He Chose ME

I think a lot about my kids. And how they're all mine. And how everything I do, impacts them. I like to think that every choice I make comes after considering how it will affect them. Sure sometimes I make mistakes...some minor, some not so minor. Regardless, my babies love me. Probably because they're so young, and I don't doubt that eventually they will hate me (or at least feel like they hate me) because that's what kids do. No matter how hard I try, I'm never going to be a perfect parent. I'll screw up the words to a song, or I'll make breakfast wrong, or I'll tuck them in too tight. I'll get mad over little things and I'll use hurtful words, and I'll take out my frustrations on my precious babies, even when they don't deserve it. Because I'm not perfect.

Something that I'm really trying to remind myself, over and over, is that I was chosen to raise my Lilly and my Anderson. God chose me. He knew that I could handle it. He knew that even through all the mistakes, all the frustrations, all the good and the bad, I'd be able to raise these two kids. How. Humbling. Is. That?
When my daughter has difficult days and tests my patience, I need to remind myself that I was the chosen one. That she and I were paired up for a reason. That we were hand-picked to be together. Even after the really hard days, the days where my abilities as a parent are challenged, I have to remind myself that there's a reason for it all. There's a reason that I'm parenting without a partner. I know I'm never alone...not just figuratively speaking. I know I always have help...be it my mom, Aaron, my brothers, my cousin, etc...I am never alone. But even beyond all that, I have my God, guiding me, protecting me, trusting me, and helping me. He is with Lilly, even on the really tough days, working her through this phase (God, please let it be a phase!). We're going to get through it. He chose me.

Follow Along

You know when you don't have anything special to write about so you just cram everything into one big blob of a post? Well, that's what you're getting today!

• The weather has been AMAZING lately and the kids have ABSOLUTELY LOVED wearing shorts and dresses. I can bribe Lilly into doing just about anything (read: cleaning MY bedroom, making MY bed, etc) by letting her wear a dress and sandals. Mom-Perk, woot woot!
• The kids are going with my mom to Chicago this weekend so I can spend Saturday night with my absolute favorite cousin! We'll be celebrating Megan's 30th birthday with a viewing of The Hunger Games, followed by dinner and wine that night! Yay!
• Also this weekend, JM is coming to town. It's been a VERY VERY VERY long eight weeks without seeing his face. No people (Gretchen), this does NOT change anything. We're still not a couple and there are no plans of that changing. This is simply two friends, spending a nice quiet evening together, enjoying one another's company. Nothing. More.
• Who's pumped to watch IU Friday night? ME! ME! ME!
• Have I mentioned lately how much I ADORE my precious son?! He is a gem! I was laying in bed this morning and saw Anderson get up to use the bathroom. When he finished, I "psst'ed" for him to come into my room (but quietly, so Lilly wouldn't here...that girl NEEDS her sleep!) and crawl into bed with me! He just smiled a big cheesy smile and climbed in and snuggled his little booty into me! I miss our snuggle time! He's the absolute BEST cuddler IN THE WHOLE WORLD! I love it! (This cuddle time was quickly interrupted by my not-a-morning-person daughter!)
• I spent a couple hours this morning with my dear friend Shannon and her presh little baby Kinslee! Kinslee is A-DORE! Here's a cute pic of her!

"Stop taking my pic Auntie Gretchy!"



PERRRFECT PIGGIES!

Spring Spring Spring!

Let's just say my family is SO ready for this lovely weather to stick around! Here are some pictures from this weekend!

Such a cool little man! 

Precious Ava

Lilly and Chloe, being silly girls! 

Anderson, Ava, Lills, and Chlo Chlo

Is it me, or does she look WAY older than 5? 

My pretty little girl! 

The kids, watering our only blooming flower! 

Lilly, on the way to the baptism

"I believe in God, Mom!"

