I woke up with a migraine today and I laid in bed and prayed for God to give me patience with the boys this morning and to help me not yell at them or get frustrated. I also prayed that God would help me change my behavior so the boys would know just how much I love them and not feel like I am disappointed or upset with them all the time.
I got them up and the morning went along. I never yelled once (although Riley was certainly testing my patience). I told the boys that I had a headache and wasn't feeling well, so while they were eating and getting ready, I was going to lay down on the bed. I was laying on my stomach with my face in the pillow when I felt someone get on the bed and pat my back lovingly a few times. When I looked to see who it was, it was Gavin. I told him thank you and he smiled and with sympathy said "Yup." and went off to finish getting ready. I laid there and cried tears of happiness because God helped me through the morning like I asked Him to and He gave me a sign through Gavin that the boys do know I love them. It was just really awesome. What an incredible way to start the day.
Sometimes if you just stop and pay attention to the little things, you'll discover something really profound. Asking the Lord to help me with some things that I've been struggling with and that I know I need to change and then seeing the way He worked in my family this morning just makes my trust in Him and my faith grow and grow.
Stop and be thankful for the little things.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Your Name
I don't think much needs to be said about this. The video isn't fancy, but it has the lyrics and that's all that really matters anyway. I hope it will be as powerful to you as it is to me.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Just some things on my mind...
Lately I'm feeling very unsupported by some of the people I have always viewed as my biggest supporters. I'm honestly not really even sure why these people are being this way, but it does hurt. I don't know if it's that they don't really understand the situation, if it makes them uncomfortable in some way, if they are looking at it from the wrong perspective...I guess there could be a million reasons, but I wish they would just talk to me about it. There's this awkward, unspoken discomfort that is going on as a result of the situation and it's really bothering me. When did people decide that it wasn't a good idea to talk about their feelings or ask questions to be sure they really understand the situation? I'm just feeling really upset and disappointed by it. I kind of feel like they should come to be about the situation, because I know that they will view me as "accusing them of something" if I approach them about it. It's just a yucky feeling situation and I wish I knew how to make it all ok. Maybe I can't. Maybe some people just have their minds made up and don't really care to hear the facts from me. I don't know.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Um, YIKES! (with updated info...still YIKES!)
So, Gavin has a roaring sinus infection and has been on antibiotics for a few days now and somehow he manages to have a coughing fit at school yesterday during recess (gee, do you think it's from running around on the playground even though I told him he should take it easy for a few days?), even though he hasn't had any coughing fits at home. Well, the school calls and I had to go pick him up. Of course I had just stepped out of the shower and my child who absolutely needs his full naps in order to function later in the day is doing what?...you guessed it, napping. So, I throw on some clothes, wake him up and head to the school looking like a drowned rat. Of course when he got home, he wasn't coughing at all and just wanted to play around, but I made him lay on the couch until we had to go pick Riley up from school. (I got him about an hour and 20 minutes before school was supposed to get out. Like he couldn't have made it that much longer?)
Fast forward to today. I tell him this morning that he needs to just chill out during recess, so he doesn't have another coughing attack and need to be sent home. He agrees that he probably didn't need to come home yesterday and says he'll take it easy. So, here I am with Asher in the tub (he woke up with his eyes crusted shut this morning to go along with the cold he's been battling), soaking in some Johnson's Soothing Vapor Bath and I'm going along doing laundry and little stuff around the house...in my pajamas, when the phone rings. When I looked at the number, I immediately gave a little groan and then answered. Well, it was the school telling me that Gavin's teacher had personally accompanied him down to the office because he had gone into a coughing fit and almost thrown up. I told them I'd get my little one out of the tub and head up there...so I did (much to Asher's dismay, since he was thoroughly enjoying his bath).
I got to the school and went in to get him and the principal and the secretaries were having a pretty intense discussion about something to do with some parents at the school doing something or other. I didn't really pay attention because I was irritated that I had to pick up my child again for this strange symptom that only seems to show up at school, and I was also feeling pretty stupid because I was sure they were thinking I was an idiot of a parent for sending my sick kid back to school when he had to be picked up early yesterday. I finished signing him out and we headed to the car and when we got in, I asked him why he went into a coughing fit this time and this is the response I got...
"Mom, I was fine, but then the school went on lockdown. We were locked in our classrooms and the principal was telling us to stay in the rooms and not open the doors for any reason and that the police were being called because there were two men in the school who weren't supposed to be there. Then, we heard footsteps in the hall and people talking and they were banging on our classroom door and we were really scared. I guess I got so scared that I panicked and it made me go into a coughing fit and I almost threw up. So, when we weren't on lockdown anymore, my teacher took me to the office and told me that she didn't care what I said, I needed to go home."
