Giving Thanks - Day 1

I try to encourage thankfulness in our home all the time, and most days end with a recognition of something we are thankful for.  But it's also fun to take the month of November to be specific and purposeful about it.  So today on this first day of November, I am thankful for the compassion I see in my kids.  Today, when they saw I was sad about something, both stopped what they were doing and gave me great big, sweet hugs.  Those hugs are wonderful comfort and the fact that they responded so quickly and thought nothing of walking away from their play made them even sweeter.

Touchstone

Today I am thankful for a God who loves us so much that He's willing to just keep reminding me how much He loves me and that He will always provide.  Today I am also thankful that my kids got to see exactly what we mean when we tell them that God always provides.

The week started out a bit rough.  Dr. D's bike was stolen from our front yard.  Since it's his primary mode of transportation to school, it was felt in so many ways.  There was the feeling of vulnerability that comes with something being taken from our front yard and the frustration of someone making the choice to take something from someone else.  And quickly there was the reality that replacing the bike also meant replacing the many accessories that had been on the bike for keeping him safe on his daily commute.  As we started to add it up, the number could have quickly become overwhelming.  Instead, I chose to trust.  And very quickly, things fell in to place.

And when my son asked why we were taking Daddy to school on Wednesday morning, I reminded him what had happened to Daddy's bike and then told him that we trusted that God would provide.  Then I went to work and while I told a coworker the story of what had happened the evening before, she shared that her husband had a bike that he didn't ride anymore and they'd be happy to give to Dr. D.  A good tune up and he'll be riding to school again in no time.

We've been talking about touchstones in church recently -- holding on to and sharing those times in life that remind us again of God's faithfulness.  This week is definitely one of those for us.

I will consider all your works

and meditate on all your mighty deeds." 

Psalm 77:12 NIV

I'm gonna praise Him...

And in the spirit of not growing weary while doing the great work of raising my children, today I celebrate that after the battle that bedtime often is, we've had two nights in a row of a much smoother, more peaceful experience!

It's amazing what happens when I let go of my stubborn self and seek God's guidance in even the little things and then listen and act.  He reminded me once again that the to-do list might seem gigantic, but spending time with Him needs to be at the top every day.  And doing too many things on it at one time doesn't lead to things being done faster, just everything taking longer and leading to more frustration for all involved.

Praise God!

Fill Me Up

This was the chorus of one of the songs we sung in worship yesterday and replayed over and over in my head this evening.  Bedtime is rarely a smooth affair in my house and tonight was one of the rough ones.  I was frustrated-- trying to do to many things at one time, asking too much of my kids, and had reached the end of what I felt I had to give to the whole situation.  So I stopped right in the middle of it all to take a deep breath and realized I needed much more than that.

Standing in the living room, I closed my eyes and prayed hard in my head.  "Lord, I can't find more patience at the moment, I don't have what I need to give to the kids right now.  I need you.  Please replace the frustration with peace."  And then I was able to take that deep breath and finish bed time without raising my voice, without hurtful words, without anger.  I slowed down and took the time to give Basil the one on one cuddle time that she needed from me and I think we were both blessed.  I stopped trying to do too many things and spent focused time with Bug, ending the whole process much more positively than it began.  I expected to get both kids to bed and collapse feeling completely drained; instead, I feel and full to the brim, even overflowing with peace that only comes from Jesus.  I am so appreciative again of my Lord who meets me right where I am, just when I call.

And the highlight of that experience was hearing my son tell my husband, "She was praying, Dad." shortly after I walked away to help Basil get pajamas on for bed.  I didn't hear what was said first so I don't know the context, but I LOVE that Bug recognized what I was doing.  We talk a lot about stepping back when you are frustrated and praying when you need help, but I know that actions speak volumes more.  So, while teaching my son wasn't my intent in the moment, it fills me up even more to know that he immediately thought that's what I would be doing when I was clearly overwhelmed.  It's a beautiful reminder of what we teach our kids in our actions and an encouragement all in one.

Be Still

Be still is a reminder that I get a lot.  That's probably because I need to hear it a lot.  When things get stressful, my first instinct is to try to do things to help with the situation that's causing the stress.  And there are time when I need to keep doing my part in the situation and let God do His part, but there are also times when what I need to do most is to be still and listen.  And I'm learning that to being still isn't only something I need to do when I'm stressed - it's just more urgent then.  But though life feels fairly calm at the moment, I was reminded again this week of the importance of listening.

So, that is my goal this week - to be still and really listen during my time with God.

Loving my Loves

10 Things I Love About My Sweet Ones

1. Bug is such an amazing thinker!  I love listening to him tell me about how he figured something out - it's fascinating.

2. Basil has such a darling heart for others.  When someone is sad, she always moves to comfort.  And her little hugs are magic.

3. Bug is strong willed.  Sometimes that's very challenging when what he's passionate about something that conflicts with that we as his parents are telling him needs to happen, but I know that strength can lead to him doing great things for God one day.

4. Basil is a snuggler.  She loves to curl up and read stories with me.

5. Bug is a reader like me.  We both love just hanging out on the couch enjoying our books.

6. Basil acts out the cutest stories with her stuffed animals.  She can build elaborate "picnics" complete with food, stories, and bedtime (not sure how those come together), it's so much fun to just sit back and watch.

7. Bug is constantly in motion.  Ok, not constantly, but some days it feels like it.  I admit that this frustrates me more often than not, but it's also really cool to me when I see so many kids who spend far too much time in front of TV or gaming devices.

8. Basil is also very strong willed.  I don't like it when it comes out as defiance, but like her brother, I know she's going to do great things with that passion some day. 

9. Bug has the cutest grin.  He's missing his two front teeth right now and it's even cuter.

10. Basil loves to sing.  She makes up songs and she sings along with the stereo in the car. 

Only Hope

My sweet Bug has never been one of those "easy" kids.  He's a lot of fun and a joy to be around, but definitely not easy.  We've learned a lot as he's grown about what makes him tick - what's almost guaranteed to be challenged, what's likely to go somewhat smoothly.  But, for a while there, it felt like most of our daily routine was in the almost guaranteed to be challenged category, whether it was food, speaking at a reasonable volume level, or any number of other things throughout the day.  It was exhausting!  The good news is that it drove to my knees seeking God's wisdom because I could not figure it out and I was so discouraged and worried about discouraging him in my frustration.  Some days it felt like we'd never get to the point where our days were not made up of a series of mini battles.  But, there is always HOPE.  The past couple of months have been calmer.  It felt like it just happened one day, though I realize that it was actually small improvements day by day.  While I was marveling over this a few weeks ago, God so kindly told me to remember this.  I know that it's a season and not a permanent change and that it is an answer to so many prayers and a reminder of the incredible hope that we find in the Lord.

One thing that really encouraged me last winter was reading the e-book Hope for the Weary Mom: Where God Meets You in Your Mess by Stacey Thacker and Brooke McGlothlin and participating in some great discussion with others moms during a study they hosted on Facebook. It's time for 7 More Days of Hope and this time it's being hosted by a range of different blogs and I'm so excited to join in again at Blessedtobeblessings.com with other mamas who work outside the home. Check out M.O.B. Society or MODsquad to find the right group for you.