Yep...I shamelessly yelled my fool head off today. I tried with everything that was in me to keep my mouth shut. I kept telling myself over and over again. DO NOT YELL....KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.....HUSH....BITE YOUR TONGUE. It was absolutely no good. I yelled until my throat hurt and then I kept on yelling.
But what is a Mom to do when her daughter is becoming the star of the soccer team? Answer me this....how does a Mama keep her mouth shut? Tim wasn't able to go to Daria's game today and so I was video taping the game. I try so hard to be quiet because my mouth is like RIGHT THERE next to the camera. When you watch it on replay....what do you hear???? Some raving lunatic yelling her fool heart out trying to empower those little girlies to greater heights. Ducking my head, I must confess that that raving lunatic is me.
Hi, my name is Christine....and I am a screamaholic.
It was such a fun game to watch today. I was cursing the fact that I was recording. There just is no comparison when you have to watch the game on a little 2 inch screen. Grrr. It is so frustrating and Daria was doing sooo good. It was a hard first half. They ended the half with the other team up 3 goals to 1. I did really good not yelling on the first half.
Now, the second half...my girlie was no longer the goalie. She was smack dab in the middle of the action. At first, she was kind of just standing there like she was stuck in the goalie box still. She wasn't sure if she was defense or offense. But, then she came alive!!! Yee haw! The girls did so good the second half. There was no holding this mama back. I just let it go. I just couldn't hold it back. Woo hoo!! I am sure that you could have heard me in the neighboring city. When they watch the video, they will probably hear it clear to the moon and back!!
Daria scored two goals in the second half. It tied the game up and that was where it ended. It was a good game and I was one proud mama. I'm pretty sure that isn't a secret any more.
Oh well.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
Cleanliness is next to Godliness
Someone asked me a couple of weeks ago what I would do if, during the day when Caden and Daria were at school, she took Luke for a few hours. Much to her dismay, my answer was: "Go clean my house." You should have seen her face, it really bordered on disgust! I think that she was thinking I would go spend the afternoon at the local spa. Now, that does appeal to me...but that is so short term. Nothing speaks a more lasting peace in my life than to have a clean house. Weird, I know....but it is true!!
My parents informed me late this week that they were coming into town and needed a place to land. I should have guessed when they announced the death of my great, great aunt at Women's Retreat last weekend. (She was the mother of some missionaries in our church.) Now, I don't need to tell you that my family really did nothing along the lines of blessing me with a clean house to come home to after Women's Retreat. I had hurriedly tried to clean a little before I left, but my week quickly escaped me. So, my house really was pretty dirty when I arrived home.
Now I will confess that I really didn't use my time the wisest on Monday and Tuesday. I even crashed on the couch for a couple of hours on Tuesday. Luke sort of let me sleep....but I think my weekend had finally caught up to me. Wednesday of this week was jam packed. Babysat for the local Community Bible Study group in the morning....dashed home to pick up some toys for Luke to take to the sitters....then dropped him off....then ran to volunteer at the school for a couple of hours. Home for a little bit...then dash off to soccer practice. While at soccer practice, my husband got the hairbrained idea to go to Costco. Normally, I LOVE Costco....but that felt a little pushed in my day. The redeeming thing of that was that I didn't have to cook that night. When I got home from Costco, there was the message from my parents that they were coming. Thus....I spent a good portion of the last two days redeeming my house from the Weeks of Neglect and Haphazard Cleaning.
As I write this out, my house is clean. I've been doping my kids on PBS shows for the last couple of hours so that my house will at least stay clean for a couple of hours. (where is that ducking-behind-the-couch emoticon when I need it???) The feeling of a clean house is the epitome of bliss to me. There is nothing grander than to work my little (not-so-little??) fanny off, clean my house like a wild woman....and than aaaaaahhhhhhh. Can't you just feel it???
Now I will NOT say that my house is perfect. My children have inherited their pack-ratness from their Mom. I have closets and corners that are crying out for someone to rescue them. They are one of those projects that I keep telling myself....I'll do it tomorrow....yeah...tomorrow. I keep threatening to hire someone to come help me sort through all that madness. But, I really think that I will need therapy to be able to let some things go. That could be downright scary, and I think I might die of embarrassment to let people in my hiding places. Oh my....I shudder just thinking about it.
