It is time to close up the pool for the year...sniff. Bye-bye summer!Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
I Thought You Might Like to Know....
...that I saw a sheep trot today. Whenever I usually drive by them they are standing still. Just like in the picture. Something got them moving and grooving today!
...that I have serious competitive soccer mom/coach streak in me that, at times, could seem scary to small children.
...that I missed the first MIA meeting today because even though I was off work, I had to copy 400 PTO newsletters before the AM kindergartners left for the day.
....that it looked like Old Country Buffet at my house tonight. It was Leftover Extravaganza. I heated about 6 different containers and threw it on the counter for a smorgasbord featuring beef stroganoff, hot dogs and sauerkraut, vegetable beef soup, glazed carrots, red skin potato salad, baked nachos with chili and cheese and rounding it out to make it oh. so. healthy. Raw carrots and dirty celery that #3 cut up and didn't wash off properly. Yes, indeed, we had variety.
....that The Husband is probably switching jobs. It's too long for one post. Let's just suffice it to say that it is only 8 miles, vs. 18 miles away, it pays better and he'll have off more weekends. Woo-hoo! I'm getting really good at parenting without health insurance. No trampoline or scooter riding until December, girls!
....that I had a dream about the Jonas Brothers. Bizarre. I tease my kids about it and here I am dreaming that I met them and we hung out. In case you're wondering though, I wasn't at all impressed with them in my dream.
....that I am addicted to facebook.
....that "stroganoff" does not come up on spell check.
I think that's it for now! Good night!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Pressing In
Have you ever asked God to open your eyes and then He does and all of a sudden you're like ....
Whoa.
How did we drift so far away in this particular area?
That's what happened here last night as God totally moved in our house as we all worshiped Him together. TOGETHER.
As I watched #2 run to go get her worship flags I sadly realized it had been a very, very long time since our family turned on Rita Springer and poured ourselves out in worship to the One who loves us extravagantly. I couldn't help but feel the regret of many rushed nights of 2 minute devotions followed by dry, shallow prayers just to say we did it. That feels so Phariseeical (I just broke my Spellcheck function with that word). I mean...we thought our hearts were in it until I saw what true worship looked like last night.....
It was not rushed.
It was peaceful.
It was beautiful.
It was creative.
It was refreshing.
It was all for Him.
Afterwards I started to think of some of the things I had begun to compromise on in our walk as a family, certain TV shows, school activities that contradicted God's word, and even how I've viewed some of the kids giving my kids a rough time. Could this lack of worship as a family be contributing to any of those things? I began to press in and ask God for wisdom and an increase in compassion. I don't want to waste my time with Him on powerless prayers anymore....being in His presence just leaves me wanting more.
Whoa.
How did we drift so far away in this particular area?
That's what happened here last night as God totally moved in our house as we all worshiped Him together. TOGETHER.
As I watched #2 run to go get her worship flags I sadly realized it had been a very, very long time since our family turned on Rita Springer and poured ourselves out in worship to the One who loves us extravagantly. I couldn't help but feel the regret of many rushed nights of 2 minute devotions followed by dry, shallow prayers just to say we did it. That feels so Phariseeical (I just broke my Spellcheck function with that word). I mean...we thought our hearts were in it until I saw what true worship looked like last night.....
It was not rushed.
It was peaceful.
It was beautiful.
It was creative.
It was refreshing.
It was all for Him.
Afterwards I started to think of some of the things I had begun to compromise on in our walk as a family, certain TV shows, school activities that contradicted God's word, and even how I've viewed some of the kids giving my kids a rough time. Could this lack of worship as a family be contributing to any of those things? I began to press in and ask God for wisdom and an increase in compassion. I don't want to waste my time with Him on powerless prayers anymore....being in His presence just leaves me wanting more.
Got Silver?
My poor #2 had to miss cheering at last night's game because of a high fever, sore throat, headache and upset tummy. The poor thing laid on my couch moaning that she was dieing and begging me to help her. It was so sad! My aunt, who is a distributor for Nature's Sunshine, gave me a bottle of this and told me to put a teaspoon in a drink for her. I must admit I was skeptical (although, I use their products like vitamins and ALJ, which helps tremendously with #1's sinus problems). When it was time to get up for church, her fever was gone and she only had a bit of a sore throat. I slipped a little more in her breakfast juice and again at lunch. She was her normal self today dancing around and playing! Praise the Lord!
I decided after that I, too, would sign up to get these products for a discount! I got my own bottle of this for $21 instead of $32 and I plan on keeping it very close by! Of course, we prayed for her, too. So, whether God healed her supernaturally or through this bottle of silver doesn't really matter to me! It makes me so very sad to see my family suffer. I'm just so glad she is feeling better!!
