Really, this is a clever little ditty..."not me". I mean with seven people in my family the "not me" is ever so present, yet not to be seen. So here are a few "not me" moments from this past weekend.
1. I did not really go into the laundry room with the lights out and sit for about 15 minutes, listening to everyone ask where mommy is.
2. It was not me, who ate six chocolate chip cookies, hiding them under the dish towel, as if to make the kids believe I was really only eating two very slowly.
3. It was not me walking with a double stroller by myself this morning because I have absolutely no desire to do houseowork and opted for what EXERCISE....not me.
4. It was not me this morning faking that I was in a dead sleep when Emerson got up at 6:30am, thus my dear husband taking on the duties of a two year old while getting ready for work.
5. It was not me sitting here at the computer while two little ones watch a movie on a warm and beautiful Monday when they could be playing outside.
6. I did not stay for the entire parents orientation while taking my daughter to college. Nope not me, to just get in the car and decide she is just fine.
7. I did not stay in my jammies all day Saturday, sleep in until almost noon (thanks honey) and never step foot outside, only to take a later nap...still in said jammies...nope not me.
So, Mrs. Not Me has been in and around my home today. I get glimpses of her, but one thing I know for sure. It's uh-hum....not me at all.
For more "Not Me " moments you must visit this blog: http://www.mycharmingkids.net/
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
For the first time in years...
We are diaper/pull up/diaper wipes free!!!
I know that the cool thing is to yell that your debt free, but really people think about the extra $100 or so back into our budget each month. I have been changing diapers for six and a half years. That is a lot of wipes, poop, and diapers and this week is the marker not of having to deal with this part of my life ever again. That is until grandchildren are worked into the deal.
I am thinking that by the time grand children come along, paper diapers will be ilegal. Diapers will be sold in the dark alleys of small towns and disposed of in the dark waterways. Nothing makes my heart smile than to hear the pitter patter of footsteps down the hall. The clink of a lifted toilet seat and the sound of tickle-tickle, all on ones own. No prompting from mommy. I am a new woman. My heart is singing and dancing to the beat of "bob the builder" undies.
Last week I was running late on picking Ethan up from school. I grabbed Emerson from his slumbering nap, and did not have time to take him potty. In the car he said he had to go, and I said he must hold it until we got home. I kind of forgot about him needing to go and stopped at the mall. We did not get home until after 5pm. Once out of the car Emerson goes running into the house and says..."mommy I said a long time ago that I had to go potty". Oops, but he held it and went on his own.
It is such a big deal for me. I am so done with diapers and the funny thing is David mentioned all the room in our garbage can, noting it must be the lack of diapers. So that is my rant and rave about the brilliance of my two year old who is completely potty trained and Eric who is now trained through the nights at four. He was really trained a long time ago, just a little lazy, so I would put him in a pull up at night. Once he saw his younger brother was done, and never ever used a pull up Eric decided he did not need them either. So many milestones this month. Bliss!!!!
I know that the cool thing is to yell that your debt free, but really people think about the extra $100 or so back into our budget each month. I have been changing diapers for six and a half years. That is a lot of wipes, poop, and diapers and this week is the marker not of having to deal with this part of my life ever again. That is until grandchildren are worked into the deal.
I am thinking that by the time grand children come along, paper diapers will be ilegal. Diapers will be sold in the dark alleys of small towns and disposed of in the dark waterways. Nothing makes my heart smile than to hear the pitter patter of footsteps down the hall. The clink of a lifted toilet seat and the sound of tickle-tickle, all on ones own. No prompting from mommy. I am a new woman. My heart is singing and dancing to the beat of "bob the builder" undies.
Last week I was running late on picking Ethan up from school. I grabbed Emerson from his slumbering nap, and did not have time to take him potty. In the car he said he had to go, and I said he must hold it until we got home. I kind of forgot about him needing to go and stopped at the mall. We did not get home until after 5pm. Once out of the car Emerson goes running into the house and says..."mommy I said a long time ago that I had to go potty". Oops, but he held it and went on his own.
