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October 30 PrayerI read this prayer in Proverbs this morning and thought it was very timely concerning the condition of the economy. Isn't that amazing about the Bible? It was written thousands of years ago, yet speaks to where we are today.
Proverbs 30:7-9
7 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you October 27 Looking Up!Call me crazy, call the men in white coats, but my outlook is on the upswing. I've been listening to these songs - I used to be a Natalie Merchant fan in a former life.
October 23 Pumpkin PatchLydia and I had SO much fun yesterday! We went with the entire Kindergarten class on Lydia's first field trip. We went to Honeysuckle Hill Farm in Coopertown. It was the first time I've been to a pumpkin patch like this, and it was a really cool experience. They had a barn "classroom" where the kids learned about pumpkins and how the bees pollinate them. We looked at tons of farm animals, milked a pretend cow, took a hay ride, got lost in a corn maze, played on a neat slide, picked pumpkins and watched a hog race! Whew! There was a lot to do there, and the people that ran it did a great job of keeping the kids moving from one activity to another without getting bored. My favorite part of the day was when we were on the hay ride. Lydia has a friend in class named Emily (she is adorable!) and I was sitting next to her, Lydia and Jaxon Green. I asked them if they would like to live on a farm and get their eggs every morning for breakfast from the hen house. I asked them if they liked their eggs scrambled or boiled. Jaxon said scrambled, Lydia said boiled, and Emily said, "I like cake!" LOL Me too. We had great weather, and I also got to know Lydia's teacher better. It was such a fun day. October 17 Quick UpdateFriday again? Clean the house day again? Yup. It's been a good week. Elijah has kept his pottying to appropriate places this week, mostly. Chelsea was here babysitting this week and took the kids outside to play. She turned around and there he was, with shorts and undies at his ankles ready to "go" in the grass. She took control of the situation like a pro and forced him inside. Lydia has been off school all week for Fall break. It's been a mixed blessing for her, she misses school a lot, but we've had fun too. I took her to the eye doctor yesterday because she has been complaining of blurriness. Come to find out, she has been holding her eyes open (not blinking) until it gets blurry and that's what she's been complaining about. The doctor measured a little prescription in her right eye, but nothing that requires glasses, she was VERY disappointed.
The house saga continues. Yesterday Aaron was working at home and we got a call that someone wanted to show our house in 30 minutes! He got them to wait an hour, and I was off in a mad dash to get ready for the day and pick up the house. I had just told the kids to get in the van when the phone rang and they canceled. I was SO disappointed. I'm trying to accept that we probably won't be moving soon, but it is frustrating when we have the perfect place to go, and it would help straighten out a lot of things. Oh well, what is supposed to happen, will. I am thankful we aren't in a desperate situation with our house, considering the state the economy is in.
To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.
Henry David Thoreau I read this quote this week, and I think I've posted it before, but I love it because it gives me pause and makes me consider how I act, especially around my kids. I will probably never have a huge impact on the world in a public way, and that has never been an aspiration of mine. But I want to remember I am daily affecting the entire world of my family, and it comes through in every thing I say or do. Including how I respond to disappointment. Gee, I just blogged myself into conviction.
I guess that's why it's good to write out your thoughts, it helps them come together! October 10 QuestionHas ANYONE had a son that just opens the back door and PEES down the stairs???
Just wondering an appropriate response? October 09 ConfessionGot hit by a scripture this morning. I read it every month, but this morning it just hit me. Proverbs 9:13 "The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge." This convicted me because I have developed a nasty habit of raising my voice (okay, yelling) since the twins were, oh I don't know, about one year old! A lot of times I just need to be heard above the clamor and noise of three kids, but more often than not I am tired, frustrated, over-committed, etc. and my frustration and irritation comes out in yelling. The second part of the scripture - undisciplined and without knowledge - sums it up. I don't allow enough time to do what I need to, start too many things at once, let myself get exhausted, and so on. The really bad part is when I feel entitled to raise my voice because I am so tired or whatever. I probably shouldn't be writing this, but I just felt like a mirror was held up to my face this morning.
