We are blessed to take part in a program at Sullivan University. We are an "extern home" for students who are learning to be a Nanny. Each quarter, we have a student who comes to our home every Friday and takes care of our kiddos. Can I tell you what a blessing that is? The first few weeks are a little rough. As an extern mom, I have to make sure they know how to bathe the children, do their laundry, fold and put their clothes away... little things like that. It's really not very hard for them to pick up, but it's my job to make sure they do it "my way"... just like if they were a paid Nanny for a family. After the first couple of weeks, I can rest a bit and let her do her thing. What a blessing! I've been sick for three days and have wanted nothing more than to sit down and do as little as possible. Today I can, thanks to our Nanny.
Things sound so much different when your children say it. My kiddos have pushed and pushed and pushed me, on several occasions, where the nicest thing I could come up with to say was, "Shut up!!!!" I'm not proud of it, but there ya go... it happens. After I gave the little girl's their baths tonight, I put them in their beds, which they were none too happy about. As Baby Girl cried and fussed at being put in her crib, Princess became very upset.
Personally, I think that she was more upset that Baby Girl was out-screaming her than anything... but that's just me.
Anyhow, I digress... I heard, from my precious little Princess, "Shut up!" to Baby Girl. I sat for a minute thinking I must have misheard. Princess is generally a very sweet girl. Only a moment later, she said it again. Somehow, those two little words sound so much more toxic coming from a little one's mouth.
Be careful little lips what you say.
I'll try to be more careful... honest.
After all... isn't it from the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45)? I need to start doing a heart check, I believe.
Read on Muddy Mamas about one way some Jesus-followers are reaching out to minister to women in the sex industry. So many women are trapped by this evil. Though I've heard of this for years, this is the first time I've heard the story of the women being offered up with "no name." Some folks have designed these t-shirts to help raise awareness and money for the ministry.
Please support them. Muddy Mamas is also giving away a free t'shirt, so stop by over there to join in the contest.
So blessed. I have to remind myself of that all the time. I have so much more than I will ever NEED. I am loved far beyond my wildest imagination. Thank you, Jesus, for your love.
#71 - #79
the Father sends us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it
I love weekends. It means I get to spend so much more time with Prince Charming. Today is going to be a super busy day, and I'm excited. I love busy days. Can't explain it... I just do. The kids seem to cooperate more, Muscles loves to clean when he's home for the day... yes, that's right. My 8 year old LOVES to clean. And he does it very well :)
Last night, Baby Girl woke up screaming and refused to stop. This is pretty rare for her, so after a few minutes, I went in her room and picked her up. She was still screaming. I now understand what all those mamas meant when they said that they "knew" their child's scream and what it meant. As I listened to Baby Girl wailing, I knew that she wasn't hungry, hurt, wet, whatever. She was just being a booger. I laid her down in the living room while I folded laundry, and she just kept going.
Finally, after she looked like she had worn herself out. I gave her her bottle and a blanket and she immediately laid herself back down to watch Smash Lab with Mommy. It was a beautiful site. After a few minutes of watching airplanes and garbage cans blow up, I said, "Are you ready to go night-night, Baby Girl?" She stood up, walked to me, climbed in my lap and went to sleep. Gotta love it :) That's right, ladies and gentlemen, this mama used the TV to put my little one to sleep. And I'm TOTALLY okay with it :)
How often I have to remind myself that he is different. He'll always be different. The other kiddos are... well, kids. Not Muscles. He's... different. He's an incredible little boy, and generally he's very responsible. But holy cow, when he doesn't get his way, it's unlike anything you've ever seen before. It's all the fury of a hurricane trapped in an 8 year old little boy. And he tries different tactics. First is all out anger. He throws things, calls me names, rants about how we are unfair to him. When he starts to see that it's not working (which it never does, so I'm not sure why he still tries), he moves into baby mode. He wails at the top of his lungs about being scared, wanting Mommy, etc. It's so tiring. I'm sure sometimes he is genuinely scared. I just don't always know when those times are, and I don't want him thinking that his behavior is going to get him what he wants.
Ok, thanks. I just needed to get that out of my system....
