Janna sent an email to the sisters linking to Jen Hatmaker's blog post, Fake Family. I had never heard of Jen Hatmaker but spent the rest of the afternoon reading her past posts and loving her passion, tears, sweat and love for her family.
Even though the Fake Family post focuses on adoption, I took away so much encouragement from the reminder that my kids don't need a fake mom or a fake family and they certainly don't need pressure to act fake themselves.
Kids just need to be loved and loved hard.
Even though the Fake Family post focuses on adoption, I took away so much encouragement from the reminder that my kids don't need a fake mom or a fake family and they certainly don't need pressure to act fake themselves.
Kids just need to be loved and loved hard.
I need to remember my motto for my family. I want my kids to grow up knowing they are loved, they are safe and they matter to Joe and I and to God. I want to love my kids recklessly and lavishly.
Then I read Jen's post, Words and I started crying because it reminded me so much of my parents and how I was raised.
We didn't have many shiny, pretty things growing up but my brothers and I honestly didn't know it. I had an extremely happy childhood regardless of what we owned or didn't own.
I can still distinctly remember the Christmas when I finally received my Molly doll with just one outfit and was completely over the moon.
Our family drove used cars until they came to a complete standstill. I showed up for my first job in my brothers' stanky two-tone, tan and brown Bronco. Even though I knew it was ugly, I was incredibly proud of my first car, an 1989 Dodge Aries K car.
We didn't have cable and we didn't watch Saturday morning cartoons.
But, and a HUGE but, we were loved and cherished and were told so and I believe deep down that their love, hugs and kisses mattered more than anything else tangible. I'm so incredibly far from a perfect person but I am secure in my family's love and that translates into every other relationship I have. My parents' security was a gift that I'm just now beginning to fully appreciate.
They are the kind of parents I want to be to my own kids.
In much less deep thoughts, I've been introduced to rooibos tea and my life is forever changed.
I drank it for the first time at my friend Laura's house last week and after leaving to pick up Madeline from preschool, we went immediately to the grocery store to get Mama a box. It tastes SO good and is caffeine-free.
I may or may not have been drinking at least two (or three or four) cups a day and already need another box. I also put three bags in my hospital bag. Along with the amazing black bean burger, I think a cup of rooibos would be awesome post-delivery.
PG Tips has some competition, yo.
Then I read Jen's post, Words and I started crying because it reminded me so much of my parents and how I was raised.
We didn't have many shiny, pretty things growing up but my brothers and I honestly didn't know it. I had an extremely happy childhood regardless of what we owned or didn't own.
I can still distinctly remember the Christmas when I finally received my Molly doll with just one outfit and was completely over the moon.
Our family drove used cars until they came to a complete standstill. I showed up for my first job in my brothers' stanky two-tone, tan and brown Bronco. Even though I knew it was ugly, I was incredibly proud of my first car, an 1989 Dodge Aries K car.
We didn't have cable and we didn't watch Saturday morning cartoons.
But, and a HUGE but, we were loved and cherished and were told so and I believe deep down that their love, hugs and kisses mattered more than anything else tangible. I'm so incredibly far from a perfect person but I am secure in my family's love and that translates into every other relationship I have. My parents' security was a gift that I'm just now beginning to fully appreciate.
They are the kind of parents I want to be to my own kids.
In much less deep thoughts, I've been introduced to rooibos tea and my life is forever changed.
I drank it for the first time at my friend Laura's house last week and after leaving to pick up Madeline from preschool, we went immediately to the grocery store to get Mama a box. It tastes SO good and is caffeine-free.
I may or may not have been drinking at least two (or three or four) cups a day and already need another box. I also put three bags in my hospital bag. Along with the amazing black bean burger, I think a cup of rooibos would be awesome post-delivery.
PG Tips has some competition, yo.
1 comment:
So glad you like the tea! (Beautiful post, by the way! Aren't parents the greatest?! We are both very blessed with wonderful parents.)
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