On our trip home from Florida this past December, we made a pit stop at a gas station off I-75. Richard was busy pumping gas so I was given task of taking Micah into the gas station to use the bathroom. I open the door to the women’s restroom and gesture for him to go in. Micah folds his arms across his chest in protest. “Momma, I am five years old and that means that I can go potty in the boy bathroom”. Reluctantly, I agree. He enters the men's restroom, puffed up and proud. I wait patiently outside in the hall.
A few minutes later a nice looking man in a business suit comes toward the restrooms. I point to the men's room (as if to give him permission to enter) and tell him I am waiting on my son. The man attempts to open the door. It is locked. I knock on the door and I hear Micah from inside, "I am not done." I tell him, "Micah, there is a man out here who needs to use the restroom!" I turn my attention to the man. "I am sorry sir." The man shakes his head politely, "It is ok." I turn back and through gritted teeth say to the door, "MICAH, unlock this door." As the door begins to open, I expect to see Micah emerge. When he doesn't, I quickly peek inside before the door swings shut. I see Micah's pants and shoes sitting aligned on the floor of the stall.
I begin to get nervous. I stand as close to the door as I can, without invading this business man's privacy. There is a fine balance between providing privacy to a stranger and protecting my child from bathroom sexual predators. I have watched those Dateline shows. I know! :) So, I hear the toilet flush. I step back from the door and act non-chalant; whistling a Christmas tune.
The business man walks out and we exchange polite smiles. I then open the men's room door just a crack and loudly whisper, "Micah, what is taking so long!?!" Micah yells, "I AM POOPING!!!" I feel all of the blood rush to my face as everyone in the gas station turns in my direction. I smile meekly and wave.
Next, another guy heads my way in need of the facilities. He is wearing cowboy boots, a camoflauge shirt, and huge belt buckle is squeezed in between his beer belly and his jeans. I quickly and discreetly try to size him up as my eyes glance from his scraggly beard to his greased stain hands, evidence of a hard days work. I flash a fake smile as he enters the restroom and mutter to myself, "Don't you dare touch my son." This modern day cross between Dog the Bounty Hunter and Charlie Daniels leaves and I again inquire through closed door of my son's progress. "Still working on it", I am told.
I go back to stand guard as the potty police when an African American male approaches. He looks at me quizically as he opens the door. He sees the little pants and shoes peeking out from under the stall and says, "Oh, you are waiting for him?" "Yes", I reply. "Now, hurry up dude", I think to myself, "so I can stop worrying about my baby."
At least I am an equal opportunity worrier. I am probably more untrusting than most mothers, given the job that I do. I have seen and heard too many things.
So, anyway, I continue to wait. The third man emerges from the restroom and goes about his day. May I make a note here that none of these men washed their hands!??! GROSS!!!
Finally, I hear Micah call me from the bowels of the gas station bathroom. "MOMMA?" I crack the door open - "Yes sweetie?"
"WILL YOU WIPE MY BUTT???"
There is a price to independence, as Micah quickly learned that day. If you are big boy enough to go into the men's bathroom, you are big boy enough to wipe your own butt!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Hmmm...I started this blog posting in 12/09.
I haven't written in awhile. I guess because I rarely have anything uplifting to say. Who wants to read a blog about someone's personal struggles and heartaches? Apparently, I do as I have been particularly drawn to reading memoirs as opposed to novels this year.
I digress. I think it is awfully pathetic that I started to blog last year about "Things that Lift Me Up" and within 12 months I came up with 29 things. I couldn't even get it to a nice round number. So much for my effort to be positive and thankful.
The truth is...I really do have a lot to be thankful for - I just don't have it all documented. As we say in the biz..."If you didn't document it, it didn't happen".
__________________________________________________________________________
Three months later:
I am finally in a place where I can document it, but where do I start? So much has happened in the past six months. When I wrote the prior entry I was slipping to the end of my rope. At least it seemed like it at the time. I was a complete mess. When I look back, I can see God's handprint all over my life.
I wrote earlier about Micah's rough entry into the world of kindergarten. From August to December, he had been suspended four times. Richard and I went to work every day just waiting for the phone call: "Come get him". The poor kid. Nightmares were a common occurence. He was frustrated, angry, depressed...and he had no idea how to express it, other than through aggression.
Richard and I were heartbroken and at an utter loss as to what we needed to do to help him. The school basically told us we needed to put him on medication or they would look at putting him at the alternative school. We already had him in play therapy and really did not want to put him on medication...but, the aggression was still out of control and we were willing to try anything.
Meanwhile, he gets his report card. At the bottom it shows the number of days absent and the number of times tardy. The principal circles the days absent and writes "IMPROVE!!!". She then tells Micah that if he misses too many days of school his mommy and daddy will have to go to court and talk to the judge about it. Seriously???? You are going to report ME to truancy team/juvenile court because YOU have suspended my FIVE year old on FOUR occasions in FIVE months?
