Posts Tagged ‘Hannah Michelle’
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I recently watched Mona Lisa Smile. I haven’t seen it in a long while and forgot just how much I love it. The first time I ever saw the movie, I was no where near the mama path. In fact, I bordered on anti-mama {or anti-children}. A lot can happen in seven years.
If you aren’t familiar with Mona Lisa Smile, it’s the story of a free-thinking art professor {Katherine} at a conservative all girls college who challenges the girls to question their traditional societal roles. Most of the students desire to marry {and marry young}, have a home and children. Katherine scoffs at the idea of giving up their education just for homemaking; scoffs at the idea of choosing something “less”. In one scene, Katherine finds out that her student Joan has eloped and decided to not attend law school.
Joan Brandwyn: It was my choice, not to go {to law school}. He {husband} would have supported it.
Katherine Watson: But you don’t have to choose!
Joan Brandwyn: No, I have to. I want a home, I want a family! That’s not something I’ll sacrifice.
Katherine Watson: No one’s asking you to sacrifice that, Joan. I just want you to understand that you can do both.
Joan Brandwyn: Do you think I’ll wake up one morning and regret not being a lawyer?
Katherine Watson: Yes, I’m afraid that you will.
Joan Brandwyn: Not as much as I’d regret not having a family, not being there to raise them. I know exactly what I’m doing and it doesn’t make me any less smart. This must seem terrible to you.
Katherine Watson: I didn’t say that.
Joan Brandwyn: Sure you did. You always do. You stand in class and tell us to look beyond the image, but you don’t. To you a housewife is someone who sold her soul for a center hall colonial. She has no depth, no intellect, no interests. You’re the one who said I could do anything I wanted. This is what I want.
I have searched high and low for the video clip {so much better to see than read}. My jaw dropped. Literally. I confess that for years I thought housewives had no depth, no intellect, no interests. I thought they sold themselves short, sold themselves out for what they were told they should want. Little did I know, it’s actually what they wanted. It’s what I want.
Mothering has changed me in so many ways. It has opened my eyes to far more than I bargained for – my sins and my faults, but also my hidden talents and untapped desires. As a housewife, as a mother, I know that the women who choose this path are amazing. They are brilliant, they are creative. Even more, they change lives, they turn little babies into mature adults, they make nothing into something. They hold the world’s most important job – being a mother.
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We had an amazing Labor Day weekend. While it was all happening, I couldn’t tell you what made it so great {maybe that the girls slept in, or that we had an extra family day}. But looking back now, I can tell you the top ten highlights from the last three days:
1. The Weather – Nothing puts me in a better mood than cool{er} weather. I am not a fan of summer weather. So each year when fall begins to cool things down, I am like a walking musical. It’s nothing but sunshine and roses {or is that cool breezes and fall leaves?}.
2. Hosting a BBQ – Jonathan and I decided to host a BBQ on Friday night. I emailed some friends and before I knew it, there were 15 adults and 12 kids partying in our backyard. Total bliss.
3. Apple Orchard Visit – There is a local orchard that I just love. Since the weather was so perfect, we decided to spend Saturday morning at the orchard. Hannah was more than thrilled with the all-you-can-eat apple policy.
4. Caramel Apples – You can’t visit an apple orchard without buying a caramel apple. Yumminess on a stick.
5. Pedicure – I went for pedicures with Leah and Rachel. It was my first time going and a great girls time out.
6. Family Bike Ride – Saturday evening we decided to ride into Iowa City for dinner. We biked about 4 miles to The Mill and had their Big Nachos. On the way home we stopped by my former boss’s house {who we’ve stayed in contact with since Julia was born} and enjoyed a lovely chat.
7. Watching The Family Stone – Have you seen The Family Stone with Sarah Jessica Parker and Luke Wilson? If not, it is such a cute movie {especially around the holidays}.
8. Coffee on the Porch – We hosted house church on Sunday and sat on the porch talking about God’s awesomeness and drinking coffee. Beautiful.
9. Playtime at the Mall – Monday morning we spent family time at the play gym in the mall. Jonathan bought me my first pumpkin spice latte of the season. The girls enjoyed running around crazy, while Jon got a little work done.
10. Attending a BBQ – We started the weekend off with good food and good friends, so what better than to end the weekend with good food and good friends. There were a few more adults and kids this time around and much fun was had by all.
I don’t recall Labor Day being this much fun, but I’m hoping it’s a tread for the future.
What about you? How was your Labor Day weekend?
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Amy of Amy’s Finer Things is hosting a link up of birth stories in honor of Labor Day. Cute idea, huh?
After both girls were born, I wrote their birth stories. Check them out below:
Julia Mabel – Born in November 2007, and I really had no clue what to expect from labor. Which might have been a good thing.
