Raising kids is fun, scary, heartwarming and nerve wrecking all at the same time. I have learned so much from being a parent. Feel free to share with me as I talk about my B.A.D.D. kids: they truly are Beautiful And Delightfully Dynamic.
I hope that everyone's Mother's Day is blessed and filled with lots of love and relaxation. I, being the type of person who doesn't know how to truly relax, decided to write this post instead.
During my journey through motherhood there have been somethings that I have learned along the way. Here are a few, in no particular order.
-Once kids learn the word "mama", they never stop using it.
-No 2 children are created equally. (My first born is quiet as a mouse, second born doesn't know the meaning of using your "inside voice".
-Didn't know that my mother would take such joy in seeing me fuss at my own kids with one simple word: "payback".
-Once the kids came into the picture, I was now a non-factor.
-Didn't know that kids as little as 4 and 7 could talk themselves out of being in trouble.
-I never believed my parents when they would say that they punished me because they loved me until becoming a mother
-Motherly instincts are real and you would do any and everything to protect them.
-My children would run my life.
-I wouldn't mind them running my life because my life is totally about them now.
-My children are closer to me than my skin and that's where I always want them to be.
Mother's Day is bittersweet because although I am blessed to still have my mama, there are some who are not as fortunate. Whatever your situation, be thankful for the mother/mother figures you've ever had in your life because whether you realize it or not, that relationship has been vital to the person that you are today.
Happy Mother's Day!
In remembrance of Annie Pearl Davis. Love you, Grandma!
Last weekend my husband and I went to a couples retreat held by Anspire Ministries. It was 2 days of laughing and learning and we absolutely had a wonderful time. We were invited by Chaplain Portia Lockett, who co-hosted the event with Dr. Velva Burley Flowers. First, let me say that if it is possible for you and your partner to go on a retreat, run (don't walk) and make it happen because retreats are in existence for a reason. Couples need to get away from the day to day grind every now and then and remember the reason they are together in the first place. My husband and I definitely need a refreshers course so this came right on time.
This was our first time ever going to something like this, so I was just a tad apprehensive. Why? I didn't want to tell all my business (says the girl who has a blog) and all I could think about was that episode of Martin where he and Gina went to a retreat and they kept getting put in time out.
But, despite my preconceived notions, I kept an open mind and thank God it was nothing like this (though there was the occasional eye roll). So I am definitely a believer.
The weekend was held at Roberts Riverwalk Hotel & Residence, which is right on the Detroit Riverwalk, of course, and that alone made the scenery beautiful and serene. We checked in, received favor bags that included a ton of stuff including a bottle of sparkling juice and some bedroom goodies that were so unique they made some of the couples blush. But, the title of the retreat was "Revive ...The Passion", so I was not mad at that.
Over the course of the week-end we heard from some wonderful speakers who gave us some great info about finances, The 5 Love Languages and a workshop on rewriting the 4th step of marriage (which was pretty much steps on how to communicate better) given by relationship specialists Jesse Johnson and Melva Thomas Johnson, who have been married and working together for over 30 years. Find out more about them and their work on their website.
Of course it wasn't all business, there was a lot of fun, too. There was an early morning yoga class on Saturday morning and that night after the workshop we had a Date Night. This included a hype and hilarious game of musical chairs followed by ballroom dancing. Now, you may be thinking that playing musical chairs is a little juvenile, but if you get a group of fun loving (and might I add competitive) people together it doesn't matter what you play, you are guaranteed to have a good time. And for my FB friends that saw my post about my husband learning how to ballroom, you all understand my excitement. My husband has always been the one who DOES NOT DANCE, so for him to finally do it, it was a big deal to me. (There's hope for him after all.)
Overall, the week-end was awesome and I can't wait till the next one.
Have you ever been to a couples retreat? What was your experience?
Forever loving my B.A.D.D. kids (and my husband),
Rhonda
