Pushed over the edge....

Since I have had my third child, I feel like I have been trying to catch up to my life. There simply isn't a point when the laundry is done, the house is clean, the children are asleep and everyone is happy. The third child pushed me into a zone where I feel in over my head quite frequently. I have been praying for strength, praying for the ability to catch up, and daily locking myself in the bathroom for a few minutes, until something crashes, or someone screams.
I've been feeling pretty lousy about my inability to keep up with my life, when the other night I was sitting in bible study, and heard a couple statements that have changed things for me.
~"If you are managing your life fine, where is your need for God?"
"Thats why he gave me three kids" I said.

~"God can bring order to a chaotic mind."
"Thank God...."

So since, I have been praying for order in my chaotic household, and ultimately my mind. Little by little things are clicking into place, life is taking on a different meaning for me, and I know that eventually order will return. Even if it doesn't in the way I envision, my perception is changing. I am not getting stressed as easily, or at least as quickly over a messy house, and unchecked things on my to do list. I know without a doubt that God intended my little baby to be here, and maybe instead of viewing having a third as pushing me "over the edge," I should view it as being pushed into God's arms, which is really where the well being of my family should lie anyway. It's safer in His hands than my own.

Doesn't this sound great?

My pastor read Psalm 112 in the New Living Translation today and was talking about it being a "cause and effect" type of Psalm. He talked about how although we as christians live under the grace of God, and that His love for us is not based on works, we as his children, and with healthy fear for him should want to please Him, and want do good things. Things like giving generously, with what we have to give. He reminded us that this Psalm doesn't say that we will live without hard times or "evil" we just will not be overcome by it. He gave the example of how one match lit in an entire room of darkness can make you feel more comfortable, as does the light of God within dark times. The other part that stuck out to me, was the end. It's always frustrating how there are those people that don't want you to do well in life, who get jealous, and don't stand behind you. The pastor told us that that is okay, it just means that you are doing what God wants you to do, just keep living in a way that He blesses. Pray for those people, and show compassion on them.
Anyhow, I just thought I would share this Psalm.

This Psalm talks about the "benefits" or blessings of living for God.


Psalm 112 (New Living Translation)

1 Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
They will grind their teeth in anger;
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

words are weird

Since living in Tennessee, we've befriended a lot of Texians, Texarcanians, Oklahomians, and Georgians. All southerners who have different ways of saying things. Here are some examples.

~Californian way:
" We are going to....."
~Southern way:
"We're fixin to....."

~Californian way:
"I'll give you a call."
~Southern way:
"I'll give ya'll a holler."

~Californian way:
"Have your picture taken"
~Southern way:
"Have your picture made." (my son said this today, which got me thinking about all the phrases they may say differently)

~Californian way:
"neener neener neener"
~Southern way:
"nanny nanny boo boo"

~Californian way:
"you guys"
~Southern way:
"y'all"

~Californians call them basketball hoops
~Southerners call them basketball goals

It makes Brody and I laugh to think about our kids possibly having accents and us not, (cause we talk normal of course) and Brody always reminds me that southern boys are good to their mamas, so that I am okay with.

Success?

What do we want for our children? I think most parents answer would be ,"a successful life." Ideally we want our kids to be successful at everything they do. Success in their relationships, school, carrers, hobbies etc. I am beginning to think, however, that although parents desire for their kids to be successful at all things, they tend to focus in on one thing. By one thing I mean, either, relationships, school, carrer, sports, or whatever they seem to deem "most important."
For awhile I have felt really strongly about helping my boys to become really really good at whatever they were interested in, so that they would have some focus to their life. I've wanted them to know "what they want to be when they grow up," and to really go for it.
Little by little I have been given glimpses of people that have really worked hard all their lives, to build up their carrers, to make a lot of money, and they had put so much focus on that, that it took priority over their family, and friends. It all fell apart, and the money isn't so important anymore, the medals, the honors don't mean much when you are all alone.
, I happened to pick up a book recently, and read this:
"Millionaire industrialist John D. Rockefeller once said that he was willing to pay more for this quality than for any other ability under the sun. President Theodore Roosevelt said it was the most important ingredient in the formula of success. That quality is our ability to deal with people- relationships. More than almost anything else in life, relationships make or break us." John C. Maxwell
The bible talks about relationships over and over. Love your neighbor, love your enemies, forgive, treat others how you want to be treated....
I'm beginning to think that although encouraging my boys to work hard, and be good at what they do, that that should not be the focus of my parenting. I should not be pushing them to be good at things, but more to love others. They need to learn to share, to give, to help, to genuinely care. Because in the end, the success in relationships is what matters more in life.
"It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe with one exception, is composed of others." J. A. Holmes

"God, Trees and New Beginnings"

"A change of season is about as routine as it gets. Best I know, it has hapened four times a year, like clockwork, as long as humans have been able to keep track of such things. But each time winter yields to spring, each time summer whispers to us that fall will soon arrive, nature is telling us a story. Nature is telling us the story of a God who is always creating, always remaking, forever crafting new beginnings. No matter how dry the sultry dog days of summer, no matter how bitter the winter death, new beauty, new life is always coming. It is only a matter of time....With God and with God's people there will always be a new season, where life is infused and fruit blossoms....Jesus came to allow us to begin again." Winn Collier author of "Restless Faith"

Taken from an article in "Radiant" magazine, a really great magazine, full of good ideas, and inspirational reads.
Radiant Magazine

Happy Birthday Brody!

Happy Birthday to the most wonderul
husband,
father,
son,
brother,
and friend!

Don't forget Brody:

"Age is just a number... don't you stop-having-fun."
(New Kids on the block...Brody's favorite birthday song)

Brody memories anyone?

"The Best Things in Life aren't Things"

A few of those "best things".....

~Hearing your babys' laugh for the first time

~Watching your son lip the words to "Jesus loves me" at his school recital

~Looking out the window at a brilliant sunset

~Staring at your kids while they sleep

~Those really good conversations

~Walking through the woods, or on a beach

~The smell of roses, pine trees, and babys' breath

~Feeling the warmth of the sun on your back

~Feeling the cool of water on your feet

~Sharing a good laugh

~Remembering good times

~Appreciating all you have

and.....

A couple of Bad days...

Yes that was me, the weird lady in the grocery store with the hot pink nose and upper lip, cracked lips and half open eyes... crying.... in the grocery store. Why you ask? Because I was feeling sorry for myself, but more likely because I have had a fever, a sore throaght, a really runny nose, no sleep, a baby who has refused to nurse, a husband whose been bed ridden, kids who have been really energetic, lots of bottles to sterilize, engorged breasts to pump, an achy body, with a weird itchy rash I got from that vapor bath stuff, and I can't take any medicine. So there I stood looking longingly at Day-Quil, crying because I can't take it, because my baby (who won't nurse) can't have it.
But I am greatfull for a few things...
1. Self checkout things so when your face looks really weird and you are crying in a grocery store you don't have to make eye contact with anyone.
2. For our friends and neighbors who have brought us food all week!
3. For our friends who've provided the frozen peas, and emotional support my husband has needed!
4. My neighbor/friend who offered to watch my baby all night long. (which I didn't take her up on, because I am the "I don't need any help" kind of person, and then realize that I do later)
5. My husband insisting, then limping to pick up my son from pre school today, so that I can get a nap and sit for longer than 5 minutes.
6. The wonderful box I got in the mail today from my church in Ca. filled with kind words and generous gifts for the new baby.
7. That I have a soft comfortable bed and don't have to sleep on dirt, that would really suck.