Family Fun

One of the things I love most about Christmas is being able to spend time with our families. With my 2 boys and my brothers 3 boys, it's a lot of fun around our house when we are together. Christmas was definitely that way. We also all took the new Lynx train from I485 to downtown to have lunch with my mom. To watch all those boys sit quietly on the train was so cute - it's the quietest I had seen them all week! We enjoyed the ride and then had pizza at Fuel pizza and walked around through Overstreet Mall to see the shops and the Leonard Bearstein bears perform. They loved it and were completely worn out by the end of the day. The best part was they spent the night. Needless to say the house was a disaster the next morning and, low and behold, we get a phone call that someone wants to see the house. Great! But not so great as I looked around - every room was a mess! We got it picked up and rushed the kids to Chic-fil-A. What a great week!

Panic

I got a call no one wants to get when your family is away - there has been an accident. Thankfully the next words were "we're ok". My husband and oldest son have been visiting family in upstate New York and got into a fender bender this morning. No one was hurt, except for the car and thankfully it is still drive able. I am now ready more than ever to have them home. I wish I can say when they left the only thoughts I had were of what a wonderful time this would be for the 2 of them, but honestly I was thinking the worst. Things like if they got in a car accident and I was with them we all could go to heaven together; what if he took both children and risked losing everyone.....junk like that. And it is junk - it's the stuff the devil wants so badly for you to fear that it keeps your feet planted, unable to move. It's moments like this that I realize I am not in control. It's hard as a mother of young children to realize that, because so much of what I do with them involves my control. But their health, well being, and ultimately their lives does not fall under my control. It's God's. I awoke this morning with the urge to pray - not desire, not "oh I should do this" - the urge. God knew this was going to happen and maybe, just maybe he wanted me to be in the right mindset to handle it. I don't know if my prayers of protection for them changed anything this morning, but it certainly changed my heart to be so thankful that they are o.k.

Daddy to the rescue

There are times when I am truly grateful that the Lord made the man the head of the house. As much as I think I can handle everything on my own, sometimes I can't, and this past weekend was one of those times. We have been struggling with our 3 year old of late. He goes through great patches of obedience and good behavior and then the bottom drops out. Friday it dropped and took me with it. He challenged me on everything all day long: what pants to wear, what shirt, socks too short, underwear too long, he wanted to turn the light on - not me, Buzz Lightyear cup - not Lightening McQueen, milk not juice. My poor husband called to see where I was around 5 p.m. as I was supposed to meet him to drop off his car at the shop. We were late, as usual, because I was arguing (and spanking) my 3 year old after growing tired of negotiating. See, I don't believe you should negotiate with your kids. There are times when I redirect, times when I give in, but most times if I tell my kids to do something I expect them to do it. Immediately. No "in a minute" or "hold on" or "but Mooommmmmm". My 3 year old has yet to understand this about me and it causes a great amount of frustration between us. Back to my husband. He calls and hears the exhaustion in my voice and states that this was the last straw. Once we got there, he took the kids, I came home. He had a long talk with the 3 year old and when he arrived home my son promptly said "I'm sorry I made you cry Mommy". My husband also took him to work with him that Saturday and dealt with him all weekend. Any problems that arose, he took the lead. God I love him! Come Monday morning my 3 year old was a new child. He was sweet and obedient - it was like another child took over his body. He was back to saying "are you happy mommy?" We still have our challenges, but after a weekend with Daddy in control, things are at least back on the right track.

Mixed Emotions

I am struggling a little bit today. I love this time of year and yet, the excitement that I have is always tempered with some sadness. I watched and listened today as our wonderful choir and orchestra put on a beautiful performance. The songs of joy for our sweet Savior's birth were inspiring. It has just been in the last few years that I can actually attend a performance like that. My father was a music minister and he loved putting together the Christmas and Easter musicals for our church. Some of the sweetest memories I have are of him sitting in his chair with his huge headphones on going over the music again and again. Since he has gone to be with the Lord, these performances, Christmas particularly, are very hard for me, as it was shortly after his Christmas musical that my father passed away. So the last few years that I have been able to make it through the performance, I am overwhelmed by the beautiful sounds, and yet hold back the tears because I always picture my dad up there directing. Even as I listened to the words of the songs I was overcome with the same sadness for Jesus. The truth of the matter is that Jesus did come as a sweet little boy, much like mine. But how he lived, and died so young, and so brutally......joy of His birth, sadness for His death. And yet, His death and resurrection, holds the key of hope for all who believe. So it is joy mixed with sadness that I feel this time of year. As I get older though, I am appreciative of every day I have with my family and every blessing the Lord has given me. For we don't know what tomorrow brings, but it is the hope that only comes from Jesus' birth, death and resurrection that we cling to.

God's patience and our obedience

"With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9 My husband had an opportunity to do something yesterday that God laid on his heart to do almost 2 years ago. When God originally asked my husband to do this, he was willing to do it, but this particular request involved several other people. Trying to get these people together all in one place, my husband's work schedule, and lack of preparation time were just some of the reasons why it took almost 2 years for this to get done. There were times that he felt he was deliberately disobeying the Lord because of the time that had passed. There are times in our lives when circumstances prevent us from answering God's call immediately. There are also other times when we place our hands over our ears like a child and scream "I can't hear you.....I'm not listening....la,la,la,la...." because we don't want to do what He asks of us. Whatever the reasons, I have found in my own life that it is ME that misses out on the biggest blessings of my life for delaying a response to the Lord. I teach my children 1st time obedience (I ask just once and you obey immediately), but how often I fail in responding to my heavenly Father. If your phone was ringing and you knew the person calling you was going to be a long lost loved one you hadn't spoken to in years, or a daughter who had run away, or a child that was missing, or the bank saying they just put a million dollars in your account just for being a great customer, you would answer it immediately! How much greater than these are the rewards when we answer God's call, and yet, we let it ring. God is patient, and He will keep calling. But if we pick up the phone and immediately slam it down, He will eventually stop.

Sunday Solice

The youngest woke up with a severe head cold so we stayed home while Daddy and the oldest went to church. After playing numerous games of Chutes and Ladders and watching the Grinch with him, I finished up (and started) some projects for Christmas - gifts for friends, invitations for parties, prizes for our MOPS meeting this week. I know it's only December 2nd, but I am not stressed - which is a miracle. Normally by now I have a tremendous amount of anxiety for numerous reasons. So I am thankful that even though there is a lot going on, I am not stressed. The children's gifts are already bought, the decorations are up, the cards are ordered and the events are planned. There is still lots to be done, but for the first time in many years I am enjoying the season instead of constantly saying "I hate this time of year". I wish I could say what is different this year. Maybe it's because I got a jump on things early. Maybe it's because I'm less concerned about what people think of me and my gift (or party, or house, or whatever) and more concerned about staying in a budget and that it really is the thought that counts. Maybe it's because I have friends who are dealing with a lot more than I am this year and my thoughts and prayers have been focused on them. Whatever the reason, I am thankful for the peace and joy that has draped over me this holiday season. It is the peace and joy I am sure God wants us to have every day of the year.