Things only the parent of a toddler will tell you...

Even though my youngest is now 5, yes F-I-V-E, years old, I look back at this list and remember the exact moment each item happened in our lives. I have friends and family with babies and toddlers. Although my child is well past some of these items (#12 never grows old)- I wanted to share.  Enjoy!!

1.Cribs are awesome- until you see your toddler crawl out AND back in again on their own.
2. Toddler mood swings are worse than a teenager with PMS.
3. You relish in the fact you can communicate with your child, but you also realize you will NEVER have a silent car ride again.
4. "What's that?" from the back seat DOES get old...after a while.
5. You can't wait for the day when you are done changing diapers - only to realize you may wind up changing diapers for older family members someday.
6. You never trust the silence coming from their bedroom until it is close to midnight and you can hear your child snoring through the baby monitor.
7. The day you think you don't need the diaper bag because your child is old enough, and the trip is just 20 minutes, you realize that smell isn't coming from outside the car.
8. You will never own anything new for 10 years.
9. Your child will go from cute and cuddly to the spawn of Satan in 2 seconds flat - all over a jelly bean.
10. Toddlers are smarter than you think - WAY smarter than you think.
11. Any person or piece of furniture is a jungle gym, at any time of day or night.
12. Toddlers KNOW they are cute and they know how to use it.
13. It is pretty cool to watch your child complete a task you asked them to do - after asking once!
14. Not so cool to have your toddler ask to help with every chore after that one, OR find them as they are trying to complete a chore on their own. "Yes mommy, I can unload the dishwasher all by myself."
15. You realize that you have more apps on your phone for your kid than yourself - and you use them all every outing you take.
16. You have broken your rule about "no children in the bed" - but only between the hours of 5-7 AM.
17. No matter how pissed you are at your toddler- they just have to smile and you forget why.
18. It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a mountain of M&Ms to potty train a boy...and stickers...and books...and bribes that include Legos, Matchbox Cars and ice cream.
19. You cannot go to the grocery store, Target/Walmart or church without an extra set of hands.
20. Your child can finally tell you where something hurts and it breaks your heart every time they tell you.

Saying a quiet good bye

This is a prime example of my habit of writing, saving and never publishing. I wrote this a few weeks ago -finally posting now. Enjoy!

2016 was a spectacularly crap-tastic year in many aspects. I honestly don't know where to begin. We had the election that just would not die. We have war everywhere we look; domestically against each other, globally between factions that haven't been at peace for centuries.  I could keep going but I'm sure you have your own internal list of "reasons 2016 sucked."

Yet as 2017 gets off to a bitterly cold start I find myself reflecting on the past as I try to prepare myself for the year to come.

I have decided to say a quiet goodbye to a lot of things in 2017.

I'm saying goodbye to social media. I fell off the map late in 2016 and you know what? Life continued!!  The sun came up and the world did not end. I have Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. All of which I don't think I have had a legitimate post to in months. I got burnt out on crap so I quit. 2017 will see the same. I may login to Instagram every so often to see the pictures of my cousins and their cute kids and the shenanigans my brother is up to.  I am replacing social media with old school communication - well "old school" circa 2010; email and texting.  I want real connections again.

I'm saying goodbye to my big world dreams...one dream at a time. At some point in 2016 the light bulb slowly flickered on and the major career ambitious I set for myself when I was a kid had been accomplished, just on a much smaller scale. When I was a kid, I wanted to sing with a band. I wanted to perform in front of people, tour around the country, be the one people sing along with.  You know what?  I am!  I get to sing 2-3 weekends a month with the praise band at church. My voice may have changed over the years but I get to be part of an amazing group of musicians live out my "rock band" fantasy. At my old lady age, I've realized that for now, my dreams of playing the Fargo Theater or venues larger than life just isn't in the cards. Instead I get to sing locally and still be there for my family. Rock Band dream- accomplished.

Same can be said for my modeling/acting "careers".  I get to do local theater on occasion. I'm still modeling for a good friend of mine whenever she comes calling.  It may not be the cover of InStyle or Cosmo, but I've realized that I HAVE been living my dream all along. I get to walk the runway with kids half my age (or even younger) and hold my own. I got to hold the lead in a major local production a few years ago. The last 3 years I've been the assistant director for the Passion Drama at our church.  Acting/Modeling dream-accomplished.

