Hardest Job Ever

Parenting...Something that almost everyone wants or dreams about doing, but do we ever really stop and think about all that comes along with it? I know I didn't. All I ever thought about was rocking the baby, reading books, playing, buying cute clothes to dress them in, and whatever other silly thing I had in my head.  I never once stopped and thought about all the EXTRA that comes along with being a parent! The hard part about being a parent.
The minute my boys were born my mind was flooded with questions like, "How do I teach them to be responsible humans?" "How do I protect them in this crazy world?" "How do I teach them to be respectful men in a world full of disrespectful people?" "How do I teach them right from wrong" "How do I teach them the love of Christ" and so many other things. I learned that right then anyone can birth a child and call themselves a mom, but parenting/raising a child the RIGHT way is not for the faint at heart. I knew I had my work cut out for me. I knew right then I had to make a choice right then if I wanted to take the easy way of being a parent or put on my big girl panties and raise them in a way that would take blood, sweat, tears and LOTS of prayers.
10 years later, and I am still not sure I am doing any of it right. So many days I want to throw my hands in the air. So many days I want to lay in the floor and cry. So many times I question if I am the right person for this job. So many days I want to take the easy way and just sit back and let things happen. Thank God that he continues to tell my heart to keep on. To keep being the mother he created me to be.
In saying all of this, I wanted to share some things that I think make parenting hard......

*saying no! I think this is a biggie. I think it is much harder to say no than it is to say yes! I would LOVE to say yes to everything. Believe me...but that doesn't make it right. Parents..learn to say NO. It does not hurt our kids to hear the word no. One day the world is going to tell them no, and will they be able to handle it?

*Bible study with kids! I can not tell you how many times I have wanted to throw the towel in on this one! EVERY single time, we would sit down to have family bible time something would happen.  Phones would ring, kids would say they are hungry, kids would say they are tired.... basically anything and everything until I would get so frustrated I would give up!  Finally I decided I was going to fight on this one. I figured out a time that we wouldn't get interrupted, a time when they were not hungry or tired and guess what, it works? Are we perfect with it everyday? NO! But it is something that I feel is important so I am not going to give up!

*Teaching respect, and manners.  THIS IS HARD and it takes not giving up!!! I feel like it is something that has to be a continuous thing every single day!! I literally remind my kids about their manners multiple times a day! Some days I feel like I am blue in the face.  It would be much easier for me to just drop it and HOPE that they are using them, but I know that's not enough.

*Setting rules and boundaries..
Everyone has rules and boundaries that are important to them. The hardest part is following through with them. It's so much easier to just establish the rules and then just forget about it. When we establish rules we have to make sure our kids know what the rules are and make sure that they are following them. There should also be consequences set for them. Good and Bad.  This has been hard for us as a family. So many times rules are set and one parent makes them follow the rules and the other doesn't. This makes it extremely tough.

I know there are many other things that make parenting hard, but in the end it is so rewarding!! I feel like when we put in the hard work we get to see the return. I love to hear people brag on my kids. It does make me feel like I am doing something right at times. I am so grateful that God chose me to be part of the hardest most rewarding job ever!

Hope everyone had a day full of blessings...

Lots of love.