Hannah Michelle – Born in June 2009. I thought with Hannah that things were going to go smoother, faster and that I was going to handle it like a pro. Well, I didn’t.
In some ways, I have worn “going natural” like a badge of honor when it comes to the girls’ birth stories. And I really do think it is something I am very proud of {and should be proud of}. However, I have realized that all women who give birth deserve metals. It’s no easy task, watching your body morph over 9+ months and then being thrust into mamahood. The labor part is different for everyone {and every child}, but it is a beautiful experience to behold.
My hats off to you mamas out there! Celebrate your Labor Day!
My Children Amaze Me
Posted on: September 2, 2010
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I love walking into my living room and finding this:
And this:
Julia and Hannah passed yesterday afternoon playing in random boxes. It was sweet and wonderful and made my mama heart swell with love. These girls amaze me. They have shaped me into the woman that I am. And while there are days that I want to spend a little more time alone in my nook, I wouldn’t miss out on being with them for anything.
Visit Jill at Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday.
A biker family
Posted on: August 31, 2010
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At the beginning of the summer we bought a second bike seat for Hannah and since then have been a biking family! It took Hannah a couple of rides to get use to the helmet, but now the girl loves it! {Despite the face in the photo – she was super tired.} While August hasn’t been nearly as crazy as July, it seems to have flown by all the same. We started the month off with our anniversary trip to Minneapolis. Then Grandma moved in and we all got sick. Not quite a highlight of the month, but what can ya do?
Jonathan celebrated his birthday this month. Thirty-two years. Wow. In a good way! It took Jonathan a week or two to fully recuperate from his July work schedule. But now things are “normal” and we’ve been enjoying having free {is that even possible} weekends. Julia seems to be getting smarter by the minute. She’s gotten really good at repeating everything she hears. Let’s just say, I won’t be saying c-r-a-p any more. For real. Not cool to have your two year old immediately repeat that word. Oops. As for Hannah, she went a little crazy on us this month when she decided to teeth four {4!} molars. At once. Whew. Thankfully after 7-10 days she was done. She now has her four canines coming through, but it doesn’t seem to be bothering her nearly as much {mama does a happy dance!}. As for me, I’ve been sewing up a storm. Well, not really. I’ve only made one other apron – for Julia. However, I have a friend who just gave me some fabric and asked that I make her a couple of aprons. I’m pretty excited. 🙂
Mothering with a timer
Posted on: August 24, 2010
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One of my biggest mama-ing tactics is to create order for the girls. It doesn’t have to be clean order {like I’d want} it just has to bring calm to chaos. The best way I’ve been able to do this over the last 2 years is by using my kitchen timer. Sounds strange, but it is a miracle worker! When I set the timer, the Windhamettes know that the timer trumps all {even fits – sometimes…}. Here are my top ten ways of implementing the timer:
1. Sharing – When both girls want the same toy, I set the timer and make them take turns. Once the timer dings, they give the toy up until it’s their turn again.
2. Quiet time – We aim for daily quiet time, where for a specific time they girls sit quietly reading/playing until the timer goes off. This might bring me the most calm in the midst of chaos. I love quiet time.
3. Playing – Before bedtime, we set the timer so the girls know how much longer they have to play. There’s no arguing about when it’s time to be done, since the timer declares that the activity is over.
4. Finishing eating – Julia might be the world’s slowest eater. Ever. At almost every meal I set the timer to let her know she needs to finish her food before I clear the table.
5. Cleaning – This is more for me than the girls, but I set the timer and clean until the timer dings. Once that time is done, there is no more cleaning {except dishes} while they are awake. It helps me keep a balance of not cleaning all day.
6. Time out – Come by my house during the 5 o’clock meltdown and you’ll most likely find Julia in time out.
7. Resting – Some days the girls {read Julia} just needs a break and some rest. Perhaps she didn’t nap well {or at all}, so I make her lay down on the couch for 5-10 minutes and rest.
8. Waiting – We’re working on having the girls wait. Patience is a virtue, right? Seeing me set the timer helps them know their waiting isn’t going to last forever {even thought at times Julia is convinced it will}.
9. Learning numbers – I will point out the time and numbers to the girls and then start counting, explaining the numbers to them. Not sure it’s totally set in, but Julia did count to 10 this morning, so maybe it’s helping!
10. Transitioning – Moving from one activity to the next, I want to give the girls a heads up. I set the timer and when it goes off we move on. The switch tends to go much smoother than abruptly changing activities.
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
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In the last week Jonathan’s grandma moved in with us, our whole family got sick, and I freaked Jonathan out by suggesting we use re-usable toilet paper. And during all that time, I learned some real life lessons.
