Sharing a story : "Chastened and Loved"

I was reading my friend Tara's blog yesterday and she told a profound and touching story that has been so relative in my own life . I really don't need to say much... Tara says it beautifully.

Here is the link to her blog if you want to visit and read the whole post:

http://tara-bleperson.blogspot.com/2008/04/chastened-and-loved.html



Becoming a parent has also put on a new twist on how I see nearly every issue....especially those pertaining to "God and Spiritual things." (as the old tract would put it!) Just one of the ways that this happens, is that I see so clearly the relationship of God/Us in the light of Parent/Child.
Example: a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that Reagan was clenching something in his little hand. I walked over to him and pried his hand open. In it was a little piece of Sophie's hair barrette...broken. Worthless. Useless. BROKEN! But when I took it from him (mostly because in my motherly "omniscience" I knew he could/would choke on it), he began to cry and howl as though the world had come to an end. He ran after me, hand outstretched...pleading for that little broken piece of nothing, when I had a whole corner full of wonderful toys for him to play with!!!! Something about the scene stopped me dead in my tracks. I knew I was smack in the middle of a teachable moment: for myself and for my children. So I called all 3 of the older kids over...showed them the broken barrette....showed them the screaming toddler at my feet. My voice was actually breaking a bit as I asked them, " I wonder if God ever feels this way?" When He KNOWS that something is not good for us, and we demand it anyway, and look at Him as though He is cruel and with-holding good things from us. I wonder if His Father-heart breaks the way mine was in that moment as my little boy felt betrayed by me. Something makes me suspect strongly that that is exactly how God feels when He looks down at me...at us....struggling so ridiculously to hold on to that which is broken and useless.

Cherish every moment

"They are only little for a little while" is a thought that has been going through my mind this morning. Cindy (my sweet "cousin-in-law" and awesome friend) gave me a CD once with a song by this title). I have never been the same since I first heard it. Thank you to whoever wrote it!

I was thinking about something that a dear, precious friend of mine said recently. She said "I can't wait to get all of my kids out of the house and into school". I am sure it was really a thoughtless statement in her haste to "get on with my life". And I still love her and she is still my dear, precious friend. And knowing how her children play and seem to love life, I don't think she is a bad mother. I just think she was venting her frustration with motherhood.

I am sure she didn't mean for it to affect me the way it did. But it made me want to mourn!

[ and no, it wouldn't be anyone most of my readers would know very well -or at all- this person does not even have a blog ....so don't try to figure out who it is (smile!)].
Is it society today that has pressured mothers into thinking that their children are a curse instead of a blessing? Why do we want them to grow up so fast? What can we do to make our little ones feel loved, cherished, adored? What can we do to make their childhood a sweet, memorable time for them (and us)? How can we make EVERY moment precious?

Which makes me think about my husband too. How can I make every moment I have with him precious? What if today were his last day on earth? Would I be sorry for how I spoke to him before he left for work? Did I kiss him goodbye?

Michael's big day

Michael went turkey hunting early this morning and was home by 10:30 with this dude. He weighed in around 22 pounds. He also found a few more morel mushrooms (grin!).
He is going fishing this afternoon (which I hope will be very productive since he is fishing for crappy - my favorite!)

Of course, for him, this is just about a perfect day.

Kitchen bath

Anyone out there ever need a good way to keep your SNEAKY kid IN THE ROOM with you & happily occupied so you can keep your eye on him and wash dishes peacefully? Try a nice big Rubbermade storage tub with soapy water.

Ryan enjoying a bath in the kitchen- so mommy can wash the dishes

Spring break- part II

As I mentioned in my last post, last week was spring break for the kids. Thursday and Friday we spent most of the day on our favorite piece of farm land (owned by an older lady friend who lets us roam & hunt to our hearts' content!). This is just a short drive from where we live.

