Okay, so I know and remember the constant night waking with being pregnant. I have to pee at least once a night. But last night when I woke up I felt like my face was on fire. For some reason it did not bother me at 3 in the morning. I just went pee and went back to bed. It takes me like 5 minutes to resettle and get my pillows just right so I don't roll over on my back like I am not suppose to. Then I have to adjust pillows so my neck doesn't get a kink. Then, it seems like baby decides to do the flip flops or kung fu. Ugh. Preparation for the sleepless nights to come :).
Anyway, when I got up finally this morning I glanced in the mirror as I went by. Not only was my face on fire but it itched and was like crab red. We are not talking like cute pink been in my garden for the afternoon but like an "Oh my goodness what happened to that lady" red. Upon further inspection, the places that were red not only itched but were swollen. Holy cow. I didn't sign up for this!
I had decided that because I was out of the facial cleanser that I had been using that I would try another that had the "NEW" label on it. I have said before that I am a sucker when it comes to trying new things. If I don't try it I will never know if it was a miracle product that might put all my others to shame and do things that I never knew were possible with skincare. So, I couldn't just buy the new cleanser, I had to do the whole line...cleanser, toner and moisturizer. Now it was very apparent to me that I was possibly allergic to one of the ingredients in one of the items. Okay, very deathly allergic.
My husband woke up and he said, "It looks like your face has some sort of chemical burn." Okay, I had just spent the last 10 minutes inspecting my face in the mirror trying to convince myself that in more natural light it couldn't possibly be as bad as I thought. I guessed wrong. I tried washing my face gently and that only made it itch. I took a shower, same story.
My husband has said to me again and again, "Why do you switch products. Why don't you stick with what works. I don't understand you." So back to the store I went to buy the old tried-and-true cleanser (which happens to be an extra gentle cleanser). I don't really know what I was thinking. I was eager to just give something new a try and was sure my skin could handle it. Let me tell you, the walk back to what really works is a long walk back...you can guess where I am going.
The spiritual implication that I can make is simple: Mess with fire and you are going to get burned. Stick with the truth and you won't be disappointed (or itchy and swollen!).
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
What does it look like?
Okay, so today I going to test the comment part of my blog...I know that I am not always good at commenting on blogs myself, but I am curious about the opinions of you moms out there.
What does being a "good" mom look like to you? Do you feel like you are a "good" mom? What characteristic do you find yourself lacking if any?
Here goes my sharing: I have battled the good mom syndrome for as long as I have had kids. I thought that a good mom spent her whole day at her children's beck and call. Now after 7 years, reality has set in. I do my best to be there for my kids but let's face it, when you are pregnant and have 2 kids already, sometimes it is all you can do to meet one need for the day.
I felt like my mom was a good mom and I don't really remember her being there every moment to entertain me. She worked all my growing up years and I spent a better part of the day with my grandparents. I still think that the time she invested was sufficient.
When I have the proper perspective, i.e. a Godly one, I feel like I am a good mom. Knowing that good can mean different things for different moms, I feel free. I am the best mom for my kids and I know that God gave them to me with this understanding. I know I am not perfect and I don't always make Godly choices in my mothering, but I feel like I am good mom to my kids. (This is written in a moment of confidence!)
I feel like sometimes I lack the nurturing spirit that I have seen in other moms. Sometimes my creativity and motherly instincts are not always in me. Sometimes I feel like I have to dig deep and find that inner mom :) if that makes any sense to anyone.
I have read way too many articles on mothering and perhaps way too many books. My heart's cry of late has been that God would show me where I need to grow as a mom that pleases Him and that, He says, is "very good."
I'd like to follow up this post with a response to your comments....if anyone is out there???
What does being a "good" mom look like to you? Do you feel like you are a "good" mom? What characteristic do you find yourself lacking if any?
Here goes my sharing: I have battled the good mom syndrome for as long as I have had kids. I thought that a good mom spent her whole day at her children's beck and call. Now after 7 years, reality has set in. I do my best to be there for my kids but let's face it, when you are pregnant and have 2 kids already, sometimes it is all you can do to meet one need for the day.
I felt like my mom was a good mom and I don't really remember her being there every moment to entertain me. She worked all my growing up years and I spent a better part of the day with my grandparents. I still think that the time she invested was sufficient.
When I have the proper perspective, i.e. a Godly one, I feel like I am a good mom. Knowing that good can mean different things for different moms, I feel free. I am the best mom for my kids and I know that God gave them to me with this understanding. I know I am not perfect and I don't always make Godly choices in my mothering, but I feel like I am good mom to my kids. (This is written in a moment of confidence!)
I feel like sometimes I lack the nurturing spirit that I have seen in other moms. Sometimes my creativity and motherly instincts are not always in me. Sometimes I feel like I have to dig deep and find that inner mom :) if that makes any sense to anyone.
