So, it’s been a long time since I have written a blog. Life happens. It wasn’t on my heart at the time. I only write when I feel it. I am just not the type to sit down and write about a topic.
What’s been happening in your life? My life…well to say it’s been busy is an understatement. Since my last blog, my nephew graduated high school and is attending college in Salina to become a welder. My niece is now a FRESHMAN in high school, and oh is she involved in stuff :) My sons are now 9 (3rd grade) and 5 (kindergarten – sniff sniff). We have moved several times and built a house. Our health has suffered. We have lost friends, relatives, and our parents are getting older….Time marches on…
SO what happens at 3 a.m. when you can’t sleep??? My friend Marybeth says it’s the devils witching hour and if you’re awake you are to pray. Sounds reasonable. Lord knows I have been doing that a lot lately. Anyhow, you might have guessed, I am suffering some insomnia currently. It’s okay, Moms aren’t so horribly bad at it. This too shall pass.
But as I read and pray and read some more (I was hoping reading would put me back to sleep, but no…) God put this on my heart, so I will share with you , and I hope it helps you too.
Life is hard. It’s filled with laughs, but it’s also filled with tears. It’s birth and it’s death. It’s success and it’s failure. It’s getting the job, it’s getting fired. It’s getting out of debt, it’s paying another bill. It is just darn hard. But here is the bottom line…
Do you feel like you can’t catch a break? Do you feel like you can’t find the balance? Do you feel like you don’t have it all together? (and by the way – look at so-and-so, they sure have it all). I know you answered yes to one of those (I pretty much answer yes to all of them). Well I have the answer you are searching for…..
The answer is Jesus. Yeah, it’s that simple. You see, I am a worrier. I worry about my worries, it’s that bad. I am also a planner. I make plans for my plans, it’s also that bad. But it can be very exhausting. I feel the pressure to be so many things. I have dishes to do, I have kids to get somewhere, I have cooking, I have cleaning, I have charts to type, I have bills to pay. I have a husband, I have friends, I have relatives.
It is times like these when I have to pull up some of my favorite scriptures. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 And my other favorite, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7. Oh..okay…just like that huh? Yeah right….Ever told a worrier not to worry? Ever told an anxious person to not be anxious? It doesn’t work that way….or does it?????
Just breathe….1,2,3,4,5….
Can I expect you to read the Drivers Ed. Manual and then get in the car and just know how to drive??? NO!!….you and I know it takes practice. Can you pick up a basketball and expect to be able to understand the game and all the skills? NO!! …you and I know its takes practice. GUESS WHAT ELSE TAKES PRACTICE?????? Faith!!!!! Believing!!! Trusting!!!
So for the first time in my life, I am on a spiritual journey, like I have never been before. God laid it on my heart to read the entire Bible this year. Now before you go thinking I am some kind of crazy Jesus freak (that’s not a bad thing to be!!), or such…I got my own crazy (did I say CRAZY?) demons to fight…I cuss, I yell, I fail, I like vodka, I get caught up in the money trap… you get the point. Anyhow back to the reason for this writing today…I didn’t really think much of it at the time, but I know right this very second what God was preparing me for. It’s all so clear to me on why He wanted me in the word. He knew I would have a battle on my hands. He knew I would need those words. He knew I would be leaning on my faith harder than I ever have. He knew I needed practice to face this journey and I am learning to thank Him for my hardship (boy that's a hard pill to swallow).
So, when life has you down, and you want to believe the verse “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Romans 8:28…but life is hard and you can’t quite feel it…. FIGHT those demons that tell you it’s hopeless. FIGHT those thoughts of rejection. FIGHT those thoughts that you don’t measure up and just breathe….He’s got this one. Sit it out. Pray. Read. Love. PRACTICE….it takes practice….Lots of practice…
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NIV
LET ME KNOW IF I CAN PRAY FOR YOU…IT TAKES A VILLAGE…
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Don't....just don't....
Wow...it's been a long time....life....this crazy pace....does it ever slow down? The answer is NO. Time will go at the same speed no matter what we do. The only thing we can do is learn to enjoy the time we have. Each minute has 60 seconds, each hour has 60 minutes, each day has 24 hours, each week has 7 days, each month has 28-31 days, and each year has 12 months. It's the same for every single person on this Earth.
So, these are my thoughts for today...
I had the PRIVILEGE, not task, but PRIVILEGE, of tucking my boys in tonight. One on each side of my king size bed. Each of them holding one of my hands. As I lay there waiting for them to fall asleep, I was thanking Jesus for the opportunity to be their Mama. Not just to be their Mama....but to BE there, in the moment, enjoying the wonderful children God has graced me with.
It's not always like this. No....there are times when I say jokingly to people, "Do you want two boys???" There are times they drive me crazy, CRAZY, hair-raising, screaming, mad, stomping around, flat-out CRAZY. Did I say CRAZY????? :)
However, I have tucked them in like this since they were babies. Always laying there until they fall asleep. I want the last thing they remember before they drift off to dream land to be that I am always there for them.
Okay, so back to the original thought...There are nights when this process drives me crazy (can you say crazy too many times in a blog??? Probably...but I just want you to know I am human and not think I am some kind of super-duper, oh my kids are so amazing, mom). There are nights when I lay there thinking of all the stuff I have to do, frustrated because they are either giggling with each other, talking, or flopping around like a fish out of water. But not tonight. Tonight was different. God gave me a glimpse of time.
I lay there thinking of children growing. My nephew...He is now 16...a growing young man. His voice is changing, his priorities changing (girls, trucks....etc). I remember him being born. We were absolutely ga-ga over him. And now look, a young man, a junior in high school already. My niece Lauren - soon to be a teenager (YIKES). A cheerleader...interested in clothes and make-up...once a chubby baby with rolls on her fatty little legs. And then my thoughts turn to my Nicholas. Remembering his reddish fuzzy hair, and now admiring his strawberry blond hair. Realizing that he will be going to first grade this year....turning 7. Then Lucas...my stubborn child...the one set to give me gray hair much faster than I want. The baby who cried for over 2 1/2 hours while I tried so hard to sleep train him, and now the 3 year old child who falls asleep easily. Time...There it goes again....marching on. And then the final thoughts came to me.....
DON'T, just don't.
1- If you are the type of parent who listens to the world tell you that you must sleep train your child, that you must not put them in your bed, they will have all sorts of sleep problems.......Don't....just don't listen to the world. You sleep with your child if you want to, you hold them tight....you watch them breathe....you giggle and listen to them lightly snore....you stroke their hair....you LIVE in that very moment....Don't let the world tell you it's wrong....just don't....because before you know it, they will be like my nephew...age 16...not needing me to tuck them in. Not wanting to sleep in my bed. Don't...just don't let the world tell you what feels SO right is wrong, and is going to ruin your kid...it's not....
2- If you are the type of parent that gives your kid doritos for breakfast...worried that quite possibly you are the worst parent in the world because you are setting your kids up for failure in the eating department. You are giving them childhood obesity. Shoot, they will possibly wind up with diabetes in a couple years due to letting them have sno-cones for supper. Don't...just don't be so hard on yourself. You do the best you can in the given situation. Sometimes sharing a sno-cone is more important that getting home and having a battle over dinner.
3- Meltdowns....don't you just want to have one yourself sometimes? I mean really...wouldn't it be so relieving to lie down on the floor, kick and scream, maybe throw some stuff. Do this until you feel better...and then just get up and go about your day like nothing happened. Don't give in...just don't. Stand your ground. They happen. They will outgrown them (for the most part :)) This is teaching them self-control. It is teaching them the world doesn't revolve around them...and that's a pretty important one. Don't give in to shut them up....just don't...
