What I have learned this year....

What i have learned this year......

you don't have to be president of the united states to change lives.

you don't have to be a preacher to tell people about Jesus.

you don't have to be here long to teach people about love, faith and joy.

and you don't ever know what tomorrow will bring so thank god for your day. everyday.

i've learned and SEEN the strength that comes with love and a solid faith...and how the foundation of that faith is your gratitude.

i've learned there are so many ways to be grateful and to express it.

There is nothing so time critical that you can't stop and play with your kids for 10 minutes

i've learned you have to turn off work. really. unplug it and put it away so it won't look at you.

you can never say i love you too much

find things that make you happy. do them.

i've learned that i like to travel but i like coming home just as much

i've learned that friends are my fuel. friends are my life lines. They bring me so much joy.

i've learned that you are NEVER to old to call home every single day. multiple times a day. call home so much so that when your dad answers the phone he says "what now?" ;)

i've learned family is everything. everything.

i've learned that my husband can make me belly laugh. but only if he hasn't done anything annoying that day. just kidding jason, love ya ;)

i've learned that i am a better parent with him by my side. you just can't do it alone. well, or you shouldn't have to. ;)

i've learned he doesn't like to unload the dishwasher. only likes to load. and i am thankful for loaded dishwashers.

i've learned that paper plates give you more time to play and less time at the sink.

 i've learned you must find the joy and power in the everyday, ordinary, and ultimately magical moments of childhood and parenthood.

i've learned that when it rains..go jump in puddles. when it seems the sun doesn't sleep. turn on the sprinklers and pretend it is raining

i've learned to cherish uneventful days that start with pancakes and end with snuggles.

i've learned to document birthday cakes but to hold on to the little memories that almost don't get photographed

i've learned that if you don't clean up the spilled Cheerios immediately they quickly turn into cement on the table. cement. somewhat of a cheerio fossil.

i've learned to give nose kisses and butterfly kisses and hair kisses and eyebrow kisses and elbow kisses. all the things you can think of to keep your momma in your bed just a few more seconds.
and i've learned that laying in the bed to get more snuggles even when you know what they are doing is just fine.

i've learned that the nights we fail to carry our children back to their own bed doesn't mean they will sleep with us forever.

I've learned that how children view their faith is magical. They believe. they believe in the place called heaven.

i've learned to be thankful for bathtime because there will be a time in their lives where they take showers in the mornings and don't need me on my knees to help wash their hair and wrap them in a towel cocoon and take them to "lotion station"

i've learned to savor every moment. especially those moments where we are all piled on the couch....watching the 100th episode of spongebob square pants.

i've learned to always say, How can i do this better.

i've learned to keep learning.  to push yourself

Thank you for the gifts this year. They came wrapped in joy, trust, comfort, strength, hope, faith and love.