Practical Christian Living

Katie has observed that Kenny and I are different parents now with Kendra and Rachel than we were with her. I would have to agree. For one I am a different person now than I was 5, 10 or 15 years ago.
Our circumstances have changed; my walk with Jesus has changed- as it should. We parents are growing up right along with our children. Or at least we should be. Parents should be growing as individuals. I was a dumb kid when I got married. But at least I had enough intelligence to know I was in way over my head. I did a lot of reading of the Word of God and Godly books on parenting and Christian living. Thank God for Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family on the radio!
I hope Katie and Jake will skip some of the growing pains that Kenny and I experienced. I know they already have a head start on us just because they have waited longer than we did to begin this whole ordeal. I believe they have matured and grown closer together a lot in the past 4 years.
I can't wait to see Katie's reaction when we get to spoiling that grandbaby! I have a feeling that Papa Kenny will be just as good as Grandpa Loren was at spoiling and breaking the rules. However, the greatest thing we can give our grandchildren will be the heritage of a strong Christian family.
I have been on the internet looking for something I came across when I first started homeschooling. It was a list of Christian Family Rules. I know what you are thinking, "here comes the dress code and requirement to get rid of the TV!" True Christian family values goes much deeper than that. I know it may seem a bit, okay, way to soon for Katie and Jake to think about these kinds of things but I firmly believe that their relationship and who they are will set the tone for the their future family.
This is not exactly what I had originally but it is close. Read it and see what you think. This isn't a test… you don't get a pass or fail. It is merely a tool to see if there are areas you need to work on. You might just find out your not doing as bad a job as you thought you were.
Consider the following as symptoms of a strong family. Your goal is to discover the strengths you already have and to prepare your family to get even stronger.

• You catch each other doing things right and you tend to look for the good instead of focusing on the bad.
  
• You have learned how to argue without losing your temper. You have eliminated violence in your relationships.
  
• You deal with each day's problems as they arise, rather than letting them build up.
  
• You have made family a top priority on your schedule and when the schedule gets tough, family wins.
  
• You make time for casual conversations. You talk about feelings, intentions, thoughts, experiences, and actions.
  
• You spend lots of time doing things together as a family and you help each other try new things.
  
• Your family has a positive view of life. You speak about character and growth more than failures.
  
• You tell stories about your parents and your childhood, even if your children are tired of hearing them.
  
• You do something special with your spouse each week - make a date, even if it's just a walk around the block.
  
• You don't label your family members. You allow each person to grow and change.
  
• You have expressed your appreciation for each person in your family. Even with its faults, you're proud of your family. You feel blessed.
  
• You have learned an effective way to resolve conflicts that works for you and your family.
  
• You get help with problems and frustrations before they become full-blown crises.
  
• You have found a purpose or mission in your life that is worth fighting for, and you work at it together.
  
• You've learned when to be flexible and when to be firm.
  
• You've developed a team spirit around the house. Helping out teaches everyone responsibility. It's a mark of maturity.
  
• You have heart-to-heart informal talks with each family member on a regular basis.
  
• You pray with each family member on a regular basis.
  
• You have found a healthy way of dealing with stress - prayer, music, exercise, relaxation, humor, worship, pets, etc.
  
• Your family is aware of the rules and expectations at home, and, although the rules may be challenged, they are respected.
  
• You have found ways to have fun together on a regular basis.
  
• You eat together at least one meal a day.
  
• Your family attends church regularly and is involved at church.
  
• You take a family vacation at least once a year.
  
• You have developed your own family traditions, including birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, anniversary, and other special days.
  
• You have learned how to bless each member of your family, and you give blessings regularly.
  
• You have cried with a family member in the last few months, and you have laughed with a family member in the last few months.
  
• You share your work life. You let your children see you at work and meet your co-workers.
  
• You keep your own passion for life alive.
  
• You share successes as a family, talking about the good things that happen during the day.
  
• You share inspirational stories of people who stand for the values you appreciate.
  
• You honor your children's creations and have set aside an area of the house (refrigerator door) for displaying their creations, awards, and schedules.
  
• Your family speaks openly about church, faith, and religious issues.
  
• You have found ways to talk with your children about tough issues like drugs, sex, race, honor, and death.
  
• Every once in a while you do something crazy with your family.
  
• When your family faces a crisis, you pull together and find a way to deal with it successfully.
  
• When you make promises you keep them.
  
• In your family, Dad is involved with the children. He is the family leader.
  
• You feel safe and secure within your home.
  