Knowing this part of the story, you have a better understanding of the state of mind I was in when I wrote the earlier entry!
We get back from a wonderful Christmas break and Micah goes back to school. At this point, Micah was on medication and the aggression had lessened considerably. He has always wanted Richard to walk him to his class and on this particular day he had a hard time letting go. Could it have something to do with the fact that he had just spent every single day the prior two and a half weeks with his parents!??! Although the day started out rough, he made it through without a suspension. WHEW!
The following day, Richard was walking him to class and the principal stops them in the hall. She takes Micah by the hand and says, "I will walk you to class. Your daddy needs to get to work". At lunch, I get a phone call from the principal - "We need to brainstorm ways to lessen Micah's separation anxiety". See, Richard walking him to class has always been a bone of contention with the school. They were constantly telling us we needed to just drop him off at the curb and go. Which is fine for most kids...but not for my little anxious boy. Besides, I highly doubt his daddy is going to be holding his hand, walking him to class in the 8th grade! As I listened to the principal talk, I could feel my blood rise into my throat, start to boil and begin to seep out through my tear ducts. I was livid! (I cry when I am angry. Yep. The more I try to stop crying - the more I cry...which makes me mad...which makes me cry more.)
We were at a crossroads and it was time. Time to take a different route. Richard and I talked that afternoon and I called Unity Christian School to make an appointment to tour the school. God took that first step of faith and ran with it. We toured the school and met with the principal on a Monday. As we talked with the principal and explained Micah's situation I thought, "Finally, someone understands"and I could feel a weight lift off of me.
When we turned in the application to the school to enroll both of the boys at Unity (Noah is there now too) I had not even looked at the budget to see if we could afford it. I just knew that God had ordered our steps and He would be faithful to provide....and did He ever! We were supplied with all of their uniforms for this year at no cost or at a very minimal cost. And the best payoff is that my children love school!
I have had several people ask me how Micah is doing in school since the switch. When I tell them how great it has been, some have replied with something along the lines of "Of course, they have to put up with him, you are paying them to." I was worried I would feel that way too. Like the teachers and staff were just paying me lip service, but these folks are not just going through the motions. They love teaching, they love the Lord and they love my children! Micah has had two moments where he got in trouble, but no major meltdowns like before. One of the days, Richard and I received an email from his teacher. It said - here is what he did, I put him in timeout, we talked about the incident, I told him I love him, we prayed together and I sent him back to his activity. What a novel concept: discipline paired with grace!
Things have not been a bed of roses these last three months, but they are much more peaceful. There has been so much confirmation for us that we made the right decision. Micah is reading, he is learning to play the guitar (another story for another time), and he is loving school (most days!) I hope we were able to salvage the horrible first impression he got of school - he has a long educational road ahead.
As for Noah, well...he is the funniest thing since The Flinstones. He has to constantly be reminded to turn on his "listening ears", he is mouthy and he tells the most insane stories, but he has a heart for God and a heart for others.
For a synopsis on the other news in our lives that did not make the front page but should have:
- Richard is finishing up his Bachelors and will graduate from Shorter College in May 2010! WOOT WOOT!
- We joined West Rome Baptist Church and I was baptized (dunked - Micah was worried the pastor wouldn't pull me back up once he dunked me!) - we love our church. We are starting to get involved in a small group and we are taking the SHAPE class (more on all that later).
- Richard has had some ups and downs in his job but he has persevered. My job - well, it is a constant rollercoaster but we finalized 62 adoptions in 2009!
So, there you have it...the past six months. Wow, what a journey! #30 - #100 (or more) THINGS THAT I LIFT ME UP - painful experiences that shape who we are.
I haven't written in awhile. I guess because I rarely have anything uplifting to say. Who wants to read a blog about someone's personal struggles and heartaches? Apparently, I do as I have been particularly drawn to reading memoirs as opposed to novels this year.
I digress. I think it is awfully pathetic that I started to blog last year about "Things that Lift Me Up" and within 12 months I came up with 29 things. I couldn't even get it to a nice round number. So much for my effort to be positive and thankful.
The truth is...I really do have a lot to be thankful for - I just don't have it all documented. As we say in the biz..."If you didn't document it, it didn't happen".
__________________________________________________________________________
Three months later:
I am finally in a place where I can document it, but where do I start? So much has happened in the past six months. When I wrote the prior entry I was slipping to the end of my rope. At least it seemed like it at the time. I was a complete mess. When I look back, I can see God's handprint all over my life.
I wrote earlier about Micah's rough entry into the world of kindergarten. From August to December, he had been suspended four times. Richard and I went to work every day just waiting for the phone call: "Come get him". The poor kid. Nightmares were a common occurence. He was frustrated, angry, depressed...and he had no idea how to express it, other than through aggression.
Richard and I were heartbroken and at an utter loss as to what we needed to do to help him. The school basically told us we needed to put him on medication or they would look at putting him at the alternative school. We already had him in play therapy and really did not want to put him on medication...but, the aggression was still out of control and we were willing to try anything.
