tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10696794938805359492024-03-14T12:41:34.941-07:00The Mahoney BunchJennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-91452374672022458442024-03-14T12:40:00.000-07:002024-03-14T12:40:33.085-07:00<p>You know sometimes in the midst of chaos you can be so incredibly grateful and have absolute peace? In the midst of what is seeming to be a terrible start to our 2024, I was so happy to take Alaina to her first ever concert on Tuesday night. For those that don't know I have been told that I'm being laid off as of 5/16/24. Even though there are plenty of jobs posted at the moment, unless you know someone it's sometimes difficult to even get your resume looked at let alone get an interview. In the chaos and stress and uncertainty I have full peace. God already knows the outcome, he already knew this was coming and hew as not surprised by it like I was. It's in his hands, his timing, and his will. We grow the most when we're pushed out of our comfort zone and embrace change.</p><p>I am so thankful that back in September of last year I got tickets for this concert for Alaina's 16th birthday. It was a fun night with just her even though I was nervous about driving downtown by myself, (I really only go downtown with Pat) and having to back into a spot, and being out late, I was excited to get that one on one time with her. Watching her sing her heart out, have a great time, and just spending quality time together filled my cup. I am grateful that even though we didn't know what was coming we had already planned and prepared for this fun night. What made the night even sweeter was the many many times she thanked me for bringing her and going with her đ.</p><p>The day before that, Pat and I got a text from Declan: </p><p>"I just wanted to say that I really appreciate you both for helping me achieve my future dream job. I feel like I don't say it enough and I'm not sure how to say it but I love both of you guys for helping me through it all"</p><p>đ Teenagers sometimes get a bad rap and I think it's such an awkward stage to be between being a kid and not yet an adult. There are definitely highs and lows but as a friend once told me "when things are lovely, they're really lovely". When things aren't so lovely you hold onto the lovely times like the quality 1:1 time or the sweet texts, or the random hugs, and random gifts they bring home. I will say that Pat and I have been so extremely fortunate to have great kids and it has made the teenage years (so far) mainly a breeze. I love the people they're growing up to be and I will encourage them to follow the path that God has for them. I promise to love, guide, and help them as long as they'll let me and I'll treasure all the lovely times in between, stopping and smelling the roses every chance I get. </p><p>Thank you GOD for blessing me!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEwN31pTOS_YHrbs1bMsCelASen-LR4AEtRjE8XKy7ztabf_DAGKqDbqIE1fpmxDp4H_P4OWEGrfB5OqfWKnVyX8azkb7wQRD4WnnklqLU4nqoqfip5shgwnB7p59Lk27P7llsIWondysJ4Q2R66bnJqmsjOIrdZNxXrUEp5kET3xegz2uGDzqhSHuLCY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEwN31pTOS_YHrbs1bMsCelASen-LR4AEtRjE8XKy7ztabf_DAGKqDbqIE1fpmxDp4H_P4OWEGrfB5OqfWKnVyX8azkb7wQRD4WnnklqLU4nqoqfip5shgwnB7p59Lk27P7llsIWondysJ4Q2R66bnJqmsjOIrdZNxXrUEp5kET3xegz2uGDzqhSHuLCY" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgk2jNVHN0HsU9Y94Tc2CeVnFBzUniDirejnMH8vKZFNQIB6A2lL8oZoKs55P4kQ4I-FYfgQ54a7iKZSRLWsvtTBOn0-TG9EbPP2FLeHmR6BVADEFOCXGXgNV33gQ0y8qxEBu0TtCxXqq6axD_8hVdAa1QKOBPoZi_1RVGCboiHnsKcUT6-1jVTv0tYew" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgk2jNVHN0HsU9Y94Tc2CeVnFBzUniDirejnMH8vKZFNQIB6A2lL8oZoKs55P4kQ4I-FYfgQ54a7iKZSRLWsvtTBOn0-TG9EbPP2FLeHmR6BVADEFOCXGXgNV33gQ0y8qxEBu0TtCxXqq6axD_8hVdAa1QKOBPoZi_1RVGCboiHnsKcUT6-1jVTv0tYew" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-85969170357104079262024-02-21T14:58:00.000-08:002024-02-21T14:58:16.466-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"> ADVICE FROM PARENTS TO DAUGHTER</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">First I want to start by saying Dad and I love you more than you will ever know.<span> </span>We are so very proud of you and everything you set to accomplish.<span> </span>You work so hard at everything you do.<span> </span>We admire how much you can keep good grades while also working hard at soccer and having a social life.<span> </span>Ever since you were a baby you light up a room and your personality demands attention.<span> </span>Youâre always welcoming to new people and you make new friends easily.<span> </span>We love how adventurous you are.<span> </span>Plain and simple, you make life more fun!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">God placed it on my heart to write you and be candid and honest.<span> </span>Dad and I both reviewed this as we were once young and in relationships.<span> </span>Itâs our job to protect you as much as we can while still allowing you to have your own experiences and life lessons.<span> </span>We came up with a list of things to consider in a relationship whether itâs a romantic relationship or a friendship.<span> </span>What you do with the information is 100% up to you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Advice from your Parents</b>:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Honor God â You are a child of God and you are precious.<span> </span>Your body is a temple and was meant to be Godâs house so treat it with care.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Guard your heart â feelings lie.<span> </span>Know the difference between love and lust, attraction and affection.<span> </span>Protect your heart.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Communication is key â Itâs so important to talk about things.<span> </span>Donât keep secrets from one another.<span> </span>Whatever you are feeling, donât be afraid to share it.<span> </span>Deep conversations produce intimacy & ultimately draw you closer together.<span> </span>Expectations can be the biggest disappointment in a relationship so make sure you discuss and are on the same page regarding what you want in the relationship.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->You are enough â You donât need to change anything about who you are to âmakeâ someone love you.<span> </span>Have confidence in yourself, itâs something that attracts people to you.<span> </span>Donât be in a rush to grow up. If someone else doesnât see your worth then they arenât worth your time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->You get what you give â If you want to be treated respectfully then you need to treat others with respect.<span> </span>Be kind and generous.<span> </span>Offer compliments and genuine appreciation.<span> </span>Treat others the way you want to be treated and if you donât have anything nice to say donât say anything.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Donât lose who you are to be a couple â Having a relationship is exciting and fun and while youâre getting to know each other itâs easy to get sucked in and want to spend all of your time with that person but donât lose who you are.<span> </span>Keep hanging out with friends, playing soccer, enjoying your hobbies, etc.<span> </span>Having a well-balanced relationship where you spend time apart either alone or with your friends is healthy and good.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Your body is yours â Donât ever let someone pressure you into doing anything youâre not comfortable with.<span> </span>Abstinence is the best policy and itâs how God designed us.<span> </span>With physically showing love comes more emotional attachments and more issues so be responsible.<span> </span>Donât ever feel like you need to give in to keep someone, if they pressure you, itâs time to cut ties.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Be a good listener â this goes for any relationship.<span> </span>Listen intently and pay attention to how they treat others.<span> </span>If theyâre rude, unkind, disrespectful to others then you can expect they will treat you the same.<span> </span>People often put on their âbest selfâ when a new relationship starts and slowly reveal who they really are.<span> </span>If heâs not good and loving towards his mom, itâs a warning.<span> </span>Donât assume you know what he really means when he tells you something.<span> </span>Guys are simple, generally what they say is what they mean.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Only stay in a relationship for the right reasons â Donât stay in a relationship because it gets comfortable and would be âtoo hardâ to leave.<span> </span>If you have mutual friends, itâs fine and things will work themselves out.<span> </span>Donât stay with someone because you donât want to be lonely or because you feel pressured.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Know what you want â If you know what you want in a relationship or in a guy then youâll be more likely to notice when he isnât what you want/need.<span> </span>You need to know who you are before you can love someone else or expect them to love you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Heartbreak â If/when you get your heart broken, it sucks.<span> </span>Allow yourself to be sad/mad and cry.<span> </span>Donât stay there though.<span> </span>Think about what youâve learned about yourself and what you really want and move on.<span> </span>Take time for yourself before jumping into a new relationship.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Donât chase â Ever heard of playing hard to get?<span> </span>When you chase something/someone it runs away.<span> </span>If you chase a guy or donât give him room to breathe he may get scared and run.<span> </span>Be content with being alone.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Test/Ultimatums â Donât do this!<span> </span>If you âtestâ someone or give them an ultimatum it generally causes them to feel pressured and they typically want nothing to do with it then.<span> </span>Be patient, kind, donât rush into anything.<span> </span>Make sure both of you are good with where your relationship is at.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Social Media/Electronics â donât text/snap/etc anything that you wouldnât be okay saying to someoneâs face.<span> </span>Remember that some parents check their kidsâ phones so if you donât want a parent to see what youâre texting/snapping, donât do it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Remember dad and I are always here for you and if you ever need to talk weâre happy to listen.<span> </span>We love you dearly.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Love,<o:p></o:p></p><p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">Mom and Dad<o:p></o:p></p>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-42143869305615479062024-02-21T14:55:00.000-08:002024-02-21T14:55:56.170-08:00<p> We are nearing the end of February and it's still been a rough year. We've had some good things, too though so we've tried not to dwell on the negative and scary. </p><p>February 2nd we were at one of Alaina's indoor games in Fenton and Declan texted me that he had gotten pulled over. Apparently when the police officer ran his plates it didn't show as registered to him. He told Declan he needed to go to the DMV to get that straightened out.</p><p>I did the kids' taxes at the beginning of February and Declan's were rejected. The social security from his W2 didn't match what the SSA had on file for him. To be fair, the last digit was really difficult to read. So we had to make a trip to the SSA office (so fun) and get that straightened out, have his employer update their records, and print a new W2 with the correct SSN.</p><p>Pat went to court for the incident with Dipper and paid the fine. We got our fence and Dipper was confused at first why he couldn't see any of his "friends" when they barked. They put the fence up so quickly and it's so nice, I must say.</p><p>There were some things that happened with Pat's work that had us a little worried but we're trusting God and continuing to do the right thing.</p><p>My birthday was wonderful. I took the day off, had an eye exam so I could get more contacts, got a free Starbucks drink, free Chick Fil A, and a free cookie from Crumbl. I read most of the afternoon and then all 4 of us went to dinner at Tony's on Main Street (thanks Uncle John and Tammie). It was so nice to all go out to dinner together. Afterwards we stopped by my parents house and had cake with them. Alaina was sweet and made, iced, and decorated my birthday cake all by herself! I was given gifts from Pat, Alaina, Declan, my parents, and Pat's dad and step-mom. It was just a really great day and I am grateful to have that time with family <3</p><p>We visited a new church, Alaina visited a new youth group, we've watched countless indoor soccer games, and we even watched the super bowl this year. Overall it's been eventful but I'm glad to have my family by my side through it all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZkGcCPA4k2ga9ylKwaHe4udikpVUTn5m0gt5ViMVXpbrGNYqDgXBzBi_JyfkEVjAoJyL8afbtAxo-yRQVmhGQECxn193mqk7sxi5ZkhyacxUqCZyWbB2YjYM3wAXO93Eeo3UacJKdO8cl_rNvN0XlmDoI_pXfTI4XE36Osrs2jKnVCT9nQwVQxlHY-c/s1465/7EFF5F88-1263-4231-B4E6-C9AA41025410.