Would your ugly come out too?

As this morning started, I suspected it was going to be a difficult day but hoped for the best.  You see I hauled everyone to the pediatrician yesterday to get checked out because I am about to go MAD after 3 months of the snot and coughing crud cycling between the 3 of them leaving me feeling like I'm drowning in a pool of snot!  After all the trouble to go to the doctor, a wrestling match with Bryleigh for a breathing treatment and $138, the verdict was allergies...sorry.  Wow, really?  The croup-like barking cough that each have suffered with on an ongoing basis for 3 months is really just allergies?  The volume of snot that could fill a mason jar with each blow is just allergies?  The fact that after drinking after each other or being around other children at school or church makes it start over again could only be seasonal allergies?  REALLY?  I figure some allergies may complicate it but could that be the only cause...especially if it means no treatment options?  GRRRRR......

Well, I tried to be determined to have a good day despite the snot filled challenges that were inevitably going to present themselves.  However, it soon was revealed that apparently it was going to be an UGLY day.  Not the kind that bubbles up for a moment but is quickly diffused.  Instead it seems to be the kind of day where the ugly blasts out like a volcano erupting leaving a lasting impact on everyone involved.  I know others have had the same experiences but sometimes as a stay-at-home mom whose spent the better part of 3 months drowning in snot or catching coughs, I just feel so isolated that I don't realize I am not alone.  Are there other moms out there who can testify?  So here is how our morning went (within an hour and a half of the girls getting up).

The big girls got up ready to chit-chat and play, but we managed to get breakfast on the table for them to eat.  They decided to eat at their little folding table for something different this morning, which seemed like a good idea.  While I fixed Bryleigh's oatmeal, the girls began to play by placing their cereal pieces on the ABC/123 border around the table.  This was fine because they were practicing counting and ABC's while eating...until Caillyn decided that stealing Meliya's cereal and watching her get upset would be entertaining.  Wow, my 3-year-old's creativity never ceases to get her into trouble!  While getting Bryleigh up and dressed (not to mention cleaning out a RIDICULOUS amount of snot from her nose), I hear the big girls at it again.  Up, down, bicker...(sigh).

I feed Bryleigh and myself while encouraging the girls to talk nicely to each other and love each other instead of using ugly voices and being mean to each other.  For a brief moment, I thought we might have a better day than I expected.  Well, not so much.

As I cleaned up from breakfast, both big girls decided that one whole bowl of cereal wasn't enough so they requested bananas and peanut butter in a not so considerate fashion.  After correcting the impatient methods of their requests, they sat down to eat at the table.  However, keeping a 3 year old in a chair to eat requires industrial straps and buckles of which I have none.  So instead I spent the next 15 minutes, while trying to get a fussy baby to play and start Meliya's school work,  getting her to go back to the table to eat and not spread peanut butter EVERYWHERE. 

Of course, this just ushered in the time for the dog to pipe up and make his desire for breakfast well known.  This presents its own problems.  Because this sweet puppy is too scared to eat in the confined space of the laundry room where it is safe from the baby, I had to clear out the end of the kitchen so he could eat without interruption from Bryleigh's overwhelming desire to dump out his food and water bowls.  This means holding cranky Bryleigh while trying to go over Meliya's school work.  All of which was interrupted by telling Caillyn to sit back down and finish eating, blowing noses and starting over when Meliya got too distracted to say anything intelligible.  My frustrations were building and now at a medium simmer. 

However, it never just ends there does it?  No, it seems that the threshold that keeps civility in and uncontrolled emotion out has to fail on days like these.  So while I'm trying to find peace in the midst of chaos with my coffee beside me, wrangling Bryleigh, and working with Meliya's recitations, I'm pulled into the kitchen with Samson beating on the back door wanting in and Caillyn, once again, out of her seat.  So I quickly hop up to take care of the dog and Caillyn to only hear a scream from Meliya and then crying.  As I round the corner of the kitchen to see what drama has unfolded, I see Meliya dripping and crying, Bryleigh screaming with my coffee mug in her hand and coffee, the lovely caramel-colored liquid comfort painted all over the chair and leaving a puddle on the floor.  There it is...BOOM! 

The volcano erupts, not with a sputter but with a Mt. Saint Helen's kind of explosion that leaves hysteria everywhere.  My fragile nerves could no longer handle the box of tissues I had just gone through while blowing noses, peanut butter mess spreading with every turn of my head, cranky baby's screaming, homeschooling headaches, dog's demanding attention, plans falling apart and now the straw that broke my back...yes I feel like a camel...the coffee everywhere but in my blessed cup or belly. 

So there I was standing amidst the thick cloud of ash my explosion brought, wiping up sticky coffee, checking and changing Meliya, comforting Bryleigh and pushing Samson out of the middle of everything I was trying to do...and yes blowing lots of noses too.  We all were in tears by the end of the chaos.

However as I recount my exhausting morning, I try to find something redeeming about my thwarted plans.  The coffee was only luke-warm so it didn't harm any delicate skin.  My laptop is safe, all the coffee missed it.  The chair was fake leather so it cleaned up easily.  Very little coffee actually touched the new rug.  I had made extra coffee so I still had another cup waiting for me in the pot.  We all had a healthy cry which helped our attitudes adjust for the better.  And now, as I sit here writing I've been able to recall the sweet playing that Bryleigh and Meliya did after everyone settled down.  Peek-a-boo between a baby and her big sister is just precious.  Caillyn, Bryleigh and Meliya all cuddling up in my lap before lunch is a rare treasure.  Meliya being able to recount some of her homeschooling facts without much prompting reminds me we're making headway even if it's slow sometimes.  The list could go on.

I don't think the day is a total loss.  However, I am going to have to let go of the disappointment I feel because tomorrow will not be filled with Thanksgiving parties and friends at school but instead will be filled with blowing noses and wiping snot once again.  Hmm...maybe one day I will be able to enjoy those treasured moments without having to be slowed down by a river of snot or trashcans full of used tissues!  One can only hope!

In honor of Thanksgiving...

I've seen quite a few people on Facebook post things they are thankful for in honor of Thanksgiving.  Although this is a noble thing everyone should devote some time to do, I myself have not joined on the Thanksgiving Facebook post bandwagon.  It's not because I haven't thought about being thankful but more that I've just not had time to post something thoughtful. 

Since Facebook posts are limited to only a small amount of information, I thought I would blog instead...this might take more than a few lines.  So here we go...