Meanwhile, he gets his report card. At the bottom it shows the number of days absent and the number of times tardy. The principal circles the days absent and writes "IMPROVE!!!". She then tells Micah that if he misses too many days of school his mommy and daddy will have to go to court and talk to the judge about it. Seriously???? You are going to report ME to truancy team/juvenile court because YOU have suspended my FIVE year old on FOUR occasions in FIVE months?
Knowing this part of the story, you have a better understanding of the state of mind I was in when I wrote the earlier entry!
We get back from a wonderful Christmas break and Micah goes back to school. At this point, Micah was on medication and the aggression had lessened considerably. He has always wanted Richard to walk him to his class and on this particular day he had a hard time letting go. Could it have something to do with the fact that he had just spent every single day the prior two and a half weeks with his parents!??! Although the day started out rough, he made it through without a suspension. WHEW!
The following day, Richard was walking him to class and the principal stops them in the hall. She takes Micah by the hand and says, "I will walk you to class. Your daddy needs to get to work". At lunch, I get a phone call from the principal - "We need to brainstorm ways to lessen Micah's separation anxiety". See, Richard walking him to class has always been a bone of contention with the school. They were constantly telling us we needed to just drop him off at the curb and go. Which is fine for most kids...but not for my little anxious boy. Besides, I highly doubt his daddy is going to be holding his hand, walking him to class in the 8th grade! As I listened to the principal talk, I could feel my blood rise into my throat, start to boil and begin to seep out through my tear ducts. I was livid! (I cry when I am angry. Yep. The more I try to stop crying - the more I cry...which makes me mad...which makes me cry more.)
We were at a crossroads and it was time. Time to take a different route. Richard and I talked that afternoon and I called Unity Christian School to make an appointment to tour the school. God took that first step of faith and ran with it. We toured the school and met with the principal on a Monday. As we talked with the principal and explained Micah's situation I thought, "Finally, someone understands"and I could feel a weight lift off of me.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28Micah spent that Wednesday at the school to see how he would do in that setting. The principal called me that afternoon. Of course you know the fear that rose up as I answered the phone and saw it was the school. She said to me, "I am having a really hard time believing this is the same child you told me about." I said, "Well now, he does have a honeymoon period." :) She told me they would love to have him at the school! We celebrated! And would you believe that for the first time since starting kindergarten, he had no nightmares that night! He started school there on Friday.
When we turned in the application to the school to enroll both of the boys at Unity (Noah is there now too) I had not even looked at the budget to see if we could afford it. I just knew that God had ordered our steps and He would be faithful to provide....and did He ever! We were supplied with all of their uniforms for this year at no cost or at a very minimal cost. And the best payoff is that my children love school!
I have had several people ask me how Micah is doing in school since the switch. When I tell them how great it has been, some have replied with something along the lines of "Of course, they have to put up with him, you are paying them to." I was worried I would feel that way too. Like the teachers and staff were just paying me lip service, but these folks are not just going through the motions. They love teaching, they love the Lord and they love my children! Micah has had two moments where he got in trouble, but no major meltdowns like before. One of the days, Richard and I received an email from his teacher. It said - here is what he did, I put him in timeout, we talked about the incident, I told him I love him, we prayed together and I sent him back to his activity. What a novel concept: discipline paired with grace!
Things have not been a bed of roses these last three months, but they are much more peaceful. There has been so much confirmation for us that we made the right decision. Micah is reading, he is learning to play the guitar (another story for another time), and he is loving school (most days!) I hope we were able to salvage the horrible first impression he got of school - he has a long educational road ahead.
As for Noah, well...he is the funniest thing since The Flinstones. He has to constantly be reminded to turn on his "listening ears", he is mouthy and he tells the most insane stories, but he has a heart for God and a heart for others.
For a synopsis on the other news in our lives that did not make the front page but should have:
- Richard is finishing up his Bachelors and will graduate from Shorter College in May 2010! WOOT WOOT!
- We joined West Rome Baptist Church and I was baptized (dunked - Micah was worried the pastor wouldn't pull me back up once he dunked me!) - we love our church. We are starting to get involved in a small group and we are taking the SHAPE class (more on all that later).
- Richard has had some ups and downs in his job but he has persevered. My job - well, it is a constant rollercoaster but we finalized 62 adoptions in 2009!
So, there you have it...the past six months. Wow, what a journey! #30 - #100 (or more) THINGS THAT I LIFT ME UP - painful experiences that shape who we are.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
I'M BAAAACCCCKKKK!!!
I have taken a long sabbatical from blog writing, however, my computer has been calling to me for awhile now. I have submitted to the power of technology...and I am plugged back in. I have been posting many of our life experiences on facebook but many of my friends and family have said that I need to capture these moments somewhere other than facebook. My new goal (which I am not good at keeping up with) is to keep up with my blog and eventually...someday...get it published for my boys. Don't laugh. I am not even trying to say my writing is good enough to publish. But the cool thing about blogs is that you can now get them printed. That is my goal. So, until I can get out a more formal blog update, enjoy a montage of my ramblings from the last several months.
