To My Door

| Mommakisses

Yes, to my door! They delivered to my door!

Maybe I should back up a bit… last week we got a flyer in the mail… I don’t usually pay any attention to flyers, but this one caught T’s eye. He handed it to me, “Maybe you should check this out,” he said as I was trying to get the child at my leg a drink.

This, was a web site for a grocery delivery service. I set it aside… I didn’t have time to run to the computer right that second. Sometime over the next couple of days, I pulled that flyer out and pulled up the site (www.plumgoodfood.com). It took me a bit to figure out where things were… sort of like walking into a grocery store for the first time… what isle do THEY put things in… each one is a little different, but you know the general area for most things.

How nice it was to sit in my house, in the quiet of an evening (ok it actually took me about three different sittings, but they saved my list each time), when children are SLEEPING, and I can THINK about what I need… and rather than writing a list (which I hate doing ‘cuz I either forget it at home or forget it’s in my pocket), I checked boxes, and added quantities. When I was done thinking of what I needed, I had my order ready. Not even once did I hear, “I want that” or “I hate going to the store” or even “I don’t want to ride in the cart,” no not even “I’ll obey you THIS time!”

I placed my order yesterday morning. I did not have to go to the store this morning, since I knew I had placed the order… I got to go work out instead. The best part is they brought it TO ME! When I opened my door to go pick up kids today, I had three big “totes” sitting on my porch. Now, this afternoon was NOT the best time for me to get such a delivery… I have to pick S up at 2:15, the boys up at 3:15 and soccer practices start at 4 and go to 7. I was running late (did I mention I got to go work out??? I also NEEDED a shower) so I headed out the door at 2… and back in the door at 8. I only had time to take the totes inside.

Yes, the milk, veggies, and frozen things sat in the totes on my kitchen floor for 6 hours. When T head this I got the “Now, Honey… that was NOT the best idea” roll of the eyes followed by a stern look, but when he opened the first tote he said, “This is colder than our fridge.” Seriously… the frozen things were more frozen then when I bring them home from the store myself.

OK, this is way long… but I must say, if you have the chance or need, this is a great way to get your shopping done!

Like Father, Like Son

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Music has always been a big part of my life. As a kid, I knew the words to all the songs on the radio. As an adult, I wrote music/concert reviews, and generally played around in the Christian music industry until J was born.

Music has pretty much been background noise for T. He loves the sounds each of the instruments make, but words? He’ll make up his own, thank you very much. Seriously… if he gets four words in a row it’s time to celebrate!

G falls somewhere inbetween. This became evident driving home the other day. “Again, again,” he would say every time a kids Bible song would end. This version of “Keep My Commandments” is a throw-back to the 80’s, very heavy on the keyboards. G is sitting in the back singing with the words… until he gets to the end of the line and he adds his own touch. What the singers sing is “keep my commandments and you will live,” while G’s version is “keep my commandments and you will win.”

Sometimes adding your own words shines a light on a great thought.

More God Questions

| Mommakisses

That seems to be the topic of the last couple weeks. Yesterday it was while sitting in our church service. Our older kids (3 and up) sit in the service for the worship, and then are dismissed to their classes. Before they were dismissed this time we had our monthly baby dedication.

Our pastor emeritus, L. H. Hardwick, was talking to the parents standing on stage and those in the congregation. My kids were drawing to keep themselves out of trouble. The congregation was asked to stand and pray over the new parents, when G looked at me with wide eyes, “Momma… is that GOD talking?”

Not to be out done, when we started praying, S looked at me, also with wide eyes and sweet grin, “Is Jesus here?” God’s location is a tough concept for 3 year olds…

Is God at our House?

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This is the question I was asked on our way to pick up the boys today.

“Yes, He is… He’s everywhere. He’s even here in our van,” was my reply to my brilliant three year old, S.

“You know, this is actually a mini-van” was her stoic retort. I think maybe we need to work on staying focused…

We had a great example of this a couple of weeks ago, when S played her first soccer game. She ran really hard, and even scored a goal, for about the first five minutes… Then she pulled her shirt over her head and ran around. Once the adults laughed… well, she did it off and on for the rest of the game… Focus is not a strong suit.

Sleepless in Nashville

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I have now had two nights in five days where three of my four kids got me up…

Last Saturday was the worst… S climbed into my bed around 2:30, J came down at 3 to tell me he had thrown up again. S coughing too much, so breathing treatment for her and back into bed at 3:45… K up at 4, J back up at 4:15ish, I got back into bed at 4:45, K back up at 5… T got up with her, she was screaming… which means I can’t sleep… so I get back up at 5:20, and finally into bed about 6. Mom woke me up at 7 to say they were leaving (they had a 9 hr drive ahead of them), I couldn’t even get up to hug them bye.

