Four times a year, I get to meet up with about 40 women who are in my Mothers Understanding Mothers group. It is a group we started at church, less formal than MOPS, and open to any mama who still has children in the home. We model it after Titus 2, and bring in the older, wiser mamas to teach us, guide us, and help us laugh about things now that they laughed about later. We pray, eat great food, and talk alot. We catch up. We all leave feeling connected and like we are not the only one staying up late cleaning up throw up and paying bills. We promise to call and have coffee, and we do. God with skin on. Thank you Lord for girlfriends.
Mom’s Day
I hate to be called mother. It gives me the same feeling that I try to convey when I call my kid’s by their whole name. Mother implies authority to me. Mom implies more of what I want to be. Strong, creative, fun, loving, compassionate, and encouraging. All the things my mom can be. My husband is gone traveling for work this week, so I usually sleep on the couch with a movie. At 2am, my 17 year old daughter came downstairs, woke me up, and asked if we could sleep together in my bed. I went up with her, and had a great night’s rest. Those moments are rare and far-between, but what being mom is all about. And now, as I catch up my blog, my other 5 are frantic at work with Mom’s Day plans… crepes with strawberries, handmade cards and poems, painted rocks, and my best flowers plucked in glass jar vases. I love this day! Happy Mom’s Day to every woman out there who puts her kid’s first, goes without to often, and eats the burnt toast. They will rise up and call you blessed. God will reward your sacrifice in His time. Blessing and love! (Love and miss you, mom, and wish we were together today… but see you soon!)
Passed Over
I am in my second year of teaching. I absolutely LOVE what I do. I feel so blessed to be able to earn a living, help my family, be with my 3 little ones everyday, and have the chance to be a light in a dark place- the public school system. I have a son with an IEP, and I vowed that if I ever taught- NO parent would ever leave my IEP meetings in tears. You know the usual… 8 adults around a conference table with files full of negative information about your child… do this, do that, medication? and words like challenge, struggle, behavior issues, and different floating around like the elephant in the room. I left everyone frustrated and in tears. Can’t these adults see the wonderful things I see? Can’t they be flexible enough to support a child where they are at, all the while encouraging growth and inclusion?? Yikes! I also have a gifted child who faces many of the same issues. Can’t you find a way to challenge her? Can’t you see that she has needs and goals as well, even though she excels on your state testing? Each of my children are so different. Anyways, I bring all of this background to my classroom. I was very pleased to have been voted Rookie Teacher of the Year for my school. Our school has a reputation for having the most challenging population in the district, and it means a lot to me to get our school (and students) some respect and recognition for the hard work we do here. It is also an award voted on by my peers, so that meant a lot to me as well. Well, the morning of the DISTRICT-WIDE Recognition Party, where I could have won at the next level and moved on to state, I had a nervous feeling. If I won, our school would be recognized publically and that made me excited. But, I would have to speak in front of hundreds, and that terrified me. And if I lost, I would feel sad. It was just a mess! So, I wake up at my usual 5am and have coffee and devotions. My devotion for the day was called “Passed Over.” Psalms 75:6-7 says “For not from the east nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation, but God is the Judge. He puts down one and exalts another.” God will lift us up in His time, not ours. And the prayer was, “Father God, take from me the desire for earthly recognition. Let me focus on the task and not the reward. I know that you will life me up in Your time- I trust You for that. Help me be a supportive mom when the time comes for me to comfort my child when he or she has been passed over. Amen.” WOW! That sure got my head in the right place! Thank you God for always being there for me, even when I don’t ask. I lost that night, but had a great time with my husband and friends. Now, I can remember to keep my eyes us even though I am so sad to say good-bye to my 26 “other” kids in just 21 days.
Prayers
My last though before I log off today is to make some prayer requests known. Please send a prayer out for my secret sister, who is needing unity and protection for her family this week. Please send a prayer out for one of my students, who is being abused and I am powerless to take any action yet. Please send a prayer for my Sister-In-Law who is struggling to care for 7 children and ailing parents (cancer sucks), none of whom are terribly cooperative. Finally, send a prayer out for my mom’s husband, who is having heart surgery in the coming week. God has allowed these things, so we will trust in Him. Thanks.
New Adventure
We made a decision as a family to NOT do any spring sports this year. Our crazy reasoning is that, in 10 years, the kids will (hopefully) remember that they had sane parents, but not that they did not play Little League the spring of ‘08 :*) But, that did free us up a bit to try some new things. Johnny has been begging (!!!) to ride BMX like some of his buddies for the past year. He really has been patient. So, we took him down to Cherry Hill BMX yesterday for the kick-off safety clinic. They fixed his bike up to race, gave him a helmet, taught him the rules, gave him jersey (we paid some fees, signed some forms…), and he was in his first “heat” by noon. HE LOVED IT! He did 2 qualifiers and 1 main event. At the end of it all, he walked away exhausted, proud, and holding a 2nd Place Trophy. Great job Johnny! We walked away sunburned, aware of what a day at the track in the future will require, and with a sinking feeling that the next 12 Saturdays are suddenly booked. Isn’t that what it’s all about? It was a great day!