I have read way too many articles on mothering and perhaps way too many books. My heart's cry of late has been that God would show me where I need to grow as a mom that pleases Him and that, He says, is "very good."
I'd like to follow up this post with a response to your comments....if anyone is out there???
Monday, April 21, 2008
Family
I just love mine, first of all. What a blessing and a treasure I have in each one...even the one in my womb!
My morning consisted of waking up to my son coughing. I knew that he was coming down with something and the wake up call was just a reminder. With all of the hullabaloo about cough medicines I have opted to try more natural means of cough control (i.e. nothing). He slept well so God gets the glory for that one.
He came downstairs and played computer for awhile. He amazes me at his age (5) with his abilities to play on the computer. I try to limit his time. Try is the operative word here. How much is too much? At one point he called for fruit snacks. I didn't come so he called again more agitated. I started to grab some when he specified, "Spongebob, not just the fruity ones." Of course I had grabbed the fruity and had to go back to exchange them for the Spongebob ones. I served him his fruit snacks and he continued to play happily.
I managed to get it together enough to make it to the grocery store. I had a tighter budget this week so I was shopping the bargains. This week we will dine on tacos and homemade macaroni. Thanks to the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce lady who stopped by with some coupons for free pizzas at Pappa Murphy's before I left for the store! Sounds healthy eh? I actually called my mom from the grocery store because I felt guilty about the health of my meals. She quickly and confidently responded, "Do you pray over your meals?" Of course I responded, "yes." She then asked me, "Don't you think that our God is big enough to nourish your family with the food that you provide for them?" Again, a confident "yes" from me. She reminded me that God sees my heart and my grocery budget and is not limited by either. We serve a big God.
How refreshing it is to call on a mom to let you off the hook. We moms need to stick together. In a world that tries to dictate what is good or not for our kids we need God's wisdom, Godly counsel and Godly moms to help us along the way. This parenting stuff is daunting. Fruit snacks or raisins? Computer or none? How much? Organic or whole grain or both? Supplements or not? Vaccinate or not? The barrage of things we face daily is pretty incredible. All I know is that I do my best and God does the rest. His part is pretty big because I know my best isn't much. Something about filthy rags is ringing in my head right now. If you are a mom that needs to hear it, and I think most of us do, repeat this out loud several times, "I am a great mom and Christ enables me to take great care of my family." Sometimes I feel like this world tries to rob me of the confidence that I need to make it through each day. Today, I am combating that with battle on my knees and a loud proclamation that God enables me to be the best mom that I can be. No matter what my mothering looks like to anyone else, I will be confident!
Moms, don't be afraid to step out and seek encouragement like I did today. Sometimes you just need to hear it from someone...audibly! If we wallow in our feelings of inadequacy or feelings of being overwhelmed the only one who wins is the enemy. Step out and make a call. On God first and then on another mom who can tell you that you are doing awesome and that you can make it. And best yet, when relying on God and Godly counsel your kids are going to turn out okay~!
My morning consisted of waking up to my son coughing. I knew that he was coming down with something and the wake up call was just a reminder. With all of the hullabaloo about cough medicines I have opted to try more natural means of cough control (i.e. nothing). He slept well so God gets the glory for that one.
He came downstairs and played computer for awhile. He amazes me at his age (5) with his abilities to play on the computer. I try to limit his time. Try is the operative word here. How much is too much? At one point he called for fruit snacks. I didn't come so he called again more agitated. I started to grab some when he specified, "Spongebob, not just the fruity ones." Of course I had grabbed the fruity and had to go back to exchange them for the Spongebob ones. I served him his fruit snacks and he continued to play happily.
I managed to get it together enough to make it to the grocery store. I had a tighter budget this week so I was shopping the bargains. This week we will dine on tacos and homemade macaroni. Thanks to the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce lady who stopped by with some coupons for free pizzas at Pappa Murphy's before I left for the store! Sounds healthy eh? I actually called my mom from the grocery store because I felt guilty about the health of my meals. She quickly and confidently responded, "Do you pray over your meals?" Of course I responded, "yes." She then asked me, "Don't you think that our God is big enough to nourish your family with the food that you provide for them?" Again, a confident "yes" from me. She reminded me that God sees my heart and my grocery budget and is not limited by either. We serve a big God.
How refreshing it is to call on a mom to let you off the hook. We moms need to stick together. In a world that tries to dictate what is good or not for our kids we need God's wisdom, Godly counsel and Godly moms to help us along the way. This parenting stuff is daunting. Fruit snacks or raisins? Computer or none? How much? Organic or whole grain or both? Supplements or not? Vaccinate or not? The barrage of things we face daily is pretty incredible. All I know is that I do my best and God does the rest. His part is pretty big because I know my best isn't much. Something about filthy rags is ringing in my head right now. If you are a mom that needs to hear it, and I think most of us do, repeat this out loud several times, "I am a great mom and Christ enables me to take great care of my family." Sometimes I feel like this world tries to rob me of the confidence that I need to make it through each day. Today, I am combating that with battle on my knees and a loud proclamation that God enables me to be the best mom that I can be. No matter what my mothering looks like to anyone else, I will be confident!