Then last night K again woke me up… at 3:30, S opened her door about 3:45 to say “I hurt myself” (I can only guess she fell out of bed). I rocked both girls for a bit. S was so tired her head kept sinking lower and lower, so I helped her back to bed. On the way she asked me a question, but I wasn’t sure what I heard, so I repeated it, “You want me to play with you???” No was the answer, restate the question, and again I repeated it, “You want me to lay down with you???” Again the answer was no, “Will you PRAY with me??” I actually got it that time… so we prayed.

As I was praying, I felt another pair of hands that did not belong to either girl. I opened my eyes to “see” (not much seeing in a dark room) G. “Momma, I had a nightmare.” I pulled him into the prayer. Then I kissed his cheek, turned and kissed S, and by the time I turned back around G was up the stairs headed back to bed.

K continued to fight me. I finally had to nurse her to help her settle down and get back to sleep… or not quite asleep, but enough she didn’t cry when I left the room. Back into bed by 4:40… and up at 6:20 to get the boys ready to leave at 7:20 with T.

Ultimately, this is the call of mothers… to love her kids at all times. To nurse them back to health, to comfort when needed, no matter what time it is. No matter how much sleep she looses. To pray over them and protect them. This is what servicing your kids is. This is what parenting is. This is what love is.

Chicken Soup Thoughts

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I once had a conversation in college with a student who wanted to be rebellious just for the sake of being able to know what it’s like to have one of “those testimonies”… you know the kind… that really dramatic story of how you were doing all this junk and God reached in and pulled you out of the mire…

I got to thinking about that conversation today, while cutting some chicken… see I have four sick (yes, I said 4!) babies… I thought about how at the time of the conversation I really didn’t have a good way of helping her understand what she was asking for… how that’s not a good way to think about what she has… today, the thought crossed my mind that I now have a picture to paint for her…

If I was sitting at her table with our cups of coffee (tea, soda, whatever) I would talk to her about those beautiful babies she has… how she likes to watch them sleep (they are SOOOO sweet then!)… how she works so hard to protect them from the bumps and bruises of learning to walk… how she painstakingly teaches them the proper way to ask for the things they want… of the joy she receives being able to provide those wants.

Then I would ask her to think about the first time they got a cold. Oh, the longing to help that child feel better… the wanting to take that illness from them. Or the first heartbreak they will have… Don’t you want to do whatever you can to keep them from dealing with that pain? What about that first bike ride… how much would you like to keep the scars from their little bodies.

You have to know God feels each one of these feelings, only much more so… When you are rebellious there is pain and scarring God wishes you never had… and what joy if you struggle through life NOT rebelling. That’s like seeing your baby healthy and happy!

VIP Votes

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Very Important People Know Who They Are… a very important person from my high school years and I used to say that to each other. It became our slogan… our mantra of sorts. It got started because someone else we (she) knew didn’t celebrate birthdays… it wasn’t important to mark the moment you came into this world… and we thought otherwise.

As a parent of four, I still feel it is very important. There is life, and life changing going on in that moment and it’s worth celebrating. And I don’t mean just the first one, either… each one of these babies has changed my life in a dramatic, beautiful and God granted manner.

Each one of these children, as they hit the milestones they are expected to in their growth, have helped me hit moments of growth of my own. I don’t feel like I will be 38 in a few hours (well… ok, so some days I feel more like 83, but that’s another blog). Sometimes I feel like I’m an eight year old stumbling in the dark, clueless in the steps I am expected to make. Then I see those eight beautiful blue eyes looking up at me… and suddenly I can change the world.

The reality is I know The One who can and I will do everything in my power to reach Him for their sake. They are a gift from Him, I will give back to Him. And it’s so incredibly exciting to hear someone on the political stage speak in the same thought patterns. Life, no matter how small, is worth celebrating.

And for the second time in my life, I will be voting for a V(I)P, rather than a President.

You Know You’re A Parent 2

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My cousin, KS, is a first time mother. Her sister, RR, came for a visit not too long ago. KS took the time for a shower.

When she came back she was very excited. “Thank you! Thank you! I got to shave both legs at the same time!”

Then there was this one from S: we were at my Grandma’s and S’s hair was the topic of conversation. Grandma was telling S how lucky she was to have curls in her hair. Mom added “And blond to boot.”

S replyed “I don’t have boobs.”

Or maybe the time I was asked by S to put her socks on. I told her they wouldn’t fit me.

“Not on you… You’re too fat”

Yep… You are a parent too.

Beauty of words

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Seems nearly every day I need a reminder of the power in words. There is a resadue left from everything we say. This morning I have seen it in a small conversation from several weeks ago.

I believe we had the kids out late a couple nights in a row. I said something to S about looking tired. The boys went a step farther, “yeah, she does look tired.”

“Yeah, she has beanbags under her eyes,” said G.

This morning S was talking about my mom and looking at me, “You have pink lips like Grandma.”

“So do you,” I told her.

“Where?” I pointed to them. “Oh. Do I have beanbags under my eyes?”

My three year old remembered what her brothers said several weeks ago. She remembered it being an undesirable idea. I must remember what I say and how I say it are two very important concepts.