11/1/09 - just saw a kid at CVS buying skittles. Seriously? You are paying money for candy?
11/5/09 - the stress of it all is truly effecting my memory and ability to think clearly.
11/6/09 - might as well have home schooled my child this year....it is pretty much working out that way anyway.
11/8/09 - loves Noah's version of "Polly put the Kettle on" - "Polly put the cantaloupe"....
11/9/09 - thinks SkippyJohn Jones is the funnest book EVER to read out loud!
11/10/09 - rain makes children go CRAZY!!!!!
11/10/09 - is thankful for my veteran who fought in Desert Storm when I was in 7th grade! I love you!
11/13/09 - Micah: a long time ago I wanted a sister but I got a brother and now we're squished. Me: What do you mean you are squished? Micah: We are brothers and I love him so that's why we are squished. ???? :)
11/17/09 - Micah received a punching bag in the mail from his Aunt Terri today. He wants to take it to school but we had to nix that idea. Hopefully he will put it to good use....
11/19/09 - is sad that I missed Micah's Thanksgiving program today. I know he did such a good job as an indian!
11/20/09 - Always conspiring...Micah creates the plan and Noah initiates it.
11/23/09 - let's see if I can translate this via FB: Last night Noah was asleep in our bed while we were watching Glee. He roused for a few seconds, during one of the song and dance numbers...looked at the screen and said, "WHAT THE HECK???" and then went back to sleep. Richard and I laughed so hard!
11/24/09 - can't believe my baby is going to be four years old tomorrow. Where does the time go?
11/25/09 - Noah's 4th birthday has been made absolutely miserable compliments of strep throat and a shot of penicillin in the leg. Poor kiddo! No blue cake tonight....hopefully later in the weekend.
11/25/09 - loves the fact that Micah made his brother a "picture book" for his birthday. I said, "Noah, aren't you going to thank Micah for such a thoughtful gift." Noah said, "no, because a book is not a birthday present." (shaking my head...)
11/26/09 - To all my FB prayer warriors: in the midst of giving thanks for all of your blessings, will you please lift my Micah up to the Lord? I have no words to explain what he needs but I know that as you speak his name in prayer that the Holy Spirit will intercede on his behalf.
11/27/09 - had a great time yesterday at Mawmaw's house. Have a food hangover this morning. Time with Rich's family was wonderful - it has been awhile since had all been together. I love the chaos of five kids (5 and under) running around. I am thankful to have such a big, loving family....all over the United States.
11/29/09 - is recovering from an excrutiating migraine I got last night. Richard drove us home from Acworth and while I puked in a Hobby Lobby bag. What a nightmare!
11/29/09 - What an incredible day! A rockin' worship service, Christmas tree and decorations up without a yearly "Christmas fight" (of course, Christmas isn't here yet) :) - lots of quality time with my boys, fried chicken and mac and cheese for dinner, a fire in the fireplace and smores for dessert! Couldn't ask for more!
12/1/09 - 8 years ago today I married my best friend. The most amazing man I have ever met!
12/2/09 - just made a trip to see Santa so Micah could ask him if he would reinstate our "Elf on the Shelf"'s magic to fly to the north pole each night and tell Santa how the boys are doing because Noah touched the Elf last night - clearly against the rules.
12/3/09 - tonight Micah told me, "Mommy, you make the best hot dogs EVER!" Ahhh, music to a mother's ear...nice to know I am good at something!
12/6/09 - my house is not a home - its a warzone. My exhaustion has seeped into the deepest part of me and I am hanging on by one pinky finger.
12/7/09 - Noah: "mommy, my teacher said that I cannot bring sweet tea to school. She said we can drink milk, or water, or juice." Clarification: it was NOT sweet tea...had NO sugar in it. I admit I am not the best parent in the world...but come on! What kind of a parent do you think I am? ;)
12/8/09 - You tell a few Christmas secrets and you are forever branded a secret teller! I am offended! People can change! ;)
12/10/09 - is feeling nostalgic....reminising about my collegiate days when I was free to sit around in my pajama pants at 3am and fantasize about what I was going to do with the rest of my life.
12/11/09 - Rich just handed me a bag of Mr. Goodbar miniatures and said "here, put these somewhere where the boys can't get to them since they have peanuts." No worries, I know just the place to put them.
12/13/09 - is listening to my four year old preach to his brother about Jonah and the Whale.
12/13/09 - just loves playing "Let's Make a Deal" at the dinner table. Just eat the dang food and be happy about it!
12/14/09 - where is my rotary cutter!!!!!????!!! I have only 10 days until all of my projects MUST be done and I am far from done!
