Wonderful Night!

My husband and I are hockey fans. Dallas Stars fans. Friday night we were watching the game on TV, there was an advertisement for special prices for Saturday night's game. Lucky us! We managed to get great seats for a great price and great babysitters in the space of about 15 minutes. What a wonderful suprise for us! So, tonight my husband and I got to go out together for the first time in MANY months. We had to take the baby with us because she still won't take a bottle but, somehow it still felt like a date. We had a wonderful dinner together and watched a pretty exciting game. The Stars even did us a favor and won the game. :) It's a rare treat for me to get to spend time like that with my most amazing husband and it was so very wonderful!

Thank you, Lord, for life's wonderful little suprises!

This Season

The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."

There are seasons in marriage, seasons in parenting, seasons in aging, seasons in spritual growth. There is season for just about every aspect of life. Seasons within seasons, around seasons, under seasons, in front of and behind seasons. And now the word season is beginning to sound and look funny! :)

Anyway, in class the other night there was some discussion about the seasons of parenting. There is the messy season of the years with younger children, the hectic season of the years with school-age children, the worrisome season of the teenage years, and finally the season of the empty nest. Each season has it's own characteristics and challenges.

My family is in the messy season of the early years. The 4 children range in age from 6 years to 3 months. Did I mention messy? There is always something that needs cleaned, something that needs fixed, somebody who needs their bucket o' love filled, somebody who needs disciplined, and the list goes on. I don't think I could get caught up with everything if I had a live in maid and nanny! And the noise! How did I not know that life would be so noisy in this stage?!

Within this messy season of early childhood is another season. A season that I am not enjoying. So far this season has lasted 3 or 4 weeks and has no forseeable end.
This is a season when the Mommy (and the Daddy) must assert herself as the disciplinarian and remind the three older children who is boss. Particularly with the two boys. We have been blessed (blessed?) with two strong-willed little boys. One of which who is VERY strong-willed. These two sweet, loving, adorable, strong-willed boys have, for some reason, decided that now is the best time to assert their strong wills and test every boundary that has been put in place for them. Every single one!

Here is the problem...I am NOT a strong-willed person. I am what you would call compliant. A compliant Mommy with strong-willed boys is not a good combination. At least, I don't think it is. I find myself letting them win battles that they should not win without me even realizing what has happened until it is all over. I feel like we are in a war and I am losing. It has been a very hard few weeks and it will continue to be hard until I win the war....well, at least until the next war season.

I don't like this season. I am not having fun. I am tired physically and emotionally. I can't wait for this season to end. I don't understand why I have been given this challenge.

I gain comfort in this verse from Ecclesiastes 3:11:

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

What to write about?

Well, I haven't posted for awhile. I haven't been able to come up with anything good to post about. Blogger's block I've heard it called. Life has been busy enough that I have plenty of material, the creative juices just haven't been flowing as of late. So, I thought I would just make a list of some things that have been tumbling around in my mind. Maybe one of those things will delevop into a post. Maybe not. :)

So, here is what is floating around in my head today.

...the washer machine is broken and I only have a couple pairs of clean underwear left! Gram, I'm coming over, hope your washer machine is available! :)

...I don't want to spend the money to get the washer machine fixed, there are much more interesting things to spend my money on.

...I hate my daughter's cat. It is an unreasonable hatred, I know, but I just can't stand the thing. But, getting rid of it wold break her heart and I am not willing to do that so, I need to get over it.

...I REALLY want a dog. But, if I were to get a dog I would be the official litter box cleaner AND pooper scooper and I don't know if I want that responsibility. I think so but, maybe I'm wrong.

...I have a wonderful husband who I love very much and, I don't think I have done a very good job of letting him know that lately.

...I would really like to go out with my husband this weekend. Who wants to babysit? :) :) :) :)

...having two very strong-willed little boys is very difficult for this very not strong-willed mommy.

...Kannon thinks that whining and crying is the only way to communicate with me. I know that it's my own fault. It makes me sad.

...I need to lose 50 or 60 pounds.

...the house is a mess inside and out and I should be working on cleaning it up instead of sitting here writing.

...my husband's Aunt invited me to visit her in Pennyslvania for a special shopping trip in December. I would really like to go.

...I LOVE this chilly weather today! Too bad it won't last a little longer!

