Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Lions, Tigers, and Bears...Oh My!
My family and I took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and a day off on Monday to head to the zoo! If you have never been to the Abilene Zoo, you are truly missing out on a great activity for the family. We asked our sweet niece, Lindsay, and our brave nephew, Kirby, (he had to sit in the middle of Presley and Grayson's carseats...YIKES!) to tag along with us. We had a blast. It was such a beautiful day!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Argh! Pirates!
Everything went fine on Friday. I was home taking a nap by 10:00 that morning, and I have felt fine for the most part. Thanks for praying for me! I must tell you though, that my kids have the most amazing, most incredible, daddy in the entire world....and I get to be his wife! I never cease to be amazed with the fun things he comes up with to entertain the kids...especially when he knows I could use a break. One of his most recent activities had us ALL searching for the pirate loot, walking the plank, and yelling, "Ahoy, Matey!" Let me tell you, this mama can't think of anything cuter than Grayson marching around with a bandana on his head, an eye patch, and a hook hand, wrinkling his brow and saying, "Argh!" Presley knows all the pirate lingo and makes sure we know that the pirate's booty is not really a bad word. Our latest treasure hunt had us searching the house for hidden pieces of the treasure map that had to be taped together and led us to where X marked the spot. We enjoyed a treasure full of Skittles....good times. Beware--My pirate family is looking pretty scary in these pictures!
Monday, January 12, 2009
I Never Expected...
Today started as a normal Monday. Well, all except I didn't have to go to work today. I got up at 6:30 and got ready for the day. As always, at exactly 6:42, Presley's alarm clock went off, so I met her halfway in the living room and herded her to the bathroom to get ready. Then I drove her to school and dropped her off. You see, the only thing different about today, was that I had a doctor's appointment at 11:00. This meant I couldn't take a half day off in the morning or the afternoon, so I had to take the whole day off. While at first, I found this timing kind of frustrating, I thought I would make the most of it. For once in my life, I was able to take Grayson to his PDO class at Calvary and actually meet his teacher (my mom usually takes him). After that, I had big plans...clean my house, do a little window shopping, have lunch with my wonderful husband, and squeeze in a little doctor's appointment in between.
I never expected that I would find myself sitting in two separate doctor's offices for hours on end waiting, waiting, waiting for them to call my name or step into the office. I surely did not expect that after waiting a grand total of 1 hour and 20 minutes (not counting the 30 minutes in the lobby) in the cold, sterile office, sitting on that stupid paper they put on the bed that my new doctor would come in and schedule me for surgery in four days. Yeah, totally unexpected. I never expected that at 2:00 (this all started at 10:45) I would be having a pre-op appointment at North Star, having blood drawn, and given instructions about what to do the day before surgery. I was told I have endometrial polyps, and I need to have surgery to remove them as they have been causing some problems. So much for cleaning, window shopping, and lunch with my wonderful husband....I didn't even eat lunch at all.
So I admit, I am scared to death. I have never had surgery in my life, never been put under, never thought I would blog about this. My doctor assured me that 99% of the time these things come back benign, but they will have to go through pathology testing. The procedure won't take long, and it is outpatient. Recovery should only be a day or two, so it shouldn't be that big of a deal, but I am feeling kinda wimpy about the whole thing. I know this is soooo minor compared to the things many of you have gone through, but I am asking you for your prayers this week. Please pray that I would have peace about the whole thing as it approaches so quickly and that it would go smoothly. I pray that this procedure will cure some of the problems I have been having. Thanks for praying for me....it means the world to me.
On a lighter and sweeter note....One of my favorite sounds in the whole world is hearing Presley and Grayson laugh TOGETHER. Tonight my house was full of laughter as they were playing their first independent game of Hide and Seek. Presley's hiding skills are much better than Grayson's. I love it how he cannot wait to be found, and so he makes it pretty obvious. I love it how Presley knows right where he is, but pretends that she can't find him for a little while. She told him he was such a good little hider. It is such a precious site to see them playing together and loving on each other. I hope your houses are filled with laughter this week!
I never expected that I would find myself sitting in two separate doctor's offices for hours on end waiting, waiting, waiting for them to call my name or step into the office. I surely did not expect that after waiting a grand total of 1 hour and 20 minutes (not counting the 30 minutes in the lobby) in the cold, sterile office, sitting on that stupid paper they put on the bed that my new doctor would come in and schedule me for surgery in four days. Yeah, totally unexpected. I never expected that at 2:00 (this all started at 10:45) I would be having a pre-op appointment at North Star, having blood drawn, and given instructions about what to do the day before surgery. I was told I have endometrial polyps, and I need to have surgery to remove them as they have been causing some problems. So much for cleaning, window shopping, and lunch with my wonderful husband....I didn't even eat lunch at all.
So I admit, I am scared to death. I have never had surgery in my life, never been put under, never thought I would blog about this. My doctor assured me that 99% of the time these things come back benign, but they will have to go through pathology testing. The procedure won't take long, and it is outpatient. Recovery should only be a day or two, so it shouldn't be that big of a deal, but I am feeling kinda wimpy about the whole thing. I know this is soooo minor compared to the things many of you have gone through, but I am asking you for your prayers this week. Please pray that I would have peace about the whole thing as it approaches so quickly and that it would go smoothly. I pray that this procedure will cure some of the problems I have been having. Thanks for praying for me....it means the world to me.
