Movin' Grandma

About 10 years ago my mom, stepdad and sister moved to the town where my husband and I live. I think their sole purpose was just to be close to us because we had been talking about starting a family. They had visited us many times and I think liked our small town atmosphere. It is a great place to raise kids. Anyway, a lot has happened since then. I have had four babies (and probably no more), my sister graduated high school and will graduate from college next month and over two years ago my stepfather passed away. A couple of weeks ago my mom went to visit some really good friends of hers from where she used to live. She had a great time and really, really enjoyed being back there with a great church and wonderful network of wonderful friends. So, the subject came up of her moving back there. We prayed about it and kind of set some things in motion. We all wanted to do what was best for her and what God wanted for her. The thought of her leaving her grandkids was the hardest part, no doubt. Well, one of the first things she did was call about a house that is across the street from one of her friends. It had been for sale for quite some time. My mom thought "What the heck. It can't hurt to ask if he is willing to rent it." So she called and the owner called her back. She explained she was interested in renting it and what she could afford and the man said yes! It is a two bedroom/two bath house with a pool all for what she was paying for a townhouse here. One prayer answered! She has to find a job there but she would have had to find a job here. Before the ultimate decision was made we talked about how many times we would visit. Who would go where for the holidays. All of the important stuff. I have no doubt it was one of the hardest decisions my mom had to make. We will miss her, just knowing that she is here, but I know in my heart it is one of the best decisions she has ever made . . .

Time With God

As with so many of my posts, they are inspired by decisions or situations that I am going through. Thoughts swirl around in my head and it is therapeutic for me to put them down on paper (computer.) It is part of my decision making process or to help solidify a decision I have made. Or in some circumstances to maybe see a different point of view. Today's post has to do with one of those tough decision making times. For the last couple of months I have been doing a weekly bible study with a good friend of mine. It serves so many purposes for the two of us. Most importantly I would say would be accountability. Who doesn't need accountability?? I know I do!! A huge purpose for me was to establish some kind of quiet time with the Lord to pray, read my Bible and to meditate on God's word and to learn to listen to what He wants to speak into my life. Admirable goals for any follower of Christ! But, then there is reality. As much as I want to establish some kind of quiet time, the reality of being a homeschooling mother of four young children doesn't lend itself to that. At least not now. I believe God wants us to rise early and meditate before the day gets going. The times that I have been able to do this there have been noticeable results. So, I have spent the last month or so beating myself up because my quiet time to read my Bible has been nonexistent. The last time I read my bible for bible study was in the doctor's office last week with all four kids! Now, I have no doubt in my mind that I am following God's direction for our family. Homeschooling and the number of children we have. So, if we are following God's direction surely He knows what that entails. I am not being lazy. I am not purposely choosing to not read His Word. I know He is a priority in my life but at this stage in my life it just looks different then someone who might have a little more "free time." I have to take my quiet time where I can get it now. In the shower, on the potty, in the middle of the night. I try first thing in the morning to thank God and ask Him for blessings on my husband and children and to fill us with His love. I am blessed by the fact that I homeschool because I get to study God's word along with my children. We are currently reading and "discussing" Proverbs. So, I am in His word daily just not quietly, by myself. I have to be a little more creative in meditating on His word such as my parenting calendar and reading scripture to EG. I have to trust that because I am doing what God wants for my life that He sees and knows. I think He has a little different expectation, right now for me. Now, I am not saying that as an excuse. I need to get organized. At some point, sooner rather than later, it will no longer be an excuse. I am not perfect and I know I fail on many occasions. And someday soon I will have more time and it will be my choice what I do with that time. But right now I am in a season Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: . . . " My relationship with God is so much stronger than it was 6 months ago. I am learning to go to Him for everything, to worship and praise Him. I am getting His word through raindrops. The rivers and lakes of His word will be coming soon . . .

Little Entrepreneurs

My mom is cleaning out her house because on Saturday she is moving back to the Clearwater area (topic for another post.) Anyway, in the process of cleaning out her stuff she came across a bunch and I mean a bunch of old earrings. And by the looks of them they are from the 80s. You know the kind of earrings I am talking about. Huge and in this case gold (not real gold :). I told the girls if I saw the earrings lying around the house out they would go. Really I didn't need anything more to have to clean up and keep up with. So, yesterday they got out the big plastic bag and started pairing them up. Then they started hatching a plan. Oooooh I shudder sometimes when Nature Girl says "I have a plan." :) All over the living room floor there were matched up earrings. (I wish my camera was able to download pictures because it was priceless) Above some of the earrings were post-it notes with prices on them. I hear them talking about selling the earrings and making money to buy American Girl stuff. Well, the next thing I know they have taken the earrings to the end of the driveway (like a lemonade stand they have done in the past) and are "selling" the earrings. It was mid afternoon and we live in a cul-de-sac. I wasn't expecting much foot traffic. Unfortunately in this case I was right. I called hubby just to let him know what his kiddies were up to. He said I should just pay them for the earrings but I thought that kind of defeated the purpose. About 45 minutes later they had to close up shop. It was time for ballet class. They begged me to skip ballet so they could continue to "sell" the earrings. As lucrative as that sounded, I had to pull the plug on their little shop of jewelery. I wouldn't be surprised if they are open for business again today . . . (The picture is from their lemonade stand a couple of years back. Maybe someday I will be able to download pictures again.)

