Life sure seems to throw us for some loops, doesn't it? Journey with me as each day seems to bring something new.... something challenging... and something fun! Enjoy the challenges faced in this insane assylum oops, I mean homefront :)
The kids were outside playing and having a grand time! They discovered how to spin in circles on the tire swing! SO much fun they thought! The girls took turns as the boys pushed and then the boys took turns as the girls pushed. They all laughed in grand excitement as they experienced the thrills of going so fast! Then I heard it.... after about 20 minutes of spinning. Tabitha came rushing over to me as I was talking to Stephen. "MOM! MOM! Austanne has an emergency! She needs your help fast!" So I went over knowing it couldn't be that bad because I did not hear any shrills cries for help.
There sat Austanne on the tire swing with her siblings gathered around with mouths down to the ground. They all knew it was not good. Austanne had managed to spin so fast her hair got caught in the bar swing next to it and spun along with them. She looked discouraged and saddened.
Assessing the situation I immediately thought we may need to chop her hair. Visions of a partially bald child on the one side of her heard filled my head. After about 10 minutes of working her hair like a puzzle, the hair was out of the swing and a sigh of relief was released by all the children, especially Austanne.
Have a crazy situation come up in your life? Suddenly you feel like you are stuck in some maze or some puzzle and you are overwhelmed with how to get out? I know Austanne was. I think back of David in the Bible. There were plenty of times where he was overwhelmed as he wrote the book of Psalms. But instead of getting discouraged he stood back and prayed, called out to God... and let God undo the mess! I encourage you to stand back and let God take control!
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I Corinthians 10:13
“Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm: at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.”
"Mommy... can I have this sucker?".... "no Austanne, you need to eat breakfast." (2 minutes later) "Austanne, what are you doing?".... Austanne: :"Mommy, you don't want to know what I am doing." as she picks at the picture that holds the sucker!
Are we like that with our relationship with God? I know I have been in the past. He is like "No.... I don't want you to do that...." and we are thinking we know whats best for us. God must just be a party pooper.... what harm could it do to dabble in a little of this and a little of that, right? But yet He stands there and says, "Hey... what do you think you are doing?" (as if he doesn't already know!) and we know we are guilty so we just say "God... you don't want to know what I am doing!"
Reminds me of Adam and Eve in the garden. Eve took of the fruit of the tree - she shouldn't have. Adam joined in and ate too. They knew better and when God was like "Ummm... where are you?" they kept hiding! Seriously... hiding from God? He can see you and knows exactly where you are and what you are up to! Funny they thought they could hide from him when just before they communicated with Him and He was there with them all along. Reminds me of a toddler who tries to hide when they know they are in trouble.... or the ostrich that sticks its head in the sand saying "I can't see you, so you can't see me!"
God knows what the deal is, He knows if your dabbling in temptation. Step back, don't cave in.....
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"And remember, when someone wants to do wrong it is never God who is tempting him, for God never wants to do wrong and never tempts anyone else to do it. Temptation is the pull of man's own evil thoughts and wishes."JAMES 1 VERSES 13 & 14
This morning James got dressed himself, getting his own underwear on and rest of his attire. He informed me his underwear were a tad loose, but I dismissed the thought. A couple hours later we were packed and ready to go for an afternoon of fun at Cabella's about an hour from our house. As we walked through the store I observed James with his hands in his pockets all scrunched to the front of himself as if he was trying to hold his shorts on. After about a half an hour Stephen was holding James in his arms horizontally tickling his belly and his thigh and butt cheeks emerged. I asked Stephen if James maybe misplaced his underwear? He said he did not think so. So I did the usual "check" a mom would do for a diaper check, but this time for underwear! "Ahhh! No underwear!" I said in shock! Then.... I looked further... "AHHHHH -- his underwear ARE on... they are just down to his knees!" LOL
James continued to walk around for about 20 minutes afterwards since I pulled up his underwear and all seemed well. As we were exploring a tent with the whole family and many others in the store (it was packed) a lady entered the tent and looked at the kids doing the typical head count and giving the look of "Holy crap... how many do these people have?" .... then she started to laugh and I looked over to see what was so funny. James decided he needed to get his underwear back in order and pulled down his pants in the tent to pull up his underwear! LOL
A hasty retreat was made to the ladies room where I told him we would change his underwear into a pair that would fit better (I had spare ones in my bag in case of emergency). He enters the stall and pulls down his shorts to pee and excitedly he announces "WOW! My underwear!" as he discovered them below his knees again!