I decided after that I, too, would sign up to get these products for a discount! I got my own bottle of this for $21 instead of $32 and I plan on keeping it very close by! Of course, we prayed for her, too. So, whether God healed her supernaturally or through this bottle of silver doesn't really matter to me! It makes me so very sad to see my family suffer. I'm just so glad she is feeling better!!
Friday, September 12, 2008
You Know It's Been a Busy Week When....
....your kids have survived on school lunches, Pop Tarts and food that other people have cooked for them.
....you can't remember the last time you pooped.
....you rack up a $13 library fine because you have no time to return books.
....you consume coffee in dangerously high quantities to stay awake due to adding an hour long round trip work commute to your already packed chauffeur service for your kids.
....you come home to emails and voicemails in the double digits.
....you begin to wonder which would be quicker: to buy new clothes or do the laundry.
As you can see I'm still working out the kinks and adjusting to life as a part-time working mom. I think if I would have put in 40 hours this week I would have lost my mind. I must say though, I am really enjoying my new job!
....you can't remember the last time you pooped.
....you rack up a $13 library fine because you have no time to return books.
....you consume coffee in dangerously high quantities to stay awake due to adding an hour long round trip work commute to your already packed chauffeur service for your kids.
....you come home to emails and voicemails in the double digits.
....you begin to wonder which would be quicker: to buy new clothes or do the laundry.
As you can see I'm still working out the kinks and adjusting to life as a part-time working mom. I think if I would have put in 40 hours this week I would have lost my mind. I must say though, I am really enjoying my new job!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
To Cheer or Not to Cheer
I was a cheerleader. Back in the day when I was shallow, judgmental and God was merely someone to plead with on the several occasions I nearly got myself killed by poor choices I had made.
In the last 14 plus years of walking with the Lord and being a mom, cheerleading was a no-no. I decided that no daughter of mine was going to be a shallow, hip shaking, stuck up cheerleader. It is just so .....worldy.....and, honestly, does it have value in God's Kingdom? Then, one day God asked if I thought soccer had value in His kingdom....what about PTO? I'm not preaching to anyone at these activities so what puts them in the acceptable category and cheerleading in the taboo column?
The funny thing was that here is my precious daughter, a gift from God who can light up the room with her smile, and He gave her the gift to be a good, even great cheerleader and I was saying no way. Why? Because of my own experience and what other Christians have said about the topic.
Long story short (those of you that know me are like,"Yeah right!") I signed her up and even though it is her first year and she is the youngest girl, she made the older squad. Her coach said to me the other day that she can't believe she is only in third grade, that she is such a good cheerleader! Let me take this opportunity to explain the types of parents that are in cheerleading and help coach. They are not very friendly, they curse, many of them smoke and one pulled away the other day with a lovely bumper sticker joking about a male body part. Uh huh. God, what have I done? But, He reminded me that they need the love of Christ to be demonstrated and this is one of those times that we may just end up getting our hands dirty, but He has given #2 favor and abilities to draw them to her. We cannot look at them through judgmental eyes. And, really when they are with the kids they do a good job encouraging and keeping their 4-letter words to themselves!
It has certainly taken me out of my comfort zone, but #2 really enjoys it!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
If I Don't Post for Awhile You'll Understand Why
Today is my first day of work. I am looking forward to it, but at the same time this is what my week looks like:
Today - work 9-3:30, go right over to set up for Back to School Night at 4pm, come home at 5pm, feed the kids, take #1 to soccer and head back over for Back-to-School night by 6pm.
Tomorrow - work 9-3:30, pick up #1 from drama auditions, head over to church to watch The Husband in the Rainmaker dress rehearsal (thankfully The Husband is off work that day to collect the other 2 kids in the afternoon).
Thursday - work 9-3, meet up with The Husband and kids over by work because we're babysitting for friends so they can attend the opening night of The Rainmaker. Somehow I have to figure out how to pick up subs from a cheerleading fundraiser since I won't be near home that afternoon/evening!
Friday and the weekend don't get much better...in fact, I'm like triple booked on Saturday with 3 soccer games, cheerleading and a kid on worship team at church that night! Again, The Husband has a matinee show, so other than driving to overlapping soccer games in the morning, he will be unable to help me!
Calgon take me away.....
Today - work 9-3:30, go right over to set up for Back to School Night at 4pm, come home at 5pm, feed the kids, take #1 to soccer and head back over for Back-to-School night by 6pm.
Tomorrow - work 9-3:30, pick up #1 from drama auditions, head over to church to watch The Husband in the Rainmaker dress rehearsal (thankfully The Husband is off work that day to collect the other 2 kids in the afternoon).
Thursday - work 9-3, meet up with The Husband and kids over by work because we're babysitting for friends so they can attend the opening night of The Rainmaker. Somehow I have to figure out how to pick up subs from a cheerleading fundraiser since I won't be near home that afternoon/evening!
Friday and the weekend don't get much better...in fact, I'm like triple booked on Saturday with 3 soccer games, cheerleading and a kid on worship team at church that night! Again, The Husband has a matinee show, so other than driving to overlapping soccer games in the morning, he will be unable to help me!
Calgon take me away.....
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings....
Tomorrow begins the third week back to school. There have been some "bumps" in the road, but over all we're off to a good start. Emotions have been running across the board!
One thing that has been a challenge is The Husband participating in our church production of The Rainmaker. While it has been difficult because we really haven't seen him much and he got about 2-3 hours of sleep each night last week, I've heard nothing but rave reviews! I'm so proud of him. Honestly though, as proud as I am, I felt a tad bit jealous that he is so anointed to do something so cool and I'm just kind of here....scooping the cat litter, driving to 3 different soccer practices in a night, and trying to figure out how to spread "all natural" peanut butter on the PBJ's without ripping the bread and lots more fun stuff like that.
Am I over dramatizing the mundane in my life? Of course. I love to take care of my family. But, again the whole "dream" thing revisits and I'm just sort of left here thinking ....Lord, what should I dream? Is that you? Is that me? Is it my overactive imagination? Is it bad pizza? I would NOT want to be in The Husband's place right now because of the sacrifice of time spent away from the kids. I did it when I was in the Pollyanna production and it will be a looooooong time before I do it again. I'm in more of a "supporting role" right now and I'm not talking about on stage. Admittedly, I have put my own desires and dreams on the back burner (whatever they happen to be at any given moment), but I do experience a lot of joy by nurturing and providing the things for my family to go after their dreams. Perhaps that is why I initially struggled with the Sarah Palin nomination. It is my own desperate cry to strike a balance between what I am called to do as a wife/mom and what I am called to do as Melissa. I'm starting to wonder if the only times where I ponder this so desperately are when I have swung the pendulum too far to one of those sides and adjustments are needed.
Hence, my conflicting feelings. But, they are just that. Feelings. I'm still in the process of recognizing what is real and pushing through the emotion to get to that place of understanding. Many times that means remaining silent for a time or I'll do more damage. And, most importantly it pushes me closer to my Father, as I draw close to Him His word says He'll draw close to me. It is in that place He refreshes me to be the best mom I can be. And, it is in that place He reminds me that He has dreams, destiny and purpose...with my name written all over them....and, He is faithful to watch over His word to fulfill it.
One thing that has been a challenge is The Husband participating in our church production of The Rainmaker. While it has been difficult because we really haven't seen him much and he got about 2-3 hours of sleep each night last week, I've heard nothing but rave reviews! I'm so proud of him. Honestly though, as proud as I am, I felt a tad bit jealous that he is so anointed to do something so cool and I'm just kind of here....scooping the cat litter, driving to 3 different soccer practices in a night, and trying to figure out how to spread "all natural" peanut butter on the PBJ's without ripping the bread and lots more fun stuff like that.
Am I over dramatizing the mundane in my life? Of course. I love to take care of my family. But, again the whole "dream" thing revisits and I'm just sort of left here thinking ....Lord, what should I dream? Is that you? Is that me? Is it my overactive imagination? Is it bad pizza? I would NOT want to be in The Husband's place right now because of the sacrifice of time spent away from the kids. I did it when I was in the Pollyanna production and it will be a looooooong time before I do it again. I'm in more of a "supporting role" right now and I'm not talking about on stage. Admittedly, I have put my own desires and dreams on the back burner (whatever they happen to be at any given moment), but I do experience a lot of joy by nurturing and providing the things for my family to go after their dreams. Perhaps that is why I initially struggled with the Sarah Palin nomination. It is my own desperate cry to strike a balance between what I am called to do as a wife/mom and what I am called to do as Melissa. I'm starting to wonder if the only times where I ponder this so desperately are when I have swung the pendulum too far to one of those sides and adjustments are needed.
Hence, my conflicting feelings. But, they are just that. Feelings. I'm still in the process of recognizing what is real and pushing through the emotion to get to that place of understanding. Many times that means remaining silent for a time or I'll do more damage. And, most importantly it pushes me closer to my Father, as I draw close to Him His word says He'll draw close to me. It is in that place He refreshes me to be the best mom I can be. And, it is in that place He reminds me that He has dreams, destiny and purpose...with my name written all over them....and, He is faithful to watch over His word to fulfill it.
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