Is there anything better??

One of the best things about home schooling my children is being with them 24/7.  It gives you so many opportunities to work on your relationships, disciple them in The Lord, and hear them say the funniest things.   

Take for example, the time that one dear daughter came crying to me because she hurt her foot.   As I looked for signs of injury, I could find none so inquired as to where it hurt......"The one that had roast beef."   Well, then, let's give that roast beef eating toe a kiss and see if the pain goes away (so that I can go call Dad and tell him that funny story). 

Or how about the time I went to answer the door during lunch, and came back to inform my sweet children that there was a back bone on the front yard (remember, we do live on a cattle ranch with dogs that think dragging bones and other items on to the yard is their sworn duty).   My little guy hopped up from his seat, and with complete shock and sincerity proclaimed, "Well, it isn't MINE!!"

Children are a blessing, and they bring so much joy and entertainment.   They also bring their own level of frustrations and struggles, and I often found it easier to focus on the trouble and work that they can be instead of seeing the beauty of what they have to offer.   True, there is something so frustrating about cleaning, cleaning, cleaning all day to discover that your dear child just walked through and dumped a muddy rock on the nicely polished furniture, and as you are in the most dramatic display of your frustrations, you hear your sweet child tell you, "But, Mommy, I'm pretty sure it's a dinosaur fossil."   What are you supposed to say then??  Is mud really that bad when fossil hunting?   I think not, but that's easy to say when years have passed.

I remember the first time I fixed the COMPLETE (and yes, I do mean COMPLETE) Thanksgiving meal for both sets of parents.   I had slaved worked diligently for days and days preparing pies, homemade rolls, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, dressing, turkey, ham, side dishes, veggie trays.....you name it, we had it, or at least pretty close to it.   Our table was laden with all these wonderful creations.   I was exhausted from the work, and around my wonderful decorated table sat the people I  wanted to impress with my culinary skills loved.  My husband praised GOD for HIS bounty, and as soon as all eyes came up, my dear 3 year old son asked, "Mommy, can I have a peanut butter roll up?"   (Please note that the above mentioned child is still in our family due to the speed of my husband's response and ability to remove him from the dangerous situation that comment created.....and no, he did NOT get a peanut butter roll up).

Then, what about all the time I spent sewing up beautiful, frilly dresses for my girls.   Of course, those types of gifts can't be created while the child is awake, so I would stay up until the wee hours of the night sewing, fluffing, ironing, accessorizing, all for my precious, sweet daughters.   Then, the first Sunday after Christmas, what do they want to wear to church (and their daddy allowed)??   Their dress up clothes - bright yellow material with red, blue, and green stripes, zig zags, and circles, along with a blue laced shirt quickly stitched together as an after thought, and to complete the outfit, bright red stockings with pink shoes!   It doesn't get any snazzier than that, and I'm pretty sure it would have been outlawed in most states.   I happened to be playing the piano for church that Sunday, so we went in two separate vehicles that day as Dad brought the darlings to the second service.   I can still remember playing away that day, turning my head as the door opened, and in walked my two precious princesses in their get ups.......how I ever kept playing without missing a beat is beyond me.   The best part of that story, though, is that we remember it and laugh and laugh and laugh.   Somewhere, I'm sure I have a picture buried away that will rise to the top of the list of pictures to show their own precious daughters one day.

OK.  OK.   Those are the challenging moments of parenting.  The moments where you wonder why you do all the things that you do.   The effort into fixing a meal or creating designer clothing, all to have it tossed aside for something......well.....just tossed aside without one single thought or care about how it might come across to you, the Momma.   That's when I would be reminded of that beautiful verse, Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men."  

GOD cared about that meal that was prepared, even if my motives might have been a little prideful, HE still took note of the blessing it did bring our family.   GOD noticed each detail and stitch that was made in those dresses, and HE was probably the only one that knew how much love was poured into each item.   I am so grateful for that verse as it spurred me on more than once to do all the things I did for my family, because I was ultimately doing them for HIM.   HE noticed when they might not have.   HE saw all the details and efforts that went on behind the scenes to keep our home running somewhat smoothly.  HE was awake with me while I rocked them through an illness or time of teething.   I did it for HIM, and in so doing, it poured out on those precious gifts as well.  

Psalm 127:3a says, "Behold, children are a GIFT of the LORD."  Yes, they are, and this picture pretty much sums up my feelings for my four gifts.   

Need some strength and courage right now......

I saw this beautiful quote recently......

I could not have said it better.   I need the strength and courage and sense of humor to survive without my dear daughters right now.   I am surrounded by men!!!   Now, don't get me wrong, I love the men in my life......but I've been blessed to be able to counter that testosterone with the dear daughters GOD blessed me with in my family.   However, since they chose to abandon me to spend two weeks helping another friend in California, I've felt quite alone.....

So what have I learned?   I've learned I don't need the table so big......but the quantity of food required seems to remain the same (amazing how those boys will eat until it's gone, regardless of how much is fixed!)

I've learned that all activities require sound effects.   I've known this from day one, but I don't think I've noticed how MUCH sound effect was required to watch a "guy" movie.

I've learned that they take forever to complete a cooking task.   We laugh that our guys are so focused on only one thing at a time, and I miss the multi-tasking capabilities of my dear daughters in the kitchen.   Two times my guys have fixed the meal completely without my help (pretty good for only having the girls gone for 4 days!!), but.......I have been nearly starved by the time it was finished.   I realize I must teach them complete casseroles if they will ever be of any help to their wives one day, and if not, I will pray that their wives appreciate their heartfelt desire rather than the quickness of the meal.

I've learned that boys can talk just as much as girls if given the right topic.   We've enjoyed some wonderful conversations without sisters here.  Not sure why, but I suspect I'm too comfortable with the topics the girls and I love and can jump right into discussing.   I know it takes sooooo much longer with my sons, but I don't think I've taken the time necessary the past few years.   Let me explain.   If I am going on a four hour trip with either daughter, I can guarantee we will jumped into our first conversation before we even hit the pavement.   Not so with my boys.   I went on a four hour trip with one son not too long ago.   It took 2 hours and 45 minutes before we were finally able to get into a deep conversation.   It was fabulous, thought provoking, insightful, heartfelt, tender, loving, just wonderful!!!........but it took 2 hours and 45 minutes to start and ended in about 25 minutes.   Then, we moved on to knives.   I needed this reminder that it just takes more time for these deep conversations with my boys.

I've learned that I'm treasured.   I have had three men opening doors, helping me lift things, killing snakes, hugging me, and I'm loving every minute of it.   I know they do this on a regular basis, but I think it's been spread out over three women, so I haven't had it in this kind of abundance.........and I like it!!

I've learned that when my daughters do leave home, I will survive.   I've always joked about how awful it will be when I'm the only female in the house, but I see things a bit differently now.   I am already learning that it will be a blessing to be the only female in the house.   I needed to see my sons for the men they've become and the treasures they are to me, not just to their dad.   They are wonderful help for him, but I am beginning to see them much differently as I have them, and only them, around the house.   I am going to do just fine when my girls leave.

I've learned that I really don't have two sons.   Instead, I'm seeing that I have two more wonderful friends, and I like it very much!!