My son: "When is this world going to close?"
My daughter: "What is the special thing that mommies and daddies do to have a baby?"
Somtimes I find that as a mom it is best to just repeat the question and say either, "Mommy doesn't know the answer to that" or "Daddy is a better person to ask about that." After all, my kids were talking a week ago about the 9 foot deep pool. My daughter said to my son, "Only my daddy can stand in that water." "Yep," my son replied, "Only daddy can reach." Daddy is pretty incredible.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Simple Favorites
Today I revert back to telling you about one of my favorite things. I have craved and given into...(drum roll please)...pickles! (No, I'm not pregnant). My favorite, hands down is Claussen Kosher Dill spears. Now, I once made the mistake of asking my husband if "Kosher" meant that the pope prayed over the food. He quickly retorted, half laughing, "You mean the Catholic Pope?" Duh. Sometimes I think that I should give things in my head a bit more time to process before I actually share them...this would probably save me a lot of grief. But then again, my husband would not have the enjoyment of laughing!
Anyway, these pickles are awesome. Sour, but not too sour. They crunch when you bite them and they top of any Chicago dog better than any pickle I have found. For some reason I have a new found love affair with Chicago dogs. Lots of people assume that I am a health food nut...which is partially true, but I eat junk too. That, as I have said before, is a balanced diet. Chicago dog on an organic whole grain bun with organic chips followed by antioxidant rich dark chocolate. Balanced perfectly in my mind.
So, if you have a hankering for pickles, head to the refrigerated section at your market and pick Claussen Kosher Dill Spears. Remember, the pope didn't pray over them...but I could if you like. Lord, bless these pickles as they have blessed me!!
Anyway, these pickles are awesome. Sour, but not too sour. They crunch when you bite them and they top of any Chicago dog better than any pickle I have found. For some reason I have a new found love affair with Chicago dogs. Lots of people assume that I am a health food nut...which is partially true, but I eat junk too. That, as I have said before, is a balanced diet. Chicago dog on an organic whole grain bun with organic chips followed by antioxidant rich dark chocolate. Balanced perfectly in my mind.
So, if you have a hankering for pickles, head to the refrigerated section at your market and pick Claussen Kosher Dill Spears. Remember, the pope didn't pray over them...but I could if you like. Lord, bless these pickles as they have blessed me!!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Moving On
Today I just had a bit of trouble getting up out of bed. Ever had a day like that?? Of course, I have an incentive in that my 4 year old insists on poking as his method of waking me. The poking doesn't stop until my feet hit the floor. Well, let me back up, I think for some reason I have inadvertently trained my children to walk to their dad's side of the bed in the early morning. I don't mind and he doesn't either. He should get dad of the year award!! The problem with my kids going to my husband's side of the bed is that I am the one who ends up sleeping in quite by accident.
I am trying to get up out of bed earlier, again, to read my bible and exercise. For whatever reason, it always ends up that I only have time for one. But this morning, my husband helped me to get up. I read my bible AND exercised. After I had done so, I had this feeling come over me, almost a heaviness. I felt really sad and overwhelmed. I actually just stopped in my tracks and analyzed what was going on?? God would not make me feel this way. So, through a process of elimination the only one left was the enemy. He is never happy when I am. He is never thrilled when I spend quality time in God's word or when I do something healthy. The enemy is sneaky.
I am thankful and even overwhelmed at the love of God today. I am so thankful for the power of the Holy Spirit. Because, in that moment, I encouraged myself. I told myself to put my trust, my focus, my thoughts on the Lord. You can guess what happened!! That feeling left as soon as it had come. I moved on. I made a choice not to take on those feelings of sadness or heaviness and they couldn't stay on me.
Yeah God! Thank you that you give strength to the weak! I am thankful for a scripture that I read this morning, "For God is working in you , giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him" Philippians 2:13. God not only gives me the power to overcome but He blesses me with the DESIRE to obey. We don't have to muster up the desire to do right!!! He gives us that desire!! Thank you Lord that you meet all of our needs right down to the very depths of each heart!