2017 is going to see a quiet goodbye to clutter and crap.  I'm tired of seeing things we haven't used in years just sitting there.  Our house is too big for our family but that does not mean our house has to be full of stuff.  I want 2017 to be a year of connections and experiences. Our older kids are to an age now where they have outgrown toys. Gadgets are cool for a while, but what life lessons are learned when you are face deep in a screen? I'm hoping by eliminating the extra "stuff" we can invite in new experiences.

I'm also saying goodbye to money stress.  This one is pretty remarkable. I know it won't be a 100%, cold turkey, turn around and run kind of goodbye.  Last year my husband and I went thru Financial Peace University.  It was a game changer.  We learned so much about each other and our finances it was just scary.  We've changed how we communicate - not just about money but about things in general. We now have a budget that we both understand and support. I am sure we will have an occasional bump in the road. But now, after that class, those financial bumps are just that, a speed bump. No more crater-sized holes to work around.

I think that is enough for good-byes.  It should be a pretty remarkable year. I'm excited to see where life takes me and my family; physically and figuratively. Check back every so often - you never know when a new post will pop up.  And don't forget -there is a link on here for pictures. If you miss me on Facebook, you can check out our family Shutterfly site that has pictures from all our adventures.

The one topic I swore I would NEVER write about....

With a title like that you just have to click and read, right?  Here we go.

As with most of my posts this too starts at church. Last night our church hosted a guest speaker, Hatim Kareem a practicing Muslim, to discuss what is means to be Muslim in the world today. I will admit, this is the one speaker in the entire lineup I was dying to hear. 

I arrived about 10-15 minutes late due to our dinner chores but quickly found my seat.  I was able to catch up quickly to what the speaker was discussing.  He was giving the attendees a brief history on Islam faith.  I had taken religion classes in college and had some background with Islam but never really to this extent.  

I have to admit I was fascinated. I know that Islam and Christianity were similar but never really realized just how similar they are.  Let's start with a little religion lesson; the 5 pillars of Islam.

1. The Testimony of Faith. This states that every Muslim must affirm that they believe in the one true God and will not worship any other gods but the one true God.  Does this sound familiar?  According to Exodus 20:2-17 God tells Mosses "I brought you out of Egypt...I am the Lord your God. You will have no other gods before me."  When Jesus is asked which commandment is the greatest, he too states that "you shall love the Lord your God and have no other God."

2. Muslims must pray 5 times a day.  To hear the speaker, Mr. Kareem explain it - the prayer is more meditative than asking for anything. I think today many people ask God for something; watch over me, my family, help me with this problem. He said that Muslims pray to thank God for whatever they are thankful for then ask for help, if it is needed. They use the time to humble themselves before God (thus the rules around prayer). Some of the rules include washing their hands, head and ankles before prayer, the position they use for prayer and that men must stand shoulder to shoulder as equals while they pray. 

3. Charity. Islam rule is that any Muslim that possesses over 85 grams of gold for one lunar year must give 2.5% to charity.  The charity rule starts with family; if a family member is in need, you give to them. If the family is all right, you give to a neighbor. If the neighborhood is all right, you extend even further. Mr. Kareem noted that the need for charity is not to help those in need but to also help the person giving. He said that it is a way of purifying yourself and your life by giving away your excess.Jesus says over and over again in the bible that to be like him you must give away your excess. In Acts 3:6 Peter gives what he has to a cripple he meets on the road. He doesn't give him money, but he heals him and the man is able to walk. In the bible charity isn't just about money; it is about giving what you have, time, talents, etc. 

4. Fasting during Ramadan. Mr. Kareem noted that the fasting isn't solely focused on the absence of food, drink and sexual relations; it is about purification of mind and body.  It can also be used as a platform to help develop new habits toward a new year. It allows Muslims to refocus themselves toward God and their faith and if they can conquer hunger, they can conquer any issue they may face.
Depending on what book of the bible you read, Jesus fasted for 40 days while he was being tempted by Satan. He told Satan that man does not live on bread alone. It was Jesus who was saying that men need more than just food for the body, but food for the soul to survive.

5. Pilgrimage to Makkah. This pilgrimage is something that is asked of all Muslims if they are physically and financially able to do so once in their life. During their Pilgrimage all Muslims are required to wear the same simple garments to keep all men on the same level and to bring them closer to God.

