"Fix it, Mommy!"

To say that my sweet, precious Anna Beth is a difficult child is quite the understatement.  It's kind of like saying that water is wet.  She is headstrong, stubborn as a herd of mules, and won't do anything unless she thinks that she thought of it first.  That said, she has a loving heart and a giving spirit that I wouldn't trade for 10 obedient, reasonable, submissive toddlers.

Last week she came running up to me with a sad look on her face.  "Fix it, Mommy!"  "Fix what?" I questioned.  "I bwoked it.  Fix it, Mommy!"  I looked in her tiny hand.  In it, she cradled a broken blue jumbo crayon.

My initial reaction:  "I'm sorry, sweetie, Mommy can't..."  I trailed off as she looked me squarely in the eyes. "Fix it, Mommy," she said with just as much passion and total belief as she had the first two times.  It hit me then.  This was one of those moments where I could justify that innocent, trusting faith that she had in me, or I could say no and disappoint her.  I have no illusions of being a SuperMom, but this was one of those times where I knew that not trying would be more damaging than trying and maybe failing.

With a grin, I said, "Okay, baby.  Let's get some tape and fix it."  We dug out some Scotch tape and wound and wound and wound it around the crayon until it (sort of) stayed together.  Anna Beth gleefully shouted, "Yaaaaaaaay!  You did it!  You fixed it, Mommy!"

As she ran off to play, I thought about how she won't always think that Mommy can fix anything.  My older two are well in that stage.  They know to ask for help when they need it, but they know that Mom can't do everything.  Thankfully, they know that God is capable of doing everything.  I am blessed that they know how imperfect I am and how perfectly perfect that God loves me (and them) in spite of our flaws.

While I can't do everything, I can do something.  I can teach my kids about how our sin has broken us.  It has reduced us to useless garbage that no man with any amount of tape can fix.  God knew in His wisdom that we could be fixed.  We can be bound back together with the healing blood of Jesus Christ.  It heals our brokenness, it washes away our sin, and it restores our lives.  All God asks in return is total belief...the innocent, trusting faith of a child to believe that He is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do.  I am grateful to be His child.

Back to blogging?

Blogging, oh yes.  I forgot about blogging.  It seems like I just use Facebook these days to tell my little funny stories about the kids or I just write the posts in my head and don't share them with anyone.  How sad is that?!?  So, I'm going to give it another shot, just for old time's sake.

I noticed I had 16 unmoderated comments on some of my blog posts.  It seems that my posts REALLY inspire people to want to sell me pharmaceuticals, get me to look at their "gorgeous pictures," or play their "AWESOME" games.  I was pretty disappointed there were no actual comments, but I haven't been commenting much either, so I can't blame anyone but myself...and the pharmaceutical companies.

Anyhow, this happened:

I've lost 30 pounds since January 6--and have NEVER felt better!  Well, except for the part where everyone in my family just had the stomach virus.  ICK!  We are over that now, so I'm going back to the feeling waaaay better part.

And this happened:

My beautiful girls are growing up!  Emma was just inducted into the Jr. National Honor Society.  We are so proud of her accomplishments.  She just started taking piano lessons and is doing GREAT in beginner band, playing the flute.  Anna Beth has mastered the art of the temper tantrum.  No, really.  She will be 3 in May...and that can't get here soon enough if it means the end of the terrible twos.  We've made many attempts with potty training, but at the rate we are going, we may have her trained before she graduates high school.  (And just for you, Rachel,  I included my unmade bed in the background of this picture.  You're welcome.)

And this happened:

We went to the beach in January.  It was a make-up trip for our miserable Christmas.  I had pneumonia and was a sad, sick mess the whole time the kids were out of school.  It was a wonderful trip!

Oh, and this happened:

My super-smart, super-tall son, Luke won his classroom spelling bee and came in 4th runner up in the school spelling bee.  He gets smarter every day!

I am determined to do a better job keeping the ol' blog alive and kicking.  Y'all don't give up on me yet!

Does He see Himself in you?

1 John 3:1-"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

Since I was a little girl, one of my favorite congregational hymns to sing has always been "The Family of God."  A portion of the lyrics read:  "I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!  Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The Family of God."  When I was younger, I was curious as to what the family of God would look like.  Since we are made in His image, do we look like Him?   Does God recognize His heavenly attributes in us?  

In the short time my family has been members of Winfield First Baptist Church, I believe I've gotten a better idea of just what that family looks like.  Throughout the church, I see people who have His eyes.  Those with His eyes look for people who need encouragement.  They look for ways they can serve others.  Those who have His eyes see the beauty in sharing His love with others.  They are always looking for a way to reach out to those in need.

I have also seen individuals who have hands like God's.  They find joy in serving others.  I see His hands at work in the nursery, in Sunday School classes, in the kitchen, and all over the church.  I see His hands in the hands of those who hold steady to the hands of the hurting.  I see His hands reaching out in Christian fellowship every Sunday morning.  I see hands filled with His compassion and mercy, giving time and money to feed the needy, to clothe the poor, and to love the unloved.

I see His feet in the pictures of missionaries that have come out of our church.  I see His footprints leading the feet of so many people doing His work in our community and beyond.  Romans 10:15 says,  "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"  Our church must be full of people who have feet like His!  

In my musings about God's family, I was reminded of my own earthly father.  He has been known to pull out his wallet to show off pictures of his grandchildren in the middle of Wal-Mart or any other place he happens to be.  I'd like to think that God pulls an angel aside from time to time and shows him our pictures and tells what good things He sees in us. The thing I want most is for God to show off my picture and say, "Now, this one--this one has my heart!"  Oh, to have a heart like His!  My heart may not look like His, but He lives in my heart--and that makes all the difference!

While we are an imperfect family serving a perfect Lord, we are striving to take on more of His attributes.      I am grateful to be a part of His family!  

1 Corinthinans 3:18-"And we all...are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord..." 

Whatever it is I think I see...

I could see his infectious smile long before he ran to our waiting car. He was absolutely beaming. I couldn't imagine what had made my boy so happy.

He hopped in the car. In my raspy bronchitis-y dying bird squawk, I said hello and asked him how his day went. He just continued grinning at me.

A few seconds later he thrust the object of his mirth between the front seats. Because I share a sense of humor fitting of an 8 year old boy, i also collapsed into hysterical raspy laryngitis-y guffaws.

Here it is:

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Poop? The world may never WANT TO know.

I can post from my phone now?!?

It would seem I have no excuses left then.

More to come.

Maybe.

We are on a roll now!

(Two posts in one week, y'all!  It's feast or famine 'round the ol' blog lately.  I'm going to make a noble attempt to get back in the swing of things, but no promises.)

We ate cucumbers for dinner Monday night.  No, not just cucumbers.  I'm sure there was other stuff...not that I remember what it was now.  Anyhow, for some weird reason, cucumber seeds kept showing up all over the house on Tuesday.  I found two on the sofa, one on a door, and two on the floor.  I'm not sure how they got everywhere like that, but Anna Beth had a guilty look on her face when I asked.  I'm just sayin'.

Luke saw me picking one up.  I was mumbling something about how they were everywhere and how weird it was.  He stopped doing his homework and looked at me intently.

Luke:  "You know, Mommy?  If you left those on the floor, I bet we could grow some cucumbers in the house."
Me:  "What kind of housekeeper do you think I am?  HOW DIRTY DO YOU THINK THESE FLOORS ARE?"
Luke:   "Well, you *do* have "Good Housekeeping" magazine on your Nook.  Maybe you need to read that."
Me:  *Silence*

Umm.. Wow.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Luke is lucky that he's cute...

...because he sure is blunt--and honest.

If it looks like a post, smells like a post, and sounds like a post...

...it probably kinda is one.  Sorta.  I wrote this on my phone's notepad back in April, so things have definitely changed since then, but I still giggled at it a little.  Maybe you will, too.

Anna Beth's to do list:

• Wake up at 3:30 a.m..  Mommy misses me the most at that hour.  She likes for me to be in her bed, not mine.
• Put my feet on Mommy's nose while she sleeps. She likes that.
• Be grouchy when I get up.  Mommy, do you know you snore?
• Throw most of my breakfast on the floor for Tootie. I kinda owe her for something.
• After breakfast, mess with the blinds. Mommy will raise them so I can see outside. When she puts them up, she'll find the dead moth that I was going to take care of. What?!?  I was going to clean up. I'm a giver.
• Find Mommy's last 4 issues of "Southern Living." She hasn't had time to read them, so I will eat them.
• Have an exploding diaper incident that defies laws of physics and gravity. Consider that your science lesson for the day, Mommy.  
• Mommy has to change my outfit because of the diaper thing, so it's a fashion show!  Work it, girl!!!
• Laundry time.  While Mommy folds clothes, I take the folded clothes out of the basket and throw them after I slobber on them.
• Nap, but only after I put up a prize-winning fight.
• Lunchtime. Scream like a demon and hit the spoon every time Mommy tries to feed me vegetable turkey. If it looks like puke in a jar, it probably tastes like it, too. Eat Mommy's sandwich and Cheez-its instead. Winning!
• Spit up on freshly-vacuumed carpet and Mommy's new shirt. Told ya I didn't like vegetable turkey.
• Find half bath door ajar. Play in the big white fountain. Be amazed at how high-pitched Mommy can scream.
• Eat fridge magnets. Open kitchen cabinets. Smash fingers repeatedly. Bump head numerous times.
• Make note to self to get new hobbies.
• Eat Tootie's food. Enjoy impromptu bath and mouth-washing in kitchen sink.
• Pick up Emma and Luke from school.  Try to eat their homework.
• Attack Tootie while she sleeps. Laugh maniacally.
• Look innocent and confused when Daddy gets home and Mommy tells him that she's exhausted from our day. 
• Eat/throw dinner.  Wear as much of it as possible.
• Take a bath. Splash Daddy.  Eat washcloth.
• Pretend to go to sleep by 11:00 p.m.  Get up screaming at 11:30. Ha, ha!!!  I fooled you, Mommy!  I'm not sleepy!  Let's do it all again tomorrow!