WHOA! Not at all what I was expecting to hear. From what I've been told (by Gavin, so it's not the most reliable source, but he was hearing the conversations between the principal and the secretaries while he was waiting in the office for me to get there), two guys who were actually involved in robbing one of our local banks last year, had come into the school because of some sort of dispute with an ex-wife who must have been there for some reason. They were allegedly both carrying knives. Um, that's some pretty scary stuff. It's not like we live in a scary place, but it just goes to show that stuff like that can happen anywhere.
On a good note, Gavin told me that he told the secretaries that he has been taking medicine for a couple days now and that he hasn't been coughing like this at home. I feel like that at least made me look like a little less of a bad parent. I had to give him a little "thank you" for that one.
Anyway, that's the excitement of my day so far and it's not even 10:30 in the morning!
I think I need a nap.
Update
Turns out Gavin had some information a little messed up (big shocker there). The Days Inn got held up and the lady that worked there got a little roughed up, so the police called the schools and told them to go on lockdown. There was never anyone in the school or anything. Anyway though, it was still really scary for the kids and scary that so many ridiculous things keep happening around here lately. One of the banks here was held up 2 days ago and they caught those guys and they caught the guys who held up the hotel today too, but geesh. Apparently it's people from the city (Detroit area, in case you couldn't figure that out) that have been doing it. We had some people from the city come out and rob a couple of our banks last year too. Seriously, even if you live far away from there, you still have to deal with that stuff. How frustrating. At least no one has been seriously injured or anything in all of the madness. Just leaves everyone feeling a little less secure, and that's certainly no good.
Fast forward to today. I tell him this morning that he needs to just chill out during recess, so he doesn't have another coughing attack and need to be sent home. He agrees that he probably didn't need to come home yesterday and says he'll take it easy. So, here I am with Asher in the tub (he woke up with his eyes crusted shut this morning to go along with the cold he's been battling), soaking in some Johnson's Soothing Vapor Bath and I'm going along doing laundry and little stuff around the house...in my pajamas, when the phone rings. When I looked at the number, I immediately gave a little groan and then answered. Well, it was the school telling me that Gavin's teacher had personally accompanied him down to the office because he had gone into a coughing fit and almost thrown up. I told them I'd get my little one out of the tub and head up there...so I did (much to Asher's dismay, since he was thoroughly enjoying his bath).
I got to the school and went in to get him and the principal and the secretaries were having a pretty intense discussion about something to do with some parents at the school doing something or other. I didn't really pay attention because I was irritated that I had to pick up my child again for this strange symptom that only seems to show up at school, and I was also feeling pretty stupid because I was sure they were thinking I was an idiot of a parent for sending my sick kid back to school when he had to be picked up early yesterday. I finished signing him out and we headed to the car and when we got in, I asked him why he went into a coughing fit this time and this is the response I got...
"Mom, I was fine, but then the school went on lockdown. We were locked in our classrooms and the principal was telling us to stay in the rooms and not open the doors for any reason and that the police were being called because there were two men in the school who weren't supposed to be there. Then, we heard footsteps in the hall and people talking and they were banging on our classroom door and we were really scared. I guess I got so scared that I panicked and it made me go into a coughing fit and I almost threw up. So, when we weren't on lockdown anymore, my teacher took me to the office and told me that she didn't care what I said, I needed to go home."
WHOA! Not at all what I was expecting to hear. From what I've been told (by Gavin, so it's not the most reliable source, but he was hearing the conversations between the principal and the secretaries while he was waiting in the office for me to get there), two guys who were actually involved in robbing one of our local banks last year, had come into the school because of some sort of dispute with an ex-wife who must have been there for some reason. They were allegedly both carrying knives. Um, that's some pretty scary stuff. It's not like we live in a scary place, but it just goes to show that stuff like that can happen anywhere.
On a good note, Gavin told me that he told the secretaries that he has been taking medicine for a couple days now and that he hasn't been coughing like this at home. I feel like that at least made me look like a little less of a bad parent. I had to give him a little "thank you" for that one.
Anyway, that's the excitement of my day so far and it's not even 10:30 in the morning!
I think I need a nap.
Update
Turns out Gavin had some information a little messed up (big shocker there). The Days Inn got held up and the lady that worked there got a little roughed up, so the police called the schools and told them to go on lockdown. There was never anyone in the school or anything. Anyway though, it was still really scary for the kids and scary that so many ridiculous things keep happening around here lately. One of the banks here was held up 2 days ago and they caught those guys and they caught the guys who held up the hotel today too, but geesh. Apparently it's people from the city (Detroit area, in case you couldn't figure that out) that have been doing it. We had some people from the city come out and rob a couple of our banks last year too. Seriously, even if you live far away from there, you still have to deal with that stuff. How frustrating. At least no one has been seriously injured or anything in all of the madness. Just leaves everyone feeling a little less secure, and that's certainly no good.
And the award goes to...
ME!