Beyond the pillars of Islam I found it interesting why women are "required" to cover up.  To some it seems as though Muslims are suppressing women but to hear Mr. Kareem tell it, they do it because men can't keep their mind on what matters; their relationship with God. Women cover up because it is supposed to prevent men from having unclean thoughts toward women. 


Did you know that Muslims believe in the same "prophets" as Christians? Mr. Kareem was well versed in the stories of Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, John the Baptist and Jesus. They believe in Jesus's miracle birth but to Muslims, he was a prophet who could do amazing things (heal the sick, raise the dead and he himself rose from the dead.) There are other religions that believe the exact same thing.  

The question that I personally was waiting to hear his opinion on was this "Why, if Islam is a religion of peace are there so many violent acts being carried out by Muslim people?" The short answer is that media show only the bad. "Extremists" whether Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist exist. Just because a few people from one sect of a religion take their religious believes and make them political does not mean that everyone within that religion believes the same.  After all the KKK does everything based on the bible and Christian belief; does that mean all Christians are KKK members?  

Mr. Kareem noted that within the Muslim faith there are a variety of sects, just like Christianity. We have Lutherans, Catholics, Presbyterians, etc. They have two main sects with the Sunnis and the Shi`its but within those groups there are many others. As the speaker noted some groups have chosen to become more political in their views.

Why did I decide to write about THIS topic and THIS speaker? To remind myself that a few bad apples do not define a group of people.  Whether it be Muslims who terrorize Christians, Christians who terrorize African-Americans, men who terrorize women, women who terrorize men, I could go on.  Media is ripe with examples of those people who follow their own rules and make their own religion in the name of another. But who says we have to believe that is the norm? Why do we have to have protests defending one type of life against another- don't all lives matter? Color, religion or sex aside - we live, we breath, we die. We ALL matter. 

Paying Respect by Paying Attention

I have a bone to pick with athletes everywhere. I have felt this way for years and I now have an outlet to vent.  Let me take out the soap box and get it set up.

I love this country and all the crazy messed up B.S. that comes with it.  I come from a family who has members that served in uniform so I, and everyone else, have the right to say what we feel. We have the right to have a job, shop where we want, live where we want and vote.  The men and women of this great nation fight for our freedoms on a daily basis. They have done this for eons and will continue to do so until the end of time.

These men and women have earned and deserve our gratitude and respect. One of the ways we show respect for them and this great country is by singing the National Anthem before every sporting event. From local high schools to professional teams, this song is part of events on a daily basis.

When we sing this song- it is always prefaced with "Please stand if you are able and remove all head gear." But did you know there is an actual US Code that outlines how we as citizens should stand and pay our respects during this 1 minute and 30 second song? 

According to:

36 U.S. Code 301 - National Anthem - 

(b)Conduct During Playing.—During a rendition of the national anthem—

(1)when the flag is displayed—

 (C)all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and

(2)when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.

Time to climb the soap box. How many times have you seen an athlete or coach NOT standing at attention?  How many times has a camera panned to someone in uniform and they were messing with their jersey, looking around or worse yet, TALKING? I’ve seen it more than I care to admit and it makes my blood boil.

Here’s the thing. As a professional athlete or coach you are being PAID to be there.  You are being paid more money than most active duty military make. Hell most athletes make more in 1-2 GAMES than most of our military make in a year, but I digress. Is it too much to ask that you stop thinking about yourself for 90 seconds and thank the men and women who lived and died so you can make a living playing the sport you love?

This is an equal opportunity rant- I see it in all sports at all levels, including NASCAR. You see drivers talking to their wives and their crews talking to each other. This behavior is not only infuriating but disrespectful at its core.

There are hundreds of blog posts and articles from people all over the globe who see this behavior. If we as common citizens see this why aren’t people doing something about it?  

I watched this video this morning and had tears in my eyes. Someone IS doing something about it. This coach gets it.  Holy cow, does Coach Buzz Williams get it. This video needs to be played for EVERY athlete; local or paid pro. The coach is right; those players did not earn those chairs. It is time that athletes and fans everywhere start earning their chairs. We can stand at attention. We can look at the flag. We can ignore the fold in our shirt or pants. We can tune out the world and just listen for 90 seconds and thank every one of our men and women in uniform for the chair they provided.

To see more about Coach Williams and what he is teaching his players about the National Anthem; read this article and check out the video he posted with his players.

