Not Me My Child! Monday!

It's a Not Me! Monday with a twist. The Not Me! blog carnival was invented by MckMama. Click on over to her blog and see what others are not doing... or what other children are not doing!

Anyhow, as a mom of two there have been some wonderful moments full of laughter and fun, and there have been those other times... I will tell you. We're certainly not in one of those other times now. Oh no.

Since returning from vacation our children have completely adjusted perfectly to the routine of being home. Never, ever would we have a night when both children would get out of bed several times, not caring what the consequence was, but outright defying what they have been trained not to do... not my children!

Oh, and for our oldest, a pattern of bad behavior around bedtime would never continue for more than one night. Not my child!

No, it would not continue. It would certainly not go on for 3 nights... uh, or 5 nights.... or 7 nights.... most certainly not 9 nights of disobedience! Such stubbornness would never be in my child's heart. No, no, no! Not my child!

She most certainly isn't on her second day without certain privileges like, t.v, sweets, or games(because the anty hasn't had to be raised up and up). Nope. Remember, she hasn't behaved badly every night for the last nine nights since being home from vacation, right? Not my child!

So yeah, thank goodness, that we have had such smooth bedtimes because it might be a little discouraging if it were different.

I Had a Dream

Yesterday, I was dancing in the kitchen with my son, laughing and enjoying a good ol' snuggle. I was reminded of an experience I had in college.

I went to a local community college, and earned my 2-year associate degree- partly because I didn't know what I wanted to get a 4-year degree in, and partly for financial reasons. But whatever the reason for me being there, as an 18-year-old, I knew what a really wanted to be was a wife and mother. That didn't require a degree.

As I sat in Psych 101, the teacher went through the class asking what each student's educational goal was.

Uh. I didn't really have one- not that I devalued a good education, but really, my goal was not a career per se.

So when he came to me, I answered, "Well, I'm not sure what I want to pursue professionally, but what I really want to do is be a stay-at-home wife and mother."

His brow furrowed, and his expressive brown eyes pierced right into me, and so help me, every pair of eyes was on me too. For a moment, you would think that I had said that I wanted to run a Nazi concentration camp or something!

"Why would you sell yourself short like that?" he asked me.

I told him that I wasn't.

I was then ignored, and the class went on.

There are many thoughts that I could go into based off of this life experience, but something that stands out the most is simply that while I dance in the kitchen holding my 3-year-old son, I am living the life that I wanted.

I am married to a wonderful husband, who loves me and the Lord. He has given me two children to enjoy and invest in.

Whatever anyone's view is on staying home or "just being" a mom is, I don't really care. Because of God's grace, I am able to live a dream and hope that I had. With all the tears and triumphs, diapers and kisses, laughs and messes, I have the best career in the whole world.

Praying More for Stellan

Baby Stellan is in the hospital again, and so his family needs to be lifted in prayer once again.

His heart has thrown curveball after curveball at doctors, and he continues to baffle medical minds.

But the Great Physician knows all that He is doing, and He will do what is for His greatest glory.

Join me in praying for Stellan this week, as God reveals His glory in the life of him and his family.

For updates on Stellan's condition visit his mommy's blog.

Like He Made the Sea

On the way home from Walmart today, I popped in Norah and Haddon's favorite children's cd. The first few songs played, and then it came to "God Made Me." Norah had been singing along off and on, but when this one came on, I could hear that she was singing every word. The chorus goes like this:

"God made me, like He made the sea. He filled it up with green and blue.

He sent His son, His only One, to fill me up and make me new."

I don't know what it was exactly. Maybe it was the combination of what my daughter was proclaiming, or the sweetness of her little voice, but whatever it was, the tears came to my eyes. I started praying that those words would not just be words to a favorite kids' song, but that she would hold that in her heart: That she was created by the Most High, and that Jesus Christ, His one and only Son, has given her life by His grace through faith. I prayed that both of my children would bring glory to God and do the good works that He has for them to do.

