The Time Someone Told Me I Sounded African

For the record, I am not African.  The grand total of time I have spent in Africa is 9 days, and that was to pick up our son and daughter.  I have red auburn hair and freckles.

Today I took the kids to a park and splashpad here in town.  They immediately ran to these super awesome swings where multiple kids can sit on one, so Ella (the oldest) was pushing the other three.  A lady walked up to me and I could smell it on her that she was itching to ask questions.  (You just start to know when someone wants to ask something.)  So I made eye contact with her and smiled to let her know, "Hey, it's okay, I won't bite," and she read my signals correctly.

"Where are you from?"

I was confused.  I'm used to more of the "where are THEY from," "are you a foster parent," "are they all yours," variety. "Me? Or my children?" I said.

"Yes, you."

"Um, well originally I am from Kentucky."

She looked confused.  Which was right in line with what I felt.

"Well, what about them?" She pointed in the general direction of the kids.

"Well, two of my children were born in the Congo."

"OH." She said.  "And have you spent a lot of time there?"

"Um...in Africa? I mean, I spent about nine days there."

"Oh, ok.  You just sound like you have spent considerable time in Africa." She just kept going, and I just kept being confused. "Your children, do they still have accents?"

"Yes, a little, I suppose. I don't really notice too much."

"Maybe they've rubbed off on you.  You sound like you are from Congo."

OKAY. I have heard a lot of weird things in my day, but that one was a first.

She did go one to say how beautiful my family was, which I thanked her for because many don't say that, and she replied with "people are people," and then moved on about her day.

Let me know if my accent gets too thick and you need translation.  I'm also a professional translator.

Good Job, Mama

Good job, Mama.

You got up today.

You fed your kids. (I do not care if it was pop tarts and cheez-its or organic carrots and blueberry spinach smoothies.)

You showed up.

Good job.

You weren't perfect, but you pressed on.

Remember, your imperfection is not going to scar your children. IN FACT, it is what God will use to draw them to Himself.  He is the perfect one.  If you were perfect, you could be their savior - and then what would be their need for Jesus?

Good job, mama.

You got out of bed.  You read another book even when your head hurt.

You disciplined that kid even though you didn't want to.

You went to work even though you didn't want to.

You left a crying toddler at the babysitter's because you had to.

You washed (some of) the dishes that had been there a few days.

You were touched and talked to from 6 am to 9 pm.

Good job, mama.

You bucked car seats ninety seven times.

You replaced that band-aid three times.

You listened to the Frozen soundtrack seven times.

You are doing good.

You apologized when you messed up.

You made your children apologize when they messed up.

You gave yourself a timeout before you did something that would need an apology later.

That's pretty stinkin' awesome.

You did your best.  That's good enough. In fact, it's incredible.

You were made for just your life.  It's obvious.

You died to yourself today. You laid down what you wanted in exchange to serve someone other than you.  That is not natural - that is Jesus working in you.

That's kinda great.

You are fighting the good fight. You are doing a good work.

Keep it up.

Good job, Mama.

Watching Out for Nets

It was 7:15 am. I had been up for about an hour - the baby woke up early, so I fed him and he was already back asleep.  No one else was up yet so I made myself a yummy pumpkin chai (I do not even care if it is June - I love pumpkin year round) and sat at the kitchen table with my bible to do my quiet time.  Rare. So very rare.  My quiet time when it is actually quiet. First thing in the morning.

Starting a proverb a day today - so Proverbs 1 it is.  7:18 am. I hear the first footsteps.  The oldest is up.  She sees me at the table and instead of playing upstairs like she would if I wasn't up yet, she asks if she can come down. I tell her only if she is quiet and she joins me with some coloring at the table.

Then, every few minutes, another set of footsteps pitter patter down the upstairs hall and join.  Soon my "quiet" time has gained 4 additional bodies who are anything but quiet, even at 7:24 in the morning. But dang it, I have my chai, I'm in a chair, I'm doing it, even if I have to plug my ears. I can't make it through all of Proverbs 1 because I'm especially hung up on a few verses I want to sit in my heart today. For some reason, I feel like I'm gonna need all the wisdom I can get.

Proverbs 1: 7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Well. The Lord knows I desire knowledge - because basically every day I'm all like I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING IN THIS CRAZY LIFE and be actin' a fool more often than I will admit to you, kind reader.

I continue.

Proverbs 1:10 "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent."

The sinners that came to mind here were not the four little people that had interrupted my precious time.  (Though sinners, they are. Bless their little hearts.) Instead, God brought to mind the things the enemy uses, my weak spots, to entice me.  My "sinners" that often entice me are jealousy, self-deprecation, selfishness, laziness, pride.  These result in impatience, anger, judgment of others, isolation, fear, lack of prayer, lack of faith, and sadness.  I feel like I have learned A LOT about myself over these last 18 months.  But as a wise teacher once shared with me, "Introspection is not change." Just because I know these areas of weaknesses about myself doesn't actually change anything by itself.  Only by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit and continual communion with God will change occur.  I confess that so often I know my own triggers, I know what gets me, I know what makes me feel crappy and then when I'm already in the pit I'm like, "Yep. Seems just like me."

