog more regularly.  

6. Stress less. 

7. Not sweat the small stuff.

8. Better life balance.

9. Be a better wife & mom.

10. Unplug for a day.

11. Go on a "parents only" weekend.

12. Become more involved in our church.

13. Eat out less.

14. Not let our ironing pile up.

15. Start jogging.

16. Be a good example for Mac.  

             

I've put my goals out there and shared, so I'd love to hear some feedback from you. What are your goals for the new year? 

iPhone pic NYE 2K15 | Boulevard Lanes | Edmond, OK 

From our family to yours, we wish you a healthy and prosperous 2015! May this year be even better than the last. CHEERS to the New Year!

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"You don't do Facebook?"

The question above is one I feel like I've gotten a lot the past 6+ months. No, I don't do Facebook. I was a member of the social network for about 10 years, but earlier this year we parted ways for multiple reasons.

image source
I came across this on Pinterest and thought it was a perfect fit for this post!

#1 DRAMA. There IS way too much drama on Facebook. And too many people use FB for the wrong reasons. Some use it solely for drama IMO. You know, the person who posts their whole life story on your newsfeed about how their cheating spouse did this now, or how she's done with that no good for nothing baby daddy... Blah! That isn't what Facebook is for, or what anyone wants to see blowing up their newsfeed. Facebook also brought way too much drama to my life. I don't do drama well, and I really don't do it well when others create it with me. Especially because of a social network. It's those people that like to live in constant drama, they're part of the reason I broke off my 10 year relationship with FB.

#2 CONTROL. It was getting to the point that Facebook was controlling me. You might chuckle, or roll your eyes but ask yourself is it controlling you? FB was the first thing I check when I woke up in the mornings, and the last thing I looked at before going to bed. It's an obsession that way too many people have now days. I was tired of being controlled by some stupid ap on my iPhone that's a social network. Some of you probably need to stop letting it control you too. Just sayin.

#3 PROOF. I needed to be able to prove to myself that I could live without Facebook. It sounds so silly and almost stupid to say that, but it's the truth. It was an obsession and I needed to break away. When I first deactivated my account, I didn't know what to do with the extra time on my hands. There are many people out there that think the world wouldn't function without FB, but I'm here to tell you that life still goes on.

#4 TIME. When I broke it off with Facebook, it was days before my baby boy was born. I want to be able to give him all my attention and time when he needs it, and not be too interested in my newsfeed for him. I've often seen parents plugged way too deep in their phones instead of spending quality time with their children. (I'm not judging, only observing.) Remember your children are only little once. Don't miss out on things you should be present for.

#5 TOO MUCH. Facebook is not today what it was 10 years ago. It now can be so overwhelming. When I first joined I was a senior about to graduate high school and had just gotten my new college email address. You had to have a college email address to get a profile. It was a tool to connect with people at college. It was simple. Yes, I do realize it's now a public company and is a great tool for businesses and all the other great mumbo jumbo... but like I said, it's different now which is to be expected.

LIFE DOES GO ON WITHOUT FACEBOOK! Actually, my life has been grand without it.

Maybe you've been contemplating getting offline, but you're nervous about it...I know that feeling all too well. Always go with your gut! If something's telling you that you need a break then do it. Life will go on, and your true friends will still be there for you. It's important to remember that you might have 1,200 friends on Facebook but you're extremely blessed if you have 5 true friends in reality. The people who really care will be there with or without Facebook.

I've actually sit down to write this post multiple times in the past 6 months, but for some reason it hasn't felt right until now. I feel like it's so important to be real with you all, so this is one of those "real talk" posts. I am not anti-Facebook. Let me get that clear. I'm just telling why I felt like it was time for me to part ways. I've actually contemplated getting back on a few different times, but for some reason it hasn't felt right. I'm not saying I'll never be back on, I'm just sharing because I feel like there are so many people that are "trapped" by Facebook (social media) and might need to hear this. I do encourage everyone to take a break every once in a while just to refresh yourself. It's good to take some time to rest, even from social media.