Gulp!

Well, I had my appointment with the surgeon this morning and I will be having my surgery on Thursday, January 29. That is NEXT WEEK! I supposedly won't be able to lift over 25 pounds for SIX WEEKS! I'm not sure how that'll work, but it has to be done. I'm pretty excited to not have this nagging pain anymore, so I'm actually looking forward to the surgery. What I could use prayer for is how the kids will do. I won't be able to nurse Callie for a day, so she probably won't be overly happy. Pray that she is a good girl for the lucky person watching her. I'm not worried about the boys, I'll just have to make sure they don't push my stomach. They were asking what I was going to the doctor for yesterday and I told them I have to get my belly button fixed up and Tate almost started crying! He told me to be brave and then he grabbed my hand and told me to hold it. He's very sensitive(and sweet!)

Gma watched the kids while I went for my appointment and I got the privilege of listening to Focus on the Family on the way down to my appointment. I highly recommend listening online to today's speaker. This week is sanctity of life week and it was about a former abortionist worker. I can't wait to listen online to the rest of it tomorrow.

I stopped at Target to get some panty hose for a wedding we have this weekend, and I had seen on a blog an idea with these little mailboxes they're selling in their dollar isle. So, I picked up three and am going to make these for the kids.

Here's a picture of our little leopard:

Thoughts

I've been in a funk the last couple days. I get in a funk sometimes, and its kind of hard to get out of. I've been going through some decorating magazines that I have and ripping out some things I'd like to have or ideas for decorating. I want to put them in a book and organize them so I can actually view them. I think this is why I am in my funk. The more material stuff I look at, the more discontent I am with what I've got. Yesterday's sermon also added to my funk(but in a good, growing and learning sort of way). It was sort of about giving and the economy and having deep relationships with others around us. I always hate hearing about giving b/c I always think, "What do I have to give??!?!" We are not wealthy, we have had a tough financial year with our vehicle, so I really can't give a lot until I'm out of the red with our van repairs. I don't have much time b/c I have three kids, and any sort of volunteering would require me to have childcare. Brent and I were talking about it last night b/c I was feeling so discouraged about it. I know that God accepts whatever we have to give, but I'd sure like to give MORE! I'm really trying to use whatever resources I have, and one thing I feel strongly about is encouragement. I think I can be an encouragement to people, it doesn't necessarily take money or a lot of time. Brent and I decided to start having people over for supper more, as a way we can give while still having our kids around. I know in a few years it'll get easier to give of our time and finances(hopefully!!) I just want to be satisfied with what I've got and feel like I matter eternally. I take this funk that I'm in as a good sign that I'm not too comfortable here on earth, but its still hard to be in. I read a great post on simple mom today that went along with what I was thinking. I need to remain content with what I've got, be more intentional about some things, and know that this earth is not my home.

In another direction completely, here are some pictures of the last couple days:(Brent and Hunter were "sumo wrestling" in the one:

A Renewed Perspective

After I got done posting on the blog I went upstairs to read my Bible and a chapter in this book and it was JUST what I needed to hear. Everyone always says that the years that your kids are young are the best years of your life, and to be quite honest, most days I don't feel like these are the best years. I cannot WAIT to be able to sit down and enjoy a meal or read a book after supper and take a trip without packing the entire house and spending most of it sideways getting things for the kids. Selfishly, I just want to take care of ME. Motherhood is great for me b/c it most certainly is not about me. Anyway, back to being the best years of your life.... the chapter I just read was about how quickly time goes and about not having regrets about the time you spent with your kids. I could say that mostly, aside from the demands of potty training, most of why I've been so crabby today has been b/c I've felt like the kids are getting in the way of my job, cleaning the house, getting it back in order after being gone, making the menu for the month, etc. I realize there has to be balance, but I'm missing the forest for the trees. The kids are only going to be at home with me for a short time, so what if Brent comes home tonight and I don't have everything done and put away. The author of the book, Lysa Terkeurst, talked about seeing a rainbow with her kids and how fast the rainbow disappeared, and she related it to their years with us...

Our children are like that rainbow. They burst on the scene of our lives in such a way that you feel as though they'll be there forever. Their colorful personalities and bright expressions are shining reminders of God's promises and miracles. They dance through their childhood, making lasting impressions on our hearts and then the time comes for them t pull away. The colors of childhood swirl and mix and change and fade into the realities of adulthood. It will happen. There will come a day when the door to childhood will open or the last time, and that night as surely as that child closes her eyes to sleep, he door will close. All the curious questions that drive you crazy today will cease. All the fingerprints and smudges will go away. All the childhood fantasies and dreams will fade. And her mother will wake the next morning to peer into the sky and wonder were the rainbow has gone.

She goes on to talk about letting go of "mommy stress" and focus more on enjoying motherhood and building a strong family, one that knows their children's souls.

I skipped ahead to the next chapter and found another page that encouraged me...

It sounds so dreamlike to dress your little darlings in clothes that match, hear them say that you are the best mom in the world, bake cookies together in the afternoon, and relish their sweet spirits while listening to their bedtime prayers. Yes, those moments are there. But woven all around ideal moments are whiny voices, childish attitudes, sibling fights, strong wills, messy accidents, snotty noses, stained clothes, and strained nerves. It all comes down to choosing what to focus on. Wherever you put your focus, that will become bigger and more magnified.

I want to focus on what matters. I write this for a reminder to myself that the years are fleeting, that time is precious and to remember to stay positive.

Election Day

Today is election day. I feel like this election is an important one(as they all are). My blood has been boiling over the last week at stuff I've read. I am not a debater, and I do not like to argue with people. I like to keep this verse on my mind at all times:

Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

I feel that very many are putting up defenses about the choice of their vote, especially Christians. I've seen countless arguments going on in several different blogs I read. I think a lot of people are thinking that as Christians we are just a bunch of judgemental hypocrites. While I think it is very important and necessary to stand up for what we believe, I think there has to be a stopping point to all this. Do you really think that by "coming down" on someone that it will just up and turn their vote around??

I am convinced that Satan is using this as a way to distract us from using our greatest weapon: prayer. If we took all the energy that arguing and debating is taking from us and used it to intercede for our country, our choices and our government, how much greater an impact would that make??? I think it would be huge! So, I'm issuing a challenge to those out there who read this blog. First off, vote as a Christian, not as a Democrat/Republican. Secondly, be in prayer continually today. Not only today, but in the coming months and years. For, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26(I say this for myself, b/c I tend to be a skeptic that my prayers really change anything involving our country...they do!!!)

Finally, here are a few Scriptures I've come across this morning while trying to find peace about this election and on my role as a Christian:

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. -1 Timothy 2"1-2

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Eph 4:2

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." Phil 1:27


Pray, pray and pray today!!!