Well, my parents have now arrived and my kids have hit Ballistic Mode. They aren't the least bit excited that they are here. I know my parents are exhausted when they leave here. I imagine it takes them at least a couple of days to recover. My house may not survive the next couple of minutes.
Lord, Help us all.
My parents informed me late this week that they were coming into town and needed a place to land. I should have guessed when they announced the death of my great, great aunt at Women's Retreat last weekend. (She was the mother of some missionaries in our church.) Now, I don't need to tell you that my family really did nothing along the lines of blessing me with a clean house to come home to after Women's Retreat. I had hurriedly tried to clean a little before I left, but my week quickly escaped me. So, my house really was pretty dirty when I arrived home.
Now I will confess that I really didn't use my time the wisest on Monday and Tuesday. I even crashed on the couch for a couple of hours on Tuesday. Luke sort of let me sleep....but I think my weekend had finally caught up to me. Wednesday of this week was jam packed. Babysat for the local Community Bible Study group in the morning....dashed home to pick up some toys for Luke to take to the sitters....then dropped him off....then ran to volunteer at the school for a couple of hours. Home for a little bit...then dash off to soccer practice. While at soccer practice, my husband got the hairbrained idea to go to Costco. Normally, I LOVE Costco....but that felt a little pushed in my day. The redeeming thing of that was that I didn't have to cook that night. When I got home from Costco, there was the message from my parents that they were coming. Thus....I spent a good portion of the last two days redeeming my house from the Weeks of Neglect and Haphazard Cleaning.
As I write this out, my house is clean. I've been doping my kids on PBS shows for the last couple of hours so that my house will at least stay clean for a couple of hours. (where is that ducking-behind-the-couch emoticon when I need it???) The feeling of a clean house is the epitome of bliss to me. There is nothing grander than to work my little (not-so-little??) fanny off, clean my house like a wild woman....and than aaaaaahhhhhhh. Can't you just feel it???
Now I will NOT say that my house is perfect. My children have inherited their pack-ratness from their Mom. I have closets and corners that are crying out for someone to rescue them. They are one of those projects that I keep telling myself....I'll do it tomorrow....yeah...tomorrow. I keep threatening to hire someone to come help me sort through all that madness. But, I really think that I will need therapy to be able to let some things go. That could be downright scary, and I think I might die of embarrassment to let people in my hiding places. Oh my....I shudder just thinking about it.
Well, my parents have now arrived and my kids have hit Ballistic Mode. They aren't the least bit excited that they are here. I know my parents are exhausted when they leave here. I imagine it takes them at least a couple of days to recover. My house may not survive the next couple of minutes.
Lord, Help us all.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Thankful Thursday continued......
As I was cleaning the bathrooms, I was reminded of one more thing that I was thankful for. I am not sure why it came to me while I was scrubbing a toilet....it just did. Funny the way God works sometimes.....
- Today, as my MIT moms were saying good bye--one of the moms mentioned that her son as well as one of the other ladies in our group have two boys who will be in Luke's class next year when he starts kindergarten. That is soooo an answer to prayer. As my kids have drawn near to starting school, I have prayed that they would find good friends. That they would be kids from good, believing homes. Here, I have found not just one...but TWO....boys that come from my precious MIT group Moms. Now, I will pray that my son will develop wonderful relationships with these boys.
Thankful Thursday
Happy Thankful Thursday! Can you believe that another week has flown by? I swear that my days are going by faster than they were before. We measured the kids on the wall last night. You know, the wall that just about every family has....all the little pencil marks with names and dates and ages....marking out the height related to all. My sweet little Luke measured taller, at age four, than Caden was at age 5. I guess I knew that in my heart.....little shocking to see it in actuality. Time flies.....hold tight to those moments.
I have come to love Thursdays. Not only am I reminded to be thankful, Thursday mornings I meet with my Moms In Touch group....and I just LOVE that precious time. We had 8 of us this morning....praying for an accumulated total of kids: 14!!! That doesn't include the little ones that aren't in school yet! I have written all their names down in a list by grade because I love to mention them all by name in closing. I love to just ask Jesus to touch them each and overflow that touch to those around them. I cried today as I saw that list. It is amazing. That leads me to my first thankfulness.....
Thank you, Jesus, for your faithfulness today and always.....