These pictures are from Thursday. I did not take my camera on Friday. But when we first arrived, Michael caught a baby rabbit. It was right beside the van when we parked, so it was easy for him to catch. Of course after we all petted it and told the boys that "no we can't keep it; it needs its mommy", we let it go back to its mother who was waiting for it. It was a perfect day. The sun was bright & warm and we welcomed it!!!!

I love the wide open fields.

The boys love playing in the rocks. The place Justin is sitting in this first picture is the location of an old railroad bed so there are all kinds of treasures- smooth rocks, geos, pieces of coal, and fossils.

Ryan looked like he had been sniffing dirt, and it looked like he had one big eyebrow because of all the dirt on his face! Yes, I liked this one better in black & white

practicing with their sling-shots

Playing in the creek

Justin taking a break from the creek and showing me his new find (a geo/rock)

Ryan picked some purple clover for me

It's hard to see but this is a baby frog (it was very happy to be released.. unsquashed)

just posing... no rocks :-)

Michael found 14 tiny morel mushrooms... the first this year. Yum! Too bad you can't see his face... he was really happy.

Spring Break - part I

Here are some pictures of the boys playing in the yard and then later at the park this week. Can you tell they love sticks?
Most of our spring break has been spent outside except for Monday, which was spent at the library. I have more pictures from today that I will add later.

I told the boys to throw some clothes and shoes on so they could go outside. This is what happened shortly after they got outside.

At our neighborhood park

A Tribute to my Mom

My mother turned 50 this past weekend (the 11th), so we traveled to Alabama for her birthday party. My thoughtful step-dad Tim and my sister Erin did a great job pulling everything together to make it a nice day for Mom. He invited mostly just my grandmother, and my mom's sisters, and a couple of close friends of hers so it was a small party but it was a lot of fun. We had a good time even though our trip was very short.
Michael, the boys and I barely beat her to the house that day because they let her out of work early (because of the weather)! So I had to rush to get ready before she got there.
She was surprised (Thankfully!) ,and we were glad to share this special day with her. Tim and Erin did a great job decorating. Thankfully there were no tombstones or skeletons like I thought there would be! The black actually looked great contrasting with the shimmery decor.

There are several words that come into my mind when I think of my mom.

First of all, I think of STRONG. I always knew my mother could handle any situation. I cannot imagine how hard it must have been to be a single mom (we lost my dad to tragedy when I was 12). She recently recovered from cancer. She never complained!
I know the Lord has been a there through her life because I can look back and see Him (and I could feel Him with us when I was a child/teen). There is no doubt in my mind that He did carry her. And He still is there today. I thank the Lord for a strong mother.

I also think of hard-working. She has always been a hard worker. Michael and I were laughing this past weekend about how we couldn't even set our drink on the counter for fear that she would pick it up and load it into the dishwasher. She works hard at her job and at home.

My mom is dependable. I know that if I were ever to need anything, she would be right there. She came up to spend time with us after I had my babies, and I really appreciate that she did that. When Ryan was born she had just started her cancer treatments, but she still came up to be with me.

She loves us (her children, children's spouses, and step-children) and she loves her grand-babies. We don't ever have to wonder about that.

Mom, THANK YOU for who you are and have been in my life. I would never trade you! I love you!

Here are some pictures from her party. They are in random order:

Mom on her big day!

Mom and Tim

Mom and my grandmother ( "Mudder")

Mom with "Mudder" in the middle and my aunts from the left: Sandra, Pam, & Anita

Ryan showing me his tongue after eating black cake. Hannah, my niece, giving him a kiss

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Mom.

Our good friend Trish

Getting ready to cut the cake

Justin - celebrating!

My cousin Trevor showing me his tongue after eating the black cake

Hannah loves her Aunt Erin

Justin conversing with Chris & Harold

Me & Anita

My cousin Traci

Josh & Hannah: I love this picture!

Michael and Jonathan
(My cousin Dylan is in the background bopping my cousin Traci with an inflatable cane).

She doesn't act her age. Mom with her "baby" sister Sandra

Hannah was excited to see "Mummy"

My Uncle Joe and my cousin Dylan

My siblings!

My little family