Today, I am thankful for changing a wet crib sheet.  I know, sounds weird but here is the behind the scenes info that will help you understand...

I was awoken this morning to a sound coming from that lovely electronic devise called a baby monitor.  My little Bryleigh has not transitioned into the time change like her older sisters have.  Instead, she decided to wake up about an hour and a half before normal.  After rolling over a few times wishing she would go back to sleep, I finally got up to get dressed.  Since I have learned that listening to a baby fuss while getting dressed just stresses me out, I turned off the monitor to have a little peace before being bombarded by a fussy, hungry baby.  Once I opened the door to go to the den, I heard THAT sound...you know the one...the scream from the depths that tells you, "I'M AWAKE!  COME GET ME!!!"  So the day was off to a fast start...

Despite the fussiness, we managed to get through breakfast (or at least the girls got to eat) and I was trying to get Bryleigh to play so that I could gulp down a bowl of cereal.  Of course, she was tired from all the screaming she had blessed us with and instead wanted to be held.  After listening to the fussing for a few minutes while trying to pour me a bowl of cereal, I decided to lay her down to see if she would take a quick nap to help offset the crankiness and let me eat.  So I picked her up off the floor and laid her down in bed. 

I don't know how much time had passed but it wasn't more than 10 minutes...you know just enough to eat, but not do dishes...before Meliya said, "Bryleigh took her diaper off."  Now I'm confused.  I thought, how can she see Bryleigh in her room?  And just then, Caillyn walks into the kitchen carrying Bryleigh's diaper.  Bryleigh had apparently noticed that she was wearing a dress without bloomers within the 5 minutes I left her to play this morning and proceeded to rip off the velcro on one side so that it would fall off.  In my shock and horror, I had flashbacks of the mess I found her in the last time she ripped her diaper's velcro off!  I ran into her room to find her standing proudly at the end of her crib smiling widely.  As I turned on the light and looked in the crib, she looked at the big wet spot on the sheets and danced up and down laughing.  She was proud she had tee-teed in her bed.  I, however, was relieved that it was only a wet sheet and not a poo-poo disaster!

Thank you, Jesus!  Today, I will gladly give You praise for something as simple as changing a wet sheet!

EEEWWWW!!!!

My mind reels at where to begin!  Last night was a rough night for us.  Meliya woke me up 3 times throughout the night because her belly hurt.  The third time, she threw up on the carpet.  It's never a good sign to be cleaning puke up off the carpet at 4 am.  However, we went off to sleep in hopes that we could catch a few more hours of rest before the day was here.  Unfortunately, my body had gotten so conditioned with waking up at night with her or Caillyn's problems that I just laid there awake thinking every little sound I heard was an emergency call for, "MOM!"  I did not like when my alarm came on at 7 am.  The snooze button and I had a long banter back and forth until I drug myself out of bed at 7:30 am.  I managed to muster enough strength and energy to get ready and let the dogs out.  Unfortunately, when I let the dogs out I heard Meliya and Caillyn playing (not in a just-woke-up, good morning way).  That's usually a good sign that they will be cranky all day.  So I went in there and told them to spend the rest of the time before their alarm went off laying quietly in bed because they needed rest after the long night.  Surprisingly, they obeyed...mostly.

While the last 15 minutes of quiet loomed over the house, I took advantage of some time in the Word.  As I read my daily passages, I kept praying that God would give me something to hang my hat on.  Something that would lift me up and carry me through the day because, honestly, it was going to be an ugly day because I was too tired to be nice.  I know, mom's should always be nice, kind and compassionate.  However, sleep deprivation robs me of all that...just being honest! 

Well, the girls got up and the marathon was on....  The breakfast battle got off to a good start as I got everything ready and Meliya and Caillyn were at the table eating.  Now off to get Bryleigh who was stirring in her room.  Down the hall I went to start the process of getting her up when I smelt that smell from the bathroom.  I thought to myself, "I'll have to flush that in a minute."  You see, I thought one of the girls left a stink pickle in the toilet as they are apt to do.  Imagine my surprise when I opened Bryleigh's door to find that the smell was emanating from in there!  I quickly turned on the light to find one of my worst nightmares...yep, you guessed it, ...she was covered in poo!  EEEWWWW!!!!!

I thought that after 3 children I had come to grips with how to deal with some of the grossest situations...apparently not.  What I saw made me scream, "EEEEWWWW!!!!!  GROSSSS!!!" before I could even think about stopping myself!  Of course, my sweet, sensitive Bryleigh started bawling because her feelings were hurt, but I was at a loss on what to do.  You see, we are not trained on how to respond or what to do first when you encounter a baby smeared in poo.  Yes, I said smeared...everywhere.  I spent the next 30 minutes giving her a mani/pedi to clean out the poo from under her nails, a bath to clean it off her face, arms, legs, hands and feet, and then moving to the bed to scrub down the spindles, top rails, and even the wall.  Apparently she discovered finger painting with poo this morning and wanted to add to my mural.  There was poo all over the bed, on the floor, and in her hair!!!  Then I had to sanitize 3 of the 4 pacifiers she has because they were smeared with poo too!  Thankfully, 1 pacifier had been left on her changing table the night before to help quell the cries while I took care of this clean-up process.

After all of that, I was able to feed her and finally have breakfast (over 2 hours after I woke up).  Needless to say, the headache I have right now is warranted.  However, the irony falls on the verse of scripture God pointed out to me this morning as I was begging for some supernatural energy.  "...correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2  Boy does God have a sense of humor!  I failed that test this morning because great patience and careful instruction were overshadowed by disgust and the desire to bathe the stink off!  Although I did not practice this verse this morning very well, the weight of its truth does leave a mark on my heart.

How often does God "correct, rebuke and encourage" us "with great patience and careful instruction" when we've screwed up?  Hopefully I can trust God to equip me to handle the gross stuff that is sure to come the next time I have a situation I would rather run from than face.  Maybe, just maybe, the next time will be the time I successfully execute great patience and careful instruction.  You never know when you will be faced with a situation that will require great patience and careful instruction for mere survival.  Let us practice it now while it is our petty comforts that are being sacrificed.

Thankfully, the day is not over.  We have managed to have a mediocre day despite the rocky start.  Hopefully this will be a pattern that will lead to an OK afternoon and good evening!