Tonight our church put on an incredible celebration! Every summer we do a baptism in the pond in front of our church, but since so many people had been asking to do it other times than just the summer they decided to do one tonight inside the church. The "party" started at 6pm, and everyone was invited and encouraged to come, even if you weren't one who was going to be baptized. There would be tons of worship, lots of food, and so much to celebrate. Since the kids and I go to the one in the summer, or we have for the past two years, I figured we'd go tonight too!
It was more incredible than I could have imagined it to be!! There were tons of middle school and high school students there, as this was the time that they usually meet for F.U.E.L (their "youth group"). And I can't even begin to explain the high energy that the youth in our church give off! It's INCREDIBLE! There was MAD worshiping, people being baptized, and just people celebrating! It was awesome! When all of those who had signed up were finished being baptized one of our pastors asked if there were any other people, who had not already signed up, that wanted to be baptized. Everyone was pretty quiet...and then Anderson, sitting to my right, stood up on his chair and raised his hand. I told him to sit down, that he didn't understand what being baptized meant, and he said "I believe in God, Mom. I want to be baptized." No. Joke. I just smiled, and said "well then you can be baptized."....and so he was. Pastor Scott interrupted the worship band after a song and baptized my little Anderson. Four other middle school students followed after Anderson's lead and were also baptized.
I cannot explain how proud I am of Anderson. Sure, he doesn't understand fully what it means to be baptized. And even on the way home he asked more questions...and that's okay. I am proud of him for standing up (quite literally) and saying that he believes. If my kids can be half as excited about Christ as the youth in our church are, then I will be a happy mother.

I love my church. I love the people there. I love what it stands for. I love what I get from it. I love that I can be a part of something so incredible. I truly feel like it's not about just going through the motions at my church- it's about feeling something and doing something about it.

"Make me pretty!" Said The House

I wrote awhile back about some changes that are happening at work, and I'll spare you with the details. But basically, I have a whole new title. I'm excited for the changes, grateful to be working, and excited to be doing it with the same people I've worked with for the past few years. With that said, I can't help but be a tiny bit disappointed. Basically, there was a possibility that I could be transferring to another campus...in Bowling Green, KY. While this would have been a decision that I would have had to make on my own-- whether or not to put my house on the market and move away from everything that I've ever known-- I was willing to do it, if it meant keeping my job with RMEC. I love my job. I cannot stress that enough! (Are you SO sick of me talking about how much I love it?!) ANYWAY...to make a long story short, I'll be doing a completely different job, but I still have a job with RMEC and I couldn't be happier! (And there's a raise!)

Well, when I thought that I MIGHT have to put my house on the market, I contacted a local realtor (whom I LOVED by the way) to see what we could do with my house. He assured me that I would be able to list it well above what I paid for it, and I was secretly a wee bit excited at the idea of selling my house. (or maybe I was more excited to make money off my house!) But now that I won't be listing my house, I feel like I need to do a little work around here. There are a few minor changes that need to happen, and even more major changes that I want to do. I know that once I put it in writing, it will motivate me to start working towards getting them done. So, here's my list o' changes for the Hahn-Scudder Abode.

• ceiling fan for master bedroom
• landscaping
• front door
• counter tops for all three bathroom vanities
• kitchen counter tops
• back splash for kitchen
• new flooring in kitchen, entry, and downstairs bath
• new windows (eeeek!)
• change outdoor lighting
• new front door
• outside furniture for front porch
• fence in backyard
• deck (or stamped cemented slab)
• repaint bright green dining room
• new lighting in all three bathrooms
• new stove
• new dishwasher
• new "breakfast table"

Okay, so my list got a little bit outta control, but..that's basically EVERYTHING that I need to do to my house. Some of these things could be knocked out in a short weekend, some of them are ones that will have to take some major budgeting and planning. But...this is MY house. I WANT to make it as great as I can! I'm excited to start on this list!! Wish me luck (and feel free to help me with ANY of it!)!!!

Spring is Near!

Look! Our tulips are starting to grow!

Crazy babies!

HEEEEY!

Oh Yes I Did!

This weekend I...

• climbed into the dreaded attic to retrieve some Easter decor.
• changed the lights in the garage, and even FIXED (or at least I hope I did) the garage door opener. 
• learned how to put air in bike tires (had NO idea it was THAT easy!). 
• learned how to exchange the propane tank for the grill. 
• learned how to connect the propane tank TO the grill!
• took the kids to the park to ride bikes and play on the playground!
• spent time with my neighbors!
• heard an amazing sermon that was 100% applicable to my life at this point (always seems to work that way, huh? Coincidence?). 
• bought Anderson his first pair of Pumas! They're adore!
• vowed to stop cut back on drinking wine (after tomorrow's season finale of The Bachelor, of course!)!
• reeeeeeeeally missed my cousin (cannot wait to vacation with her soon!)!
• listened to Lilly read a TON of books!
• made an amazing Sunday-night dinner! (For those of you who know me well, you know I don't cook...this should be rewarded!)!