• You have a challenging, but fulfilling marriage.
  

(Courtesy of John Mark Ministries)

Stars and Glitter!

Jake bought me the new Sims 3 game. I'm totally addicted and I can get sucked into it for hours but me being addicted is another story.

Lame I know, but I love creating this alternate universe.... that I control everything in! I got online tonight and made my cute little Sim Family, the Bakers.

There is Jake, in a cowboy hat and glasses. Me pregnant, the best Susie home maker of all sims. We live in the perfect house, with the perfect pool, perfect neighborhood, and all the money in the world- thanks to the cheat code I found on line J I spent over an hour creating this wonderful life.
I even decorated the baby room to perfection. I was secretly hoping for twins, so I bought the most beautiful matching cribs. Then all of sudden BAM, my cute little sim starts to clap and sing!!!

She is going into labor!!!!!!

In a cloud of stars and glitter she spins around and out bursts a baby (not twins L )!!! She is clapping,I'm clapping and her happy level shoots through the roof!

That's when reality hits me like a frozen computer screen. My hands start to shake and a full on panic attack starts to sweep over me. I start breathing heavy and my face feels so hot! Why is it all of sudden so flipping hot in here?
Pregnancy is not glitter and stars!!! It's hard, its gross, it's not clapping and singing! Its morning sickness every day, gaining thirty pounds, and crying over the fact that your husband eats the last Jell-O cup. I got sucked into this fantasy world and the real world hit me a little too hard.

I'm scared to death!

TLC...I have a new show idea!

Forget John and Kate, they are nothing but drama. Yes, they brought the whole eight kids thing to the table but I would bring PIZAZZE!
I’m not mean and crazy like Kate. I am a little kooky but in a good way. Jake isn’t passive like Jon. Jake may put up with a lot from me but he somehow manages to keep me from going over the edge. We are openly loving and very demonstrative and boisterous. That’s polite talk for loud, obnoxious and well…you know… we like (wink, wink) each other. We would not pretend to not be in it for the money. We would not casually talk about the latest toy we “purchased” for our baby. We would openly allow our baby to be used for advertisement space.
Let me explain.
There would be whole episodes of me shopping at Target. What wouldn’t be entertaining about me and my mom and my sisters shopping? Jake would not be any of those scenes. He would be at home… on the coach… eating potato chips and talking to our mini Dotson Pixie.
We could do it up just like the race car drivers and get sponsors. I would even be willing to wear a jump suit, a very stylish jump suit, of course. I would wear sponsors like Tide, Gerber, Huggies, Midol and the Nova Ring. Jake would have sponsors like the NRA, Winchester, Viagra (not that you need it honey).
I propose that everyday my baby will wear a onesie with an advertising logo on it.
When passing strangers are drawn to the adorable cuteness of my perfect baby they would look down and WHAM!! The cameras would cut to a close up of the brand of the day!!
We could hang logo banners in the background of our couch talk scenes.
Think of the things we could endorse, we could make a bundle!
Hello Mercedes, here I come!!! Oh, oh maybe I could get one of those free vacations too.
The name of the show would be....
Katie and Jake Plus Eight Minus Seven = Three!!
It could work!!!

My Story

I hope Katie and Jake enjoy every moment of Katie's pregnancy. I know they won't but I hope for the very best. Every pregnancy is different, just as is every delivery and every child that enters the world. The first pregnancy is special because… well, because it's the first and you have nothing to compare it to, no point of reference. Everything is scary and strange and wonderful all at the same time!

For my first pregnancy I did not get to share the wonders of having a little alien growing inside of me with a husband. I was but a scared 16 year old girl surrounded by family and a few friends but no "baby-daddy." Don't get me wrong, it wasn't any less miraculous. It was just lonely, particularly at night lying in bed talking to my stomach all by myself. There were plenty of good times shared with my family and especially with my brother's wife, Jan who stuck by me through it all. Katie brought joy to the whole family and everyone adored her. But being pregnant, 16 and in high school was difficult.

I never got to share the excitement of doctor visits with anyone. Even after I was married Kenny never went with me to regular pre-natal visits. He worked and it just wasn't practical. He did get to go to the ultra sounds and he was there for the births. Jake has already gone to several doctor visits with Katie. I know Jake will be as involved as possible. They will love every moment of it, okay almost every moment. The vomiting, mood swings, weight gain… not so much.