6 Degrees of Separation

While at college I watched a class mate play this game called The 6 Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon.  No matter what name anyone threw at him, he was able to tie it back to Kevin Bacon within 6 connections.  Well, today I am going to play that game...in a way.  You see quite a few people have been asking when I was going to post another blog entry about the girls antics.  Well, never fear!  It is here!  It has been quite busy around the Teer house from multiple weeks of sickness, homeschool starting, and every other fall activity that I just haven't had the time or energy to sit down and write everything down.  Don't worry, the girls have given me quite a bit of material from which to work!

The 6 Degrees of Separation from Tears
Caillyn stamping furniture with her flower ink stamp. 
1. Furniture: Meliya and Caillyn breaking all 4 drawers of their chest of drawers so that their clothes are held hostage.  Now they can only reach their dresses without help.
2. Dress: Samson (our 11 month old yellow lab) apparently was so attention starved that he curled up and cuddled with a Barbie dress.  This is better than pulling stuff out of the dirty clothes which he usually does.
3. Dirty clothes:  Caillyn tried to help with laundry by pouring a 1/2 cup of soap in the high effeciency washer that only uses about 1 Tablespoon of soap per load.
4. Soap:  Meliya tried to give herself a bath by emptying 3/4 of a new bottle of body wash in the bath tub while I was getting the baby dressed.
5. Baby: The girls were playing with their My Little Pony playsets when I told them to pick up the tiny pieces so that I could get Bryleigh up.  We can't have the baby eat them.  No sooner did the words come out of my mouth before Samson had chewed up some tiny plastic grapes.  Daddy is going to have to watch for that green in the poo!
6. Daddy: Mommy wanted to cry like a baby after all of this happened within the 2 days Daddy was away on a buisness trip.  I'm ready for my padded cell now!

Not bad for my first time playing that game.  How about another go at it?

6 Degrees of Separation from Tears, Part 2

Meliya was wound up after bath one night while Dave was out of town.  She was practicing her long jump from one bed to the other in her room, but did not quite make it.  She belly bounced off of the side of the mattress and landed on the floor in front of the bed from which she had jumped off.
1. Bed: I went to get Bryleigh out of her crib one morning after hearing her play.  When I opened the door, a strange blue light was shining from her bed.  It was the puck light we keep at her changing table.  I was thoroughly baffled as to how the light could have possibly traveled from the other side of the room to reach Bryleigh's bed until Meliya explained how she had tossed it in the night before when looking for Bryleigh's pacifier.  Bryleigh didn't mind, she was enjoying turning on the light herself.
2. For herself: One day, Caillyn didn't want to wait for me to pour her next dose of cough medicine.  She waited for me to leave the room and climbed up on the cabinet, got the couch syrup out of the cupboard and poured herself a dose.  Amazingly, she only spilled one small drop.  Thankfully, I caught her before she created an emergency.
3. Emergency: While I was taking care of Bryleigh and Dave was getting dinner started one evening, Caillyn decided to capitalize on the opportunity to play with his work phone/blackberry.  It's official, we have talked with and about 911 now.  Thankfully we were able to cut off the chastising from the operator before any emergency personel arrived.  That would have been a mess.
4. Mess: One morning before nap time the girls decided to play with a bin full of homemade activities.  In this bin were puzzles, button and lace type games, stickers, drawing supplies, and cut up straws used for patterns.  Every piece of each of the activities ended up on the dining room floor.  It is not easy picking up little pieces of straws, buttons, strings, stickers, paper clips, zip loc bags, etc while a 10 month old is crawling around!
5. The floor:  While I was busy vacuuming one day, Meliya and Caillyn were playing on my bed.  In the 60 seconds it took me to walk from the kitchen back to my bedroom, Caillyn found the hair cutting scissors in my drawer and handed them to Meliya.  Meliya took this as a sign that she was supposed to cut Caillyn's hair.  Needless to say a high pitched squeal is all that came out of my mouth as I saw all that hair on the floor.  Melilya was sent to time out for her own safety.
6. Safety Time out:  Caillyn decided that she would help me with my chores again.  Instead of putting her clothes in the dirty clothes hamper after getting dressed for bed, she decided they needed to be washed.  So she took my new bottle of laundry soap out to put some in the washer.  She had learned from her previous laundry experience that less is more.  Instead of pouring the soap into the dispenser directly as before, she tried to pour it into the cap first.  Unfortunately, a full bottle is too hard for 3 year old's hands to control.  I counted around 20 loads worth of laundry soap as I scooped it off the floor.  Of course, that doesn't include what I couldn't pick up.  Yes, that was about 3 weeks worth of laundry soap in a nice, all be it HUGE, puddle on the floor!  I was crying as I pictured the suds that were destined to form when I tried to mop the rest of the soap up off the floor.

Yeah, there's another one!  Since I don't have enough to do it a third time, I'll just let you in on the latest events they have blessed us with!

1. While on a visit to my mother-in-law's house, Caillyn was found emptying the trash can into the toilet in order to retrieve a bottle she insisted I had thrown away.  (It was on the bathroom counter.)
2. One morning Caillyn aparently had grown tired of Meliya and Mommy being the only ones to get Bryleigh out of bed.  This morning she decided it was her turn to get Bryleigh out.  Thankfully this ended with Brlyeigh belly flopping on top of Caillyn and Caillyn falling neatly on her back between the ottoman and rocking chair.  We have since had the discussion about who is allowed to get Bryleigh out of bed!
3. Samson has done his fair share to keep me busy when the girls aren't.  (It's hard to imagine, I know!)  Despite the constant need to be petted, we often take him out to our side yard to run hard and burn off energy.  However, he has taken up eating other dog's poop while out.  Disgusting I know!  Unfortunately, that is not the end of the story.  Last Sunday morning, he started stirring when I rolled over in bed about 30 minutes before the alarm.  I told him to lay down because I wanted to enjoy every last minute of sleep I could if possible.  He was a little persistent, but eventually laid down.  When the alarm went off 30 minutes later, I reached to hit the snooze when something else hit me.  It was a stench that you would not believe.  Yes, he had an accident.  No, it was not a pretty one.  I turned on the lamp to find that he had left a trail of poop at the end of the bed that was about 2-3 feet long ending in 3 puddles of diarrhea.  I swear a barnyard smells like a bouquet of flowers compared to that!  Needless to say, we didn't get to experience our peaceful, quiet time before the girls got up that morning!

I hope this strikes your funny bone.  In some instances, it has ours, but others will take more time!  I hope you enjoy your day!

