10 Smile Tuesday

This post may be a little premature since Tuesday is not even here yet, but I know I have a tendency to let Tuesday slip away lately so I thought I'd get a jump on it since I had a minute. The last week has been filled with a lot of ups and downs since I've had flu like symptoms for the better part of it, hoping I'm on the upward part of that now though as it seems I'm getting more energy back and sleep is helping.

So, here's on to our smiles:

1. Going to the children's museum. We really are fortunate here in Indiana because we have the largest children's museum in the world, and the kids all seriously love it. This makes up a lot of smiles in the winter because we tend to go there a lot when it's cold. It's a bit of a haul for us, but worth it to get the kids out to stretch their legs, have fun and learn something too!


2. My great husband. While I've been sick this weekend, my husband took care of the girls, took them out for donuts, took Lilla to the movie and even hauled them to Wal-Mart to get me some Sprite! I'm pretty thankful for that guy!

3. 4 yr. old theology. Lilla never ceases to amaze me. This week Michael was giving her a bath and out of nowhere she said, "Daddy, we wash the outside but God washes the inside." Where, oh where does she get this stuff from? She just blows us away. When she was born we dedicated her to the Lord and prayed she'd be a missionary someday...I have a feeling, she's on her way!

4. She also is saying funny things though too, which I must really write down for posterity. I had some tulips sitting on the counter the other day and when she asked me what they were, I told her. She then looked at me ever so strangely and asked, "They have two lips?!?!"

5. MOPS. Our MOPS group met last Friday. We had so much fun and many laughs. The best part is we tried out Zumba. So fun!6. Small group. We started a new series in our church, which started a new small group. It's all about growing in God and having a plan to grow in God. I am really excited to be doing this study as I normally am fly by the seat of my pants, Ms. unplanned herself. So, if this can cause me to grow towards a deeper and more full relationship with God, I am all for it and excited!

7. Friends. I went over to my friend, Carrie's, house the other day for a playdate. Our girls have been friends since Lilla was about 20 months old and it's so fun to see how they've grown. They were having a ball jumping off the baby slide on to the bean bag below. And since we had second children just months apart, they have a friend too. Good times!
8. Although I am more than ready for Spring, I can't help but be thankful to God for the beauty of his creation when I go outside and it looks like Narnia! It has been very cold here lately so we've woken up to some amazing sights of white everywhere. Gorgeous!!
9. King Kong. Now, I know I shouldn't laugh, but it's quite funny so I do. Anna, my 1 yr. old, wrestling Lilla, my 4 yr. old, to the ground. This is becoming an all too familiar sight lately. We just can't believe how she is able to do this. Her nickname, King Kong, truly fits this child!

10. In that same vein of developing her own personality, I also want to say how sweet and cuddly, lovely and smiley this little pumpkin can be. She is the strong willed child, without a doubt could make Dr. Dobson cry (as my bestie, Shelley, would say) but oh, how her smile could melt the coldest heart and her giggle could win a war. She is love!

What are you smiling about today?

Leaving

The other day after MOPS, I was going to meet some friends for lunch and I hopped on the interstate without thinking. I had known that morning I was seriously low on gas, but I was rushing and on the phone (I know, safety hazard) and honestly forgot all about it. While getting off the ramp on to the interstate I looked down to see the arrow on the dreaded E. I must say, I had a small anxiety attack right then and there.

I started picturing myself stranded on 70 and wondered what would happen in the freezing temperatures to my children and I. My cell phone was beeping, as per it's usual dead self, my husband had just taken Vicodin for his back issues and my bestie was sick so I knew I wouldn't bother her. I started praying and watching the tank and before I knew it we had gotten to the next exit 10 minutes away. Whew!

Well, I forgot about this incident until several days later when I was approaching E again. My husband was in the car this time so I started relaying the story to him. Lilla, my four year old, was in the backseat listening and started asking questions, the conversation went something like this:

Lilla: What happened?

Me: Mommy was driving the other day and we almost ran out of gas.

Lilla: But we didn't?

Me: No, we didn't.

Lilla: Why not?

Me: Mommy prayed and God had His hand upon us.

Lilla: God had His hand upon us?

Me: Yes, He had His hand upon us.

Lilla: Does He still have His hand on us?

Me: Yes, He still has His hand upon us, even now.

Lilla: Well...I can't feel it.

Me: No, we can't feel it, but we know He is there.

Lilla: How do we know He is there?

Me: Because in His word He promises us that He will never leave or forsake us.

Lilla: He promised to NEVER leave or forsake us?

Me: Never.

Lilla: Never?

Me: Never.

Lilla: Wow, that's a long time.

It sure is!!

And now...

I'm the Mommy of a 4 year old.

In the Waiting

This morning, I woke up and found the house quiet, as it was still early so I began a bible study. Soon though, I heard rustling upstairs and knew my near 4 year old, Lilla, had risen and not far behind would be, Anna, my 1 year old.

As I hurried to conclude the study Anna began to fuss. Lilla then called down the stairs, “Mom, Anna is crying for you.” I responded that I had hear her and would be up shortly. A couple of minutes went by and Lilla said, “Moooommm, Anna wants you!” I told her I was aware and was just finishing up something. She then replied, “Mom, are you trying to torture Anna?”

Of course, I was not trying to torture her and knew she was nothing but safe in her crib with all the toys and things to do. It was even clearer as I walked in her room shortly after and she gave me the brightest of smiles and a giggle for a greeting. She just did not want to wait.

As I reflect on that experience I think of my own issues with waiting. How life just seems like a continual wait, waiting to graduate, waiting find a job, waiting for a spouse, waiting for a baby, waiting for the dr., waiting for the check out line, on and on it goes.

So, just one more thing to wait for does not appeal to me. Particularly when it has to do with God, the waiting is hard. I know he is sovereign and can make the mountains move, so why should I have to spend years paying off student loans, couldn’t he just drop a bank in my backyard? Or pondering our future, where we should go and what job to take. It says in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you.” So maybe could he just whisper them in my ear so I could know them too? Like maybe today?

God does not work that way though. No, he often works through us and to us through the waiting. While I’m screaming, “God, are you trying to torture me?” He, of course, is not. He is loving and shaping me through that wait, teaching me the importance of patience, His will and unselfishness, as I think of other’s needs before mine being met.

I hope that, perhaps, you also can see God in the waiting today.