No true lesson came from this other than a good laugh! He had put on Aaron's underwear (Aaron is 12, James is two!) At least I was prepared for the situation and he was able to get some clothes on that fit!
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What does it take to be a Father? Sadly in today's day and age, it just takes a one night stand. But being a TRUE father means WAY more! Being a Father, a Daddy, means stepping up the plate and loving the beautiful blessings that God has given you!
I am so blessed to have an amazing husband for the father of my children! He is an amazing example of what it means to be self-less, to care for others, to be giving, to forgive. Our girls truly get a good example of what a husband should be for them when they grow up. Our boys get a good example of what they should be when they grow up and develop into young men. I had an amazing dad growing up too! He would wheel and deal and do whatever he could to help bring money in. He always had us laughing, and no matter how much stress was in a situation he somehow would make us laugh! Whether it was him totalling having a brain fart, him going into the mall with my sisters, mom and I to have 'quality time' as he purposely modeled the lingerie section.... or telling complete strangers he was Ron by day and Rhonda after 6p.m. He was a great dad and a good example of a man who can make light and fun in many situations. No awkward moments befell that man. He was one of the most interactive patients on his heart floor in the hospital every time he had a heart attack! I think every nurse on the floor knew him .... ironically especially those who were not his nurse! After his passing I picked pictures up of him at a Walgreen's the next town over and the cashier said to check them. I did, and she said "Oh, I know that man!".... yes, there was no strangers to him!
My dad taught me that relationships are more valuable than the dollar. That family is something money cannot buy. He loved all seven of his children even when at various points in our life we were surly unlovable! He taught us appearance is not the most important thing! I remember him having my sister push his truck out of the high school parking lot because it would not start on its own. It was a stick shift so it had to be pushed to start. In front of all of her friends she had to push this hideous truck. And by hideous I truly mean U-G-L-Y! It actually won "The Ugliest Truck Contest" first place! Yes... it was ugly! You never knew driving down the road if you may lose a door, tailgate or some other random part of the vehicle! Or the flinstone mobile we had. I recall lifting the carpet mat under my feet to discover I could see the ground very easily through the gaping hole in the floor! But it was in those moments that I learned a lesson that many children don't learn... I learned you don't have to have the most beautiful car.... the newest thing in fashion. I learned it's about what you have in a family that matters the most! My dad built some great memories with that truck (great as in hilarious!) and with the car we went places and did things to bond as a family. It's those moments I would never trade! What a great example in my father and also in my husband of what a man should truly be! I look at my husband this last week taking on so much stress and yet giving grace out wherever he could. his employees totaled his work truck and instead of yelling at them he just said "it's okay... it's just a truck, you guys are okay, that's all I care about."...... or his employees transmission is going on his truck. Stephen got his truck back he bought for a friend who was supposed to pay for it (who never did but agreed to give it back after he fixed it, which he never did) but he got the truck back, is fixing it for his employee to use as a vehicle. He has extended grace as far as he can wherever he can... but you see, that's just who he is. Stephen is a kind man, with an extra kind heart. He would help anyone and everyone out who is need. Reminds me of the example he lived out about a month ago. We sat on the couch after a somewhat long day and decided at 9:30 at night we would snuggle up and watch a movie. We noticed headlights out front and peered out the playroom window. Upon further investigation we seen there was a man outside whose van had not only one but two flat tires. Stephen went out there and not only jacked the man's vehicle up, he changed his tire to his spare and went into our backyard and grabbed a tire he had on a rim and gave it to the man so he could make it home. We did not know this guy.... but for almost 45 minutes my husband worked on his truck and asked nothing in return. The man said he would return the tire a couple weeks later but never did. But that's okay.... Stephen did it with a heart of not expecting anything back in return. These are the lessons that a man not only talks of, but he lives and teaches his kids. To be a great father you don't just talk the talk... you must walk the walk! Father is more than just six letter word! A father is a leader, a protector, a shelter, a caregiver, an example, one who loves you even in your darkest moments, a man who can stand by your side even when your wrong - letting you know your wrong but loving you through it, someone who would give their life for you.