Wet...inside and out!

As I got ready this morning, I thought it would be a busy but good day.  We had to get groceries so that we could have food to eat after being gone all weekend which is never an easy task.  However we also had to go by the office supply store to pick up some ring binders for Meliya's school work.  As the girls got up this morning, we got ready quickly and were out the door by 9:30.  Not too bad for tired, cranky girls!

As we drove away from the house, I noticed a beautiful baby blue sky with white fluffy clouds.  As I turn the car south at the freeway, I see up in the sky the dreaded rain clouds!  At first it looks like I might be able to get the errands done before the rain sets in, so I hurry to the store hoping to stay dry.  We arrive and hurry in only to find the specific item I was needing to be out of stock.  The helpful worker informed me that the nearest store that has them is a store about 15 minutes north of my house (this store was 15 minutes south of my house).  Armed with this information, we headed back out to the car hoping to beat the rain.  As we get to the car, the strangest thing happened.  I heard the rain chasing us!  As my older girls climbed, slowly I might add, into the car I was frantically unstrapping Bryleigh from the stoller and getting her into the car seat as I heard the rain start falling across the parking lot.  It quickly caught up to our car.  As I'm buckling Brleigh into her car seat, the rain goes from a sprinkle to heavy, big drops.

I struggle with the umbrella to get it open hoping it will at least cut some of the rain as I try to get to the liftgate on the car.  I lift up the gate hoping to get a little shelter as I put the stroller in the back.  Nope.  The rain is coming down sideways directly under the lift gate.  Let me tell you, it is not easy to fold up a stroller with one hand and lift it into the back of an expedition while holding a golf umbrella in the other hand as the wind whips it around and rains is falling!  By the time I had climbed into the drivers' seat, it was pouring and I was soaked.  Even my socks were wet from the rain!  Now what?  Do I go to the grocery store?  Do I try another office supply place 5 minutes away? 

Since the rainstorms we've had lately only seem to last a short while, I decided we would wait it out and then go to the other store before heading to get groceries.  Thankfully, I had brought our homeschool flashcards so that we could use our time wisely!  We go through Meliya's school work while it rains.  After we were done, the rain seemed to let up a little, so we went to the other store.  By the time we parked at the other store, it was just sprinkling.  Yeah...right?  Nope.  As soon as I'm standing at their door letting them all out, the rain finds us again!  It starts pouring down getting everyone of us wet this time.  (In case you hadn't figured it out, I hate being wet.)  My mood is not the greatest at this point, but I'm trying not to get too crabby.  Wouldn't you know it, this store had what I wanted but it was half the quantity for the same price!  Despite my desparate desire not to have to waste more time in the rain, I couldn't pay that much!  So we found Meliya's new backpack which was on the list and checked out.  Thankfully, the rain had taken a break from chasing us and decided to chase someone else by the time we came out.  We got in the car again and headed north. 

Groceries or office supply?  Groceries or office supply?  Well, since the exit I needed to take to get to the grocery store was being ambushed by more storm showers, I thought why not?  I went on to the office supply store.  So bye bye home and grocery store even though we are so close, we are off to our third office supply store in an hour!  (Of course, we usually only go to the office supply store once every 12 -18 months!)  Thankfully, we out ran the rain and were able to get what we needed and back in the car before anymore raindrops decided to dive bomb my head!  Of course, we got to experience the lightning and thunder that set off the car alarms around us while we were strapping in to leave!  How exciting!

God was gracious enough to let the rain go away as we get to the grocery store.  We managed to get inside and start shopping without any major issues....until...yes, that's right!  A potty emergency!  Of course we are in the middle of the vegetable section and I am just too worn out from dragging them all around this morning in the rain to have to haul everyone into the bathroom at the front of the store.  "Sorry, Caillyn, you are just going to have to hold it!"  We quickly get the items on our list.  As I'm trying to move to the next department to get the rest of our list checked off, I hear something dreaded.  "Uh Oh!"  Yep, Caillyn is standing in a puddle of pee in the middle of the veggie section!

By this point, I was whipped.  I felt like I had taken a shower with my clothes on in order to go to the store, and then she decided to use the floor as her toilet.  What do you do?  Something I never thought I would!  I looked at her and said, "There's nothing I can do for you now.  Let's go."  With that I turn the cart to the aisles where I could find the things on my list.  Yes, I walked away and left a puddle of pee on the floor!  I hang my head in shame but I just couldn't handle it!  I looked back to call the girls to come with me and watch Caillyn leave wet footprints as she dutifully follows me. 

We managed to finish our grocery list as Bryleigh decides to leave a present in her diaper.  Then, while checking out, decides that it is not good enough to sit there quietly and wait to go home patiently.  No, she decided to scream loudly enough for all to hear just to let them know she had done a big job and needed a clean diaper!

Normally, I would decline help out to the car and take the groceries myself.  However, today I gladly accepted the sacker's gracious help in getting the groceries into the car as I got everyone loaded so that we could get home quickly!

Now home, we are enjoying rain free weather...and if you were wondering, yes, everyone is now clean!  I hope your day was a little more enjoyable than mine!!  Happy Tuesday!

Animals can be so silly!

It's been a busy morning this morning.  As I tried hard to clean the house as quickly as possible, of course there were many distractions with the girls around.  However, the funniest had to be our newest member of the family, Samson.  He is a 60 lb yellow lab puppy.  He may be large, but he is still a puppy at heart.  He is also very skiddish.  Whatever life he lived before becoming our dog a month ago left him very jumpy when it comes to loud noises.

This morning, I start to vacuum in our room since Bryleigh went down for a nap on the other side of the house.  Of course, Samson does NOT like the vacuum cleaner.  When I was setting up the vacuum cleaner by the door, he ran over to the other side of our bed and hid.  All I could see was his head peek over our bed to see what I was doing.  Mind you, there is no escaping the room over there except to bust through the window.  Knowing he was going to panic because I was going to have to vacuum where he was, I got him to get out of the room before I turned on the vacuum.  He ran like he was about to be bit in the rear past the vacuum. 

As I was vacuuming, the girls started running in and out of the room playing.  Well, apparently Samson got so excited about them running around, he forgot I was vacuuming.  He ran in and then realized the vacuum was running.  Instead of turning around and leaving the room by the way he just entered safely, he decided to take a more interesting route...over the bed.  Yes, he jumped over the bed to trap himself by the window again.  When I yelled at him, what did he do?  Yes, you guessed it!  He jumped over the bed again to run out the door!  Crazy dog!  If he had just stayed out in the first place, he wouldn't have tramatized himself!

