Babies, babies, babies! November 16, 2007

I have a friend who is expecting a baby sometime early summer, so this of course means that she is newly expecting.  We are also going to be having a new niece or nephew in early May.  Oh yeah, and then there is someone else at church who is having a baby a few weeks after my friend.  I am going to be surrounded by babies and I am thrilled!  I can’t wait to sniff those newborn necks.  There is nothing like a brand new baby smell.  Ok, I know that baby poop stinks, but you know what I am talking about!  It is a sweet, straight from heaven, smell that is like no other.  It’s as though God sprinkles them with a little bit of His cologne before He allows us to hug and love them.  What a gift they are.

I am out of the baby stage (thank you Jesus!) finally and I don’t miss the middle of the night feedings, dirty diapers, and diaper bags.  I could write a book just on the diaper bags.  I mean there is the wipes, the diapers, the change of clothes in case of “explosion”, the children’s Tylenol, the extra socks cause one is always off and missing, the pacifiers, the A & D ointment for the rash, baby lotion for the dry skin cause they are no longer swimming in the womb, and the blankets cause you have to throw one over the top of the car seat so that the wind doesn’t “steal their breath” which was my mom’s best advice.  It is true, have you ever watched a little one as you walk outside and they catch their breath cause they are not used to the breeze.  To prevent it you carry an extra blanket to cover the carrier, and if I didn’t my mom fussed! 

 My sister-in-law, Lisa thinks it is unfair that neither Joell (John’s sister) or myself are expecting.  You see there is only 3 weeks between she in I in age (yes, I am older) and then Joell is only 4 months older then me.  Lisa seems to think that she is too old to be pregnant again.  I keep telling her that she isn’t old, because if she is old then so am I.  She told me that I am old!  But I get the last laugh…she’s pregnant and I am not!

I asked my friend if she was excited yet about being pregnant and she said “maybe”.  Being pregnant is sometimes scary.  It is hard to realize you are having a baby early on because there is no sign of the life that is growing inside.  You aren’t yet showing the visible signs of a growing tummy yet.  It makes you wonder if you really are.  Early on you have to pee all the time, your boobs get bigger and hurt if someone hugs you, you are feeling sick usually, and those dag-gone prenatal vitamins are the size of your thumb! 

Things soon change though, you begin to feel better, your pants quit fitting, your belly stretches and you swear that it will never shrink back to normal, you have people stop you and ask you when you are due, and everytime you laugh you pee your pants!  It is easier however; to realize you are expecting a baby.   

God’s word says that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made”  that He knew us when we were in our mother’s womb.  God knows from the day of conception who we are going to be!  That is exciting to me, to think that He had no doubts about me…Amy.  He knows all about each of these three babies as they grow in their momma’s tummy’s.  How cool is that?  So for me, though the signs of pregnancy are not yet there with my friend, I am excited with the anticipation of holding these new babies and getting the chance to love them.  So bring on the babies, babies, babies…I’m ready to sniff heaven!

Quick, move faster, you’re not done! November 15, 2007

I am having a really hard time getting done with everything that is piled on my plate!  I have my entire family coming to my house for Thanksgiving next week and the fact that the holiday season is upon us is almost unnerving!  I have so many things that I want to have done before they get here and I don’t know how I am possibly going to pull it off. 

Now I realize that my family is going to love me even if the ceiling fans are still covered with dust, but please, if I don’t get to it my mom will do it for me…which is way worse because that means she noticed! 

I am thrilled that they are all coming and staying here at my house.  It isn’t often that the family that you grew up with spends the night together in the same place.  Back when we used to do that, I had my own room, no husband, no kids, and a bed time!  Gone are those days.  I am now the responsible adult (try to contain your laughter), who is cooking the entire Thanksgiving meal by myself, cleaning ceiling fans, washing windows, getting children’s church stuff done, decorate some things for the Christmas holidays, (since my brother won’t be back to see it) and heaven knows that I would really like to have time to blog, check email, and let’s not forget homework and laundry!

 I am going to survive, of this, I have no doubt.  I may not accomplish it all but in the grand scheme of things, that is not what is important.  Family that loves one another (yes, John loves my parents in small doses, he will deal), healthy kids and parents, a free country to live in, a church family to worship freely with, a home to celebrate in, best friends, fantastic in-laws (all of them), and a Savior who has given His all for me, my family and friends; this is what is really important to remember and be thankful for. 

I am thankful for you too, those of you that have taken time to read my rants, raves, and ramblings.  Remember to thank the One responsible (not me dummy, Jesus)!  Much love to you this Thanksgiving holiday!

I want, I want, I want! November 13, 2007

I have been really busy in recent days, it comes all to easily for me to find myself that way too.  Just like this morning, I got the kids up and out the door for school, watched my favorite morning news show, then couldn’t fight the urge to watch the morning banter on Regis and Kelly, got my shower, went to the chiropractor, had a lunch meeting with John to gather names of folks I needed to call from church (38 people), came home and started making phone calls. 

