Won't you be my neighbor?

So we’re transitioning from the country to the city…well you can take a boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy! My boy(s) still insist on peeing in the back yard…note to self – get privacy fence ASAP! There was an old woman, she lived in a shoe, she had so many children, she didn’t know what to do! I counted 11 children in my den the other night – all neighborhood kids. It’s the first thing all the children do when they get home…ride to everyone’s house to see who is home to come out and play. I didn’t think I’d ever live in a neighborhood again, but never say never. The children, needless to say, LOVE it. Something is always going on and there is always someone to play with – no wonder they can’t wait to get home in the afternoon. And I must admit – I can’t wait to get home either, and I think Joshua would agree with me. It’s such a blessing to able to see your children crave home – and not just because of the neighborhood playmates, but because home is a safe, loving, peaceful place. When I say peaceful – it’s not what you think. IT IS MASS CHAOS at our home most of the time – lots of noise, lots of activity, YET it’s peaceful. I say it’s a blessing because I’ve experienced both a peaceful and a non-peaceful home. If you are fortunate to live in a peaceful home – say a prayer of thanksgiving! Quick! This is a blessing!!! If not, we have a heavenly father that wants to restore your home – ask Him!! It’s soooo worth it.

According to Answers.com the definition of peace is: 1. The absence of war or other hostilities. 2. An agreement or a treaty to end hostilities. 3. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations. 4. Public security and order. 5. Inner contentment; serenity. OK – so as much as I would love to for it to be true, nos. 1,2 & 3 do not apply to our home… hello, I have three children and a husband. On some level we experience hostilities from time to time because we are human. OK – as to no. 4…order…yeah right…did I mention that I had 11 children in my home the other night. OK and no 5., well if I’m honest, this is what I strive for, but this is definitely a daily battle starting with the decision to be content even if I don’t feel like it. So the only explanation of the peace of which I’m referring to is “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, the peace that guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Paul in Philippians. Thanks Abba Daddy for the peace that only You can give. SHALOM from my home to yours!

Forgiveness and Gratefulness

Ok, so I’ve been thinking about Hannah’s most recent blog, the one about Advice. Truth be told, when I first read it, the second time and the third time – my reaction was… “Quit whining and man up!!” “Try motherhood at 16!” “Try motherhood when you are literally below the poverty line and have to go sign up for WIC so you can feed them!” “Try motherhood when your spouse is not existent!” “Try motherhood when you are all alone and don’t have friends who are going through what you are going through!” “You think you’ve got is tough, you don’t have a clue!” For this I want to publicly apologize…I’m so sorry Hannah and all other moms out there. It bothered me that I had this reaction, and to someone I care deeply about! I had to get it off my chest. I tend to forget that no matter what the circumstances, motherhood is hard, tough, trying and demanding physically, emotionally and spiritually. In the end, we all share common concerns, prayers and hopes for our children.

I have found that the best way to combat all the …um – can’t think of a word here, so I’ll go with…crap, is having the attitude of gratitude. To be thankful for EVERY situation, even when it’s so bad that all you can think of to be grateful for is the fact that you can breath (thanks Mrs. Claire). When you begin to physically say, out loud, your gratitude, and with perhaps a good dose of tears – the gates of heaven open. God begins to transform your attitude, thoughts and perceptions. Notice I said God begins – you don’t have to do the hard stuff. The only thing you are responsible for is sending out the invitation with your words of thankfulness.

So I’ll start… “God, thank you so much for your provision for us mothers. Thank you for your faithfulness to do what you say you will do. Thank you that where you have started a good work in our children, that you will be faithful to complete it – even if we royally screw up the responsibility you gave us. Thank you that you guide our steps; that we aren’t left up to chance. Thank you that I have a home, even though you can’t see the floor for all the toys, the sink for the dishes and the fact that it smells like sweaty children. Thank you that I have clothes, even though there is a pile of laundry. Thank you that we have food to eat – even whatever that was that is now growing penicillin in the back of the refrigerator. The fact that we had enough to even have leftovers. Thank you that I have friends in my corner and love me despite of my rude, self pity reactions. Thank you that we have each other to hold accountable, to lift us up and to say, “yeah, I understand..” Lord, bless my friends, keep them, shine your face upon them, be gracious to them, turn your countenance to them, and give them your peace. Amen.” Now it's your turn...love you all. Go MOMS!!!

another tip...