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZkGcCPA4k2ga9ylKwaHe4udikpVUTn5m0gt5ViMVXpbrGNYqDgXBzBi_JyfkEVjAoJyL8afbtAxo-yRQVmhGQECxn193mqk7sxi5ZkhyacxUqCZyWbB2YjYM3wAXO93Eeo3UacJKdO8cl_rNvN0XlmDoI_pXfTI4XE36Osrs2jKnVCT9nQwVQxlHY-c/s320/7EFF5F88-1263-4231-B4E6-C9AA41025410.heic" width="181" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNkmVOQnBkKIjSHdXokKvKC6zcdKf8Ze3-8GI9pbIWy_7jdSY0Ziaxbe39BAmXUyly_tvAAdl_hJt_e1OepUgHsgtUjB3FRKIMgzYlOQQC-vjz6hbJ0kEekHcB2fsVemId1p97LRZam9en6NDd2Vm12gjxWIVAzle-RaXmzJPv3fdN5RqMA77Hc2806Y/s4032/72972483406__34A2931E-D23F-44D3-BCDB-1669C7A32EE3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNkmVOQnBkKIjSHdXokKvKC6zcdKf8Ze3-8GI9pbIWy_7jdSY0Ziaxbe39BAmXUyly_tvAAdl_hJt_e1OepUgHsgtUjB3FRKIMgzYlOQQC-vjz6hbJ0kEekHcB2fsVemId1p97LRZam9en6NDd2Vm12gjxWIVAzle-RaXmzJPv3fdN5RqMA77Hc2806Y/s320/72972483406__34A2931E-D23F-44D3-BCDB-1669C7A32EE3.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div><br /><p></p>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-72144999301061188922024-01-29T11:57:00.000-08:002024-01-29T11:57:05.171-08:00<p>This month has been nothing short of eventful. For those of you that aren't aware we had a rough start to 2024. Dipper attacked our neighbor's dog earlier this month (thankfully she's healing and is fine) but as a result Pat has a court date to go in February, we are getting a fence installed, and Dipper was quarantined for 10 days. Later that evening, Alaina and I went to the movies and she was trying to open a bag of candy with her teeth and chipped one of her front teeth. We had to go to the dentist the very next day and as we were leaving and making a right to get onto 364, she got into a fender bender (with me), she rear-ended me (her in the corolla and me in the 4Runner). It was easy to feel overwhelmed and down for a week or two because 1. we didn't know if our neighbor's dog was even going to be okay, 2. the expense of everything that happened within 2 days time, and 3. where we were going to come up with the money to pay for all of this stuff. Thankfully Pat and I vented to each other, prayed about it, and let it go.</p><p>A week or so later we found out the neighbor's dog was going to be fine (thankfully), Alaina's tooth was fixed, and the fence is coming (once the weather permits). On a good note, I got to take Declan to visit his first (and only) college. He is thinking about going to State Tech Missouri in Linn, MO. It was a very nice school, VERY small town, and I think he really liked it. I don't get much one on one time with him so it was nice to have an entire day just him and I to hang out. I really enjoyed it and he seemed to as well. I think the reality of him becoming an adult and possibly only living at home for a few more months is starting to sink in. He, as many boys do, waited until the last minute to sign up for the A+ program through school so he's doing his tutoring and if he gets it all done, his school tuition will be free (PRAISE THE LORD) and he'll just have to pay for tools, books, and a place to live. The program is only 2 years and they help you to find a job afterwards. I think he's excited but also a little nervous.</p><p>Last October or November Alaina had a scout from Stephen's College reach out to her out of the blue to see if he could come watch her play in a tournament. He ended up coming to two of her tournaments and then reached out at the beginning of January and asked if she'd be interested in coming and touring the school and playing with some of the current girls that play on their team. Only 15 spots were available and so we went and did that yesterday. She had a good time and it was nice to tour the school with her. Pat and I had never been to Columbia, MO to just visit. The coach told her that she should hear something from him within the next couple of weeks regarding notes and things to work on, etc. They can't officially offer any scholarships until you're a Junior in HS so nothing was officially said. She was the youngest of the girls that were there and she surprised herself that she was able to hang just fine. Afterwards we had to drive from Columbia to Fenton because she had two indoor games to play in last night and she killed it. It was so fun watching her.</p><p>So although our month started off a little rocky and I was freaking out that our entire year was going to be that way, there are so many things to be thankful for! To say we are proud of our kids would be an understatement. I can't believe that they're as old as they are and it's so bittersweet watching them grow into the people God has created them to be and watching them shine. Their ambition and goals blow me away and I'm constantly humbled by their grit and tenacity. I love having a front row seat to watch them bloom!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVJOttqwS2rekWgfmOGwT5rQu2Ob8Edr6VxbSzblOpxGG-iVC9GfR26VT7xOcshvJs_oP6GAwI-T48630Ml_nUuUkZw_tYIzjKGWwyArfhn3LIz37pB1MY-zC39oV4ZwHNxyadiIKmIO6vj3Q0Lrjh1saVbxDBOv_oTVGqzVR-jtSY8cW18ICXh6PZnv4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVJOttqwS2rekWgfmOGwT5rQu2Ob8Edr6VxbSzblOpxGG-iVC9GfR26VT7xOcshvJs_oP6GAwI-T48630Ml_nUuUkZw_tYIzjKGWwyArfhn3LIz37pB1MY-zC39oV4ZwHNxyadiIKmIO6vj3Q0Lrjh1saVbxDBOv_oTVGqzVR-jtSY8cW18ICXh6PZnv4" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p> </p>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-48147891191890681602023-10-15T18:21:00.000-07:002023-10-15T18:21:02.166-07:00I am just so very grateful. I am so thankful for relationships that God has put into my life/our lives over the years. Whether it was through church, work, school, etc. There are always people in our lives that are there for a reason. Parenting is difficult so having friends along to help is crucial.<div><br /><div>Not too long ago there were some things that happened that I was really struggling with. I was very anxious, worried, upset, and disappointed. Out of nowhere someone that I had met years ago reached out to me and encouraged me, she cheered me on and empathized with me as a parent. A few things she said that really stuck out to me and helped me more than she will probably ever know. Parenting teenagers is HARD, it takes a village and God has placed certain people in your life so you're not doing life alone. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>1. Your child still loves you and needs you and is just trying to figure out how to be independent</div><div>2. You aren't responsible for your child's actions or reactions to you, your job is to pursue them, encourage them to do what's right, and show them you love them.</div><div>3. God loves them more than we do. Pray for them and ask God to chase them down and bring them back</div><div>4. Be patient</div><div>5. Set boundaries and expectations but also show grace and understanding</div><div>6. Notice the good things they do, point them out, and make a BIG deal about them</div><div>7. With teenagers, when things are rough, they're really rough but when things are lovely, they're very lovely. Remember the lovely times until the rough times become lovely again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Things have been so much better the past couple of weeks and I'm so thankful that she reached out to me. The friends you choose and the ones that God specifically places in our lives are so very important. </div><div><br /></div><div>Regarding teenagers and dating, someone told me this: A dating relationship when you're not ready to be married should be like a sweet friendship. Otherwise it's like shopping with no money, you'll either end up disappointed or taking something that isn't yours. </div><div><br /></div><div>For all of you parents out there, especially the ones of teenagers, I see you, I'm here for you, I'm grateful that we have each other to lean on and just know that we will make it through!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2Al_Fn2xEBKkCYaQdNUqFOAWBXqCDBpe3Bn5f8m8yV02Y6aEFuiK9gVL08merI2K1Shi6U59u4x4aIHvMHEnKL_cLY_Uh4fG8sQgfdc2d7wN4hPc5LKSUDJhgQSaegPGdqMulFSWjSTQtfBxguym4TZYxf9up-vylW1t7Yzd0klfA-68LQyklqKbnGY/s5616/IMG_5298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5616" data-original-width="3744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2Al_Fn2xEBKkCYaQdNUqFOAWBXqCDBpe3Bn5f8m8yV02Y6aEFuiK9gVL08merI2K1Shi6U59u4x4aIHvMHEnKL_cLY_Uh4fG8sQgfdc2d7wN4hPc5LKSUDJhgQSaegPGdqMulFSWjSTQtfBxguym4TZYxf9up-vylW1t7Yzd0klfA-68LQyklqKbnGY/s320/IMG_5298.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-65046046883357536022023-08-14T13:06:00.000-07:002023-08-14T13:06:04.842-07:00<p>As a parent have you ever had those moments where you're just like "what were you thinking?", "I know I taught you better than that", "I'm so embarrassed that you did this"? I have, well I've had several of those moments having been a parent of 18 years. It started when the kids were super young. Two things I remember right off the bat that were embarrassing then but funny now. When Declan was little I took him with me to shop for new bras. He proceeded to walk through and grab all of the padded bras proclaiming "mommy I like these boobies". Alaina, when she was potty training had to see every bathroom of every place we went to. You know how there is a little gap between the door and the stall lock closure wall thingy? Yeah she used to peek in and say "mommy we know her". I just wanted to crawl under the floor I was so embarrassed. As the kids got older there were many more instances that made me question my parenting abilities and had me thinking maybe I was too young to know what I was doing raising two small kids. </p><p>But then there are other moments that make you beam with pride as a parent and you realize the kids really have been listening and you are doing a good job raising them. There was one time in the store at the check-out there was a frazzled mom in front of us with one little girl in the cart (probably 2 years old if I had to guess) another next to the cart asking tons of questions (4 if I had to guess) and a baby crying that this poor woman was trying to console. She was frazzled, the baby was screaming and the cashier rang her out, she paid and the cashier just left all the bags on the counter at the end of the checkout. I could tell this lady was at her wits end and about to just cry. I asked Alaina to help the woman put the bags into the cart and we were finished checking out by that time so we helped the lady to her car. Alaina pushed the cart and I held the other little girl's hand so the mom could just focus on the baby. We have always told our kids to choose their friends wisely (1 Corinthians 15:33) and that if their friends are doing something bad and our kids are with them and they all get caught, they're just as guilty even if they aren't participating (guilty by association). Our kids have told us on several occasions they don't even like going to the bathroom at school because everyone is in there vaping. I'm not naive to think that teenagers aren't going to experiment or try to push the boundaries, it's almost expected. Alaina has told me on several occasions that friends and such have done edibles or tried alcohol, etc. Declan is much more tight lipped ;)</p><p>Recently I had one of those moments that I am just so proud as a parent. Alaina was invited to a party, she went, she was having a good time and was supposed to sleep over. At about 11pm she texted me asking if I was still awake and asked if I could come get her. She picked up an early shift for the next day so I thought she just wanted to come home and get a good night's sleep before work. When I picked her up I asked her why she wanted me to come get her (for reference she's NEVER left a sleepover early). She said that the girls were doing things that she didn't want to be a part of and she just wanted to come home. She apologized for asking me to come get her so late and I told her how proud of her I was. I don't care if it's 2am or 4am or whatever, I will always come get you if you're uncomfortable or feel unsafe. I always thought that Alaina would be my party animal and try things because it looks fun, but in this moment I realized how mature she really is for her age, that she's been listening to Pat and I all these years, and that the way we parent is working for our kids. I don't write this to brag because as before, I'm sure there will be more times where I will be like "What were you thinking" but for today and for now, I'm super proud of our girl.