Meet Heidi

Meet Heidi...

better known as "Mom" to her daily associates.

We're so excited to introduce you to a fun blogging mama! You can read more about our goal to make Meet A Mama Monday an encouraging place for mamas of all kinds here or under our "Know A Mama?" tab.

Back to Heidi--

Heidi has her hands full as a mama to

Zachary, who is almost 9 and is in third grade;

Tyler, who is 6 and in first grade;

Gavin, who will be 3 in November;

and Lexi, who is almost 17 months.

Whew! Busy mama!

Heidi stays at home with her sweet family. Although "staying at home" is hardly what this busy family does... Zach has football and Cub Scouts, Tyler enjoys his music classes, and Gavin and Lexi keep the whole family on their toes with their daily mayhem. This God-fearing, church-going family is on the go!

Heidi loves people. She loves to communicate. She loves electronic communication,

especially with Littles underfoot!

This mama is a blogger at The Bartle Bulletin

"You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll roll your eyes... experience a day in the life of the Bartle family!",

an emailer, a texter, and a Facebooker.

Cataloging her fun family has translated into creating digitally-based memory albums on Blurb for her family and kids. They are fun, fast and affordable!

Heidi is also a reader (a girl after my own heart). She loves to read religious literature and books that help improve her relationships, parenting, and offer spiritual insight. Recently, she has joined a scripture study group with a few friends of the same faith.

Most of all, Heidi is a mama. She is livin' the dream! She says it so sweetly: "Even though I have a Bachelor's degree, there isn't a paycheck in the world that would satisfy my heart more than raising my kids at home."

She's kind and happy.

She is service-oriented.

She is a loyal friend.

Her life is truly a reflection of her values.

Heidi says her biggest challenge as a mama is "arming her children with all they need to face this crazy world while allowing them to exercise their freedom. But, she knows it is better for them to fly independently when they are ready."

She finds joy in little family moments: "a surprise hug, an unexpected success, kicking a soccer ball, splashing in the tub, an uneventful grocery run, and kissing blond heads at bedtime."

Heidi loves the following statement by Marjorie Pay Hinckley. We think it sums up Heidi very well:

I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.

I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.

I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn.

I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children.

I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.

I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.

I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.

Thank you for sharing, Heidi! Something tells me you have mud on the tires, grass stains on your shoes, and peanut butter on your shirt (from making your awesome peanut butter sandwiches) and you look fabulous!

Don't forget to to show some love to Heidi by leaving comment! Let's make Heidi have the BEST Monday ever!!!