Enter: I want to watch out for the net.

Proverbs 1: 17 "For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird."

I didn't get this at first. But after reading some commentary and the revelation God laid on my own heart, it clicked.  I WANT TO SEE THE NET BEFORE IT TRAPS ME. Because if I see the net, call it a net, then like any wise ol' bird I will avoid it.  The enemy is setting that net in vain because why I would I willingly trap myself?  If I have knowledge of the things that separate me from my Lord (the "sinners that entice" me) then I can head the other direction - into the arms of my Jesus who saves me. To the One who has provided victory over the very things that desire to swallow me whole.

So I challenge you, as I am challenging myself, to think about what are the things that entice you most, distract you from the fullness of life Jesus promises and provides for you? I've shared some of mine with you here. Examine your own heart and pray that God would give you eyes to see the nets the enemy may try to trap you in.  Then pray for wisdom to see those nets, so that they might be set in vain, so that you can head the other way.

Right after I finished my reading time, and these verses were fresh on my heart, I had a chance to practice net spotting.  My selfishness and laziness nets were waiting for me, like bait on a hook, and praise the Lord He helped me spot them before I pulled a Jenny and stepped right in. His Word was living and active in my life at that moment.  I wish it was a one-time fix and now this problem is solved, but you all know as well as I do this is a on-going process.  Sanctification, becoming more like Jesus, never will end this side of glory.

Truth Time

Okay, here goes.

Sometimes my kids annoy me.

There. I said it.

That thing we all think and then feel terrible about it because surely a good mom - a GODLY mom - would never ever think that.

If that is the case, you can go ahead and call me (because I call myself this) #worldsokayestmom

And if I take this truth further...I have five children....someone is always "off" or having a day or a crisis or going through a season of being exceptionally annoying so sometimes it feels like I am correcting and discipling and fussing and being annoyed all.the.time.

I'm working on it. :)

Judge me if you care to. (Which, by the way, is annoying too.)

The most annoying one at the moment shall remain nameless.  That particular child is at an annoying age right now.  There are SO.MANY.QUESTIONS and opinions and instructions that I have said no less than nine million times and I am human and can only handle so much before steam begins to come out of my ears.

So often I do not handle this well.  It is evident by my tone or the deep breath I have to take before I respond (so I don't lose it) that I am annoyed.  This particular child does not pick up on these cues (heaven help him/her).  I am constantly (and I mean multiple times a day) asking God for more patience because this SURELY is outside of my own human capability.

What about you? What do you do when you are getting particularly *annoyed* by a small human - or anyone you love?

I Feeled God

We were sitting at the dinner table last week when all of a sudden Kate stops and very dramatically proclaims: "MOMMY. I feeled Jesus."

I'm sorry. What?

"I FEELED GOD. Right here next to me. I just reached out and feeled His belly."

And Josiah, a 3 year old boy of few (coherent) words, looks at me with his eyes bugged out and says, "That's not good."

It got me to thinking.  WHAT IF WE COULD REACH OUT AND TOUCH JESUS ANYTIME WE WANTED? Like, tangibly feel his skin on our fingertips.

Ahhhhh.  I wish.

Christian, have you ever had a dry spell? Like where it felt like your prayers were falling on deaf ears? You wondered if God even heard you at all?  Did He fall asleep listening to you whine and pout? Did He walk away to deal with others with more "pressing" issues? You longed to lift up your hands in worship but you just weren't...feeling it?

No? Just me then? Okay.

I worked at a Christian summer camp for two summers in college as a bible study and recreation leader.  It was so much fun and a crazy cool job and changed my ever-lovin' life.  Seriously.  God was moving and shaking and wrecking kids' worlds (and staffers too!) and I had front row seats to it all.  But there was a period of time when I just didn't FEEL Jesus.  I knew He was there - crap, there was testimony that was undeniable in so many lives - but for me personally, the emotional feeling was missing.  I was able to sit in powerful worship services every.single.night. and not feel Him.  I prayed and prayed for Him to show up REAL in my life.  Like, if I could reach out and feel His belly, that'd be great.

Weeks and weeks went by. Nothing.  I clung to my bible, reading through Jeremiah, trusting this season would end and on the other side, I would feel Him again.  And you know what, I did.

In the 10+ years since that summer, there have many seasons where God is so real and tangible and my heart is stirring and my faith is strong and the tears flow in response.  And then there are seasons where all I can do is trust that His word is true and put one foot in front of the other in faith, and in faith alone.  My emotions, or my feelings, do not change His presence in my life. His intimate, never-ceasing, completely enveloping presence in my life.  He is there, all the time, whether my emotions agree or not.

