Seth's Debut

I'll very generously let his dad take the credit for passing along his genes.......

Definition Of The Day

Seth asked me tonight what the word "discipline" meant. As I was pondering how to define the word for his understanding (something his dad is very good at but I am not....), he spoke up and told me that he knew what it meant.

"It means that I am happy with my mother," was his answer.

Hannah and I exchanged a secret smile. I asked him a couple of minutes later again what the word meant.

"I'm very serious, mom. I know it means that I am happy with my mother," he stated seriously. "And right now, I am disciplined," he said with a smile.

It must have been the ice cream I let him have. Whatever the reason, I'm happy to such a disciplined son.

How To Melt A Heart

After praying with the kids tonight, my son looked at his dad and very sleepily told him that "mom is the bestest snuggler in the world!" (thus ensuring he had an extra-special snuggle tonight). Then, just before our nightly ritual of kisses and hugs (this comes after praying and before snuggling - rather complicated......), he always says the phrase, "we can snuggle after kissing, 'kay?", to which I usually respond, " 'kay". Tonight, however, after he said his little phrase before I could say my usual response, he said, "mom, you can say that you would be delighted to snuggle me!"

I was delighted to comply.

My heart is like putty.

Epiphany

It's been a bleh morning. A bleh week. It's been raining record amounts for this time of year, with colder than usual temperatures as well.

In fact, I've been fighting blehness for two weeks simply because of the bulging disc I have in my neck. Although it's slowly improving, I've had neck pain, arm pain - at times excruciating - arm numbness and tingling, and headaches. I can't sleep properly. I live on ibuprofen.

I had the recent revelation that my own blehness is affecting my kids (I'm slow sometimes, what can I say....). Since blehness is catchy, Seth is very whiny. He is so ridiculously whiny that he came out of his bedroom this morning, whining that his left arm was hurting.

"Mom, (big tears for dramatic effect) my left arm is VERY sore (lower lip hanging downward). In fact, it's so sore that you need to take me to the doctor," he said.

I was very surprised because he never has liked doctors much. He's seen them infrequently in the last few years because he is so healthy. I really couldn't imagine why he would actually WANT to see one. He then surprised me further.

"Mom, I think I'm going to need a NEEDLE in this arm to help it!"

Okay. A needle. A NEEDLE. A NEEDLE!!!!

This is when I had an epiphany. I had obviously been talking and {{gulp}} whining too much about my neck and arms, and my son was just my......echo. (Although I must confess the needle-thing is still surprising because I have not asked for, mentioned or even hinted that I might need one.....)

I know these lessons are necessary. I just wish I learned more quickly.

The Necessity of Struggle

I don't feel able to adequately express myself tonight, but I'm going to try.

In January of this year, Dave had two jobs and I had one. In February, Dave had two jobs and I had none. In April, Dave had one job and I still have none. These jobs were quit because of BURN OUT.

We have cut our spending more than I thought was possible for a couple with two kids. I live on "X" amount of dollars per month. Exactly. Not more. I count my pennies. I look for deals more than ever. I use coupons whenever possible. I watch how much I drive the car. I use cash ONLY. Not debit. Not credit. If I don't have the money for something, I DO NOT GET IT.

We have not eaten at a restaurant - even a fast food one - once since April (which is quite miraculous for us).

However........

Dave has been home - EVERY NIGHT - for supper (compared to RARELY being home).

Dave has spent more time with the kids in the last month than the entire last year (he was just working stinkin' hard).

We have had more family time than ever.

And you know what? I have been able to step back and be truly thankful for this financial struggle. It has always been my desire to get out of the rat race and learn to RELAX. We have attempted this off and on over the years, but this has truly been the closest we've come to accomplishing this. Although I will likely have to get a part-time evening job because we can't quite meet all of our NEEDS, I don't want to fall into this trap again.

I am tired of chasing the almighty dollar.

I am sick of being married to material things.

I am constantly amazed when I hear parents say that they work their long hours "for the sake of their kids". So non-existent parenting is okay as long as our kids have their toys? Their sports? Their hobbies? Broken marriages is a price worth paying?

We are so twisted in our thinking in the world today. We fight the thought of letting our kids struggle when struggling is necessary to survival.

Struggling is the stepping stone to thriving.

Do we want our children to thrive?

Lord, help me, truly. Like any parent, I want to give good gifts to my children, but Lord, I do not want my gifts to be a detriment to them. I want their gifts from me to be long lasting, life changing - things that will mold their character and help them be better Christians than I am. Not materialistic things, Lord, for those things pass away.

Help me, Lord, not to fight AGAINST their struggle.

Hannah's Debut

Hannah has been playing the piano now for ten months. This little clip is of her playing her own composition (which she made up just because she wanted to, not because it was required). The piano is out of tune (I'm not sure if it can actually get in better tune because there is a broken piece at the back of the piano). It's my granny's piano, so it is priceless to me, and at this point, it is good enough for Hannah to learn to play on.

Anyway, she doesn't play the song perfect, but I think she plays pretty good.

(Spoken from a proud mama....)

Dear Diary

Dear Diary:

I have lived one full week with a bulging disc in my neck, and it's getting progressively worse. The only thing I can do to try to help it is by using ice, ibuprofen and a teeny, little stretch (maybe 1/4 of an inch) to the neck. I have to sleep at least half the night on the couch because it is the only place I can comfortably place the ice pack AND try to sleep at the same time.

This morning, diary, I had a very wonderful surprise. I was on the couch sleeping (finally) when Hannah and Seth ran out to me, already dressed (usually I have to prompt them because they can be slow to get going in the morning), AND finished their chores! As well, Hannah decided to make MY bed for me because "it's obvious that your neck is still bothering you mom if you're sleeping on the couch", she wisely concluded.

And so diary, in spite of my neck pain, I have to count my blessings in my two children. They started out the day trying to make my life easier. For that I am very thankful.