Babies, Brownies and Blessings

As my recent grumblings indicate, I'm a little low on sleep and patience. What mom parent isn't? Our challenges may be unique, but the cumulative result of exhaustion and shortness that we all experience when raising children gives us a common understanding. SteroidBoy (BigBoy #2) was up for a couple hours during the night. Happy but a bit too hopped up to sleep. I was wishing I was hopped up, too, as long as I was up. By the time morning came my husband knew my need and jumped out of bed before I could fuss my way out. Delighted, I sleepily burrowed in and snoozed another couple hours. I woke refreshed but still ready to get out of the house...alone. Since we're always in need of some sort of food, I volunteered to get groceries. I ran  headed out to the van, sat in the quiet and delighted in having my own space. Deep breath. Eyes closed. Prayer on my lips. Lord, bless this time. Renew my spirit... Cranking Third Day, I pulled out of the driveway, o...

There's been a recurring theme in my reading material lately. Random articles , current Bible study , other blogs ... They've all been intersecting at one point: Speculation. It's a tough subject. It has to do with our thoughts. Where our imaginations lead us. Taking what we know and adding what we think. I don't know about you but what I think isn't always even close to accurate. I send a text to a friend and don't hear back. "Is she busy?" "Did I say something wrong the last time I saw her?" "I'm not really in her league anyway, it wouldn't be surprising if I never hear back..." Now it doesn't matter why she really didn't respond because I think I have it all figured out. And I'm hurt because of it. And feeling a little low on the self-esteem scale. It's not her problem, it's mine. At work we all deal with coworkers and likely some sort of "customer". How easy is it for ...

Most of us wouldn't claim to be lazy. We work hard. Have busy lives. DayPlanners filled with proof of the chaotic pace of our lifestyles. The trouble with lazy is this: It can be masked by busyness. I've noticed lately a few areas where I'm taking the busy way out. The kids want to play a game... I'm too busy lazy. My husband wants a few minutes of uninterrupted time... I'm too busy lazy. There is extra stuff in every room that we don't need... I'm too busy lazy to sort it and get it to Goodwill. It's easier to have stuff to do than do the things you don't want to do. It's hard to put my "to do" list on the back burner. My things are just too important. And I'm too lazy to make the effort sometimes. So I'm trying to be less busy lazy. I'm sitting with my kids more. "Working" on the computer less. I'm taking those few minutes in the morning to love on my husband. And that stuff in the...

I can hardly believe how quickly we zipped through 2010. It was a wonderful, joy-filled year. We were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, the continued health and growth of our boys and we marked the tenth year of our marriage! Claire sporting new clothes from her first Christmas. We ushered in 2011 in true "parents of small children" style. Mindful of the night-time wakings and early risers, we welcomed the new year in a cozy slumber. With fresh sheets for the occassion... I'm not big on New Year's resolutions. I hate to commit to something I know I won't follow through on. So, losing ten pounds and working out every day don't usually make the list. At this point I love Twix too much and take every extra second of sleep I can get in lieu of exercise. One day I might will get back into it... Instead, my goal is organization. It seems life has dumped loads of paperwork, clothes, toys, STUFF into our home and I can't seem to find a place ...