I didn't realize it was possible, but Samson can jump from the floor on one side of the bed to the other while only touching the bed in between once.  Quite and amusing, all be it inappropriate, sight!!

Having a teeter-totter type day

On Friday, I decided to do the impossible...shop with all 3 of my little girls on Tax Free Weekend!  I know, you think I'm crazy.  However, there was no other option considering how the week had gone.  We had things to do and they all had to be done Friday.  So with a little anxiety, I headed for the car with my girls and our list in hand.

First, we stopped by Office Depot to drop off some school cards to be laminated for Meliya.  While there, I looked around trying to find the rings we would need to bind them together when they were finished.  Let's just say, I forgot how narrow Office Depot makes their aisles.  The sit-n-stand stroller could barely make it through with all the school supply displays.  Of course, Caillyn and Meliya took advantage of my limited mobility to run all over the store, climb on the office furniture and touch every supply they could find!  ...And no, we did not even find the rings.  I just gave up and left.

So, next stop here we come!  Ulta it is.  I'm trying to look on the positive as I think, "OK, here is a character training opportunity!  Let's work on keeping our hands and bodies under control."  So, we dived into the perfume section as I was looking to replace my old, discontinued perfume.  After going down one aisle and smelling a LOT of really SMELLY perfumes, we were doing OK.  There was a lot of instruction going on reminding Caillyn to stay with the stroller and for both the older girls to not touch but ask me to hold the bottle so they could smell.  And then it happened.  I smelt one of the most repulsive perfume odors ever!  As I'm trying to maintain my composure, I reach up for the coffee bean container to help "cleanse" my smeller.  Yes, it happened...coffee beans EVERYWHERE!  The little plastic cup decided to collapse under my grasp.  The lid popped off and a shower of coffee beans exploded out of the cup like smoothie out of a topless blender.  And the best part...we were right next to the hard working women who were arranging the price tags for the entire perfume section.  They had witnessed our every character building move and then got to see me, the mom, make the huge mess!  As I stood there, dumbfounded, I decided not to shrink away but power through this seemingly sad turn of events.  The girls started helping me pick up coffee beans and I apologized a lot for my oops. 

After the disaster was cleaned up, we kept going to find the elusive perfume.  After going down the last aisle, ready to tie Caillyn to the stroller because of her insatiable need to run around and pick up every bottle she saw, a girl who worked there finally approached me for help.  In 3 minutes flat, she directed me to 2 different perfumes for which I was looking.  Helping me choose the one I would purchase and be done.  I wish she had come up earlier!  So, off to pick out lipstick and checkout! 

As we were standing at the lipstick counter (another 3 minute time frame), Caillyn says those words that make every mom cringe, "I've got to go potty!"  So, off to the potty we run.  We get inside the restroom were I send both girls into each stall to go quickly as I struggle to get the stroller through the door.  Caillyn proceeds to play with the lock on the stall because it was hard to work.  As I tell her not to worry about it but get on the potty and go, it happens.  She tee-tees.  Then, as I'm turned around making sure Bryleigh's feet don't get caught in the door and wipe the lipstick samples off my hand she manages to kick her shoes off and walk around in the HUGE puddle of pee on the floor.  I turn to see what happened and told her to get on the potty (of course not realizing that it was too late).  She then gets on the potty, crying LOUDLY, Bryleigh's screaming because Caillyn scared her and Meliya is talking my ear off over it all.  Yes, this was a low point for me.  All I could think about was how the women in the salon area that watched us go in were hearing everything going on and thinking that CPS should be called!  As I gather the shoes to rinse them off in the sink, I find that Caillyn had dropped part of her dress in the toilet when she climbed on it.  As I'm helping her get off, my 2 pens from my purse decide to leap into the toilet as well.  "Seriously?" I thought.

Now here was a quandary.  I don't have any spare panties or outfit for Caillyn.  I'm more than 15 minutes away from home and haven't finished the errands that HAD to get done that day that were only 5 minutes away...now what? 

Yes, yes...Caillyn went commando with a partially wet dress, wet shoes that had been rinsed in the sink and all of us in a bad mood straight to check-out.  We got in the car and headed for our next stop, Target.  Thankfully, the God of the Universe knew that I would need to go to a place where not only could I buy panties but also a clean dress for her to wear! 

Target proved to be redeeming.  So up comes the teeter totter as Caillyn is confined in the basket with Bryleigh and we try our best to knock off the things on the list quickly!  We manage, thanks be to God, to find panties and a sundress (ON SALE) and head for check-out.  At the car, I strip Caillyn down to redress her and get everyone in to go eat.  By this time, Meliya has put her negotiating skills into high gear.  As she promises that everyone will behave from now on if we go to Jason's Deli, I point the car in that direction with a prayer uttering from deep within my soul, "Lord, help...please!"

Now here is where God is so good!  We went to Jason's Deli, got a great parking spot despite the crowd.  Managed to find a good table.  And ...wait for it...we ALL ate without any bad attitudes or fussing!!!!  Even Bryleigh managed to behave herself!  After we finished eating, we all went to the bathroom too.  And no, there was no potty drama!  Each girl did what they were supposed to do without any unnecessary messes!!!  They were so good, they got to enjoy ice cream cones when we left!

Our last stop of the day, Old Navy.  By this time, it was stifling outside.  So sweaty and tired we head in praying that God will bless this visit so that we can end on a good note.  Thankfully, God is good!  We were able to find everything we needed without too much trouble, although Caillyn was relegated to riding in the stroller with Bryleigh most of the time.  After a long wait at checkout, we managed to get in the car and head home!  Home to naps and rest!  Thank you, Jesus, sweet rest!

So have you had a teeter-totter day lately?  Hopefully no matter how low it seems to get, God has been able to bring you back up with His wonderful (even if it's small) blessings!  Thank you God for small blessings that keep us sane!

Will you stay when the Lord says go?

While listening to the choir sing a song in church a few weeks ago, these thoughts began to swirl in my head.  As the choir sang these words, "I don't want to stand when the Lord says go," I began to think about what that really means.  How easy it is to sing this but how different it is to really put it into practice.  To truly mean these words you must completely trust God - not in the outcome His will brings but in His character.  God's ways are higher than our ways.  If we try and figure out or trust in the outcome, we totally miss that it is God's character that brings comfort and peace not the actual provisions. 