...I have really enjoyed this whole blogging thing and the people I have met because of it.

Uh-oh. The baby is hungry. Time to go back to the mom job. :) I hope all you friends out there in blog world are having a good day!

Something in the Air

There seems to be something in the air these days. Something that is making so many of us tired and cranky. I know how it is, I am there too. Maybe it's the germs floating around spreading their illnesses and making us all worn down. I have spent the last two weeks not feeling well, the last two days being the worst. I pray that my immune system will win the battle very soon and I will be restored to my normal chipper (?) self. I imagine that my family prays for that day as well!
I feel like listing all the things that have been bugging me but, I already made a post like that recently and I didn't feel any better afterwards. So, instead, here are a few things that make me smile, that I am thankful for.

The rain this morning.

The cool weather supposedly on the way.

The Stars starting the season 2-0.

Kannon dancing around and singing to himself.

Teya getting me some water to help me feel better tonight.

Maverick giving me big hugs all day.

Ember and her big smiles and how she "talks" to me.

Neil taking such good care of the kids while I laid down, feeling yucky.

This wonderful marriage I am in.

This family we have created together.

Gram and Pappy.

My "job". I love the children that I care for and the people I work with.

Pizza, delivered.

NHL center ice...thanks Pappy!

Ice cream.

Chocolate milk.

My Momma. (Yes, I do still actually call her that)

Sunsets.

Swimming.

I could write more but, the baby is crying so, it's time to go.
I pray for all of you out there who have also been feeling tired and cranky as of late.

Happy Hockey Day!

Yipee! Today is day one of the new hockey season and I am so excited to watch the games tonight! How funny it is that I used to hate hockey and now I am so anxious for the season to start! GO STARS! :)

Never Enough, Never Finished

It's dark now and mostly quiet. A stray cough from the kid's rooms, Monday Night Football, and the dryer (that thing's always running)round out the background music. There are some days, many days, when that list doesn't get shorter... even when you've crossed a lot of items off. There are some days, many days, when I can never help enough, never have enough will, energy, or determination to finish. Or start. Or even come close. Why do I wait until the breaking point to look to the Father for help? Why don't I give him each day from the start? Some days, many days, even when my focus begins heavenward, I try to do it all for Him -by my strength. I need His. Even so, the messes of my many 'flesh days' take time to mop up. Some days, many days, I feel like I'm failing.
- A sensitive, caring wife who pours herself out on our family
- Amazing children who have enough energy to put Exxon Mobil out of business
- A family to lead and serve
- My own disaster of a soul to straighten out
- A Savior to follow
I'm awed into a stupor and thankful beyond measure that Jesus' work is enough. His work is finished. And he has enough left for me.
TSP
Thanks for the invite, Hun. It's a nice change of pace.

Why so grouchy?

Today is a grouchy day. I should get over it. It is a beautiful day out and I am sure that there is something I could be enjoying doing right now. So, what is making me grouchy today?

...had to clean the litter box...HATE cleaning the litter box!
...dumb cat peed in the toy box....AGAIN
...it took Mav almost 2 hours to do a job that should have taken 10 minutes because he just didn't feel like obeying
...feel like all I have done is discipline all day long
...everywhere I turn there is something that needs cleaned up...all this mess makes me feel agitated
...outside the house is just as bad
...more bills to pay today than there is money to pay with today
...still too fat to fit into normal clothes but, not big enough to fit in the maternity clothes anymore
...tired of always wearing husband's clothes...want to feel like a girl again
...tired
...tired of being tired
...have to mop the kitchen...HATE mopping
...have to do laundry
...have to vacuum
...have to clean the bathrooms
...have to get the play room cleaned up
...have to pick up the boys' room
...have to fit school time in there somewhere
...wanted to cross stitch during naptime...can't
...can't sit here for five minutes to write without somebody demanding assistance or attention
...Mav and Teya arguing...AGAIN

How do single moms do it?! I feel totally exhausted and overwhelmed!

Maybe I can get 5 minutes to sit down with my Bible. It's only 1:30...it could end up being a fun day afterall. Just have to get rid of this grouchy attitude first.

Welcome

I have invited the amazing husband to join my blog. He is also an amazing writer so, I hope any readers that we have will enjoy his contributions.
Welcome, amazing husband.