Dream Home?

When you think of your "dream home", what picture comes to mind?

My mind goes to the above picture. This is a picture of Hulk Hogan's home. I've been in that home several times. It is only a few minutes away from the home (much smaller home) I grew up in. I babysat for them (about 15 years ago) and I used to work for his ex-wife, Linda.

I can honestly say it is the most beautiful home I've ever seen with my own eyes.

These pictures do not do it justice.

We were at my sister-in-laws house for a Super Bowl party last night. They just built a house and it is incredibly beautiful. A guy in our life group told Justin that their house was the nicest home he had ever stepped foot in.

I assure you that I will never own a home as nice as the one above or one as nice as my sister-in-law's.

Confession: I daydream of owning a home like that.

When I catch myself in a daydream, I have to remind myself... it is not the style or beauty of the house that really matters.

The atmosphere and relationships within the home are what is important. Those will make lasting impressions and will be remembered forever. Generally, it is not a home itself that causes one to be sentimental; it is the memories that took place within the home.

It causes me to ask myself, what kind of "dream home" do I want?

My "dream home" consists of a place where my husband and kids feel loved, comfortable and secure. A place where God is glorified and honored in everything we say and do.

I love this quote:


"Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave." -Martin Luther


What does your "dream home" look like?


What are you doing to make a "dream home"?


Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear.

The result of bribing my child...

Have you ever been desperate when it comes to making your child do something you want them to do?  We are in the midst of potty training and I think this has to be one of the most frustrating times to a parent.  Kate's teacher informed us that according to the Farmer's Almanac... this was the week to potty train your child.  My response.. "I have no idea what that means, but I'll give it a try".  I don't know if you remember my post from February, but Justin and I were so traumatized by trying to potty train Kate.. we never wanted to try again.  A friend of mine who has a child in Kate's class called me today to ask me if their teacher told me about the Farmer's Almanac thing and if I was trying this week.  She was so stressed out because her son really wants nothing to do with the whole thing. 

Well, because I am a mom.  I do care what other people think of me and I don't want Kate to be in diapers forever (they cost a fortune); the potty training has commenced with alot of bribing.  Our bribes started out something like, "you'll get an M&M if you go potty in the potty."  It has turned into something like, "you will sit on the potty and try to go or you will get a spanking.  If you go, you will get the candy of your choice."  I'll be honest, the bribing has worked pretty well.. so why not try it in other areas?

This past weekend we had an appointment scheduled to take pictures for our Christmas cards.  I was thrilled to find a local photographer who would take your photos and put them on a CD (for me to print) at a somewhat reasonable price.

Please note that I have a two year old who does not always cooperate when I want her to.  I was so stressed leading up to the photo shoot.  I just knew she wasn't going to listen and we weren't going to get one good shot.  We got desperate, so we really talked up the photo shoot and told Kate that she could get a Calico Critter (her favorite toys at the moment) if she listened to the photographer.  Well, I'll have to say.. this bribe worked like none other.  Kate had her eye on the prize.. and acted wonderfully and did everything the photographer said.  Oh, she knew she did good too.. the entire way home she said that she was ready to go get her Calico Critter.  I'm not going to lie.. the bribing thing is still up for debate in mind, but in this instance it was worth it.  Here is the result.  (We have more coming, but this is only one Stephanie posted on her website.)

Have you started potty training?

Kate is now 21 months old and cute as can be. She takes this little dance class once a week and another mother in the class asked me if Kate was potty trained. I quickly told her no, but that I had been wanting to start. I would love for her to be out of diapers before our second baby comes (in March).

With all that in mind.. we were snowed in our house last week from Thursday until Tuesday. On Sunday (or it could have been Monday - the days were running together) I decided that we should start potty training. I had done some preparation. My friend Amy has 4 kids and she gave me the potty training 101 low down. I bought everything she told me to, so I was ready (I thought). I read the Babywise Potty Training book and even though Kate did not show signs she was ready.. I thought I would just go ahead and give it a try (big mistake).

I won't go into all the details... like all the times she would sit on the potty, tell us she was done, and then pull her big girl panties up... walk away and start peeing all over our floor. (yes, that happened more than once.) We did have some breakthroughs (she did go pee a few times and even pooped once on the potty). It is amazing what bribing her with M&M's will do. Sorry, I know that is TMI, but this is my exciting life.

Potty training and going stir crazy being cooped up in a house is not a good combination... we (meaning Justin) hit a real low point on Tuesday... a low point that had me laughing so hard I was crying.

It was Tuesday night and we were getting Kate ready for bed. She was sitting on the potty (trying to go) one last time before bedtime. I was doing laundry, so I got up to go to the laundry room and of course Kate followed. Please note, she had just gotten up from the potty, so she did not have any pants on. Justin followed after Kate to try to get her back on the potty and this is what I witnessed...

Kate and Justin were in the Kitchen.. he was trying to talk her into getting back on the potty. I heard Justin yell, "Kate is peeing all over the floor!" He picked her up like he didn't know what to do... so he ran one way... then the other way. I told him to just put her in the sink. He stood her up in the sink, but she wasn't peeing in the direction of the sink.. it was still getting all over him... so he proceeded to hold her in the Superman flying position so her pee would go in the sink. Here is my poor child, crying because she doesn't know what is going on.. and her father is holding her like Superman over the sink... trying not to get any more pee on him... I will tell you... it was quite a hilarious scene. After the whole dramatic episode was over, we gave her a bath and put her to bed.

I was laughing so hard... I seriously couldn't stop laughing... and I am sure that it still funnier to me than it will be to anyone else, but I had to write it down.. so I would never forget. Even later that night when we were laying in bed, I started laughing about it and couldn't stop. BTW - Justin did not think it was as funny as I thought it was.

Needless to say... we are not pushing the potty training for a while. It may have to wait 6-8 months... until after the baby comes and I am somewhat coherent. It was the most stressful thing I have had to do as a parent so far. Don't worry, I'll be watching for the signs... and next time I'll make sure she is ready!