</p><p>On the other hand, I had my first tough phone call to make as a parent. I called my mom to ask her what I should do because I know the girl's parents where the girls were staying the night and I knew that this was not acceptable behavior for their kids. My mom said "if the shoe was on the other foot you would want to know, you have to tell her parents". I DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT! I was really hoping my mom would just be like, well Alaina did the right thing, no harm, no foul. I had to put on my big girl pants and make a phone call. I do not like confrontation at all but my mom was right. If the roles were reversed I'd 100% want to know. I made the phone call and it went so much better than I had figured it would. The other parent was so apologetic for having Alaina in this situation. As a parent myself I empathized and told her no need to apologize, we're all trying to do this parenting thing best we can. Overall it was a good outcome and I'm glad I made the call but man I did not want to. One, I didn't want to betray Alaina's trust in telling me what was going on and two, I didn't want any of the other girls to retaliate against Alaina. The parent said that she would not mention that it was told to her but she found evidence since the party hadn't been cleaned up yet. Parenting is hard and the more people we have to love our kids and share in the journey with us the better. I am grateful that I already knew this person's parents as I think that made it a little easier but gosh it's difficult. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUnLYeGWN_yAjxkmyk52thqeH9jgg0zrUuEqLRSJ8ZrN19Q5MJJwhdfPiyKc2MCBFaPuJS4i9mZYAcj-a03oW1e89iuwIa47bjW9sgya5NqAUwiYfzrCWKTY8V-nxbXT0uZ3kYDqoRqHiSRMcCQ4ag26J6Bbi9-0M3LX1TJeL3MZbwfuAvuALjYhrWfg/s3930/9230AD91-9445-4766-91CF-2281BF14D2B8_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2881" data-original-width="3930" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUnLYeGWN_yAjxkmyk52thqeH9jgg0zrUuEqLRSJ8ZrN19Q5MJJwhdfPiyKc2MCBFaPuJS4i9mZYAcj-a03oW1e89iuwIa47bjW9sgya5NqAUwiYfzrCWKTY8V-nxbXT0uZ3kYDqoRqHiSRMcCQ4ag26J6Bbi9-0M3LX1TJeL3MZbwfuAvuALjYhrWfg/w574-h421/9230AD91-9445-4766-91CF-2281BF14D2B8_1_201_a.heic" width="574" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-55727795704906981182023-05-14T17:19:00.000-07:002023-05-14T17:19:21.968-07:00<p> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY</b></span></p><p>I know that this day can be difficult for some. Some women that long to be mothers and aren't able to conceive, those who have conceived and lost, and those who have lost their children before you felt it was their time. My heart goes out to you and aches for you. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering you've had, however I can say that I'm here and willing to listen, cry with you, and hold your hand as you walk through your valleys. </p><p>I also want to say a HUGE thank you to all of those that have influenced my life. For my mom being the one that never wanted kids, I'm so glad that she changed her mind. My mom, she's always been there for me through all of the peaks and valleys of my life whether I created them myself or just happened to walk through them. She's been my biggest cheerleader, my hiking buddy, my confidant, my road trip sidekick, and my extra hand when I needed it. She allowed me to make mistakes growing up so that I could learn from them, mature, and move on. She's seen me at my highest of highs and lowest of lows and loved me through them all. I am forever grateful for the mother I was given and the friend that I now have. I also received two bonus moms when I married Pat. I have learned so much from both his mom and step-mom. Kim loves to garden, cook, makes beautiful place settings for family gatherings and always make sure the family gets together for the holidays. She's baked cookies with my kids at Christmas time, carved pumpkins with them at Halloween, and dyed eggs with them at Easter. Her love of genealogy excites her and she loves telling our kids about their ancestors. Lydia shares my love of baking and is an encourager and a cheerleader. She loves coming to watch the kids in their sports and is always there if I need someone to just listen and let me vent. We love to talk about recipes and family and soccer. Not only did I gain two extra moms I also gained another grandma, Pat's Grandma Judy. I enjoy all of the family I have gained through my husband. </p>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-11936362174731769042023-05-07T15:26:00.000-07:002023-05-07T15:26:05.422-07:00<p> Random thoughts and Updates:</p><p>Why is it that our best thinking comes at times when we cannot write things down. I mean, the other day I was in the shower and these thoughts were just coming to me left and right and I was like man these are great, I really should write these down so I remember them or can share them. Whether we're showering, driving, laying down to go to sleep I believe there are times when our brain is most relaxed and we can finally have some genuine thoughts.</p><p>Many of you probably don't know but I do not set New Years resolutions. I just got tired of not meeting my goals and giving up by February. This year even though I didn't set a resolution, I did set some goals for myself that would still give me some leeway in case I messed up or stumbled. </p><p>1. I want to read at least 12 books this year (one for each month). So far I am currently on number 10 and I already have number 11 waiting for me. I can put the links below to what I've been reading in case you're interested.</p><p>2. I want to be a better role-model for my kids. My health has never been a priority to me. I've always wanted to be a wife and a mother and never gave my health a thought really. As a teenager I enjoyed working out and lifting weights but then life happens and I've slowly let myself go. The other day I was thinking, man I thought I was done parenting for the most part. My kids are almost 18 and 15. But then it struck me that now is the time that our kids are going to watch my actions more than listen to my words. We have REALLY lucked out in the teenager department and we have some great kids and I am so very grateful. I realize though that if I want to be a better role-model I have to be worthy of being someone others want to follow. With that I've decided to start exercising and watching what I eat. I decided to do a 40 day sugar fast and to my surprise Alaina said she'd do it with me. Not only that but her boyfriend and one of her friends joined in as well. I didn't have to tell her to do it, I didn't encourage her to follow my lead, she CHOSE to do it and that makes me so very happy.</p><p>3. I've started filling my brain with truths about who God says I am, what I can accomplish, and where he's leading me. I was at a women's event at church a few years ago, right before Covid hit. I remember after the lesson we split into smaller groups to discuss some related questions and one was "what is your motivation/drive". I remember sitting there and not being able to come up with anything. I was like what in the world is my purpose. As I mentioned above the only things I ever wanted was to be a mom and a wife, that's it. Once that happened I guess I just decided to coast and "see what happens". </p><p>4. I want to be more intentional in my thoughts and actions. The easy path and easy options are no longer an option. Yes it's convenient to grab something quick to eat from fast food or gas station food or just the processed quick foods to make at home. I've learned that to change I have to be more intentional. Being healthy takes more planning, prep, perseverance, and persistence but the payoff is so much greater. I want to be intentional about what I say to others, how I say things to others, my actions, and my choices. </p><p>We are now in month 5 of 2023 and I have been working on these all year so far. I have a long journey ahead but I also have great support and a personal cheerleader (thank you Pat) who believes in me and encourages me to keep going even when somedays it would be easier to just give up. I just wanted to share an update since it's been about a year since I've written anything. What is going on in your life? Anything you're working on or towards this year?</p><p><br /></p><p>Books I've read so far this year: </p><p><a href="https://www.booksradar.com/coben-harlan/coben.html#2437">https://www.booksradar.com/coben-harlan/coben.html#2437</a></p><p>Author: Harlan Coben - these are suspense/thriller - The Match, I Will Find You, The Boy From the Woods, Missing You, Tell No One, Fool Me Once</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=overcoming+overwhelmed+erik+lawson&crid=3TYFZL7N1YHDW&sprefix=erik+lawson%2Caps%2C134&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_6_11">https://www.amazon.com/s?k=overcoming+overwhelmed+erik+lawson&crid=3TYFZL7N1YHDW&sprefix=erik+lawson%2Caps%2C134&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_6_11</a></p><p>Overcoming Overwhelmed by Erik Lawson</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nefarious-Plot-Steve-Deace/dp/1682611523/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=580631589312&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9022943&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11823108814152330207&hvtargid=kwd-309568623575&hydadcr=10026_13483884&keywords=steve+deace+nefarious+plot&qid=1683498313&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Nefarious-Plot-Steve-Deace/dp/1682611523/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=580631589312&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9022943&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11823108814152330207&hvtargid=kwd-309568623575&hydadcr=10026_13483884&keywords=steve+deace+nefarious+plot&qid=1683498313&sr=8-1</a></p><p>Author: Steve Peace - Nefarious Plot</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/40-Day-Sugar-Fast-Spiritual-Transformation/dp/0801094577/ref=sxts_entity_rec_bsx_s_def_r00_t_aufl?content-id=amzn1.sym.4afc730c-c08d-48ba-8a05-81aa212c56f6%3Aamzn1.sym.4afc730c-c08d-48ba-8a05-81aa212c56f6&cv_ct_cx=wendy+speake+sugar+fast&hvadid=580750081871&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9022943&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=280933199357746321&hvtargid=kwd-946357220317&hydadcr=22563_13493224&keywords=wendy+speake+sugar+fast&pd_rd_i=0801094577&pd_rd_r=d0c4a901-dc6a-4e90-a0c0-d725a76317c1&pd_rd_w=T2CaE&pd_rd_wg=2q0jQ&pf_rd_p=4afc730c-c08d-48ba-8a05-81aa212c56f6&pf_rd_r=YCA0FN70WYAKJE6EBF2K&qid=1683498109&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=1-1-42c1d7c4-51c2-42cf-80a4-c0488607bdfe">https://www.amazon.com/40-Day-Sugar-Fast-Spiritual-Transformation/dp/0801094577/ref=sxts_entity_rec_bsx_s_def_r00_t_aufl?content-id=amzn1.sym.4afc730c-c08d-48ba-8a05-81aa212c56f6%3Aamzn1.sym.4afc730c-c08d-48ba-8a05-81aa212c56f6&cv_ct_cx=wendy+speake+sugar+fast&hvadid=580750081871&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9022943&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=280933199357746321&hvtargid=kwd-946357220317&hydadcr=22563_13493224&keywords=wendy+speake+sugar+fast&pd_rd_i=0801094577&pd_rd_r=d0c4a901-dc6a-4e90-a0c0-d725a76317c1&pd_rd_w=T2CaE&pd_rd_wg=2q0jQ&pf_rd_p=4afc730c-c08d-48ba-8a05-81aa212c56f6&pf_rd_r=YCA0FN70WYAKJE6EBF2K&qid=1683498109&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=1-1-42c1d7c4-51c2-42cf-80a4-c0488607bdfe</a></p><p>The 40 Day Sugar Fast by Wendy Speake </p><p><br /></p><p>Currently Reading: </p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=uninvited+lysa&i=stripbooks&hvadid=558570236281&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9022943&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1680665140076194261&hvtargid=kwd-301536084699&hydadcr=22533_10344512&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_7l6kempv1j_e">https://www.amazon.com/s?k=uninvited+lysa&i=stripbooks&hvadid=558570236281&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9022943&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1680665140076194261&hvtargid=kwd-301536084699&hydadcr=22533_10344512&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_7l6kempv1j_e</a></p><p>Uninvited by Lisa TerKeurst</p>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-51568180922190620542022-02-19T17:24:00.000-08:002022-02-19T17:24:03.292-08:00<p>Many times when I come here to "blog" it's more of me just putting down on paper the ramblings that are in my head. A couple things that came to my mind this past week: </p><p><b><u>FIRST</u></b>:</p><p>People like to tell me things. I guess I'm a good listener without interjecting my opinions unless asked. I'm a good "secret keeper". I've always been one of those people that can be standing in line at the grocery store or somewhere and people feel inclined to tell me their life story. For me this sometimes causes me anxiety because I tend to put myself in other's shoes quite often and I can feel their pain. Ask anyone that knows me, I cry in almost every movie (sometimes even commercials). I just feel for others deeply I guess. I've always considered this annoying or embarrassing that I tend to cry when others cry. The older I get I realize it's honestly a blessing. I feel like I can connect with people on a deeper level than most. Also if you know me, you know that I'm not an extrovert. I am more extroverted when I'm around people I know but it is very draining for me. I really enjoy my alone time and my downtime at home with just my family. </p><p><b><u>SECOND</u></b>:</p><p>I really despise when people are fake. Be real with me, I'm not here to judge you but I would love to know the REAL you. If you tell me you're going to do something, then do it. If you want real friendships, meaningful friendships you have to be vulnerable and real. A lot of times I think as humans and especially women we want people to think of us a certain way so we tend to be fake or try to be who others want us to be. I was talking to someone recently and he