12/14/09 - watched Noah look at his relection in the window tonight and say, "You go that way and I will go this way". I said, "Noah, who are you talking to?" He said, "That boy who is stuck in the window."
12/16/09 - wishes an elf [on the shelf] would sneak into her kitchen tonight and do the dishes.
12/17/09 - yes, it was my child at the school Christmas party who put red cupcake frosting on his nose to look like Rudolph, crammed the entire cupcake in his mouth at one time, and stuck cheetos up his nose. Such a proud momma.
12/20/09 - does not understand the fascination little boys have of walking around with a shirt and no underwear on.
12/21/09 - is cursing the asthma gods....two breathing treatments before 6am for my boys. I am having flashbacks of hospital beds....it better not end that way this time.
12/22/09 - who knew that Christmas cookie cutters and a cup of flour would keep two little boys entertained for so long....
12/22/09 - Noah: "Momma, do we have bullies in this town?" Me: "Yes, honey - unfortunately there are bullies everywhere." Micah: "Well, they are not going to be mean to us because we will just show them some of our sweet ninja moves." I wouldn't trade these conversations for all the money in the world.
12/23/09 - chicken and rice is in the oven, christmas dishes on the table, and my kids are hanging from the rafters...just waiting for the rest of the family to show!
12/24/09 - wonders how many times I am going to be asked "when are we gonna leave for Florida?" and how much longer until we get there?" Ahhh, the joys of Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Birthday Jesus!
12/30/09 - had a great time at the beach today. Yes, you read that right...we went to the beach and my boys actually swam in the water. They are crazy!
1/5/10 - thinks it is totally cruel for the school to slap a CiCi's pizza sticker on my child so that he comes home saying, "But we have to go to Cici's pizza tonight for dinner because there is going to be a party there!"
1/7/10 - LOVE the snow...but don't like the panic people get in for a couple of inches of snow. Snow day tomorrow - don't hate Michigan folks! :)
1/8/10 - my kids have played outside more today with snow and the weather in the twenties then they have all year....hmmm, are they trying to tell me something? :)
1/10/10 - is spending the evening learning to knit. I have figured out how to cast on and I am working on learning the basic stitch. I get a couple of rows into it and then have to pull it apart. I think I will like this once I get the hang of it.
1/10/10 - took my Christmas tree down today. WHAT? Don't look so surprised!
1/11/10 - had a tour at Unity today and loved it! Micah is going to "visit" tomorrow. Praying that God pushes us in the right direction - just want what is best for my kiddos.
1/12/10 - feels so at peace after today. God is so good!
1/14/10 - Words cannot even describe how peaceful our hearts and our home are now...I feel like a weight has been lifted. Praise be to God whose peace passes all understanding!
1/14/10 - Noah: "Momma???? Momma???? Oh, there you are...I thought you were going back to Cali." Richard has been secretly listening to LL Cool J with the kids again! My response to Noah? There is only one - Me: "No, I don't think so." ;)
1/15/10 - the boys had a great first day at Unity. They were in such a good mood tonight! Such a change from how our life has been the last five months. Looking forward to some peace of mind!
1/17/10 - If we are going to receive our calling from Him, then we have to accept and take responsibility for where we have been and what we have exposed ourselves to. Our God is big enough to handle every sin and gray area that is unresolved. day 1 of Daniel Fast
1/18/10 - "Self-righteousness is simply self-conciousness that is trying to live up to the anticipated expectations of God. If you are looking for your own individual identity, you will forever be self-concious--always concious of your performance and your failure, always regretting that you didn't do better or gloating over the fact that you did pretty well after all. – Dudley Hall day 2
1/19/10 - "You have to know who you are before you can discover what you can do." - Kim Clement (I Corinthians 12:11) day 3
1/20/10 - "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." Haggai 1: 5,6 day 4
1/21/10 - SO what do you have to offer God? All He wants is you. He doesn't want you to do something just to be doing something. He wants you to discover what He has put down into your heart; He wants you to discover your passion. He will give you opportunities where He will draw it out of you and you will find yourself enjoy it. It won’t be work, it will be life. Day 5
1/22/10 - Quotes of the day - Micah: "Mommy, I need to go to Weight Watchers with you because I just don't know what is happening to my belly" Noah: "We should get two bunk beds and then you can have 'daddy time' with a bunk bed in your room....don't laugh...that's an awesome idea"
1/22/10 - He's done all He can do to give us His best. Now it's our turn to trust that He will accomplish in us what we can't do ourselves. He wants what is best for us, but will not force us to follow Him. He wants to know if we love Him just for who He is. day 6
1/26/10 - Are you so focused on wanting the job done right and done right the first time that you just do it yourself? If so you're hurting yourself and depriving others of growing into the person God has called them to be. God likes to use people....together...with a common goal... (day 10)
1/28/10 - will never understand why adults can't put their anger aside for the sake of their children. It is just not fair to keep children away from their relatives just because you have a beef with the adults in their life.