Grandma

Grandma.Granny. Grandmother. Nana. Mimi. Bennie. Gigi. Whatever name is used, it is a name that brings me instant comfort! I have been extremely blessed in the Grandma area of my life. I was raised with my dad's mom aka Grandma Margie. I also had my mom's stepmom, Betty, who I called Mimi. I never got to meet my mom's mom, Emma(she passed away when my momma was 9), but I have no doubt that she has watched over me from day 1.  Since marring Matthew, I have gained even more blessing in the grandma area. Both of Matthew's grandmas have accepted me as their granddaughter, no questions asked.
Grandma Margie has always been a constant in my life. I honestly can't remember a time in my life that she wasn't there. Many of my childhood memories were made at her house. Spring breaks and summers were spent staying with her. Daddy and momma worked year round, so I would stay with her during all the breaks. We took trips to my Aunt's house in Cape. We worked in the garden. Hours were spent watching her sew or crochet. We shelled beans. We stood in the kitchen and watched her cook wonderful meals (breakfast, lunch and supper). We played in the sheets and towels that were hung out on the clothes line. Many games of hide and go seek were played. Tanya Tucker could be heard playing while we two stepped and danced around the living room.  Night times were filled with reading books, or watching a movie while she put my hair in sponge rollers. I never remember being bored at her house. There was always something to keep us busy.
During Spring break, the boys and I went and stayed at Bennie and Pops (my mom and dad..they live probably less than a football field away from Grandma). While we were there, Grandma and I reminisced on the memories we made. We looked at old pictures and talked about the good times. We also spent some precious time in the kitchen cooking our favorite meal! White beans, fried potatoes, cornbread, and slaw. As I sat in her living room, tears came to my eyes because I felt like for the first time I actually saw her as an 88 year old woman. I saw the wrinkles and age spots on her hands, the grey hair, the tiredness in her eyes, and how she has slowed down. It finally hit me hard that this woman, the woman who has always been my cheerleader, the woman who has picked me up when I am down, the woman who never saw my faults, this woman who showed me a love of the kitchen, and many other things would not be with me forever.
The love of a grandma is like nothing else in the world. It is the precious hand that wipes away your tears. Its the arms that hold you until you fall asleep. Its the purse that you know without a doubt will have gum or some kind of candy in it.
When Matthew and I got married, I was sad because I knew I wouldn't see my Grandma as much as I was use to. I had no idea that God had a woman in my mind to step in and be the Grandma that I needed, enter Grandma Betty! There are not enough words in the world to describe how wonderful this woman is. 11 years later, and I can honestly say God knew I needed Grandma Betty. We have a wonderful relationship, and she has taught me the kind of mom and grandma I want to be.
My entire life has been surrounded by wonderful women, who have helped shaped the woman that I am and the woman I am still becoming. I thank God everyday for Grandma Margie and Grandma Betty. My life would not be the same without them, and I am beyond grateful for every moment I have with him. If you are lucky enough to have a grandparent living, please do everything you can to spend as much time with them as possible. Listen to their stories. Learn their ways (special recipes, sewing, etc). Take pictures with them. Just be with them. You will never regret it!

Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Lots of love...

Currently...

Currently I am.....

Reading

Sinners and the Sea: The Untold Story of Noah's Wife

I absolutely love books like this. Some of my favorite reads are about people in the Bible. One of my favorite books is Havah: The Story of Eve. Such a good read. This reminds me a lot of it. I feel like it kind of opens our eyes to what it was like back then! 

Watching

Designated Survivor

Matthew and I were watching 24. Such a good show, but Matthew got burned out on it. I will say that 24 gets tiring. One season is 24 episodes, and by the end you are worn out mentally. We both really like Kiefer Sutherland, so I was happy that we found this show. The title basically tells what the show is about. He is the designated survivor for the president! Watch it..you won't be sorry.

Eating

If you know me, I am typically on some kind of diet. I hop from one to the next and have literally tried every kind of diet there is. Currently, I am low "carbing" it. I have actually stuck this out longer than any other diet/lifestyle/eat habit I have ever had. I don't really have a rhyme or reason to it. The last couple of months, I have been on a carb binge, eating everything in sight. I had to stop because the jeans are getting too tight, and I refuse to buy a bigger size. Back to the grind! Low Carb/Keto here I am...

Wearing

Right now, I am currently down on my closet! I am not sure what is wrong, but I am not liking anything I own. Do you ever go through this? I am really good about keeping things for years. Seriously, some of the shirts that I have, I have been wearing for 5 years. I am in dire need of a closet overhaul, but I don't even know where to start? Before I became a mom, I was some what trendy when it came to clothes..since then Yoga pants, and big shirts have become my trend??

Drinking

Water, Coffee, and Plexus Pink Drink

Planning

I am always planning trips to Disney, I just need the funds to go! LOL    We are for sure going to the beach with Matthew's mom this summer, so our thing now is trying to figure out what we want to do with just the 4 of us! Disney? Cruise? We have toyed around with taking a Carnival Cruise. We have done the Disney Cruise and enjoyed it! We learned alot about cruises and would know what to expect for the next time.  Matthew and I have also talked about flying out to Vegas for 3 days just to see what it is all about. We don't gamble, so basically we would be sight-seeing and eating! 

