| Tweet |  Delicious |
Colleen Coble writes romantic suspense with a strong atmospheric element. A lovable animal of some kind--usually a dog--always populates her novels. She can be bribed with DeBrand mocha truffles.
Denise Hunter writes women's fiction and love stories with a strong emotional element. Her husband says he provides her with all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too.
Diann Hunt writes romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction. She has been happily married forever, loves her family, chocolate, her friends, chocolate, her dog, and well, chocolate.
Cheryl Hodde writes romantic medical suspense under the pen name of Hannah Alexander, using all the input she can get from her husband, Mel, for the medical expertise. For fun she hikes and reads. Out of guilt, she rescues discarded cats. She and Mel are presently taking orders from four pampered strays.
15 Comments:
My kids and grown adults, but I still miss them. The best part of parenting is seeing them grow up into responsible adults who love the Lord.
Not to mention that now hubby and I get the whole batch of cookies to ourselves. *g*
Forgot to say I LOVE your family picture!!!
I was just thinking about this yesterday. I got to watch a precious 4 month old for a few hours. He was an absolute doll. The sad thing is his 2 year old sister has cancer. They found out about the daughter right after he was born.
My children have dealt with major illness. When they are driving me crazy I try to remember that each moment with them is precious. I am so blessed to get to stay home with them. They only go to school 7 hours a week, yet I miss them terribly when they are there. So for me the best part of parenting is getting to spend time with my guys.
The BEST part (first, so you don't quit me) would be hearing the little voices from the back seat, pwaising the Word (rhymes with sword), exciting discoveries during the day, snuggles at night, laughing, laughing, laughing at and with them.
The WORST part would be hearing the little voices from the back seat fighting because the other one is looking at them, exciting discoveries during the day (in the toilet and heat vent), throwing up at night, crying, crying, crying at them and with them.
I stay home with a four year old and a two year old. I'm no longer even sorta smart. No brain whatsoever...I'll second that! But, yet, I end up answering questions like, "Mommy, do angels like chocolate?" and "Well, then where do angels go potty?"
And I can related EVERYTHING back to Bob and Larry.
Bless your heart for this post! I can't wait to read everyone else's comments!
Parenting never stops no matter how big the kids get! That's the best and worst of it. LOL
I'm getting weepy now. Really missing them. We spent the day in Carmel/Monterey, but it's not the same without Elle's precious little voice excited about some outdoor discovery. Who would have thought this could happen to me?
I absolutely love watching my girls show me who they are, what they can do, and what they think. My then-3 year old helped me pick out my wig when I had breast cancer, and did a great job! Who else would know my real hair so well? She's 6 now, and I am starting to ask her for fashion advice! My 5 year old, who has a thing for textures, can pick out great purses, though I rarely oblige her (sorry, Kristin. My greatest purse achievement so far is a Kathy Van Zealand. But, I digress.) Anyway, I just love watching them grow, see God in nature and recognize His work in our lives.
And, Amen to Pwaise the Word songs! Can't you just imagine the smile on Jesus' face? It reminds me....A couple of years back, my then-3 year old told me after Easter Sunday service, "I hate the people who were mean to Jesus." Wow. We tried to explain that Jesus didn't hate them, so let's not either....but wow. I admired that depth or response.
The worst: is that these two beautiful darlings both develop a dark side upon entering the car. If someone does not invent a back seat divider soon, I might have to! If not that, I might make good on my threat to put them in dark sunglasses (so they can't tell if they are looking at each other) and plug 'em into iPods. A couple of weeks ago, my 5 year old, who is somewhat delayed, actually announced emphatically to her 6 year old sister, "I am talking to MYSELF! That is MY CHOICE, Annawee (Annaleigh), NOT YOUR CHOICE!."
The other worst: what I call the bean bag effect---I can NEVER keep it all together at the same time. The house is never all done, .the laundry is never all clean, socks are never all matched, the carpet gets crunchy. But, the girls get loved, taken to piano, dance, and church, and I believe it when some say that I will feel sad to have a clean house!
Well, my daughter wants to read a bedtime story...THAT, I love! Bye!