2/1/10 - We don't have the right to blame other people or circumstances for our behavior. We can't use them as an excuse to stay in bondage! BREAK THE CYCLE!!!!
2/4/10 – I think there is nothing sweeter than to hear your five year old say, "If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but have not love I am a resounding gong or a clanging symbol"!
2/5/10 - as I was putting Noah to bed he said, "You are not going to heaven". When I asked why he said, "because big girls are supposed to be angels and you are no angel." ;) He doesn't know how right he is...I am no angel!
2/8/10 - Noah: "Did you know that Jesus was the boss of the disciples?" Micah: "No he wasn't - God was the boss"
2/16/10 - can't wait for my butt wiping days to be over!
2/18/10- Noah: "Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and wings"
2/20/10 - 13.1 miles accomplished today...race day is two weeks away!
2/22/10 - "Time for a milestone...Time to begin again...Reevaluate who I really am...Am I doing everything to follow Your will...Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills?"
2/23/10 - on the ride to school this morning - Micah: "I can't wait to go to heaven cuz you get to sleep on a cloud"; Noah: "In heaven you don't have to go bed at a certain time or get up at a certain time and you don't have to brush your teeth"; Micah: "I just hope that bully angel isn't in heaven"; Me: "What bully angel? You mean Satan?”
3/5/10 - found my day planner....no more walking around in circles, looking lost.
3/5/10 - I have picked up my bib, my time chip, my bag of free stuff...It's official...I am doing a 1/2 marathon tomorrow! I feel a little sick to my stomach.
3/6/10 - Finished a 1/2 marathon! Thanks to Richard Bristow for Isaiah 40:31...I said it often this morning!
3/8/10 - loved watching my boys ride their bikes up and down the street tonight. They liked the fact that the sun did not go down so early. Spring, welcome home!
3/11/10 - Noah just tried to pierce Micah's ear with a very sharp pencil!
3/15/10 - Spring break! Yea! Excited to spend time with two of my three favorite guys!
3/15/10 - I have a nephew on the way! Very excited!
3/15/10 - Welcome to the world - Alexander Jacob Gibson!
3/18/10 - while I was putting Noah to bed tonight he said, "Momma do you know what I see in your eyes?" I said, "No, what?" He said, "God's spirit".
11/1/09 - just saw a kid at CVS buying skittles. Seriously? You are paying money for candy?
11/5/09 - the stress of it all is truly effecting my memory and ability to think clearly.
11/6/09 - might as well have home schooled my child this year....it is pretty much working out that way anyway.
11/8/09 - loves Noah's version of "Polly put the Kettle on" - "Polly put the cantaloupe"....
11/9/09 - thinks SkippyJohn Jones is the funnest book EVER to read out loud!
11/10/09 - rain makes children go CRAZY!!!!!
11/10/09 - is thankful for my veteran who fought in Desert Storm when I was in 7th grade! I love you!
11/13/09 - Micah: a long time ago I wanted a sister but I got a brother and now we're squished. Me: What do you mean you are squished? Micah: We are brothers and I love him so that's why we are squished. ???? :)
11/17/09 - Micah received a punching bag in the mail from his Aunt Terri today. He wants to take it to school but we had to nix that idea. Hopefully he will put it to good use....
11/19/09 - is sad that I missed Micah's Thanksgiving program today. I know he did such a good job as an indian!
11/20/09 - Always conspiring...Micah creates the plan and Noah initiates it.
11/23/09 - let's see if I can translate this via FB: Last night Noah was asleep in our bed while we were watching Glee. He roused for a few seconds, during one of the song and dance numbers...looked at the screen and said, "WHAT THE HECK???" and then went back to sleep. Richard and I laughed so hard!
11/24/09 - can't believe my baby is going to be four years old tomorrow. Where does the time go?
11/25/09 - Noah's 4th birthday has been made absolutely miserable compliments of strep throat and a shot of penicillin in the leg. Poor kiddo! No blue cake tonight....hopefully later in the weekend.
11/25/09 - loves the fact that Micah made his brother a "picture book" for his birthday. I said, "Noah, aren't you going to thank Micah for such a thoughtful gift." Noah said, "no, because a book is not a birthday present." (shaking my head...)
11/26/09 - To all my FB prayer warriors: in the midst of giving thanks for all of your blessings, will you please lift my Micah up to the Lord? I have no words to explain what he needs but I know that as you speak his name in prayer that the Holy Spirit will intercede on his behalf.
11/27/09 - had a great time yesterday at Mawmaw's house. Have a food hangover this morning. Time with Rich's family was wonderful - it has been awhile since had all been together. I love the chaos of five kids (5 and under) running around. I am thankful to have such a big, loving family....all over the United States.
11/29/09 - is recovering from an excrutiating migraine I got last night. Richard drove us home from Acworth and while I puked in a Hobby Lobby bag. What a nightmare!
