LeighAnne with an E

I was standing at the kitchen sink a few days ago, washing dishes for the 5th time that day and I thought, "Phew, I think I've finally got this back under control." And then I realized my youngest had just made 11 months. 11 months, really?! I was shocked it took me so long to feel healthy again. It has seemed that with each birth it has taken me longer to get back into a comfortable routine. It was about 3 months after my oldest that I felt better. For me, adjusting to motherhood was not easy. Then after the twins hit 6 months I remember thinking that I finally had this whole mothering thing somewhat under control again. So why in the world did it take so long this time around? I think just due to the fact that we have so many little ones. Four kids in three years would take quite a bit of time for anyone to adjust I think. Then, I started to think about the people in my life. The ones who have ridden this journey with me. Besides my fam...

February was a month of learning and growing for me. I learned a little about some of my friends and a lot about myself! I also learned that even though I am a great mom, I am still trying to learn the lessons I am teaching my children. Let me explain. My wonderful hard working husband had an opportunity to take a little vacation this month. He got to get on an 'airs planes' (as my son would say) and leave this cold Virgina weather and land in sunny, warm Florida. But, by being out of town, that left me with the kids on my own for 4 nights. For the week leading up to him leaving I kept having mixed feelings. How could he just up and leave me for 4 nights all by myself with four small kids? But wait, I kinda do the kid thing on my own anyway. Don't get me wrong, my husband is a great father, but he works long hours to make it possible for me to stay home full time. This means that there are some days that I take care of the kids all day and get them to bed before he even...

My husband and I attend church pretty faithfully. My favorite part of church is the worship. I love going and just being able to sing to the Lord. There is something so powerful in praising Him! This past weekend our sweet 2.5 year old girl stayed in 'big church' with us. It was fun singing with her. She asked about the worship leader and what her name was. She even said she looked like a princess on stage. But other then that little bit of church I can not remember what was said during the service. I could not tell you what our pastor preached about. I was so consumed with the conversation I was having with the Lord. And boy, was it humbling! As I sat between my amazing husband and one of the sweetest girls I know, I thought, "Wow Lord. I am doing pretty good! Of course, I sin like everyone else, but I am in a really great place. No 'super' sin in my heart." "Oh really? None at all?" "Nope. We come to church and tithe regularly. I tr...

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4 Many years ago, when I first read this passage, the "gentle and quiet spirit" stuck out at me. I felt that I was anything but 'gentel and quiet.' I talked too much and too loud. I said things and did things I later thought that I should not have. I wanted to be a women (and later a wife) that was both pleasing to my husband and my Lord.  There were many times though out our dating years and early marriage that I would think I was being too loud and that my husband would want a 'gentel and quiet wife.' So I would sit with him and not say a word. My husband (or boyfriend at the time) would ask over and over "what's wrong?" I would just shake my head and g...

"Mom." "Mama." "MOMMY! Open your eyes. We want to get up." Ugh. Is it morning already? I feel like I just laid down to go to sleep. Kid #3 from the other room: "Mom I peed in my diaper!!! Come get meeees out."  Kid #2 from the same room as kid #3: "Mom, come get me out of mys crib. I want my football."     Pull yourself together. Get up and get started. Besides, at least the baby isn't crying.....   "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"   .....yet.     I hate mornings. I hate morning's not so much because it's morning, but because it takes time to get in the swing of things. I have so much to do for 4 little people and they seem to all need me at the same time.   Change the older kids, change the baby, let the dog out, make breakfast (don't eat the bagel. It's all carbs and carbs make you fat. Don't Eat It! Great. Now you just ruined your whole day!), clean up dishes from the ni...

2014 is here! Time to set some goals & make them clear!   I have set goals for myself in these different areas: Friends, Family, Home, Spiritual and Self.   Friends I want to create more authentic friendships, not just the quick message on Facebook.   To accomplish this I will:   A) Send a hand written not to at least one of my friends each month. I love writing out cute cards and who doesn't love getting mail?! I have already sent out my first note. Watch your mail box, you could be next!!   B) I also will try to break out of my staying-at-home-is-easier-then-going-out self a bit more. I tend to shy away from 'play dates' and 'girls nights out'. It takes a lot to get 4 kids, all four years old and younger, out of the house. But, there is nothing like being able to have a little interaction with another human....I mean adult. haha     Family  This year I want to capture the hearts of my husband and my ...

We had a wild and crazy December- and not so much in a good way. But, the one wonderful thing that did  happen was our oldest turned 4!                                                    Here she is, just a day old!       Baby was due to arrive on December 15 2009. I asked my husband if he wanted to keep the baby's gender a surprise since it was close to Christmas. What a fun sweet gift, I was thinking! He responded with, "There is NO way you can go 9 months without knowing." In my true stubborn fashion, I responded with "Watch me!"  And so, due to the challenge put before me, no one knew the gender of the baby until she arrived.   She measured big and 3 weeks ahead of schedule almos...