I had these two songs on my heart yesterday.  Mainly about my perspective and how I approach life.  I am so pessimistic sometimes.  I wrote on Sarah's blog about how I realize that I have been thinking if I could just "fix" all the things that discourage me, I would be so much happier and content.  First of all, it's not my job to fix anybody or anything, not even someone's opinion of me.  Second, even if everything outside me were perfect, I still have to live with myself.   I thank God for reminding me who is in control.

 

 

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

 

Artist: Mary Chapin Carpenter

In this world there's a whole lot of trouble baby
In this world there's a whole lot of pain
In this world there's a whole lot of trouble but
A whole lot of ground to gain
Why take when you could be giving
Why watch as the world goes by
It's a hard enough life to be living
Why walk when you can fly

In this world there's a whole lot of sorrow
In this world there's a whole lot of shame
In this world there's a whole lot of sorrow
And a whole lot of ground to gain
When you spend you whole life wishing
Wanting and wondering why
It's a long enough life to be living
Why walk when you can fly

And in this world there's a whole lot of golden
In this world there's a whole lot of pain
In this world you've a soul for a compass
And a heart for a pair of wings
There's a star on the far horizon
Rising bright in an azure sky
For the rest of the time that you're given
Why walk when you can fly

It's not his birthday, it's not Father's Day, I guess it was our anniversary last week, but this is just because I love Aaron.  What prompted the post?  This morning Lydia and Emily laying in bed with me reading Is This the House of Mistress Mouse? and cuddling.  I was thinking about how good I have it.  I'm thankful for a husband that sees the value in me being at home with my kids.  I know in the company we keep this is totally normal, but Aaron is surrounded by people every day that think nothing of strangers raising your children 10 hours a day all week long.  That is just the way it is, and women are often looked at as selfish or insane for wanting to be home with their kids.  Aaron has been through it lately at work, it has really been a hard for him, and I want him to know that I am so thankful for the hard work does all the time for his family.  I remember driving to work years ago on a cold, rainy morning and daydreaming about a time when I would still be at home on a morning like that, in a warm house and taking care of children and a home, and I have to say that my husband has made my dreams come true!  I love you Aaron! 

Yesterday after preschool the kids were playing and Emily was even crankier than usual.  I thought it was just her personality  , but then she was so sleepy and just wanted me to hold her.  She fell asleep in my arms so I carried her to her bed and thought she just didn't get her nap out at Mother's Day Out.  Well, a few minutes later she's crying again so I go to get her back up and the child is literally drenched in vomit.  I couldn't believe it.  I took off her dress and found her onesie underneath was totally soaked too.  I was taking her clothes off in her bed and she says, "Mama, dats disgusting!"  So I took all her clothes off and took her into the shower.  Elijah got real excited at this point and thinks its shower time for him too.  He tries to take off his t-shirt and gets his arm so twisted in it that his arm starts turning purple.  All the while I'm trying to get Emily into the shower which she is suddenly terrified of probably because she feels so sick.  Vomit all over my hands and Elijah is trying to get me to fix his shirt.  When he realizes he is NOT getting in with Emily he starts screaming, echoing Emily's screams at having to be in there.  Ahhhh.  So I finally get the puke out of her hair, my hands cleaned up and Elijah's shirt back on.  I changed Emily's clothes and got back to making dinner. 

 

We had planned on going to my mom's last night, so I had made a Harvest Cake and needed to frost it.  At this point I knew we would not be going anywhere near my mom's house, what with a barfing baby and all, but I still wanted to finish the cake.  Elijah wanted yogurt so he was in the high chair eating.  Emily wanted to sit up there with him in her high chair, but not eat.  So I am halfway through frosting this cake and all of a sudden I hear the rumblings of another puke.  Emily sat in her high chair and filled the seat with vomit.  It was pure water by the end and she was dry heaving.  I felt like crying.  Elijah is right next to her yelling, "oh goodness!  oh goodness!"  So, up and into the shower again for Emily.  I took Elijah out of his high chair before I took her to the bathroom.  I had given Lydia the beaters from the frosting to lick a few minutes before all this started.  So I am in the bathroom finishing up Emily's second shower and Elijah walks in with his face covered in 3x the frosting that was ever on one of those beaters!  I run in the kitchen and Lydia says, "Look what Elijah did to the cake!"  Come to find out later he had an example in his older sister.  They were taking the beaters and swiping frosting off of the cake!  And they were very sloppy at it too, it was all over the kitchen floor!  So I am trying to wipe it up before anyone steps in it and takes it into the carpet when I look up and there is Emily still shivering in her towel.  I had forgotten to get her dressed after her shower because of the frosting.  So I get her settled again and sat in the recliner with her until Aaron got home.  I wasn't attempting another thing.

 

Emily slept all night and is fine this morning.  I'm just waiting to see if it will hit the other two.  There goes my weekend!  Chrissy told me I shouldn't tell Lydia because she worries so much if she knows the stomach flu is going around.  Two other kids have puked this week, so I do think it is the flu.  But Lydia came in the twins' room while I was putting jammies on Emily the first time and I didn't even say anything and she sniffs and says, "Who puked in here?!!!"  Just love those stomach viruses!

 

 

I thought this was good ...

 

Eugene Peterson

 

Today I am thankful for my part in the story.  Above all, I am thankful for the love of my Redeemer, the salvation He has bestowed on me and the hope I have in His name.  I am thankful for my loving husband, healthy children, supportive family and good friends.  I'm learning to be thankful for the trials because there are some things you just can't know in your inner being without them.  I feel the abundance of my life today.  God is so good.

Psalm 41

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

 1 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
       the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.

 2 The LORD will protect him and preserve his life;
       he will bless him in the land
       and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.

 3 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed
       and restore him from his bed of illness.

 4 I said, "O LORD, have mercy on me;
       heal me, for I have sinned against you."

 5 My enemies say of me in malice,
       "When will he die and his name perish?"

 6 Whenever one comes to see me,
       he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;
       then he goes out and spreads it abroad.

 7 All my enemies whisper together against me;
       they imagine the worst for me, saying,

 8 "A vile disease has beset him;
       he will never get up from the place where he lies."

 9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted,
       he who shared my bread,
       has lifted up his heel against me.

 10 But you, O LORD, have mercy on me;
       raise me up, that I may repay them.

 11 I know that you are pleased with me,
       for my enemy does not triumph over me.

 12 In my integrity you uphold me
       and set me in your presence forever.

 13 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
       from everlasting to everlasting.
       Amen and Amen.

My prayer is that verse 12 would be true.  Let me have integrity in my life, my walk, my home, my relationships, my family and my commitment to the Lord and His ways.