Pluck

Almost 3 hours ago, I sat down to update my blog. I was angry at my husband and frustrated with my children. Lloyd was asleep at 9:30 after arguing with me. There are black crayon marks all over Bryce's door. Brady won't sleep through the night anymore, and Braxton has become an argumentative, opiniated 5 year old. I really didn't know what to say in my blog, so I decided I would read everyone else's updates first.

I ended up on a blog of a couple I knew in college. Their baby boy, who was a little over a year old, died earlier this month. As I read the mom's blog, my heart ached (still does) for her, and her husband, and their other little boy. As I read about her wanting memories of her son and desiring to smell his smell, tears poured! Suddenly, I realized that she would do anything to have crayon marks on her door from a 2 year old, and a baby to hold at 4am, and a 5 year old to argue with her. And I want to run to my boys' rooms and smell them...

I also read Stacey's blog, and she had a link to another blog that reiterated what I was already convicted about... http://aholyexperience.com/2008/08/what-mother-must-sacrifice.html. I need to "pluck." I need to remember that one of the most precious gifts I can give my boys is myself, and one of the most precious gifts I can give myself is my boys.

When I sat I down to this computer, I felt unappreciated, aggravated, and tired. Just now, Bryce started crying (he fell out of bed) and I gladly went and put him back in the bed. I hugged him tight and smelled deeply and said "I love you." and in his still very sleep voice he said "I love you...too." Sheer bliss. God forgive me for not appreciating these precious gifts you have given me.

Ladies, may we "pluck" with willingness and thankfulness. May we cherish each moment with our children and our husbands. And may we never take for granted what has been "plucked" for us...

Cool Like That

I just told my mom last week that I needed to go look for some long sleeve shirts for Braxton since it's starting to get cool, and he wanted matching pjs for Christmas. (He thinks he has to match to sleep!) And guess what? One of my friend's sisters sent a bag of clothes with long sleeve shirts among other things we can definitely use and 2 sets of matching pjs in Braxton's favorite thing--Power Rangers. To top it all of...they were the Red Power Ranger which Braxton is going to be for Halloween. Not only that, but she had thrown in a few pairs of socks. I couldn't find any in the whole house while packing for our trip to Dallas on Friday... Isn't God cool like that? I need to be sure to point these things out to Braxton. God really does give us all that we need and want--better than the Lilies of the Field! Why is it we have such a hard time remembering that?!

Matthew 6:28-34

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

He Answers When I Call

As you could tell from my blog last week, I was having a very difficult time mommying my 2 year old. And as I said, every book I read about parenting was for dealing with a rational, reasoning child, which mine is not in the midst of a 2 year old tantrum. I was at my wits end one afternoon, sitting on my bed with Brady on one hip, trying to hold my Bible in a way that I could read it and still keep it out of Brady's grip, asking God to help me...I opened my Bible and this is how He answered my cry.

"23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must GENTLY instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth..." 2 Timothy 2:23-25

I was convicted immediately of all the foolish and stupid arguments I've been having with my 2 year old, that I wasn't being kind or teaching anything that I wanted him to learn in my frustration, and I was definitely resentful of the fact that he was not cooperating with me!

A friend of mine recently told me (in regard to another relationship) that I need to stop trying to make people live up to my expectations and stop trying to be the Holy Spirit. When I read the part about GENTLY instructing in the hope that God would lead them to the truth, I was reminded that I need to apply that same idea to my children. I need to stop trying to make my boys live up to my expectations and the expectations of others and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. I am to GENTLY instruct. GOD grants them repentance and leads them to truth.

So ladies, I pray that each of us learns to gently instruct and then we get out of the way for God to powerfully work in our kids!

BTW-I wrote this scripture on my mirror in my room as a reminder. Dry erase markers are great for that!

My Husband Rocks Friday!

My husband Lloyd is a wonderful husband. It's 11:30 at night and he just left to go get milk so I can make biscuits in the morning. That's after he worked all day, driving an hour each way, and keeping all 3 boys all night so I could go do a Pampered Chef party. I love him! My husband rocks (and he's hot!)!

My Sweet Bryce

I thought I needed to put some pics of Bryce because of my last blog...



Pretty cute isn't he? Gotta love those boots!

Making Your Children Mind Without Losing Yours

This is the name of the book my well-meaning mother bought me. Funny huh? But with a defiant 2 year old screaming NO at me all day long, I thought I'd read it. I'm about half way through it, and it's the same as all the other parenting books. Every one I've ever picked up is for reasoning, rational children which is great for my 5 1/2 year old but does absolutely nothing for my non-reasoning, insanely irrational 2 year old. This afternoon we missed nap time b/c we had to take Braxton to the doctor. When we got home, it was too late for naptime. So in about 20 minutes, Bryce managed 3 different spankings, 1 time out, and soap in his mouth. And for those of you who think that sounds horrid, trust me I have tried all kinds of rational reasoning, kind-speaking, redirecting of behavior. IT'S NOT WORKING! Nothing in my 4 years of college majoring in elementary education or 5 years of teaching or 5 years of parenting my oldest have prepared for my darling Bryce. (Those of you that don't know me--please understand that I say this in jest but also in truth. I LOVE my children more than you can imagine!) But if any of you have any guidance for convincing my sweet boy to eat or put his shoes on or not take off his poopy diaper or just get in the car without a war breaking out, I'd love to hear it!

Silly Questions

These are a list of question that you must answer w/ one word answers (from Stacey's blog).
It's harder than it sounds, trust me!
1. Where is your cell phone? hiding
2. Where is your significant other? sleeping
3. Your hair color? blonde(ish)
4. Your mother? strong
5. Your Father? trying
6. Your favorite thing? kisses
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your dream/goal? Godly
9. The room you're in? living
10. Your hobby? kids
11. Your fear? death
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? family
13. Where were you last night? Lowe's
14. What you're not? organized
15. One of your wish list items? debt-free
16. Where you grew up? TEXAS
17. The last thing you did? checkbook
18. What are you wearing? clothes
19. Your TV? rare
20. Your pet? destroying
21. Your computer? annoying
22. Your mood? tired
23. Missing someone? Pop
24. Your car? Ewwww!
25. Something your not wearing? bra
26. Favorite store? Target
27. Your summer? hectic
28. Love someone? lots
29. Your favorite color? red
30. Last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? today