It is such a big deal for me. I am so done with diapers and the funny thing is David mentioned all the room in our garbage can, noting it must be the lack of diapers. So that is my rant and rave about the brilliance of my two year old who is completely potty trained and Eric who is now trained through the nights at four. He was really trained a long time ago, just a little lazy, so I would put him in a pull up at night. Once he saw his younger brother was done, and never ever used a pull up Eric decided he did not need them either. So many milestones this month. Bliss!!!!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
This is my friend...
The heart Marie wears is in memory of her little baby girl Arie. She still hurts as does her husband. Life does not provide answers for the things that go wrong in this world, but God is still working in our lives every single day. He knows the unknowns and when we are seeking after Him, we can take joy is what is to come.This is the first time in many, many days that my sweet friend is smiling and having fun. I love how she is so open with her loss and is trying her best to make sense of what makes absolutely no sense at all. But life is moving forward and we are all trying to make it in this world with the trials and tribulations.
This picture was taken at a dinner party at my house. It was loads of fun and the best food, flowers, and not so terrific dessert. Not because of my doing (except the dessert), but because my awesome neighbors love to share their blessings and talents.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
To those who smile often...
This morning I was at the mall with the two little boys. I dropped Ethan off at school and was feeling like I was not ready to go home yet. I did not have a plan for the day and my spirits are a little off. I know that it's just the realization that yet another one of my children is going off to this next exciting season of their life. Even though my heart is joyful and blessed over the decisions being made by my second child, I can't quite wrap my brain around life without her in my life every day. So, I am doing a good mommy thing. Just thinking and embracing the emotions I have.
The boys were happy to have the play area all to themselves. I could just sit and think and get excited as they went into their world of play which required very little of me. This mall has lots of early morning walkers, and the stores are not yet open. So I sit and pray, and ask God to bless my day and ask for emotional balance in sending Emily off. And then this little old man walked by and smiled and said I had delightful boys. And then a couple walked by and smiled as the squeals of little boys playing filled the air. As the minutes moved along I decided to count how many smiling people walked by. And then I realized that God had sent me smiling angels. My spirits needed lifting, and for the next 45 minutes a multitude of old people would pass by, pause, smile at the boys and then smile at me. Very few words exchanged, but a blissful smile.
So for those of you who smile often know that you never know the moment that smile is raising the spirits of a heart. I sat there and my smiles turned into a slight chuckle because I personally think my boys are the most adorable, imaginative and animated boys. I am glad that their play brought delight into the hearts of others and in return I got to be blessed by the smiles of angels walking around in the bodies of old people.
The boys were happy to have the play area all to themselves. I could just sit and think and get excited as they went into their world of play which required very little of me. This mall has lots of early morning walkers, and the stores are not yet open. So I sit and pray, and ask God to bless my day and ask for emotional balance in sending Emily off. And then this little old man walked by and smiled and said I had delightful boys. And then a couple walked by and smiled as the squeals of little boys playing filled the air. As the minutes moved along I decided to count how many smiling people walked by. And then I realized that God had sent me smiling angels. My spirits needed lifting, and for the next 45 minutes a multitude of old people would pass by, pause, smile at the boys and then smile at me. Very few words exchanged, but a blissful smile.
So for those of you who smile often know that you never know the moment that smile is raising the spirits of a heart. I sat there and my smiles turned into a slight chuckle because I personally think my boys are the most adorable, imaginative and animated boys. I am glad that their play brought delight into the hearts of others and in return I got to be blessed by the smiles of angels walking around in the bodies of old people.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Just another Friday
I am sitting here waiting to run out on some errands. The boys are sleeping, the house is quiet except the piano which is being played one floor down and three rooms over. It's faint, but enough to know that this is one sound I am going to miss. The piano has been stored, and used in the garage for the past three years. It's how Emily has liked it. She likes to be in her own world of playing, worship, and practicing. If I open the garage door ever so quietly the playing stops. I embrace this about her. Her temperament her entire life. She did not want anyone watching her practice right down to helping her ride a bike. She wanted to practice in private, on her own and then show me that she could ride here bike. Of course I watched her fall and get back on that bike over 20 times through the cracks of the the window shades.
