Traveling through the Middle Ages with my children this year is an exciting adventure but it is also becoming a faith-building one. Because we were learning about Mohammed, we went back to the Bible, our Truth, and found the story of Abraham and Ishmael. Even though Ishmael was a product of Abraham's impatience, God promised to bless him and turn him into a great nation. Today, we see God's promise being fulfilled. God keeps His promises even when we are impatient and untrusting. God keeps His promises even when we stubbornly attempt to do things our own way. It's amazing to see.
Even in my own life, I have seen God keep His promises to me. A little over a year ago, my husband was diagnosed with RA. He was in so much pain for awhile that he couldn't move. We were, thankfully, able to control it with medication continued praying for complete healing. Not long after his diagnoses, a person that I just met, handed me a handwritten note. I did not keep the paper, but the message stuck in my heart. I can't even remember exactly what it said but he had written that God had heard my prayers and he had answered them. I struggled with this for a few days. I wanted to believe this message but the human doubts crowded in, "I don't even know this guy. Maybe it's about something else. What if I believe this, and then my husband is not healed?" These doubts and questions swirled around in my head mixing with guilt for feeling the way that I did. Why couldn't things be simpler? Why after all the things I have seen God do, would I doubt?
I finally thanked God for his promise and continued to pray for my husband. I decided to quietly believe and wait to see what God would do.
One year later, my husband went off his medication to see what would happen and to readjust his medication. He had no RA symptoms and his blood tests showed no evidence of RA. Some people will say that in rare circumstances this happens but I say, God healed my husband. He kept His promise to me despite my nagging doubts and questions. My God is a good, loving, compassionate, loyal, amazing God. I am humbled and so thankful that he has blessed us with this miracle.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Nothing Profound
I am sitting here at my computer trying to make my brain think of something profound that I can blog about. Nothing is happening. I am tired tonight and my mind is completely blank. I think the best cure for this condition is sunshine. That is what I desperately need. I am ready to pull out the summer clothes and the flip-flops but the sun is playing hide and seek.
Though I do appreciate any sunshine I can get at this point, I sometimes think it would almost be better if the sun just didn't shine at all. When I get a glimpse of the sun for a couple hours and then more rain, it is almost more dissapointing than if it had just been rain. Every time the sun teases me and peeks out from behind those clouds, my hopes rise and I think, "Finally, summer is here..." only to be let down a few hours later when the rain clouds again dominate the sky.
I know, I shouldn't complain, and really I don't think I am. I am just saying that I am ready for summer. Aren't you?
Though I do appreciate any sunshine I can get at this point, I sometimes think it would almost be better if the sun just didn't shine at all. When I get a glimpse of the sun for a couple hours and then more rain, it is almost more dissapointing than if it had just been rain. Every time the sun teases me and peeks out from behind those clouds, my hopes rise and I think, "Finally, summer is here..." only to be let down a few hours later when the rain clouds again dominate the sky.
I know, I shouldn't complain, and really I don't think I am. I am just saying that I am ready for summer. Aren't you?
Friday, March 5, 2010
One Crazy Day
The following story contains a diaper and the stuff that happens in a diaper. If you have an aversion to poop and pee and things like that, please read no further. If you do continue; consider yourself warned.
For some reason, I decided yesterday that it was a good day to take all four kids shopping at Winco. Winco, for those of you who may not be familiar, is a large grocery store with cheaper prices--yay! The downside is that you bag your own groceries. (And trust me, when shopping with four kids, this is definitely a down side.) On our way we drove through the Starbucks drive through and I got my grande, extra hot, nonfat white chocolate mocha with no whip. The kids got ice waters. By the time we got to Winco, the ice waters were empty and the bladders were full so our first stop inside was, of course, the bathroom. Waiting outside the restrooms with Kyla, my 12 month old, in the cart, I realized that I should probably check her diaper too. She had a painful diaper rash so I was trying to keep her dry. The older three kids finished and then waited for Kyla and I right outside the bathroom with the cart. I went into the large stall that contained the changing table and proceeded to change Kyla's diaper. Okay, so this is my fourth baby, she's a year old--you would think this would be pretty uneventful...unfortunately, it was quite dramatic.
Kyla was upset the moment she saw the changing table. She despises having her diaper changed any time and the painful rash tripled the normal protest. I laid her down, talking to her gently, trying to calm her. When I opened the diaper, I saw that she was not just wet and it was not just normal poop--it was the kind that sticks in little tiny pieces to the bottom and does not want to wipe off.
As I was cleaning her as gently as possible, she was screaming in pain and literally writhing trying to stand up and get away. I finally got her cleaned up but by the time I was finished, she was standing on the changing table, leaning against me, still crying in pain and anger. When I laid her back down to put the clean diaper on her, I realized that the changing table was wet--she had peed while standing up. So I quickly picked her up so that I could dry the changing table. While I was doing that--she peed some more, this time on my leg. So I held her away from me and she peed more on the floor. Then I finally laid her back on the changing table and she peed more on the changing table. She just kept doing it in little squirts--screaming the whole time! By the time I was done, the changing table, her pants and shoes, the floor around the changing table, and my leg were all wet with pee. Somehow, I succeeded in getting a dry diaper on the baby, though I have no idea how I did it. Then, I grabbed an antibacterial wipe from the diaper bag and cleaned the changing table and the floor and got out of the bathroom as quickly as possible mumbling apologies to the mom who was waiting to use the changing table.
