oh my sneaky husband.
i was really surprised!
thank you for all those birthday wishes!
i loved reading them all.
it was an interesting day.
i felt so many different things over the course of one day
i was exhausted by bedtime.
i will give you a play by play.
*****************************************************************************
6:15 i woke up from a nightmare
(in my dream…craig was marrying a young girl but we were still married
and i had to do all the wedding plans. it seemed real and i was so sad)
6:20 after i'd gotten dressed he pulled me back in bed to tell me
happy birthday (i hadn't remembered yet)
i started to cry because of my stupid bad dream.
6:25 walked the dog and did my bible study lesson
(i was behind so i had to catch up this morning)
7:00 craig offers to get donuts but i send him out for
a giant coffee for me since i was completely out.
he is awesome.
7:45 HE took the kids to school for me.
he is really winning big big points with me. speaks right to my heart
when i don't have to mess with school drop off.
8:00 bake apple puff pancake (see recipes on the side bar…you must try it!)
for bible study with my apples from diana.
8:15 in the shower the sun was so bright i was squinting
it made me so happy. i kept thinking Thank You God!
9:15 show up late to bible study. DUH.
i am pathetically late and i am sick of myself.
then realize my friends there have a cake for me with candles.
i began to cry again.
God was speaking so clearly today. I was hearing and feeling His grace.
I just kept thinking God is so good!
my friend becky pointed out how God loves all his children the same.
he doesn't love one more than the other.
we love our children all the same amount but in different ways for
what their strengths and weaknesses are. i just loved that.
He loves me for just what i am….today at 33.
and we also talked a lot about going through struggles in life.
our attitude shouldn't be Why Me God? but instead…
Why Not ME?
i hope that i could say that when big struggles come.
11:30 – open some birthday cards. 🙂
check my email for the first time today.
29 MESSAGES!
realize craig has posted on my blog!
(here is how i look sitting at the computer…always have my head on my hand
and i was sooooooo happy with the blog comments…you are each so nice!
i couldn't stop smiling.)
i love my husband.
this is my pajama shirt.
and my giant bruise on my arm from slipping on water on the floor.
i am a cheap date.
2:00 run through target quickly with annie who was a dream to shop with today.
used some birthday money to buy a few hoodies for me!
and of course…starbucks. even treated myself to a new mug.
2:30 annie fell asleep in the parking lot on our way back home.
silence the entire drive…..heaven!
3:00 pick up the kids from school.
3:02 pull over and make scott walk home because of his disrespectfull talk.
(keep thinking of micheal scott line on the way to Jan's depostion
"my friend Des-Ray got new Specs. My friend Pat took a turn")
4:00 listen to voice mail from jenny, dave, jake and abby.
cry for a minute.
missed them so much at that very moment. (and always)
5:00 start making dinner (again my choice)
5:30 lauren comes home and is unusually extra nice.
(could it be she wants to be ungrounded?
how dumb do i look?)
5:35 craig comes home.
(best part of everyday)
5:39 craig confronts lauren on something….
she flips out. i get mad. she is sent upstairs.
6:30 eat a yummy dinner of stuffed shells.
7:15 try to play a game with all the kids.
can't wait for game to be over.
game finally ends with one strand of patience left.
8:00 start the bedtime drama.
scott ends up getting spankings and everyone is yelling.
8:05 read a book to the little girls…Micawber…i love that book.
we go through all the really big words and discuss their meanings.
annie grabs my head and kisses me at least 20 times in a row
while i continue reading.
8:10 scott apologizes with a big tearfull hug
"i'm sorry i ruined your birthday mom." and i assured him he did not.
8:15 tell everyone "goodnight! do not come down.
i am all done for the day. do not come out of your rooms at all.
GOODNIGHT!"
8:17 craig installs locks on doors to deter sneaky children.
long story….
9:00 i am relaxing at the computer
enjoying all my happy mail i'd gotten for my birthday!
this is my look of disbelief that i have such nice friends who really care about me.
honored.
humbled.
9:10 i hear footsteps….
the boys jump out from the living room and scare me.
then break into an interpretive dance version of happy birthday.
it was loud and silly.
it was great.
i wish i had it on video.
9:30 listen to phone conversation craig is having concerning one of the kids.
have serious worry while listening.
take a deep breath and try to give God control again.
wish there was one right way to parent that worked.
10:00 craig turns on the season premiere of The Office again.
i turn off the computer and cuddle up with him.
and laugh.
"andrew bernard does not lose contests.
he wins them.
or he quits them because they are unfair"
11:00 walk the dog one last time.
climb into bed seriously tired from a full day of feelings.
pray for answers.
pray with gratitude.
pray for grace.
praise all He has done in my life….thank Him for his plan for me.
Thank God for my 33 years -every detail.
tell him again i am ready for whatever He has for me this year.
bring it on God.
amen.
and i slept.
**************************************************************************
pretty good day i would say.
very emotional in every way.
but that's still a good day.
thank you again for reading this ridiculously long, wordy journal-ish post.
thank you for liking me.
thank you for encouraging me.
i think year 33 is going to ROCK!