I felt the weight of the responsibility of the proclamation of the Gospel to my children, and was so thankful that God is sovereign to draw His people unto Himself.

Not Alone

I just finished the first week of two in which my husband will be gone. He's at school at the Masters College working towards a masters in biblical studies. This is his third year in the program, and he's half way done- I think...

Anyway, I have been very blessed to have been busy. The first week went quickly, and it hardly seemed that long. Now there are only five days left, and I'm hoping that they can go as fast and the first leg of this separation. God has graced me in this week with friends and family and activities, and have made me feel so loved and supported. I am so very thankful for that.

I guess that's really all. It's as simple as that. During a time that could have been very trying and difficult being alone and feeling lonely, I have felt rejuvenated and encouraged by the relationships that I have and ones that are growing.

God is good. He is good all the time.

Unerring Wisdom

Unerring wisdom ordained your lot, and selected for you the safest and best condition. Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there.

You are placed by God in the most suitable circumstances.

Be content with such things as you have, since the Lord has ordered all things for your good.

- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I discovered this little treasure of a snippet from dear Spurgeon this past week. I have been mulling over it since, and have been so thankful for the truth of this statement. Scripture after scripture comes to mind as I think about this quote and break it down in thought.

The promises of God to protect us, to work all things for the good of those who are called, and the sweet umbrella of God's perfect love in all circumstances come to mind, and keep it occupied.

The truth of the phrase, "unerring wisdom"- God never makes mistakes, no matter what we think in our wisdom. His thoughts are higher than ours, and he is the perfect source of truth and wisdom.

I just had to share these things, letting anyone who may read this chew on them for a while. You will be blessed.

Not Me! Monday: A Restaurant Tale

Welcome to another installment of Not Me! Monday where I admit the shortcomings in my life and live to tell about it for the laughter of others. This carnival blog was started by MckMama, and you can visit her blog to see what others aren't doing.

Yesterday was Father's Day, and what better way to celebrate dad than not having to cook for him?! So out we went, to Red Robin to be exact, and there the following did not happen.

Thinking it most prudent to strap our youngest down, we requested a booster seat, and he certainly didn't howl very loudly at the idea upon being seated in the booth. He wasn't threatened with a "trip to the bathroom" at all because of his reaction, and for the next 10 minutes I didn't snuggle so close to him as to give him the illusion of affection... but really it was incognito restraint. That so did not happen.

When it was time to order, I did not skip the waitress past drinks and go straight to entrees hoping that would make food come faster. No, I wasn't in a rush. Not me!

As I sat by my son, I did not make up a game in which he took the germ-infested strap that is attached to the booster, put it up to his mouth, and then I would pull it out playfully, saying, "NO!" I wouldn't allow a game like that because every mom knows that would lead to actual placement of said germ-infested strap in the mouth because a mom can't keep up that game for the entire meal. So yeah, I didn't do that. I didn't do that knowing the outcome. And I certainly didn't regret it about 2 NO's into it, thinking about all the children who had previously sucked on that strap and that it was like my son licking those children's tongues, and who knew where those other children have been?! No. None of that happened.

When our meal came, my heart didn't sink as I saw that on my burger was dreaded mayonnaise and tomato. Upon seeing the defiled bun, I did not realize that I was in such a rush to order that I forgot to ask to have those things left off. And then when the waitress asked if everything was all right, I did not remain mum feeling guilty about that it was my fault for not making the request in the first place. And it wasn't my husband who requested a new bun. Can't I do those things for myself?! Apparently, not me!

While I was waiting for the new bun, I did not give all my fries to my son without thinking to break them up and blow on them to cool them off. He didn't shove a big bite in his mouth and whimper in the pain of each bite. I'm very careful about that... uh, not me?

Finally, as our meal went on, and the fries diminished, my son did not turn to the humorous cardboard coasters for his nutritional benefit. And after telling him that they were "yucky," I did not just ignore that he was taking nibbles off because frankly, he was quiet, and I got a late start on my meal anyway. Not me!

What about you? I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who is imperfect. In fact, I know I'm not.