mentioned that one of the things he loves about Alaina is that she doesn't change who she is to try to fit in with anyone. She's herself 100% of the time. I've always loved her ability to include others and reach out to those who are feeling left out. I had friends like that growing up and it was VITAL for me since I was so extremely shy. Whether this statement about her is true or not (I don't know what she's like when she's with just her friends) I loved that he said it. I told Alaina and I told her how proud I am of her for being like that, especially as a teenager. Middle school is tough, everyone's trying to fit in and figure out who they are. Stay true to yourself and let your yes be yes and your no be no. Don't be afraid to set boundaries and stick to them. It may hurt other people's feelings but it's important for your own peace of mind. On the Flipside, it took me almost 35 years to figure out who I am, what I like, etc. I love when people are genuine. I am a people-pleaser at my core and it took me a long time to figure out who I am. I was always so worried about what other people thought of me and trying my best to fit in that I never took the time to figure out who I was. I know when I was younger my mom used to tell me that she could tell who I had been hanging around by the way I acted. You are the company you keep and if you're not mindful about being yourself you'll end up being someone you were never made to be. </p><p><b><u>THIRD</u>:</b></p><p>Actions speak louder than words. Pat can tell me all day that he loves me but honestly it's the little things he does that show me that he loves me and knows me that really speak to me. When he cleans the kitchen after dinner or goes to the store for me on the way home from practice when he's already tired. Pretty much every morning he goes and gets a soda from the gas station and asks if I want anything or just surprises me and brings something home for me. If you love someone you naturally want to spend time with them, be with them, talk to them, etc. It doesn't make sense to me to have a relationship if you're not willing to put in the effort and time that the other person deserves. As we get older, especially with our friendships I know I don't get to talk to some of my friends as much as I'd like to but with others I make it a priority to have "girls days" and catch up, hang out, even if we don't have anything set in stone to do just being together laughing and chatting is refreshing for the soul. As for a romantic type relationship I've never been interested in one if the other person is always too busy to hang out or doesn't want to be around me, just doesn't make sense to me. This kind of took a weird turn but in general put your words into actions and see the different results you get ;)</p><p>Hope everyone has a great weekend!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjafDRIPQsOj5LLPjTIEwj_Z75wDXfQA6Lnjmp-ybEIlV6haSTiad_utJyrvP5DkIFMMd8fOvkAly9C_YWYWCPzuyhT6pWagA06Oshj1zFRXPONh5RGmw_mWOGkUOWsVZ1l9neXJwEOdI4d4jVDRqRz0g7mnY2reCgs31InHQq8AUVEQiDIVuvxSjGx=s5616" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5616" data-original-width="3744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjafDRIPQsOj5LLPjTIEwj_Z75wDXfQA6Lnjmp-ybEIlV6haSTiad_utJyrvP5DkIFMMd8fOvkAly9C_YWYWCPzuyhT6pWagA06Oshj1zFRXPONh5RGmw_mWOGkUOWsVZ1l9neXJwEOdI4d4jVDRqRz0g7mnY2reCgs31InHQq8AUVEQiDIVuvxSjGx=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixrL04s-YBbEKBZHEDFI6nBK87Fy2lDuZgMMqPUNUN8ZmeelGuvFxJCoPHqD34C01NguNYrHcbEq_JbDOLwjHvEZzJYoor8lFCclxkoPv7meaPIn_oYZEtwLg0H5kgYNxMCqFVeqal0PH_vj0U5qedYj0ts4ldR4nysW2lLJE1EOV2efKabNFnO_wm=s5616" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5616" data-original-width="3744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixrL04s-YBbEKBZHEDFI6nBK87Fy2lDuZgMMqPUNUN8ZmeelGuvFxJCoPHqD34C01NguNYrHcbEq_JbDOLwjHvEZzJYoor8lFCclxkoPv7meaPIn_oYZEtwLg0H5kgYNxMCqFVeqal0PH_vj0U5qedYj0ts4ldR4nysW2lLJE1EOV2efKabNFnO_wm=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-51578409169165725382022-02-08T16:10:00.002-08:002022-02-08T16:14:13.136-08:00<p> What are you thankful for today? I asked this to Alaina the other day and she spouted off 5 things right away. If you really had to think about it and dig deep, what are some things you're thankful for that you don't just spout off? Obviously family, friends, pets, etc but if you really look into WHY are you so thankful for those things?</p><p>I am so thankful for friends that become so close they're more like family. You can show up to their house unannounced and they have piles of laundry everywhere and haven't showered. You don't care about any of that because you just want to be around them. I don't know about you but one of my top love languages is quality time. I don't care what your house looks like, your kids can be running amuck, it doesn't matter. If I get to spend time with you I'm happy.</p><p>I'm grateful for a husband that goes and gets me a fountain drink everyday. Sometimes he surprises me with an extra treat. He fills up my gas tank so I don't have to, he helps clean up dishes after I made dinner for the family. I love that he is passionate about coaching. He's one of my favorite people in the w<br />hole world, the person I like hanging out with the most, the one I love doing absolutely nothing with or going "treasure hunting" (we love thrifting and flea markets). I am thankful to have a partner in marriage that loves me, protects me, takes care of me, but also encourages me to follow my dreams.</p><p>I'm grateful for my kids. They're so very different as mentioned before. Each one unique and both are hilarious, especially when they're not trying to be. Now that they're teenagers I don't get as much time with them as I'd like but last week we sat down for dinner, just the three of us (Pat was at a soccer practice) and no one had their phone. It wasn't forced, I didn't tell them they couldn't have their phone on them but we had a real conversation and enjoyed each other's company and it filled my cup overflowing to have that time with my kids because who knows when the next time will be that it happens again. </p><p>I am thankful to live close to my parents and have a great relationship with them. I travel with my mom at least once a year to visit my brother and his family. It's one of my very favorite things. I love road trips anyone but the undivided one on one attention (typically Alaina sleeps majority of the drive) is something I'll treasure forever. I haven't seen my parents as much this year as I typically do due to me having bronchitis, sinus infection, and ear infection at the end of December/beginning of January and then right into Covid. Thankfully we're all better and healthy now.</p><p>I just wanted to post a quick blurb because this was all on my heart today to share. So what are YOU grateful for? I'd love to hear it!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCKY16kA96Crua__dtZHElfA_F6i2ey4v8aX3SpeUEAC_xHCY5AZU4foHeeOSR4wfRmeNEPYojflF_DDaz9ZVIaKSK4-Ra7wE3l8zvCZJpQ8XIFAeNkBCWMSNUHUYH_bwKl8fDiNKn1T0RCyUnsCarUeTSFexo8DwEO2IjX6DEB1SQ6D5oGQ55K9rL=s5259" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5259" data-original-width="3538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCKY16kA96Crua__dtZHElfA_F6i2ey4v8aX3SpeUEAC_xHCY5AZU4foHeeOSR4wfRmeNEPYojflF_DDaz9ZVIaKSK4-Ra7wE3l8zvCZJpQ8XIFAeNkBCWMSNUHUYH_bwKl8fDiNKn1T0RCyUnsCarUeTSFexo8DwEO2IjX6DEB1SQ6D5oGQ55K9rL=s320" width="215" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-14265130249765601622022-02-01T10:36:00.002-08:002022-02-01T10:36:53.206-08:00<p> I want to start off first and foremost by stating that Pat and I are not perfect parents by any means nor do we claim to be. This is just my ramblings of things I think are important as a parent and I wish I would have had (like an instructional guide) when we first became parents back in 2005. By the way, looking back we were still babies ourselves but you couldn't tell us any differently.</p><p>I remember once during a church service out pastor stated that parenting has stages. It completely made sense and resonated with me: </p><p>18-24 months = Nurturing</p><p>2-5 years = Authoritative</p><p>5-adolesence = Interpretive</p><p>adolescence = interdependent</p><p>late adolescence - adulthood = departure</p><p>If you're interested in more, here's the link to the site: <a href="https://www.melbournechildpsychology.com.au/blog/adapting-your-parenting-style-for-your-childs-developmental-stage/">https://www.melbournechildpsychology.com.au/blog/adapting-your-parenting-style-for-your-childs-developmental-stage/</a></p><p>Very interesting if you think about it. Our parenting styles change throughout our kids lives as they grow and mature. We are currently in the adolescence stage. There have certainly been joys and tests at every stage. When Declan was in elementary school we'd get several calls from the principal and it was honestly a real struggle to feel like we were doing a good job as parents and not failing. Ever since he started 6th grade and was able to move classes every hour we haven't had nearly as many issues. Alaina as a baby was tough. She was into everything, always making messes and testing our patience. As she has gotten older we have grown to love her hyperactive self and her love of life. She loves big and is an advocate for the underdog. She is adventurous and always willing to try new things. Declan is more analytical and practical. Something Pat and I did when they were really young was try to figure out how God had wired them and really help them develop along that path. When Declan was little he LOVED cars/hot wheels. He wanted you to "play" with him but you weren't allowed to touch any of the cars. He would line them up perfectly in a line and there could not be any out of place. He is a rule follower to his core and has made the teenage years a breeze so far. Alaina thrives in chaos. She loves making new friends, isn't shy from being the center of attention, and is super social.</p><p>Navigating the teenage years as a parent of a female has been very different. Last year was rough with lots of friend drama, losing friends, constant gossip, you name it. I hate seeing my kids hurt or sad. I truly felt for her and we navigated through those tough waters the best we could. Once all of the friend drama settle down Alaina got her first boyfriend. This brought on new worries, guiding moments, lessons, etc. It's difficult sometimes knowing how much independence to give while still protecting them and teaching them how to be more mature. So far it's been good (from what we can tell) and the boy is super sweet and kind to her. I've really felt it necessary to remind her of her worth, value, how much she's loved, and that she deserves respect. It is important to look ahead and know that she will eventually have her first broken heart so trying to remind and instill in her who God says she is up front. Also reminding her that you need to treat others the way you want to be treated so if she wants to feel respected, loved, valued, she needs to do the same. This goes whether it's a friend or boyfriend/girlfriend. Declan on the other hand has no interest in a girlfriend because he says he's not ready to pay for someone else all the time. He's focused on his car and work and of course video games.