On a lighter and sweeter note....One of my favorite sounds in the whole world is hearing Presley and Grayson laugh TOGETHER. Tonight my house was full of laughter as they were playing their first independent game of Hide and Seek. Presley's hiding skills are much better than Grayson's. I love it how he cannot wait to be found, and so he makes it pretty obvious. I love it how Presley knows right where he is, but pretends that she can't find him for a little while. She told him he was such a good little hider. It is such a precious site to see them playing together and loving on each other. I hope your houses are filled with laughter this week!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Toughest Job in the World
Sigh...I am having one of those days. You moms and dads out there surely know the ones. The days when you feel like a failure as a parent. Okay, that's a bit drastic, I guess. I think I know I'm a good mom. I have so much love in my heart and soul for my kids, sometimes I seriously think my heart is going to explode. Sometimes it actually does explode in the form of tears of joy just spilling out or a laughter erupting from deep inside that I can't control.
It all started with a cavity. Presley complained of her tooth hurting last night, so I automatically thought we might be getting close to a visit from the tooth fairy. Kindergarteners lose teeth, right? Well, as I got a closer look, I saw that to my fear, shock, and horror, my daughter did not have a lose tooth, but a big black spot on her tooth. Unfortunately, as I looked closer I saw not one spot, but three! Even as I type this, I know that it probably sounds ridiculous to some, but I feel personally responsible. Yes, we make sure Presley brushes her teeth every night and day, but how did her mother let those cavities get there?
Secondly, I know that it is inevitable that my children are going to make mistakes very, very frequently. However, sometimes we get into a nice swing of life, when all is manageable, and then BAM! We are reminded that parenting is the toughest job in the world. Tough for so many reasons. Again, there is that feeling of personal responsibility for how they act, how I choose to discipline them, and how I am going to make it all better. I know that it is my job and Jim Bob's job to teach our children that while we all make mistakes, there are consequences for the choices we make. Sometimes those consequences require tough love. Sometimes I have an easier time with this than others. It is difficult to see my kids make bad choices, but it is even harder to discipline them while trying to explain that you love them. I mean, come on, how can I LOVE them if I'm taking their favorite toy away until their behavior improves? How can I LOVE them if I am making them go to time out, grounding them to their room, or giving them a spanking?
Don't you think that is how God feels about us? This afternoon, I watched Jim take our sweet kiddo into his arms and just hold her as she sobbed and sobbed because she had made a bad choice and knew there were major consequences to come. I watched him wrap her up with all he had and let her cry on his shoulder. The consequences were still to come, and they both knew that. Her daddy's heart was breaking even more than hers was, I know this for sure. I imagine that when I make a bad choice, that God's heart is breaking. Often, I come to Him, just like Presley came to us, and I say I'm sorry and ask for forgiveness. Often there are tears. I imagine my heavenly father crying with me, forgiving me, but allowing me to suffer the consequences of my choices. Yes, because he loves me.
I feel as if I am rambling, and could go on forever, and if anyone makes it to this part, thanks for letting me be honest about my parenting thoughts and my daughter's cavities. My prayer is for all parents who have had "one of those days" lately. I also thank God that while parenting is definitely hard sometimes, it is also the absolute most rewarding, most incredible, most important job that I have.
Thank you, God, for the gift of my babies. Help me to lead them in the way they should go. Help me to show them your love and teach them to be more like you. Lord, help me to be more like you.
It all started with a cavity. Presley complained of her tooth hurting last night, so I automatically thought we might be getting close to a visit from the tooth fairy. Kindergarteners lose teeth, right? Well, as I got a closer look, I saw that to my fear, shock, and horror, my daughter did not have a lose tooth, but a big black spot on her tooth. Unfortunately, as I looked closer I saw not one spot, but three! Even as I type this, I know that it probably sounds ridiculous to some, but I feel personally responsible. Yes, we make sure Presley brushes her teeth every night and day, but how did her mother let those cavities get there?
Secondly, I know that it is inevitable that my children are going to make mistakes very, very frequently. However, sometimes we get into a nice swing of life, when all is manageable, and then BAM! We are reminded that parenting is the toughest job in the world. Tough for so many reasons. Again, there is that feeling of personal responsibility for how they act, how I choose to discipline them, and how I am going to make it all better. I know that it is my job and Jim Bob's job to teach our children that while we all make mistakes, there are consequences for the choices we make. Sometimes those consequences require tough love. Sometimes I have an easier time with this than others. It is difficult to see my kids make bad choices, but it is even harder to discipline them while trying to explain that you love them. I mean, come on, how can I LOVE them if I'm taking their favorite toy away until their behavior improves? How can I LOVE them if I am making them go to time out, grounding them to their room, or giving them a spanking?
Don't you think that is how God feels about us? This afternoon, I watched Jim take our sweet kiddo into his arms and just hold her as she sobbed and sobbed because she had made a bad choice and knew there were major consequences to come. I watched him wrap her up with all he had and let her cry on his shoulder. The consequences were still to come, and they both knew that. Her daddy's heart was breaking even more than hers was, I know this for sure. I imagine that when I make a bad choice, that God's heart is breaking. Often, I come to Him, just like Presley came to us, and I say I'm sorry and ask for forgiveness. Often there are tears. I imagine my heavenly father crying with me, forgiving me, but allowing me to suffer the consequences of my choices. Yes, because he loves me.
I feel as if I am rambling, and could go on forever, and if anyone makes it to this part, thanks for letting me be honest about my parenting thoughts and my daughter's cavities. My prayer is for all parents who have had "one of those days" lately. I also thank God that while parenting is definitely hard sometimes, it is also the absolute most rewarding, most incredible, most important job that I have.
Thank you, God, for the gift of my babies. Help me to lead them in the way they should go. Help me to show them your love and teach them to be more like you. Lord, help me to be more like you.
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