One other thing that I am overwhelmed with today is the absolute necessity of praying and interceding for each other! I can think of a couple of friends who are going through tough stuff. Guess what my friends?? Be encouraged today. Your sister in the Lord is lifting you up. Believing when you can't and cheering for you when you feel like you want to quit. Won't you take on the task of praying for those closest to you today?!!
I am trying to get up out of bed earlier, again, to read my bible and exercise. For whatever reason, it always ends up that I only have time for one. But this morning, my husband helped me to get up. I read my bible AND exercised. After I had done so, I had this feeling come over me, almost a heaviness. I felt really sad and overwhelmed. I actually just stopped in my tracks and analyzed what was going on?? God would not make me feel this way. So, through a process of elimination the only one left was the enemy. He is never happy when I am. He is never thrilled when I spend quality time in God's word or when I do something healthy. The enemy is sneaky.
I am thankful and even overwhelmed at the love of God today. I am so thankful for the power of the Holy Spirit. Because, in that moment, I encouraged myself. I told myself to put my trust, my focus, my thoughts on the Lord. You can guess what happened!! That feeling left as soon as it had come. I moved on. I made a choice not to take on those feelings of sadness or heaviness and they couldn't stay on me.
Yeah God! Thank you that you give strength to the weak! I am thankful for a scripture that I read this morning, "For God is working in you , giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him" Philippians 2:13. God not only gives me the power to overcome but He blesses me with the DESIRE to obey. We don't have to muster up the desire to do right!!! He gives us that desire!! Thank you Lord that you meet all of our needs right down to the very depths of each heart!
One other thing that I am overwhelmed with today is the absolute necessity of praying and interceding for each other! I can think of a couple of friends who are going through tough stuff. Guess what my friends?? Be encouraged today. Your sister in the Lord is lifting you up. Believing when you can't and cheering for you when you feel like you want to quit. Won't you take on the task of praying for those closest to you today?!!
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Blessed
It's early Sunday morning. My son awoke shortly after 6 a.m. He had been awake about midnight because he had to go potty. This has become a regular thing for my little angel. He is trying so hard to make it through the night with dry pants. Despite the middle of the night urges, I am so proud of him.
I took my bible and my devotional outside into the sunshine. It was warm but a cool breeze made it comfortable. My neighbor came out and we exchanged greetings. I decided to serve my kids breakfast outside. I prepared everything and then herded my little lambs out to the table. Of course my son needed his sun glasses. So upstairs I went to rummage through baskets of toys in search of his sun glasses. I knew if he had some that my daughter would need some too. So even though I had victory in finding one pair I really needed two. I succeeded and headed back outside. How wonderful to enjoy waffles and cold vanilla milk on the patio. This wonderful feeling lasted for about 2 minutes. Then the whining started. Things like, "It is burning out here" or "I don't want vanilla milk, it's too yucky" filled the air. I managed to get my kids fed and then we came back inside.
I enjoy being in the sunshine. I rather agree with cats, that in the sun is the best place to nap. Living in the spirit is a lot like walking in the sunshine; it is the most wonderful place to be. But I can't help but make the connection between my kids' whining and the tendency of our flesh to crave something more "comfortable." A devotional I read challenged me to come up higher, to leave the low life behind. What does this mean for you today?? My prayer is that God will illuminate those things in me that hinder, those sins that easily entangle. I want the sun to be comfortable and the shade to be the place that I desire to leave quickly.
As I sit here and look at the precious gifts I have in my children, even though they don't enjoy the patio like their mom, I am overwhelmed with God's blessing. I have a home. I have a wonderful, loving husband and I enjoy great health. Thank you Lord for all of the blessings in my life. Help me to keep my focus on the "haves" and to set aside the "have nots." Help me to keep my eyes on the Source and my feet on the path in the sun. As the temperature rises, quietly remind me that you refine and sanctify me because you love me enough to cause me to grow! You are amazing God.
