Teachings of a mom

Today I have taught my girls that ice cream heals all wounds; including, banged up knees :)

Where do you live?

This morning the girls were pretending to talk to me on the phone. Rylee asked if I wanted to come over to play. So I asked "Where do you live?" -- keep in mind we haven't taught them that yet - and she replied "With Nana!" I told her I would be right over. Next Haylee called and wanted me to come over and play. So I asked "Where do you live?" and her face went blank. Not wanting her sister to not know, Rylee spoke and said "With God!" Haylee shook her head in agreement. "With God?" I asked. "Yes," Rylee said, shaking her head, "with dead people." Haylee didn't say anything at that. Trying not to laugh, I told the girls you live at 7-8-0 Eastwood. Rylee, not missing a beat, said "Good name, mommy" and walked off to play.

Amazing.

Sometimes God just knows...

Sometimes God just knows when you need that extra hug, the random dollar in the pocket of a lost jacket that you found, or in my case a husband home early.

Yesterday was a hideous day. Mostly for me, I'm sure. I wish I could say it started with "Hi, Mom's" or hugs, but alas it didn't. It started with "Mom, I'm hungry!" and "Mom, the dog stepped on my toe!" I know not big things in the grand scheme of life, but when it started escalating to shouts of "I said No" (directed at me) or "She kicked me", etc.. over and over again it gets tiring. Yesterday it was WAY past tiring.

Then the snow came. And came. And came. Then honnie came for lunch. Then honnie stayed. And cuddled. And made great coffee.

It was a definite God thing!

Morning Rituals.

My favorite part of the morning isn't the great coffee, but the ritual between Sean and the girls: (done before Sean leaves) "Blah Blah's" go through the air, then the secret handshake followed by blah lah lah, and finally secrets whispered into each ear - both for the girls to dad and dad to girls. This ritual is exclusive to dad and I LOVE it!

Running with ... Pencils?

When I was growing up my little brother was mad at me and decided to run down the stairs of our house with a sharpened pencil and jab it into the back of my head. Note that back then the pencils had actual lead in them. While I laugh now, it wasn't so funny when my three year old did the same thing - but with a duller pencil - to her twin. All because she was mad at me. Who would of thunk that those types of things come back around?

Isn't it funny how God puts people into our lives for a purpose, and that while we are receptive to hearing what God has lead the person(s) to say, we sometimes have a tendency to categorize it in the back of our minds for later until it festers and then there is nothing left you can do but face it head on? 

That scenerio has been a constant reoccurance in my life over the past 4 days. So much so that the file drawer I stuffed God's advice into BURST open this evening.  When the file drawer flew open, my back bristled and I began fighting!!! Isn't it funny how that happens when God pricks something we don't want to deal with.  God used someone, a very close friend of mine, as a vessle to remind me of that very important "lesson" I needed to learn. 

As if speaking through my close friend(s) wasn't enough, she has to go and hit me with her desire for me to join an accountablility group with her. I knew her intentions were heartfelt, and that she was already nervous that I was feeling judged, but man, was that a punch! My first thought was, why do I need accountability? I am already doing everything I can... and then, again, God smacked me. He reminded me that relationships were not 50/50 nor about how much time we spending doing this or that, but a relationship - side by side - period. That struck me upside the head. 

Now I was stewing, I am thinking of everything I could to show that I was/am doing what I was supposed to be doing. The "look at me... look at x" comparisions came flying out. Not in the holier-than-thou sense, but in the "what more do you want from me" sense. Yeah, God knocked me upside the head again when my friend replied "more". We talked off and on like this for about two and a half hours. When she left, I thanked her and I proceeded to call the one how started the prick -- my mother. She laughed and said ... hmmm that sounds familiar. As we talked she began showing me more insights that I needed to see. When I ended the conversation with my mom, she asked if my friend was going to hold me accountable -- isn't it amazing how God works! After I hung up the phone with my mom, I called my friend and asked that she, yes, indeed hold me accountable, but that I wasn't going willing into what I was supposed to do -  and thanked her, again, for being honest and open and loving me so much that she wanted something better for me and xxxx. 

 God continued to work on me as the night went on allowing me to handle what I needed to see and after much strgglling with God and myself I decided that - surprise - God was right. Now I am praying for a teachable and loving heart as I set out to love my husband in a new way.

sometimes

I used to say we make plans, and God laughs. Now I know that that isn't true, but I am not sure what is (in regards to our planning). I planned a relaxing day on Monday (in fact I had fun making lemon cupcakes with my girls. I planned TONS of errands on Tuesday, and my daughters were wonderful! Wednesday I planned to go to WOW (Women of Wisdom) to start a new study on the Sermon of the Mount (and for the girls to see their friend, Ms. Donna, who they have been asking about for weeks); instead I spent the day taking 5 minute trips to hold back Haylee's hair and to watch the color from her face as her bottom joined the fun. Thursday I planned to go to MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) to apply to become a Discussion Group Leader and get tickets to the Summer Movie Fun program here. Instead, Rylee and I played while Haylee slept and threw up and watched as she got weaker and her bottom continued to join the fun. Friday I planned a quiet day at home to get some of the laundry that had piled up, folded and put away. I also hoped for a fun trip to the library for Music and Movement. Instead, I sat in the ER with Haylee. Saturday I planned to go to an herb gardening "class" at Watters Nursery with my mom and then out to lunch. Instead I awoke to a sick husband, a slightly better Haylee, and a Rylee with energy to spare.

I know that my whole week wasn't a wash, and yet this morning I awake and my spirit is crushed all because my plans had changed. I now find myself grateful for parents who have taken Rylee shopping (her favorite thing to do) so that I can do some things while my sickies rest (like write this blog). I am also grateful that neither Rylee nor myself are sick. . And I am grateful to have plenty of orders to keep myself and Rylee (in her pretend kitchen) busy this week.

I know we plan. I know God plans. And I know God can help me see His plan too. So I am praying so.

My spirit is tired, my flesh is weak, but my mind still praises God.