Tag: parenting

My Brilliant Plan for How to Plan

answered prayer, books, organizing, parenting, prayer

**This post does contain affiliate links, which means that when you purchase through links on this page, April collects advertising fees from Amazon.** Was I always a little flaky? I don’t know. For years, I could get away with being very loosy-goosy with my planning because I was a stay-at-home mom of preschoolers. We moved all the time too, so by the time people developed expectations of me, we were off and away to the next town. Over the years, […]

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It’s been 7 months since we flew south, but we are always home.

brothers, military life, moving, parenting

Daniel had his first week of tee-ball. Alan didn’t sign up to coach this year, not even to assistant coach, but he went out there today and helped anyway. And you know what happened? Alan came home so refreshed and happy. It was a beautiful thing to see. Alan says that Daniel will actually be one of the oldest, most experienced players on his team this year. Yayyyyy, Daniel!!! Meanwhile, you know what annoys me? Pop culture. Why? Because it […]

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The Gray Jacket, The Road Trip, and The OCD Workshop

OCD, parenting

Check it out. We found photos of all four boys wearing this gray jacket. We own two of these jackets, both in a size 5/6, so that made it a little easier. I think it’s fun to see them all side-by-side wearing it. There are striking similarities. I think Joshua and John David look the most alike here. In case you’re having trouble telling who is who, it’s JD, age 3, Daniel at age 5, Caleb at age 3, and […]

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Having a kid with asthma is terrifying, and last night was loooong.

asthma, parenting

Ya’ll, last night was one of THOSE nights. Thankfully, I did have the good sense to go to bed at like 9:15pm last night. How, you ask? How does a mom of 4 make it to bed at such a decent hour? 3 things: 1.) Pure neglect of chores 2.) Utter exhaustion 3.) Since Alan took over the laundry, that has been such a huge load off!! And really #4.) God knew if I was going to power through last […]

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3 Funny Stories and a New Page

family, funny stories, parenting

We have now been a military family for 15 years. I know. I can’t believe it’s been that long either. It really doesn’t seem possible, seeing as how I’m only 29…wink, wink.

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Thoughts on My Last Baby’s First Day of Preschool

family, little boys, love, parenting, preschool
Thought from my last baby's first day of preschool

Maybe it’s because I haven’t had a solid night’s sleep in a week. Maybe it’s because he’s my fourth son, my last baby. I don’t know, but today I dropped JD off at his first day at preschool, and I cried all the way home. He’s three and a half, and he’s ready. We knew he was ready. He knew he was ready. His brothers are even excited for him. And he handled it like a champ. He proudly put […]

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“Get help when you need it” is my new motto.

4 kids, big family life, blessings

Y’all know it was a rough year for me, physically. Thankfully, everything turned out to be mostly okay. I just have a few chronic conditions to manage, but it’s all under control now, and I have a good outlook. A brilliant thought came to me the other week, as I was putting on my rain boots, Alan’s rain jacket, and heading out to shut the trashcan lid and bring it in from the pouring rain. “What am I doing??? Why […]

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When Alan gets home from New Jersey tonight

4 kids, military life

Remember how I said that Alan wasn’t going on any business trips in December? Of course, I was wrong. This week turned out to be New Jersey week. You might think that a 14 year Army wife veteran such as myself would not sweat short business trips. I’ve been through more than one year-long deployment, several months-long assignments or deployments, and too many short trips to count. You might even think that I should be so tough as to enjoy […]

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10 Truths about Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers

family, funny stories

A couple of months ago, I began working for Monterey Premier’s blog, Engaging WorkLife. This is an exciting opportunity for me that has the fingerprints of Heaven all over it. This job arrived exactly when I needed one. So now sometimes my articles are over there instead of over here, but I will always post a link to let you know. Today’s is seriously worth reading. You will laugh, and you will nod. If you have kids or ever have […]

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Navigating Preschool Life: A Mom’s Expectation Makeover

babies, baby, big family life, toddlers
changing expectations for sanity

I came across this OLD post that I wrote in 2013. I emphasize that it’s from 2013 because I do not want any of you to get all excited and start thinking I’m expecting a baby. There’s no baby. I’m so sorry to disappoint you. Ha! I’m sharing this because I want every pre-school mom I know to read it.  Some of you are like me, and you are busy, busy, busy with those little ones, and you are disappointed […]

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