</p><p>I say all of this because many times over the past 16 years the kids have asked Pat or I to sit in the bathroom while they shower. It's typically when they are the most talkative and vulnerable. Maybe it's because they can hide behind a curtain and can't see us, who knows. We've always had the policy that you can ask us ANYTHING and we'll be honest in our answers. I'd rather them know correct terminology and "processes" from one of us than from a peer, etc. I don't think there has ever been a time that one of us has said no. This is our time as a parent to be interested in what they're interested in. We started this when they were babies, it they're interested in trains, hello kitty, whatever it may be, that was the most important thing to us, too. Now that they're teenagers we don't get the chance to listen to them tell us things as much as they now want their privacy, however when they do ask for us to listen we do just that. Don't offer advice or guidance unless they ask for it. I think that because we practiced this when they were little they're both pretty open with their personal lives and tell us a lot about things that are going on without fear of how we'll respond. They have to know that we are trustworthy and aren't going to freak out if they tell us something. </p><p>Parenting can be tough and exhausting but it can also be a huge blessing. I have learned more about myself than I ever knew possible after having someone that acts just like me. I am extremely grateful that so far the teenage years have been easy. I know we're just getting started so pray for us ;). </p><p>1. Listen to your kids without giving advice or trying to fix things unless asked</p><p>2. Don't be afraid to adjust your parenting style based on what "phase" you're in</p><p>3. Enjoy the time you get to spend with your kids doing things THEY love</p><p>4. Enjoy the heck out of them because it really does go by so freakin fast</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlQuSx1Eprjy6WmNqMqwxhkJNjaOBDUCxwHiLGFwz7Fg9ca5cWMudIcAsNY3pKXPInbv96_j8_wPCzXcsYnFDaW6zt_jb5BKr7k6l_S2t7K7Ly-f759S3ZF36XtJFKYFCjq34TimMR99D21XOIqqPTJhA36uwm37SA74E5DiUae41BX9Z5fzxe-ito=s5616" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5616" data-original-width="3744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlQuSx1Eprjy6WmNqMqwxhkJNjaOBDUCxwHiLGFwz7Fg9ca5cWMudIcAsNY3pKXPInbv96_j8_wPCzXcsYnFDaW6zt_jb5BKr7k6l_S2t7K7Ly-f759S3ZF36XtJFKYFCjq34TimMR99D21XOIqqPTJhA36uwm37SA74E5DiUae41BX9Z5fzxe-ito=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDuift0QyqpDJor6AEW2AcfjrDexnwwFNtdBotWKtA9WmKfWOnv1_OQASIV34Q-RkIO2n0KapWkgfdyC_2w7zv6mQY411Mc1N4HiJbI8E2hM_vehO90lMGwZzsbKayQFfk0BEmkDZgrkX89lFU2EXACD3TeQjH8cjC4KqdAocy6Gw8wsTTR9_kUUqZ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDuift0QyqpDJor6AEW2AcfjrDexnwwFNtdBotWKtA9WmKfWOnv1_OQASIV34Q-RkIO2n0KapWkgfdyC_2w7zv6mQY411Mc1N4HiJbI8E2hM_vehO90lMGwZzsbKayQFfk0BEmkDZgrkX89lFU2EXACD3TeQjH8cjC4KqdAocy6Gw8wsTTR9_kUUqZ=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-88558406457015148292022-01-26T16:04:00.000-08:002022-01-26T16:04:47.027-08:00<p> It's been so long since I've posted anything in here but I've had so much running through my mind lately. Both of the kids are now teenagers. Declan is 16, has his own car and a job. Alaina just turned 14 and still plays soccer and now has a boyfriend added into the mix. It's been an interesting few years. Pat and I have been working remotely since the whole Covid thing started back in March of 2020. It's for sure had it's ups and downs. I love not having to commute and being home when my kids are here but it can be trying as well especially during the summer when all 4 of us are at home or when the kids were doing virtual learning. I have to say I'm so proud of the kids and their ability to adapt to change and roll with it. I tell Alaina all the time that I'm amazed and how she works hard and plays club soccer, at one point she was on 3 teams, does extra trainings, gets good grades and still has a social life. Since Declan quit soccer his grades have been good and he's doing well at work. He only works 3 days a week (during the school year) but he's now a team lead/trainer and has only been working since July 2021. It's amazing how much pride you have when your kids do well and succeed in life.</p><p>With all of that said, the age that my kids are at now really brings memories flooding back of when I was their age. The choices that I made, the friends that I had, the things we'd do for fun. Would I go back, absolutely not. I really enjoy my life now. Although, especially with girls, it's so much drama. No matter how much you tell your kids you love them, you're proud of them, they're awesome, and precious, and valuable they don't seem to get it when it comes from mom and dad. I think it's so incredibly important for kids to have a coach, mentor (aunt/uncle/etc), boss, whatever that can speak into their lives even if it's saying the exact same thing, it's not mom and dad and will most likely be received differently. The older I get the more I realize I don't know especially about parenting.</p><p>I just wanted to write a quick note to say how grateful I am for my husband and my kids, for the friends that they have made along the way and the friends I've had for many years. I'm grateful that I get to be home even if it's because of a global pandemic. I am so very thankful that I have a close relationship with my parents (especially my mama). I'm just incredibly thankful!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigUaPB6TwbWaxSPTzZX2p0QdeTPApxkqeLLPE24lfTweT1WNVdFkVV15eoRoAv6STA_boF190uODCNsne_J0yw_uLXs0qszHfHdn5ff6PVchpMiBrNbYU5wDfkOipYGv-fnKm_FRxA_8tXrfjTddzvREq10uLzK_YHkxbbH6W8DDGDP0bqni_wxAk2=s5373" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5373" data-original-width="3582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigUaPB6TwbWaxSPTzZX2p0QdeTPApxkqeLLPE24lfTweT1WNVdFkVV15eoRoAv6STA_boF190uODCNsne_J0yw_uLXs0qszHfHdn5ff6PVchpMiBrNbYU5wDfkOipYGv-fnKm_FRxA_8tXrfjTddzvREq10uLzK_YHkxbbH6W8DDGDP0bqni_wxAk2=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdzmPvqVBJabQzFbvnuNm4jt2YTLQpcLPS4Wc_MfcEsEaNAWM7-NkZYw55p65OlkBeZWbpqrH9qqZ81E8lpWybDQOpr7LFIMNbe3-exVsgIdaFNH7lR31jD215_F_pvXXOKO6ynvTXuoO_lUsxE3_ndOrenoMOxinoEtWjKYdObJYF3aCHQuufAH_a=s3261" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2415" data-original-width="3261" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdzmPvqVBJabQzFbvnuNm4jt2YTLQpcLPS4Wc_MfcEsEaNAWM7-NkZYw55p65OlkBeZWbpqrH9qqZ81E8lpWybDQOpr7LFIMNbe3-exVsgIdaFNH7lR31jD215_F_pvXXOKO6ynvTXuoO_lUsxE3_ndOrenoMOxinoEtWjKYdObJYF3aCHQuufAH_a=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGQGuAhSqi0s53orMQDnfGkuGl-5EriagEaVxKCT4p14yifQmo3rMPflYgzstWw9rOmwSkJFuuaypUo2ZLd8uNorOzqBjc84njFqyd20K6kayMmTo70sZreSreGWFGJv6WqjavRupUn110pkiBpfSUq6ctPvQ7EY77Y15QIc3Eh4yDYgGaIVBzxxWI=s5616" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5616" data-original-width="3744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGQGuAhSqi0s53orMQDnfGkuGl-5EriagEaVxKCT4p14yifQmo3rMPflYgzstWw9rOmwSkJFuuaypUo2ZLd8uNorOzqBjc84njFqyd20K6kayMmTo70sZreSreGWFGJv6WqjavRupUn110pkiBpfSUq6ctPvQ7EY77Y15QIc3Eh4yDYgGaIVBzxxWI=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-18782907803411619102017-06-08T17:06:00.002-07:002017-06-08T17:06:14.938-07:00All Aboard the Crazy TrainHave you ever had that moment in life or in parenting where someone asks "where are you headed" and the only thing that comes to mind is "crazy"? I don't know how many times I've said that to my kids as a response to "where are we going". In this thing called life, things can get crazy and it sometimes feels like you're sinking. <br />
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I've been blessed to be married for about 12 1/2 years now and Pat has become my confidante, cheerleader, comfort, and rest. At the end of the day I know I have my family who always has my back no matter what life may throw our way I know we can get through it together. Through the years I've had to really think about who I am now and who it is I want to be or who I think God wants me to be. It's hard sometimes to figure out what your purpose is in this life or what you're put here to do that really brings glory to God and that you just absolutely love doing. Just the other day I was sitting at work and I was thinking, man I really like my job. I get to meet new people all the time and I help keep myself and my recruiters organized but is that really my calling?! Is that really what I was put here on earth to do? <br />
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As much as I hate to admit it because I'm almost as old as his mother, I am a Justin Bieber fan. Don't hate me! Anyway, I've found myself listening to some of his interviews he's done recently and just things he's said and how he's changed. I remember when Pat and I were about his age, early 20s and it felt like we were being pulled in a million directions. I was a new Christian myself and Pat was as well. We were trying to navigate through figuring out who we were and what we needed to become. We both knew we wanted to have kids and start a family and we had some mentors and absolutely amazing friends that we could trust and bounce decisions off of that were much further along in their christian walk than we were. I'm so thankful that we had those friends then and that we still have those friends today. There have been so many times in my life where I just needed someone to listen, other times where I needed Godly advice from someone who wasn't afraid to tell me the truth but to tell me in love. Back to the Biebs...I think about how hard is was for me and for Pat being average joe's trying to navigate that time in our lives. I cannot even imagine what it's like for a star, any star, to go through that time in their life, feeling alone, vulnerable, and just sometimes lost. I think it's amazing that with him being so young and as rich and famous as he is that he seems to be grounded and he's been able to seek out mentors that really speak life into him, help him through his struggles. I can't imagine how hard it must be to find people who you can actually trust and aren't just after you for your fame or fortune. <br />
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The more I thought about the Biebs the more I realized, he's away from his family so much. Touring the world and being gone so much has to be hard. Having to put on a smile when you're having a bad day or when you're feeling lonely or sad I'm sure is tough. Something that popped in my head as a comparison when my mind was just wandering aimlessly while thinking about this the other night is our friends that are more like family went through something similar. Granted they're not superstars or rich and famous but they gave up everything, traveled the country to raise money to be able to become missionaries in another country. They're away from everyone and everything they knew to give selflessly to those around them. I thought about while traveling how many times did they get a home cooked meal, how many times did they get to just relax and rest, how many times did they get to stay in a home instead of just a hotel. Here's what my thinking is: One of my very favorite things to do was to have them stay with us when they came through St. Louis. Even though our home is small and it was a total of 9 of us staying here, I loved every minute of it. I liked making food for them, giving them a home to relax, feel rejuvenated because here's the thing, when you're at our house I don't wait on you. We want you to be comfortable with making yourself at home. If you're thirsty grab a drink you shouldn't have to ask. I was just thinking how awesome it would be to be a "host home" for missionaries passing through. One of my love languages is Acts of Service. I love doing things for people and just seeing them happy and enjoying their time. I want my life to make a difference in others, not merely go to work, come home and go to bed. Who's with me?!Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-17089075993347393212016-05-26T18:28:00.002-07:002016-05-26T18:28:25.147-07:00Why do we...As I'm sitting at home alone for a little while (Pat took the kids to the library so I could have a little peace and quiet) I was cleaning up the kitchen and doing a quick load of laundry and vacuuming. While I was physically doing things, my mind was somewhere else completely. Why do we as women, or maybe it's just me, rely on what others think of us so much? We put on a facade that we have the best family, the most amazing kids, we compare our bodies to other women, and we take to heart when someone tells us we're pretty (or the opposite). It made me start thinking of my pastâŚ<br />
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In 6th grade I remember having my first boy/girl birthday party and I was so excited. We played the game spin the bottle and it was akward and weird but fun. I remember at that age, 11 or 12 years old thinking that I needed to be something that I thought guys wanted. I came from a loving family, both of my parents are still married today so why did I feel it was necessary to do whatever means necesary to get guys' attention? Move forward to 7th grade. I had my first "boyfriend" and despite everyone telling me he was only looking for one thing, I ignored them and we had fun hanging out. We went to a bonfire, because that's what you do when you have friends in the boonies ;). I did some things that looking back, I regret. He never forced anything on me, never pressured me to do anything, never was rude or mean to me. After that night, I broke things off pretty quickly realizing my friends were right and they love me and were trying to protect me. Then along comes high school. I'm at a friend's house and I see a cute guy and ask her who he was. Come to find out he lived up the street from her and was friends with a mutal friend of ours. He had a girlfriend at the time, so I didn't think much of it but we all started hanging out as friends. During this time, I was still concerned with how others saw me or thought of me. Eventually that guy and I dated for a while in high school and things were great. He was fun and funny and everyone seemed to like him. I remember one time specifically he'd come over after school and we were sitting on my front porch talking and I don't remember the whole conversation or the context but I remember his words still to this day, "well you're not the prettiest girlâŚ". That crushed me. Why did I care so much about what he thought about my appearance? Eventually him and I broke up and I decided I was going to work on me. I eventually got saved and started exercising regularly, started wearing make up (yeah I didn't really wear any until my senior year of highschool), and I started reading my bible. Then comes another guy. He's a friend of a friend, and they introduced me to him knowing that I hadn't had a boyfriend in a while and we were just looking to hang out and have fun, nothing serious. This guy, he told me how pretty I was and how he liked my eyes. He would bring me flowers and despite my best efforts, I ended up falling for him and we dated all summer before my senior year. Even though I got saved pretty much right before I met him, I went down a dark path while dating him and really started relying on his word and his thoughts of me. He ended up cheating on me and leaving me at a school dance and I was devastated. I think this set the tone of trust for any of my future relationships. It makes it hard for me to now believe my husband when he tells me I'm beautiful and that he loves everything about me. There's always that little voice in the back of my head that is saying "he doesn't really mean it, he's just saying that to get what he wants". I hate that those thoughts creep in, that they play over in my mind because it's not my husband's fault that someone else hurt me. I have no reason to doubt him when he tells me I'm beautiful. I still have a hard time not comparing myself to other women and feeling like I don't measure up. <br />