Now this was not my original plan for “my day”.  I think that I immediately derailed myself by watching the news, but I just love to watch Good Morning America, and then Regis and Kelly just slay me!   Anyway, “I” had plans of going to the church to do work on the children’s church curriculum and then research a place to stay for the upcoming ladies getaway.  So far not only have I not done any of what I intended, I am now writing a blog when I should be surfing the net for a place to stay. 

 Why is it that it is so incredibly easy to get distracted from what we should be doing?  Now let me say this, I have been really busy all afternoon, working on the church phone calls and they were necessary but I didn’t get to do what “I wanted” to do.  

 Do you find yourself in the same place?  Do you often want to do things that are important and need to be done, but find yourself doing something else that God wants you to do?  Maybe instead of going to the grocery store; He insists you take time to read your Bible or pray.  Maybe you need to call someone to ask their forgiveness for how you offended them, instead of watching the morning news.  What about taking time to minister to your sick neighbor or friend, rather then going to the mall.  Should you stop by to see that family member that really gets on your nerves but is so lonely, instead of having lunch the your best friend who you see everyday?  Makes you stop and think about where your priorities should be doesn’t it?  

 Maybe we should take the time to ask the Lord “what would you have me do today?”.  Don’t however be surprised when He changes your plans for the day.  That is what happened to me today.   I didn’t get to do what I wanted, but instead I did what He wanted me to do today.  In the end, that is really what “I want”.

I can not tell a lie. November 10, 2007

I took my daughter, Jordan to a lock-in at our church last evening. On the way there she and I were talking about a girl that lives across the street from us. You see this little girl is having a difficult time with Jordan getting along so well in her first year at public school. They are going to the same school and this girl is none too happy at how she is meeting new friends and everybody seems to really like her.

Jordan being well liked is not a new problem. Everywhere we go and everyone we meet seems to fall in love with Jordan immediately. She is gentle, sweet, polite, and really funny. Now don’t get me wrong, she is not all those things all the time, we do live with her and she can also be disobedient, hard headed, mean, and lazy, but most of the time, especially away from the house she is this great kid that makes a friend out of everyone and doesn’t have a problem fitting in. This other girl however, is having a really hard time adjusting to Jordan, who is making friends, doesn’t need to lean on her to make her way around, and now deems her a “snob” who is being mean.  None of which is true, I promise!

As Jordan and I were talking about what had happened earlier in the day with this girl, she was telling me about how she was mad that Jordan tells me everything. You see we have a very open relationship and she tells me most things that happen to her. She says that she couldn’t keep a secret from me if she tried because “my conscience wouldn’t let me keep it a secret”, and if she “didn’t tell me I would find out anyway, cause I know everything”. Needless to say when this girl used lots of ugly words while yelling at my daughter, Jordan told me and I told her mom. Yeah, I know, I am a tattle-tale; but I don’t care. You don’t get to talk to my daughter that way and get away without punishment. If I can’t punish you, I will tell someone who can!

I was telling a couple of older girls about how Jordan says she can’t keep secrets from me or tell lies (unless it is about whether or not she has really finished her homework). One of them agreed with Jordan and admitted a “high conscience level” and the other admitted that she could tell a lie, keep it going and you would never know the difference. I had someone else join the conversation who admitted the same thing, they could lie and keep their stories straight, “simple lies and I don’t get mixed up”. Now I am not able to keep up a lie, well I don’t make the habit of telling lies; except when it comes to telling my kids about Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy.

This got me to thinking. All of the people that I was talking to are believers. They love Jesus with all their hearts, yet 2 out of 3 found that telling a lie was an easy task and that they could keep a lie going. There was no talk of “feeling guilty” just that they could do it. Something is wrong with that, don’t you agree? As believers are we looking at the lie as something that doesn’t wound our Heavenly Father or as something that doesn’t need forgiveness? Maybe we should be considering this each time we tell someone something that is a lie…we are wounding our Father. Jesus paid the ultimate price on our behalf, shouldn’t we put aside even the “little things” that violate what He did? I say, STEP UP, be TRUTHFUL, and HONOR your Father. He already knows the truth, why act like He doesn’t!

Idiot, put a tree in the living room! November 8, 2007

Ok, I was having a conversation with someone today about how he hates Christmas, which for those of you that know me well,  know that it is my favorite time of the year!  I mean as I write this I am listening to the greatest Christmas music ever put together into a collection.  I have been listening for almost a month now and I KNOW that I am not alone.  I have several friends and acquaintances that listen this early as well, so don’t laugh.