So, now that she is off to school I begin a new season of young musicians. The living room has no furniture in it. It does have a youth drum set, keyboard, and lots of noise makers. The piano will come inside and join this music room. I will once again begin to color code the keys and books, so the kids can find the notes and actually play something they can recognize. I do this before formal lessons begin, and as they learn the songs the color stickers come off and they can have the success, small as it is, to want to continue. It's painful. To listen to the instruments all playing at once, each child knowing that they have the sound and beat they want. I told myself when Elliot and Emily were young I would never ever tell them to be quiet, just let them be creative in the pounding and pray that these budding musicians would take off. They did, and my house has been filled with music, but with Emily now leaving I am at ground zero all over again. Banging and clanging.
I should count my blessings as the little boys tell me they sound just like the guys at church and they believe it, and well they know I believe them. This is the last Friday of life being as it has been for so many years. I use to count in years, then months, weeks, and now days. It's just another Friday around here. Arranging of schedules, changes, being mindful of who is doing what and keeping tabs on the coming and goings of all family members. It's not an intrusive thing, we all just like to keep informed. Emily sitting at the kitchen counter eating her apple and almond butter chatting away about the daily events of the morning, the night before and what is to come tomorrow. In five days she will be processing her life, her apples, and her music in this newest season of her life. It will be visits home and cellphones that we keep up, but no longer the day to day, often moment to moment accounting that I have been blessed to be a part of.
She is going to make new friends, some whom I may never get the chance to really know, she will be conversing on a regular basis with room mates and although I don't worry about us, as mother and daughter, my heart can still ache over her absence from the daily routines of home. My brush will always be in the same place I left it, as will my makeup and finger nail file. I may be the worlds weepiest and sappiest mother but just last night I realized that moms have emotions over their children. Even just one child. Now times that by five and well you just can't leave home without a box of tissues.
It's not just another Friday. It's the Friday before Emily leaves for college, Ethan will now be the big man at home, the oldest and the tallest. He's been looking forward to this and talking about this. His older siblings have been terrific examples to Ethan and I am looking forward to just boys around here for quite a while. I know we all will adapt as PieSweety moves into her next season, but as far as Friday's go I realize that for the first time in over ten years if I want to go to bed at 8pm on a Friday night I can. There will be no phone calls for late night coffee after The Way, or phone calls even later letting me know her whereabouts and about what time she will be home. I can rest, actually get into my jammies and know that I will not getting dressed for a late night walk, or talk. Wow, what will that be like. I guess in one week I will know.
Just another Friday...nah!!!
So, now that she is off to school I begin a new season of young musicians. The living room has no furniture in it. It does have a youth drum set, keyboard, and lots of noise makers. The piano will come inside and join this music room. I will once again begin to color code the keys and books, so the kids can find the notes and actually play something they can recognize. I do this before formal lessons begin, and as they learn the songs the color stickers come off and they can have the success, small as it is, to want to continue. It's painful. To listen to the instruments all playing at once, each child knowing that they have the sound and beat they want. I told myself when Elliot and Emily were young I would never ever tell them to be quiet, just let them be creative in the pounding and pray that these budding musicians would take off. They did, and my house has been filled with music, but with Emily now leaving I am at ground zero all over again. Banging and clanging.
I should count my blessings as the little boys tell me they sound just like the guys at church and they believe it, and well they know I believe them. This is the last Friday of life being as it has been for so many years. I use to count in years, then months, weeks, and now days. It's just another Friday around here. Arranging of schedules, changes, being mindful of who is doing what and keeping tabs on the coming and goings of all family members. It's not an intrusive thing, we all just like to keep informed. Emily sitting at the kitchen counter eating her apple and almond butter chatting away about the daily events of the morning, the night before and what is to come tomorrow. In five days she will be processing her life, her apples, and her music in this newest season of her life. It will be visits home and cellphones that we keep up, but no longer the day to day, often moment to moment accounting that I have been blessed to be a part of.
She is going to make new friends, some whom I may never get the chance to really know, she will be conversing on a regular basis with room mates and although I don't worry about us, as mother and daughter, my heart can still ache over her absence from the daily routines of home. My brush will always be in the same place I left it, as will my makeup and finger nail file. I may be the worlds weepiest and sappiest mother but just last night I realized that moms have emotions over their children. Even just one child. Now times that by five and well you just can't leave home without a box of tissues.