4- Last but not least....If you are the parent who judges me or any other mother for doing any of the things listed above, or a huge list of other parenting concerns...DON'T, JUST DON'T. This job is hard enough without a MILLION critics. The millions of internet articles that suggest, "the top ten things you should teach your child," "seven ways to raise a gracious child," "Ten ways to discipline your child..." Blah blah blah.... YOU SEE WHY WE ARE STRESSED???? SO, in the future...if you see my child melting down in the grocery store...don't judge...smile...say you've been there...say Good job Mama, say keep it up girl....Don't be the person who tempts me to give in so I don't disturb you at dinner, while shopping, or while in church. And when we talk about nighttime follies, don't be the person who quickly pipes up that your child has NEVER slept with you and has slept in his own bed since he was 1 month old. And I will try as well not to be the person who judges back and says, "oh, how sad that you have missed out on that snuggle time every night." It's hard. It goes both ways. I am human, you are human....but we are ALL in this world together. We all have 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, 28-31 days in a month, and 12 months in a year. SO let's use this time productively...
caring...loving...supporting...helping...listening...sharing....
Don't, just don't....let this time slip away from you without enjoying it,and thanking God for all your blessings...
"Judge not, that you be not judged." Matthew 7:1 ESV
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 NIV
And finally,
"This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you." John 15:12 NLT
So, these are my thoughts for today...
I had the PRIVILEGE, not task, but PRIVILEGE, of tucking my boys in tonight. One on each side of my king size bed. Each of them holding one of my hands. As I lay there waiting for them to fall asleep, I was thanking Jesus for the opportunity to be their Mama. Not just to be their Mama....but to BE there, in the moment, enjoying the wonderful children God has graced me with.
It's not always like this. No....there are times when I say jokingly to people, "Do you want two boys???" There are times they drive me crazy, CRAZY, hair-raising, screaming, mad, stomping around, flat-out CRAZY. Did I say CRAZY????? :)
However, I have tucked them in like this since they were babies. Always laying there until they fall asleep. I want the last thing they remember before they drift off to dream land to be that I am always there for them.
Okay, so back to the original thought...There are nights when this process drives me crazy (can you say crazy too many times in a blog??? Probably...but I just want you to know I am human and not think I am some kind of super-duper, oh my kids are so amazing, mom). There are nights when I lay there thinking of all the stuff I have to do, frustrated because they are either giggling with each other, talking, or flopping around like a fish out of water. But not tonight. Tonight was different. God gave me a glimpse of time.
I lay there thinking of children growing. My nephew...He is now 16...a growing young man. His voice is changing, his priorities changing (girls, trucks....etc). I remember him being born. We were absolutely ga-ga over him. And now look, a young man, a junior in high school already. My niece Lauren - soon to be a teenager (YIKES). A cheerleader...interested in clothes and make-up...once a chubby baby with rolls on her fatty little legs. And then my thoughts turn to my Nicholas. Remembering his reddish fuzzy hair, and now admiring his strawberry blond hair. Realizing that he will be going to first grade this year....turning 7. Then Lucas...my stubborn child...the one set to give me gray hair much faster than I want. The baby who cried for over 2 1/2 hours while I tried so hard to sleep train him, and now the 3 year old child who falls asleep easily. Time...There it goes again....marching on. And then the final thoughts came to me.....
DON'T, just don't.
1- If you are the type of parent who listens to the world tell you that you must sleep train your child, that you must not put them in your bed, they will have all sorts of sleep problems.......Don't....just don't listen to the world. You sleep with your child if you want to, you hold them tight....you watch them breathe....you giggle and listen to them lightly snore....you stroke their hair....you LIVE in that very moment....Don't let the world tell you it's wrong....just don't....because before you know it, they will be like my nephew...age 16...not needing me to tuck them in. Not wanting to sleep in my bed. Don't...just don't let the world tell you what feels SO right is wrong, and is going to ruin your kid...it's not....
2- If you are the type of parent that gives your kid doritos for breakfast...worried that quite possibly you are the worst parent in the world because you are setting your kids up for failure in the eating department. You are giving them childhood obesity. Shoot, they will possibly wind up with diabetes in a couple years due to letting them have sno-cones for supper. Don't...just don't be so hard on yourself. You do the best you can in the given situation. Sometimes sharing a sno-cone is more important that getting home and having a battle over dinner.
3- Meltdowns....don't you just want to have one yourself sometimes? I mean really...wouldn't it be so relieving to lie down on the floor, kick and scream, maybe throw some stuff. Do this until you feel better...and then just get up and go about your day like nothing happened. Don't give in...just don't. Stand your ground. They happen. They will outgrown them (for the most part :)) This is teaching them self-control. It is teaching them the world doesn't revolve around them...and that's a pretty important one. Don't give in to shut them up....just don't...
4- Last but not least....If you are the parent who judges me or any other mother for doing any of the things listed above, or a huge list of other parenting concerns...DON'T, JUST DON'T. This job is hard enough without a MILLION critics. The millions of internet articles that suggest, "the top ten things you should teach your child," "seven ways to raise a gracious child," "Ten ways to discipline your child..." Blah blah blah.... YOU SEE WHY WE ARE STRESSED???? SO, in the future...if you see my child melting down in the grocery store...don't judge...smile...say you've been there...say Good job Mama, say keep it up girl....Don't be the person who tempts me to give in so I don't disturb you at dinner, while shopping, or while in church. And when we talk about nighttime follies, don't be the person who quickly pipes up that your child has NEVER slept with you and has slept in his own bed since he was 1 month old. And I will try as well not to be the person who judges back and says, "oh, how sad that you have missed out on that snuggle time every night." It's hard. It goes both ways. I am human, you are human....but we are ALL in this world together. We all have 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, 28-31 days in a month, and 12 months in a year. SO let's use this time productively...
caring...loving...supporting...helping...listening...sharing....
Don't, just don't....let this time slip away from you without enjoying it,and thanking God for all your blessings...
"Judge not, that you be not judged." Matthew 7:1 ESV
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 NIV
And finally,
"This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you." John 15:12 NLT
Thursday, January 30, 2014
I Hope You Are Watching...
Have you ever heard the saying in regards to kids, “more is caught than taught.” This is so true. And basically what it means is you can sit there and talk until you are blue in the face, but they watch more what you do, than listen to what you say. I have seen a poem titled something like, “When you thought I wasn’t looking.” It is a good poem (I am sure I could google it and find it if I had the energy). I am going to type this blog along those same lines…
“I hope you are watching little boys…”
I hope you are watching when I kneel to pray because I just heard devastating news about a friend’s husband. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18
I hope you are watching when I stop in the hall to hug and kiss Daddy. “ I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…” Song of Solomon 6:3
I hope you are watching when I stop my day to go take coffee to my best friend, or drop off supplies at the church, or hold the door for someone. “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10
I hope you are watching when I lose my temper. It shows I too am human, and need forgiveness. And God willing, I hope you see me ask for it ;) “ This is a trustworthy saying and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1: 15-16.