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Anyway, so as all of these thoughts about my past are running through my mind, I start thinking about Alaina. I want her to know who she is in Christ, that's she's beautiful and treasured. I want her to know that we love her no matter what and that God has big plans for her future. I don't want her to have to rely on what boys tell her or what her friends say. I don't want her to compare herself to other girls because she's special and unique and God only made one of her. I love how happy and sweet and silly and funny she is and I know that if I love all of that about her, how much more does God love all those things (and more) about her?! I'm just rambling on but basically my goal, as a mom, is to just instill in her who she is in Christ so she never has to rely on the world's opinion of her.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-43866979341085853482016-02-04T18:34:00.002-08:002016-02-04T18:34:26.486-08:00Thinking about the PastHave you ever had those moments in life when you look back and you're just amazed of what you've been through and whom you have become? Most of the time people reflect on things around special dates like a birthday or anniversary. Today I had one of those moments and it was for nothing in particular. Right after I was thinking about my past and our past as a couple, I received a text from Pat,<br />
<br />
"I was just thinking about you and it made me happy. If I had to, I would choose you all over again."<br />
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First of all, this totally made my day. Just to know that he was thinking about me the same time I was thinking about him made me happy. Second, it's interesting because he doesn't always send me texts like that, but he did today and right around the same time that I was reminiscing. So today I was just randomly thinking about how God has weaved everything together in my life as well as our lives together. <br />
<br />
When Pat and I started dating, we were only 18 years old. I had only had 1 serious boyfriend and only "dated" two other guys prior to meeting him. The guy that I dated before I met Pat had cheated on me and broke my heart and I went a year without dating anyone and promised myself that I would wait for the one that God wanted for me. I had recently gotten saved and when I met Pat he wasn't at all. Despite all of my adult influences, I disregarded their advice and dated him anyway. Then, we got engaged at 19, married at 21, and had our first baby at 22. My only life goals when I was younger were to get married, have kids, go to college, and I wanted to be a stay at home mom (SAHM). Well when Declan was 6 months old, I quit my job to stay home with him and started babysitting. Things were pretty great for a while, we were newly married couple, had an amazing, laid back baby, everything was great. About 18 months after Declan was born I found out I was pregnant with Alaina. We moved into a new apartment (on the 3rd floor) and we were excited to be expanding our family. I was still staying home with Declan and babysitting and for the most part it was great. Pat decided to go back to school in the fall of 2007 and I was due 12/29/07. <br />
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This is when difficulty started entering into our marriage. I started becoming resentful and jealous that he never wanted to go to college and yet he got to go and I was "stuck at home" all the time. Even though it's what I wanted, to stay at home, now I was feeling resentful and jealousy. For about a year I wasn't sure we were going to stay married. I wasn't sure that we could keep the covenent that we had made on 12/18/04. When you get married, vows typically include "for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer". I think a lot of times we as humans think that it's optional. We went through some incredibly tough times, some hurtful times, and some very poor times. I would be lying if I said all 11 years of our marriage have been blissful. <br />
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Thankfully I have a friend that I treasure so much. She's someone I can trust and that I know will tell me what I need to hear and not just what I want to hear. I know I can go to her about anything and she will speak truth and life into me. I'm so thankful for our friendship and even though she lives so far away, I know that I can always count on her. She was a mentor for me when Pat and I were dating, she was the matron of honor in our wedding and she was the one I turned to (other than God) during the most difficult time in my marriage and my life. <br />
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Looking back now, I can see that God used EVERY SINGLE circumstance to make me into the person I am today. I pray that my kids don't have the kind of heartache that we went through, that we can teach them and raise them to learn from our mistakes so they don't have to experience that. However, I know that through everything I've learned so much not only about Pat, but about myself. My ability to love, give generously when I feel like I have nothing left, forgive, extend grace and mercy. I've also had to learn some very tough lessons. I am forever grateful for the change in both of our lives, our church, and our family. I'm thankful that we were able to stick together through thick and thin, to turn to God to get us through the darkest and most difficult times, and to keep moving forward.<br />
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Here we are today:<br />
Been married for 11 years<br />
Both college graduates<br />
Have amazing and loving kids<br />
Have great jobs that we enjoy<br />
Have an amazing church<br />
Have a house that we purchased<br />
<br />
We couldn't have made it this far if it weren't the support of God, our family, friends, church, mentors, and leaders. I am extremely thankful and grateful for each experience in my life that has molded me and made me into the person I am today. And to Pat, I love you more now than I ever thought I could. You're my best friend, and the person I love spending time with the most. Thank you for loving me, providing for me, being an amazing father and a fantastic husband.Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-46011439139497279062014-11-27T19:59:00.001-08:002014-11-27T20:04:13.224-08:00Random ThoughtsFirst of all Happy Thanksgiving to you all! It's been a while since I've written a blog post and on my way home from spending time with my family I was thinking. I started thinking about something I had told my husband on the phone and then it led me to remember this past week's message at church. <br />
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So, I call my husband on my way home from my family's Thanksgiving. Side note, typically we do holiday gatherings together but this year was a unique situation that I'm not going to get into. I was telling him about our family and I mentioned to him "I forgot to tell you, the other day while at QT some guy called me babe and it caught me off guard and then tonight at dinner, my uncle's brother in law told me that I'm a very pretty girl." It was weird that in the last week I've encoutered strangers say something like this to me twice. I've always struggled with believing that I'm beautiful or pretty or whatever. Since I've been a Christian, I've tried to see myself through God's eyes. Unfortunately I'm human and honestly I think Pat is the only person that's told me I'm pretty or beautiful besides my grandpa. I've always found it hard to believe Pat when he tells me I'm pretty or that I look nice. I've assumed he's just saying it out of duty or because he thinks it will make me feel good. Then tonight, it hit me. The reason I don't believe him is because I put my views and thoughts of myself on him and assume he feels the same way. Especially after having two kids and a desk jobâŚit does some things to your body. It's not fair to him that I don't believe him when he tells me this and why do I find it flattering or easier to believe when a stranger says it?!?! The more I thought about it the more I realized that when I don't believe Pat is being genuine and telling me the truth it's like I'm calling him a liar every time he says that. It creates a little disconnect every time. This is by no means fair to him at all. This brought me to think of our church message last week. <br />
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The pastor was talking about putting others before ourselves and how that creates joy in our lives. Joy is something we choose where happiness is caused by our circumstances. I agree with this 100%. He went on to talk about pride and not forgetting where we came from. This message has really stuck with me this week as this is something I struggle with daily. I honestly love to help people and I love doing things for other people, however, people that really truly know me know that I love to be right. This is something I have to be very conscious about when discussing things, especially with Pat. I hate that I have this quality and I'm always trying to get better about not always having to be right and I would love to say that I'm getting better but honestly, I'm not sure that is true. Nine times out of ten, Pat will be the first one to say sorry. He's the one that smiles and let me go on and on about why I'm right. Even though he lets me go on and on, sometimes it drives me crazy because I know he doesn't believe that I'm right even though I know I am. Oh and apparently I'm a control freak, too. Can you tell?<br />
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So to tie everything together, I was thinking about my views about myself and how I'm right and Pat shouldn't think that I'm beautiful. After all my body doesn't look anything like it did when we started dating 13 years ago and I certainly am not as energetic as I used to be. Through it all though, I need to remind myself that he loves me for more than just my outward appearance. Even if I don't believe I'm beautiful, I need to believe him when he says I am. I need to trust that he's being genuine and sincere and honest. I'm not in control and I can't be "right" about something that's his opinion. So, for all you ladies out there that feel less than beautiful but have a loving husband that tells you that you are, believe him. Make sure you accept the compliment and let him know that you appreciate him, his honestly, and his sincerity. It will change your life and your marriage and possibly even the way you see yourself!<br />
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Proverbs 31:10-31 (msg)<br />
A good woman is hard to find,<br />
and worth far more than diamonds.<br />
Her husband trusts her without reserve,<br />
and never has reason to regret itâŚ<br />
Her children respect and bless her;<br />
her husband joins in with words of praise:<br />
"Many women have done wonderful things,<br />
bt you've outclassed them all!"<br />
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.<br />
The woman to be admired and praised<br />
is the woman who lives in the fear-of-God.Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-41813518543266521952014-10-03T09:05:00.002-07:002014-10-03T09:05:58.492-07:00GrandpaYesterday was a difficult day for our family. We said our final goodbye to Pats grandpa. First of all I would like to say that my husband did an amazing job speaking during the memorial service. He kept his composure and really painted a lovely picture of who his grandpa was as a person. Having lost my grandpa 10 years ago, I quickly adopted Pats grandparents a my own. I imagine if my grandpa would have lived to see my children he would have been very similar to Pat's grandpa. They both loved being outside, had a love of life, and everyone they knew was a better person for knowing our grandpas. Ken was such a genuine, sincere, kind, and generous man. I remember one semester when I was going to school and Pat was working nights and we only had one car, without hesitation his grandparents not only drive to our house once a week (45 minutes one way) to stay with our kids, and let me use their car to get to and from school. I loved how Ken enjoyed the presence of our kids, helped them swim, let them "drive" his tractor, loved hiding the Easter eggs for the hunt every year, and all the tidbits of knowledge he instilled in my kids. He is definitely going to be missed but his love, generosity, friendship, and kindness will live on through those lives that he has touched!Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-61111820471889332982014-08-18T19:04:00.000-07:002014-08-18T19:04:13.508-07:00My testamonyA few weeks ago I went out to breakfast with a friend from church and while we were talking she said something that has stuck with me since. I was talking about my life and how I came to know Christ and she said "you should really write that down somewhere, that's a great story." So here I am, to write out my story and how God has changed my life. I can honestly say since I've given my life to Christ, I hear people say they know exatly when God came into their life, the moment they were saved or the exact date of their salvation. For me, it was more of a process. I don't know the exact date, but there were different instances that are extremely clear in my mind that were shaping me into when I would finally choose to live for God.<br />