11/29/09 - What an incredible day! A rockin' worship service, Christmas tree and decorations up without a yearly "Christmas fight" (of course, Christmas isn't here yet) :) - lots of quality time with my boys, fried chicken and mac and cheese for dinner, a fire in the fireplace and smores for dessert! Couldn't ask for more!
12/1/09 - 8 years ago today I married my best friend. The most amazing man I have ever met!
12/2/09 - just made a trip to see Santa so Micah could ask him if he would reinstate our "Elf on the Shelf"'s magic to fly to the north pole each night and tell Santa how the boys are doing because Noah touched the Elf last night - clearly against the rules.
12/3/09 - tonight Micah told me, "Mommy, you make the best hot dogs EVER!" Ahhh, music to a mother's ear...nice to know I am good at something!
12/6/09 - my house is not a home - its a warzone. My exhaustion has seeped into the deepest part of me and I am hanging on by one pinky finger.
12/7/09 - Noah: "mommy, my teacher said that I cannot bring sweet tea to school. She said we can drink milk, or water, or juice." Clarification: it was NOT sweet tea...had NO sugar in it. I admit I am not the best parent in the world...but come on! What kind of a parent do you think I am? ;)
12/8/09 - You tell a few Christmas secrets and you are forever branded a secret teller! I am offended! People can change! ;)
12/10/09 - is feeling nostalgic....reminising about my collegiate days when I was free to sit around in my pajama pants at 3am and fantasize about what I was going to do with the rest of my life.
12/11/09 - Rich just handed me a bag of Mr. Goodbar miniatures and said "here, put these somewhere where the boys can't get to them since they have peanuts." No worries, I know just the place to put them.
12/13/09 - is listening to my four year old preach to his brother about Jonah and the Whale.
12/13/09 - just loves playing "Let's Make a Deal" at the dinner table. Just eat the dang food and be happy about it!
12/14/09 - where is my rotary cutter!!!!!????!!! I have only 10 days until all of my projects MUST be done and I am far from done!
12/14/09 - watched Noah look at his relection in the window tonight and say, "You go that way and I will go this way". I said, "Noah, who are you talking to?" He said, "That boy who is stuck in the window."
12/16/09 - wishes an elf [on the shelf] would sneak into her kitchen tonight and do the dishes.
12/17/09 - yes, it was my child at the school Christmas party who put red cupcake frosting on his nose to look like Rudolph, crammed the entire cupcake in his mouth at one time, and stuck cheetos up his nose. Such a proud momma.
12/20/09 - does not understand the fascination little boys have of walking around with a shirt and no underwear on.
12/21/09 - is cursing the asthma gods....two breathing treatments before 6am for my boys. I am having flashbacks of hospital beds....it better not end that way this time.
12/22/09 - who knew that Christmas cookie cutters and a cup of flour would keep two little boys entertained for so long....
12/22/09 - Noah: "Momma, do we have bullies in this town?" Me: "Yes, honey - unfortunately there are bullies everywhere." Micah: "Well, they are not going to be mean to us because we will just show them some of our sweet ninja moves." I wouldn't trade these conversations for all the money in the world.
12/23/09 - chicken and rice is in the oven, christmas dishes on the table, and my kids are hanging from the rafters...just waiting for the rest of the family to show!
12/24/09 - wonders how many times I am going to be asked "when are we gonna leave for Florida?" and how much longer until we get there?" Ahhh, the joys of Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Birthday Jesus!
12/30/09 - had a great time at the beach today. Yes, you read that right...we went to the beach and my boys actually swam in the water. They are crazy!
1/5/10 - thinks it is totally cruel for the school to slap a CiCi's pizza sticker on my child so that he comes home saying, "But we have to go to Cici's pizza tonight for dinner because there is going to be a party there!"
1/7/10 - LOVE the snow...but don't like the panic people get in for a couple of inches of snow. Snow day tomorrow - don't hate Michigan folks! :)
1/8/10 - my kids have played outside more today with snow and the weather in the twenties then they have all year....hmmm, are they trying to tell me something? :)
1/10/10 - is spending the evening learning to knit. I have figured out how to cast on and I am working on learning the basic stitch. I get a couple of rows into it and then have to pull it apart. I think I will like this once I get the hang of it.
1/10/10 - took my Christmas tree down today. WHAT? Don't look so surprised!
1/11/10 - had a tour at Unity today and loved it! Micah is going to "visit" tomorrow. Praying that God pushes us in the right direction - just want what is best for my kiddos.
1/12/10 - feels so at peace after today. God is so good!
1/14/10 - Words cannot even describe how peaceful our hearts and our home are now...I feel like a weight has been lifted. Praise be to God whose peace passes all understanding!
1/14/10 - Noah: "Momma???? Momma???? Oh, there you are...I thought you were going back to Cali." Richard has been secretly listening to LL Cool J with the kids again! My response to Noah? There is only one - Me: "No, I don't think so." ;)
1/15/10 - the boys had a great first day at Unity. They were in such a good mood tonight! Such a change from how our life has been the last five months. Looking forward to some peace of mind!