My Favorite Things
Besides my Lord and my family, my three favorite things are blue skies, the beach/ocean, and chocolate.
Jesus, Family, Blue Skies, Beach, and Chocolate… these are a few of my favorite things!
6 Silly Facts
As I frantically work to fix a “worm” that has invaded my home computer… I am destressing by heading to the faithful laptop that has served me so well over the past 3 years. I bought it to go back to school, earned my Master’s Degree, and wrote the resume that got me hired at my dream job. Who needs that huge HP anyways!!!! (I do, but not today :*). Renee Garcia, a mom I met through blogging, has “tagged” me, and I think my job is to list 6 unknown facts about me. I will do my best to catch up. Thanks, Renee, for encouraging me!
1) I am a blanket hog. My husband of 18 years and I battle over the blankets, and I always win. The bad part is that I don’t even know I am doing it. It doesn’t matter who it is… even my kids! I inevitably wind up curled tight like a cocoon each morning. Sorry family!
2) My family is my life. I love each of them very much, for different reasons. I am amazed at them all daily. I am amazed at how different and unique 6 children can be who are raised in the same environment with the same parents. When I really look at them (which isn’t often enough), I see God.
3) I feel bad that I don’t have time for many new friendships right now. With going back to work after years of staying at home to raise babies, my time is consumed. When I am at work, I think about things at home. When I am at home, I am thinking about things at work. It is an awkward balance, woven with some guilt, wrapped in a dream to keep making life better for our family. When new people invite me to coffee or something, I secretly wish that I was with the friends that I miss and don’t get enough time with already. I miss my best friends and our girlfriend time. It is a bit of a mess right now.
4) Once every few months, I get stubborn and declare All-Day PJ Day for myself. I say no to everything. Sleep whenever I feel like it (which might include 3 naps in one day), don’t answer the phone, and stay home even if John is taking the kids for some amazing family outing. I have learned (thought it has taken 38 years) that if I don’t occassionally rest, I don’t have the energy, spirit, or attitude that I need to do what I need to do- take care of my family and tend to my profession well.
5) I have adapted to all of the food my husband loves. I grew up a VERY picky eater. Now, I love salsa (especially his homemade), avocados, and Thai.
6) I am a coffee addict. I never drank coffee for 35 years. Then, when I went back to school for my Master’s and teaching credentials, I started a cycle of putting the kids to bed, cleaning up, putting on a pot of coffee, and studying all hours of the night. It took my 3 years, but I did it. And now, I have a profession that allows me to make a living for my family doing something I am deeply passionate about and absolutely love… growing kids! Now, I kept up the bad habit and use the social excuse that fuels my addiction. Coffee with friends is my great escape.
7) BONUS- I absolutely love my Lord. I am not perfect, but I do know that I would be nothing, could do nothing, and would be nothing without my Heavenly Father encouraging, teaching, and guiding me through this crazy journey on earth.
Hope that does it! Being a wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend is a complex process. Each day I am living, I realize how much I have yet to learn. Thanks Renee!
MIA Report
The reason I have been missing in action for so long is that I had Report Cards, Parent-Teacher Conferences, and moving to a new house in the snow for Spring Break! Our life has been one big adventure over the last 3 years. I might complain that we have moved our six children 5 times in the last 3 years, but that would be seeing the glass half empty. I choose to see each new house as a new adventure and opportunity. New neighbors, new organization and cleaning, fresh starts, and a chance to try out a bunch of different layouts before we settle on one. I PRAY this is the last one before the LAST one… as our goal all along was to wait for prices to drop and buy next winter. Looks like our patience has finally paid off. Sorry Lord if I complained too much. I do love my new house. It is warm, and fun, and has a nice layout for our family. The yard is amazing. So is the location. So, hoping to have at least 12 months in this one! Thank you Lord that we survived the last 30 days in tact. Isn’t moving fun????
This is where why I watch the sunset.
This is the front with my flagpole, circular drive, and lil’ Cape Cod roof :*)
Where I watch the sunrise, the kids play on the playset, John has his shop, and the 1.7 acres of fenced yard is…
I asked Johnny how he feels about the new house… need I say more!
First for Everything
Today, on the way to church, when I was already on the verge of being a few minutes late- POW! While waiting at the red light, in my favorite new car ever, with my children talking amongst themselves, some guy in a Toyota Rav4 SLAMS into the back of us. Thank goodness I had my foot on the brake, or I would have rammed the car in front of me! When I looked in my rearview mirror, this poor guy had his face buried in this hands. Not a good morning for him either. Our cars were stuck together, so after some effort, I was able to break free, drive through the intersection, pull over, and do the exchange information thing. THIS WAS MY FIRST ACCIDENT IN 18 years! I was so flustered, I tried to get out of there quickly. How awkward is that situation?????!! He knew it was his fault. He apologized. Noone was hurt. My bumper was cracked and my hitch messed up, but we could both drive-away. Yikes! Not looking forward to that for another 18 year or more. When I called his insurance today, they took the facts, and then said something that worried me a bit… “It appears there is a minor issue with his coverage, but we should be able to sort it out soon.” What does that mean????? I guess I get to learn how this all goes… his insurance, my insurance…. Trying to keep the joy in North Idaho… :*)
