Don't Forget How Far We've Come

View from Winesburg to Mt. Eaton

We are on "vacation" at my mom's house and having a lovely time of it.

I'm re-reading Rachel Jankovic's book, "Loving the Little Years" which I highly recommend. This second time through I'm realizing she is really teaching me about myself more than about my kids. One of the things she points out is how easy it is to forget about the progress our kids make. They struggle with a temptation and eventually overcome it but a new struggle replaces it and on goes their sanctification. I need to be thankful for that progress and encouraged by it. 

Here are some "Progresses" my kids have made:

A belly busting temper tantrum gets you no where (it hasn't happened in 3 weeks.)

If you answer, "ME!" when asked, "Who should be first?" you will NOT be first!

If you run and scream hysterically the puppy thinks you want to play and will jump all over you.

Mboy and Dboy are able to pray at meals without any help.

Do not screech, "MOM" and start to tell me your woe from another room-come to me.

Each person has a "personals" space and we respect that space.

The older ones memorized 3 Bible verses during Backyard Bible Club.

To Obey involves 3 parts: doing what you're asked ALL the way, RIGHT away, and with a JOYFUL heart.

Phoebe, TT, and Mgirl

Also, sometimes one kid makes progress on a particular area of temptation but maybe another kid picks it up or is still struggling with it. To me, if I don't pay attention, I could be frustrated and feel like there's no hope so I want to watch carefully for areas of success and rejoice in those small victories.

Forgiving Littles

These nice quiet flowers are an antidote to my kids who are L-O-U-D, LOUD! They scream when they're sad, they scream when they're happy or delighted. The first week of them being here I came running from my bedroom to the garage to break up a massive knock-down-drag-out-fight. Turns out they were happy, all chattering and squealing.

Whoops, you heard that, huh? A kid just now running up the stairs, bellowing, "MOM"?!? with as much gusto as an opera singer. I'm 2 rooms away.

Today I decided to clamp down on the "MOM-bellowing" from another room. You see the girl who belongs to these flip-flops (girl #3) takes naps and between the dog jumping on the bed licking her, or kids shaking the house with their yells, her nap always seems to end too soon. So I warned the kids playing to keep it to a dull roar or they'd have to go have "quiet time" themselves. After some nice playing girl #2 came "MOM"ming down the stairs and since I had already reminded her twice to keep her voice down I scolded her and said she was off to bed after we talked the fight between her and her sister out. We talked about the problem that caused the whining and #1 skipped off. #2 stood there, head down, knowing bed awaited her. Her big round eyes looking at her feet she quietly said, "Mom?" stillness, quiet, she looked at me and after a few seconds of silence (I think she was getting her courage up) stammered over her words... "Can, can, can I do it again?" (still, quiet) "I mean can I try again? Can I start over?" The words were so powerful. Her eyes and every ounce of her being was fighting to maintain calmness and composure but she looked like the fate of the whole world rested on my answer.  I just sat and looked at her, torn. How can not follow through with what I said I'd do? But then, how can I miss this opportunity to show her some mercy when she is so maturely asking for a new start? You know I had to relieve her burden. Her face lit up and she skipped away too. I didn't hear another peep from her. It's 5:08 and girl #3 is still sleeping (she went to bed at 1:30.) That's gonna be bad news at bedtime. Maybe I should rethink my "quiet" rule.

I hope I can forgive much and love much that my wee Killys might know Big forgiveness.


Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”     (Luke 7:47 ESV)

Don't Tread on Me

I am sitting on my patio, the kids just finished swimming. It is balmy and breezy here in the shade and even though my coffee is cold, it is all just lovely. Every kid has found something to do and is quiet (well, I don't know what the littlest is doing...I'm trusting right now...) So I read my Bible, Ps. 56-59.

Ps. 56:1 starts out...

Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
    all day long an attacker oppresses me;

Right now it's quiet and easy for me to be sweet with my kids 'cuz no one's trampling on me. Scott helped get both kids' bedrooms perfect yesterday (planning for a complainy worker visit from CSB this morning who stirred up a little trouble in my soul the last time she visited-the boys room needed vacuumed and she didn't like that I had new kids helping scoop dog doo-doo) and he did the laundry and he cooked dinner. I shopped and cleaned the bathrooms and other areas. Today and right now, there's nothing to be done and it's easy for me to be sweet but I'm fighting to do that when the dishes need cleaned up and the laundry put away. I'm allowing myself to feel "put upon" and taking offense from my kids so I turn ugly. I need to remember THE attacker is Satan and he wants me to be stressed, fail, and be ugly towards my kids.

So I'm going to keep trying to fight myself to the glory of God.

xo L

PS since starting this, I've been informed what the little one was doing: bothering the big ones. I knew she was fine.