Moms, don't be afraid to step out and seek encouragement like I did today. Sometimes you just need to hear it from someone...audibly! If we wallow in our feelings of inadequacy or feelings of being overwhelmed the only one who wins is the enemy. Step out and make a call. On God first and then on another mom who can tell you that you are doing awesome and that you can make it. And best yet, when relying on God and Godly counsel your kids are going to turn out okay~!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Life at my speed
It is 2:00 p.m. and I am still in my pajamas. My son is still in his pajamas. I asked him if he wanted to put on his clothes and he said "No, not yet." I asked him why and he replied, "Because my jammies are so fluffy." I could not argue with that. Today I agree with him. I have on my satin pj bottoms and and nice comfy shirt. Why bother with clothes when I am comfortable the way I am!!
We have had a crazy week. Trips to hospitals and doctors offices have made this girl tired. Next week will bring casts for my daughter and will also bring news whether we are having a boy or a girl. (I guess girl today). I was laying in bed this morning reminding myself that we are to forget what lies behind, even 24 hours behind, and press on towards what lies ahead. Even when what lies ahead seems difficult nothing is impossible with our God.
I heard Beth Moore say something this week that has stuck with me, "God's enormity trumps our inferiority." Hallelujah. Where we are weak and lacking He is strong. Where I don't measure up He picks up the slack. What an amazing God we serve.
Okay, here is my crazy question of the day. I have spent a lot of time over my sink the last couple days. We purchased a juicer, I love it, but it requires a lot of cleaning! Anyway, why is it that stainless steel sinks stain?? I get these crazy water stains everywhere. I thought it was called "stainless" steel?? What's the deal?
Back to the juicer. We decided that this purchase would make us healthier. We purchased nice produce, as nice as the budget would allow, and off we went. I thought, wow, I am clever because I can sneak a carrot into my kid's juice. I made my son a cup of strawberry, grape, apple, carrot. He took one sip and said, "I don't yike it!" "What part don't you like?" I replied. "The part that I swallow," he said. Well, that about covers it. So much for health for my kids. I have tried many ways to get veggies into them. I think prayer that somehow God would enrich fruit snack with antioxidants is all I am left with.
I feel healthier from my juice. I enjoy making different mixtures. Today was tomato, carrot, celery and apple. Fresh tomato juice is quite tasty. I don't know about the celery part...I had to imagine that taste away with every sip. The spiritual implication of course, God's word is sweet. There are those parts however, that are hard to swallow. They are good for us, but sometimes they are hard to get down.
Here's to a healthy, lazy Friday afternoon. Thanks Lord for your enormity!
We have had a crazy week. Trips to hospitals and doctors offices have made this girl tired. Next week will bring casts for my daughter and will also bring news whether we are having a boy or a girl. (I guess girl today). I was laying in bed this morning reminding myself that we are to forget what lies behind, even 24 hours behind, and press on towards what lies ahead. Even when what lies ahead seems difficult nothing is impossible with our God.
I heard Beth Moore say something this week that has stuck with me, "God's enormity trumps our inferiority." Hallelujah. Where we are weak and lacking He is strong. Where I don't measure up He picks up the slack. What an amazing God we serve.
Okay, here is my crazy question of the day. I have spent a lot of time over my sink the last couple days. We purchased a juicer, I love it, but it requires a lot of cleaning! Anyway, why is it that stainless steel sinks stain?? I get these crazy water stains everywhere. I thought it was called "stainless" steel?? What's the deal?
Back to the juicer. We decided that this purchase would make us healthier. We purchased nice produce, as nice as the budget would allow, and off we went. I thought, wow, I am clever because I can sneak a carrot into my kid's juice. I made my son a cup of strawberry, grape, apple, carrot. He took one sip and said, "I don't yike it!" "What part don't you like?" I replied. "The part that I swallow," he said. Well, that about covers it. So much for health for my kids. I have tried many ways to get veggies into them. I think prayer that somehow God would enrich fruit snack with antioxidants is all I am left with.
I feel healthier from my juice. I enjoy making different mixtures. Today was tomato, carrot, celery and apple. Fresh tomato juice is quite tasty. I don't know about the celery part...I had to imagine that taste away with every sip. The spiritual implication of course, God's word is sweet. There are those parts however, that are hard to swallow. They are good for us, but sometimes they are hard to get down.
Here's to a healthy, lazy Friday afternoon. Thanks Lord for your enormity!
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