Coach Buzz Williams talks about the National Anthem

If you missed the previous link to the video I mentioned-  see it here.

Coach Williams teaches important Veterans Day lesson

Here are a few pictures of athletes, officials and fans getting it right.

A Pledge to Get Lost

I have to admit I've been going thru withdrawals. I haven't posted in 6 months and I had no idea it has been that long!!!  Peterson family has been busy to say the least...but this post isn't going to be about how busy we are. I was lost in life, to an extent. Keep reading you might enjoy getting lost with me. 

Last night I found myself with the ability to actually sit and listen to a sermon at church...and I mean really listen.  My husband and kids were sitting far away and for some reason the topic really intrigued me. 

Pastor started out asking if anyone has ever truly been lost.He said with technology these days it is easier for people to find their way from A to B. He has a point.  Who doesn't have some type of GPS or map application on their phone these days? If you don't - you may have some kind of GPS device in your car to assist with getting you from home to your destination.

He talked about taking family vacations as a kid and actually plotting a route on the map - an actual paper map! Or getting a "trip tik" from AAA that had all the fun fliers as well as a highlighted map to show you the best route.  And yes- I can remember the "trip tik" from AAA quite well...how many of YOU remember it or an actual paper map? 

He went on to talk about how sometimes getting lost isn't a bad thing. Most times you are not in any immediate danger. I started to think about the few times I had ever been lost and remembered the fun things I experienced along the way; a fun shop to spend time in, a great restaurant I never would have found otherwise and good conversation with locals found in both.

I realize that no one really "gets lost" anymore...and we are missing out on so much by taking the most direct path.  We take the direct route a lot in our daily lives. So let's think of it another way.

When was the last time you "got lost' in conversation with a friend or family member and didn't look at the clock? 

How long has it been since you "got lost" in a good book (either paper or electronic version)? 

And when have you ever said "let's go this way and see where it leads?"

Every year since I was a child I've tried to give up something for Lent; chocolate, coffee, pop (because all caffeine would be very dangerous these days), junk food, tv.  This year I'm doing something different.  I'm challenging myself to get lost at least once each week.  Some weeks it may be more...but my minimum is once.  I can get lost talking with my kids, playing Legos, writing here since I do not do it enough, physically lost while out and about somewhere...the possibilities are endless.  Two places I plan NOT to get lost - Facebook and the internet. 

If you want to get lost with me- come along for the ride.  We can take a road trip somewhere, we can get lost in conversation over coffee or a glass of wine...or even online. I hope to teach my kids that getting lost isn't a bad thing.  If you think about it, we are never truly lost, right? A quick prayer and stop for directions and we are back on track.

Asking for directions isn't a sign of weakness; it is a way to maneuver thru life. After all, when haven't we asked for directions?  We talk to our families and friends all the time about what we should do or where we should go with this issue or this problem. Same concept. 

Are you ready to get lost?

As I look back...and forward...

Here I am. One year older.  I find I'm aging like my dad.  My body does one thing -my mind does another.  I was trying to think of something fun to post to Facebook today, but the more I thought the more I realized there wasn't something "short" to post.

As I turn 29...again...I wanted to throw out a few things for my younger friends and family. By "younger" I mean all of you. :)

First off - I've been telling people this for years, but age and weight are just numbers and they don't mean a thing unless you let them. Learn to love both sets of numbers regardless of what they are. The older I get the more I have to remind myself to be who I am...love WHAT I am. Some days are harder than others.  My dad is well into his 60's but the man still acts like he is in his 20s.  I want to be that way. I think I'm on the right track...after all chasing 3 kids does tend to keep a person young.  And that weight thing- eh - as long as I'm healthy - I don't really care what the number is. Yes it sucks when my favorite jeans start to get a little tight, but I won't be the same size forever.  Some people can be. Good for them.

I've stopped trying to be trendy. I go for fun and fit and frugal. I now take my measurements with me to garage sales so I can find stuff for myself AND my kids.  I subscribe to a site called GwynnieBee where I can rent clothing each month.  I get to try all kinds of fun stuff, wear it as many times as I want and send it back. No commitment unless I really love it- then I can buy it at a discount.  I've learned what to look for in clothing and know how to dress my body.  Yes, on occasion I still wear something I probably shouldn't...but at least it is a conscious decision to do so. I do admit to owning and wearing a pair of skinny jeans but that is only on certain days, with certain shoes and because I don't own leggings.