I have come to love Thursdays. Not only am I reminded to be thankful, Thursday mornings I meet with my Moms In Touch group....and I just LOVE that precious time. We had 8 of us this morning....praying for an accumulated total of kids: 14!!! That doesn't include the little ones that aren't in school yet! I have written all their names down in a list by grade because I love to mention them all by name in closing. I love to just ask Jesus to touch them each and overflow that touch to those around them. I cried today as I saw that list. It is amazing. That leads me to my first thankfulness.....
- I am so thankful for these other moms who meet with me every Thursday. I am thankful that they pray for my children and I for theirs. It is such a precious and amazing time. God is so faithful to us.
- I am thankful for Daria's teacher....for her creativeness in class. I am thankful that my daughter loves school and is doing so well.
- I am thankful for Caden's excitement with the things that he is learning. I am thankful that he is enjoying art. I am thankful that he is singing. I am thankful that he enjoys his new P.E. teacher. I am thankful that others see that he is growing and changing.
Thank you, Jesus, for your faithfulness today and always.....
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Mr. Fab
I did my first volunteering of the year today at Daria and Caden's school. What a riot!!! I sure wished that I had had my camera with me today....it was hilarious. Daria's class had a "substitute" for their science portion of the class. It was actually Mrs. Beecher dressed in a lab coat and a wig of wild white hair. She talked with this hilarious accent and I just wanted to sit back and roar. It was awesome!! She was Mr. Fab.
Their class is studying animals. Mammals, Reptiles, Fish, Amphibians, Birds. Notice that the bold letters spell out Mr. Fab. How clever! I was just so pleased to see this side of Mrs. Beecher. Every time that I have seen her, she seems a little bit on the serious side. She has even seemed to be a tad shy or insecure....she seems to have difficulty looking me in the eye. It kind of felt like a gift, today, to see this side of her. To see the kids excited about learning...laughing...and enjoying it immensely. Even I learned some things as I sat in the back sorting pictures. It was just so fun to see her teacher giving her all. I am not sure that I could be that off the wall as a teacher.
Kudos to you, Mrs. Beecher!!
*********************************************************************************
On a side note, Daria got in the van today and informed me that she thinks she needs to go back to Second Grade. Part of me wanted to fall off my chair....and the other part of me was just rolling my eyes!! She is doing so good in school. She doesn't seem to be struggling. Though, a couple of weeks ago, she said that school was hard. And last night she said it was too easy!
The issue boils down to a boy named Jackson. He has been the bane of Daria's school year, this year. Normally my daughter is VOCAL....sometimes too vocal. (She always seems to need to have the last word with me!) Yet, so far, she can't seem to stick up for herself. Jackson is one of her table mates. Apparently he just likes to be a pain in the you-know-what. I keep telling Daria to 1). Talk to Jackson and ask him to stop; and, 2). if that doesn't work, talk with Mrs. Beecher. I am hoping that this is a situation that will resolve when the modular classrooms are moved in and they can have a normal classroom.
My plan of action right now is to just pray that Daria gets the gumption up to talk to Mrs. Beecher about moving away from Jackson. I am also praying that Jackson will no longer be a pain. I am praying, too, that the placement of the modulars will happen quickly and smoothly. It sounds like another 3 weeks or so before they might be in.
God can make it happen, though!!
Their class is studying animals. Mammals, Reptiles, Fish, Amphibians, Birds. Notice that the bold letters spell out Mr. Fab. How clever! I was just so pleased to see this side of Mrs. Beecher. Every time that I have seen her, she seems a little bit on the serious side. She has even seemed to be a tad shy or insecure....she seems to have difficulty looking me in the eye. It kind of felt like a gift, today, to see this side of her. To see the kids excited about learning...laughing...and enjoying it immensely. Even I learned some things as I sat in the back sorting pictures. It was just so fun to see her teacher giving her all. I am not sure that I could be that off the wall as a teacher.
Kudos to you, Mrs. Beecher!!
*********************************************************************************
On a side note, Daria got in the van today and informed me that she thinks she needs to go back to Second Grade. Part of me wanted to fall off my chair....and the other part of me was just rolling my eyes!! She is doing so good in school. She doesn't seem to be struggling. Though, a couple of weeks ago, she said that school was hard. And last night she said it was too easy!
