Things I Love About My New House

Even though I am still trying to figure things out in my new circumstances, let it not be said that I don't adore my new house. God was so generous to our family! I have to praise and thank Him! Here are 20 things I love about my new house - 10 outside and 10 inside.

1) It's in a family-friendly neighborhood.
2) It's absolutely beautiful, and in a style I have loved for a long time.
3) It has a front porch for my rocking chairs.
4) It has a back patio that's big enough for a table and chairs.
5) It has St. Augustine grass that feels good to walk on. That kind of grass is a lot easier to have in Houston than in North Texas because of the abundance of dew each morning. We had it at our Irving house but we could never water it enough to keep it looking good. Plus, I think we had some kind of bug conspiring against us.
6) There is really no vegetation in the backyard besides grass, which is nice because it is very low maintenance. Curt wants to landscape it but I'm thinking less is more, particularly with a big dog.
7) I love every single house on our street. I would have taken any one of them.
8) There are beautiful trees all around our neighborhood.
9) We have cute mailboxes that all look the same.
10)The porch already has hooks for hanging baskets, even though I don't have any yet.
11)I have a kitchen island and it is w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l.
12)We have a remote control gas fireplace. It's very easy to use and with the way our house is laid out, it heats the upstairs very quicly.
13)We have lots of big windows. (I'm having to deal with curtains for them though and it is killing me. Anyone in my area have the anointing for that?)
14)When we moved in, we had an electric range that had seen better days. I was really bummed about it because I loved my gas range in Irving so much. When we removed it from its space, we saw that we had a gas connection! Yeah! I was so happy!
15)I have a big garden tub that I love. I did adore my old clawfoot tub, though.
16)We have more than one bathroom.
17)I even have my own sink now! And the bathroom is actually big enough to get ready in! You cannot imagine how small our other one was. You could not take more than one step in it.
18)Closets. Storage closets. Clothes closets. Linen closets. Thank You, Lord.
19)The staircase is carpeted and has a landing, which is perfect for Jackson.
20)I have, for the first time, an office and a proper dining room! And Curtis, bless him Lord, let me pick out exactly what I wanted to go in those rooms.

This is my desk. We got similar chairs at Ikea for $30. (This is not a picture of my actual office, but I'd love it to look just like this!)


And this is our dining table, except we have a darker finish.


We had an empty guest room and we'd been wanting to get a king size bed. (Sharing a queen size when you're 8 months pregnant will do that to you.) So now was the perfect time to move our current furniture to the guest room and get some new things for our master bedroom. After my little desk and dining table shopping spree, I could not bear to give Pottery Barn any more of my money, so I picked out some fun bedroom furniture at Ikea. It might not last as long, but it's super cute. Here are some of the pieces we got.







The crowning glory of it all is a little thing we like to call "The Westin Heavenly Bed." We went to buy a new mattress and, behold, it was revealed to us in a loud voice that we were resting on heavenly boxsprings. And lo, it was the same bed you can sleep on at any Westin Hotel for a couple hundred bucks a night. Sold! It is totally heavenly.

I ordered this really cute bedding online but it was 5 shades brighter in real life than in the picture. Dern. It has to be returned but I have no idea what we're going to get instead. Curt said absolutely nothing floral. You might need a microscope, but you can see it below.

Looking for the Current

I'm waiting to hit my stride. It's been five weeks and I feel like one of those sea turtles from Finding Nemo who is trying to catch the East Australian Current. (Thank you google.) It seems to be eluding me. Several things have been working against me. First, Jackson went through a difficult phase (hooray for molars) as soon as we moved and it made me dread taking him anywhere. I need to build my confidence back up. Second, we haven't had a mother's day out since we moved. That should change this summer. Third, we've had all kinds of appliance and furniture deliveries, pest control appointments (thank you Charlotte), and a major tile job done that have required me to be home a lot. As of today, we are finally done.