Anyway, he was telling me about how every Christmas holiday something terrible seems to happen and it has ruined the day and therefore he looks at the upcoming holiday as yet another opportunity to have something go wrong.  I told him that this was only a sign of yet another thing that he needed to find some healing in.  I mean let’s get real here, it is simply the best day ever!  You get lots of presents, the kids think that flying reindeer are landing on the roof, and don’t even get me started on the wrapping paper and ribbon!  My closest friends know that I collect ribbon to make the gorgeous paper that I find, look great on Christmas morning.  I can’t put enough ornaments on my tree, enough lights in the yard, hang enough garland and let’s not forget the candles that make the house smell so good.  Christmas cookies are baked,  presents hidden in just the right place, huge bows are made to finish off the presents, and did I mention the presents that I get!  I truly love the holiday, so what on earth is this guys problem.

 He was telling me that his roommate wants to put up a tree and that he is willing to let him, but that it has to go in his room.  Idiot, let him put the tree in the living room.  I even encouraged him to pop popcorn and string it!  I know it’ll never happen but it was the thought of doing something that would be enjoyable even if for a couple of guys would be a little weird.   Anything to get him to see beyond the “yuck” of what the holiday reminds him of.  I told him that maybe this year he should plan to have his family come to his house, that way nobody could find them to give them bad news.  He said he would think about it.  I told him that if they came then there had to be a big tree, in the living room, with garland, a tree skirt, ornaments, and no exceptions were allowed!

I guess the part that gets me most is that it is one holiday that the most of the world accepts and celebrates and it is all about Jesus!  Think about it, everybody honoring the birth of the man that died for us all.  How can you not love Christmas!  Oh yeah, and did I mention that I get presents?!

Do you remember that this is really not just about the cookies, the music, the trees, the presents (wait did I say that?), the dinner, or even the family…it is all about Jesus!  Celebrate Him as you walk through the mall and have to listen to the same holiday tunes over and over again for the next several weeks (this is not a problem for me).  Celebrate Him as you walk through each day of this month and every month, because without Him there would not be anything to live for let alone any reason for me to get presents. 

Beauty has a cost! November 7, 2007

Ok, this is scary to me…I am going to start spilling my guts out for the world to see!  I have been told I needed to write a book so this is my book of life.  I decided a long time ago that anything that I might write about my life may not be suitable for any Christian bookstore shelf, maybe it is web worthy!

I was thinking the other day that I knew exactly what I would write about in my first blog.   It had to do with my animals not my kids or my husband but my pets.  You see I have 2 cats and a dog.  In our home we are much more cat lovers than dog lovers but we have a dog none the less.  His name is Wishbone and yes he is a Jack Russell Terrier.  Wishbone is a sweet dog who doesn’t get the attention he deserves but loves us anyway.  He stays in the backyard when the gate hasn’t been left open and when the gate is open he wanders the neighborhood looking for a cat to chase. 

The other day Wishbone started coughing something terrible and we decided that he needed to see the vet; so I made an appointment for 2:00 and proceeded with my day.  30 minutes before his appointment I sent my 2 boys to get him on his leash so that we could go.  I gave them specific instructions about not chasing him because he would run, a lesson learned long ago.  Well don’t you know it, they chased him and informed us that they could not catch him because he was after a cat.  Now you have to understand that it was raining that day and so to go on a hunt for a little dog that runs twice as fast as you can was not what my husband and I wanted to do.  Let’s just put it this way, 3 cats, 2 RV motor homes, 1 garage, 2 streets, 4 wet shoes, 2 wet pairs of pants, 1 wet head of hair (my husband cut all of his off) and 1 trip back to the house to call the vet later, we had our coughing dog. 

It is amazing how your temper can flare up when an animal much smaller then you can gets the best of you!  But this day was not over.  I mentioned that we have 2 cats: Baby and Charlie.  Now Baby is a short haired, lap cat that loves to lay all over you the minute you get still.  Charlie on the other hand has long hair, is beautiful and wants to be stroked as he walks somewhere other then your lap BUT he has a problem…poop balls!  Yes, that is poop that collects in his long hair and then finds it’s way to wherever he decides to sit.   It stinks and is the nastiest thing ever!  His beauty comes with a cost.  So to end my day with the animals I found myself leaning over the side of the bathtub with the warm water running over the hind-end of my cat with my hands pulling the poop off his butt.  This was with the grumbling assistance of my husband who at the end of this day was “done with us ever having another animal”!  When his hiney was clean we cut his hair.  Now my beautiful cat has paid the price of not grooming, poor fellow.

 What does this have to do with anything?  I don’t know I just thought that it was funny…well it wasn’t then, but it sure is now.  My kids aren’t much better about causing ciaos but like my animals I love them, take care of them when they are sick, clean them up when they are dirty and cut out the junk that makes them stink of the world.  Just ask them about the cable t.v. I cut it out when they began to stink of the things they saw.  But no different is Jesus, he cleans us up and makes us presentable.  My question for you the reader…do you smell too much of the world and are you willing to pay the cost of cutting out what makes to stink?