So Much to Be Thankful For

Despite the fact my daughter has had diarrhea for 3 days, she is sleeping through the entire night and can officially crawl.

Despite the fact that I was awake and sitting near my toilet at 3 and 5 am to relinquich everything I had eaten just hours before, I have food in my fridge that I can eat when I am able to keep it down again.

Despite the fact that I was at the Dr.'s office this morning to have an 8 month discomfort diagnosed, I have the ability and option to go to the Doctor.

Despite the fact that my son was vomiting throughout the day, we were able to watch a movie together in the comfort and warmth of our home.

Despite the fact that my husband got sick this evening, and aside from visiting the toilet a few times, has been in bed since about 6:30 pm, we have a bed to lay our heads on and a bathroom of our own.

Despite the fact we won't know if I am taking the kids to my in-laws for Thanksgiving if M goes into work or staying home so M can recover from his illness, we still have a choice in which both involves family and food.

No matter what seems to be going wrong, there is always something to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless!

Going on a Bear Hunt

K and I read Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury last night. It's one of our favorite b0oks as we play out the parts. We've read it so much that he has it memorized.
Here's a picture of our own bear with two big furry ears, two big goggly eyes, and one wet shiny nose.

Raising Blessings

All too often I hear people say, "I don't know if I want to bring a child into this world." I understand there are a lot of negative influences in the world, it's everywhere. As a Christian, I shouldn't be afraid to bring a child into a world of corruption. I should be joyful of the godly things and ways they can bring into and give to a "corrupted" world.

Walls Closing In

We just had some friends over and they invited us to lunch. Unfortunately, we couldn't go eat with them because K was overdue for a nap, which he didn't want to take. Upon their departure he started throwing a fit. He usually only throws a fit when he's hungry or tired. In this case, he was probably both. Either way, being hungry or tired does not excuse a bad attitude or disrespect. So, he was punished and sent to his room.

"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15)

I'm not afraid to spank my children, although I really don't like to, but if I'm not careful it can turn into a power battle. He'll get spankings and in turn will get louder and more disrespectful and the cycle will continue for a while if I let it. I've found the best way for him to calm down is to explain to him why he's in trouble, have him repeat it back to me, and then just leave the room. He'll fuss and scream for a while, but he'll fall asleep and I don't harbor anger.

Why can't he just listen to me and calm down immediately? Why does he have to fight it so hard to only realize it's really what he actually wants and needs? He knows he's tired. He knows I love him. Wouldn't it just be easier to say, "yes, mam, I'll take a nap" and just go to his room? There wouldn't be any punishment involved and no feelings would be hurt.

So, as I listen to my son scream in anger in his room, I can't help but imagine myself in an enclosed room with the bare walls closing in around me and screaming at the top of my lungs. No one can hear me and there isn't a door for anyone to rescue me. I'm at the end of knowing what to do so I surrender to my emotions and feelings and cave to my knees to pray. It is only in the comfort of prayer that I begin to feel the weight lifting off my shoulders. I start to feel my heart lightening again and the room is starting to regain it's size. I feel peace again.

Why is it I sometimes wait until I can't find any other answer to any of my problems that I surrender all I have? Why do I wait until I feel hopeless in my problems before I take them to God?

"Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." (Proverbs 24:14)

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him brings eternal praise." (Psalm 111:10)

7 Wonders of the World

This video speaks for itself.

We have so much to be thankful for.

An answered prayer

As I was folding laundry in the bedroom, I heard my cell phone ringing. By the time I had found it, the caller had hung up. I noticed it was my sister, which NEVER calls. I quickly called her back to find out it was her middle child, my niece C, that had actually called. She had called to thank me for praying for her. It brought tears to my eyes just thinking about it and wondering if I had actually told them I, and many others, had been praying for all of them, not just C.

C had moved in with her dad and step-mom a while back. I don't really know all the details of what happened, but she's back with my sister now. My sister and her family have had a lot of drama in the past year and I am continuing to pray for them as they adjust to everyone being home again.

M's mini-vacation

Well, M went to Washington to check out the car he agreed to purchase. Unfortunately for him his gut instinct was right. The car he agreed to buy was not worthy of the money he was about to spend. He had been completely misled and misinformed. He was really upset at first. Then, I reminded him that he's better off having spent the money on the trip than to have got the car in the condition it was in and be upset b/c it wasn't anything like he had been told.

At least this way he got another stamp on his passport when he drove up to Canada to visit. I'm sure he'll start looking for another one when he gets home. This time I won't say or post anything until we have it in our possession.