It's not just another Friday. It's the Friday before Emily leaves for college, Ethan will now be the big man at home, the oldest and the tallest. He's been looking forward to this and talking about this. His older siblings have been terrific examples to Ethan and I am looking forward to just boys around here for quite a while. I know we all will adapt as PieSweety moves into her next season, but as far as Friday's go I realize that for the first time in over ten years if I want to go to bed at 8pm on a Friday night I can. There will be no phone calls for late night coffee after The Way, or phone calls even later letting me know her whereabouts and about what time she will be home. I can rest, actually get into my jammies and know that I will not getting dressed for a late night walk, or talk. Wow, what will that be like. I guess in one week I will know.
Just another Friday...nah!!!
Monday, September 15, 2008
As the mommy heart grows....
For those of you who have one child and know how your heart swells when you see them enjoying life, growing in thier knowledge of Christ and hearing the words come out from their hearts and into my ears. Does you heart just grow? Now times that by five and I really am a blessed mother.
I was sharing this past week with an amazing mother of four children. Her children are all about 8 years older than mine, so I enjoy asking questions about her mothering to learn, and be affirmed in decisions I am making with my own children. She has children who are both using their gifts in music and ministry and I too have been blessed with children who embrace simular things.
I shared with her how I don't get how people remain victims of the past. If I offend anyone who is reading this, believe me that is not my intent. My intent is to simply ask the question of how you see God's salvation in your life. Does he really save us? I live every single day with the knowledge of his saving grace in my life. How I have never treated my children the way I was brought up is only about God and God alone. I could not have been the kind of mother on my own. I shared with this lovely lady how I started praying the day I found I was pregnant with Elliot that I would know how to hold, touch, and love my child. All the holding, touching and what was called love came out of perversion and abuse for me as a child. An old lady who loved Jesus hugged me one time in church and told me that Jesus loves me. I believed that must be what Jesus's love felt like and I embraced that one hug for many years. And prayed that God would teach me to know how to hug my own, my first child Elliot.
It's scary being a mother and wanting to do our best. Our best can only be found through the teaching's of God's word, and giving up our past to God regardless of what is was. We are no longer bound by what was, but free for what is., a life that seeks to know the heart of Christ and then live it.
Eric has been encouraged to carry his Bible around. Now it's not a preschool kid kind of Bible. It's like mommy's. As a matter of fact it is one of my favorite Bible's, but he wants to "read" it. So there he will sit, on his bed, during quiet time "reading" his Bible. I trust that God is speaking to the heart of my four year old. He shares with me what he is reading and that God is speaking to his heart. A few days ago he announced that "I am going to be a good reader of the word of God, so I can teach people about the Lord". Sixteen years ago another one of my children told me the same things. Not quite those exact words, but that 20 year old is now sharing his life and knowledge of Christ with his world in Florida.
I pray over the hearts of women who have come from hardships, hard aches, and desire to raise children up in Christ. I pray for all of our mommy hearts that we rely on the witness and testimoney of those mothers that God blesses us with to learn and grow from. And most important that we all get how God delivers us from our past and we don't have to be bound by it, or victims. Our past is never an excuse when we have the Lord God as our Lord and Savior.
Thanks to those mommy's around me that bless me, both young and old.
I was sharing this past week with an amazing mother of four children. Her children are all about 8 years older than mine, so I enjoy asking questions about her mothering to learn, and be affirmed in decisions I am making with my own children. She has children who are both using their gifts in music and ministry and I too have been blessed with children who embrace simular things.
I shared with her how I don't get how people remain victims of the past. If I offend anyone who is reading this, believe me that is not my intent. My intent is to simply ask the question of how you see God's salvation in your life. Does he really save us? I live every single day with the knowledge of his saving grace in my life. How I have never treated my children the way I was brought up is only about God and God alone. I could not have been the kind of mother on my own. I shared with this lovely lady how I started praying the day I found I was pregnant with Elliot that I would know how to hold, touch, and love my child. All the holding, touching and what was called love came out of perversion and abuse for me as a child. An old lady who loved Jesus hugged me one time in church and told me that Jesus loves me. I believed that must be what Jesus's love felt like and I embraced that one hug for many years. And prayed that God would teach me to know how to hug my own, my first child Elliot.