For me every pregnancy has had its own unique story with happy and sad moments. Rachel (baby # 4) is the miracle baby-I got pregnant with her 9 months AFTER Kenny's vasectomy. With Kendra (# 3) I was very hormonal and crazy. I think that is why Kenny decided to get that vasectomy in the first place. My pregnancy with Rebekah (baby #2) is a special gift to me from Jesus. It was everything I missed with Katie. My pregnancy with Katie is a story of loving someone I hadn't even met yet more than I loved myself and doing the right thing even if it wasn't the easy thing to do.

My personal story of repentance, redemption, submission and restoration has just had another chapter added to it…..REWARD! My own daughter being a wife and mother is beyond priceless! Adding more children into our family is going to be a great joy. Kenny and I have the reward of watching Katie and Jake as their story is being written.

RANDOM THOUGHT

Humor is a key ingredient to being a good mother.

Katie will make an excellent mother!

My mom, who is affectionately known as Grandma Bada, has a crazy sense of humor. She says that raising four boys forced her to roll with the punches and learn to see the humor in life. Knowing my brothers I would tend to agree.
I guess I adopted her philosophy. I am sure I will tell you more about that as this blog progresses.

Luvada " Grandma Bada" Watson

Shopping has taken on a whole new meaning

We Flamings love to shop. Back in the day when the girls were little and we were broke (which was just about most of the time) we could "do wall-mart" and never buy a thing. We would try on outfits, touch everything, play with the toys and leave with just toilet paper or whatever was on the real shopping list. Being given 2 or 3 dollars to spend at the dollar store, on anything you wanted was an hour long shopping adventure!

As the girls have gotten older shopping has changed. For one, nobody is happy with just a cheap crappy toy or the promise of candy at the checkout stand anymore. Shopping is more like being engaged in terrorist negotiations. One wrong move and I will be out smarted and will risk sure death by credit card maxation. I know what the enemy is thinking; How much is mom willing to spend, does she only have cash, can I get her to use the credit card, am I going to have to fork over some of my own money, if I tell her how great those shoes look on her I will get to wear them if she buys them. Shopping is not the slow stroll through the mall that it used to be. Don't get me wrong I still love shopping, I have a maxed out JC Penney's card to prove it!

I made my first venture through the baby section at wall-mart Saturday. I am ashamed to admit I felt funny. I felt like I had to suck in my tummy because I didn't want anyone to think I was pregnant! I rehearsed to myself what I would say if someone asked me when the baby was due. Then in the middle of all that sucking in I got offended! Why, I am not too old to have a baby if I wanted to! They better not just assume I am a grandmother!

I was engaged in my own internal hostage negotiations. I am 40 something years old and I still care way too much how other people perceive me. Why do I care what people think? Is it living in the fish bowl of ministry? Oh, I don't know. The hard truth of the matter is nobody thought twice about me shopping in the baby section. They were probably concerned about me walking in circles talking to myself while holding in my stomach more than anything.

Hello Morning Sickness! Its not so nice to meet you....

Today I went home from work because I was so sick and running a slight fever. My OBGYN said there was nothing they would do until the fever hit 102. I may start looking for a new doc because that answer just didn't satisfy me. They said to go home and rest and they would call me when they could "fit" me in. They never called.
I think the term "Morning Sickness" is crap, I have friend that is sick every night and another friend that was sick all day. I fall into the all day group. I woke myself up at 4 am today with the worst nausea I have ever experienced. It lasted until 3pm today. It took me sleeping five hours to get through it. I have been reading "What to Expect When Your Expecting" and the book said that doctors can’t really say why morning sickness occurs. We can put a man on the moon, we can transplant new faces on people, and we can clone sheep BUT WE CANT FIGURE OUT MORNING SICKNESS? I believe it’s a conspiracy...........
Jake is so sweet, he asks kindly every time "is there anything I can do?" I kindly answer "Can you reach down in my throat and take out the vomit that’s lingering?”
I don’t mean it in a mean way; it’s just really he can’t do anything to take it away.......
I know that is has to get better. I don't want to just complain but right now too many things are changing....Like my BOOBS!!
Oh my gosh, It looks like I went up a cup size in a week. In my husbands eyes this is an amazing and fascinating thing for him but for me they feel like I have 10 pound weights strapped to them. If I was a spy and you needed to get information out of me , threaten me with boob weight!
I would break in ten seconds, I never knew how sensitive the "ladies" were until this week.
Jake today at breakfast told me five times that my boobs are huge!!
I told him I knew this, no need to remind me every 20 minuets.

Calling all crazies!!