Oh, how He loves us.  Not as a lord directing his subjects but as a father tenderly guiding his children with great care and tenderness.

Trust, what a small word that carries such a heavy calling.  God asks us to trust Him.  We ask our children to trust us.  We ask our friends and loved ones to trust us.  What does that really mean?  I always thought that it meant to just believe a person's word to be true.  However, I am beginning to see that it is much more than that.  To truly trust in God is not to only believe that whatever He brings your way is for your best, but that it is to know, with certainty that God is who He said He is.  Alpha Omega, the Great Shepherd, I AM, Everlasting Father...no matter the name He will never change.  He is pure and holy.  He cannot fail.  He cannot mess up.  He is perfect in every way.  It is in believing this about His character that you can begin to put trust in Him.  If you try to believe based on His works, you are placing conditional trust in Him.  The how's and why's of what He does are truly not our concern - they are His.

If you have had trouble placing full trust in God, shift your focus off of His will and on to His character, for out of His character comes faith, love and acceptance.  Out of His character comes grace and peace.  Out of His character comes salvation!

If you are trying to find peace anywhere else, you will miss the most precious, all encompassing love gift ever given - Jesus.  Only true perfect character would drive the Son of the Most High God to the cross to die the most excruciating death possible without any other reason that to give us the OPTION of life over death.  He didn't have to do it.  He wasn't guaranteed our acceptance of His offer.  He loved us enough to hope we would love Him enough to choose to believe His sacrifice would bring us salvation.  WOW!  Thank you Lord for loving us in this way!  May I trust in Your character despite what my circumstances bring!

Choose This Day Whom You will Serve...

As Dave and I work hard with Meliya on this concept of choosing to serve God through her behavior, this thought occurs to me.  Have I chosen this day whom I will serve?  I realize that as we are teaching Meliya to actively choose whom she will serve, not on a day-by-day basis but on a minute-to-minute basis, that we as parents must actively make that choice as well.  I've recounted my day from getting up and getting ready, going through the daily grind on getting everyone fed and things cleaned up, discipline surprises, toy tornadoes, and nap time procrastination.  I have not had an actual thought about whom I am serving today.  You could say that my frustration through some of these things demonstrates I'm serving myself.  You could also say that doing so much for my children is serving them.  However, have I consciously made that decision on whom I will serve today?  Or, by passive indecision, have I decided? 

My actions and my attitude may not be riddled with ugliness but are they serving God?  If I haven't actively chosen to serve God, then what are my other choices?  One might say the world, others or self.  But are those truly options or excuses?  For me, I think the only options are God or Satan.  If we are not serving God, we are against Him.  This means as we coast through life looking for what we want or what is easy, Satan is benefiting from our distractions.  We can't focus on God's will or be used by Him if we aren't actively serving Him.  If by not actively pursuing God I am serving Satan with my wonder through my day mindset, then my passivity is making my choice for me.  So then, if my only choices are God or Satan, do I dare let passivity make my choice for me?  I would hope not.  For anyone who would sacrifice His only Son, a deity lowering Himself to become man, in order to give me the opportunity of life over death, He is worth serving.  Have you made your conscious choice today?

Screaming fits

As I sit here listening to my oldest, Meliya, throw a massive hissy fit because she's in time-out for wanting to do what she wants and not obeying us, my mind wanders to how we behave with God when we don't get our way.  In Meliya's case, she screams and kicks, shouting how "it's not fair!" and "I want to..."  I, as mom, think, "Too bad, it's not about what you want.  You are going to learn to obey and play nicely."

How many times has God placed me in a "time-out" in my life because I wanted what I wanted whether it was wanting my life to go this way, getting that, or having this?  Whatever the case may have been, it always seemed to start with an "I want..."  Has God been shaking His head at me letting me scream and kick thinking, "You will learn"  while I try my best to be stubborn? 

I let Meliya cool off and stew on her behavior before I allow her back with the family so that her behavior will change.  Sometimes that takes a long time because she's stubborn like her momma.  How many times has my waiting been extended because I was too stubborn to change?  How many times have I been put back in time-out because I tried to sneak out and cut it short as Meliya often does?  How many times do I fake the change just so that I can get out and return back to my world as Meliya sometimes does?

How am I supposed to expect my daughter to yield to my direction out of love, respect, and trust, if I can't do the same with my Father?  As I pray for a heart of openness and trust with Meliya, I must first be open and trust God.  Oh how parenting can be such a HUGE teaching tool for God in molding us adults into being better children of the Almighty God!

When God speaks, do we sit and listen?

While at church on Sunday singing some wonderful praise songs, God decided to speak so loudly that I had to sit and write it down.  What amazing things God can tell us if we just bother to sit and listen.  

It all started around this time last week.  A thought started rolling around in my head provoked by a song I heard on the radio about God's faithfulness.  I thought about it a little, and then let it pass.  Saturday, the same thing happened.  Again, I thought about it a little and let it pass.  Well apparently, on Sunday, God did not want me to let it pass anymore.  This time He made it such an ever present thought that the only way to continue on in the day was to sit and write it down.  I've mulled over it many times this week and thought you might like to know what this noggin has been pondering.  I hope it helps you in your walk with Christ as it has mine.  Here is what God was telling me.

God promised to send a king to save His people, Israel.  Jesus came.  He promised He would die and be resurrected from the dead in three days.  The tomb is empty - He did.  He promised to care for His children (Jeremiah 29:11).  He has taken care of us even when the world said there was no hope.  He promised to provide (Matthew 6:25-34) for our basic needs.  He has through many creative means.  He promised to be our living water (John 4:10).  He has rejuvenated us though we were very parched in spirit.

How many promises must He make and fulfill before we start to believe Him?  When will we release our lives and ourselves completely into His hands?  Is it when He does things like we think they should be done.  No, instead He brings us to a point of complete free fall from our own comforts - wealth, possessions, health, knowledge, understanding...  All that is left is to trust His promises because He has taken everything else away.  God tends to answer our prayers for faith by giving us an opportunity to practice faith instead of just giving us a faith that provides peace.