The result has been a very hermitish me. I need to get out more. I need to find my sweet spot with work. I need to arrange the day so that it brings out the best in my two-year-old boy. I need to sometimes risk being out of the house around nap time. I need to chance getting in bad traffic because we drove into town to do something fun.

After such a fun weekend, I refused to come home and be a hermit. I totally over-scheduled this week, but I think it's going to be fun. Today Michelle and her boys came over to play. Tomorrow Jackson and I are meeting a friend and her kids for pizza and then I have a girls night out with Michelle, Christine, and Kay. Thursday night after work we are having dinner with a family down the street who goes to our new-old church. Saturday we will head to the country for the day with our Sunday school class. If all that won't shock me out of my shell, I don't know what will.

Well, we're off to have some fried chicken at my mom's house (thank you Popeye's). It's fun to be so close!

Family Camp

Sometimes it really pays to submit. Last winter, when Curt enthusiastically said yes to performing a wedding for two of our former college students, I wasn't sure it was such a good idea. We already knew we were moving to Houston and I didn't think we'd want to drive back up to Irving just a month after leaving. I'm very thankful that my husband didn't listen to my initial hesitations and that I didn't press the issue until he finally broke! (Am I the only one who does that sometimes?) It ended up being a huge blessing.

On Friday night we drove straight to the wedding rehearsal at First Irving. Jackson and I sprinted toward the church office where we found the Hartsfields and the Murrells, who were helping host a marriage conference at the church that night. Incidentally, it was the same place where we had to say goodbye to them a little over a month ago. What had been a tearful place was now the site of much squealing and laughing!

Jackson and Ella ran around the office and mirrored whatever the other was doing. With that kind of synchronization, they might have a future in pairs skating or ballroom dancing. Later we took Jackson and Ella into the nursery and Jacks was thrilled to get to play with Miss Lauren. While Curt directed the rehearsal, I sat with Krystal and got to hold sweet baby Klaire, who was born just days before we moved. Krystal, I enjoyed getting to catch up with you so much! I look forward to seeing you and the girls again in June when you come to Houston.

After the rehearsal, the Jones family headed over to the Lazos' house. The Lazos graciously opened up their home to the second Great Toddler Invasion of 2008. We had a blast making up for five weeks worth of missed playdates and togetherness. The Hartsfields spent the night on Friday and it was like having family camp. Sunni recapped the weekend perfectly here. It was so much fun!

I had one other major reason to be happy about going to North Texas last weekend. One of my BFF's since high school, Jennifer, had her firstborn only a week ago. She and her family live in Fort Worth and we got to swing by their house and meet Baby Jaylee. She is precious! I am so happy for her mommy and daddy! Jackson and Curtis played in the Sheffields' backyard to keep any toddler germs far from the baby. The yard had a little bit of mud in it, but I wasn't worried. Ha! Somehow my son managed to face plant into the mud. He laid there for about ten seconds while we watched in amazement. It was like something you'd see in a movie. I could not stop laughing! Thankfully, it really didn't make that much of a mess.

We are back in Houston now and I have two more babies to meet - Ryland Elizabeth and Seth Daniel. Thank You, Lord, for these three little miracles! I do not use that word lightly! I am praying for miracles for several more friends and am absolutely believing God to give them the desires of their hearts. They know who they are! I love you!

I must complete this post by giving a shout out to another one of my BFF's since high school, Sabrina. Happy belated birthday to you, my dear!

A New Creation?

One benefit of moving to a new place, like when we moved to Irving, is that you have the gift of a clean slate. There may be a few people around you who know your life story, but largely, what others know about you is what you have chosen to tell them. Even if you're somewhat candid about who you've been, those people see who you are now - redeemed, restored, and renewed by the blood of Christ.

Coming home after four years away is making me face up to what I truly believe about my identity in Christ. It has been humbling. I've always had the abridged - appropriately vague when it needs to be - version of my testimony memorized, ready to share any time I might need to. I am all about getting my plunder from the enemy and giving God glory from what had been my shame. Of course, that includes the seriously good news that I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. And I believe that I am a new creation with all my heart, even though I know that I am only a season of missed quiet times away from returning to my old folly.

