With Arms Wide Open

I was at the gym today and a song came on my random shuffle that I’ve not heard in years: “With Arms Wide Open by Creed.” It took me back to a time when I was barely 20 and newly pregnant with my first born-Joe Mack. It was early fall in 2001 and Joe had just left on a deployment. I found out I was pregnant right after he left. (Literally two weeks later!)

I remember being so nervous to tell Joe, and really not knowing how to tell him?! This was before Facebook and Skype. Back then we only had email. So I sent Joe a message telling him to call me ASAP, that I was not hurt, but needing to speak with him as soon as he could get to a phone. Within two hours he called and had already guessed I was pregnant! He was so excited, but we both cried a little on the phone knowing he would miss my pregnancy and possibly miss the birth of our first child.

A week later Joe emailed me and said he had been listening to Creed the night before. He said that “With Arms Wide Open” had come on. Joe went to explain how afraid he was to become a father so young (we were only 20), but that he was going to give everything he had and more to that little baby. He also let me know that he felt it was going to be a boy and that this boy would be just like him. (of course)

For the rest of the deployment I listened to that song every day as well as sing it to my little unborn baby. I was ready to give this amazing blessing everything the world had to offer. The day I found out if the baby was a boy or a girl, Joe was able to be on the phone with me. As soon as the wand touched my belly-there was no denying this baby was a boy. The happiness in my husband’s voice as well as being able to share this first time experience (even via phone) was amazing. Joe promised me that he did not care what he had to do, or what hoops he had to jump through, he was not going to miss the birth of his son.

And sure enough, 4 weeks before Joe Mack was born-my husband was able to come home. When he left I was a size 2 and when he came back I was eight months pregnant!

It is so hard to believe that was ten years ago! Now we have three kids! And Joe has been present for all of their births! Watching each of them grow into their personalities and listening to their ideas about the world and life is the best gift God could have ever given me. Most of you know that I had quite the health scare over the past few months. Joe and the kids almost lost me in July, but by the grace of the good lord above-God decided my time on Earth was not over yet. Listening to that song today reminds me how precious life can be. I look at my three children and love them more than life itself. I will be forever grateful to God for looking out for me and allowing me to regain my health so I can watch my babies grow up. I will always be there to help show them the world and teach them right from wrong. I will always be there for broken hearts and disappointments. I will always be my children’s biggest cheerleader. I will forever be their mother no matter how old they get-with arms wide open.

Remembering tender kisses and falling in love all over again

Like the 50 million other women in America-I hopped on the bandwagon and read “50 Shades of Grey” a couple of months ago. Holy moly-I was blushing like I was a fifteen year old girl about to get her first kiss! The erotic scenes in that book are enough to set any woman over the edge. I am not a fan nor have I ever tried or will try BDSM. I consider myself a hopeless romantic and enjoy the fairytale with candles, wine, sweet tender kisses-you get the picture. I had been hearing all the hype about this book series in the media and on Facebook and became intrigued. I absolutely loved all the books! Dr. Oz had a special on his show about how this book had “spiced up” sex lives in marriages. And I must say, it did get my mind in that place.However, it was not just about sex, but rekindling a connection with my husband. That spark that draws two people together tends to dwindle down after children and careers come in the picture. It becomes less important and soccer practice and dance class, as well a grocery shopping and late meetings at work take over. Finding time to keep that romance alive seems impossible at times and as the years go by it takes a backseat to being a parent. Don’t get me wrong, my husband and I adore our children! We were married young and became young parents. It all happened so fast along with adjusting to being a Marine wife. Making time for romance and tender kisses were not on top of the priority list.

As I read “50 Shades," it took me back to a time in the summer of 2000 when I had met my husband. The way we would talk on the phone for hours, spent every waking moment together, laughed at everything, and shared many of tender kisses. I remember the torture of spending three months apart while he was in boot camp and how it made us realize that we HAD to spend the rest of our lives together. My husband is my rock, my soul mate, my best friend-this man is my everything, and has been since I was 19. “50 Shades” woke something up inside of me that I honestly believed had disappeared. It helped my husband and I rekindle a spark that has been there all along, it just needed some TLC. I feel like over the past 3 months I have fell in love with my husband all over again. Life will throw curveballs and completely knock you down, but the important thing in a marriage is to stick together-and always make time for tender kisses.

Bribery always works.....

One thing about being a mom to three children that I have come to realize is that I have very little control in my house. No matter how hard I try, or what method I attempt to use, nothing works-except bribery! Sure, I understand that is a horrible way to reach my kids but a mom has got to do what a mom has got to do! When it comes down to needing to take a shower or just simply using the bathroom with three kids screaming and fighting as well as breaking my precious ceramic collectibles all while I am in the potty-I am willing to try anything at that point! So yes-I bribe my kids with suckers or whatever candy is available in the house (we always have leftovers from Halloween or Easter). I put on a movie and say," Here is some yummy candy and if you would like some-then let's sit down, watch our movie quietly while mommy goes to take a shower." Works like a charm everytime! Being able to use the bathroom and take a shower in peace are like heaven to me…So moms-don’t beat yourself up if you feel temptation to pull out the candy jar, I do it at least three times a week! Haha….