Rebecca R. - Dear Meg:
I think I like you.
I’ve been poking about your blog (while blithely ignoring work), and thoroughly enjoying your style and sense of grace.
I hope this upcoming year is good to you–
you sound like the kind of mom I hope to be someday.
by His grace,
Rebecca
betsy - Hey Megan! I usually stay updated on your blog daily, but just found this post in my google reader today from a few weeks ago. I just wanted to let you know that even though you don’t know me all that well, you encourage and inspire me regularly in big ways! I love reading about how you balance life, your passions, your family, your feelings, etc and it’s just so encouraging to me how you handle this imperfect life by relying on God’s strength and seeking His purpose for your life. You may or may not know it, but you have an incredible ministry with your blog and I’m sure I’m only one of the MANY people benefiting from it. 🙂 THANK YOU! and Praise the Lord.
Denise - This is my first time leaving a comment, although I visit your blog periodically. Just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. We have the same birthday. I thought that was cool. Except I am 34 this year. Anyway sounds like you had a good day over all.
Jennifer P. - I never knew you could say so much ;)! Let me rephrase that….usually you say so much by saying so little, but I LOVED hearing every thought come out like this! I am so glad you had such a happy—though still pretty average as far as kids go!—-day!
33 isn’t too bad if I do say so myself 🙂
traci - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEG!!! so sorry i missed it. 33 – what a young pup you are. i’ve got 9 years on you – ouch! sounds like you hit every emotion possible on your day. but it looks like it was the perfect birthday anyway!!!
melissa @ the inspired room - sounds like a lovely day.
33? really? you are just a baby! no wonder you are so adorable.
xo
Angie Anderson - Hi, I just wanted to say thank you. I have enjoyed your pictures. I used to do a lot in photography but fell out of it when I started going to college. Now that my life has calmed down I am starting to get back into it. So along with my mom and sister and their encouragement and inspiration from your site, I started by own photoblog. So I just wanted to say thanks.
Angie Anderson
andersonangie.blogspot.com
Anna - Hi! I really like how you decorate your house. I look at your pictures very closely for ideas.
I wanted you wish you a happy *belated* birthday! It made me laugh reading about it. Sounded like a moms kind of birthday. You are blessed with your beautiful family (and house; )
Thank-you for blogging – I really enjoy it….
jennifer - HOLY COW! That was a day! Have a very BLESSED day!
Smiles,
Jen
P.S. Kids… you can’t live with ’em… but you wouldn’t change/trade them for the world either! :o)
robin bird - this is exactly the kind of post that makes me love to come here to visit you meg. you give the best peeks into your life, the challenges, the love, the questions that are in your heart. thanks meg
michelle my belle - Happy Birthday Meg! Thank you for the reminder of how much we are loved by God and that we have so much to be thankful for. Sounds like a fantastically full day of perfection : )
Staci - Man oh man! You are oozing awesomeness in this post! I loved…EVERY…SINGLE…WORD of it! Awesome, I tell ya…just plain awesome! I’m sorry your day was somewhat exhausting in some respects…but still so amazing in others. God IS good! (You are a pup!)
Jen H. - De-lurking to say: I knew there was a reason I loved you blog so much. Not only do I have serious house envy, but I have the same birthday!! Only I turned 34 this year (grumble grumble). Happy Birthday (belated)!
Tami - Hi Meg
Happy belated Birthday!!!
My name is Tami and I was wondering if you help new bloggers? I love your blog so I thought who better to ask for help..
Thanks, Tami
courtney - i don’t even know you. but i want to wish you a happy birthday. and tell you i loved this post. so sweet. and you’re a GREAT mom and friend and wife! it shines through all you do!
Shannan - This is my favorite post of yours. I sit here at my desk working and when I can’t take another minute, I say to myself, “I need some Whatever”. And almost always there is a post there that lifts me out of my mini-funk. Thank you for bringing me those bits of joy…and you don’t even know me! 🙂 Happy Birthday. I’m all about the thirties. We women are in our prime in our thirties! (Until we turn forty, and then I’ll change my line…)
carissa - you make me smile… REALLY BIG… inside (my heart) and outside (my mouth)! 🙂
LOL
Queenie Bee - Thanks for sharing your day with us! Great post (as usual)…and with great photos too (ditto)! Again, happy birthday! It’s worth celebrating for days on in!
princess lasertron - omg.
you are only 33!??!?
I knew you looked young, but having such a great family I figured you were old like my mom.
I married a 31-year-old!
you are just a young thing!
Caroline Simas - Just wanted to say I love your blog. Not sure how I stumbles upon it but I love that your faith in God resonates through your writings and family. Many blessings for a happy birthday!
Caroline
Charlotte, NC
Tracy - Happy Belated Birthday, Meg! Tell that hubby of yours to continue taking such great care of you and treating you like the Queen you are! :o) I continue to enjoy your blogs every day and am sad when they are not already up when I get to the office every day (not like you don’t have ANYTHING to do every morning as it is- *lol*) I just really look forward to reading about yours and your family’s previous days. I only wish I were as talented and funny as you are when it comes to writing as well as the great pictures you capture about your life. Have a great rest of the week and weekend, Meg and thanks for the great recipes and great laughs! Hugs, Trac~ :o)
Rachel - What a great birthday. a range of emotions…enjoy every minute good or bad…
Love your blog and your journals of daily life! We have all been there!