The older I get the less my body wants to cooperate. Today for my birthday my face decided to get me 2 new pimples and 4 new chin hairs.  Wonderful.  It is what it is and I deal and move on. I will try to age with grace and humility...key word is try. I've updated my skin care routine, remind myself to wear sunscreen and have learned how to really apply and wear makeup like a big girl. I will still color my gray hair away...I'm not ready to let that go...and I do not see that changing any time soon.   But hair is hair- it will grow back and the color will return to "natural" no reason to be afraid to change things up every so often.

I am learning to deal with mommy guilt and taking time for me.  I find myself feeling bad for going out with the girls on occasion but I try to silence that voice in my head by telling myself that even mommy needs a time out. I need to remind myself that my kids need an example of someone who pursues things she enjoys; who makes time for them and herself and is a better person because of it.

I'm learning that slowing down isn't such a bad thing. Yes I am contradicting myself a bit here.  We are constantly on the go with various activities, but I can't remember the last time I partied it up at a bar.  And I am ok with that.  I find crowds annoying and drunk people rude (sometimes funny to watch) but I have zero ambition to get all dolled up to go hit the bar. I would rather watch a movie at home with the family, in our PJs and a massive bowl of popcorn that sit in the theater.  Don't get me wrong- the older I get the more I love getting dressed up - but I do it for events, not the bar.

Pick your friends wisely. I can honestly say I have enough close, good friends to fill one hand...and I am ok with that.  I have friends that I chat with online or via email and haven't seen in years. Are they less of a friend, heck no!  But I also have let people fade from my life with zero regret. It took a bit to get to that point, but God brought them into my life for a reason. They fulfilled that reason and now have faded out. Time to move on.

I am done letting fear impact my decisions.  I love my family and my life but there are some times I wonder if I hadn't been so afraid of something years ago, what could have happened. Over the last year I stopped being afraid. I tried out to be a cover model/runway model - I tossed fear aside and said "who cares if you are too old or not the right size -do it anyway." Best decision ever! I have new friends and a few new experiences because of it!

I am by no means experienced or wise beyond my years but I am also not a spring chicken. I've been around the block more times than I care to count. I'm going into this next year with a better understanding of who I am as a person, a wife, a mother, a friend and all of the other titles I have acquired my many years on this earth. Keep checking back for updates to our family's adventures. Now if you will excuse me, I think there is a movie we need to watch.

I saw God today.

Yesterday. I went to church. Don't get me wrong - that isn't something horribly unusual. This time of year the choir I am in sings more often, thus requiring my attendance. Most Sundays I have anywhere from 1 to all 3 children with me, but yesterday was different. I went by myself. I sat with the choir the entire time and was able to really sit, listen and enjoy the service. Then it happened.

First let me explain my love for our church. It can be broken into 3 categories- 1. The people, 2. The opportunities for fellowship and 3. The preaching. Yes. I said it- I go to a church because I enjoy the sermons.  Yesterday was no exception. If you ever want to hear the sermons for yourself - you can check out the Calvary website - in fact here is the link directly to the sermon page.
Awesome Sermons at Calvary

Back to the story at hand.  While listening to the sermon- I was hearing about how Jesus went into the temple and cast out the money changers and the people selling animals. He was trying to change the way of thinking; telling people that they didn't have to go to the temple to be with God- God was always with them. For us, this makes complete sense because this is how we are brought up (at least how I was brought up.) Then toward the end of the sermon the pastor quoted George Strait. He quoted the song "I Saw God Today". The song talks about how you can see God all around you all you have to do is look. That was the "duh" moment of the day.

 After church I decided to do my own lesson for Sunday school. Instead of doing the rotation - we took the lesson from church and really dug into it. It has been hard to keep 5th graders focused all year, but yesterday was a little different. In fact- I asked 3 different times if what we were talking about made real sense and for once, they said yes. I was stunned. Were they lying to me- probably - but it was the first time we had real interaction in class that didn't involve some non-church topic.

On my way home I decided to try and really look for God. And I found him. I found her at the gas station, I found him in the smile of my husband and kids, I found her in the melting snow at our house. He really was all around me. I also decided that I needed to do this more often. I need to really look for God every day, not just on days I get the proverbial hand to the back of the head.  So- I am challenging myself and YOU to try and find God today, tomorrow and the next day. You never know where you will find God. :)