1. Flowers from my husband “just because” makes my heart flutter.
2. Mamas don’t get sick days. Ever.
3. I have a wonderful community of friends. I already knew that, but felt it even more this week.
4. I still can’t sew a straight line. But I’m learning.
5. Hannah is not pleasant teethers.
6. Cola icee + no naps + Sam’s club = absolute craziness.
7. Cocoa roasted almonds are delicious.
8. Dyson makes the best vacuum in the world.
9. Mattresses on the floor will provide hours of entertainment for toddlers.
10. There are 130 days till Christmas. Oh yeah, I so just went there.
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
A life changing letter
Posted on: August 2, 2010
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In June our family started sponsoring a girl, Momita, from India through Compassion International. There were two motivating factors for sponsorship: 1) to help a child in need; 2) to teach our children. For the last two months, I’ve been putting a lot of emphasis on the latter. We talk to Julia a lot about Momita. We explain that Momita doesn’t live with her family {she’s at a boarding school}, that she doesn’t have the luxuries we have, that she doesn’t get to eat “bananies” {bananas} everyday, that she needs our prayers.
I’ve written to Momita twice. Just this last week, I received my first letter back. There was nothing profound in the letter. Momita’s writing is exactly what you’d expect from a young girl. Everything was short and to the point. In her letter she asked us to pray for her. And that touched me. It made me realize just how important our sponsorship is to her. Aside from monetary benefits, knowing that a family is praying for her means a lot to her. But what really rocked me to my core {and quite nearly made me cry} was when she signed the letter:
“Your loving daughter, Momita”
I don’t know Momita. I’m not certain I could pick her out in a crowd {for sure not if I didn’t have her picture in hand}. I don’t know all the things she likes or dislikes. But standing in the driveway last week reading her letter I realized: I am the mother to three girls. I don’t have words to explain just what that has meant to me; just how much her letter has changed me and my attitude toward supporting her. I’m no longer supporting a girl from India. I’m supporting my daughter who lives in India.
For Momita’s protection and privacy, I won’t share her photo with you online {but if you’re ever at my house I will gladly show you!}. However, I thought I’d pass along pictures of her city:
Momita’s village is comprised of mostly Buddhist and there have been many conflicts between them and Christians. There weren’t many photos of homes in her village, mostly just temples and caves that are tourist attractions. It’s amazing being able to see the area Momita lives in; it allows me to feel even more attached to her.
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Five years ago today, Jonathan and I committed our lives to one another. It has been an amazing whirlwind adventure. In five years we have lived in three different homes {not included the ones we lived with “in transition”}, we have had two dogs and most importantly, two beautiful daughters. Jonathan, I love you. You make me laugh, you make me smile. I am truly blessed to be your wife.
July has been one crazy month. We started off with a visit from my brother and his family. After that, Jonathan has pretty much worked 50-70 hours a week preparing for the launch on West Music’s website. He and his teammates did an excellent job and I commend him for all his hard work and effort. He has earned himself a much needed break.
For the last week, we’ve had some friends staying with us as they move into a new home {which is actually behind our house – sort of}. They are some dear friends, and while it’s stressful at times to have four kids and two moms in a tiny kitchen, it’s been a lot of fun. Our girls could get use to having playmates instantly at hand. Julia especially. From the moment she wakes up she’s asking “Go play with my friends? My friends not sleep. Go play with them.” Good thing they like her, otherwise I think she’d wear them out! Hannah has been really taking off with her walking – literally. I have to watch her with hawk eyes or she’ll be halfway down the block before I know what’s happen. Keeps me on my toes!
As for me, I’m glad the month is drawing to an end. With Jon’s crazy schedule, it means I’ve had a crazy schedule. But God has been really gracious, especially being able to end the month with our anniversary and less than one week till our anniversary trip. I can’t wait. Makes me kinda giddy just thinking about it.
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Julia has hit an amazing point in life. She’s more out-going, more inquisitive, more talkative, more capable of engaging with me.
She’s also demanding {quite literally} her independence. She’s talking back, she’s telling me “no”, and becoming more possessive of her things. At times it’s overwhelming and more than I care to deal with.
But I caught myself this last week overlooking the not-crazy-2 times. In the middle of the living room, Julia was dancing and laughing. And I found myself not paying attention. I was in Sarahworld, not mamaworld. And it hit me: I need to focus on the amazing parts of Julia not just the parts that need “fixing”.
It seems easy enough, but it really does require that much more. When Julia isn’t acting out, I can get things done. When she’s behaving, I can clean, cook, run errands {and well, check Twitter}. Yet, this last weekend, while Jon was putting in overtime {which means I was putting in overtime} I tried focusing on the amazing parts of my children. And it was good.
I decided to make a goal for myself this week: Stop being just “mom” and focus on playing with my children. Get overly excited with them and for them. Enjoy the parts of being a mom that aren’t all work but are play.
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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