I hope that you are watching as we eat healthy and exercise hard. There are few things better in this life than taking care of the body God gave us. “ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
I hope you are watching when I struggle to get through my day, when I struggle to finish a workout, when I struggle to hold back my emotions. “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27
I hope you are watching when I pay tribute to our country, our flag, our service men and women both past and present. Your mother is a downright cry baby when it comes to patriotism of our great country. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13
I hope you are watching when I attend church regularly, go to bible study with my girls, and help in Sunday school/nursery. “The master said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together.” Matthew 25:23
I hope that when the time comes (because you were not here when I lost my dear Grandma Lucy), that you can watch me get through the grief of losing a family member or friend… that I might show you that the real joy comes from Jesus and the new life to come. “So with you: Now is your time of grief but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:22
I hope that you are watching all the little things that are done every day…the boring, the mundane, the life chores, ie. the laundry, the dishes, the packed lunches, the late night projects, the birthday videos. “ I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him.” 1 Timothy 1:12 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
I hope you are watching when I hear a story about a child's death, and even though I don't know them or the family, I cry. I hurt for that family. But most of all, I worry. I put myself in their shoes. I think of losing you. "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13
I hope you are watching us lead you to Christ and someday you will understand what an important task that is. “ Train a child in the way he should go. When he is old, he will not turn away from it.” Proverbs 22:6
I hope you are watching me, when I talk about my worries, my anxiety. I surely hope you don’t get it, but I hope you will learn to trust Jesus with all your heart. “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6
I hope that you are watching how hard we work. I hope you know that we give all glory to God for how we got to where we are. HOWEVER, I hope that you know God has a specific plan for you. It is not OUR plan, it is not YOUR plan. You just have to stop and listen and he will lead you. (one of all time favorite verses) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20
I hope you are watching me forgive others, when I don’t want to, when I don’t feel like it, when I don’t feel like they deserve it. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14
Above all, I hope you are watching me show love. That through my actions, others might come to see and know Jesus….because believe it or not, some people don’t know Him and don’t accept him as their Savior, and for that I will always be thankful for my parents leading me to Him. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16
Dear Jesus:
In this crazy world, this world of sad stories every day on the news; shootings, murders, car wrecks, suicides….please help me to always see you. To the see the good in people…to be more like you would have me to be. Because it’s hard. Because sometimes I just don't feel like it. Because today I am tired. Because the easy thing to do is what I WANT. My inner soul longs for peace and understanding, help me to find it in you, so that I may ease my worries and anxiety. And that when little eyes are watching, I will do the right thing, say the right thing, show your love…because Lord only knows what an important task you have given me to raise these little creatures. And they try my patience, and I yell and I cry and I get mad…and Lord you know how much I love them…help me to be a good mother…on the days when I all I want to do is be alone, to sleep in, to do what I want to do….Thank you for loving me always. Thank you for giving me another day to get it right. In your name I pray….Amen... Signed, Mother to two krazy boys….
“I hope you are watching little boys…”
I hope you are watching when I kneel to pray because I just heard devastating news about a friend’s husband. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18
I hope you are watching when I stop in the hall to hug and kiss Daddy. “ I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine…” Song of Solomon 6:3
I hope you are watching when I stop my day to go take coffee to my best friend, or drop off supplies at the church, or hold the door for someone. “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10
I hope you are watching when I lose my temper. It shows I too am human, and need forgiveness. And God willing, I hope you see me ask for it ;) “ This is a trustworthy saying and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1: 15-16.
I hope that you are watching as we eat healthy and exercise hard. There are few things better in this life than taking care of the body God gave us. “ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
I hope you are watching when I struggle to get through my day, when I struggle to finish a workout, when I struggle to hold back my emotions. “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27
I hope you are watching when I pay tribute to our country, our flag, our service men and women both past and present. Your mother is a downright cry baby when it comes to patriotism of our great country. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13
I hope you are watching when I attend church regularly, go to bible study with my girls, and help in Sunday school/nursery. “The master said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together.” Matthew 25:23
I hope that when the time comes (because you were not here when I lost my dear Grandma Lucy), that you can watch me get through the grief of losing a family member or friend… that I might show you that the real joy comes from Jesus and the new life to come. “So with you: Now is your time of grief but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:22
I hope that you are watching all the little things that are done every day…the boring, the mundane, the life chores, ie. the laundry, the dishes, the packed lunches, the late night projects, the birthday videos. “ I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him.” 1 Timothy 1:12 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
I hope you are watching when I hear a story about a child's death, and even though I don't know them or the family, I cry. I hurt for that family. But most of all, I worry. I put myself in their shoes. I think of losing you. "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13
I hope you are watching us lead you to Christ and someday you will understand what an important task that is. “ Train a child in the way he should go. When he is old, he will not turn away from it.” Proverbs 22:6
I hope you are watching me, when I talk about my worries, my anxiety. I surely hope you don’t get it, but I hope you will learn to trust Jesus with all your heart. “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6
I hope that you are watching how hard we work. I hope you know that we give all glory to God for how we got to where we are. HOWEVER, I hope that you know God has a specific plan for you. It is not OUR plan, it is not YOUR plan. You just have to stop and listen and he will lead you. (one of all time favorite verses) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20
I hope you are watching me forgive others, when I don’t want to, when I don’t feel like it, when I don’t feel like they deserve it. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14
Above all, I hope you are watching me show love. That through my actions, others might come to see and know Jesus….because believe it or not, some people don’t know Him and don’t accept him as their Savior, and for that I will always be thankful for my parents leading me to Him. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16
Dear Jesus:
In this crazy world, this world of sad stories every day on the news; shootings, murders, car wrecks, suicides….please help me to always see you. To the see the good in people…to be more like you would have me to be. Because it’s hard. Because sometimes I just don't feel like it. Because today I am tired. Because the easy thing to do is what I WANT. My inner soul longs for peace and understanding, help me to find it in you, so that I may ease my worries and anxiety. And that when little eyes are watching, I will do the right thing, say the right thing, show your love…because Lord only knows what an important task you have given me to raise these little creatures. And they try my patience, and I yell and I cry and I get mad…and Lord you know how much I love them…help me to be a good mother…on the days when I all I want to do is be alone, to sleep in, to do what I want to do….Thank you for loving me always. Thank you for giving me another day to get it right. In your name I pray….Amen... Signed, Mother to two krazy boys….
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Moving on...
Well, we moved this summer. It has been interesting. It has opened my eyes to a lot of things. We got comfortable living in our old house and neighborhood. You get in a comfort zone. You get used to the same things, day in and day out. Living the dream. Work, play, eat, sleep, repeat.
Now all of a sudden I am plucked out of my comfort zone, and my world is turned upside down. All the routines that keep us going on a day to day basis are thrown out the window. Suddenly, things aren’t where they used to be. While kids are really resilient, they are also creatures of habit. So this has been a little hard on all of us. But instead of making this sound like an “oh poor me,” blog, I will tell you all the good things I have learned about moving so far.
1- Home is where the heart is? Yes, it is. You can pretty much use any of the cliché sayings like “Home is where you make it,” “Home sweet home,” ”Home is where your story begins,” “Home is where memories are made.” These are all true. I have learned this more than anything in the last month. I went from a 4000 square foot 5 bedroom, 3 bath house, to a 1500 square foot 3 bedroom, 2 bath duplex. To say that we downsized is an understatement. What is interesting though is that the external house doesn’t matter as much as I thought it did. So although I may not be hosting any big parties or fancy suppers anytime soon, the best thing about where I live is who I share it with.
2- When you have been somewhere for over 10 years, you accumulate a lot of stuff. No matter how organized you think you are, you can accumulate a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff = a lot of stuff you probably don’t need. A lot of stuff = abundantly blessed. But a lot of stuff takes a lot of people to move, and a lot of help. Thankful for so many friends who helped us move all our stuff, and thankful for a God who has blessed us with so many wonderful belongings. My goal though is that I never forget that stuff is just stuff. My God is my God, and that is who I worship…not my belongings. It’s a trap we all fall into at some point in our lives.