I have been given the honor of recieving this award from my gorgeous and extremely awesome friend, Ellisa! Not only is she gorgeous and awesome, but she's an incredible mommy to her two handsome boys, a loving wife and just an all around wonderful person. Some pretty funny things happen in her world, so be sure to check out her blog.
So, here's the details of the award. The Oops Award was created and is to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their humor and their talents, also for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium. When you receive this award it is considered a special honor.
Once you have received this award, you are to pass it on to others. The rules for passing this honor on:
1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Oops” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
So, most of the people whose blogs I follow, have already recieved the award and the others I read aren't usually the funny type. So...I'll have to get back to you on that list of 5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
I have been given the honor of recieving this award from my gorgeous and extremely awesome friend, Ellisa! Not only is she gorgeous and awesome, but she's an incredible mommy to her two handsome boys, a loving wife and just an all around wonderful person. Some pretty funny things happen in her world, so be sure to check out her blog.
So, here's the details of the award. The Oops Award was created and is to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their humor and their talents, also for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium. When you receive this award it is considered a special honor.
Once you have received this award, you are to pass it on to others. The rules for passing this honor on:
1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Oops” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
So, most of the people whose blogs I follow, have already recieved the award and the others I read aren't usually the funny type. So...I'll have to get back to you on that list of 5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Creativity and Happiness
So yesterday, I just felt the urge to do something creative. I ended up crocheting a plastic bag holder that I hung inside my pantry, so now I have all my plastic bags in there, instead of all over the floor of the pantry. Yay, I did something creative and cleaned up a chronic mess that drives me crazy everytime I open the pantry door.
Life has just been even more great than usual, lately. I'm making some really good friends at church and my women's bible study brings me so much joy and I can feel myself growing closer to the Lord. Not only that, but I have so much to look forward to!
Saturday is Gavin and Riley's first basketball games. They are super excited and so are we. Of course this takes away our one day of the week to sleep in, but oh well, such is life I guess. Halloween is coming up in a few weeks, then it's our girls' shopping weekend in Birch Run and Frankenmuth, the the "Kick off the Holidays" party at my aunt and uncle's house, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas Tree day, then all the Christmas parties, then New Year's, then my mission trip to Mexico, then Easter, then my birthday, then Delyn's wedding, then Summer...the things to look forward to just go on and on. I am so blessed and I don't take that for granted for a single second. I'm in awe of how fortunate my family is. We are healthy (besides the nagging colds and sinus infections the kids seem to keep getting), we all love each other so incredibly much, we have fun together and my children are growing up to be wonderful, loving little people. What more could I possibly ask for?
So, I'm thinking about doing some other crafty, creative projects and trying some new things. I just feel inspired and motivated. Hopefully that feeling sticks around, because I'm going to need that inspiration and motivation to get through the holidays on such a tight budget. LOL
Life has just been even more great than usual, lately. I'm making some really good friends at church and my women's bible study brings me so much joy and I can feel myself growing closer to the Lord. Not only that, but I have so much to look forward to!
Saturday is Gavin and Riley's first basketball games. They are super excited and so are we. Of course this takes away our one day of the week to sleep in, but oh well, such is life I guess. Halloween is coming up in a few weeks, then it's our girls' shopping weekend in Birch Run and Frankenmuth, the the "Kick off the Holidays" party at my aunt and uncle's house, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas Tree day, then all the Christmas parties, then New Year's, then my mission trip to Mexico, then Easter, then my birthday, then Delyn's wedding, then Summer...the things to look forward to just go on and on. I am so blessed and I don't take that for granted for a single second. I'm in awe of how fortunate my family is. We are healthy (besides the nagging colds and sinus infections the kids seem to keep getting), we all love each other so incredibly much, we have fun together and my children are growing up to be wonderful, loving little people. What more could I possibly ask for?
So, I'm thinking about doing some other crafty, creative projects and trying some new things. I just feel inspired and motivated. Hopefully that feeling sticks around, because I'm going to need that inspiration and motivation to get through the holidays on such a tight budget. LOL
Thursday, October 9, 2008
I'm on a roll
So, I just finished baking 6 dozen ginger snaps and tomorrow I'm going to make several dozen snickerdoodles. I'm on a serious roll with this baking stuff and I'm loving it. Now, don't worry...Brian, the boys and I are not going to be ingesting all these cookies by ourselves. I'm going to take them camping with us this weekend where my parents, several of my aunts, uncles and cousins and some friends are going to be. So, there will be plenty of people to eat all my goodies. Brian is dying because he has only been able to sample the goods, due to him being in that Biggest Loser competition at work. I give him credit for having the willpower not to dive in and eat them. I told him I'd bake them all tomorrow while he wasn't home, if it would be easier for him, but he told me he could handle it and he has. So, one type of cookie down and one more to go. I'm just a baking fool lately and I'm thoroughly enjoying myself!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