The issue boils down to a boy named Jackson. He has been the bane of Daria's school year, this year. Normally my daughter is VOCAL....sometimes too vocal. (She always seems to need to have the last word with me!) Yet, so far, she can't seem to stick up for herself. Jackson is one of her table mates. Apparently he just likes to be a pain in the you-know-what. I keep telling Daria to 1). Talk to Jackson and ask him to stop; and, 2). if that doesn't work, talk with Mrs. Beecher. I am hoping that this is a situation that will resolve when the modular classrooms are moved in and they can have a normal classroom.
My plan of action right now is to just pray that Daria gets the gumption up to talk to Mrs. Beecher about moving away from Jackson. I am also praying that Jackson will no longer be a pain. I am praying, too, that the placement of the modulars will happen quickly and smoothly. It sounds like another 3 weeks or so before they might be in.
God can make it happen, though!!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Surprising Places
I've had a thought running around in my mind for a couple of days. I haven't written about it yet, because I can't seem to wrap my mind around the idea. Even now that I am sitting down to write about it, I am not exactly sure why, how and where I am going with it. Maybe it will be one of those surprises that God shares with me as I attempt to untangle my mind with words.
I remember, in my younger days, that I use to look at people who were the age that I am right now and I use to think they were "old." Not just physically grown up....but emotionally, spiritually and mentally grown up. They seemed to have wisdom and experiences that were to be admired (okay....most of them had things to be admired! Ha!). So, in self-observation, I don't feel like I have acquired that status yet. I feel like I am still that teen-aged girl, with her emotional baggage of self-worth, walking the halls of Coeur d'Alene High School, hearing and feeling the mocking of her peers. How do you grow up, in your mind, in your own opinion?
Even as I struggle with battles long won that rise up occasionally to test the strength of the cords that bind them, I find myself in surprising places. Or maybe, just a thought, I am the only one who is surprised. I find that I sense people wanting me to lead. The thought freaks me out at times. Those old wounds rise up with their old thoughts that tell me time and time again that I will never win. A struggle goes on in my head....the drive to rise to expectations and the fear that drags me back to old baggage.
I find, that at times, I sense people valuing my thoughts and opinions, experiences, whatever, more than I feel they are worth. What happened a long the growth of time that causes people to place values on the opinion of Me, the Messed Up One? There are times when I sense this happening and I feel like I am standing there shaking my head as if to clear it. Surely I really didn't notice what I just did. Surely they must think I am someone else.
Even as I write this out, I am tempted to just delete this post. I am not sure of its purpose except to clear my mind of it. Parts of it even seem to scream conceit to me. How could I even write such things out? Where do they come from? What do I do with them? I find that it is hard to rewallpaper the walls of my mind with new Truths. The old lies seem to cling with a will of their own to their home of so many years. Even as you rip one down, it seems to coil back up with a uncanny tenacity to live. Even as Jesus sings over me with the Voice of Truth, I find the Lies stubbornly struggle to remain. I wish they would find a herd of pigs to flee to and I'd be rid of them forever. Instead, I find that I daily must ask Jesus to sing over me again. And again. And again.
I am not even sure how to end this post. I feel like I have heard Jesus' voice as I have wandered this written trail. Maybe I will just focus my attention on the Surprises....the blessings...along the way that He has prepared for me. Sorry for my disjointed thoughts.
May you hear Jesus singing over you today.
I remember, in my younger days, that I use to look at people who were the age that I am right now and I use to think they were "old." Not just physically grown up....but emotionally, spiritually and mentally grown up. They seemed to have wisdom and experiences that were to be admired (okay....most of them had things to be admired! Ha!). So, in self-observation, I don't feel like I have acquired that status yet. I feel like I am still that teen-aged girl, with her emotional baggage of self-worth, walking the halls of Coeur d'Alene High School, hearing and feeling the mocking of her peers. How do you grow up, in your mind, in your own opinion?
Even as I struggle with battles long won that rise up occasionally to test the strength of the cords that bind them, I find myself in surprising places. Or maybe, just a thought, I am the only one who is surprised. I find that I sense people wanting me to lead. The thought freaks me out at times. Those old wounds rise up with their old thoughts that tell me time and time again that I will never win. A struggle goes on in my head....the drive to rise to expectations and the fear that drags me back to old baggage.
I find, that at times, I sense people valuing my thoughts and opinions, experiences, whatever, more than I feel they are worth. What happened a long the growth of time that causes people to place values on the opinion of Me, the Messed Up One? There are times when I sense this happening and I feel like I am standing there shaking my head as if to clear it. Surely I really didn't notice what I just did. Surely they must think I am someone else.