3- You can’t pick your neighbors, but you can pick how you react to them. Our neighbors are challenging. It is two broken families living together. A total of 4 boys from two different households. To say that these children need a few lessons in manners is an understatement. On many an occasion, I have had to hold my tongue and remind them gently that we say please, thank you, I’m sorry, and we don’t call names. Now while I could totally grumble and let this eat me up, worrying that I can’t control who my kids are friends with (my boys love the neighbor boys), I can also see what a good influence we can be. We had the oldest boy spend the night a few weeks ago. The next morning at breakfast, we prayed. At which time my oldest ask the neighbor boy if he prayed before eating. He said he did not. Then, Nick proceeded to ask him if he went to church, and when he said he didn’t, he asked him to join us. I couldn’t have been more proud of my Nick. And quite humbled myself, as I realized I have a prime opportunity to show Jesus’ love here. What if I am this kids’ only exposure to Jesus…please don’t let me screw that up…
4- Life goes on. We start a new routine. We find a new happiness. We create a new life in the circumstances we have. While part of me is sad that I have not only a storage unit, store room, and garage full of stuff I have hardly had to dig into, I am also happy to report that my boys who have 2 toy boxes full of toys (and probably more in storage we have forgotten), have hardly played with them. Wait, what? Yes, I am happy they aren’t playing with their toys. Why you ask? Because we have played outside more, gone on bike rides, learned how to make a dirt pile fun, and swam more than we did at our other house. I want to teach them that there is more to life than the things we own…if only I could learn that myself…
5- A clean house really is not a reflection of me. I once was a person who would have a house that barely looked lived in. I have since let that go, and realize that my house is lived in, and rather than spend time worrying about if my floors are filthy (which there comes a point when I absolutely can’t handle it anymore), I am outside getting dirty with my boys and laughing the whole time. I will never get this time back, so I am trying to make the most of what I can, no matter the living situation.
6- “Home is the place where when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” Let’s take a moment to examine this sentence. Is it true on earth? Probably, most of the time Is it true for our heavenly home? I wish I could show up to heaven, and they would HAVE to take me in. However, I know that it not the case. Or is it???? I am a believer, and nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. His grace is never ending. Christ paid the price for me, so that I will ALWAYS have a home to come to when I am done with my earthly home, and for that I will be forever grateful. His grace is enough. This I must always remember. It is not about our home here, but about our heavenly home. Never forget that. This home is just temporary. It is not a means to an end, but a means to a NEW beginning.
“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalm 16:11
Now all of a sudden I am plucked out of my comfort zone, and my world is turned upside down. All the routines that keep us going on a day to day basis are thrown out the window. Suddenly, things aren’t where they used to be. While kids are really resilient, they are also creatures of habit. So this has been a little hard on all of us. But instead of making this sound like an “oh poor me,” blog, I will tell you all the good things I have learned about moving so far.
1- Home is where the heart is? Yes, it is. You can pretty much use any of the cliché sayings like “Home is where you make it,” “Home sweet home,” ”Home is where your story begins,” “Home is where memories are made.” These are all true. I have learned this more than anything in the last month. I went from a 4000 square foot 5 bedroom, 3 bath house, to a 1500 square foot 3 bedroom, 2 bath duplex. To say that we downsized is an understatement. What is interesting though is that the external house doesn’t matter as much as I thought it did. So although I may not be hosting any big parties or fancy suppers anytime soon, the best thing about where I live is who I share it with.
2- When you have been somewhere for over 10 years, you accumulate a lot of stuff. No matter how organized you think you are, you can accumulate a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff = a lot of stuff you probably don’t need. A lot of stuff = abundantly blessed. But a lot of stuff takes a lot of people to move, and a lot of help. Thankful for so many friends who helped us move all our stuff, and thankful for a God who has blessed us with so many wonderful belongings. My goal though is that I never forget that stuff is just stuff. My God is my God, and that is who I worship…not my belongings. It’s a trap we all fall into at some point in our lives.
3- You can’t pick your neighbors, but you can pick how you react to them. Our neighbors are challenging. It is two broken families living together. A total of 4 boys from two different households. To say that these children need a few lessons in manners is an understatement. On many an occasion, I have had to hold my tongue and remind them gently that we say please, thank you, I’m sorry, and we don’t call names. Now while I could totally grumble and let this eat me up, worrying that I can’t control who my kids are friends with (my boys love the neighbor boys), I can also see what a good influence we can be. We had the oldest boy spend the night a few weeks ago. The next morning at breakfast, we prayed. At which time my oldest ask the neighbor boy if he prayed before eating. He said he did not. Then, Nick proceeded to ask him if he went to church, and when he said he didn’t, he asked him to join us. I couldn’t have been more proud of my Nick. And quite humbled myself, as I realized I have a prime opportunity to show Jesus’ love here. What if I am this kids’ only exposure to Jesus…please don’t let me screw that up…
4- Life goes on. We start a new routine. We find a new happiness. We create a new life in the circumstances we have. While part of me is sad that I have not only a storage unit, store room, and garage full of stuff I have hardly had to dig into, I am also happy to report that my boys who have 2 toy boxes full of toys (and probably more in storage we have forgotten), have hardly played with them. Wait, what? Yes, I am happy they aren’t playing with their toys. Why you ask? Because we have played outside more, gone on bike rides, learned how to make a dirt pile fun, and swam more than we did at our other house. I want to teach them that there is more to life than the things we own…if only I could learn that myself…
5- A clean house really is not a reflection of me. I once was a person who would have a house that barely looked lived in. I have since let that go, and realize that my house is lived in, and rather than spend time worrying about if my floors are filthy (which there comes a point when I absolutely can’t handle it anymore), I am outside getting dirty with my boys and laughing the whole time. I will never get this time back, so I am trying to make the most of what I can, no matter the living situation.
6- “Home is the place where when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” Let’s take a moment to examine this sentence. Is it true on earth? Probably, most of the time Is it true for our heavenly home? I wish I could show up to heaven, and they would HAVE to take me in. However, I know that it not the case. Or is it???? I am a believer, and nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. His grace is never ending. Christ paid the price for me, so that I will ALWAYS have a home to come to when I am done with my earthly home, and for that I will be forever grateful. His grace is enough. This I must always remember. It is not about our home here, but about our heavenly home. Never forget that. This home is just temporary. It is not a means to an end, but a means to a NEW beginning.
“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalm 16:11
Monday, May 13, 2013
Reflections of a Mom
Reflections of a Mom….
Mother’s day…That time of year when we honor all mother’s across the world. This is one job that brings us together, spans generations, connects strangers, makes us laugh, makes us cry, and exhausts even the toughest of us. So, what are the top ten lessons I have learned in my long 5+ years as a mother so far???
#1 – No matter how old you are…tag is just a fun game. There are so many versions of it and it never gets old. You can play it almost anywhere inside or outside. It’s good exercise and good laughs. On the flip side, if you ask Grandma Turtle, tag is also dangerous.
#2- Every song/every movie/every tragic news story about children will now make you cry. You relate to it in a very personal way, and waterworks are expected.
#3 – Reading to your children is so vital. It shows them how important books are. The written and spoken language is first learned at home…make it stick. Choose while you can, what you fill those little minds with. I am happy to say that my 5 year old got praised at school for always knowing the bible stories, and my 2 year old loves the story of “the Giant” (Goliath) and can point out Jesus in his bible.
#4 – Teaching your children the importance of exercise is vital. My kids go to the gym with me several times a week. They love working out with me at home, and we try to make a lot of our outside activities fun sports stuff. I couldn’t have been more proud than when Nick drew a picture of me, and it was a girl lifting weights. Go Mommy Power!!!
#5 – Sometimes you just have to say, “I’m sorry.” We all have those days when we are yelling, snapping, hustling our kids. Life is not all fairy tales, it’s the real moments. It’s learning to keep your cool, even when you are stressed. It’s saying, “I’m sorry,” when you do lose your cool, so they will learn how to do the same.
#6 – Say YES to messes. I never knew a child could be so messy until my Lucas came along. He can find a way to make grapes messy I swear! But recently I was reminded it’s okay to step outside my Mom box, and just BE in the moment. The other day when we were at the park, we ended up having a fight with the little rubber pieces and wrestling in them, stuffing them down shorts, and burying Daddy in them. We had so much fun and laughed so hard, it was the highlight of my day. And yes, it was messy. We were almost black when we were done, and I have little rubber pieces all over my house, but it was worth it!