1/17/10 - If we are going to receive our calling from Him, then we have to accept and take responsibility for where we have been and what we have exposed ourselves to. Our God is big enough to handle every sin and gray area that is unresolved. day 1 of Daniel Fast
1/18/10 - "Self-righteousness is simply self-conciousness that is trying to live up to the anticipated expectations of God. If you are looking for your own individual identity, you will forever be self-concious--always concious of your performance and your failure, always regretting that you didn't do better or gloating over the fact that you did pretty well after all. – Dudley Hall day 2
1/19/10 - "You have to know who you are before you can discover what you can do." - Kim Clement (I Corinthians 12:11) day 3
1/20/10 - "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." Haggai 1: 5,6 day 4
1/21/10 - SO what do you have to offer God? All He wants is you. He doesn't want you to do something just to be doing something. He wants you to discover what He has put down into your heart; He wants you to discover your passion. He will give you opportunities where He will draw it out of you and you will find yourself enjoy it. It won’t be work, it will be life. Day 5
1/22/10 - Quotes of the day - Micah: "Mommy, I need to go to Weight Watchers with you because I just don't know what is happening to my belly" Noah: "We should get two bunk beds and then you can have 'daddy time' with a bunk bed in your room....don't laugh...that's an awesome idea"
1/22/10 - He's done all He can do to give us His best. Now it's our turn to trust that He will accomplish in us what we can't do ourselves. He wants what is best for us, but will not force us to follow Him. He wants to know if we love Him just for who He is. day 6
1/26/10 - Are you so focused on wanting the job done right and done right the first time that you just do it yourself? If so you're hurting yourself and depriving others of growing into the person God has called them to be. God likes to use people....together...with a common goal... (day 10)
1/28/10 - will never understand why adults can't put their anger aside for the sake of their children. It is just not fair to keep children away from their relatives just because you have a beef with the adults in their life.
2/1/10 - We don't have the right to blame other people or circumstances for our behavior. We can't use them as an excuse to stay in bondage! BREAK THE CYCLE!!!!
2/4/10 – I think there is nothing sweeter than to hear your five year old say, "If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but have not love I am a resounding gong or a clanging symbol"!
2/5/10 - as I was putting Noah to bed he said, "You are not going to heaven". When I asked why he said, "because big girls are supposed to be angels and you are no angel." ;) He doesn't know how right he is...I am no angel!
2/8/10 - Noah: "Did you know that Jesus was the boss of the disciples?" Micah: "No he wasn't - God was the boss"
2/16/10 - can't wait for my butt wiping days to be over!
2/18/10- Noah: "Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and wings"
2/20/10 - 13.1 miles accomplished today...race day is two weeks away!
2/22/10 - "Time for a milestone...Time to begin again...Reevaluate who I really am...Am I doing everything to follow Your will...Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills?"
2/23/10 - on the ride to school this morning - Micah: "I can't wait to go to heaven cuz you get to sleep on a cloud"; Noah: "In heaven you don't have to go bed at a certain time or get up at a certain time and you don't have to brush your teeth"; Micah: "I just hope that bully angel isn't in heaven"; Me: "What bully angel? You mean Satan?”
3/5/10 - found my day planner....no more walking around in circles, looking lost.
3/5/10 - I have picked up my bib, my time chip, my bag of free stuff...It's official...I am doing a 1/2 marathon tomorrow! I feel a little sick to my stomach.
3/6/10 - Finished a 1/2 marathon! Thanks to Richard Bristow for Isaiah 40:31...I said it often this morning!
3/8/10 - loved watching my boys ride their bikes up and down the street tonight. They liked the fact that the sun did not go down so early. Spring, welcome home!
3/11/10 - Noah just tried to pierce Micah's ear with a very sharp pencil!
3/15/10 - Spring break! Yea! Excited to spend time with two of my three favorite guys!
3/15/10 - I have a nephew on the way! Very excited!
3/15/10 - Welcome to the world - Alexander Jacob Gibson!
3/18/10 - while I was putting Noah to bed tonight he said, "Momma do you know what I see in your eyes?" I said, "No, what?" He said, "God's spirit".
Be careful what you wish for....
Micah: Mommy, how do your wishes come true when you put money in a fountain? Does God answer your wishes?
Me: God answers your wishes if He wants to. What was your wish?
Micah: To be a kitty cat.
Me: Micah I don’t think God will ever make you a kitty cat. God made you Micah Boo because that is who he wanted you to be.
Micah: God didn’t make me Micah. God made me a baby. You and daddy made my name.
Me: God answers your wishes if He wants to. What was your wish?
Micah: To be a kitty cat.
Me: Micah I don’t think God will ever make you a kitty cat. God made you Micah Boo because that is who he wanted you to be.
Micah: God didn’t make me Micah. God made me a baby. You and daddy made my name.
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