Even as I write this out, I am tempted to just delete this post. I am not sure of its purpose except to clear my mind of it. Parts of it even seem to scream conceit to me. How could I even write such things out? Where do they come from? What do I do with them? I find that it is hard to rewallpaper the walls of my mind with new Truths. The old lies seem to cling with a will of their own to their home of so many years. Even as you rip one down, it seems to coil back up with a uncanny tenacity to live. Even as Jesus sings over me with the Voice of Truth, I find the Lies stubbornly struggle to remain. I wish they would find a herd of pigs to flee to and I'd be rid of them forever. Instead, I find that I daily must ask Jesus to sing over me again. And again. And again.
I am not even sure how to end this post. I feel like I have heard Jesus' voice as I have wandered this written trail. Maybe I will just focus my attention on the Surprises....the blessings...along the way that He has prepared for me. Sorry for my disjointed thoughts.
May you hear Jesus singing over you today.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Fellowship
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, fellowship is defined as: "the condition of being together or of sharing similar interests or experiences....the companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms....a union of friends or equals sharing similar interests; fraternity....friendship; comradeship." I don't think that I could define my Women's Retreat weekend any better.
In the past, I have come home from Retreat on a spiritual high. This high only seems to last so long since as soon as I walk in the door, my children descend upon me in a heap of whines, tears, and tantrums, as if they had been saving them up for just the right ears to hear them. Nothing seemed to make me crash back harder to reality than those tears. This year was different. I still met with my Jesus this weekend....yet it was different. So hard to explain. Maybe instead of riding on a high like the rush of jumping out of an airplane...a rush that takes your breath away in an experience that truly is once in a lifetime....I came home with a feeling of peace and connectedness that goes beyond the adrenaline. I swear I am no closer to explaining this than when I first began. I guess there are no words to describe my weekend.
We had 10 ladies from our church attend retreat. If you count the sister of one, we were really 11. I was struck at our fellowship this weekend. It went beyond the connection of weekend "roommates." I think, this weekend, the ladies in my church became friends. I so enjoyed our friendship this weekend, it was so refreshing. In years past, I really felt socially awkward at retreat. I really am horrible at introducing myself to others. This year, things felt so comfortable.
Who is to say what made this difference? I simply can't nail it down. Was it the hilarity of late night games? Was it the comfortable walks on the beach in those fortunate moments of sunshine? Was it the easy teasing and poking fun? Was it the afternoon of soaking pedicures and fancy manicures? Was it the sheer moments of just being together? Maybe it is just that where two or more are gathered, He is there.
I think this is the retreat that I came home the most refreshed. Not that I got a lot of sleep....(too many late night games). I think I just came home blessed. I had wonderful solo times....and the times I had with my friends was priceless.
Priceless.
In the past, I have come home from Retreat on a spiritual high. This high only seems to last so long since as soon as I walk in the door, my children descend upon me in a heap of whines, tears, and tantrums, as if they had been saving them up for just the right ears to hear them. Nothing seemed to make me crash back harder to reality than those tears. This year was different. I still met with my Jesus this weekend....yet it was different. So hard to explain. Maybe instead of riding on a high like the rush of jumping out of an airplane...a rush that takes your breath away in an experience that truly is once in a lifetime....I came home with a feeling of peace and connectedness that goes beyond the adrenaline. I swear I am no closer to explaining this than when I first began. I guess there are no words to describe my weekend.
We had 10 ladies from our church attend retreat. If you count the sister of one, we were really 11. I was struck at our fellowship this weekend. It went beyond the connection of weekend "roommates." I think, this weekend, the ladies in my church became friends. I so enjoyed our friendship this weekend, it was so refreshing. In years past, I really felt socially awkward at retreat. I really am horrible at introducing myself to others. This year, things felt so comfortable.
Who is to say what made this difference? I simply can't nail it down. Was it the hilarity of late night games? Was it the comfortable walks on the beach in those fortunate moments of sunshine? Was it the easy teasing and poking fun? Was it the afternoon of soaking pedicures and fancy manicures? Was it the sheer moments of just being together? Maybe it is just that where two or more are gathered, He is there.
I think this is the retreat that I came home the most refreshed. Not that I got a lot of sleep....(too many late night games). I think I just came home blessed. I had wonderful solo times....and the times I had with my friends was priceless.
Priceless.
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