Weekend Away at the Lake

We survived another soccer season. All four kids played, and my hubby coached, but I had baby duty most of the time. We did a lot of walking up and down the sidelines. Needless to say, we were very ready for a break from the practice/game schedule (at least until basketball gets into full swing). My aunt and uncle again generously opened their lake house to my sweetie and me for a weekend this fall. What a blessing to step back from the routine, sit in peace, and plan steps for the future of our family.

God grace abounds and amazes me. Looking back at the ups and downs, good and bad of this past year, makes my heart fill with praise again for our sovereign, merciful, awesome Lord. I love my kids and consider it a privilege to be their mom. I am even more privileged to parent alongside my sweetie.

I took only a few pictures during a brief time away. Here are some of the highlights.

Biblical principles guide us, but this book helps with making the principles work practically.

. . . because we all know that chocolate is good any time.

I actually won this time.

We plugged the iTouch into the Bose and we were set. Great view, great music.

It's a small thing, but I enjoyed having hot water always ready for a cup of tea.

I came home refreshed and ready to continue on this journey called life as a mom.

A Soft Answer

 

 

The toddler in our home struggles with controlling his anger. Disappointment, loss, and frustration mar his life at such a young age. Maybe all of us, if we were honest, would attest to some of that in our own life. As adults, we hold tools to deal with unsettling moments. How do you teach a young child that? As foster parents, my husband and I are limited in the discipline we can utilize. At times, we are at our wits end to know how to control this little one.

Then it hit me.

A soft answer turns away wrath.

Of course, God would give us just what we need for life. (He told us that too.) Why did it take so long to pull that from the recesses of my mind?

So, I tried it. Mind you, it is not an easy thing to speak softly and gently with authority in addition to rendering consequences for behavior. Parenting on purpose is not always convenient. My sinful nature would enjoy yelling back to get MY point across. An angry child gets me angry. Yet, when I started to speak softly, my emotions stayed in check with the Holy Spirit's power. My toddler's piercing yell lowered to a whimper and his feet and arms were quiet as he sat on my lap.

My toddler's sinful nature ensures that this battle is long from over. I need God's help to respond with a gentle, quiet spirit when things get heated with any of my kids. I am praying that God will get hold of this little life, heal and transform his heart, and use his determination and drive for good and God's purpose.

I would love to hear how you deal with angry children in your home.

I wish I had a picture

Excitement, anticipation, joy, pride, frustration, exhaustion, and sadness: I saw all this in my son's face today.

Soccer playoffs began for his league. He has been looking forward to Saturday since Monday. As he approached the field this morning, there was a tentative swagger in his step. Knowing he held the position of high scorer placed a small level of pressure on his growing shoulders. What would today bring? They would have to lose twice on order to be eliminated. Their first game was a 1-0 win. My little man did his job. Now they were on to game two of the day.

Again, he took his position. He fought hard even with a shadow from the other team. His footwork amazed me as he dribbled circles around the other team on his way down the field. He was pushed around and spent a great deal of time on the ground. He bounced back up though, and played strong to the end. In the third quarter, my little man broke a 0-0 tie as he deftly placed the ball in the net to score in a PK. A win over this first place team was in sight, but the ball made it into our net two times in the final minutes for a final score of 2-1, them. My little man broke down. My heart broke as well as I held him, encouraged him, and challenged him to continue to play strong in the next game.

He will try again tomorrow. To make it to the championship, his team will have to win three games back to back. I wonder how these little guys will hold up. They have proven themselves well over the season. I am impressed with what they have learned. Their coaches are great encouragers and have taught them well. My little man is an awesome soccer player. I love to watch him play. I would be ecstatic if they were able to make it far in this tournament. We will have to wait and see.

I have pictures in my mind of my son's intensity and emotion displayed in his games today. You will just have to trust me on this.

Because sometimes I just need a readjustment

It seems that situations sometimes need more attention than I think they should. Despite my oft times fits of frustration, life goes on.

The stomach flu and other intestinal yuckiness hit our family this week. Thankfully, the babies didn't get it . . . yet?

A plastic lid to a baby food container fell into the dryer vent as I was cleaning it causing the dryer to make a horrendous sound. Thankfully, my sweetie was home (due to said sickness) and was able to fix it quickly. Thankfully, I was not without a dryer for long.

My worldview and parenting style differ from my culture. Sometimes it feels like I am running uphill, slowly, trying to catch my breath. Thankfully, my God and His Word are perfect. I can trust him with my family and my life. He is always there.

Our weekend was full. Thankfully, I was able to spend some precious time with my brother and sister and their families.

Watching a toddler is tiring. Thankfully, I have help.

It hurts my heart to send the baby out to medical day care every day. Thankfully, she has loving care.

My daughter had to play in the consolation soccer game rather than the championship game. Thankfully, she is part of a special team of girls with wonderful attitudes, awesome ability, and Godly characters strengthened by their coach, her dad.

The company that cleaned my house this week did not wow me. Thankfully, I didn't have to do the cleaning.

Politics, policy, and government both challenge and frustrate. I live in a liberal state. Thankfully, I live in the best country in the world.

Homeschooling is a job. Thankfully, my state allows me freedom to educate this way.

I don't know about you, but negative thinking is often a train that is difficult to derail. Finding the good in things is a choice that I often don't want to make. It is definitely easier to wallow in self-pity or frustration allowing my mind to swim in those negative thoughts. I am choosing today to find the good in some of the things that have come my way this week. I challenge you to do the same. Readjustments are not always a bad thing.

 

 

 

Today I . . .

Got to sleep in a few extra minutes

Attempted in vain to lessen the laundry pile

Made a chicken, feta cheese, and spinach wrap for lunch

Enjoyed sharing lunch with my sister and her family as well as my mom

Listened to cousins giggle in play

Sat with a sleepy toddler as he slowly woke from his nap

Rejoiced at the food my finicky baby chose to eat with excitement

Was disappointed that my angel lost her playoff soccer game. They had hoped to be in the championship game.

Found my desk – at least for today

Kissed my toddler and baby as they left with their social worker to visit their mom

Squeezed in some school work with my two younger ones

Baked chocolate chip cookies for my kids and hubby

Watched a Story Keeper movie with my little one

Was blessed with a huge hug and kiss from my little one

Bragged about my big girls' writing projects

Realized that I don't post nearly enough

Wished that I posted more pictures

Am thankful for my crazy, busy life

 

The Ordinary and Everyday

That? That? That?

Truck . . . car . . . bus . . . tree . . . plane . . . The list goes on.

Pelted by these questions daily driving down the road, I sigh, then whisper, then thank God for a toddler whose mind is growing and learning about his world.

Mind you, his questions are not quiet – definitely not an inside voice. My head reverberates with his excitement. These are the same trees, the same MANY buses seen on our way to drop the big girls off, and the same multitude of cars on the highway. Yet we answer again, and again, and again.

How often do I let the everyday rob me of the excitement of learning something new? How often does the ordinary cloud my perspective of a new day?

Thank God for toddlers.