So, what do I believe about myself when I am in my new Sunday School class at my new-old church and someone in that group knew me back when? Oh yeah, and they haven't known a thing about me since. For all they know, I am still who I was. What do I believe then? Do I really believe I'm a new creation? Can I hold my head up? Will I believe that Jesus' blood took away my shame, or will I roll around in the ashes of who I was?

Well, enemy, even though I'm tempted to play your game and it hurts my heart that I ever gave you this ammunition to use against me, this isn't going to happen. Jesus gave me a crown of beauty to wear instead of those ashes, and those ashes don't really go with my fine linen, bright and clean, that He's given me to wear. So you can keep your ashes. I'll have my crown.

*Allow me to speak to any young woman out there who may be flirting with or fully engaged in sin. Stop what you're doing and please repent before the Lord. Share your struggle with a trustworthy friend. Let Jesus restore you. You have no idea how long your sin has the capability of affecting your life. Let today be the last day it reigns over you. I love you.
Amanda


2 Corinthians 2:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Revelation 19:6-9

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true words of God."



Isaiah 61

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes, the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.

5 Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.

8 "For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed."

10 I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all nations.

Goodbye, Charlotte, Goodbye

Tonight I spotted a ginormous spider on the floor of the laundry room. I had never seen a spider that looked so freakish. It had a huge rump, which for some reason convinced me that it was going to jump on my face and poison me if I didn't kill it right away. So I took my husband's shoe and began smacking it. You probably know where this is going. It was immediately obvious that I was attacking Charlotte and her babies. Hundreds! Hundreds of babies scattered everywhere! I started screaming and crying like a little child. Curtis could not imagine what was happening. All he could hear was me yelling Jesus, help me! What do I do? Oh, Lord, help me! My drama reached new heights while tiny spiders ran from their dying mother's body. I felt so horrible. And completely disgusted and freaked out. My head is still pounding. Curtis had to take over and, in my defense, even he was amazed by the carnage.

Bluebonnet Festival

Apparently I am trying to get back in the habit of documenting everything with my camera. A change of scenery will do that to you. I'm getting closer to taking some inside pics of the new house. This week our bathroom floors are getting new tile. As a result, there are two commodes sitting in my bedroom as I type. How sick is that? Seriously? And I'm a plumber's daughter. I have completely moved out of there and am sleeping on a twin bed in Jackson's future "big boy" room. Our dining table and office furniture are coming today. Yeah! Jackson will be so ticked when he sees that his bounce house has been removed from that space. If we hadn't already, we got our money's worth over the past few weeks. Now it will move into the guest room which will be empty until Curt's parents come in May. Then he's up a creek.

Last weekend was the best. Friday was warm, so we let Jackson play in the sprinkler (pictures in the last post). That night Curt grilled steaks and we ate on the patio furniture that my parents gave us as a housewarming gift. On Saturday morning we were inspired by the amazing weather (no humidity and actually cool) to head out to Chappell Hill, Texas, for the Bluebonnet Festival. It was not a far drive, but it took for-stinking-ever to get into a parking spot. Oh my word. The first thing we did was hunt down some corn dogs and eat them in the shade of a beautiful white chapel. They were good, but we decided that we'd have to make the pilgrimage to Dallas next fall and enjoy a Fletcher's Cornydog. You cannot beat Fletcher's. Our corn dogs were washed down by the best lemonade known to man. I will never pass up a "fresh-squeezed lemonade" stand again. Ever.

The bluebonnet festival had tons of booths with crafts and some antiquish things. Curt was feeling really generous and he let me shop to my heart's content. I got a really cool red, brown, and white cross that you will see pictured below. Jackson got a pop gun, or whatever you call it. It bought us some time and he was so happy about his new toy. I also got a little sign that says "Mothers of boys work from son up to son down." Too cute. Curtis didn't see anything he wanted, but he got some lasting memories with his family. Isn't that great?

Now, only the Jones family would drive all the way out to this festival and not take any bluebonnet pictures. We had tickets to that night's Astros game, so we were on a tight schedule. This weekend, if the weather's nice, we will drive out to the Dilorio Farms Stand in Hempstead for some good fruit and then find a spot for some pictures. I cannot imagine them turning out well since my son is like a Mexican jumping bean. We'll just have to see.

The Astros game was so much fun. Some dear friends of the family are season ticket holders and they let us have their seats for the night. We were a few rows behind the visitors dugout. It was amazing. We literally had to pay attention at all times because we could have easily been hit by a foul ball. In fact, someone was hit who was sitting in the same seats we were in, on the opposite side. Our team won and we had a great time. We even got to see Lance Berkman hit a home run. Thank you, Weir family! What a treat!

This has got to be one of the most beautiful properties in Texas. I could only capture a small part of it. They have a pond, hills, a red barn, a white fence, and tons of bluebonnets.


We had never seen anything like this before.


Jackson enjoyed an apple while we waited in traffic.


My cross drew a lot of oohs and ahhs while we walked through the crowds.


These ladies were getting their groove on.








*While I was posting these two pictures, I heard a little voice say, "Hello?" One of the neighbor boys came over to tell me that Beckham was IN HIS HOUSE! Help me, Jesus! I forgot to lock the door behind the contractor and it must have popped open, letting the beast escape. What if it had been my child? I am horrified! Well, I guess I'm gonna be making some butterscotch haystacks.

Minute Maid Park


Kay and Jerrell


Here's Lance Berkman. We'll pretend this was a shot of his home run. We like Berkman because he is a man of God and his wife is precious. I probably only know two other players' names.


His nickname is apparently "The Big Puma," which reminds me of Jim being called "The Big Tuna" on the office.


This is the train that moves along the track whenever someone hits a home run. Notice the steam. I could not convince my eyes that it was hauling oranges. They look exactly like pumpkins.


Game over. Peace out.

Happiness is...

...a sprinkler toy.


...getting sprayed in the face.


...trying to get a drink.


...sitting in the grass in your diaper and managing to avoid any ant hills, dog piles, or rashes.


...Daddy running through the sprinkler with you...


...in his clothes.


...a daddy with big muscles.


...a husband who can come home from work and five minutes later be full of energy in the backyard with his son. I love you, Curtis. You're a great dad.

Spring Fashion Fiesta

This has been a really long week and I am pooped. My work load has doubled for the time being and it has been interesting trying to get it all done. Things should let up early this summer. Let's just say I haven't been very clean or lovely this week. Hence, the ugly stick.

BigMama's Spring Fashion Fiesta has been going on all day and I've nearly missed it! (I'm writing late Friday night.) Few worldly things make me happier than good clothes. When beautiful textiles come together with a good fit, my heart soars. When the Lord confronts me with my idols, clothes are typically somewhere on the ugly totem pole. He has to keep me in check. That's one reason why I've been memorizing this.

Here are a few of my favorite things.

1) Citizens of Humanity and Seven for All Mankind Jeans. The fit is worth every penny. Plus, I wear them every single day. I spend as little money as possible on makeup and toiletries and almost nothing on jewelry (anything I have is from my mom), so this is where I splurge.

2) J. Crew tissue tees.

3) The same pair of Reef flip flops in brown and black. I don't like to wear flip flops with super narrow bands because I need more of my 9.5's covered. Anyone feeling me here?

4) Hot pink. It is hard to be in a bad mood when you wear hot pink. I was recently lamenting the lack of hot pink summer clothes in stores, but the Lord allowed me to be reunited with a hot pink shirt that I own and hadn't seen in a while. Plus, He let me find my hot pink suede Coach purse that has been missing for two years. Yeah!