Beth - We all have days like this, but we all don’t share the hard parts of the day like you do. We all have them, especially with kids. I have boys, 2 and 4 years old. We certainly have our happy times and our not so happy times, but that is life and we do the best we can! Thanks for sharing and keeping it real.
Beth
Lorilee - Meg,
Thank you for sharing your day! I love the “Birthday Dance”!
Blessings,
Lorilee
Susan - Yesterday, at about 3:15, on my way to pick up the boys from school I saw Mr. Des-Ray walking in front of McKinley… I hope he found his Specs somewhere on the walk home : )
I loved The Office humor in today’s post!
jennifer - LOVE reading your blog and I love how real and honest you are. Sorry I missed posting on your birthday, so here’s a belated “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”!
God is good, all the time. So glad you got to experience so much of that on your special day.
Jess - meg…you are hilarious!!! Happy Birthday to you!!! I love this post….completely! I would love to hear the locks on the door story….we have been threatening our 4 year old who gets out of bed 20 times at bedtime (i am not looking forward to putting my son in a “big boy bed” any time soon)…this parenting thing is not easy! Thanks for sharing your day and for making the rest of us smile…..-jess
Aby - I just left you a message… but I left on the post that your hubby did my mistake! Happy Birthday Meg!!
mom - This is a terrific post – the ups and downs of a typical day in your family.
I have to tell you that I ran across a PUMPKIN apple puff pancake. What could be better??? I’ll try it and tell you how it is.
Pattie - Nothing like a teenage daughter to put the house in an uproar. I’ve been where you are and know that “I am not as stupid as you seem to think” feeling. Hang in there, they are like yo-yos….out-they hate you, in-they love you, back and forth, back and forth. I used to make her go out to eat with me every couple of months just to connect. It actually worked!!
Holly - Thanks for yet another fabulous post. I too wish there was some sort of fool proof parenting manual. Wouldn’t that be so nice?!
Glad your friends/family/readers could make you happy. God bless Meg!
Ashley - Oh! Happy birthday! I loved reading your whole day! Also loved your self -portraits! So cute!
Ashlie - Whew! I was tired after just reading about your day! I love that you allowed us to be a part of it. Thank you!
Jen - What would a birthday be without the people you love around you, doing what they do? We would NEVER want that, so you had a very blessed day I would say.
♥Jen
lorel - This reminds me of the part in “Parenthood” when the grandma talks about liking the roller coaster best…and Mary Steenburgen gets a little teary.
And anyway, why do you have Bible Study at 9 a.m.? It’s like they want you to be late! hee hee.
I wish I could have seen the crazy interpretive dance – maybe Scott and Sean can secretly (from Craig) be enrolled in the movement class with Talby and Annie.
amy j - I love your blog. Love your pictures and writing and appreciate how you keep it real. Thank you for giving us a snip of your life! It’s a beautiful one!
Jenny - Happy birthday for yesterday.
It sounds like an exhausting day.
What a great husband.
Sarah B - I don’t know you..I know your blog you. But I just adore the blog version of you. You are so fun to read…and I love that you are REAL…and this post is so real. In one moment you are ecstatic and the next upset….and you get tired of games with the kids…so glad I am not the only one…lol. Happy Belated Birthday!
kristin - i am so glad you were born.
: )
love, kristin
elizabeth holder - happy late birthday – love reading your blog – my birthday was the day before yours – and i too hope this year is filled with awesome, wonderful adventures. thanks for sharing your family with us, wish i were your neighbor
April - *sigh*
That post was fabulous.
Thanks.
jodi - Megan,
I SO enjoy reading your blog! You are such an inspiration to me – I have a blog because I enjoy yours so much! (and once Chad and Shelley have their baby I’ll even have some GOOD stuff!!)
I just want to encourage you in your parenting journey. I work in a High School and see the outcomes of many different parenting (or lack of) styles every day. I think you and Craig are caring, thoughtful, prayerful, RIGHT ON parents. I LOVE the part about making Scott walk for being disrespectful. How fortunate a little boy he is to have a mom that cares about teaching him to be respectful!! You would be amazed how many kids really WISH their parents cared enough to punish them. I always thought that was kind of a joke until I worked here and heard it for myself. I know it is hard to walk through the door after a long hard day and have to discipline right away, but someday Lauren will hold her male friends to a higher standard because her Dad was a great role model. The days are long, but the years are short.
God bless you and the wonderful, thoughtful parents you are. Your kids are very lucky kids.
Melanie - Thanks for sharing your day with us. It sounds like you had a great birthday. I feel like you are my friend even though we have never met. I read your blog everyday and laugh out loud most of the time. You make me smile with your stories and with all your great pictures. I am an only child and I have an only child who is 14 yrs. old and I enjoy your crazy hectic life with your big family. You are a great parent and don’t forget it. Melanie
PamperingBeki - So, uhhh… How was your day yesterday?
😉