#7 – When your child’s feelings are hurt, it’s magnified 100x to you. I think this will only get worse as time goes on. There have been several times where a child at the park, or even a parent at the park, does something that goes unwitnessed by us, but hurts my little Nicks’ feelings. He really is my tender heart child. I seriously want to go put a beat down on people. I hurt for him, and it’s like my heart is aching even worse. How do you teach your child to turn the other cheek when you want to punch someone??? It’s hoping and praying your children turn out to be better versions of you, better versions of Jesus… Otherwise, the saying must hold true, “Hell hath no fury...” (like a Mom whose child has been hurt.)
#8 – I stick to the truth that this is the hardest yet most rewarding job I have ever had. Not every day is some great adventure that we can post on facebook or make a scrapbook page out of… However, it is the little things that will keep me smiling over the years. Like how Lucas yells, “Yook (look) Mommy.” How Nick said, “Dot dot and waterlemon – those will forever be household names in our house.” Like the time when Nick wrote a note “Do not forget suitcase,” and taped it to his suitcase. The many, many times we have wrestled, played tag, played bull riding…..Those are the times I will miss.
#9 – Hold hands, hug and kiss…and DO it often. There is nothing like the feel of a little hand in yours. It’s magical, just try it. Teach your boys it’s okay to show affection. It’s okay to say I love you. My husband is 42 years old and still hugs and kisses his Mom when she leaves…I think it’s the sweetest thing ever…
#10 – Pray FOR your kids, and pray WITH your kids. In this very scary day and age, there are bad people and bad things that happen that we cannot explain. Pray for their safety. Pray for you to lead them in the way Jesus would want. Pray together – at meals, at bedtime, in the morning, in the car, when you hear an ambulance….Show them your faith through ACTION. It is the best way that they can learn.
So I will leave with this thought….
Dear Jesus…
Please help me to be the best parent I can and the best example for my children possible. I know I get wrapped up in today’s world, today’s hustle, and what other’s might think of me….help me fight that urge and stay focused on you and the end goal. Please help me be a good example of your love to my children, as you never know when they are listening/watching. Please keep my loved ones safe, especially my little ones who are so very precious to us all. And Lord, when I fail, please pick me up, dust me off, and tell me to “Keep Calm & Jesus On.”
Love,
This Tired, but very Blessed Mommy
"In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 6
Mother’s day…That time of year when we honor all mother’s across the world. This is one job that brings us together, spans generations, connects strangers, makes us laugh, makes us cry, and exhausts even the toughest of us. So, what are the top ten lessons I have learned in my long 5+ years as a mother so far???
#1 – No matter how old you are…tag is just a fun game. There are so many versions of it and it never gets old. You can play it almost anywhere inside or outside. It’s good exercise and good laughs. On the flip side, if you ask Grandma Turtle, tag is also dangerous.
#2- Every song/every movie/every tragic news story about children will now make you cry. You relate to it in a very personal way, and waterworks are expected.
#3 – Reading to your children is so vital. It shows them how important books are. The written and spoken language is first learned at home…make it stick. Choose while you can, what you fill those little minds with. I am happy to say that my 5 year old got praised at school for always knowing the bible stories, and my 2 year old loves the story of “the Giant” (Goliath) and can point out Jesus in his bible.
#4 – Teaching your children the importance of exercise is vital. My kids go to the gym with me several times a week. They love working out with me at home, and we try to make a lot of our outside activities fun sports stuff. I couldn’t have been more proud than when Nick drew a picture of me, and it was a girl lifting weights. Go Mommy Power!!!
#5 – Sometimes you just have to say, “I’m sorry.” We all have those days when we are yelling, snapping, hustling our kids. Life is not all fairy tales, it’s the real moments. It’s learning to keep your cool, even when you are stressed. It’s saying, “I’m sorry,” when you do lose your cool, so they will learn how to do the same.
#6 – Say YES to messes. I never knew a child could be so messy until my Lucas came along. He can find a way to make grapes messy I swear! But recently I was reminded it’s okay to step outside my Mom box, and just BE in the moment. The other day when we were at the park, we ended up having a fight with the little rubber pieces and wrestling in them, stuffing them down shorts, and burying Daddy in them. We had so much fun and laughed so hard, it was the highlight of my day. And yes, it was messy. We were almost black when we were done, and I have little rubber pieces all over my house, but it was worth it!
#7 – When your child’s feelings are hurt, it’s magnified 100x to you. I think this will only get worse as time goes on. There have been several times where a child at the park, or even a parent at the park, does something that goes unwitnessed by us, but hurts my little Nicks’ feelings. He really is my tender heart child. I seriously want to go put a beat down on people. I hurt for him, and it’s like my heart is aching even worse. How do you teach your child to turn the other cheek when you want to punch someone??? It’s hoping and praying your children turn out to be better versions of you, better versions of Jesus… Otherwise, the saying must hold true, “Hell hath no fury...” (like a Mom whose child has been hurt.)
#8 – I stick to the truth that this is the hardest yet most rewarding job I have ever had. Not every day is some great adventure that we can post on facebook or make a scrapbook page out of… However, it is the little things that will keep me smiling over the years. Like how Lucas yells, “Yook (look) Mommy.” How Nick said, “Dot dot and waterlemon – those will forever be household names in our house.” Like the time when Nick wrote a note “Do not forget suitcase,” and taped it to his suitcase. The many, many times we have wrestled, played tag, played bull riding…..Those are the times I will miss.
#9 – Hold hands, hug and kiss…and DO it often. There is nothing like the feel of a little hand in yours. It’s magical, just try it. Teach your boys it’s okay to show affection. It’s okay to say I love you. My husband is 42 years old and still hugs and kisses his Mom when she leaves…I think it’s the sweetest thing ever…
#10 – Pray FOR your kids, and pray WITH your kids. In this very scary day and age, there are bad people and bad things that happen that we cannot explain. Pray for their safety. Pray for you to lead them in the way Jesus would want. Pray together – at meals, at bedtime, in the morning, in the car, when you hear an ambulance….Show them your faith through ACTION. It is the best way that they can learn.
So I will leave with this thought….
Dear Jesus…
Please help me to be the best parent I can and the best example for my children possible. I know I get wrapped up in today’s world, today’s hustle, and what other’s might think of me….help me fight that urge and stay focused on you and the end goal. Please help me be a good example of your love to my children, as you never know when they are listening/watching. Please keep my loved ones safe, especially my little ones who are so very precious to us all. And Lord, when I fail, please pick me up, dust me off, and tell me to “Keep Calm & Jesus On.”
Love,
This Tired, but very Blessed Mommy
"In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 6
Monday, January 14, 2013
The Top Ten Things My Boys Will Never Understand
Well, Todd's surgery has come and gone. The holiday's have come and gone. The old year has gone and the new has come...and here I am....full of thoughts and ideas and struggling to find time to put them to print.
I am troubled by all that is going on with this world. And although it bothers me greatly, make NO mistake, it does NOT challenge my faith. My faith is what is getting me through this crazy world right now. So, as the topic of all the crazy things that go on comes up, I start thinking about how different things are now. I don't want this to be another story about how hard we had it (walking up hill both ways to school in the snow - blah blah blah), but just more as food for thought on how things have evolved. I just think of how radically different this world is going to be for my boys and I just can't help but question how long it will last. So here you go - some are good, some are bad....but here are the top ten things I feel my boys will never know/understand as I see it. (And these are in no particular order of importance - except for #10 being #10.)
#1 - CELL PHONES - Okay, now this is both good and bad as I see it. While you will no longer have to sit at home and wonder what everyone is up to (thank you facebook), sometimes it's good NOT to know what someone is up to :) While I can contact you at any time should an emergency arise, I can also contact you at anytime when there is no emergency. I can call, I can text, I can video, I can send pictures, I can even track your phone to see where you are....BUT I can also forget my manners, talk loud in public about subjects that shouldn't be talked about, stalk you, send inappropriate pics/texts/emails that might hurt myself/friends/family/job,and actually forget to LIVE in the moment instead of trying to capture it on video/picture.