It has been better this week. Aaron and I were able to go away this past Saturday through Monday for our anniversary thanks to my mom and Colleen keeping the kids. We went to a Bed & Breakfast near Knoxville. It was in a beautiful setting, and we actually did not leave the property from Saturday night until Monday morning. I told Aaron I was a little antsy to stay in one place that long, that's telling isn't it. We are just in perpetual motion these days. I told Aaron while I was gone that the majority of stress we deal with has to do with being under-rested. Anyway, it was so nice to be able to rest that long.
I guess I'm just rambling this morning, but we had a rough night last night. Elijah cried and cried, and kept saying his tummy hurt. Finally at 3 am he ate two yogurts and settled down a little while later, I guess he was just hungry. But he ended up in bed with us and crying out and generally thrashing around all night. But I listened to a sermon last week that was trying to give things perspective. The point was about a father complaining that he had to sit in traffic to take his son to a local pool to see what he had learned in his swimming lessons. The speaker said that instead of grumbling and complaining, the father should have been thankful that he had a car, a healthy son, the means to pay for swimming lessons, free time to go watch his son, etc. It's so true. Our perspective colors our whole world. Instead of choosing (yes choosing) to be irritated, I want to choose to remember my blessings. I'm thankful to have three healthy children to yell at! Just kidding! October 03 10 Years and 3 Kids Later ...Today is the my and Aaron's 10th wedding anniversary! Time flies when you're having fun.
 In some ways I can't believe it, and others I can't remember being without him. I remember that first year of marriage as being so much fun. We kept looking at each other and wondering why everyone said the first year was the hardest. I guess we had an extended honeymoon before all my falls and breakdowns and what-not. I was telling Chelsea one of my memories of that year. Aaron had taken a certification exam (some computer networking thing) and I knew he would have the results when I got home. He got home from work before me that day, and when I pulled into the driveway I saw him on the front porch with the biggest smile on his face and he threw his hands up in the air. It might sound cheesy, but I remember the joy that flooded me because of his accomplishment. To me, it's also a memory of how hard he was working (and still does) for our future. His wins are my wins, there is no division in that at all. And his heartache is my heartache as well. I'm so happy to be knitted together with him like I am. I also remember our first grocery shopping trip to Super Walmart. I stood in the spice aisle and broke down crying because I didn't know if I needed to buy all the spices that they had to have a decent kitchen. Aaron put his arms around me and just told me I was going to be okay. Makes me laugh now!!! Speakin' of spices, there was the time Aaron tried to surprise me by making dinner before I got home from work. He made waffles (we ate breakfast for dinner a lot back then) and instead of putting in cinnamon, he put cumin! It was gross, and he had to throw it away, but we probably got to go out that night, I can't remember.
One more memory that I just thought of was about the song "Grow Old With Me" by Mary Chapin Carpenter. I had a hard time picking a song for our wedding and a few people had told me about that song. I had never heard it before, and didn't pursue it. Everyone kept telling me it was on the radio, but I never heard it. Well, we went to New England for our honeymoon, and we spent one day in Provincetown which is at the very tip of Cape Cod. We went whale watching and it was awesome! We got back at dusk and ate dinner in a little diner where I remember Aaron had the biggest lobster of the whole trip. Anyway, we had to head back later to Plymouth where our hotel was for that night. There was a long strip of highway along the Cape and the moon was full and bright. We were driving along and that song came on. I never heard it before or since then. I'm sure I just went over the line with the sentimental factor!
Here's the lyrics -Grow Old With Me
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be When our time has come We will be as one God bless our love God bless our love Grow old along with me Two branches of one tree Face the setting sun When the day is done God bless our love God bless our love Spending our lives together Man and wife together World without end World without end Grow old along with me Whatever fate decrees We will see it through For our love is true God bless our love God bless our love Anyway, when I think of Aaron the strongest emotion I feel is gratitude. I am so thankful for such a loving husband and friend to spend my life with. |
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