Day 4- Ben had a Cross Country meet Tuesday night, and came home later than usual. The girls and I shared dinner, did baths and PJs and I got them snuggled into bed RIGHT before he came in the door (so they promptly got out of the bed to see him). I'm reminded that I'm thankful for our jobs.
I'm thankful for BEN'S job because it fits him so well. I know at times he is exhausted or drained after such long weeks, especially in the Fall his schedule is just INSANE. But his athletes respect him. His athletes relate to him. I believe deep in my heart that he is making an impact on their lives. I don't know if you realize this but each sport has it's own kind of athletes. Football and soccer are team sports, and while they require individual skills it's the efforts of the team that make a win or a loss.
Cross Country athletes are different... maybe they put more pressure on themselves? They are racing for their best times as individuals however as a whole the top five runner's rankings determine how they will place. This year Ben's Cross Country teams won District for boys and second place for girls, and he was SO proud of what they accomplished.
Ben works so hard for 10-14+ hours a day to provide for our family AND to help kids improve their skills and just to learn about life lessons. Teaching them to accept and embrace the kid on the team who has some learning delays. I love that Ben can describe the personality and tell a story about each one of these kids at the end of the season, and they just LIGHT UP when they realize that he has taken so much interest and observed and cared for them.
He's not a yeller, and he's not a hugger. He's somewhere in between. And in my opinion he's just awesome at what he does. In the words of the Bralley monsters (Betsy and Ella "Yeah Coach-Soccer-Daddy-Bem")
Also FYI if you wear red, black or white Adidas clothing around my children expect them to call you Daddy.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
Life is pretty beautiful
Lately I'm really feeling it. Loving life. Enjoying the moments. Happy. Shrugging off the small stuff and embracing the little moments that put together create a bigger feeling of happiness and love. Our house is a happy place these days and I love being there and spending time with, or even just listening to my family interact with one another.
I've stopped putting so much pressure on myself about things. The laundry isn't caught up (often), the house isn't perfectly clean. I don't host as many get togethers as I'd like. But I lay in bed with my girls and snuggle all the time. They sit on my lap and rock with me. Betsy tells me about her day, and who she played with, and if playing inside or outside was more fun. Every day when all of us get home we sing the Bralley family song and have a little circle where we take turns dancing in the middle.
Ben and I hang out most nights together. He does things for me that make me happy without my asking. I think he enjoys seeing my joy. And I feel the same way for him. One of my favorite parts of the day is talking about our day "What cute things did your kids do today?" we ask each other.
Sound cheesy? It is. We are a cheese loving family.
I'm so happy December is back, and while everyone else just celebrated Thanksgiving with 30 days of Thanks, I feel like for me that belongs in this month. Because December last year God gave me the greatest blessing in the form of a scary medical condition. A medical condition that forced me to slow down, change my life, and in the process showed me what's really important.
So I'm a wee bit late, but I'll share here. My 31 days of thanks!
Day 1- I'm thankful for my struggles. I'm thankful for my Pseudo Tumor Cerebri. I'm thankful for God's plan in my life. I'm thankful that God gave me the opportunities to rely on him this year for my strength, because all things can be done with God holding me up. I'm thankful for the trips to the doctor's office because seeing small children being treated in the same facility's I was reminded me that my problems are small. But God is big.
Day 2- I'm thankful for my HusBen. I say sometimes that Ben is a saint, but he's not. He's a better combination of my BFF, my partner in marriage and parenting. He's a wonderful example of what a friend should be, and how a father should act. I'm thankful that my daughters adore their father and that he has certain things that HE does with them every day. I'm thankful for God giving me such a wonderful partner. I would have asked that God gave him better taste in movies but I'll take him with his flaw too I guess.
Day 3- In honor of her birthday today, I am thankful for ELLA! My baby. She's a sweet and happy girl and is showing more of her personality. She loves to sit in my lap and nuzzle her head under my chin. She likes to give kisses, and hugs. She wants to be EXACTLY like her big sister. She will not leave a table if there is more food to be consumed. I'm thankful for the beautiful two years I've had with Ella Coy.
I'll be back tomorrow with more thanks :)
I've stopped putting so much pressure on myself about things. The laundry isn't caught up (often), the house isn't perfectly clean. I don't host as many get togethers as I'd like. But I lay in bed with my girls and snuggle all the time. They sit on my lap and rock with me. Betsy tells me about her day, and who she played with, and if playing inside or outside was more fun. Every day when all of us get home we sing the Bralley family song and have a little circle where we take turns dancing in the middle.
Ben and I hang out most nights together. He does things for me that make me happy without my asking. I think he enjoys seeing my joy. And I feel the same way for him. One of my favorite parts of the day is talking about our day "What cute things did your kids do today?" we ask each other.
Sound cheesy? It is. We are a cheese loving family.
I'm so happy December is back, and while everyone else just celebrated Thanksgiving with 30 days of Thanks, I feel like for me that belongs in this month. Because December last year God gave me the greatest blessing in the form of a scary medical condition. A medical condition that forced me to slow down, change my life, and in the process showed me what's really important.
So I'm a wee bit late, but I'll share here. My 31 days of thanks!
Day 1- I'm thankful for my struggles. I'm thankful for my Pseudo Tumor Cerebri. I'm thankful for God's plan in my life. I'm thankful that God gave me the opportunities to rely on him this year for my strength, because all things can be done with God holding me up. I'm thankful for the trips to the doctor's office because seeing small children being treated in the same facility's I was reminded me that my problems are small. But God is big.
Day 2- I'm thankful for my HusBen. I say sometimes that Ben is a saint, but he's not. He's a better combination of my BFF, my partner in marriage and parenting. He's a wonderful example of what a friend should be, and how a father should act. I'm thankful that my daughters adore their father and that he has certain things that HE does with them every day. I'm thankful for God giving me such a wonderful partner. I would have asked that God gave him better taste in movies but I'll take him with his flaw too I guess.
Day 3- In honor of her birthday today, I am thankful for ELLA! My baby. She's a sweet and happy girl and is showing more of her personality. She loves to sit in my lap and nuzzle her head under my chin. She likes to give kisses, and hugs. She wants to be EXACTLY like her big sister. She will not leave a table if there is more food to be consumed. I'm thankful for the beautiful two years I've had with Ella Coy.
I'll be back tomorrow with more thanks :)
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