Secrets Mom's Never Tell...

So I was wracking my brain this week trying to think about what I was going to write about. I thought about it while I was cooking, cleaning and even in the shower. And then it hit me, while in the shower, what I was going to say. Why in the shower? Because while I was in there I was trying to think how I could make my shower longer so I didn't have to go out and face the 3 children fighting over a Wendy's toy in the next room. And that made me think. There's a LOT of things us mom's don't tell you "normal" people. So why not air our dirty laundry! So here's some things mom's never tell....

1. I take extra long showers so I don't have to face the kids for 5 more minutes. Why? Because when the water is running, the kids don't really come in the bathroom. Now, they DO come in to tell about someone getting hurt or so and so took something away from them, but its usually just once. :) Any other time I'm in the bathroom....forget it! It doesn't matter WHAT I'm doing in the bathroom. If the shower isn't running, they think mom is free to do WHATEVER, and I MEAN whatever!

2. We eat junk food secretly in the kitchen or our bedroom so the kids don't know! Because if the kids catch you eating a cookie, they want it too, and I'm not sharing my cookie, because some days, its all thats keeping me sane.

3. We throw away "art" projects and pretend that it was an accident. So many times I've gotten caught by the kids. They open the trash can to see their painting, drawing, cheerio necklace, fan, card, whatever sitting on the top and I pretend that it was a mistake that it ended up there. I love the things my kids make, but I simply CAN NOT keep every single knick knack. My house is already overflowing with stuff, so yes, I throw away their projects (not all of them, but most!).

4. Sometimes I count to 3 (or 5) so the kids will do what I've told them 5 times already to do without me having to discipline them. Yea, I know it'd be better for them if I followed through and made them do it the 1st time, or even the 2nd, but sometimes, I just don't want to be the bad guy. Can you blame me?!

5. When the kids ask why, why, why...even when I know the answer, I sometimes say "I don't know" just to make them stop asking. Because who doesn't get annoyed at answering why to the same question for the millionth time?

6. Yes, I've thought about taping my child's mouth shut and/or hanging them out the window. But I'd never do that of course! But sometimes its fun to think about. ;)

7. I've given my kids Benadryl to make them go to sleep. Yep, you heard right, I drug my kids....occasionally. I also give them bandaids for no apparent reason just so they will stop whining about the scrape or boo-boo they think they have.

8. If I have a day where I get to sleep in, and the kids wake up before me and come into the room, sometimes I pretend I don't hear them so they will go back to bed for another 1/2 hour.

9. I've "ignored" the kids on occasion so I can play Bejeweled Blitz or Angry Birds on my phone. Yes, I ignored them telling me "Look what I did" for the one hundredth time that day so I can play for 5 minutes.

10. I've used my kids as an excuse to not do things.

11. I've secretly hidden annoying toys from the kids. I've also said that there aren't any batteries for that toy, even when I know that we just bought a new pack. Some toys are just so annoying you can only take it for so long. Don't judge me, you'd do the same thing if you heard the Chicken Dance song a thousand times a day!

I know you may think some of those are awful, but sometimes its survival. I'm not a bad mom. Sometimes I'm just an over-worked, stressed out, need a break kind of mom and I do what I need to, within reason, to stay sane so I can spend another day loving and caring for my kids. And don't doubt for a second that I don't love them, because even with all the craziness, whining, screaming, fighting, questions, lack of sleep or time alone, I DO love those kids and would do anything for them.

<3 Mya

Time to spare...

If the past week is any indicator as to how the next 6+ months will go, then we're in for a LONG deployment. In the past I've had work, church, appointments, etc, etc to do to keep me busy and my mind off of things. This time around things are different. We're homeschooling. Which means we spend a LOT of time at HOME. I don't work anymore. We still go to church, but have cut back on a lot of our extracurricular activities. So again, we spend a LOT of time AT HOME. Which means I have a lot of time to spend missing Jon and not a lot of distractions. This is going to be very hard on me. I'm always under a lot of stress between the kids doctor appointments, behavior, homeschooling and medicine changes. I'm not used to being home this much either. I like getting out of my house. Unfortunately for me, the kids do well with having time at home. So I'm preparing myself to be stretched. But I also need distractions (things to stay busy). So I'm looking into some things to do.

God has done amazing things in the past for our family. And I know He has amazing things in store for us. But good things almost never come easy or without some pain (either waiting, change, whatever it may be that is "painful"). I know that I am never ready for whats ahead. I can never be prepared enough for anything that might happen. I also know that God is ALWAYS enough. He is ALWAYS prepared. And He is ALWAYS ready. God HAS to be enough, because nothing else is. I try to remind myself of that all throughout the day. And I will be trying even harder through the next month. Because over the next month (and possibly several months) we are cutting back on Amara's medicines. I'm not sure what is ahead of us. It might go great, it might go horribly wrong. I've had this song going through my mind though, and it has been reminding me how faithful God is. And its made extra special because its written by 2 of my best friends. ;) If I had any kind of recording, I'd share it. But there will be a recording in the future and I'll be sure to post it when its out. Not really a long post today, or anything that dramatic, but its whats been on my heart. 

Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones...

Yesterday the girls both got eye exams for the first time. And wonder of all wonders, they both need glasses (like we needed more issues in our household! lol). :/ Turns out that Amara has a slight astigmatism and needs reading glasses, and Tay has a significant astigmatism and needs all the time glasses. They are both excited to be getting glasses and have picked out some cute frames too. Well, Tay is the only one who seems worried about what her friends will think. She's already an anxious/nervous kid anyways, so the thought of her friends laughing at her is bothering her.

I have been reassuring them both (and especially Tay) that their friends will LOVE their glasses and not laugh at them. But it definitely brought back memories of when I was Tay's age and was teased mercilessly. I know what you're thinking, why would anyone tease you Mya? You are cool and awesome! (sarcasm intended). At first it was because I was the only Asian kid (besides my brother) at our very white, private school. As I got older it was other things. Things like having been home-schooled so I was the freakishly smart, socially awkward kid in public school (homeschooling wasn't all that big where we lived). Or being the youngest in my classes (because I was a grade ahead), or because I was short, or, well, you name it! I got teased, picked on and beat up.

Remembering this stuff made me think about how mean kids can be. And how all those sayings that your parents told you growing up were such lies. Like "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" or "what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger". It made me think about how much words really DO mean. And how much words can either build up or tear down. Words can hurt deep within your soul. They can leave emotional scars that you deal with for the rest of your life. Or words can encourage, show love and support. They can be a lasting memory of how much you are loved. With these thoughts floating around in my head, I started thinking about what kind of words I use. Not just with my friends, but with my family, and especially with my kids. Are my words helping or hindering? Am I using my words to build up and encourage my kids, husband, and friends, or am I using my words to cut and hurt? Well truth be told, a little of both. If you asked me a few years back, it would have been that 90% of the time my words were used to hurt people. But now, well, I definitely think a LOT more about the words coming out of my mouth. I am careful to choose my words wisely.

Matthew 12:35 - "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."

Matthew 15:11 - "What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them."

Matthew 15:18-20 - "But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, ad these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts- murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person;"

Ephesians 4:29 - "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

James 3:10 - "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be."

So here's some food for thought. Are your words building up and encouraging those around you, or are you tearing down those in your life and leaving emotional scars?

-Mya

Just the Beginning

So I know that I've been neglecting my blog for quite some time. And honestly I'm ok with it. It's not that I don't love blogging, it's that I've had a lot on my mind and a lot going on in my life. Well, it's the start of a new year, and I thought I'd start it off right by getting back to my blog. :)


Christmas was good. We got to have a nice quiet Christmas here at home with just us and the kids. It was very relaxing and peaceful. We enjoyed Christmas eve service and a Christmas day service at our church which put us in the right mindset to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  


Yesterday was the start of Jon getting ready for the next deployment. :( He left yesterday for a month out at sea in preparation for their 6 month + deployment that is coming up all too soon. In reality (and this always sounds really depressing that I'm used to this) 1 month is nothing for us. It will fly by. And we are used to him being gone, but I wish we weren't used to it. The hard one will be the 6month deployment coming up so soon after he gets back. But, such is the life of a Navy family. 

Yesterday was also the start of Living Out Loud (yes, very much like the name of my blog). It is a part of our Fusion/757: Worship for the 18+ crowd. We are separated guys and girls and the girls are diving into some studies/testimonials about things women face, like purity, submission, hospitality, etc and how they apply to us as godly women. Last night went fantastic and we had around 75 women there! I'm so excited to be helping with this and speaking to these ladies. The next 12 weeks are going to be amazing! If you want to see what we're about check out  Living Out Loud.


With the start of the new year, comes the start to soooo many new things. I'm working out again (even if it's just a little bit at home, at least it's something), we've started some new material in our homeschooling, and I've also started on a year long program of memory verses with my wonderful husband (check it out, it's call "fighter verses"). God has some amazing things in store for me and my family this year and I'm so thrilled to be on this journey. I hope that you continue to follow along with me as I share what God is doing in my life and the life of my family. With every blessing He gives me, there's always a new challenge. And when you are doing things for God you are open to attacks from the devil. I have a big year ahead of me and I'm ready for whatever the devil throws at me, and even more ready for all the things God has for me. Are you ready for what God has in store for you this year? 


 Be blessed this year!
<3 Mya




And check out this song. It's quickly become a new favorite of mine. :)