My boys will never know what it is like not to have a phone by your side whenever you want/need it.
#2- PLAYING OUTSIDE - I grew up in a small town - probably like 800-1000 people. It was a safe place. I don't ever remember being scared of anything bad happening, except maybe for any trouble I caused :) I was given pretty much free reign most of the time. We rode our bikes to the swimming pool. Rode them around town. No adults with us. Went down to the river. Played outside 'til dark. I didn't stray too far from home, and usually I think my parents knew the general vicinity of my location. My best friend lived about 1 1/2 blocks away, and I would walk up to her house or ride my bike. We would walk to school together, which was probably about 5 blocks away. We would go play at an old salebarn. Lots of things to do in a small town :) Now, as we currently live in Manhattan, obviously it is a lot bigger town. However, when discussing with Todd (who grew up here ) - his Mom used to let him go walk by himself about 5 blocks to get home. So the two towns were pretty similar at that time. I wouldn't dream of letting my children walk anywhere by themselves. I had a hard time letting my niece and nephew stay at the neighborhood swimming pool without me this past summer, and they are 14 & 11. There are too many risks now. Heck, I panic when I am in a store and I can't see Nick. I scold him and tell him, " You can't hide in the clothes or walk around the corner without me, I have to be able to see you."
My boys will never know what it is like to play without direct supervision.
#3 - FAMILY - I grew up about 1 block away from each set of grandparents (who's house I frequented quite often). If I couldn't be found with my best friend, most times I was at Grandma and Grandpa's house. My family means the world to me. I hope that I can instill this in my boys. We need family. We need them all the time, both physically and emotionally. It just so happens that I am not too far geographically from my family. My parents live about 30 minutes away and we get together often. They are very active in their grandkids lives - both helping take care of them and coming to activities/events. My brother and his family are outside of Manhattan. Todd's Mom lives in town, and his Dad in Riley. We are able to get together whenever we can with them, sometimes not as often as we all wish, but busy busy lives are like that!!
My boys will never understand what it's like to just walk to Grandma's house.
#4 - ACTIVITIES - As I mentioned above...busy busy lives. This activity and that activity. You can get your kids involved in dance, piano, soccer, wrestling, t-ball, cheerleading, football, basketball, track...the list goes on and on....This sometimes leaves parents running from place to place for this practice and that practice, and this game and that game, and dividing and conquering to make sure kids get where they need to be. This is exhausting ( and I am NOT speaking from experience here - just from what I have heard). Not only are parents exhausted, but kids are too. They are stuck into a sport now so early, that sometimes by the time they get to high school, they hate it! They are spread so thin it reminds me of a saying...jack of all trades, master of none.
My boys will never know what it's like to just be a kid without all the worldly pressure to DO MORE.
#5 - SCHOOL - I don't have to put a lot of explanation into this in lieu of recent public tragedies. What parent in the last month (regardless of our skill), hasn't considered home schooling? Will my boys have to be searched? Will they have to go through metal detectors? Will they have an armed guard? Instead of fire alarms and tornado drills, my boys will have "lock down" drills for school shootings, abductions, and the likes.
My boys will never know what school used to be like when safety wasn't an issue.
#6 - CANCER - It's everywhere now. Cancers being discovered we didn't even know about. It's quickly approaching the number one killer (heart disease). I think with advances in modern medicine, this is actually a good thing. We have learned to treat and cure cases of cancer that previously would have died (and maybe we would not even have known the cause of death). However, this brings a certain paranoia with it. Too much of this causes cancer, too much of that causes cancer.....This fear of the unknown, "the crazy cancer cells developing," leaves a person quite confused about how they should live and what they should eat. And it leaves us hoping that sometime in our lifetime or the next, there will be a cure.
My boys will never understand a world where cancer didn't exist.
#7 - TECHNOLOGY - This is also everywhere you look now. Cell phones I hit on above. Now I am referring to the rest....DVD players, laptop computers, IPAD's, Iphones, IPods, kindle...the list goes on and on. Do you remember what it's like to write a research report? To go to the library, look in the catalog, use the dewey decimal system. Find a book, write by hand or use copier to get the information you need for your paper. Do you remember life before Google? When you had to wonder about information, or look it up in a book. Now it's at the tip of your finger. Look through a phone book lately? Yeah, me neither. Why should I? I can type it in my phone faster. Now again, I don't think this is all a bad thing. We are a generation of information. It's everywhere. We have access to some of the greatest things ever at the touch of a button. However, keep in mind, not everything you read is true, and one must always question the source.
My boys will never understand what it was like before computerized devices went mainstream.
#8 - AIRPORT - Another topic that likely doesn't need much explanation if you have flown in the past, and then flown anywhere lately. 9-11 changed everything in regards to flying. Body searches, luggage scanning, fluids 3 oz only, no shoes....
My boys will never understand what it was like when it was easy to travel by air.
#9 - HATE GROUPS - So the previous generation had their share of groups that we would consider hate groups, this is a known fact. However, in today's world, you can scan the paper, the news, the internet, and pull up thousands of hate groups. There is a particular group close to our area that is known for it's hatred of soldiers, "fags" and such. This group was present during my college years, but really is ALL over the news now with the current information highway making it easy for them to get press.
My boys will never understand a world that is filled with such hate.
#10 - RELIGION - This is the topic that breaks my heart. There is such division. People all over the world getting killed in the name of religion ( and yes I know we can date this all the way back to biblical times). But what hits more closely to home is how God has become like this "white elephant" in the room. You know, the one that everyone knows is there, but no one will stand up and talk about. GOD FORBID I MENTION GOD OR PRAYING. Might offend someone. It's become such a HUGE issue to separate church and state. I used to stand up everyone morning in school before class and say the pledge of allegiance..."One nation under God". Do they even say that anymore? I honestly don't know, I don't have grade school kids yet. We prayed before playing sports. As of today, there have been legal cases fought and won all across the nation of statues being removed due to the fact they had religious words/suggestions, cases where someone's religion came into play at the workplace or school, and cases where someone asked/spoke about religion and "shouldn't" have. There are few other topics that get me fired up besides this. I believe this nation was created with God and it should exist and end with God as well.
My boys will never know what the nation that was built under God used to be like.
And so I will leave you with these final thoughts...
"But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They're like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers - Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season." Jeremiah 17:7-8 MSG
"Don't fear: I am First, I am Last, I'm Alive. I died, but I came to life, and my life is now forever. See these keys in my hand? They open and lock Death's doors, they open and lock Hell's gates." Revelation 1:18 MSG
"God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near." Revelation 1:3 NLT
I am troubled by all that is going on with this world. And although it bothers me greatly, make NO mistake, it does NOT challenge my faith. My faith is what is getting me through this crazy world right now. So, as the topic of all the crazy things that go on comes up, I start thinking about how different things are now. I don't want this to be another story about how hard we had it (walking up hill both ways to school in the snow - blah blah blah), but just more as food for thought on how things have evolved. I just think of how radically different this world is going to be for my boys and I just can't help but question how long it will last. So here you go - some are good, some are bad....but here are the top ten things I feel my boys will never know/understand as I see it. (And these are in no particular order of importance - except for #10 being #10.)
#1 - CELL PHONES - Okay, now this is both good and bad as I see it. While you will no longer have to sit at home and wonder what everyone is up to (thank you facebook), sometimes it's good NOT to know what someone is up to :) While I can contact you at any time should an emergency arise, I can also contact you at anytime when there is no emergency. I can call, I can text, I can video, I can send pictures, I can even track your phone to see where you are....BUT I can also forget my manners, talk loud in public about subjects that shouldn't be talked about, stalk you, send inappropriate pics/texts/emails that might hurt myself/friends/family/job,and actually forget to LIVE in the moment instead of trying to capture it on video/picture.