God Answers

I was putting EG down for her little morning cat nap. I am a little weepy this morning because I haven't had a night's sleep in four days. The house is a wreck. Toys everywhere, dinner dishes still in the sink, a lot going on. I had already yelled at the kids and it was only 8:45 AM. My first instinct was to call daddy. "Please come home." But I knew what the answer would be so I resisted the temptation. So, I am putting EG down and every morning I read to her from my "Power of a Praying Parent" calendar. Sometimes it has inspiring ideas, sometimes it has scripture. This morning, with tears in my eyes I said "God, please speak to me. Please help me." And then I read the calendar. This is what He said, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you." Isaiah 43:2. I smiled, I hugged EG, I immediately asked forgiveness from my children. I am going to make it today . . .

Night Out

Last night I actually got to go out to dinner with my mom and sister - NO KIDS! It was weird leaving the house without someone in a carseat. I always get nervous. My sister thinks I am silly because I say I need a break and then when I get one I miss the kids terribly. I told her it is an unexplained phenomenon. When she is a mom, I am sure she will understand. Anyway, back to the night out with the girls. I only had two hours because I had to be home to feed EG. Plus, two hours was about the limit hubby could take. He only called once. I was proud. OK, now back to dinner. When I left the house Little Mama wanted to know why I wasn't taking the diaper bag. I told her I didn't need it because I wasn't taking any kids. We were going to a restaurant that didn't have kid menus' that could be colored. When I got to the restaurant my mom and sister were already there. So we just sat and chatted about all kinds of things. Weight, exercise, body types, how much we look alike. We talked about college educations and our differing opinions on the necessity of one and who should pay. We talked about Facebook and friends and roommates. Of course we talked about my children and their strengths and weaknesses and their differences from each other. We ordered food and had a wonderful meal. When the server came back to see if we were done with our meals we said we were. I looked at my watch. I still had 20 minutes before I had to leave. I sat in that booth with my mom and sister for those last 20 minutes. I was going to milk it for all it was worth . . .

Power of a Praying Wife

Marriages that are in trouble has been a topic of conversation recently. My marriage is important to me. I believe my marriage is forever, through good and bad and rich and poor and sickness and in health. I think I felt that way when I got married but you really, really don't understand it until you are actually living it. The habits and actions of my spouse that I found soooo enduring when we were dating can sometimes be problematic. I do believe that women think we can change our husbands and that husbands think their wives will never change. When the husbands never change and the wives do, it can create a little tension. We have had our ups and downs and that is to be expected. I have learned a lot about sacrifice and putting someone else first. (I don't always do it but I know that I should :) First and foremost, God must come first in my marriage. I believe marriage is a covenant between me and my husband and God. And in the Bible God does give guidance to both the husband and the wife. One book that I have found to be helpful in maintaining my marriage is The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. My girlfriend and I are reading it and discussing it. The premise of the book in a nutshell is that I should be praying for my husband everyday. Praying about the things that are important to him. Praying about things that I think need to be changed in him. As a wife I really have no control over my husband. I can suggest things to him, nag him but true and lasting change comes from God. As Stormie says "Shut up and pray." And the ironic thing is, it may not be how I want or what I want (and I love irony.) I need to be praying for him to be who God wants him to be not who I want him to be. In my case, I had to rethink a lot of things. The first chapter in the book focuses on the wife. That I need to ask for forgiveness from the sins in my life, to change the way I am to be more like Christ before I can go to God and ask for Him to work in someone else's life. It has been about 2 weeks now since I started the book. On page 31 Stormie says "Ask God to pour out His blessings on him and fill you both with His love." I have been doing that everyday (hubby doesn't know that I am.) The immediate response in both of our lives has been incredible. When I ask God for that everyday it makes me smile. I have been married for almost 12 years now. I know that there are rough days ahead, I know there are great days ahead. But, I also know I am doing what I can to solidify my marriage . . .

Silent Sunday