Come In

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly 

entertained angels." 

~ Hebrews 13:2

Before I had Phalen, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting friends and getting to know people over coffee or dinner.  We would go to fave restaurants and could sit for hours talking, laughing, crying, praying, etc.   Now, that's not quite as easy to do.  For one, Phalen has a schedule that we learned early on we must adhere to.  And for another, it's just not something I can afford now that we are down to one income; which we in NO WAY regret that decision :)

Going for a walk on the Coastal Trail to Snow City Cafe for some Hot Tea

I do like to have people over from time to time, but even that can be somewhat overwhelming.  So, I'm going to start a little series called "Come In".  I can indulge in some random small talk, albeit one sided, in no particular order or theme- I will share with you what I would probably say should you have the opportunity to stop by.  And maybe you can comment or email to share with me what's been going on, and/or should we talk/email/chat you'll have been 'caught up' (provided I keep up with my blog better than I have been).

So please, won't you Come In.  

Please ignore any mess, I've been behind on house work since Aug 28th, 2012 

(yup, when my lil Sweet P arrived)

I will offer you water or tea. I can make some coffee, if you'd like, it will be from a french press as I put away the brew pot and no longer drink it.  I will be gagging down some "mother's milk" tea in hopes to keep my supply for Sweet P.   I recently tried my skill at homemade bread, would you like a piece with jam or honey?  I prefer raspberry jam, but only have strawberry right now.  I will confess my bread making is a way, I found, that I can save us money on our monthly budget.  And then I will chuckle to myself remembering a conversation I had with a person who told me they are allergic to the word "budget".

I will share how proud I am of my husband- working on his Masters, working full time, and working at being the best daddy ever.  I beam knowing that by his actions, Phalen will see the example of a great man.  That by his words, Phalen will hear what a great man says.  That by his life, Phalen will know what a Godly man looks like.  And I pray that Phalen will be a great and Godly man too.

I will tell you how I taught Phalen to blow through his nose into a tissue by scrunching my nose and breathing heavy so that he would mimic me.  He's teething again and caught a cold, so his little noni is running and sore.   He's getting a third tooth, he's only 6 1/2 months.  I am feeling very sad that he is growing so quickly-

I will share my insight to the fact that I am going to be a stalker mom: I look at his pictures every night (when he goes to bed) from day one on my cell phone and instantly miss him and want him to wake up so I don't have to miss one minute of his life.  I want to hug him always.  Please know, I do look forward to him growing up and seeing the person he will become and watch how God will use him in the lives of others- I just repeatedly tell him (in a quasi creepy way) "I will be there with you"- then my husband reigns me back and says "no, we will let him go where he needs to."  Sigh, do all moms experience this, or am I alone here?

Phalen reading his favorite book "Little Blue Truck"

This morning, he clapped his hands for the first time, but the poor little guy started feeling bad again around 9:30am and stopped playing with me.

I will tell you that starting the first week of April, I will be leading a bible study at my church and then I will share that I am terrified!!  I do not know the first thing about this, but I have felt God calling me to this for some time.  Please pray for me. Pray for peace, comfort and trust in the Lord.  I know He has a plan, and He knows what He is doing- I am just a vessel and pray for His will and my willingness.

I will ask if you have signed up for Bunco Night that the TEARS Foundation is hosting on Saturday night.  If you haven't, I might ask what you are doing instead.  I might go silent for a bit, I am saddened that we need a foundation such as this, sad every time I have to share my story, and sad that people shy away from this.  I will then tell you that my stroller strides group decided to make the Bunco Night their "mom's night out" get together, and how happy and humbled I am by that.  I will also invite you to sign up for the first annual Color Run in Alaska under team TEARS Alaska, and I would ask if you would email the Color Run and nominate TEARS Alaska Chapter to be the recipient of the charitable donation.

Since we're on the topic of runs, I would ask if you'll do the March of Dimes - Walk for Babies with me for Team William Ryan.  This year, William's little brother will be doing it with me.  Then I will go quiet for a minute as I ponder what Phalen will think in life growing up knowing he has an older brother he'll meet in Heaven.  How will I explain it and how long until he understands?  Will Phalen pick up 'doing' in memory of William when he is older, or will it be something that he only does with me?

Getting ready for his first food! (Avocado)

I will tell you that Phalen has started eating real food!  Only at dinner time; I make it for him.  His favorite, so far, is Acorn Squash.  He really doesn't like Green Beans.  Avocado was good.  I will tell you that we had a little dinner party just for his first eat- Is that a little overboard?  Well, it will calm you to know it was just his MeMe and PaPa. :)  I would confess that we did plan it for almost two weeks and had a very nice meal- we even broke out the cloth napkins!  And then I would laugh, both at the truth and my realized absurdity that I may be one of those moms that does a little too much.  I will probably then go quiet, thinking "it's ok if I do a little too much, there's never going to be a time that I will look back wishing I hadn't made a big deal out of little milestones" and I will contentedly smile.

I will share that this morning, as I was rocking Phalen awake in his room, I saw dirt along my fence line- the snow is melting!  I share that I wish I had planted some tulips or daffodils last fall so that I could watch them grow and bud in that dirt along the fence line.  I will tell you that I am ready for spring and the growing season.  I want to smell dirt and see greens and yellows and oranges and pinks and all other colors that the season will bring.

I will confess that I would like prayer for sleep and my anxiousness.  I don't sleep well even if Sweet P does because I am anxious wondering why he hasn't woken yet.  I will ask what I can pray over you for....... we may even pray for each other then.

Before you go, I will share a sweet little song that speaks to this transition of seasons

Thank you for stopping by.  I am grateful for the conversation.

The idea for this post came from the beautiful Casey, of the The Weigands