Sick...just sick

Last night some new friends of ours came over and brought their super fun game, "Ticket to Ride"...if you haven't played this game you should...it is great. It can be played with 2 people which is a great feature-I think.
Anyway, they came and we talked and played the game and talked some more and stayed up till midnight; it was awesome. Then Casey and I crashed into our bed only to be roused at 2am by our son puking...on us...in our bed! We jumped up and as I rushed him to the toilet Casey started to clean himself and the bed off. He got most of the puke on his shirt. I couldn't believe it. No warning, nothing, he didn't say "I don't feel good or my tummy hurts" just puke. So, Casey stripped the bed and everyone put on new clothes. He laid with us for awhile and decided he wanted to go to his own bed. I trekked him upstairs and tucked him in, only to fly up the stairs about 30 minutes later as he was puking...again. We did the whole thing all over again and brought him back into our bed and tried to get a couple of hours of sleep.
I am exhausted today and a little shaken. It is the first time Jack has puked. (Excluding the obligatory baby puking). He handled it pretty well and of course woke up this morning asking for crackers, banana bread, hot cocoa, and juice. I think he will be alright.
Oh yeah, Daisy had a tummy ache this morning after we told her about Jack's adventures. Weird...

Sweet Relief

I love that my husband is working from home these days. I think it is hard for him at times, but I believe that it is really becoming a blessing for our family. He has been able to take 1 or 2 of the kids with him sometimes when he is out and about picking up materials or painting somewhere. It is so great to be able to have a little break without having to have any Mommy guilt about not taking care of my kid(s) because they are with their Daddy! Yeah!
I think it has been good for Casey too because he is able to spend time with them while doing something else and they get to see what he does and be a part of it. Like when he went to pain at our church a couple of weeks ago he let Daisy paint a ladybug on the tree. So cute. She is so proud of what she did too.
I am just really enjoying the small break of Jack being with Dad today and how I know he is having a lot of fun with him. And I haven't been jumped on or climbed one single time today! It is amazing what happens when you can really share and partner in raising your kids.

Aha!

I had an "Aha" moment the other day trying to wrestle my nearly 1 year old baby girl into a diaper...God is trying to grow me! Why else in the world would he give me three (all) stubborn, strong-willed, and talkative/loud/gotta-have-the-last-word children? I must have some personal maturing to do because it is defenitly pushing the limits of my patience and sanity. I love my children dearly but oh how they challenge me to be a more mature person. I am just consantly amazed at how they challenge the core of who I am just by who they are. Parenting is an amazingly humbling undertaking.

On a semi-related note you should look at this blog and her blog from a couple of days ago. On education...frightening.
www.joyfullyathomeblog.com/

Realizations and such

I had a great night out last night when on a double date with some friends of ours. I realized, however, when we were talking that I was not alone in my fear and concern for the world we live in. Such a relief. Sometimes when I learn new things or realize the country isn't what I thought it was, I am so burdened but feel as though there is no one to share it with. Will people think I am crazy? Will I say these things and think I'm crazy? What is going to happen? How do I protect my family?
But through all of this I really have been learning what it means to have faith. For instance, I was really not for the whole Swine Flu vaccine thing. I was conflicted but I did my homework and read A LOT and talked with some nurses. I realized that is was being blown out of proportion and that if we were careful we would be just fine. I did not get anyone vaccinated. I struggled because people asked if we were going to and if I was worried and of course I was. But I knew in my gut that it wasn't worth the risk and I had to have faith. I am learning to lay my decisions before Him and watch how he honors my devotion to His ways. I really am learning to lay each thing at His feet for consideration instead of making the decsions and then saying, "there you go, now bless my wisdom and discernment that you gave me on this." Oh how prideful I am. I need to seek first His kingdom and righteousness-not my own. Ouch. We have a good God.
On a similar note I was looking through my camera and came across a picture that depicts why I do what I do. Stay home and grow with my kids and let them grow with each other. God is blessing our sacrifice to homeschool our kids and to be a stay at home mom.

Uuuggghhhh...

I feel like crap today and am in a pisser of a mood. Do you ever have those days where you just don't want to see or talk or hear anyone? I am having one of those and my kids want to talk and talk and talk...and climb and sit and climb and sit. I hate feeling like this. Thanks be to God that I didn't go to church today or I might have hurt someone....in love.

Adoption

It is funny how the Lord moves things in one direction sometimes. I was going to sit down and write a post about adoption and my friend Sara and then she sent me a link to a blog about some people adopting from Ethiopia. Crazy.

My thoughts were simply this. I am so proud of my friend Sara. I am so proud of her for adopting when the world says that she is in no position to do so. For any number of reasons-just pick one-the world has a lot of reasons to leave the orphans...well orphans. But I am seeing God move in my friend. I get to see her heart be broken and to see her Precious Father who is author of adoption show her how he feels about her, me, our kids and every other kid in this world we live. He is calling her out of her little corner of the world to reach into another part and be used by Him. To be His literal hands and feet which care for this child, whom I believe He has already ordained for her long ago. I couldn't be more excited to see her family grow and to see her heart grow.
Oh...do I know it will be rough. I am convinced even more now than I was before we adopted that it is one of the most challenging things I will ever go through...for the next 18-40 years. Give or take. I am looking forward to being the person Sara calls on when it is really hard because I know. I am also just so grateful that God calls us to do hard things. That He lovingly puts hard things in our way to prove to us that our faith is sure. To refine us and make us steady and strong. That His way is filled with hope and heartache. That we can be on our knees begging Him to explain how we are supposed to get through another day yet still know that He ordained it and is blessing it. That is what adoption will do my friends. It will change your life forever. It will teach you how to truly love. It will show you the TRUE heart of God.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15