Just as we teach our children how to do things by practicing it over and over, God teaches us.  Why do we expect our Heavenly Father to teach us in a different way than we ourselves must teach our children?  Just as we tell our children to, "Trust me!"  We too must just trust Him!  Job 2:10, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

All of this is a firm foundation for which God has been moving in my heart this week through my bible study class.  While journeying through the bible study One in a million by Priscilla Shrier, I was hit smack between the eyes by something she said.  As she was talking about Israel's 40 year journey in the wilderness after escaping Egypt, she mentioned this, "The wilderness is designed to reveal whether we really want God or if we just want to 'get out of town' and to Canaan as soon as possible.  He is interested in knowing if we've submitted to the wilderness only to receive the rewards that come with Canaan or if we truly desire Him more than anything...even the rewards."

As I've sat and pondered these things, I've realized that I've enjoyed my walk with the Lord getting stronger but not because I craved intimacy with the Almighty.  Instead, it was because I subconsciously knew that with that intimacy there would be an end to the wilderness of unemployment and financial uncertainty.  What a devastating blow to my ego to realize that I had missed the mark once again when I was sure I was hitting it head on!  

I can't say that Dave and I are completely reformed.  Replacing old bad habits with new healthy ones takes time.  I do hope and pray that this part of the wilderness journey is short.  However, I also know that no matter how long it is, it will be worth the hard work to cozy up to God - the God of awesome power, complete purity, and overwhelming love for me!

Here we go again

After 7 months of unemployment, we rejoiced when Dave got a new job last March.  It was a great shock this morning when Dave was let go again after only 3 months.  What to say?  We are completely shocked.  

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Thank you Lord for your promises that never fail.  May we glorify You through this.

When the kids are silent....WATCH OUT!

Two weeks ago, we were recovering from a whirlwind of activity.  We had celebrated Meliya turning 5 with 3 parties: her friend party, a family party in Houston, and another family party in the Dallas area.  All of which happened in 2 weeks with Easter, Dave's birthday, and Dave working late every night the week we left for Dallas.  Needless to say, when we got home I was pooped and so were the kids.  The great news was that we had a blast each step of the way and the kids enjoyed several days of going to bed early (actually sleeping and not getting in trouble for a hour or more!) and staying asleep until morning!  However, with everyone being tired our behaviors weren't as stellar as they should have been.  This is what happened when Mommy was busy taking care of chores...

While I was busy cleaning a bathroom or something Mommy related, Caillyn found the Easter stamp Rue had given her for Easter.  She decided it was lipstick and wanted to maker her lips nice and rosy...  I need to teach her where her lips are apparently.  Of course this was after she was coloring and got bored with the paper (note her left arm).

This was minor I know.  I decided to find the humor in her exploration and take a picture instead of get upset.  However, the next day wasn't quite so funny at the time.  My little mischievous one decided to explore in Mommy's bathroom.  Little did I know that she was going to be really creative...

No, I did not cut her hair like that.  Yes, she thought she could be her own hairdresser like Mommy.  Here she is demonstrating her new hair cut.  Thankfully it was just adding "texture" and bangs instead of some of the other horror stories I've heard from friends.  I tried to put it up into pigtails but what can you do with crooked bangs?  She was very proud of herself!  

Since staying inside wasn't helping her behavior, we went outside.  She enjoys playing with, I mean in, sidewalk chalk too...

After this, I went inside because Bryleigh was calling, but they decided to stay outside with their "homework."  Meliya had her paper and pens and was trying to teach Caillyn like a proper teacher would...or so I thought.  Later after they came in and changed clothes, I saw this...

Apparently, they decided to practice handwriting on their legs instead of paper.  

Although it was a very tiring week with many reminders of what is proper behavior, I am so incredibly thankful that this was the worst of their angst!  Here are the partners in crime...

So that I don't leave anyone out, here is our future mischief maker...

She's already plotting, I can tell!

When God moves...

When God moves, He moves!  When Dave called me on his way home from receiving his layoff notice last August, I was devastated.  Not only was it a blow to our egos, but where on earth were we going to get the money to pay our bills and have a baby?  Didn't God know that it was expensive to have a baby?! 

For the last 6 1/2 months, God has told us to wait...wait on Him.  We have dutifully waited with all the faith and trust we could muster knowing that our God would not leave us.  Two weeks ago, we were excited believing the waiting had ended with an impending offer.  However, we were deflated when the offer failed to materialize, and we were left back at square one.  For the last 2 1/2 weeks, we have been believing God would provide in His time and waiting for that time to come.  We didn't expect it to come seemingly out of left field.

As of lunchtime today, Dave has accepted an offer with a great company.  
*****!!!!! YEAH!!!!!***** (lots of screaming, dancing, clapping and praising!!!)


It was the offer we were waiting on a few weeks ago.  However, God wasn't done working to get it ready for us until today.  As of Friday, we were under the impression that they were still interested but movement would be unlikely.  However, we learned late last night that communications were scheduled for this morning.  We had a verbal offer by 8 am today!  

It seems like poetic justice that God would not just orchestrate Dave's layoff in such an unexpected, dramatic manner but also the new job's offer in the same way!  We are completely humbled and beside ourselves with joy as God has seen fit to close this chapter of our lives and open a new one.  

Starting Monday, this new chapter will begin.  It will be an adjustment for us all as we here at home get used to Daddy only being home after dinner during the week and on the weekends.  It will also be an adjustment to Dave as he puts his professional hat back on while leaving us at home.  Please continue to pray for us through this transition.

For everyone that has offered us help whether it be physical, monetary, or by way of prayer, we give you a heart felt thank you!  Words cannot fully illustrate how much we appreciate your loving us during this time.  We definitely would not have made it through without such overwhelming support!  God's love has been demonstrated to us in such a mighty way through this entire experience.  I'm glad we were able to grow in our faith during this time.  It has been rough, but God has been more than gracious to see us through!

 

How deep does your faith go, really?

When times get hard, where do you turn?  Of course for us it is to God.  However, I'm not looking for a church answer.  I'm looking for that deep in your gut, reflex type of response answer.  Over the last five weeks, Dave and I have ridden a roller coaster of emotions.  We've been up, down and spinning around as God has chosen to keep us off balance during this time of waiting for Dave to get a new job.  The old adage, "kick him while he's down" comes to mind.

Meliya and Caillyn have finally gotten well enough to go back to school and church.  It's been three weeks of coughing and congestion.  Bryleigh, now 3 months old, is still struggling with it.  Hopefully, one more week will be all she will need to put this behind her.  For someone who doesn't use a lot of strong chemicals in the house, I've taken to spraying Lysol on everything they touch so that we can kick the snot monster to the curb.  This winter season has been particularly bad for all of us.  I'm ready for normalcy and NO MORE TISSUES!