My boys will never know what it is like not to have a phone by your side whenever you want/need it.
#2- PLAYING OUTSIDE - I grew up in a small town - probably like 800-1000 people. It was a safe place. I don't ever remember being scared of anything bad happening, except maybe for any trouble I caused :) I was given pretty much free reign most of the time. We rode our bikes to the swimming pool. Rode them around town. No adults with us. Went down to the river. Played outside 'til dark. I didn't stray too far from home, and usually I think my parents knew the general vicinity of my location. My best friend lived about 1 1/2 blocks away, and I would walk up to her house or ride my bike. We would walk to school together, which was probably about 5 blocks away. We would go play at an old salebarn. Lots of things to do in a small town :) Now, as we currently live in Manhattan, obviously it is a lot bigger town. However, when discussing with Todd (who grew up here ) - his Mom used to let him go walk by himself about 5 blocks to get home. So the two towns were pretty similar at that time. I wouldn't dream of letting my children walk anywhere by themselves. I had a hard time letting my niece and nephew stay at the neighborhood swimming pool without me this past summer, and they are 14 & 11. There are too many risks now. Heck, I panic when I am in a store and I can't see Nick. I scold him and tell him, " You can't hide in the clothes or walk around the corner without me, I have to be able to see you."
My boys will never know what it is like to play without direct supervision.
#3 - FAMILY - I grew up about 1 block away from each set of grandparents (who's house I frequented quite often). If I couldn't be found with my best friend, most times I was at Grandma and Grandpa's house. My family means the world to me. I hope that I can instill this in my boys. We need family. We need them all the time, both physically and emotionally. It just so happens that I am not too far geographically from my family. My parents live about 30 minutes away and we get together often. They are very active in their grandkids lives - both helping take care of them and coming to activities/events. My brother and his family are outside of Manhattan. Todd's Mom lives in town, and his Dad in Riley. We are able to get together whenever we can with them, sometimes not as often as we all wish, but busy busy lives are like that!!
My boys will never understand what it's like to just walk to Grandma's house.
#4 - ACTIVITIES - As I mentioned above...busy busy lives. This activity and that activity. You can get your kids involved in dance, piano, soccer, wrestling, t-ball, cheerleading, football, basketball, track...the list goes on and on....This sometimes leaves parents running from place to place for this practice and that practice, and this game and that game, and dividing and conquering to make sure kids get where they need to be. This is exhausting ( and I am NOT speaking from experience here - just from what I have heard). Not only are parents exhausted, but kids are too. They are stuck into a sport now so early, that sometimes by the time they get to high school, they hate it! They are spread so thin it reminds me of a saying...jack of all trades, master of none.
My boys will never know what it's like to just be a kid without all the worldly pressure to DO MORE.
#5 - SCHOOL - I don't have to put a lot of explanation into this in lieu of recent public tragedies. What parent in the last month (regardless of our skill), hasn't considered home schooling? Will my boys have to be searched? Will they have to go through metal detectors? Will they have an armed guard? Instead of fire alarms and tornado drills, my boys will have "lock down" drills for school shootings, abductions, and the likes.
My boys will never know what school used to be like when safety wasn't an issue.
#6 - CANCER - It's everywhere now. Cancers being discovered we didn't even know about. It's quickly approaching the number one killer (heart disease). I think with advances in modern medicine, this is actually a good thing. We have learned to treat and cure cases of cancer that previously would have died (and maybe we would not even have known the cause of death). However, this brings a certain paranoia with it. Too much of this causes cancer, too much of that causes cancer.....This fear of the unknown, "the crazy cancer cells developing," leaves a person quite confused about how they should live and what they should eat. And it leaves us hoping that sometime in our lifetime or the next, there will be a cure.
My boys will never understand a world where cancer didn't exist.
#7 - TECHNOLOGY - This is also everywhere you look now. Cell phones I hit on above. Now I am referring to the rest....DVD players, laptop computers, IPAD's, Iphones, IPods, kindle...the list goes on and on. Do you remember what it's like to write a research report? To go to the library, look in the catalog, use the dewey decimal system. Find a book, write by hand or use copier to get the information you need for your paper. Do you remember life before Google? When you had to wonder about information, or look it up in a book. Now it's at the tip of your finger. Look through a phone book lately? Yeah, me neither. Why should I? I can type it in my phone faster. Now again, I don't think this is all a bad thing. We are a generation of information. It's everywhere. We have access to some of the greatest things ever at the touch of a button. However, keep in mind, not everything you read is true, and one must always question the source.
My boys will never understand what it was like before computerized devices went mainstream.
#8 - AIRPORT - Another topic that likely doesn't need much explanation if you have flown in the past, and then flown anywhere lately. 9-11 changed everything in regards to flying. Body searches, luggage scanning, fluids 3 oz only, no shoes....
My boys will never understand what it was like when it was easy to travel by air.
#9 - HATE GROUPS - So the previous generation had their share of groups that we would consider hate groups, this is a known fact. However, in today's world, you can scan the paper, the news, the internet, and pull up thousands of hate groups. There is a particular group close to our area that is known for it's hatred of soldiers, "fags" and such. This group was present during my college years, but really is ALL over the news now with the current information highway making it easy for them to get press.
My boys will never understand a world that is filled with such hate.
#10 - RELIGION - This is the topic that breaks my heart. There is such division. People all over the world getting killed in the name of religion ( and yes I know we can date this all the way back to biblical times). But what hits more closely to home is how God has become like this "white elephant" in the room. You know, the one that everyone knows is there, but no one will stand up and talk about. GOD FORBID I MENTION GOD OR PRAYING. Might offend someone. It's become such a HUGE issue to separate church and state. I used to stand up everyone morning in school before class and say the pledge of allegiance..."One nation under God". Do they even say that anymore? I honestly don't know, I don't have grade school kids yet. We prayed before playing sports. As of today, there have been legal cases fought and won all across the nation of statues being removed due to the fact they had religious words/suggestions, cases where someone's religion came into play at the workplace or school, and cases where someone asked/spoke about religion and "shouldn't" have. There are few other topics that get me fired up besides this. I believe this nation was created with God and it should exist and end with God as well.
My boys will never know what the nation that was built under God used to be like.
And so I will leave you with these final thoughts...
"But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They're like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers - Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season." Jeremiah 17:7-8 MSG
"Don't fear: I am First, I am Last, I'm Alive. I died, but I came to life, and my life is now forever. See these keys in my hand? They open and lock Death's doors, they open and lock Hell's gates." Revelation 1:18 MSG
"God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near." Revelation 1:3 NLT
Monday, October 22, 2012
I Wish....
Are you ever floating through life, going through the motions, wishing your days away..."I can't wait until the weekend. I can't wait until October is over. I can't wait until I go on vacation. I can't wait until my kids can take care of themselves. I can't wait until...(fill in the blank)?"
Do you wonder why we do this as humans? Why do we wish our time away? We all have a finite amount of time in this world...shouldn't we be just holding on to every minute? Cherishing it...getting the most out of every single second we have, instead of wishing it away????
I am guilty of this, just like the next person. I look forward to my days off with my kids, but then I end up running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I try to do a million things, and only accomplish a few. I know there are things we have to do. There will ALWAYS be things we HAVE to do. We have to get groceries. We have to do laundry. We have to go to work. We have to cook supper. We have to do the dishes....the list goes on and on...but meanwhile, in the background...we have to live...we have to love...
A very common verse - everyone knows at least a part of it. It was read at our wedding.