The rest of our shopping at Winco was quite dull compared to this beginning, so I'll spare you those details. We succeeded in filling the cart with canned goods, frozen food, and produce and then spent an eternity at the check stand while I bagged it all. We resorted to two carts to take out the groceries and filled the back of the Suburban. As we headed for home, we made two other stops for science fair project supplies. We are studying biology...but that's a story for next time.
For some reason, I decided yesterday that it was a good day to take all four kids shopping at Winco. Winco, for those of you who may not be familiar, is a large grocery store with cheaper prices--yay! The downside is that you bag your own groceries. (And trust me, when shopping with four kids, this is definitely a down side.) On our way we drove through the Starbucks drive through and I got my grande, extra hot, nonfat white chocolate mocha with no whip. The kids got ice waters. By the time we got to Winco, the ice waters were empty and the bladders were full so our first stop inside was, of course, the bathroom. Waiting outside the restrooms with Kyla, my 12 month old, in the cart, I realized that I should probably check her diaper too. She had a painful diaper rash so I was trying to keep her dry. The older three kids finished and then waited for Kyla and I right outside the bathroom with the cart. I went into the large stall that contained the changing table and proceeded to change Kyla's diaper. Okay, so this is my fourth baby, she's a year old--you would think this would be pretty uneventful...unfortunately, it was quite dramatic.
Kyla was upset the moment she saw the changing table. She despises having her diaper changed any time and the painful rash tripled the normal protest. I laid her down, talking to her gently, trying to calm her. When I opened the diaper, I saw that she was not just wet and it was not just normal poop--it was the kind that sticks in little tiny pieces to the bottom and does not want to wipe off.
As I was cleaning her as gently as possible, she was screaming in pain and literally writhing trying to stand up and get away. I finally got her cleaned up but by the time I was finished, she was standing on the changing table, leaning against me, still crying in pain and anger. When I laid her back down to put the clean diaper on her, I realized that the changing table was wet--she had peed while standing up. So I quickly picked her up so that I could dry the changing table. While I was doing that--she peed some more, this time on my leg. So I held her away from me and she peed more on the floor. Then I finally laid her back on the changing table and she peed more on the changing table. She just kept doing it in little squirts--screaming the whole time! By the time I was done, the changing table, her pants and shoes, the floor around the changing table, and my leg were all wet with pee. Somehow, I succeeded in getting a dry diaper on the baby, though I have no idea how I did it. Then, I grabbed an antibacterial wipe from the diaper bag and cleaned the changing table and the floor and got out of the bathroom as quickly as possible mumbling apologies to the mom who was waiting to use the changing table.
The rest of our shopping at Winco was quite dull compared to this beginning, so I'll spare you those details. We succeeded in filling the cart with canned goods, frozen food, and produce and then spent an eternity at the check stand while I bagged it all. We resorted to two carts to take out the groceries and filled the back of the Suburban. As we headed for home, we made two other stops for science fair project supplies. We are studying biology...but that's a story for next time.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Enjoy the Moments
Time seems to fly by so quickly. My newborn baby is now one year old. My oldest daughter is soon to be 9. Wow! When did this happen? I am so glad that I have taken time to enjoy the moments along the way instead of constantly looking forward to what is coming next. I will never be able to get these moments with my children back again. I know it sounds cliche but the reason we have cliches is because they are so true. In fact, here are some cliches that have proven true in my 9 years of parenthood.
Take time to smell the roses.
Don't cry over spilled milk.
All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of yesterday.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Every rose has a thorn.
The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.
Like father, like son.
For everything there is a season.
I hope you enjoy my cliche advice and take it to heart. Time flies when you're having fun--Enjoy each moment!
Take time to smell the roses.
Don't cry over spilled milk.
All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of yesterday.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Every rose has a thorn.
The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.
Like father, like son.
For everything there is a season.
I hope you enjoy my cliche advice and take it to heart. Time flies when you're having fun--Enjoy each moment!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Parenting
Right now, the most important thing I am doing is parenting--which includes constantly building a relationship with my husband and my children. Lately, I have been reminded often that my kids learn from everything I do. When I kiss my husband and tell him I love him--they are learning. When I clean up the kitchen and do the laundry without complaining and sighing--they are learning. When I lose my temper and yell at them for losing their shoes again--they are learning. When I apologize to them for my wrong behavior--they are learning. When I am frantically looking for my shoes (Ha Ha!) after yelling at them for losing theirs--they are learning. So, in the hustle and bustle of every day life, the VERY MOST important thing that I can do, is to stay close to Jesus so that in every situation, I can reflect Him to my children. Sometimes, I try to do things the very opposite of that and my relationship with the Lord gets put on the back burner because I am so busy with everything else. If I do that though--my kids are also learning that. What a responsibility parenting is!
Lord, thank you for my husband and my kids. Help my husband and I to stay close to each other despite the busyness of life. Help me to teach my kids to love you with their hearts, souls, and minds. And Lord, please protect my kids from my mistakes. :) Thank you for being my best friend and Savior.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Lord, thank you for my husband and my kids. Help my husband and I to stay close to each other despite the busyness of life. Help me to teach my kids to love you with their hearts, souls, and minds. And Lord, please protect my kids from my mistakes. :) Thank you for being my best friend and Savior.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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