Day Fourteen: Stuff Gets In The Way

Before my feet touched the floor, I laid in my bed planning out my day and how fabulous I was going to be. I'd already prayed for patience and wisdom, I'd mapped out some solutions to possible roadblocks, and I was determined to check off the boxes of productivity before I laid my head down at night.

But stuff got in the way...

*She pulled her tiny body up, stood on the bed rails beside me and babbled about having a poopy pull-up. Oh man! I was sure we were almost "there" with the training at night. That meant a big clean up and bath would ensue.

*He stared out the window and begged to put the books away. The trail was calling him and there was no way I would be able to wrangle the distant thoughts of my young outdoors man.

*My turn came to spend the day with my sister-in-law, cutting small morsels to eat, administering pain medication, tucking blankets around her weak body. It was my honour and my pleasure, even though it was heart-wrenching to see her so altered. But, not much school that day; my kids were home alone again.

*I was interrupted as I attempted my morning devotions. The girls were clanging dishes, the washing machine timer went off and the odour of burning toast wafted into the room where I had settled in with afghan and the Word of God. Nope, not going to happen. 

But... soon enough, our sprout of a girl went home to be with her momma during the week and now I pick her up on Fridays to come home with us for a mere two and a half days. Sure, the school room is quiet and the work flows easily from the pens of my children, but we miss her. 

*My son needs to read Frog and Toad and write out his spelling words but catching toads teaches him more than any book ever could. 

*Each day with Linda is precious and I'll drop everything, if I need to be with her, memorizing every moment to ensure it's cemented in me. 

*Stuff gets in the way and I can't always sit down and begin my day with God as planned, but thankfully, He still hears me as I go about living and I, Him, as His voice guides me. I'll make that reading happen later in the day this time, and not be discouraged.

I'm so very thankful that stuff gets in the way of my plans. My heart is broken and healed, broken again and then well-taught. Life happens and the Lord keeps me learning and growing and reminding me of His love in the middle of it all.  

Saying, "Yes"

I could hear him running from sister to sister begging them to go outside and play with him. I looked up from my reading as he approached me with sad eyes. He whined about their negative and busy responses and then it suddenly dawned on him that he was conversing with as good a playmate as any right before him. His face lit up, "Mommy, will you come outside and play with me?"

 

I was taken aback for a moment. I was all cozied up in my "comfies" with no desire to wrangle on all kinds of outerwear for the cold, or trudge through knee-deep drifts in the backyard. But his brown eyes blink-blinked at me and I laid down my reading and said, yes.

Best choice I made that day :)

 

Gratitude:

1471. saying yes to playing with my son

1472. Oma's beautiful life example (she'll be heading homeward soon--please pray for her comfort)

1473. a fun and fast-paced Christmas presentation by our kids' choir again

1474. we finally found a new lead pastor!

1475. sudden healing of a woman our Bible Study ladies have been praying for!

1476. my lovely single-mom cousin and her constant search for helping those in need

1477. an amazing visit with a dear, long-lost friend and her little girl (so thankful she's back in my life)

1478. for ballet stretches all over the living room each day

1479. for hip-hop thumping and jarring practice that makes us laugh

1480. my husband's eagerness to fix things up around the house lately

1481. heaps and heaps of beautiful snow

1482. how the birds wait on the branches just above the feeder for me to fill it in the morning

1483. counting snow plows as we drive

1484. telling the tale of each ornament as we hang them on the tree once again

1485. for my sister's 18th anniversary today!

He Plays

So many activities, so little time. 

Oliver played and played and played every sport and activity he could find while we were camping. Such a pleasure for this momma to watch.

Patience

 

"Wait here, son, and I'll be back with your dinner."

This should be easy enough.

Dum-da-dum-dum.

 

Yep, I can do this. 

Big stretch.

 

Nope, these wings aren't working on their own quite yet.

Dad?

 

"Good boy. Your patience paid off."

 

I watched this scene this afternoon and nearly giggled out loud at the countenance of this little robin. He was barely aware of me as I perched closely so I could photograph the provision of parent to child. God is like this faithful parent. He is working on our behalf while we wait patiently and obediently.

The Adventure With A Boy

He holds up three fingers because that's what he's used to. He giggles and pops up his pinky to make four. Today it's his birthday and he tells us that he's four but then he'll be five. I don't like the sound of that. Wrapping my mind around the fact that my baby has been on this earth for four whole years makes it seem like life is flying by and I just want time to stand still for awhile. But, I'm proud and thrilled with his growth and his new skills and well, his many questions...

Oliver leans over the arm of the couch and thrusts his fist out and punches the air. "Mommy, are we allowed to hit bad people?" I finish typing an email and turn toward him. Somehow, I don't ever see these types of questions coming (perhaps because I've been a mommy of three daughters for so long?).

I take a deep breath. I know I'm "supposed to" allow him to exercise those masculine desires for heroism but how do I keep from stifling that while discouraging the violence? Hmmm. I slur out something about helping the bad people to learn how to be good and to love God in the end. It feels painfully inadequate.

He stares for a moment then slides down off the couch. He steps toward me and our eyes lock. Then my boy raises those eyebrows and says, "I wish there would be some left-over bad people so we can kill them with our swords!"

Really? I don't get it. Daddy needs to talk with this boy. Swords? We don't even have any... oh yeah, the foam one. Doesn't Dobson say something about this? Note to self: must read the book :) In any case, four is going to be an adventure I'm sure.

Oliver, I'm looking forward to the ride with you, Little Man. Happy Birthday :)

On that note, I'd like to continue my gratitude to the Lord for His bountiful goodness...

571. for a lovable, affectionate, hockey and Hot Wheels-loving four year-old boy

572. for three in the tub (not much longer, I'm sure)

573. for an early winter melting of snow and the toboggans that arrived the next day (now for the wait)

574. for early morning sister phone calls

575. for another sister who works on me hard to convince me to join a group (what are sisters for?)

576. for God's mercy during eight days of sickness this week

577. for the new beginning of January

578. for this new decade

579. for completed puzzles (oooh, I love the joy that comes with this)

580. for comments I've received from new blogger friends (I'm really not writing just for my mom? ha ha!)

581. for my husband's explosive laughter when his team (Toronto Maple Leafs) scores

582. for friends who will always be there no matter what changes in my life

583. for the 100 Day Habit Challenge

584. for a fresh gift from heaven, Baby Katie (can't wait to meet you!)

585. for a newly painted laundry room

586. for the Christy movies

587. for a truck cake after many pink, Barbie or Polly Pocket cakes :)

588. for the freedom in confession

589. for the constant piano tinkering in our home

590. for fresh, clean sheets on every bed

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!