<br />
It started when I was about 6 years old. I hung out with a family that lived across the street from me and her family and I would sometimes go to church with them. I was raised Catholic and although I don't have anything against Catholicism or people that are Catholic, for me, it was B O R I N G. I loved going with my friend to her church and going to a "class" with a bunch of other kids our age. I found myself counting the colors on the stained glass windows of our catholic church on Sundays or just make sure I was quiet enough so I could ask my mom if I was good afterwards. I don't remember ever listening to a single "message". I learned my first Bible verse when I was 6 at Vacation Bible School with my friend that I went with. It was John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life". At age six I can honestly say that I had no idea what that meant. I didn't think too much about it after vacation bible school. When I was about 7 a new girl moved in up the street from me. I liked going to her house to play because she had just about every barbie you could think of and the HUGE barbie dream house. I remember going up to her house one time and her mom asked me if I had Jesus in my heart. At the time it kind of scared me thinking someone was in my heart but I answered her and said no. She prayed with me and I asked Jesus into my heart and repeated the prayer after her. I didn't feel any different and nothing seemed to change so I went about my way. <br />
<br />
Many years and things happened between that time and my next "encounter". When I was 11 years old I got invited to an event called Acquire the Fire with a friend from school. There were a few people I knew that were going so I decided what the heck and I went along with her and some people from her youth group. I remember feeling really uncomfortable and not knowing anyone. Anyone that knew me when i was younger, I was EXTREMELY shy. I felt incredibly anxious being around people I didn't know. Everyone was very nice and friendly and that night I remember making my own decision to follow Jesus. The leaders that went with us bought a bible for me that I still use to this day, it's one of my favorites. I specifically remember the speaker talking about living for Christ meant giving up "worldly things" whatever that meant. He talked about getting rid of the non-glorifying music that led to sin. Whether it was the ambiance, emotion, or anxiety, I left there feeling different and determined to change. Throughout middle school I went to my first concert: Audio Adrenaline and DC Talk, went to a weekend music festival that was SO MUCH FUN, and meeting different friends and christian people that I went to school with. By this time, my family was no longer attending church at all. <br />
<br />
Getting into my high school years, I drifted away and hung out with different people. It wasn't until my senior year of highschool that my parents had found a new church, a small church, and told me I should visit. I decided to give it a shot and once again at the age of 18 I prayed the prayer of salvation. This time I was ready to live for God, I was ready to give up the things I didn't think I could. I stopped cussing, I stopped listening to certain music, I was no longer hanging out with certain people. And then came a boy. It once again derailed me from the direction I was headed. I got caught up in what I wanted instead of what I should have been focused on. Thankfully I had a dear friend that came along after that relationship broke me. I decided that was it. I was young, I was going to live for God, I was no longer going to chase after boys. I didn't need guys to make me happy I only needed God. <br />
<br />
For a solid year I was reading my Bible, faithfully going to church, tithing, and living the kind of life God would have been proud of. Then I met Pat! He was the only guy that ever just flat out asked for my number. I went out with him a few times and he was not saved at the time and many people told me it was a bad idea to stay with him. I chose to not listen to anyone and dated him anyway. After a year we were engaged and two years later at the age of 21 we were married. I would like to say it's all been a fairytale but it hasn't. <br />
<br />
A month after we were married I found out I was pregnant. We were excited to start our little family but we were both working part time jobs. We still had so much growing up to do that we weren't even aware of. Thankfully he had gotten saved when he was 18 as well but like me, it was a process. We had baby #1 and he was a breeze, so laid back, rarely cried, slept anywhere. We thought we had it made. I wanted 4 kids and he wanted 3. So when Declan was about 19 months we found out baby #2 was on the way. Things were going well, Pat was now working full time and I stayed at home with Declan while babysitting for a little extra income. We were attending a new church, another church plant, as the one we were members of previously had dissolved. We started skipping church, we were fighting a lot, we weren't really spending quality time together and we started growing distant. <br />
<br />
After Alaina was born we had some really rough marital patches that nearly tore our marriage apart. Thankfully I have a dear friend that speaks truth and life into me and doesn't just tell me what I want to hear. I was ready to walk away from the marriage and move on but I knew that God didn't want that. I knew that God was about forgiveness, mercy, love. He loves all his children the same and even though I tend to rate sin, he sees it all the same. After many tears, pleading, and begging with God, I finally gave in to what I knew in my heart he was telling me. Was it easy, no way but where I am now, I can honestly say that it one of the times in my life that I have felt the closest to God. I believe that out of that difficult time in our marriage I learned more about forgiveness, grace, and mercy than I ever thought I would know. <br />
<br />
We decided to turn a new leaf, start our marriage fresh, and that included finding a new church (that we didn't want to skip). We started going to Element when Alaina was about 9 months old. We have been going ever since and although it wasn't completely Element church that saved our marriage, once we started going there our lives changed. It truly changed our marriage, our parenting, and definitely made me more hungry for God's word. I started reading my bible more and started reading books that would inspire my walk with God. Here we are, married 9 1/2 years and I would say that the only reason our marriage has been blessed is because we decided to make God the center of our lives. He is the center of our marriage, our parenting, our decisions. Yes we still make mistakes, yes we still have struggles, but we don't focus on the problems because we know that God will always have our backs and no matter what we go through, we're never alone. Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-28667167607722250492014-07-27T16:20:00.000-07:002014-07-27T16:20:12.848-07:00What is BeautyâŚ.really?!?!?!<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2456131843446520091" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: #141414; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; position: relative; width: 536px;">
After reading this article the other day on Facebook, I've been thinking about this a lot.<br /><br />http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bridgette-white/exposed-by-my-children-for-what-i-really-look-like_b_5613551.html<br /><br />This woman talks about how her kids took a picture of her laying on a beach and how mortified she was when she was flipping through her photos and saw it. I can totally sympathize with her. When I met Pat I was a size 8. I was comfortable with the way I looked and I felt great. Now, after being married 9 1/2 years, having two kids, and working a full time job, I find little to no motivation to work out and keep my body looking slim and in shape. Yes, I want to be healthy and be an example for my kids but after reading that article, I'm wondering how many kids would say their mommy is super beautiful just the way she is. I find myself sometimes not wanting to play with the kids or get in the pool because I've gained so much weight and I'm no longer attractive. On the other hand, they're going to remember me doing things with them more than me watching or me being thin. I feel like I've done a huge disservice to my children by talking about myself and how fat I have become and then taking it a step further and not playing with them or spending as much time with them because I'm worried about me and how other people might see me. This is a reality check for me to know that I am made in the image of God, I'm beautiful regardless of what society says. Who am I going to choose to listen to, who God says I am or what the world says I should be?!?!</div>
Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-70344444245967220542014-07-19T14:14:00.006-07:002014-07-19T14:14:44.607-07:00Reflecting BackWe're nearing the end of summer already and I just wanted to write a quick update about what's on my mind. I started doing a discipleship class at church the second week in April and it's been amazing. I've met some new ladies and I'm learning more about myself while being stretched and grown just a little more. I have been busier at work than I was this time last year, but not as busy as two years ago. <br />
<br />
This morning I was thinking back over our life since we've been married and I am overwhelmed with an attitude of gratefulness and gratitude. One of the questions for my "homework" this week was to think of a time when I listened to the voice of God and how the situation went because I/we listened to it. I was thinking very hard about this since Thursday and I'm having a hard time coming up with something. I think I tend to unfortunately be more of a Jonah. I'm so very grateful that God is a God of many chances! <br />
<br />
So anyway, that along with doing pictures for a cousin that just got married, it has me thinking about mine and Pat's past and everything we've gone through and that has happened over the years. When she first called me to ask me to do pictures of her wedding I thought to myself, "man she is so young". DOn't get me wrong, she is, she's only 21 but then I reminded myself that's how old I was when we got married. We are coming up on our 10 year wedding anniversary this December and I would have to say that this past year has probably been one of the best of our marriage. Now, don't get me wrong, I've always loved Pat and we've had good times. It was very difficult in the beginning. We were both still growing up and learning how to live with one another. We didn't ever really fight much but when we did he'd get the good ol' silent treatment until I was ready to talk. <br />
<br />
Anyway, looking back at all we've been through, most of which no one really even knows about. I was thinking of how far we have come, by the grace of God, how much we have learned and grown. When standing at the altar saying "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health," we're so smitten we don't fully understand the seriousness of it. Without going into details, there was a situation a while back that almost destroyed our marriage. Thanks to an amazing friend and the Bible, we were able to move past the circumstance. Previous to that particular situation, I would have never imagined being able to go through something like that. I have learned so much about forgiveness, grace, mercy, pride, and love. Yes, our marriage has been tough, yes, we've gone through more than I would have liked, but through it all we have drawn closer to God and closer to each other because of it. So here we are 9 1/2 years later (13 years later from when we first started dating) and Pat is my best friend, I tell him everything, and I enjoy doing things with him more than anyone else in the world. We have two amazing and beautiful kids. Their personalities are so fun and Declan's is much more like me where Alaina is so similar to Pat. I am anxious to see what the next 10 years hold for us and our family. Below I have listed a few things that I've been able to keep track of throughout the years:<br />
