Photo of the Day: {Boy Things}

Having 3 boys in our house has been such a blessing. I have truly loved it. They have a wonderful role model in their daddy, who teaches them all kinds of cool boy things that I do not pretend to understand. But it works and we have joy.

These are just some of the boy things we have done so far this summer. They had to be carefully documented.....Proud moments indeed.

I am a Superstar!

One of the things I missed so very much when I was going through my treatment was actually cooking for my family. I had a wonderful network of friends that totally stepped into our lives and made sure my family had meal after meal covered for us. It was overwhelming and wonderful all at the same time and I will be forever grateful.

However, after 6 months of chemo every other week, I can tell that I really did miss cooking for my family. So, now that my treatment is behind me - I have just submerged myself back into being a wife and a mother  - and it. feels. wonderful!

Tonight I made homemade pizza which is one of my boys' all-time fav's. I make the crust from scratch and the whole nine yards. Part of the process of my baking and cooking is that my boys always help me. I think that is probably what I missed most about the cooking thing. It doesn't matter what I am making I will eventually hear the sound of my dining room chairs being brought in the kitchen. Before long, I will have all of them in there with me and I do my very best to come up with "jobs" that each of my boys can do. It never bothers me to have them in there with me - and I don't even mind the mess. :-)

It has always been my determination that by the time my boys leave home that they will be able to proficiently cook for themselves. I also feel like I will make some young lady extremely happy someday when she chooses to marry one of my sons to find out that he indeed knows his way around the kitchen. Back to the pizza....

So, tonight I made individual pan pizzas and they each got to create their own. They were loving it as they always do. My hubby asked the boys if they liked their pizza and they literally started hooping and hollering like they were at a rock concert. It was so funny - I started to laugh but then it got really funny.... my oldest, out of the blue, yells out, "She looked at me!" He sounded just like someone at some concert or event where the star actually looks at some fan in the audience. We all started laughing so hard because it was just so random and so funny all at the same time.

I was so grateful for the moment and I realized that I am a superstar - at least I am in my own home. Despite all my imperfections and shortcomings as a wife and a mother there are still four little people and one big person that looks at me and loves me just for who I am - their wife and mother. I am grateful for all that I have and I am grateful to be that "superstar" (even if it IS just over pizza) of my home because there is truly nowhere else I would rather be.

Attention: For Those Who Have Boys........{Boys (Lesson One) - Jars of Clay}

My friend Leah and I were able to see a Jars of Clay concert 2 years or so ago (wow, it didn't seem to be that long ago.) This is one, if not the, favorite song of the night for me. At the time we did not have Kearyn and so I was exclusively a "boys mom" and proud of it. :-) I heard this song and it just touched my heart. I want so badly for my boys to learn these lessons in life. For all of you who have boys - I think you will enjoy it. For all of you who have raised your boys - maybe it will be a way for you to look back fondly at the years you were able to teach these lessons. Regardless, I hope you enjoy.

For those of you who are receiving this by email, once again you will have to go the the blog to listen. I hope it is worth it.