Stop & Take a Breather

This journal should be called a Blur instead of a Blog. Sometimes I have tried to sit down and reflect on my day or week, and it's such a blur, I can't remember anything worthy of writing. But that's more of a reason for me to make myself do this, right? I could whine about how I've been held captive by the monstrous pile of laundry & dishes, but I guess I need to stop and take a breather.

Looks like I have a little catching up to do, since it's been almost 3 months! This blog is taken from my drafts...I had good intentions, but never finished anything...so it's a compilation blog:)

Thanksgiving: We have so much to be grateful for. At Barry's parents' we went around the room, telling what we were thankful for...the little ones pretty much said FOOD. The teens were all so happy that gas prices had finally dropped. Someone always says "I'm thankful for Jesus." Daniel grinned from ear to ear as Barry shared that he's thankful for our new additions of Candas and Jacob. Our hearts do swell up with gratefulness as we look back and clearly trace God's hand in our lives. Nothing we ever do in life is easy, right? But the journey is rewarding, if we are faithful.

Christmas was a whole different story! We squeezed Ruth & Liz back into the house, and I could almost hear the walls of our house gasping for air as we invited friends for sleepovers. Sweet times! But I have to admit something. There were times I wished we'd lose power for a few days, just to get to stop and talk and play games and burn candles (and batteries). I do long for time to stand still, but I want to choose the moment to freeze! Don't put me in the hospital, or worse, the laundry room, Lord!!! I wanna be sitting on the floor with my family when You give me another hour or two.

The holidays went too quickly, in many ways. But, well, there's always a but, isn't there? When I only had small children, people said things like, "Oh, you love kids? Just wait til they're teens. Then you'll think again." Well, I happen to love teens. So I wasn't totally shocked when we started having a few teens. But no one prepared me for the day when the adult children came home for the holidays. No one told me that I would grow insecure and inept as I listened to their debates and, well, er, arguments. I'm sure that every discussion they had was of utmost importance to them, but I was ready to forgive and forget before the first cross words was uttered. I do not like confrontation. I do not like it at all. I do not like it once and for all!

Next year, I will be away for the holidays. Possibly alone. Possibly in a far away place. But more likely in a corner of my house, wishing I had power over the tongue (and tongues!!!) Ha! Oh, by the way, if you'd tried to warn me that there would be challenges with grown kids, I would have said in my heart, "I just so happen to love adults!" I guess this love walks softly and carries a big stick. Haha.

We had a grand time with Barry's family on Christmas, then headed out to the Wallace gathering the next day. Barry & I usually plan the meal and buy the food for the crowd (don't worry...they pay us back). Never a dull moment, shopping for about 60 people. Oh, and the in-laws seem to get along the best, so we let them cook while us siblings sit around and play cards (or shop for last minute gifts, or stuff a pinata!!!). Nothing like traditions, right?

Then Michael's bday came. He's easy to please...just had some guys over for airsoft wars. He was my biggest baby (12lbs 12 oz) but has never been a very big kid...now he tells me he wants to be in wrestling this fall. Hmmm. What goes around, comes around!

Then Ruth's bday. Ruth brings me such joy. She's 19 now. Where does the time go? People tried to warn me about how fast the kids would grow, but I didn't appreciate that advice. Seems the days dragged by at the time. Sometimes it really stood still.

Ruth was a beautiful china doll baby, weighing in at a healthy 8 lbs 15 oz. She was born on a Sunday morning between Sunday School and the Worship Service (yes, we were at the hospital, but remember calling the pastor so he could announce her safe arrival). Anyways, she went to NYC after her birthday. Had a great time. But the day she was supposed to come home, the weather in Chicago bumped her flight. It turned out to be the same time that the Hudson River Miracle happened. I was just glad she wasn't in the air that day. Good for a mother's heart, to know that she was sitting in her hotel room with her friends, not at the airport, fearful, waiting to hear about the cause of the emergency landing.

I wrote a song about Ruth last year, as she graduated from high school. Not sure whether I shared it... here's the link... http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6878487

Now it's February, which has been filled with YUCK around here. So tired of illnesses. But everyone is in school today, so I guess we're making some headway!

There's so much more to say...maybe tomorrow (more likely, next month???)

Oh, I have to add that I'm in a health program at church. The Bible study this week is centered around Hebrews 12. I'm stuck on v1, which says to "run with perseverance" and "throw off the things that hinder us." That is so hard for me. I'm finding that I like my baggage. Yes, I know I shouldn't. God is dealing with me about that. Last time I ran was in high school, and that was only because my brother, Randy, was in track. He "made" me run with him. And it wasn't a pretty sight. It didn't take long for me to get resourceful: if I tied my shoestrings really, really loose, I could stop and take a breather!

There's something wrong with me!!! But wait, isn't resourcefulness a character quality?