It's scary being a mother and wanting to do our best. Our best can only be found through the teaching's of God's word, and giving up our past to God regardless of what is was. We are no longer bound by what was, but free for what is., a life that seeks to know the heart of Christ and then live it.
Eric has been encouraged to carry his Bible around. Now it's not a preschool kid kind of Bible. It's like mommy's. As a matter of fact it is one of my favorite Bible's, but he wants to "read" it. So there he will sit, on his bed, during quiet time "reading" his Bible. I trust that God is speaking to the heart of my four year old. He shares with me what he is reading and that God is speaking to his heart. A few days ago he announced that "I am going to be a good reader of the word of God, so I can teach people about the Lord". Sixteen years ago another one of my children told me the same things. Not quite those exact words, but that 20 year old is now sharing his life and knowledge of Christ with his world in Florida.
I pray over the hearts of women who have come from hardships, hard aches, and desire to raise children up in Christ. I pray for all of our mommy hearts that we rely on the witness and testimoney of those mothers that God blesses us with to learn and grow from. And most important that we all get how God delivers us from our past and we don't have to be bound by it, or victims. Our past is never an excuse when we have the Lord God as our Lord and Savior.
Thanks to those mommy's around me that bless me, both young and old.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
The Loss of Sweet Baby Arie
My Thursday evening was to be one of silly girlfriends scheming to try to induce labor. Mike and Marie had a 39 week baby appointment at 5pm. They were coming for dinner at 7pm. I was going to spice up her serving and then we would walk two miles to promote labor. It worked for me four of my five pregnancies so she was willing to give it a try. Dinner sat on the stove waiting and then the phone call.
There was no heartbeat. The details of the last 48 hours are of hearts breaking, dreams shattered and the delivery of a breathless baby girl. A mommy and daddy are home tonight. No baby will be crying.
Please pause and pray for this couple. Passion and love for our Lord they have. They have friends and family who have covered them in prayer. But even all this will not take away the pain in their hearts today, next week or even next year. They have no sweet baby girl waiting to be nursed, or sung to. Pray for them.
Please also pray for me. It may seem a bit selfish in the moment to ask prayer for me. I have never lost a baby. I have never held the hand of a grieving mommy as her baby is being delivered. I have never held a baby without a heartbeat. Yet God gave me courage and strength to walk through this with Mike and Marie. God brought friends into my life to help me know how to help when I was at a loss for knowing what to do, how to comfort and support this family. Now as the weeks unfold please pray for me to know when to step in or fade out. Thank you.
There was no heartbeat. The details of the last 48 hours are of hearts breaking, dreams shattered and the delivery of a breathless baby girl. A mommy and daddy are home tonight. No baby will be crying.
Please pause and pray for this couple. Passion and love for our Lord they have. They have friends and family who have covered them in prayer. But even all this will not take away the pain in their hearts today, next week or even next year. They have no sweet baby girl waiting to be nursed, or sung to. Pray for them.
Please also pray for me. It may seem a bit selfish in the moment to ask prayer for me. I have never lost a baby. I have never held the hand of a grieving mommy as her baby is being delivered. I have never held a baby without a heartbeat. Yet God gave me courage and strength to walk through this with Mike and Marie. God brought friends into my life to help me know how to help when I was at a loss for knowing what to do, how to comfort and support this family. Now as the weeks unfold please pray for me to know when to step in or fade out. Thank you.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
How Profound my Icecream Date
It's been almost 24 hours since my ice cream date with a six year old boy. Ethan started first grade yesterday. He was up and dressed by 7:00am. Not exactly a picture of pressed, prim school boy. He chose his own outfit, which honestly is fine with me as long as he is within code. He looked cute and adorable at the enthusiasm of his first day. Is it just my kids who are always most proud of the back pack? I am a terrible mother when it comes to back pack. This is my 3rd child to go off to school. I let them choose their own back packs. I have told them all the same thing. "This is going to be your back pack for the next 12 years so choose one that you will like when you are 18 years old". They have never argued or challenged this. Ethan just decided that he would not want to carry Incredible Hulk for the next 12 years and chose a basic black pack with the wheels on it. Even today, his second day of school the back pack is still carefully placed by the front door with pride.