I pray I can believe that today.  I pray it for you as well.

You Know You Have a Lot of Kids When...

I can't wait to add to this hilarious list as they happen. Because this is my real life.

If you have any to add, please share!!

You know you have a lot of kids when you can not participate in car pool or take any friends anywhere because your Suburban is full of installed car seats with children strapped in.

You know you have a lot of kids when it is best for you to grocery shop at a restaurant depot. Y'all. I'm not even talking Costco. An actual place where restaurants buy their food in bulk. (Seriously-price per frozen waffle is the best!)

You know you have a lot of kids when you make toast for breakfast and it uses an entire loaf.

You know you have a lot of kids when you have too much laundry to have one laundry day. Like you could sit at your washer and dryer all day long and still not get it done.

You know you have a lot of kids when you visit a zoo or museum once and it is more cost efficient to buy an annual membership. So you do - even if it is in another city.

You know you have a lot of kids when you walk into a restaurant on kids eat free night and the workers roll their eyes because they know they are losing so much money on you.

You know you have a lot of kids when the fewest number of people who share a room is 2. Ever. Until someone goes to college.

Please don't mention college. Or cars. Of weddings.

You know you have a lot of kids when you ONLY have to take 3 kids with you to the store.

You know you have a lot of kids when your friends can't remember all your kids' names. - Tina

You know you have a lot of kids when you are considering getting a different vehicle and the number of people it seats is the single most narrowing factor. (Need an 8 seater.)

You know you have a lot of kids when you go to eat at a restaurant with other adults and the waiter can't figure out who to give the kids' check to and then you take them all and his eyes nearly bug out of his head. 

You know you have a lot of kids when you consider getting two babysitters instead of one. 

You know you have a lot of kids when you make two pans of food for dinner and there are no leftovers. (Oh I can't imagine when these kids get older how I will keep them fed....)

You know you have a lot of kids when multiple children are due for check ups but you can't take them all at the same time because you have more than the office limit of family visits at one time. 

You know you have a lot of kids when you are introducing your family and the single most popular FIRST comment is, "You have your hands full!"

You know you have a lot of kids when you wish you would have taken some notes from the Duggars from "19 Kids and Counting" because that mama knows some things! - Blair

You know you have a lot of kids when you realize you really only need one more family your size to qualify for "group rates" on tickets. 

You know you have a lot of kids when you think about the future and notice if all your children follow in your footsteps you could have over TWO DOZEN grandchildren. Ay yi yi. 

Any more?




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Baby update: 4 months

Four months! Holy cow! What a month it's been for Ben. He is SO much fun. I do not remember having fun at this point yet with the twins. :) I feel like I have a little buddy! He is a lot of work and makes the routine with the older 4 off a bit (just keeping it real so you don't think I'm saying it is easy) but man, I sure do love and like this kid.
He has had a BIG month. He's learned a lot, changed a lot, grown a lot.
Ben, at 4 months, you:
-weigh 15 lbs, 3 oz and are 24.5 inches long (almost 3.5 lbs since your 2 month appointment and that's in the same month you had surgery!) about 50th percentile for both height and weight
-slept through the night once (two nights ago) so I am hoping we are turning a corner!!
-laugh and smile freely
-like your ribs tickled
-enjoy patty cake
-now think bath time is fun!
-don't sleep as long in the car seat (booooooooo)
-have done SO MUCH BETTER with your 45 minute naps. Oh my. But we cheated and you nap in your rock and play in our closet where it is pitch dark. But whatever. You are napping.
-had your lip and gum repair! You also got ear tubes and the surgeon started working on that bottom lip. There is a lot of work to go but you are strong and amazing! We spent one night in the hospital and recovery was about 10 days after that before I felt like we turned a corner back to pre-surgery Ben. But obviously since you have gained weight in the three weeks since surgery, mouth surgery can not hold you down!
-have the most squishiest cheeks on the planet.
-rolled belly to back for the first time on 5/14. You aren't far from back to belly.
-for whatever reason, you can't hold your pacifier in as well as pre-lip repair. I don't know if your muscles are still weak or what. So you chew on other things to soothe. You like your little Mickey lovey ear. I'm trying to encourage your hands but you aren't agreeing yet.
-whenever you start to seem dissatisfied with formula alone, your doctor said you could start cereal. We are not in a hurry but know it's coming!
-do not like loud, startling noises. But you can handle noise/chaos. Such is life.

The morning of surgery : last pic with a cleft lip!




Our sweet boy with his new mouth after surgery




Wearing his no-nos! (To keep his hands out of his mouth)




Hanging with Ella at her soccer game




Starting to enjoy bath time




These two. Oh my.




Kate even sometime shares her beloved Bunny with Ben.




Trying out the next hold in the Ergo! (Not a newborn anymore. Sniff.)




Talking to the man in the mirror...




Oh Mickey!




Mama is a bit picture happy because he is so dang sweet! And I'm proud of him.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad