Happy Mother's Day!

We had a very laid back day, it was a blessing. The girls and I went to see Hannah Montana the movie the night before and had a blast!!!!! Then Sunday morning we played hookie from church and went to Berry- just the 3 of us. We took a bible and our journals and talked about all that God created, and how we still can be in love with the world....and what that looks like. We prayed, then they rode bikes while I ran. IT was tender. A favorite memory for me.

After Berry, we needed to go to Kroger. As we were loading our groceries in our car, Camille knocked her elbow on our cart. She whinned a little, but no biggie. Next thing I know she PASSED OUT!!!!!!! Fell right over. Hit the car next to us, and was limp. OH MY WORD. TALK ABOUT A FREAK OUT!

She came to about 10 seconds later. Cried. But all was well. Come to find out that there is a nerve in our elbow that can be triggered and will make us pass out. WHAT IN THE WORLD?

Praise Jesus, she is ok. So, on Mother's Day, I was reminded that every healthy moment is a gift. That at any second, our lives can take a turn. I am stopping myself from all of the "what ifs" that I could ask about this. So right now, I want to say THANK YOU to God for the precious gift of three beautiful, healthy children. They are the true gems in my life. THey have each changed me, each made me stronger, each made me softer. IT is a puzzle....motherhood, it is the hardest, emotional and PHYSICAL thing I've ever done. Oh, how much HE must love me to bless me so.

Happy Mother's Day!

Day 6....LOVE IS NOT IRRITABLE

Are you sure?

This day talks about what stresses us out....mainly, our schedules. It asks me to modify things in my schedule that add stress to my marriage.....another hard one.
So little of what I do is what adds stress. It is Bill's schedule.

BUT. Here I go. My main thing is workingout early in the am. I leave the house at 5:15. So I am a bedtime natzi. And sometimes the kids wake up before I get home at 6:30 and Bill's head is spinning. IT is truely the only time I can consistantly go, and it is only 2x a week. It helps me mentally and Bill DOES appreciate the outcome. I am just going to have to ask him what he wants to do.

I am worried about his answer. I already feel irritable.

Day 5 LOVE IS NOT RUDE.

This one took me a while. Oh Lord, I know you must have chuckled at my slowness on this one. When two people are struggling, it is hard to eat humble pie and ask 3 things that irritate them about you. Really, really hard.

I did it on Sunday as we (no kids) were driving home from Fla. We had had a great weekend, fun wedding and a break from mommy and daddy responsibilities. And it went so smoothly, that I don't even remember what he said!!!!

It was stuff I already knew....home pressure stuff. But it was ok. We got through it without a fight. God, you were completely all over that one!

Born to be Wild!

Today Camille was out of sorts from the moment she woke up. Whinny. Didn't want to go to school. Wouldn't get dressed. blah. blah. blah. FInally I had to start crackin' the whip.....hurry up!!!!! I told her to quit acting so wild and get going.

She ran and hid in her closet. And cried and yelled. OH the drama! I went in her room, opened her closet door and before I could say a word she said, "Mommy! I can't help this. I was born to be WILD!"

I had to turn my face. I almost laughed straight at her. HILARIOUS. She doesn't even know there is a song to sing along to now!

Oh, mommyhood. I believe God throws that stuff in just when we are at the brim of losing it. HE really does have a sense of humor!

Day 3....Love is not selfish.....

I had to take the weekend off bec I was out of town. So Monday started with Love is not selfish....and I let it carry on into Tuesday. It is really funny. Tues was Bill's bday. I woke up at 5:30am to excercise....this ungodly hour bec I never want to have to ask Bill to come home to watch kids so I can go....as well as....if I don't go, I will blow up! Anyway, I am ALWAYS very quiet. But this am I apparantly woke Bill up, and then as soon as I left, the kids got up, so he got no "sleep in." I didn't realize this until later in the morning.
When I got home at 6:30, I heard the baby, so I quickly went and got him. I heard the girls so I told them to keep it down. I felt so proud that I had gotten everyone quieted down so that Bill could sleep in on his bday. When we got him up at 7:20, we had decorated, made him a small little bfast and just loved all over him. He seemed fine.
Then I returned home from taking the girls to school.
He let me have it. Clapped "at" me saying, "thanks. I would have thought this would be a special morning because it was my bday." He complained and complained. And dadgum, this stupid dare required me to just "be quiet." It is so hard to do this on someone of such UNBELIEVABLE selfishness.
Oh, I know I have my selfish motives too. I know, I know. Not perfect. All that stuff. But how do I do this? He is miserable MOST of the time. He desires the opposite of what I desire. We are at a point of complete opposites.
I so want peace. For him. For me. FOR US. For our kids. IT IS NOT HERE. Everyone of us is walking on egg shells. It is hard to ALWAYS have a nervous stomach.
Todays dare requires me to ask him what are 3 things that irratate him about me. ugh. He will NOT spare feelings, I feel certain. God, please give me STRENGTH to hear his words with GRACE...

DAY TWO...Do something kind

Ok, the book says to do something kind ON TOP OF being nice!

My actS of kindness were, letting him sleep in and bringing the trash cans back in from the street. He noticed the sleep in (bec he knew he didn't deserve it!) and then in a moment of weakness, I pointed out the trash. Could'nt help it.

I had ample opportunity to keep my negative comments at bay, and it is really hard. ESPECIALLY when it is HIS selfishness that brings all that up in me.

I went to chicago for the weekend with Charyl and Sarah.....had a blast. Now back to the dare.

CAR

Brooke's first official word. CAR. He says it, then hums the car sound. If he wants to go somewhere, he says car. When I wake him from his afternoon nap, he says car....poor guy, so used to being jerked out of bed to go do something with the girls.

He is a maniac. Everywhere. But the biggest blue eyes and happiest smile in town. He, like his sisters, ROCKS!