I received a call today from a hysterical crazy person. I am accustomed to dealing with loonies. Most of the people in my life are certifiable nuts! I know and understand girl drama. I have raised four daughters. There is nothing like a sister on sister cat fight! At times the estrogen level has gotten so high that it has taken Kenny to pull the plug on it and save us from killing each other!

But this is a new kind of crazy. The kind of crazy I have not had experience dealing with. Okay, I have had experience with it but I was on the other side of it. And in my defense that little man at McDonalds was just asking for it! Anyway, I digress. We don't need to get into any of my emotional pregnant outbursts.

Katie has said that I have not given her the pregnancy advice like she thought I would or should. I am a good listener. I do give good advice. I try to see both sides of a situation. So what's wrong with me?

I know first hand that change brings out the best and the worst in each of us. Nothing says change like having the first grandbaby! How do you mother a mother to be? How weird is it that the little girl that not to long ago was making mud pies on the patio is now having her own baby! It seems oh, so right and oh, so wrong all at the same time. My baby Rachel will be 17 years old in a couple of days. Opinions and doctors reports have changed a lot in the past 17 years, so is my advice worth anything?

I think I better get something out in the open now. Katie-I don't have all of the answers. I will give you my advice when you ask for it. Your pregnancy experience will be uniquely yours. I will try to think back and remember what I experienced and share it with you. Don't take my lack of an immediate response as a lack of concern. I just might not know what to say, for once.

If the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I have a feeling that I will be speaking to this crazy person a lot in the next few months. Pray for Jake.

Sleepy so sleepy....

Imagine not sleeping for four days, then working a 24 hour shift, and finally having to do 200 loads of dishes. That's how tired I am. I just slept nine hours and I could go back to bed and sleep another nine. I know in my first trimester , I will be going through so many changes in my body that will drain me. I'm like one of those old ladies that can fall asleep in mid conversation. I have been going to bed everyday at 930 pm. I have not gone to bed this early in since I was 16.
I'm not supposed to have caffeine during the pregnancy, which I have given up completely but how the heck do they expect me to stay awake?
I cant have any caffeine , so what am I supposed to do now? All I want is the biggest cup of vanilla coffee I can get my hands on.The experts say " do light exercises to energize you", I can barely get my butt off the couch to go pee, how am I suppose to go do "light exercising"????

I'm going to be a mommy.....

It feels weird to say that. It does not yet roll off the tongue with ease. Don’t get me wrong, I m very happy and excited. I feel like it’s the right time in my life and I know Jake will be the best daddy a kid could ask for.
I feel like Charlie in Willy Wonka, I have been blessed with a Golden ticket. A ticket that allows me entrance into the most secretive club in the entire world, the “Mommy Club.”
I swear the mommy club is the coolest club ever. Moms can look at one another and just have an unspoken understanding of one another. But just like every club there is a dark side….. the mommy’s who think they are better than all the other mommy’s!
I’m nervous. Will the other mommy’s like me? Will they welcome me into their club or will I be out casted because they don’t think I’m good enough?

You may be thinking right now, “Katie is a little too into” this but I’m serious. I even have an example.
Jake and I went to our first OBGyn appointment on Wednesday. We wanted to make sure everything was going well with our baby. We were sitting in the lobby with three other women. One had already given birth, and two were pregnant, and of course me smiling like an idiot. The lady that had already given birth was a very large, biker, 80’s looking lady with the smallest mouse of a baby I have ever seen. When she got up to leave she did so in a loud, knocking stuff over and slightly embarrassed kind of way. The other two moms rolled their eyes, and looked at her with disgust and never once helped her. I saw the dark side of the club play out right before me……
I immediately got up and helped her open the door. I smiled at her and told her she had a beautiful baby boy. She smiled a smile so sweet; I could see her happiness that I had extended the hand of kindness to her. I shared a mommy smile with her, a smile that touched me to my very core. I, right then in that split second made friends with the mommy that was too large, too biker, and too 80’s looking, the mommy that the other two mommy’s over looked.

Will I ever fit into this club?

Special Delivery!

Katie and Jake gave Kenny and I the most fantastic gift this weekend!!

The only thing is we have to wait about 8 months to reap the full reward of said gift!

Yep, you guessed it they are giving us our first grandchild! We are still in shock.

It is my hope that this blog will allow us to share this exciting time in our lives with our dear friends and family that we have scattered all across the country.

Katie and I enjoy each others humor so much that we decided to share our thoughts and daily observations via this blog. If you read this and decided that we are not infact entertaining please don't burst our little bubble and let us pretend that the world if laughing with us and not at us!