Playing Catch-Up

Every time I get busy with work, it seems blogging is the last thing to be done. Well, that and cleaning my house. I have been really blessed to have had several weeks jam-packed with as much work as I could do, and more. It's awesome. There was a time, in the beginning, when there might be a week where I wouldn't have any work, or only a small amount. The person who sends me work very graciously offered me an out, saying she understood if I needed to look elsewhere. And while it didn't make sense (on paper, or in numbers…aka the bank account) I felt complete and total peace, if not a command to stick with it and stick it out.

Over a year later, I'm still with it. This job is one of the biggest blessings ever. It allows me to stay home with my kids all the time. And while there are times that I can't stop what I'm doing to play or do quite as much as I think I might like to, I'm still there. Adam can pick up extra shifts or do training and we don't have to worry with childcare schedules…something we often wondered about before we decided I would stay home.

Beyond what my job allows me to do as far as staying home and being able to be with my kids, I LOVE the job itself as well. I am constantly learning new things. I find myself laughing, crying, and being challenged on a daily basis. I see what is going on in the Body of Christ all over the country. In fact, there are many churches I almost feel a part of because I hear so many of their sermons. I can anticipate what some of the pastors are going to say, at times.

My boss is incredible, too. She helps me along when I start making mistakes, deals with me when I ask dumb questions early in the morning because I haven't had enough coffee to think clearly. We (respectfully) make fun of things together. We pray for each other, and have developed a friendship…totally via the internet. Her parents do live in the area, although she is across the country, so we hope to one day get to see each other face to face.

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Outside of work-land, things have been rough in the area of potty training with Kaylee. For a while there, it seemed like we were home free, virtually done, and then almost overnight it was over. I'm not sure what the malfunction is. And YES I do know that it will come and that each child is different. But despite that fact, it is still a source of daily frustration.

Despite that set-back, she keeps the house moving.all.the.time. You never know what is coming out of her mouth next. Today she told me, "Only three kids…" Only three kids, what? "Only three kids are coming tonight." Well, what three kids are coming? "Maga, Babu and Dylan. Just those three kids." Okay, honey. (Those "three kids" just so happen to be my parents and their dog. For some reason, they are now "three kids.")

We took Logan for his 15-month check up yesterday. Okay, so we were a month late and he is actually 16 months. Oops. The doctor was less than concerned about that, however. He said anytime in that area was fine…not a big deal to be off once he is this old. (Can I just say that it's really nice to go to a place where there is so much confidence in our parental skills and a no-pressure zone? Because it is.) Ahem. I was saying… Logan is still only about in the 20^th percentile for weight (22lbs), which is up from the last time (in both pounds and percentile). He's around the 65^th percentile for height, and his head is in the 75^th percentile. Yes little man, you do look bigger than you are because you have a big head. The doctor put it in a nicer way, "He has a big brain." (or something like that…)

One of his favorite things do to is…DANCE. Bubba has mad moves, let me tell you. His motions start from the shoulders. He gets them going up and down. Then, when he feels ready, the arms get to going. And occasionally, if he's really into it, the head just goes wildly crazy…back and forth as fast as he can. It is most hysterical, really.

He also has a great affinity for cars, trucks, and especially trains. He has one Thomas train that he is very attached to. He will ransack his entire room if you ask him to go find it. (even if it is in the living room…)

Well, folks. Perhaps more info than you wanted, but that's what happens when I blog late at night. I realized a few hours ago that I haven't downloaded Christmas pictures yet… Something about a basement flooding, and having everything packed up, and just getting back to normal…something like that. Many pictures to come soon…

 

 

Two, Please

A while ago, I was explaining to Kaylee that I had decided we would stay home from church today. Here's a general gist of our conversation:

Me: Kaylee, we're going to stay home from church today to make sure the basement doesn't flood again since it is raining a lot and the snow is melting. If it floods again, we don't have money to put more carpet down… Maga and Babu are coming over to our house later, so you'll still be able to play with them.

