Hindsight...

My babies turned three today! I suppose that they are not officially babies anymore and I am sure that I won't have anymore myself--that is unless God intervenes! (I had my tubes tied.) I have been thinking of all these sweet thoughts of those precious babies all week. Thinking of how my days feel so long yet the years are flying by. As I looked through pictures of all the kids and thought all these sweet thoughts, I couldn't help but look forward to today. Even though it was a little emotional! I thought I would get up early and do my quiet time. When the boys got up, I envisioned singing them Happy Birthday and getting a big boy hug! My day dream had little birds singing around me like Snow White as I treasured the kids this morning. I bet you can tell that there is a but to this story. I got up with a terrible headache as well as just being extremely sleepy. That was ok. I can deal with that. So, I got to work on my quiet time. Things are going well, but the boys got up early. No big deal. I thought I would just turn on Disney channel while I finished up my quiet time. As they came down the stairs, I said HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOYS! My third clue to this morning now came..."No my birthday!" Ben said. I tried in the mommie fashion to tell him, Ya hoo. Today is your birthday and you are three!!! Well, at least this time there was no fussing! Will then asked me to get him some milk. I told him that mommy needed to finish her study and then I would get it. But I first must sing to my darling 3 year olds! As I started my own American Idol version of Happy Birthday, Will yelled at me in the meanest little three year old voice..."You no sing me!!!!!!!! AGGGHGH!" This morning was not quite what I had envisioned! In fact, to drive his point home, Will decided to throw his prized Geotrax engines towards me. By this time, I had totally lost my focus. On God, that is. In fact, the headache and sleepiness were egging on my flesh. But, you will be proud. I held it together. No screaming. No fussing. I calmly handled this situation. Took the older kiddos to school. Then off to the grocery. Then to Bible study. Dropped the boys off with their teacher. Then, wrote a quick pick-me-up card to a friend who has been sick. Ah. To hear Jean Stockdale speak. It was like the Holy Spirit was whispering in my ear. I am refreshed! Can I just tell you all it took was getting in the car and heading to the older kids school to get me all caught up in my flesh again! Will and Ben had speech evaluations today. To accomplish this though, we had to split them up. No big deal. I wore my big girl panties today and I can handle this. While Will was in the room, I took Ben around the school. Do you know how hard it is to keep a three year old quiet in a school. I forgot to mention that his volume level is close to those monkeys in the zoo that scream so loud you hear them no matter where you are in the zoo! Then, we switched off. As sweet as the teacher said he was for her, Will sprouted horns for me. He threw a tantrum, screamed and flailed his body in such a manner that I was having trouble holding the little 35 pound angel that I was being so sentimental about just hours before! Isn't it funny when you feel like you are in His Word and you are living His Word, then a moment (or should I say your day) goes haywire! Isn't it so hard to keep your focus on God. I have to admit I fell so short today. All I could think about was me and what I had to deal with. How selfish is that. I am pretty sure that I was fitting in to the "forgetful hearer" type that James talked about. Knowing how I should act, as Christ does, as a servant. And also to love. Not just fleshly love, but unconditional love(I Cor 13). Had I even gotten a small hint of this today, I am sure that I would have acted differently! Sometimes I amaze myself. I feel like I am doing pretty good, and then, BAM, I goof up. Thank goodness God is there to forgive me each and every time. Now I just have to go call my parents. They just so happened to pop in to tell the boys Happy Birthday this afternoon. Lets just say that I wasn't my most pleasant. I hope their forgiveness resembles Christ! Off for now.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Can I hear an AMEN!

Can I just tell you how good God is? I have been praying for my kids salvation alot lately. In fact, I had a dream that my kids and I were in a car wreck. Instantly, Ty along with Will and Ben went to heaven. My girls were doomed to hell. Can I tell you that after that dream, I have been earnestly praying for all of our kids. Well I know that God answers prayers, but it sure is funny when it happens so closely to when I pray for it. Emily came to me, of all times while I was cleaning the toilet, and told me she had been thinking about becoming a Christian. I told her that was wonderful news. We sat down and discussed it and then went to talk to daddy about this big decision. She prayed a simple, but very special prayer. She said, "I know you sent your Son to die for my sins. Would you let Jesus come to live in my heart?" So sweet. Luke 18:17 "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." I just can't explain what that means to my mother's heart to have my child not only a part of my earthly family, but now a part of my spiritual family. It brought tears to my eyes to hear her prayer. I also loved her excitement. She woke up this morning and totally made me laugh. "Mom, I am upset. I am going to have to miss my Sunday school class." I asked her why and she told me, "Silly! I have to get baptized!" Such zeal. I pray that she will have that zeal with her all the days of her life. Thank you, Jesus, for you being our precious Savior. Thank you for touching Emily's heart and bring her to You! I love you, my blessed Savior!!!!!

Funny for the day...

Just thought I would share a funny. My sweet KK came home from Sunday School on Sunday with a scowl on her face. I couldn't help but ask what in the world got her in such a little mood. She said, quite reluctantly, that she just HAD to get a little boy in trouble. I, of course, had to hear more detail so I asked her to tell me what had happened. She told me while she was in her class, a little boy came up to her and asked her a question. He asked, "Do you want to see my boo-boo?" I couldn't help but laugh at this comment. Yet, KK went on with her story telling me that she knew that saying that was not nice, especially at church. I confirmed, yes, she was right. Then I jokingly told her that this little boy might have been trying to get her attention. She laughed in her shy little way. A few minutes later, she asked me if Philip (my hubby) had asked me that to get my attention when we started dating! Philip and I couldn't stop laughing! So, that is my funny for today. By the way, little Will decided to take his diaper off again. Luckily, he did not pooh on the floor. He came and told me and we went pooh on the potty! YEAH! SUCCESS!
Laugh. Love. Live in Faith. Enjoy your babies and children.