I took my bible and my devotional outside into the sunshine. It was warm but a cool breeze made it comfortable. My neighbor came out and we exchanged greetings. I decided to serve my kids breakfast outside. I prepared everything and then herded my little lambs out to the table. Of course my son needed his sun glasses. So upstairs I went to rummage through baskets of toys in search of his sun glasses. I knew if he had some that my daughter would need some too. So even though I had victory in finding one pair I really needed two. I succeeded and headed back outside. How wonderful to enjoy waffles and cold vanilla milk on the patio. This wonderful feeling lasted for about 2 minutes. Then the whining started. Things like, "It is burning out here" or "I don't want vanilla milk, it's too yucky" filled the air. I managed to get my kids fed and then we came back inside.
I enjoy being in the sunshine. I rather agree with cats, that in the sun is the best place to nap. Living in the spirit is a lot like walking in the sunshine; it is the most wonderful place to be. But I can't help but make the connection between my kids' whining and the tendency of our flesh to crave something more "comfortable." A devotional I read challenged me to come up higher, to leave the low life behind. What does this mean for you today?? My prayer is that God will illuminate those things in me that hinder, those sins that easily entangle. I want the sun to be comfortable and the shade to be the place that I desire to leave quickly.
As I sit here and look at the precious gifts I have in my children, even though they don't enjoy the patio like their mom, I am overwhelmed with God's blessing. I have a home. I have a wonderful, loving husband and I enjoy great health. Thank you Lord for all of the blessings in my life. Help me to keep my focus on the "haves" and to set aside the "have nots." Help me to keep my eyes on the Source and my feet on the path in the sun. As the temperature rises, quietly remind me that you refine and sanctify me because you love me enough to cause me to grow! You are amazing God.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Tennis Lessons
This evening, my husband and I decided that it would be fun to go play tennis. My growing up years we would play tennis every day of the summer. I remember going to play tennis in the evenings with my parents. We would always go get ice cream afterwards. I loved every minute of it.
Naturally, I thought that my children would be the same. Well, let me tell you exactly how it all went down:
First, my husband had to go driving around to the neighbors that we knew to find an extra tennis racquet. We had 2 plus a racket ball racket that one of the kids could use. 20 minutes later, he had success. He stopped at the store to grab some balls. He came home to get me and we all headed to the tennis courts which are about 2.4 minutes away from our house. Once in the car the kids whined about what movie they wanted on in the car while dad sternly said "no" and mumbled under his breath that the TVs needed to be removed from the car. I agreed.
We got to the tennis courts that were quite full. We wanted to find a whole row of courts that were free so that we didn't disturb anyone because we knew that it would be messy. We found 2 courts together and settled for that. We got out of the car with everyone carrying their racquets and with their excited smiles on. Once on the court, my husband gave the kids some tips while I went to take the cover off of my racket. The zipper would not pull and I looked at the zipper more closely. The zipper had a greenish fur growing on it. It was actually corroded shut. I pulled the zipper seam and it came open with a puff of dust. I laughed out loud, "It really has been a while since we played tennis." 7 years to be exact.
By this time, my daughter started crying saying, "I can't do it" all while pulling away from my husband who was getting upset at her while she was flailing about. My husband gave up and grabbed his racquet to get it out of the cover. Guess what? His was corroded shut too. We laughed and I said, "I know how to get it open, just pull the seams." It did not work. My husband tried to pry it with his keys. At this point my kids were both crying in frustration. My son was actually down on the ground and my daughter was still flailing. I could tell that my husband was trying to use his aggravation to his advantage in trying to rip the vinyl cover. It probably would have felt good to him rip vinyl about now since the kids were getting more and more frustrated and cried louder and louder. I actually began to laugh out loud which didn't help I found.
My husband handed me the case because he needed to quiet down my daughter. At this point my son came running over to grab a ball, tripped over his sandal and landed on his head. He began to scream, I threw the racket and scooped him up. He had a big red goose egg in the middle of his forehead. I carried him to my husband who just didn't seem to have any words at that moment. I kissed my son's head and suggested that we go home. One thing about my husband is that he does not give up easily. What a guy.
So, I picked up my husband's racquet again and I suggested that my husband pull one side of the zipper as I pulled the other. So here we are with my children wailing and mommy and daddy playing tug of war with a tennis racquet. My husband had one leg back and both hands pulling one side while I was in a lunge position myself pulling at the other quarter inch of fabric. No luck. Finally after all our muscles were tensed and fatigued, I tried ripping the zipper with the keys. A slow but successful process. My husband was then able to spread the rip as he pulled with all his might...victory. The tennis racquet was free, the cover now trash.
We proceeded to try to give our kids some pointers with our racquets and each moment grew more frustrating for all of us. I ran to shag balls a lot. My son cried a lot. My husband tried not to yell a lot. After several minutes and with sunset approaching, the kids were instructed to sit on the side and watch. "I don't want to" echoed through the courts. "You can get balls for us," I said, "Mommy and daddy want to play now." The kids continued to cry while my husband and I tried to start playing. My husband took this time to tell me that a neighbor had offered to watch the kids while we played. But no. We decided on family fun!
The first ball went into the court next to us. Then the second. After the third apology to the players next to us I was just ready to call it quits. The man next to us actually said, "Don't worry about it." Followed by, much to my disbelief, "Your kids are so cute." Are you joking me?? I knew that he had to have witnessed the last 20 minutes of tears, tempers, trips and tug-of-wars. I replied sheepishly, "Thank you. This family time has not quite been what we had planned."
My husband and I did manage to get in a set. I lost miserably...mostly due to my errors, not his skill (kidding of course). I found myself a bit teary eyed as I remembered the fun playing tennis I had as a kid. Or maybe the tears came because my kids were hating what I so wanted them to enjoy.
We're home now and the kids are in bed. We survived but we have a new rule. The words, "I can't do it" and "It's too hard" are to be considered swear words. These words will result in mouths being washed out with soap. I told my kids "We can do all things through Christ" and "Nothing is impossible with God." Of course this doesn't mean that my kids will be champion tennis players or perfect at everything they try. But I am just finding more and more that my problems as an adult are rooted in the attitudes of "I can't do it" or "It's just too hard." My prayer for my family is that we all live life through the power of the spirit not relying on the flesh. Our lives apart from Christ are like the disheveled tennis match we experienced tonight as a family. Something rings true about weeping and gnashing of teeth!
So many lessons are found in our night of fun. I could go on and on. But I think tonight I will leave my soap box and go spend some MORE quality time with my husband. I was reminded tonight of times earlier in our marriage on the tennis courts. I was reminded of how much I love my husband. Thank you Lord tonight for my family. I truly consider myself blessed. It took a man outside my chaos tonight to remind my that I have precious kids. Even when I have to kind of look beyond the tantrums to see it!
Naturally, I thought that my children would be the same. Well, let me tell you exactly how it all went down:
First, my husband had to go driving around to the neighbors that we knew to find an extra tennis racquet. We had 2 plus a racket ball racket that one of the kids could use. 20 minutes later, he had success. He stopped at the store to grab some balls. He came home to get me and we all headed to the tennis courts which are about 2.4 minutes away from our house. Once in the car the kids whined about what movie they wanted on in the car while dad sternly said "no" and mumbled under his breath that the TVs needed to be removed from the car. I agreed.
We got to the tennis courts that were quite full. We wanted to find a whole row of courts that were free so that we didn't disturb anyone because we knew that it would be messy. We found 2 courts together and settled for that. We got out of the car with everyone carrying their racquets and with their excited smiles on. Once on the court, my husband gave the kids some tips while I went to take the cover off of my racket. The zipper would not pull and I looked at the zipper more closely. The zipper had a greenish fur growing on it. It was actually corroded shut. I pulled the zipper seam and it came open with a puff of dust. I laughed out loud, "It really has been a while since we played tennis." 7 years to be exact.