K: I have money.

Me: I know you have money, sweetie, but not quite enough to buy new carpet. Thanks.

K: (Pulling out imaginary money) Two, please.

Me: (Just happened to be petting the dogs…) Here you go, you asked for two, so here are the dogs. They're yours now. Take care of them. Rub them.

K: Thanks!

 

Several Minutes later:

K: Here you go, Mommy. You can have your dogs back now. Evidentially she opted for a return.

Titles Can Be Overrated

Life seems to be stacking up a pile of unfortunate events around here. I mentioned the flooding… Well, for the sake of a full list, let's back up and recap. Christmas morning our microwave broke. The day after Christmas the basement flooded. We learned the following day the dehumidifier had been broken for a while. We didn't realize it wasn't working because it has been cold and dry, and it's not uncommon for it to not pull a lot of water in weather like this. A few days ago, we realized we no longer had hot
warm
lukewarm water. It was all cold. Being that I didn't know the water heater was about to break, I didn't take a shower first thing. I opted to work while the house was quiet. Later, I had to take a freezing cold shower. Let's just say it was really, really quick, I had to give myself more than one pep talk and danced through the whole thing. When I got out, I was blue.

Today, the internet stopped working and I had to go to mom's all day to work. Kaylee missed her nap and was beyond her breaking point in the evening. Once we got home, the dogs jumped out of the van, breaking the wire that connects the kid's DVD players together, allowing Logan's to work. …oh, and somewhere in there the CD player we got Kaylee for Christmas stopped working… Adam is exchanging it tomorrow.

Yeah…it's been a doozy of a few weeks.

Sunday, our pastor preached on…Are You Serious? Adam and I laughed. Surly he has been following us around. I asked him about that after, and he looked at me with a puzzled expression. Evidently, he hadn't been following us. ;) Now I honestly don't believe that everything that happened was an attack. Things tend to happen. Tend to break. Tend to not work.

However…our reactions can either glorify God, allowing Him to use the circumstances to grow us, teach us, and bless us, or we can allow Satan to nudge in and captivate our thoughts and create disunity. Although I've had my fair share of words and thoughts I'd rather not record…no need for memories there, Thankyouverymuch…we have made a choice to claim God's promises. We are blessed beyond what we can say. Adam and I continually talk about God's faithfulness to us.

Someone bought us a new microwave.

Someone bought us a new dehumidifier.

We found a place to replace the carpet for close to the original cost.

And while we aren't swimming in dough, we are blessed enough to be able to replace the carpet right away.

It would be easy for me to think about all that has happened, and get caught in my own little world of woes. But that would be selfish and wrong.

We have a friend on bed rest in the hospital, fighting to keep her baby in as long as she can.

I read about a family whose little baby just died from complications of a severe virus. He was about 3 months old.

While I could go on and on about stories of people who are struggling and traveling harder roads than my silly problems, that's not the point. The world out there is deeper than the end of my nose, but it's easy to get stuck there, running into walls all the while.

God, that we might see the needs of those around us and reach out to those we can.

I'd love to think that I could change the world. I can't. Sometimes I can't even keep up with my own laundry.

I can, however, change the world for a person or two…

 

Question For You

K just came up to me…

 

I have a question for you, Mamma.

Me: Okay…

I have a very hard question for you, Mamma. (as if bracing me for what was to come.)

I looked her square in the face, "Okay, what is your question?"

Seriously she said, "Don't take my makeup out of the princess box. And be very careful not to get it on your nose, cheeks or tummy."

With that settled, she tripped over my shoe and walked away. Clearly we need to work on the difference between a question and a statement…

From The Message

While working, a pastor quoted this verse from The Message. I have that Bible, but don't use it all the time, however, I love the way it words some things. Here is the verse…

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." ~Matthew 11:28-30

I hope it speaks to you the way it did to me. It made it to my verse a day binder that I've started…