5) Navy blue. Love it. It's so easy.

6) My Nike reversible mesh shorts from Academy.

7) I love Nicole Miller and ABS dresses. Very, very, very, very rarely do I have an occasion to wear one and the money to buy one at the same time. Maybe once every few years. But if I had more money than sense, I would go dress shopping every week at Neiman's or Nordstom.

8) Last year I wore a lot of dresses from Forever 21 with capris or jeans. I have no idea if that will fly this summer.

9) High heels! But not too narrow, please.

10) I've always loved Banana Republic. I think their fabrics feel good, look good, and last a long time. You can always find good things on their sale racks, too.

There you have it! Ole'! Thanks for this fun idea, BigMama!

Rambling on and on and on

I can't seem to come up with a real post this week. I'm just going to start typing and see where this goes.

The Office was extremely painful to watch tonight. I think I only really laughed once but I can't remember what it was about. Even so, I'm very happy it's back on!

Today was my second Thursday to work all day in the LPM office. I got all wrapped up in calling vets, emailing various city agencies such as dead-animal-pick-up (awful!), and posting on web sites about my parents' lost dog. I got less done today than I normally do at home, but it's all good because we got our girl back! Yeah! I have to confess that it wasn't my faith-filled prayers that brought that dog home. I kept consoling Mom by saying that God had taken her up in a whirlwind like Elijah. She sat at my desk today and bawled. It was so sad and I felt terrible for her. I'm thankful that she has her bff Sunny back.

We went to eat fajitas at Alicia's Mexican restaurant tonight. I can't believe it, but their fajitas are just as good as Pappasito's. I still like Pappasito's salsa better though. I could drink it from a Nalgene bottle. Wouldn't it be awesome if I took that to the gym with me? I would make such a great impression on my neighbors.

I really want to go on a vacation. We are deciding between a beach trip to Florida and a long weekend in San Antonio - Sea World, Schlitterbahn, a good meal at the Grist Mill in Gruene, and a stay the Hill Country Hyatt. We shall see! Of course, I'm a beach girl, but I think that San Antonio would be easier, cheaper, and more fun for Curtis and Jackson. Maybe I'll just book it tonight.

I heard DFW had really scary storms last night. I wonder if the 80-year-old oak tree that hung over my old house lost any limbs. Every time it stormed at night I got afraid of it crashing in over Jackson's room. I brought him into our room a number of times for that reason.

Several people have asked about my magical red door in our old house. Here it is:


It stayed in Irving. Hopefully it will brighten the day of people who walk or drive by until the house meets its demise. The door brought me lots of joy while I had it, even though it was only for a few months. I felt our house really met its full potential while we had it. I would have brought the door with me, but it was too small. Now I have a sweet black door with a built in wreath hanger and a transom overhead. I still have a front porch to house my two rocking chairs and now I'm blessed to have a flag pole base in case I want to display my patriotism. And I think I do want to display my patriotism this summer. I might even get an A&M flag for special occasions, like when we beat the heck outta t.u. next fall.

This whole week I've looked like someone beat me with an ugly stick.

I really miss having a cat, but not enough to get a new one.

I miss seeing the Statue of Liberty guys in front of the Liberty Income Tax store in Irving. They wear Lady Liberty costumes and dance their hearts out on the side of Beltline Road. All day long. To no music. Or maybe they've got ipods under their crowns. Perhaps they'd come to Houston and dance in front of my house and under my flags for July 4th. Ooh, get excited. Talk about good impressions!

Sheep Without a Shepherd

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

Four-hundred and one children and 133 women have been removed from a polygamist compound in West Texas, amid accusations of child abuse. Thank God it was peaceful and not a repeat of what happened years ago in Waco. Tonight the news reporters are saying that this is the biggest child protective services intervention in the history of Texas. One person mentioned that there probably wouldn't be enough foster homes for all the children.

You can read more about it here and here.