<br />
9/9/01 - Pat and I went on our first date<br />
12/24/02 - we got engaged<br />
12/18/04 - we got married, we had all hand me down furniture, lived in a 2 bedroom townhouse in O'Fallon<br />
1/15/05 - we found out I was pregnant with Declan<br />
We were both working full time retail jobs at this point making a little over minimum wage<br />
8/29/05 - went in for a dr. appointment, got admitted into the hospital due to preeclampsia while Pat and Crystal packed and moved our entire apartment<br />
8/31/05 - Declan was born<br />
We lived with my parent's until October 2005, in October 2005 we moved in with our Pastor and his wife at the time<br />
2/2006 - we moved into our own 2 bedroom apartment<br />
4/2006 - I quit my job to be a stay at home mom and babysit<br />
03/2007 - we found out I was pregnant with Alaina<br />
09/2007 - Pat started back at college to get his business degree<br />
12/31/07 - Alaina was born<br />
early 2008 I started dabbling in photography and reading up on the technicalities of it<br />
2008 was a very rough year in our marriage, a few different events almost caused us to end our relationship, but by the grace of God and his love and forgiveness for us, we were able to move past the rough patch and come out stronger. Thankful for Crystal coming over every Tuesday night to help me with Alaina while Pat was at class. She was such a difficult baby.<br />
Pat worked at Pappas Toyota from 2006-2008<br />
4/2009 - I started back to college to get my business degree<br />
7/2009 - started working part time at Sams while Pat was at Total Hockey<br />
2/2010 - Moved into our current house in Wentzville<br />
4/2010 - started doing photography as a side business/hobby to earn a little extra money<br />
1/2011 - Pat got let go from Total Hockey<br />
7/2011 - I had quit working part time at Sams because I was tired of working weekends<br />
5/2011 - Pat graduated from Lindenwood with his bachelor's degree<br />
8/2011 - I got a job as a lunch lady working at one of the elementary schools in the kids' district and Pat got a job working as an HR recruiter. Both of us were working part time, trying to make ends meet and decided to both start applying to full time jobs. Declan started Kindergarten<br />
11/2011 - the week of Thanksgiving, it was a Tuesday afternoon and I was sick as could be, sleeping in the recliner and got the call from Citibank offering me the job I have still. Two days later Pat got a phone call offering him the position in HR at Express Scripts<br />
12/2011 - I started working full time and put my kids in daycare for the first time ever<br />
5/2012 - I graduated from Lindenwood (I finished my degree in 12/2011 but didn't walk until May)<br />
7/2012 - We took our first family vacation to Legoland Discovery Center in Kansas City, MO<br />
8/2012 - I was able to go to Jacksonville, FL on business to help train some new processors and went with a colleague who became a close friend. Pat quit working at Express Scripts and started at Monsanto, the same week I was out of town.<br />
10/2012 - Pat's contract expired at Monsanto and he was unemployed until March 2013<br />
3/2013 - He started working at Ascension as an HR coordinator<br />
8/2013 - Alaina started Kindergarten<br />
1/2014 - Took a week long family vacation to FL to Disneyworld and Legoland and the kids got to see the ocean for the first time<br />
6/2014 - Pat was hired on full time/permanent to Ascension as a vendor data coordinator<br />
<br />
So much has changed and things have gradually gotten so much better! I am so very grateful for where we are today!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-42163229036319797702014-06-08T15:24:00.001-07:002014-06-08T15:24:19.517-07:00It's been a looooooooong timeHello There!<br />
<br />
I know it's been quite a while since I posted back at the beginning of the year. A lot has happened since then. We went to Disney back in January and it was our first official family vacation. We had so much fun and it was such an awesome family time that we got to spend together. Since then, the time has just been flying by. I've been busy with my photo shoots and Pat has been working a lot and they've been really busy. <br />
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The kids have finished another year of school (Alaina finished Kindergarten and Declan finished 2nd grade). I was so proud of Alaina for getting the "super pal" award for her classroom. The teacher said that she like to befriend everyone and make sure that no one was left out and everyone was included and having fun. Declan's classmates all wrote something about him and about 95% of them wrote about how funny he is. <br />
<br />
Declan was having some issues in school listening and focusing so we made a trip to the pediatrician only to find out he has ADD and was put on a form of ritalin. Deep down I knew this day would eventually come, but I kept putting it off and making excuses for his behavioral patterns at school. Finally when he had a break down during a homework assignment I realized it was more than just him "acting up". The first day after starting the medicine, he came home and said, "it was so easy to be good today at school". It made me feel bad for not trying to help him sooner. As parents we want the best for our children and I think sometimes we're extra hard on ourselves in these kinds of situations. After he started taking his medicine I received numerous emails and phone calls from his teacher saying how focused and sweet he had been recently. She stated that she loved how involved and calm he was and that he was no longer afraid to ask for help. <br />
<br />
Now that the kids are finished with school, Alaina is super excited to start her first year of summer camp. The owner of the daycare they go to has a large amount of land with a swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball court, and hiking trails. Everyday they get to swim, play games, hike, and play sports. I love this time of year because they come home exhausted and don't mind going to bed even though the sun is still out. Our kids go to bed so early compared to most. Alaina is in bed around 7:30 and Declan at 8:00 and we still have to wake them up every morning at 6:30. Of course they pop right out of bed at 6:30 on the weekends all by themselves when it's a struggle during the week. <br />
<br />
Other than that, we're just chugging along. Pat was offered a permanent position with Ascension and starts as their employee on 6/16 and he is so very excited. This will be the first time in a looooooong time, if ever that he gets more than a couple days PTO for the entire year. For those of you that are unaware, he's been a "contractor" for the last three years with no paid time off. We are so excited for this new chapter of our lives and look forward to what opportunities it brings in the future.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-75918339087723878372014-01-05T15:19:00.002-08:002014-01-05T15:19:53.080-08:00More than BlessedWith the new year comes new beginnings, fresh starts, and a chance to do what you didn't accomplish the year before. I am so overwhelmingly happy with the heart my children have for others. There is a specific teacher at the daycare that is there in the afternoon to watch the school-aged kiddos. She is not the friendliest, and I swear she has something out for Declan. She loves to tell us when he gets in trouble without giving him a chance to explain himself. Pat and myself have had some difficult authority issues with her, nothing bad, just her telling our kids to do things when we're trying to tell them it's time to go. Anyway, Pat was telling me that the other night when he went to go pick up the kids, Declan started walking out of daycare and said, "OH WAIT". He ran back in and told this particular teacher to have a nice night and a great weekend! After doing so, he told Pat that his New Years Resolution is to tell her that every night before he leaves because it just might make her happy. You have no idea how incredibly happy and humbled this made me feel. Sometimes I feel as though we're given children to teach us what no one else can. Declan definitely has compassion and at the young age of 8 knows that a smile, compliment, or encouragement can totally turn around someone's day! I am so proud to call him my son!!!Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-41137089376105973202014-01-01T18:32:00.002-08:002014-01-01T18:32:35.028-08:00YIKES...So I totally slacked on the days of thankfulness in November. Here we are, at the beginning of a new year where everyone makes resolutions that typically are given up on about 2 weeks into the new year. <br />
<br />
As most of you know, I fell on Christmas Eve and REALLY hurt my foot. I am just now starting to really be able to walk without a walker. Before that, I was planning on walking daily as we now have a treadmill in our room along with eating better and cutting out soda. All of these things together are goals for the new year. I thought I'd jump on the resolution bandwagon and so here it goes:<br />
<br />
1. I am going to quit drinking soda for an entire year. Water, milk, tea, and juice will be my drinks of choice.<br />
2. I want to run a 5k all the way through by September 30, 2014. I am going to start walking on the treadmill once my foot is healed and gradually work my way up to running.<br />
3. I am going to focus on eating smaller portions and making wiser choices in the foods I put into my body. I have a HUGE sweet tooth so this is going to be difficult for me.<br />
4. I want to spend more time with my kids sans electronics. Whether it's playing games, coloring, making things, I want them to know that I love them and love spending time with them more than I love my computer and phone.<br />
5. I want to lose 50 lbs between 1/1/14 and 12/31/14. <br />
<br />
I hope you all have a blessed and wonderful 2014! I am looking forward to GREAT things this year!!!Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-81291751040974326372013-11-05T16:40:00.002-08:002013-11-05T16:40:52.786-08:00Days 4 and 5Day 4: I am thankful for the ability to be a blessing to others. It wasn't that long ago that Pat and I were on the receiving end of people's generousity and it can be a very humbling thing. I am grateful that God has blessed us with much so that we can help out those who are in the same spot we remember so vividly.<br />
<br />
Day 5: I am thankful for my job. When I first started at Citibank I knew nothing about mortgages or the process. I have now been with the company for almost 2 years and although there were some parts that were challenging, I am grateful to have a job and for the opportunity of growth within the company.Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1069679493880535949.post-61482037958506176752013-11-03T17:22:00.001-08:002013-11-03T17:22:27.316-08:00A month of gratitudeSince everyone else is doing it, I'm going to as well. I am going to post something I'm thankful for every day until Thanksgiving. I am a few days late but here we go:<br />
<br />
1. I am thankful to have a God that loves me enough to take care of me in every circumstance of my life. I am thankful to the people the first shared God's love with me and to those who I've looked to for leadership and guidance when God seemed to be so far away. I know that God is love and I am grateful that he is a generous God that gives way more than we could ever ask.<br />
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2. I am thankful for friends. Some of our best friends we met when Pat and I first started dating and even though they haven't lived close to us for a little over 8 years, when we see them it feels as though they've never left. I love their kids as my own and couldn't ask for a more sincere friendship in them. I know that when I need someone to talk to I can always rely on her to give me what I need to hear and not just what I want to hear. I am grateful they they are God-loving friends that have helped steer Pat and myself down the right path numerous times.<br />
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3. I am grateful that we live in a state that we can experience all 4 seasons. Sure, I like some of the seasons more than others but each one I like for different reasons. I love winter and the cold. I love how pretty everything is covered in a blanket of snow and how quiet everything is. I love that everything is decorated so pretty for Christmas and the ambiance of the holiday season. I love spring because it signifies new life. I love how green and fresh everything is, the flowers are in full bloom and make the spring so colorful and beautiful. I love summer because of the long days, the extra time I get to spend with the kiddos, and of course swimming. Fall is by far my favorite. I love the cool nights and mornings with the warm days. I love the colors of fall, fall fashions (even though I'm not fashionable), the smells of fall with the pumpkin scents and the smell of fire pits. I love the crunching of leaves that have fallen to the ground.Jennifer Mahoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18329803141520431354noreply@blogger.com0