Think of our Heavenly Father.... He did not just talk the talk... rather He sent His only Son Jesus to die for us! He could have said "Boy, those people sure messed it up! I told them enough times... now... it's just an 'I told you so' situation. People.... get your crap together!".... but no. He sent Jesus to die for us, so that HE could get our crap together for us! That is the example of true love! Happy Father's Day!
_________________________________________________________________________ "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life." (Proverbs 4:11-13, NIV)
Stress - something we all wish we could live without but for some reason it just seems to keep creeping into our lives!!!! This last week has been a high stress one! Poison ivy that is relentless in its pursuit of my sanity, laundry that is nearing the height of Mount Rushmore (and then the resulting clean clothes that need put away), my husbands work truck being totaled, money being on the tighter side of the fence, a cat who is teetering between healing and possibly getting sick and being put down. Yes.... stress!
So last night after I gave the boys their second shower of the day (in an attempt to make sure no new poison ivy visits us) the boys ran off to their room whining and pouting about this and that. My nerves were shot - one person can only handle so many tantrums and meltdowns from a two year old. Then it happened, I rounded the corner into the boys room to get them some clothes since apparently they had become double amputees in the moments preceding my arrival since they could not retrieve their own clothing.... and low and behold... what did I see? My blessed angelic sweet sweet David standing at the end of his bed cheesing big and boldly - and at the feet of this sweet angelic giggly little boy was wetness..... Not just ANY wetness, oh no...a puddle, a river.... or at that moment it could have been an ocean for all I cared! It was wetness that David himself had produced. Yes, my sweet boy couldn't have gone in the toilet moments before but had to wait and bless yet another area. His floor was soaked, some pictures he had from before and his favorite tractor/truck toy... soaked!
"What happened? Where did this come from?" I asked. Flabbergasted David said, "Bolty (the dog) did it!" Ummmmmm... yeah, I don't think so. So a confession, a towel cleaning and a handful of Lysol wipes later the situation was resolved and cleaned. Not sure why he had to pee on his floor (or why last week he had to aim for not only the toilet but also for the cat box).... but all I know is it created yet more stress.
In all this stress it seems a little breathing room would be nice. I don't know about you, but there are times of stress where you just want to sit back and say "Hey God, enough is enough! I really don't think I can handle anymore! PLEASE stop!".... but we have the joy of knowing He knows how much we can handle and though it is painful, annoying and flat out just a pain in the butt - it is stretching us to be more patient, more loving and to give more grace where we may have never given it before!
And on a side note: Holey moley there are a lot of Sippy Cups in my dishwasher!!!!
_______________________________________________________________________ God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)
I woke this morning to James crying he was hot. I changed his shirt in the night, half asleep, eyes closed, and crawled back in bed (an art I mastered as all the kids were infants to be able to change diapers - even yucky ones, in the dark, eyes closed).... Just as I got comfy, he cried hysterically. Exhausted, I went back in his room, asked what the issue was now. My lovely boy had emptied his stomach contents on his bed. JOY.... :)
So for the next hour or more (I lost track... I was so tired) I made multiple trips between the kitchen and the little man on the couch. We had our pan rotation... puke in one, clean it while he has another at bay to fill for me upon my arrival. Yes.... joys of motherhood. A call to the doctor awhile later at 5 a.m. and we follow doctors orders and go to the hospital. The trip was so pleasant, as I drove, exchanged pans.... dumping the contents out the window at various red lights, and praying we made it before I would run out of gas (I had no intention the night b4 to go out any further than the gym).
We arrive at the hospital, they get him all set up, he welcomes each visiting doctor and nurse (even the lady at the check in station) with a warm greeting and showing of his wonderful vomiting skills. They take vitals, do the usual, give him some meds to stop the neon yellow stuff coming out of him, and he falls asleep within moments on me. I lay there..... unable to sleep. I finally crash at 6 a.m. and he wakes at 6:15 (no joke!).... just chattering away like nothing ever happened!