Is there something that you are currently doing that I need to know about to add to my list?? 

Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Lots of love..

Megan Marie Cohn

I am Megan Marie Cohn. I was born September 5th, 1986 in Batesville, AR. My mom, Dana Bennett, and dad, Kenny Bennett were just babies themselves when they welcomed me into the world. I love the story they have. Two totally different worlds coming together to form a family! I am happy to say that they are still married today! I know they have had some rough times, but I thank God everyday that they have been able to look past their differences.
We lived in Cave City, AR until Dad took a job in Searcy, Ar. It was the summer before I started 2nd grade. I remember the first day of school so vividly. Momma was holding my hand and the closer we got to the door the tighter my grip on her was. That was in 1994, and 10 years later in 2004, I was walking across the stage getting my diploma from Searcy High School. I would say that my years in school were pretty good. Some years better than others. Probably the worst thing I ever dealt with was mean girls. I wish I could go back to my younger self and tell her not to worry about any of them. Once you get out of school, you never see any of them again. Its not worth the stress. I did walk away from Searcy High School with people who will always be in my heart. Do I see them often? No not at all. Even if I don't see them they are ones who I carry daily with me. (Audra, Amy, Sarah)
Momma and Daddy never had any more kids. It was just us! The three of us. Things were simple. They both worked hard for everything we had. They taught me responsibility. I got a job as soon as I was able. Thank you Ricky for hiring me when I was 13 at Sunrise Honda! ;) Honestly,  there was never a time I was without a job until I had Jagger and became a stay-at-home mommy. They taught me honesty, integrity, compassion, hard work, and great love for music/movies and a good book! I did not grow up in a home where we went to church regularly. Momma said when we moved from Cave City, she just never found a church that she wanted to call "home". She did continue to do her best to teach me about God's love for me. I did attend VBS almost every year, and did manage to go to church camp with friends. This is when my love for Jesus started. Did I put him first for all those years? NO. I lived my life with him on the very far back burner. Not until Matthew and I got married, did I decide that I wanted him to be front and center. I wanted my home to be centered around HIM. I wanted my kids to grow up in a home that loves HIM and isn't afraid to show it!
Growing up, I never really saw myself as a mom. I never really wanted kids. I didn't really like being around kids. Maybe it's because I was an only and it was just a "grown up" environment. The moment I laid eyes on Jagger, I knew God had a different plan for me. If possible, I would have more than the two we have. I would love to adopt. Even before I had kids, I have felt led to adopt. I can't explain it, it's just something that has always been there. I have always felt led to go on mission trips. Why have I gone? I have no idea...It's on my bucket list and one day I will.
So, who am I? Who is Megan Marie Cohn.....
I am a mother (Thank you Jagger and Hudson)
I am a wife (Matthew, I am so glad had plans for us)
I am a daughter
I am a friend
I am a Jesus lover
I am a sinner (I mess up every day)
I am a prayer warrior
I am a book lover (sometimes obsessive)
I am a learner (I LOVE to learn about things and learn new things)
I am cook (one of my favorite types of therapy)
I am a worrier
I am a lover (I love to love on people...need a hug or a smile I am your girl)
I am a Southern girl (I am proud of my Southern roots)
I am a fixer
I am a honest person (Don't ask me unless you want the truth)
I am a controller (I like to be in control)
I am a Disney lover (sorry, but not sorry... I need to know when I can go back to Disney!)
I am a fan of cozy days by the fire with a good book
I am a foodie (food is what motivates me! Its why I go on vacation)
I am not good at controlling my temper (working on it)
I am not good at loving myself fully (I pick myself a part)
I am not good at patience (working on it)
I am not good at house work (who is?)
I am not good at rejection ( I just want to be loved and accepted)
I AM ME!!!!
I am so grateful for the life that God has given me. The good, bad and in between. I know each and every moment has made me the woman I am today.

I like to dance or at least pretend I can dance!! LOL 

Sorry Jen and Nana...I had to...Such a fun night! LOL 

Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Lots of love....