There is a saying that while we make plans, God laughs.  

We can always try to make plans for our life, but, ultimately, we are not in control. Someone who knows this quite well is Mom of the Month Lyz Landis.

Landis is a stay-at-home mother to daughters Avery, 5 and Delaney, 2. She has always wanted to be a mother. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom, as are her two older sisters. She knew the life; she knew the routine. She wanted it and planned for it. 

But somehow life had other ideas.  

Landis is originally from Nebraska and moved here when she was three years old. After graduating from Millersville University in 2001, she knew she wanted to work with children. Landis started work at Bethany Children's Home in Womelsdorf, PA, helping abused children. But in the back of her mind, the plan was always for her to have her own family.

Landis married her high school sweetheart, Chris, in 2003. When they had trouble starting a family, Landis' doctor told her she would never be able to get pregnant because of a medical condition.

Landis was devastated. This wasn't in her plan, and she was mad. So since there wasn't going to be any babies, in a huff, she decided to buy her dream car, a Lexus SUV in February, 2005.

But, again, Landis would learn that she was not in control.   One month after driving that new car off the lot, she became pregnant with first daughter, Avery. Landis said all she could do was laugh. But she and Chris were, of course, thrilled.

Having Avery showed the Landises that they could, indeed, have children. And they planned on having more. Landis soon became pregnant again, but this time she miscarried.

Landis was not giving up. They wanted more children. That was the plan. But Landis miscarried again in August, 2006 and in January, 2007. When she miscarried a third time on Christmas Day in 2007, she had had enough. It was also during this time that Landis' father passed away from cancer. Landis recalls looking up to heaven during this period and saying, "Really?"

So Landis began to rethink her plans, again. She knew this drive for more children wasn't fair to her family. There were the medical bills piling up and the stress. She already had one healthy child. Why push the envelope? So she stopped thinking about other babies and began to refocus her plan to being a mother to one child.  

Yes. That would be the plan.  

But what has so often been true for Landis, life had another agenda for her. By the next Christmas in 2008-a year after her third miscarriage--Landis gave birth to Delaney.

You would think that after all the struggles and heartaches to have her babies, Landis would be extremely grateful and thankful for her family. Is motherhood all she had hoped for?

Yes.

"It's everything and more," she said. "At every age I think this is my favorite age, but then the next age comes along, and I love that too! I feel honored and privileged to stay home with my children." She added, "To me, being a stay-at-home mom is my job, and I am proud of it."  

Landis' philosophy is to stay busy with her girls during the week and keep weekends free for family time. Chris is a local police officer, and, with his hours, weekends are precious. They enjoy arts and crafts and sports. Landis especially loves softball and has played it all her life.  She is thrilled to have been recently chosen to coach Avery's team this year. "I get to teach her all the things my father taught me growing up."

Landis was nominated for Mom of the Month by her best girlfriend, Heidi Milley. The two have been close for 13 years. In January Milley needed a place to stay. Landis never questioned the circumstances and just took her in.  

"There was not a doubt in my mind," she said. "That's just what you do."  

Milley says, "The two best things about Lyz are her patience and her love. You can tell just by watching her for a few moments that she absolutely adores her daughters and wants nothing more than to make sure they have the perfect childhood!"  

For Landis, it's OK things didn't happen the way she planned. She is in a wonderful place right now with her two delightful daughters.

After a recent trip to the circus, she looked in the backseat to see them both sound asleep. Landis said, "I was overwhelmed with how perfect my life is right now. I wouldn't change a thing."

More about the Mom of the Month

Landis plays Bunco monthly.

The Landises have a dog named Riley, and a cat named Lilly.

Landis describes herself as a "girly tomboy." She likes athletics, but she also likes to get her nails done.

As far as cooking goes, Landis said, "I try."

Landis and husband Chris get away for "us time" about once a month. They also enjoy two to three nights away once a year to "regroup." They've been to Ocean City and Atlantic City. They hope to go to Las Vegas this year.

Landis enjoys playing Just Dance on Wii.

Landis has two older sisters and eight nieces and nephews. She became an aunt at age 12.

Landis and her husband Chris met while they were in high school and they were both employees of Stauffer's of Kissel Hill grocery store in Lititz.

Husband Chris is a big Penn State fan, and now that Nebraska is in "The Big 10" along with Penn State, Landis said this will be a test as to how strong their marriage is.

Landis says her movies lately have all been animated and her music has all been Justin Bieber-related.

Landis is a melanoma cancer survivor. On the day she was contacted for this interview she had just arrived home from the doctor with a clean bill of health. She said, "We have sunblock everywhere!"

By Maureen Leader, Special Features Writer