Dave interviewed for a job with a promising company three times over the last five weeks.  On the third meeting, he met the team and was well received.  We were told that they were recommending to go forward with an offer for him.  Two weeks later we received word that because of some internal movement, they don't know if they have a position for him even though they like him.  I can honestly say that after such a wonderful interviewing experience, we were riding high on the hope that the offer would come through as expected.  Unfortunately, God had different plans.  Instead of celebrating Dave's new job last week, he is starting from scratch in his search again.  It has been six months of unemployment.  We are ready to move past this, but apparently God isn't ready to let us yet.

This brings me to a thought.  My faith has been strong and unwavering this entire time when nothing looked promising.  When there seemed to be no hope for bills to get paid, God made a way and I was grateful.  Now after we thought the bright light was leading us out of the tunnel, we realize it was merely an illusion.  For such strong faith, you would think it would be easy to just get back to doing what we've done over the last six months, but it isn't.

I still believe God will provide for our every need....don't I?  I think I do.  If I do, then why was I so crushed when the offer didn't come?  I know His promise hasn't changed.  I know my circumstances are the same as they were last week even though I perceived them differently.  After watching the video lesson from Beth Moore's Esther in my bible study a few days ago, I'm beginning to realize the issue.  My faith was more than skin deep, but not deep enough.  You see it penetrated deep enough to be somewhat stable, but not enough to withstand this heavy blow.

I was confronted today with the issue of facing one's fears.  You see, I've always had a deep seeded need for financial security.  It started in college when I had to make sure I had enough money to not only live on but also pay for my tuition and books.  Over the years, it has intensified as our family has grown.  Until today, I did not realize my need for a monetary safety net was actually fear of being dependent on someone else for my provision.  It never dawned on me that this need was causing me to have a conditional faith in God: I believe God can save me if there is enough money in the bank.  Wow...what a revelation!  Thankfully, God will not leave me this way.  Instead, He puts me smack dab in the middle of my deepest fear: financial uncertainty.  Dear Beth was right when she said the only way to break from a stronghold of fear was to confront it with a "then what?" kind of answer.  My fears left me thinking, "then we'll lose everything...we won't make it through this."  Instead, He has demonstrated in a MONUMENTAL way that the real answer is as Beth puts it, "then, MY GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF ME!"  Thank you, Beth for some much needed insight!  What a freedom to be able to let go of that fear and soar like an eagle as Isaiah illustrated in the bible. 

I still want Dave to get a job so that life can return to a routine.  However until He so chooses to provide that way, I will choose to be content in watching Him reveal himself in all the creative ways He has chosen to provide. 

Thank you, Lord for your faithfulness!

Is holding your breath having faith at all?

It has been a while since I've had any time to sit at the computer for more than a few minutes to de-spam my Inbox.  Life has been crazy fast over the last 2 months. 

It's hard to believe but Bryleigh will be 2 months old tomorrow.  After 6 weeks of eating every 1 1/2 to 2 hours, Bryleigh has started to go 2-3 hours between feedings.  Occasionally, she'll surprise me with a 4 or 5 hour span, but usually those are not at night when I need them most.  She has started to play in her bouncer and try to "talk" to anyone who will pay attention to her.  It is so wonderful to watch her develop. 

It's been a rough road these last couple of months.  It's amazing how lack of sleep can really destroy one's ability to be rational and nice.  Dave and I have both had to battle the tired monster that wants to take over our minds and make us breathe fire on anyone who dares to come close.  Of course the girls seem to feed on this giving us ample time for target practice!  However, being tired isn't a good excuse for the girls to misbehave and neither is it for us. 

I'm sad to say that my bible study and prayer time took a back seat to the screaming wails from our hungry baby girl and the need for sleep.  Survival has been the name of the game around here and it's time the game ends. 

My observations from the survival method of parenting:

1. no one is happy unless someone else is crying
2. kind words are those that are said through gritted teeth
3. no amount of rest seems enough to make us feel better
4. everyone starts to behave in a self-seeking way with no regard to anyone else
5. yelling or "stern voices" are mandatory for communication

This is not how I want to live, nor is it something I want my children to accept as normal.  So we are implementing change!  Although I suspect it will take baby steps to accomplish great change, there is no time like the present to start.

In the midst of great chaos, I've started my bible study again.  Although my prayers are uttered between answering questions, shushing a tired baby, and doing chores, it is a start.  My bible study time may not be the quiet, serene experience I would like it to be but it's still time in God's Word that will not go wasted! 

So, is holding your breath during crisis and chaos actually practicing faith?  Is denying the severity of the issue really faith?  These are thoughts that have provoked my mind over the last few days while feeding Bryleigh.  Am I practicing faith that can move mountains if I'm waiting for an answer before I breathe?  If I decide not to "worry" but cast every thought about our situation aside "trusting God will provide" is that really faith or is it denial?

God has provided so wonderfully for our family over the last 5 months with no sustainable income.  He has provided money through so many ways, that it is hard to keep track.  We have been blessed beyond measure.  However, time is taking its toll.  God has allowed our finances to become tight once more creating a humbling of hearts as we wait again to see His provision unfold.  As we receive more hospital bills, I think, "OK, God.  You know what we have and You know what we need.  I'm waiting..." 

As AMAZING as it has been to watch God move in such a mighty way over the last 5 months, Dave and I are ready for a sustainable normal.  Dave has had 2 interviews with a company over the last couple of weeks.  He has a third scheduled next week.  As much as I would love to sit back and say it's OK if this doesn't work out, my heart would not believe it.  He and I are ready for this to be the opportunity for which God has been preparing us.  With the new year, I am ready for a new start.  However, I almost cringe in writing those words because I know that God may have a different plan.  If He wants, a new job may not come for another year...(GULP!) 

As all of these thoughts have loomed in my mind, I heard on the radio a profound thought.  Our citizenship is in heaven.  We are in a foreign land.  Just as soldiers are sent to foreign soil to do a job, so are we.  Amazing how we lose sight of the goal and get comfortable expecting everything to be easy.  Wow...how we are deceived.  It isn't going to be easy, because we are here to do a hard job: be living proof of a loving God to a watching world.  If only these words could penetrate my sleep deprived mind when I start to whine and lose control, maybe then I could behave like a true daughter of the King. 

There is much work to be done...