Beverly, you are NOT helping. LOL They sound absolutely precious. Isn't it funny how they're born with taste like that? Incredible, and it sounds like you're enjoying every minute. We should all live like that everyday!
My babies are now 15 and 18, with the 18-year-old graduating in June and heading off to college at the end of August. My life has revolved around my boys for the past 18 years. I'm so not ready for the empty nest.
The best part of being a mom is hearing, "I love you" and having these manly six-footers bend down to give their short mommy a hug.
The worst part for me is fighting with them about their grades.
When my first was born, I didn't think I had room in my heart to love anyone else, but learned three years later that the heart has the ability to expand. Thank God for that!
The best - listening to the girls (8 & 9) make each other laugh in the car, just like they did when they were toddlers; getting hand-made I Love You cards for no reason; hearing them correct someone's grammar, lol - I know they have learned something; watching their performances in the living room; hugs.
The worst: hearing them argue in the car; hearing them argue in the house; knowing I can't always fix what's wrong; fearing something bad might happen to them; hoping I haven't said/done something that will make them snap in later life and do horrible things; losing them; watching them grow too fast.
cheryl
BTW, when my kids are at grandma's for the weekend, my first thought is WOO-HOO!!!!!, then I want to cry because I miss having them around. The first day of school is the worst for me after having them around all summer - I really do miss them. I'll be a basket case when they move out! lol
cheryl
Kristin,
This is a good topic!
I must have let out too big a sigh the other evening, with juggling my 9-year-old's demands of needing a bedtime snack as well as my 15-year-old son's. He said "I don't know why people have kids." I had let him in on too much about the work involved.
The next day I said, "I thought about your comment on having kids. I feel sorry for people who don't have kids. We're having all the fun around here. Why do you think our family without kids hangs around us so much?"
My kids are inquisitive and high-spirited which sometimes drains me. They question things and have serious questions about life. At their ages, I often don't have the best answers to give. I hate how impatient I get with them sometimes.
What I love about them, besides who they are, is the environment they have put me in. Who but a parent can clean house and think they're sweeping up a popcorn kernel and have it turn out to be a pale yellow Polly Pocket big gulp cup, with straw included?
Do other people have to type in BATMAN for a code to open their computers? (okay, I'm not happy when I forget the other computer has MOJO for a code and have to wait for school to be out to get in there).
Other people have boring file folders when I'm busy using up my kids' leftovers from school. Seeing the Incredible Hulk growling from the cover really spices up those papers in there pretty quickly.
Plus, the kids' observations are a hoot. One kid said "It seems like you read more books about cleaning than actually cleaning." Busted!
Once when we sorted laundry, a terrycloth white scrap of material came out. "It looks like a sock gone bad," my son said.
It turned out to be an inside-out terrycloth bathrobe for his sister's doll baby.
Plus, they crack me up when my hair colorist goofs. "Is that how you wanted it to look?" my son will ask. Hey, it beats "What happened to your hair?" which he's said in the past, right??
As a budget-minded person, I think the cost of kids is a downside. The fact that I'll spend every last cent, and more, to give them something I think they "need" indicates I wouldn't trade them in for a Lamborghini (something on my son's wish list--I wouldn't even know that was a type of car without him!)
However, I know the best of what they need has no price tag. Which is why I am writing from home to be there for them.
Sorry to run on so long!
I'm not ready for the empty nest either, though my oldest is only 14. I simply can't believe how fast it goes! I hope this second act is as good as the first, and you've got three years left with your baby : )
I couldn't help but get teary-eyed here. Especially reading Cathy's post. I'm one of those families without kids (not by choice). My husband and I tried for years to have kids, but it was not meant to be. I now tend to be the house my nieces and nephews come to when mom and dad need a break.
I know you are all very thankful to have both the good and bad of having kids. It saddens me that I'll never "feel" that, but I know God has a reason.
I love reading these comments though and seeing the good and bad for everyone.
My great aunt couldn't have kids, and when she died at 96 (do you know you'll live longer without kids), she was a mother to "everyone" and loved by so many. I think when we have more to give of our hearts. God uses it aplenty. : )
Post a Comment
<< Home