The hardest job in the world

The hardest job in the world is being a parent.  I’d like to see anyone argue with that.  Being completely responsible for the health, education and well-being of another human – one who starts off completely helpless and progresses to a state of curious self-endangerment – is stressful, tiring and mind-numbing.

I recently read a fabulous blog posting over at Her Bad Mother called 10 Things I Hate About Motherhood (And One That I Love).  I so completely identified with this posting.  Being a mom is hard.  The sleep deprivation is insane and the act of putting someone else before yourself 100% of the time is very difficult.

But – when Brad looks at me and says “Mom, you’re my best friend” or when Lucy pats my head and says “Mommy, hair pretty.” it melts my heart in a way that nothing else can.  My children are smart, funny and incredibly entertaining.  They make me laugh and smile way more often than they make me cry. 

How could I not just love them?

Article – Strength in Numbers

I already posted this to facebook, so if we’re friends there you’ve probably already seen it, but I thought I would post it here too.  Joe and I were featured in an article in In This Week magazine which is put out by one of our local papers.  The article was about participants in an upcoming bike ride (Little Red Riding Hood) that my sister, Tenille, and I are doing for cancer research. 

You can read the article here.

You can read more about Joe’s cancer story here.

It was kind of fun to be part of an article like this and it was really amusing to watch Joe sign a “Model Release Form” at the studio.  I know he only did it because I wanted to and he likes to give me what I want.  I really feel like Joe’s survival story can be an inspiration to others.  I was  a little disappointed that the writer didn’t mention our kids.  To me the most best part of the story is that just a few years later Joe and I were able to have our own family despite the massive amounts of chemo he received.  Anyway, I hope we’re able to inspire someone to stay strong and have hope even in the worst of times.

Minute to Win It: Face the Cookie

Have you seen Minute to Win It?  It’s this show on NBC where people have to play all these 1 minute games to win money.  They are tasks that seem like they should be easy, but are actually really hard, like emptying a whole box of tissues using one hand.  Well, they have  a game called Face the Cookie where you have to move an Oreo from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands.  Joe’s aunt Sharon decided that the family should try it out at our last gathering.  I wish we had had a video camera because it was hilarious.  I did get some pretty good still shots.  Enjoy!

Uncle Craig starting us off

Josh – Believe it or not this Cookie popped back out of his mouth!

Uncle Mike

Josh P. with the floating Cookie

Joe working it down his face

Brandon

Me!

Cassidy using her tongue to the fullest

And very best of all – Grandma Pitts!  She’s never one to turn down any kind of challenge.

Peace be unto you

John Chapter 20

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

  2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

  3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

  4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

  5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

  6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

  7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

  8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

  9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

  10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

  11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

  12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

  13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

  14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

  15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

  16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

  17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

  18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

  19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

  20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

  21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

  22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

Happy Easter!