1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NIV)
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
So, let's dissect this.... "Love is patient..." Can I count the number of times in a day that I lose my patience?? Probably not. Some days are better than others, but I have to admit, this is definately my sin....I am NOT a patient person. There, I said it. I don't like waiting in line, I don't like crowds (because they slow me down), I don't like waiting on the phone, I don't like slow internet, I don't like slow drivers....it goes on and on. So would it come as a surprise that I have LOTS of work to do in this area (God isn't finished with me yet :) I vow to work on this area, at least when it comes to my kids. God help me be patient while my child takes FOREVER to pick out his clothes, FOREVER to tie his shoes. God help me patient while I read the same book, over and over every night to my child. God help me be patient when my littlest cries out for me in the middle of the night for the 5th time. God help me be patient because someday my kids will grow up and move away, and I will have to be patient while I wait for them to come and see me or call me...
"Love is kind..." I was recently reminded of this. We had been having a good day at the park. I warned Nick it was a couple minutes before it was time to go. However, when it WAS time to go, a meltdown ensued, which frustrated me. Why didn't this work? Why didn't my parenting skill come through? As we drove across town, I listened to him carrying on, and throwing a fit in the back seat. I tried the silent treatment. I answered occasionally when I felt necessary. I commented a few times. Then, my hubby called and I talked to him. After I hung up, Nick says to me (in a few dramatic voice), " Mommy, how can you talk so nice to Daddy and be mean to me?" Wow....huh??? Ouch....I know we all get caught up in the moment, but sometimes to stop and realize the things that come out of our mouths....ugh....God help me to be kind, even when I am frustrated, when I am tired, when I am sick, when I am mad....because all my kids want from me is unconditional love...
"It does not envy..." I haven't had a lot of years with my kiddos yet. But even as our kids are young, we all do it. We all compare. When did your kid starting walking, start talking, start riding a bike, blah blah blah....God help me to be joyful in MY kids own accomplishments, when THEY do them, and not compare them to others all the time. Help me to teach them to be happy with themselves, in the unique way that you made them, so THEY don't grow up comparing themselves to others all the time.
"it does not boast, it is not proud." As really only one of my kids is talking much, not a lot of experience in this area. I think you can be proud of what you do, as long as you realize that God has given you all the talents and ability to do what you do. God help me to grow and learn so that I may teach my kids to be confident without being boastful or proud.
"It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered..." Ever get mad when you are in public, when someone is rude to you? How do you respond? Do you respond with love? I can think of very few times in my life, when presented with this situation, where I didn't respond with equal rudeness or anger...God help me to teach my children to hold their tongue, to see the good in people, to not respond to rudeness with equal rudeness, but dissect it, and respond with love.
"it keeps no record of wrongs..." When you get hurt, do you forgive and forget? Do you keep it in the back of your mind? It's okay to learn from being hurt, but to continue to count these things, and continue to hold them against each other does us no good. God help me to keep my tongue quiet, so that my children will learn through example that you can forgive and forget and not keep score.
"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." The truth being said...we all fall short of the glory of God....but thank you Jesus for your grace. For loving us every day, for giving another chance, for giving us another 24 hrs to get it right. God help me teach my boys that the only truth comes through you.
"It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." So in all the chaos of today, the bottom line is this...love never fails. Don't fail your spouses; love them every day, even when they make you mad, even when you feel like it's the last straw, even when you feel like there is no hope... Don't fail your children; love them every day, even when they are slow, even when they don't do things you want them to do, even when they are different from other kids. And most of all, love yourself. This means taking care of yourself too. Do things that fill up your cup. Because if you are too worn out, you can't love anyone - not God, your spouse, or your children....You can't enjoy the little things. You will spend your time wishing it away, until there is no time left to wish...
Do you wonder why we do this as humans? Why do we wish our time away? We all have a finite amount of time in this world...shouldn't we be just holding on to every minute? Cherishing it...getting the most out of every single second we have, instead of wishing it away????
I am guilty of this, just like the next person. I look forward to my days off with my kids, but then I end up running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I try to do a million things, and only accomplish a few. I know there are things we have to do. There will ALWAYS be things we HAVE to do. We have to get groceries. We have to do laundry. We have to go to work. We have to cook supper. We have to do the dishes....the list goes on and on...but meanwhile, in the background...we have to live...we have to love...
A very common verse - everyone knows at least a part of it. It was read at our wedding.
1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NIV)
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
So, let's dissect this.... "Love is patient..." Can I count the number of times in a day that I lose my patience?? Probably not. Some days are better than others, but I have to admit, this is definately my sin....I am NOT a patient person. There, I said it. I don't like waiting in line, I don't like crowds (because they slow me down), I don't like waiting on the phone, I don't like slow internet, I don't like slow drivers....it goes on and on. So would it come as a surprise that I have LOTS of work to do in this area (God isn't finished with me yet :) I vow to work on this area, at least when it comes to my kids. God help me be patient while my child takes FOREVER to pick out his clothes, FOREVER to tie his shoes. God help me patient while I read the same book, over and over every night to my child. God help me be patient when my littlest cries out for me in the middle of the night for the 5th time. God help me be patient because someday my kids will grow up and move away, and I will have to be patient while I wait for them to come and see me or call me...
"Love is kind..." I was recently reminded of this. We had been having a good day at the park. I warned Nick it was a couple minutes before it was time to go. However, when it WAS time to go, a meltdown ensued, which frustrated me. Why didn't this work? Why didn't my parenting skill come through? As we drove across town, I listened to him carrying on, and throwing a fit in the back seat. I tried the silent treatment. I answered occasionally when I felt necessary. I commented a few times. Then, my hubby called and I talked to him. After I hung up, Nick says to me (in a few dramatic voice), " Mommy, how can you talk so nice to Daddy and be mean to me?" Wow....huh??? Ouch....I know we all get caught up in the moment, but sometimes to stop and realize the things that come out of our mouths....ugh....God help me to be kind, even when I am frustrated, when I am tired, when I am sick, when I am mad....because all my kids want from me is unconditional love...
"It does not envy..." I haven't had a lot of years with my kiddos yet. But even as our kids are young, we all do it. We all compare. When did your kid starting walking, start talking, start riding a bike, blah blah blah....God help me to be joyful in MY kids own accomplishments, when THEY do them, and not compare them to others all the time. Help me to teach them to be happy with themselves, in the unique way that you made them, so THEY don't grow up comparing themselves to others all the time.
"it does not boast, it is not proud." As really only one of my kids is talking much, not a lot of experience in this area. I think you can be proud of what you do, as long as you realize that God has given you all the talents and ability to do what you do. God help me to grow and learn so that I may teach my kids to be confident without being boastful or proud.
"It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered..." Ever get mad when you are in public, when someone is rude to you? How do you respond? Do you respond with love? I can think of very few times in my life, when presented with this situation, where I didn't respond with equal rudeness or anger...God help me to teach my children to hold their tongue, to see the good in people, to not respond to rudeness with equal rudeness, but dissect it, and respond with love.
"it keeps no record of wrongs..." When you get hurt, do you forgive and forget? Do you keep it in the back of your mind? It's okay to learn from being hurt, but to continue to count these things, and continue to hold them against each other does us no good. God help me to keep my tongue quiet, so that my children will learn through example that you can forgive and forget and not keep score.
"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." The truth being said...we all fall short of the glory of God....but thank you Jesus for your grace. For loving us every day, for giving another chance, for giving us another 24 hrs to get it right. God help me teach my boys that the only truth comes through you.
"It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." So in all the chaos of today, the bottom line is this...love never fails. Don't fail your spouses; love them every day, even when they make you mad, even when you feel like it's the last straw, even when you feel like there is no hope... Don't fail your children; love them every day, even when they are slow, even when they don't do things you want them to do, even when they are different from other kids. And most of all, love yourself. This means taking care of yourself too. Do things that fill up your cup. Because if you are too worn out, you can't love anyone - not God, your spouse, or your children....You can't enjoy the little things. You will spend your time wishing it away, until there is no time left to wish...
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