Something to Ponder

I found this blog entry on Stuff Christians like to be really helpful. I figured I'd pass it on. Hopefully I'm not the only one who got something out of it.


The problem with the pigpen.

-Kath

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Emails please.

Hey Ladies,

I need everyone's email. I have jen, mer, and suz's. Can you let the others know I am looking for them. Post in the blog or email me...

Julianna.phillips@gmail.com

Thanks Girls!

Hey Girls

Hey!

So, not much has been going on in my little world lately. Just making sure little E man is fed, clothed & happy.

Christmas was great! We had a good time w/ our families and of course, celebrating our first Christmas as a little family of three.

Lately, I've been feelin' a little down. I'm just really struggling with being a stay at home mom. There never seems enough time in the day to do everything I'd like to do, or take time for myself. If I go somewhere, I typically take Elliot with me. I'm trying to be better about leaving him home with Steve. But whenever I'm at the store by myself, I just feel weird without him and generally don't enjoy myself.

I really feel like I'm losing my identity in a way. Now instead of being "Merideth", I'm "wife and mom". Not that those things aren't great identities to have. I love being both! I went out by myself the other day and I was just really sad that I didn't feel "myself" without having Elliot with me. I just wanted to stop and tell people, "Hey, I have a baby!" I just felt weird that people didn't know I was a mom. Obviously, if you look at my left hand, you can tell I'm married. But I don't have any type of marker to wear (other than my saggy boobs and belly) that I'm a mom. But even at that, people could just think I'm fat since they don't know I have a baby! :)

I got pretty angry and just didn't know how I let my identity get lost in the shuffle. I guess it's easy to do when you're providing constant care for a little one, and trying to maintain your marriage, keep up on housework, and prepare meals for everyone.

So, my goal this year is to find myself again. Find things I like to do, OUTSIDE of my marriage, and my role as a mom.

If you think about it, just say a little prayer for me!

Love you all!
Mer

Catch Up

Where in the world has time gone? Also where in the world is the blogging frenzy we started with? I am now wondering what is going on in all your lives since you wrote or since I have seen you. I guess I am guilty of not picking up my phone and calling...but for the benefit of everyone, maybe you should drop a line. ;)

I have completed 2 weeks of work at OneHope. I am enjoying it so far although it is MUCH different from my last job. It's taking a while for me to get used to sitting 8 hours a day. How do people conduct business and jam the rest of their lives into just some evenings and a weekend? At last I believe in and/or enjoy what OneHope does. I can't imagine doing this for some place I didn't care about...but that's just me. (I'm not trying to offend any of you) I think I'm just struggling with really knowing that this is what I want to do. I kind of miss my kids. I went to His House to visit them 2 weekends ago. It was great to see those faces and a little sad at the same time. I missed being in the know about their lives. I missed their hugs. I missed their laughs. I missed their funny sayings. I missed cooking for them. But then again, I didn't miss the stress. I think I will start volunteering there every two weeks or so. I just need to schedule it, that way I'm committed.

I'm still living with the Thompsons, a family from church. They are awesome. They are also hilarious and make me laugh all the time. I'm waiting on my friend Lauren to get a job so we can get a place together. She's looking for a job in the women's health profession. For now I'm saving up my pennies so I can replace the Diamond Jubilee. She needs to be replaced badly! She is sooooo loud. I squeak with every movement of the wheel. My car is like a bomb shelter. Noises outside the car sound like their miles away inside. So if I can hear those squeaks loudly from the inside, they've got to be horrendous on the outside. I'm always driving so I don't really know. Two of her windows no longer go up and down. One is actually taped so it will stay up....GHETTO! Still she lives on, about to make her 145,000th mile.

I'm reading two books currently. A Life of Prayer by Paul E. Miller. It is excellent! It has been so helpful practically for me and has been such an encouragement to pray, something that has been difficult for me to do consistently. The other...Decoded by Jay-Z. haha. It's sort of an autobiography/memoir/history of hip hop and rap and his songs. It has been interesting. African American culture has always interested me. This book helps me understand why the lyrics say the things they do, the history behind it all.

That seems like a pretty good update. Who knows if you'll even read it cuz it's so dang long....but here's to me! Now it's your turn.

Love you all!
Kath

Precious Football...

Guys, the older I get, the more I am enjoying the game of football and i love watching it. Yesterdat, I went to my first NFL game. Broncos vs. Chargers!! I especially enjoyed this game cause I once have cheered for the Chargers and secretly wanted them to win. At the same time, Kevin is willing and excited to start becoming a Broncos fan, so i had to root for them too. I loved being there. Yelling its tebow time or In-com-plete or go chargers (underneath my breath)... we had a blast.

Since kevin wakes up at the crack of dawn for work, he woke up at 6 on his day off and turn on the tube to watch some news in bed. We saw the sports section of the news advertising and previewing the game. Again, kevin wants to become a broncos fan and seeing this was the last game of the year to possibly go and cheer them on, we acted. AND they happen to be playing the chargers... a double win!! A craigslist find later, we were heading to denver for sunday football.

We had a blast! It was a great start to the New Year. Though the broncos didn't win, it was an exciting ending with 6 seconds left with one last trying to score a touchdown and win the game. Tebow, Tebow, Tebow,.... maybe next year he'll figure out how to throw a football.

Hope you all had a blast of a new years celebration. I haven't really talked to anyone to see how your holidays went, but I would love to know.... maybe everyone should post on the blog what you did, cause i don't want our blog to fade.

love you bias!

Christmas Catch Up

I'm back from the cold north and am achin' for a girls night! FYI- I no longer have my American cell phone and number, so I am just using Bren's cell while I'm here - the number is 573 356 5254. On Saturday Josh and I are going to Chilicothe but I bet we will be back some time on Monday.
Is Jen in town? I want to see that little baby! Ok, looking forward to seeing all your sweet, child-like faces.
Kari

Bummer...

I am so bummed I just missed you kath.... And you too Karin. I can't wait till one day we have a big ole reunion. Maybe we should just schedule one. We should plan a vaca or reunion in como.

For all those bias I did see this weekend, I enjoyed seeing you. I am not too happy and didn't get to see some of the gentlemen in your lives. Speaking of gentlemen, it was a pleasure meeting little Grayson! What a ham.

I just wanted to say hello to all you girls. I am in full swing at the day spa. Kath or kar, I am doing reception at a day spa. I am really enjoying it. It is slower right now but I will soon become a crazy running around as soon as the holiday weeks arrive.

Still LOVING our Rv!!!! Always nice and toasty when I walk in. I have decorated for christmas, no tree just lights and the other Christmas decor I had. Mer, I have copied you on your candles and their scents. Its amazing having the everygreen/christmas tree smell indoors and look outdoors and see those same scented trees everywhere!

I'm still peeing my pants about suz pushing on the door the wrong way. At least you gave it all you got sue!!

Well toodles for now. Love you all

Ju