There is a wonderful website out there that helps me not to stress over how to balance an 8-5 job, motherhood, housework, meals, being a wife...etc. It's www.flylady.net. This is a website that tells me where and what to clean for the day, reminds me to drink my water, helps me to take a break for me, etc. My biggest obstacle is the feeling of being so overwhelmed…If I do this, then I’ll drop the ball over there – you get the picture. I think I can honestly say Flylady saved us…it literally improved my attitude towards my husband, children, house, job and vice versa. Her motto is “Jump in where you are…” I don’t have to think about what to do – all that is required of me, my husband and the children is to follow instructions. Following instructions, believe it or not, can be difficult, but once you get the hang of it, it’s life changing. There was an MIT graduate that the studied all different types of chemicals, and had careers that dealt with such chemicals, yet he had a drug addiction. This particular man knew exactly what the chemicals were doing to his body, had been in and out of rehabs - he had the 12 steps memorized. This man knew the routine of the NA and AA program – the 12 steps, attend meetings, get a sponsor. There was really nothing that you couldn’t tell this man, yet he couldn’t kick the habit. Fortunately, he finally discovered what he wasn’t doing…he wasn’t following instructions!! Yes, he knew the in and outs of the chemicals, the program, but he was failing to do the simple thing of following the instructions of the program! So many times I find myself wondering how in the heck I get myself into situations or wonder why I can get “it” right. 99% of the time it’s because I didn’t follow the instructions. This is such a simple concept… you want the TV/VCR/DVD contraption to work correctly – follow the instructions! You want the Flylady program to work – follow the instructions! You want your husband to show you affection – follow the instructions! You want your children to be obedient – follow the instructions! Sometimes we just make life too hard when it’s so unnecessary! “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Y’all!!! It’s been laid out for us. AND, this is one area where you know that you will get complete and total results - these instructions never fail. Ya know, I think I’ll quote my dear friend and mentor, Jimmy Stewart,…“Free Will can be such a b#@%* sometimes.”

SuperFruit

SuperFruit aka Zucchini… Yes this is the way that Joshua got Joseph to eat this 4 bites of Zucchini…I mean, SuperFruit. I’m the practical, disciplinary parent and Joshua is the pushover, fun-loving parent. We actually compliment each other quite nicely. Well, I told Joseph that he had to eat his Zucchini, before he could get up from the table and/or eat his dessert of chocolate candy. Then comes the drama of the “I don’t feel good…” “But it will make me throw up…” “It feels gross in my mouth…” and my personal favorite… “I have a headache…” All these little nonsense’s go right over me – I don’t have time for that crap, now get over it and eat your Zucchini…that’s what I really want to say, but instead I just leave the room and begin cleaning up the dishes. It really doesn’t bother me how long he sits there…and whines, I can totally tune it out and go about my night. He will eventually eat his Zucchini when he’s not getting the attention and everyone has moved on…ENTER JOSHUA… “Joseph, what color is that stuff on your plate?” “Green,” says Joseph oh so pitifully. “What color is the incredible Hulk?” Joshua asks most enthusiastically. “Green,” says Joseph a little less pitifully. “That green stuff is SUPERFRUIT!!!” Joshua exclaims and bounds around the dinner table… and so it begins. I must admit that it was quite a show, and we were all laughing at Joshua and Joseph’s dialogue. About 20 mins later all the SuperFruit was gone off Joseph’s plate and Joseph was running around the house saying that he could feel is muscles getting bigger…(Had we done it my way it would have only taken about 5 minutes…he wouldn’t have sat there too long once the attention was gone) Joshua is an incredible father. And I’m so glad that he enters the rooms sometimes and can make things not so hard…or practical. AND I’m so grateful that my heavenly father does the same. Has your Abba Father given you some SuperFruit lately? Anyway, I don’t think Zucchini will ever be the same at our house…SuperFruit.