Every first day of school is followed by a special ice cream date. I asked lots of questions about the first day. Who do you sit by? What did you do first, and then second and then third? Did you get to practice remembering all the things from last year? You know, mom kind of questions.
Well, Ethan was not really interested in answering any of these questions. He really was not interested in being the answer-er...he wanted to be asking the questions. So here is how it all went down.
Ethan: So, mommy did Marie swallow a pill to get pregnant?
Mommy: Well, why do you ask, and what do you think? (good way to buy time in answering the question, and finding out what they are really asking...LOL)
Ethan: I think she just swallowed a pill. You said her baby will be here any day and her belly is huge. Does the pill just grow and grow?
Mommy: Marie did not take a pill to grow a baby Ethan. God designed it that both mommy and daddy have something special to share that makes the baby.
Ethan: What do they share? An ice cream cone.....(big silly laugh that follows)
Mommy: Yup they share a big ice cream cone. That is why kids like ice cream so much, because they are made out of shared ice cream cones.
Ethan: That's not true mommy what do they share?
Mommy: Well mommy has a special egg.
Ethan: Like a chicken egg that get's laid? (big silly laugh again)
Mommy: Nope a special baby egg and the daddy has a special seed. Once the daddy seed is put inside the mommy's eggs it's planted into the mommy's belly. God made mommy's like that, and then like our pumpkins ( we have big pumpkins growing in our flower beds) the seed develops and grows a baby ready to come into the world.
Ethan: Wowwwwww, God can sure do a lot of things really really really really good.
Mommy: Yeppers he sure can.
So, we went on to other topics, but today was very cool. Each child is different when introduced to how real God is the miracle of life. Each child gets the same story at a pretty young age, but then as we adults know that is the second half of the story. I am glad to say that none of my children have asked how that seed got there until a few years down the road.
Please pray for my dear friend Marie, who is ready to deliver her first baby sometime in the next 1-8 days. She is a healthy young woman who has had a very easy pregnancy. And I am blessed that my children have had the opportunity of watching the miracle of life growing her belly.
Every first day of school is followed by a special ice cream date. I asked lots of questions about the first day. Who do you sit by? What did you do first, and then second and then third? Did you get to practice remembering all the things from last year? You know, mom kind of questions.
Well, Ethan was not really interested in answering any of these questions. He really was not interested in being the answer-er...he wanted to be asking the questions. So here is how it all went down.
Ethan: So, mommy did Marie swallow a pill to get pregnant?
Mommy: Well, why do you ask, and what do you think? (good way to buy time in answering the question, and finding out what they are really asking...LOL)
Ethan: I think she just swallowed a pill. You said her baby will be here any day and her belly is huge. Does the pill just grow and grow?
Mommy: Marie did not take a pill to grow a baby Ethan. God designed it that both mommy and daddy have something special to share that makes the baby.
Ethan: What do they share? An ice cream cone.....(big silly laugh that follows)
Mommy: Yup they share a big ice cream cone. That is why kids like ice cream so much, because they are made out of shared ice cream cones.
Ethan: That's not true mommy what do they share?
Mommy: Well mommy has a special egg.
Ethan: Like a chicken egg that get's laid? (big silly laugh again)
Mommy: Nope a special baby egg and the daddy has a special seed. Once the daddy seed is put inside the mommy's eggs it's planted into the mommy's belly. God made mommy's like that, and then like our pumpkins ( we have big pumpkins growing in our flower beds) the seed develops and grows a baby ready to come into the world.
Ethan: Wowwwwww, God can sure do a lot of things really really really really good.
Mommy: Yeppers he sure can.
So, we went on to other topics, but today was very cool. Each child is different when introduced to how real God is the miracle of life. Each child gets the same story at a pretty young age, but then as we adults know that is the second half of the story. I am glad to say that none of my children have asked how that seed got there until a few years down the road.
Please pray for my dear friend Marie, who is ready to deliver her first baby sometime in the next 1-8 days. She is a healthy young woman who has had a very easy pregnancy. And I am blessed that my children have had the opportunity of watching the miracle of life growing her belly.
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