I am heartbroken for these women and children. Oh Jesus, use your people to reach out to them and care for them. Fight on their behalf and be their Advocate. Protect them from the crouching lion who wants to steal, kill, and destroy even more than he already has. Keep anyone with evil motives far from them. Deliver them from bondage and from delusions. I pray for restoration, wholeness, hope, redemption, and salvation. Draw them unto Yourself and help them trust You. I praise You because you are good, you are just, and you never take your eyes off the oppressed.

Jackson's Favorite Things

Ice cream


Balls


Cars


Dog

Meme, Meme, We Love a Good Meme

Tammie tagged me for a 7 things meme, but I've been seeing another one that I haven't ever done before and wanted steal it! So thanks, Tammie and Erin! (By the way, Tammie is a friend from H-town and Erin is one of the wonderful cousins I acquired when I married Curtis!)


What I was doing 10 years ago - Spring of 1998
1. Getting ready for senior prom and high school graduation.
2. Spending a lot of time with my Nanny because she was dying from breast cancer.
3. Figuring out who would be my roommate at A&M - Sarah Todd!
4. Going to lots of high school baseball games.
5. Getting my nails done with my best friend Jennifer every other week. Hmmm, what's that like, former self?


Five things on my to-do list today (we'll go with tomorrow since its nighttime)
1. Pick out furniture to fill this half-empty house.
2. Meet the Altics for breakfast at IHOP.
3. Wash, dry, and straighten my hair (it takes so long).
4. Hang everything that's supposed to be on Jackson's walls.
5. Recycle some of our moving boxes and packing paper, thanks to the influence of our new neighbors who are inspiring me to be more green!


Five snacks I enjoy
1. Fresh, regular-fat Cheez-Its.
2. Sour cream and onion Pringles.
3. Gerber fruit snacks for toddlers. (It is your responsibility to know what your child is eating, right?)
4. Cherries when they're in season.
5. Sunni's 7-layer dip.


Five things I would do if I were a billionaire
1. Tithe big.
2. Support missionaries.
3. Help ourselves, our families, and our friends pay off debt. And buy our moms and sisters their dream houses.
4. Give to organizations that are translating the Bible into all kinds of languages.
5. Buy a horse ranch - preferably one by a river - in the Texas Hill Country. Own lots of Arabian horses and watch them run through the pasture while I wash dishes at my kitchen sink. Amen. Think about when I'll ride a white one behind Jesus one day.


Five of my bad habits
1. Staying up too late.
2. Wasting time on the computer!
3. Waiting too long between highlight appointments.
4. Waiting too long to get Jackson's hair cut.
5. Not returning calls unless I'm driving in the car. That is because I'm either alone or I have Jackson strapped in his car seat and unable to do crazy things while I'm talking.


Five places I have lived
1. Houston, TX
2. Victoria, TX
3. College Station, TX
4. Thornaby-on-Tees, UK
5. Irving, TX (affectionately known to Irvingites as The Crooked I)


Five jobs I’ve had
1. Production assistant for the To Live is Christ video series. I earned my wage by crawling like a crab through the sand dunes in Galveston - holding cue cards! I think that was the only time my mom ever used cue cards.

2. Customer File Maintenance person for my dad's plumbing company. At age 16, Jennifer and I worked there during the summer and made $7 an hour. We were the envy of all our friends. We rolled in about 9, got taken to lunch by one of our dads, and left by 3 to catch the rest of the sun's good tanning rays. On our days off we ordered pizza, watched Days, and swam in her pool. Life was good.

3. I did some random stuff for Steve Seelig in college when he was officing at LPM. One time I got to stuff publicity packets for Watermark! My fave!

4. Missions intern at HFBC (where I met Curtis Wayne).

5. LPM - my first full time job.

*Adding number 6. Breastfeeding my child for the first year of his life. The hardest job I've ever done! But worth it when I think about how many hours I spent holding that little baby who has hardly sat still in my lap since. Thank You for that victory, Lord. You know You won it for me.