I knew he was all better when he decided to play superman off the hospital bed.... in an attempt to tour other regions of the hospital facility! :) A half hour later, we came home and no one knew he had even been sick (......other than my toilet and bathroom that would have preferred an atomic bomb been released in there over his presence in there!)
So what do I take from this situation? Enjoy the moments of being with the little ones. It's no fun when they are sick.... but I have to say, my little man has not taken a nap on my chest since he was a teeny tiny infant. It was so sweet getting to cuddle him and just listen to him lay there and sleep. I sat there for 45 minutes, barely able to keep my eyes open as I enjoyed the moment of my rambunctious little boy being a calm peaceful mamas boy for a few moments!
Too often we get caught up in life doing this and that and we miss those small moments to really relish in those moments of cuddling. I hope we get some more of those moments.... minus the neon vomit, bed changing, pan rotation, ewey yuckiness but with lots more snuggles, hugs and kisses!
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
There are times in life where things just stink. Today I sat in my daughters' room and had a talk with them I really would rather not have had. I had to tell them that kitty was sick again, and it was not looking good. It broke my heart to tell them that kitty may go be with Jesus soon. We sat there, I prayed, and held my 5 year old Tabitha in my arms as we both sobbed and cried. Austanne tried to comfort us with her words but I could tell she was hurting some too.
It's moments like these I never was prepared for as a mom. I AM praying and believing God will heal the cat. He is teetering between being okay one minute and then the next he goes pee and cries out in pain afterward... but he IS urinating. See, his problem is he has gotten kidney stones and keeps struggling to not get them more again. He just came home after 3 1/2 weeks at the vets office. There is a surgery he can have done to help him, but its not something we can afford at the moment. It breaks my heart to see we may lose our cat... this kitty who is so sweet who loves to snuggle up at night and just relax with me.... this kitty who was my dad's cat.... and this kitty who my 5 year old Tabitha has really taken a strong liking to. It breaks my heart to have to put him to sleep but I don't want him to suffer if he does not get better.
I have peace in my heart right now about it, that God is in control.... I just hope the plan is for kitty to be okay.... not for him to go be with my dad. It's moments like this... I never prepared for as a mom. I hate having to break bad news to my kids. I remember walking into the hospital waiting room where all 5 kids were sitting.... waiting with the rest of my family as we had just arrived in town to go see my dad in the hospital. I remember walking in that room, dreading and preparing in my mind what I needed to tell them. I remember it being the first time any of them had to face anything so serious. I remember calling them all over and telling them with a broken heart that sometimes Jesus chooses to fix us here on this earth.... and sometimes He chooses to fix us in Heaven. My heart ached with pain as I knew I would be losing my dad soon because I knew upon seeing him what the answer was. It broke my heart to see my children sad, to see the heartbreak in their eyes and the tears. Knowing that they would not get that final goodbye because I did not want that to be their last memory of their Grandpa. My heart broke....
Goodbyes suck. I can't put it any more plainly. They just flat out suck. I don't know how spouses make it through those times of saying goodbye.... when its more than a "see you in an hour," but rather, "I will see you on the other side." My heart breaks for parents who have to to say those final goodbyes to their precious children who have gone on before them.
But we have that hope, in Jesus. We have that hope that if we call on Him, if we ask Him into our hearts, He will hear us, He will forgive us, and He will save us. We will go to Heaven when we die and spend an eternity with Him and with those we love so much.
I ask you today, if you don't know Jesus.... do you want to? Do you want to step out and know that when you die, you will go to Heaven? That you will get to be with not only God the Father, but also be reunited with those you love so dearly? I implore you to ask Jesus into your heart today.... because there is no sadder goodbye than a goodbye that will last an eternity.
Assessing the situation I immediately thought we may need to chop her hair. Visions of a partially bald child on the one side of her heard filled my head. After about 10 minutes of working her hair like a puzzle, the hair was out of the swing and a sigh of relief was released by all the children, especially Austanne. 