By this time, my daughter started crying saying, "I can't do it" all while pulling away from my husband who was getting upset at her while she was flailing about. My husband gave up and grabbed his racquet to get it out of the cover. Guess what? His was corroded shut too. We laughed and I said, "I know how to get it open, just pull the seams." It did not work. My husband tried to pry it with his keys. At this point my kids were both crying in frustration. My son was actually down on the ground and my daughter was still flailing. I could tell that my husband was trying to use his aggravation to his advantage in trying to rip the vinyl cover. It probably would have felt good to him rip vinyl about now since the kids were getting more and more frustrated and cried louder and louder. I actually began to laugh out loud which didn't help I found.
My husband handed me the case because he needed to quiet down my daughter. At this point my son came running over to grab a ball, tripped over his sandal and landed on his head. He began to scream, I threw the racket and scooped him up. He had a big red goose egg in the middle of his forehead. I carried him to my husband who just didn't seem to have any words at that moment. I kissed my son's head and suggested that we go home. One thing about my husband is that he does not give up easily. What a guy.
So, I picked up my husband's racquet again and I suggested that my husband pull one side of the zipper as I pulled the other. So here we are with my children wailing and mommy and daddy playing tug of war with a tennis racquet. My husband had one leg back and both hands pulling one side while I was in a lunge position myself pulling at the other quarter inch of fabric. No luck. Finally after all our muscles were tensed and fatigued, I tried ripping the zipper with the keys. A slow but successful process. My husband was then able to spread the rip as he pulled with all his might...victory. The tennis racquet was free, the cover now trash.
We proceeded to try to give our kids some pointers with our racquets and each moment grew more frustrating for all of us. I ran to shag balls a lot. My son cried a lot. My husband tried not to yell a lot. After several minutes and with sunset approaching, the kids were instructed to sit on the side and watch. "I don't want to" echoed through the courts. "You can get balls for us," I said, "Mommy and daddy want to play now." The kids continued to cry while my husband and I tried to start playing. My husband took this time to tell me that a neighbor had offered to watch the kids while we played. But no. We decided on family fun!
The first ball went into the court next to us. Then the second. After the third apology to the players next to us I was just ready to call it quits. The man next to us actually said, "Don't worry about it." Followed by, much to my disbelief, "Your kids are so cute." Are you joking me?? I knew that he had to have witnessed the last 20 minutes of tears, tempers, trips and tug-of-wars. I replied sheepishly, "Thank you. This family time has not quite been what we had planned."
My husband and I did manage to get in a set. I lost miserably...mostly due to my errors, not his skill (kidding of course). I found myself a bit teary eyed as I remembered the fun playing tennis I had as a kid. Or maybe the tears came because my kids were hating what I so wanted them to enjoy.
We're home now and the kids are in bed. We survived but we have a new rule. The words, "I can't do it" and "It's too hard" are to be considered swear words. These words will result in mouths being washed out with soap. I told my kids "We can do all things through Christ" and "Nothing is impossible with God." Of course this doesn't mean that my kids will be champion tennis players or perfect at everything they try. But I am just finding more and more that my problems as an adult are rooted in the attitudes of "I can't do it" or "It's just too hard." My prayer for my family is that we all live life through the power of the spirit not relying on the flesh. Our lives apart from Christ are like the disheveled tennis match we experienced tonight as a family. Something rings true about weeping and gnashing of teeth!
So many lessons are found in our night of fun. I could go on and on. But I think tonight I will leave my soap box and go spend some MORE quality time with my husband. I was reminded tonight of times earlier in our marriage on the tennis courts. I was reminded of how much I love my husband. Thank you Lord tonight for my family. I truly consider myself blessed. It took a man outside my chaos tonight to remind my that I have precious kids. Even when I have to kind of look beyond the tantrums to see it!
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